I increased my golf swing speed by 10mph. Here’s how I did it.

We all want to hit the ball further, right? Well, I increased my swing speed by 10mph so here’s how I did it.

So many golfers want to gain more yardage and one of the most effective ways to do that is by increasing the speed of your golf swing.

I have a lot of experience as a professional long driver and swinging the club fast is a must when competing against the longest hitters on the planet. So, who better suited to tell you how to increase your club speed than a real life Happy Gilmore?

I spent the offseason speed training for ten weeks and improved my club speed by 10mph, not only seeing how the ball speed and distance increased, but also how my ball striking improved, too.

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Training aids

I used a training aid called the Speed Toad, which is a bit different than usual training aids. This is a weight that can screw into the bottom of your driver shaft. It weighs 150g and, because you are using the same shaft as your driver, it allows you to swing faster, as the weight is lighter than your overall driver build. But your body also gets more familiar with the loading and unloading of the shaft, which helps to improve sequencing and timing. I also like how it has four different levels and programmes to follow on an app, which you can schedule in for two days a week and they only take 15-20 mins each. You can do that at the end of your range sessions.

What does a world long drive competitor do on his lunch break? The grind never stops! 🤯 pic.twitter.com/hRTWNY7YGm

— Lewis Fraser (@lewisfras98) March 4, 2025

Range sessions

Most of us are guilty of leaving a few balls to hit driver at the end. I want you to stop doing that. I try hit 25-50 balls with driver when I’m training at full speed, but start with just hitting more drivers to improve your confidence off the tee in the first place. Again, you want to be hitting three times a week, once working on your technique and set up, the other working around 80% of your max and then one day allocated to hitting the ball as hard as you can. That way you can see how fast you are swinging the golf club and what ball speeds you are reaching.

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Data gathering

Making sure that you know your numbers is key, and tracking the progression is even more important. Most of us have access to driving ranges with Toptracer or Trackman, which is ideal to monitor your progression. There are portable devices like a PRGR which is great to measure club speed and ball speed. You also have the likes of a GCQuad, FlightScope, Bushnell and Trackman, which are all portable and great for gathering data. The most important numbers to track are ball speed and club speed. If you start swinging the club faster, you should see an increase in ball speed and if you are on a range, ball speed is accessible at Toptracer and Trackman setups.

The road to 230mph ball speed continues 💪🏻.

226.5 mph ball speed today and gradually getting quicker each week #LFG pic.twitter.com/0tdUjQmfac

— James Tait (@jamestait89) March 9, 2025

Gym work

Making sure there is an element of strength, power, and mobility is also extremely important. I’m in the gym three days a week, focusing on strengthening my legs with squats, and making sure I’m explosive through plyometric movements and staying on top of mobility. By dedicating three days a week to strength, power, and speed, you will see a crossover to your golf swing which will support an increasing club speed.

Ball speed is king

One clear indication that your golf swing speed is increasing is ball speed. It is king when you are increasing club speed and a clear sign that your speed training is effective.

If you want to hit the ball further, these are the steps I’ve taken and the processes I do to maintain and increase club speed and ball speed. I’ve increased mine from the start of the year by 10mph – and you can too!

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James Tait is bunkered’s Gear Editor. Want to know how the latest Callaway driver, Vokey wedge or Scotty Cameron putter performs? He’s the guy to ask. Better yet, just watch his videos on the bunkered YouTube channel. One of the biggest hitters in the UK, James also competes on the World Long Drive circuit and is a descendent of former Amateur champion Freddie Tait.

Gear Editor