The “Road to 180” series follows Cordie’s journey to increase his on course ball speed to 180 mph. He tackles challenges like limited practice time, inconsistent workouts, and injury, all while focusing on speed training, swing technique changes, and gear upgrades. The series documents his year-long pursuit of this ambitious goal, offering insights into the dedication required to achieve speed.
The pursuit of speed is truly fascinating.
I’m starting right now hitting shots during around with club head speed around 112-114 that can get me ball speeds of 170mph if I’m lucky but typically around 165-168mph.
That means I need to get my “gaming” club head speed up to at least 121-123 mph to get 180mph. This would be the minimum I’d be looking at if I’m able to hit it pretty solidly and get a decent smash factor.
So we’re looking at nearly a 8 mph club head increase and a 10+mph ball speed increase while on the course during a tournament.
What I’ve learned is I’m going to need to increase my speed ceiling.
When I push it right now I can get my CHS up to 120 mph during training in the simulator. It takes some time and it is HARD work (we’re talking drenched in sweat afterwards).
I’ll probably need to get that “top level” speed up to 130 mph during speed sessions to achieve the gaming speed of 122mph.
If you know anything about speed training. That’s a big task in front of me.
There’s probably not going to be a big overnight jump but slow steady increase over a long period of time.
I’m going to give myself the year to accomplish this. I think it’s totally doable.
The biggest risk I see along the way is injury. I hurt my knee about a year ago playing soccer which hasn’t recovered fully still. I need that to heal and get better along the way and avoid other injuries.
Follow along on Youtube and Instagram as we share stories from along the way.
Episode 1: The Perfect Backswing Technique for Speed & Power!
Flare the Right Elbow: To prevent power leaks and increase swing speed, Luke suggests flaring the right elbow during the backswing. This adjustment can help create more range and power in the swing.
Extend the Backswing: Luke advises extending the backswing, getting the club more “across the line” at the top, which helps generate additional speed without compromising control.
Focus on Hip Rotation and Ground Force: Luke emphasizes the importance of good hip rotation and using ground force effectively during the swing. Proper hip movement can significantly contribute to speed and power.
Speed Training with High Intensity: He recommends conducting speed training sessions with high intensity, hitting a large number of drives with maximum effort to push speed boundaries. Maintaining intensity is crucial, and caffeine or energy boosts can help.
Monitor Technique with Video Analysis: Luke suggests regularly using video analysis to monitor your swing technique. This helps ensure that changes are effective and that the swing remains efficient as speed increases.
Episode 2: Secrets to Speed with #1 Instructor Mark Blackburn
Use Force Plates for Analysis: Utilize force plates to analyze where force is being applied during the swing. Understanding how and where you’re applying force can help in optimizing your swing for speed.
Unweighting and Ground Reaction Forces: Work on unweighting properly during the transition of the swing. This means moving up during the backswing and then applying vertical force during the downswing to maximize speed.
Timing is Crucial: The timing of applying force is as important as the amount of force. Proper timing ensures that the energy is effectively transferred into the club for maximum speed.
Optimize Deceleration: Effective deceleration of the handle is necessary to accelerate the clubhead. Think of it like a Formula 1 car needing strong brakes to make sharp turns at high speed; similarly, your swing needs to decelerate at the right moment to maximize speed.
Episode 3: This Drill Will Skyrocket Your Speed and Ground Reaction Forces
Push Down and Pull Up: To increase clubhead speed, it’s crucial to push down with your legs and pull up with your arms simultaneously. This movement helps to decelerate the handle while speeding up the clubhead.
Synchronize Jump and Arm Motion: When performing a jump in the golf swing, it’s essential to synchronize the downward arm motion with the upward jump. This coordination maximizes energy transfer and enhances speed.
Apply Force Early: The force you apply should happen earlier than you think. By applying force sooner in the swing, you give yourself more time to maximize speed and energy transfer.
Use the Vertical Component: Incorporating a strong vertical component, or “chop,” in your swing helps generate more power. The higher you lift your hands, the more vertical force you can apply.
Get Aggressive: Mark emphasizes the need to get aggressive with your swing, particularly by “getting angry” and focusing on snapping the clubhead off the shaft and jumping around. This aggression translates to higher energy and better speed output.
Episode 4: Here’s why I’m struggling to gain club head SPEED
Improve Kinematic Sequence: Focus on creating better separation between the pelvis and torso during the swing. The pelvis should lead, followed by the torso, shoulders, and then the club. Improving this sequence can significantly enhance energy transfer and increase club head speed.
Enhance Core Strength: A key finding is that core strength, particularly the ability to transfer power from the lower body to the upper body, is crucial. Strengthening the core will improve energy transfer and help achieve higher club head speeds.
Refine Deceleration: Work on smoother deceleration of the body segments, especially the torso. A more efficient deceleration sequence will allow better energy transfer to the club, resulting in more speed.
Focus on Power Generation: Mark suggests that increasing the overall power generated by the body is essential. This can be done through targeted exercises like the sit-up and throw, chest pass, and vertical jump to build a stronger “engine.”
Optimize Wrist Release: Improving the wrist release during the swing can help in achieving better impact and optimizing smash factor. This will contribute to more consistent and higher club head speeds.
Address Core Weaknesses: Mark identifies that the golfer’s core weakness, particularly in the sit-up and throw test, is a limiting factor. Addressing this through specific core training exercises will be key to unlocking more speed.
