Speed Training: Helpful Tool or Potential Problem?

One of the most common questions I get from students lately is whether they should be doing speed training with speed sticks.

The short answer is yes — speed training has absolutely been proven to work. Many golfers can increase their clubhead speed and gain distance when using a structured speed training program consistently.

However, I think golfers also need to be cautious.

One of the biggest problems I see is that once players start chasing maximum speed, their mechanics can begin to get very sloppy. Instead of creating efficient speed, they start overpowering the swing and introducing a lot of unnecessary movement patterns that can actually hurt their ball striking and consistency.

At a certain point, swinging faster is not always better if the mechanics completely break down.

The ultimate goal should be finding the balance between increasing speed while still maintaining good movement patterns.

In my opinion, the best way to approach speed training is to ask yourself:

“Can I swing the speed stick faster while still keeping solid mechanics?”

If the answer is yes, then you are improving two things at once — speed and movement quality.

One of the best things golfers can do while using speed sticks is to video their swings regularly. A lot of players assume they are moving well, but when they look on camera, they may notice their sequencing, posture, or arm structure starts changing dramatically once they try to swing harder.

Video gives immediate feedback and helps make sure you are not sacrificing mechanics just to create speed.

Speed training can be a great tool when used correctly, but it should complement good mechanics — not replace them.

If you want help increasing speed while still maintaining efficient swing mechanics, you can check out my online lessons on Skillest below.

👉 Start your lesson here: https://skillest.com/@jonschoepfgolf