Speed in Golf: How to Add Distance Safely (and Make It Transfer to the Course)A lot of golfers come into winter with the same goal: hit it farther next season. In this episode, Michael Falk and Jason Tipton break down why speed matters in today’s game, what separates swinging harder from swinging faster, and how to build real distance gains that actually hold up on the course. You’ll learn why ball speed is the KPI (not just clubhead speed), how center contact and efficient sequencing can unlock speed without extra effort, and why speed training needs a plan—both technically (setup, sequencing, ground forces) and physically (strength, power, rotational capacity). They also cover where overspeed tools fit, what typically goes wrong when golfers chase speed without feedback, and how to create a training blueprint that improves distance without losing your scoring skills. What You’ll LearnWhy distance is such a performance advantage (and where the “too much speed” line can show up)Ball speed vs. clubhead speed — and why strike + launch conditions often beat max effortCommon mistakes golfers make when they start speed trainingThe technical foundations that create speed: setup, sequencing, and ground force timingPractical tools/drills that help golfers learn to create speed efficientlyThe physical drivers of speed: strength, power, and rotational explosivenessHow mobility fits in (important, but not the main driver for everyone)A blueprint approach to gaining 10–15+ yards with less wasted effortWhat goes wrong when speed training is unbalanced (and how to avoid it)Timestamps00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview 01:15 The Importance of Speed in Golf (tour trends, scoring advantage, distance thresholds) 06:14 Physical Fitness and Speed Training (better athlete = more potential speed, aging + maintaining speed) 08:21 Common Mistakes in Speed Training (“swinging harder” vs “swinging faster,” dispersion early on, ball speed focus) 15:44 Technical Aspects of Building Speed (setup/grip, kinematic sequence, ground-up movement, face/path issues when forcing speed) 20:49 Innovative Training Tools for Golf (force pedal, constraints, continuous swings for balance and sequencing) 21:24 Balancing Swing Sequencing and Speed Training (overspeed as a tool—not the tool; efficiency before effort) 22:14 The Role of Physical Fitness in Golf Performance (why gym work supports speed development) 22:49 Key Drivers of Club Head Speed (vertical impulse, upper-body explosiveness, rotational power) 23:42 Importance of Flexibility and Mobility (helpful for some, but not the primary driver in most research) 26:24 Creating a Personalized Training Blueprint (screening + player-specific plan; gym frequency; adding overspeed strategically; tracking) 32:58 Common Pitfalls in Speed Training (open face/face control, losing wedges/scoring, overuse issues, poor warm-up/recovery) 37:59 Recap and Future Plans (assess → efficiency → build capacity → add speed → track; upcoming episodes) Resources MentionedJason Tipton (Skillest): online assessment + lessons https://skillest.com/coach/jason-tiptonKinetic Sports Medicine & Performance: golf assessment https://kineticsmp.com/golf
