Intermediate
Club Speed
Also known as: clubhead speed, swing speed
Club speed is how fast the clubhead is moving just before impact, in mph. It sets the ceiling for ball speed and distance — but only if contact is clean.
Club speed is the raw athletic ingredient of distance. Higher club speed raises the potential for ball speed, yet two players with identical club speeds can hit very different distances depending on strike quality, attack angle, and spin. Speed training can add club speed, but for most amateurs improving centeredness of strike yields more distance than swinging harder.
Example
An average male amateur swings the driver around 93 mph; long-drive competitors exceed 140 mph.
Related terms
- Ball SpeedBall speed is how fast the ball leaves the clubface, measured in miles per hour. It is the single biggest driver of carry distance.
- Smash FactorSmash factor is ball speed divided by club speed — a measure of strike efficiency. A driver smash factor near 1.50 means the ball left the face at 1.5× the clubhead speed, the practical maximum.
- Attack AngleAttack angle is the vertical direction the clubhead is moving at impact. Negative means hitting down on the ball; positive means hitting up.
Related guides & benchmarks
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