SwingSpeed With and Without a Golf Ball

[DaveLeeNC]

I sometimes use a SwingSpeed Radar device ( Swing Speed | Swingspeedradar.com  )when I practice (mostly in the back yard) just to "see what is happening" WRT SS. I noticed the other day that I can net a solid 10% increase (using a 7i) if I measure my swing without a golf ball. I was not surprised to see an increase, but 10% is more than I expected. Is this common? 

 

dave

[ferrispgm]

Doesn't sound out of the ordinary to me.  Making a swing without regard for clubface control and contact is vastly different than trying to hit the ball in a certain direction to a specific distance. 

[FormerBigDaddy]

Been doing superspeed training for nearly a year. The last few months I’ve added driver swings at the end with and without a ball. I see about a 6mph difference between the 2. It used to be a bigger gap according to my log which tells me you can narrow the gap with practice/training. However you’ll never have them match. The intent on the ball will always slow you down a bit. 

[Mikey_HACKilroy]

I don't think that's unusual as I discovered a clear increase in my swing drills without a ball. I don't have any measurements yet, but it is pretty easy to tell there is a difference just not how much of one.

 

In fact, the next phase of my little project (after my knee gets better) will be to add a foam golf ball into the process to start adjusting to a ball with higher speed. Final phase is a real golf ball, but like @FormerBigDaddy I don't see the gap ever completely closing unless I am somehow able to reach my own anatomical limits.... call it a "theoretical maximum limit".... Hah... Not gonna happen! LOL