Swing Speed For Seniors

[rony]

No More Excuses

I played my 61st round of the season today. I play with many different guys during the season, but sometimes, someone comes along that catches your attention. Today, I played with a 75 year old Irishman who had the swing speed of a 30 year old. His brogue was so thick, I could hardly understand him, but I gleaned that he was from County Cork, been in the USA since he was 30, Grand-Father and Father taught him how to play, began playing at 3 years old, and wait till you hear this.....Loves to play in the Wind, Rain, and Cold!! Says that's what he is used to......????? This man could "Flat Out Play". Carried his Driver about 250, (I'm 68 and Carry about 230 TOPS, but more like 210 on a regular basis), but where he blew all of us away was with his "Superb" Iron play, especially the long Irons. Carried 3-PW, No Hybrids, walked the course with a pull cart, didn't say more than 4 words at any one time, but was a "True Gentleman". When we were on the back 9, I said, "Mike, I am amazed at your swing speed." He said, "Thank you, that's what everybody comments on, the first time they see me play." He could Putt like a "Laser Beam", and so help me God, I gave him his yardage for a 3 Iron approach, using my Bushnell Pinseeker, 198 Yards, and he stuck it inside 3 feet!! His only tip to me was.....Grip the club lightly, and swing FASTER.......not HARDER. I have a pretty good game, but I always use the excuse that if I wasn't so old, I could generate more swing speed. Well.....This Irishman flushed my favorite excuse down the toilet! NO MORE EXCUSES!! :nono:

[JonT]

Good start to a thread for "before and after". Seniors, who are interested, get there swing speed measured now and again next spring.

A catalog of methods could be established from personal results that worked.


After all, who here, that is a senior, doesn't want to carry their drive 250 yards or longer.

[shankapotamus]

Good story but come on, lets hear about his equipment !

[rony]

[quote name='shankapotamus' post='2074515' date='Nov 19 2009, 08:15 PM']Good story but come on, lets hear about his equipment ![/quote]



Eye 2 Irons, Titleist 983K Driver, Cleveland Wedges, Old Ping Putter, and not sure what the 3 Wood was, but I believe it was also Titleist. They were old clubs. Also, I forgot to mention, he played without a golf glove. He appeared to be a former tradesman, no body fat but strong arms, big hands, rugged appearance. About 5'10", 165 Lbs. Would love to be able to play like him when I'm 75!!

[Buddyjay]

I wish I knew what my swing speed was back in the '70's & '80's. I'm 54 and just started playing again, this year, after a 15 year lay-off. My swing speed now is 87-92.
But to help my game, I have been swinging the club "easier". When swinging harder/faster, I may get lucky and hit a good one, but I am more consistent when swinging easier.

I would imagine that my speed is somewhat close to years ago since I used to hit a 7 iron 150 yards... and still do. In fact, all my clubs are the same yardage as before except the driver which is about 20 yards less (230 - 250 yards).

In [b][i]my[/i][/b] case, a faster swing speed does me more harm than good. If I could swing fast and be accurate (like that Irish gentelman), that would be impressive. But for me, I need to swing easier. In fact, I had one of the best rounds of my life when I had a bruised rib. I had to slow my swing way down, but the contact I made was incredible. The ball went further and straighter than ever.
But now I cannot duplicate that swing no matter what.

Not to preach, but I think the key to keeping your swing speed up is to stay flexible. Stretching, yoga, etc. I've just started doing tem and hope this helps over the off-season.

[Senior_Golfer]

I support buddyjay's comments about yoga and stretching.. doing this routinely has done more for my golf swing than anything I have tired. Also I have done lap swimming in an indoor pool which is very much a streching excerise.

[pdx5]

Hole #16 on my golf course is 375 yards par 4 but has a high plateau
about 200 yards from the tee., and a deep valley before that.
If you can hit it past the hill, the ball rolls down on the other side and you
are left with a very reachable 140-150 yard shot. If your drive lands much before the top of that plateau and you are in the valley of death since it is always soft and soggy. Now you have a blind shot over the apex of 200+ of the deck with a 5 wood,
and no way in hell to reach the green. 3 wood does not clear the high point easily.

All this time I would swing as hard as I could with my driver and rarely make it
to the top and then only on hot dry days. I don't know what I was thinking but
on one occasion I just put on a smooth swing, without pressing. Lo and behold,
the ball had less back spin and rolled right past the apex point!

The hard part is to convince your brain to not swing harder when faced with a
long fairway. But I am definitely sold on a 85% swing. It is easier on your not
so young body and has a better chance of hitting it near the sweet spot of club.

Also, I am convinced that a smoother swing puts less of a distance killing back
spin on the ball.

[Guia]

Sounds like the old gentleman is a really good player, and exceptional for his age. I am 70, 6 ft 180 lbs and have a consistent driver speed of 98 but can go as high as 107 when feeling good. My handicap flucuates between 6 and 10. In the past 3 years I have noticed age getting to me a little, driving easily 40 yards short of when I was 66. Thats life.

A number of years ago I used to play with a cousin of Ben Hogan, at the time he was 65. He still shot in the low 70s from the back tees, I guess it must be a family thing.