Unlocking Distance: The Three T's of Club Head Speed

When I started my swing evolution, I didn’t think I was particularly short off the tee, but I only averaged about 240 yards. Once I embarked on my driving evolution, I picked up nearly 80 yards and was consistently hitting over 320 yards! The key? Greater club head speed.Today, we’re going to talk about the Three T’s of distance and the secret to building speed in your golf swing.

1. Technique: Lengthen Your Swing

One of the first things I had to change was my golf swing length. It was too short, which limited my ability to generate speed.

• By lifting my lead heel, I could coil more into my rear leg, increasing my backswing range.
• If you study long-drive champions, you’ll see they almost all lift their lead heel to maximize coil and rotation.
• A longer swing creates a bigger arc, which directly translates to more club head speed.

2. Training: Swing for Speed, Not Power

I learned an interesting lesson from baseball players trying to improve their bat speed.

• While many use weighted bats or clubs, real gains come from training fast-twitch muscles for speed.
• I started swinging with just a golf shaft (no club head) to develop a pure speed-focused motion.
• Swinging for speed feels very different from swinging for power—trying to muscle the ball actually slows you down.
• Smooth, free-flowing swings create more speed than tense, overpowered ones.

3. Timing: Be Relaxed and Explosive

Where It CountsOne of the biggest surprises in my journey was realizing that my "long drive" swing—where I tensed up and tried to smash the ball—was actually slower!

• Club head speed is maximized when you're loose and relaxed.
• The best golfers, like Freddy Couples and Rory McIlroy, make it look effortless, but they’re accelerating precisely at the impact zone.
• Speed should be built throughout the swing, peaking at the right moment for maximum energy transfer.

Final Thoughts

If you want to hit the ball farther, don’t focus on brute strength—focus on club head speed. By improving your technique, training specifically for speed, and timing your acceleration properly, you’ll be shocked at how much distance you can add to your drives.

Give these Three T’s a try and start your own driving evolution today!

Stay tuned for the sixth and final lesson from the Longer and Straighter Driving Series!