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I am a 52 year old male, 6'5" tall, weigh 195 pounds, am in good shape, and am a mid-handicapper.

My swing speed is about 80 mph, and I average 210-220 off the tee. Once in a BLUE MOON I'll hit one 280 or so.

Any suggestions on how I can increase my swing speed?

Thank you.

Allowing your left heel to come off the ground (assuming you're right handed) on your back swing will give you some marked increase in swing speed and distance. Just make sure the heel comes off the ground as a result of turning and not swaying. Also make sure your right leg is not straightened out to cause a reverse pivot.

It's simple physics actually. Speed = Distance / time. So there are three ways to get more speed. 1) increase distance (holding time constant), 2) decreasing time (holding distance constant), and 3) increasing distance and decreasing time all at once.

Increasing distance means you increase the distance of the arc the clubhead travels which means you lengthen your backswing and follow through. Decreasing time means you swing harder. Allowing your left heel to come off the ground allows you to get more shoulder turn.

I would think at 6'5" PingIron's club is already traveling a pretty fair distance. Without knowing much else, I would look at cocking and uncocking the wrists as well as are you getting any coiling and uncoiling from the big mucles. When I see Tiger's swing, He unleashes incredible power when he uncoils that body.

My guess those once in a blue moon shots occur when your hands are loose and uncock in better timing with the body.

I am not one who should be giving advice to fix those things, except see an instructor.

You're right. I was at the range today and spent a lot of time on holding the club much more lightly. I could feel the club releasing and I was hitting the ball further. I noticed my grip starts out light, but getting to impact I really squeeze it. I tried to maintain the light grip throughout.

I have a lesson next Wednesday and will see if I can get my clubs regripped with thorns sticking out...maybe that will help me grip the club more lightly.

I would highly recommend you get a Swing Speed Radar as soon as you can. I got mine last year and my first 3 swings with my driver were at 97MPH. Now, after a few months of working with the Radar, I'm up to 115 MPH. I'm 5 11, 190 and 60 years old, so it's not that I'm younger or in better shape than you. It's all in learning how to swing faster by doing it correctly.

As for raising your left heel to add power, that's about the exact opposite of what I'd tell you to do. I used to raise my left heel, and now I don't. I think that says enough on this point.

After you get the Radar, try hitting some balls, and do a few things that you have heard will help with increasing your speed. The radar will tell you which tips really work and which one to ignore. That's pretty much what I did, and I gained 20 MPH. and now I'm hitting a fair number of 300 yard drives. I see no reason you can't do the same thiing if you get the radar and use it.

I am also experimenting with that . I have always held the club too tight being afraid of it letting loose and heading down the fairway. Last night I was holding the club very loose and maintaining it and the hands were coming thru so much faster and the ball was jumping off of the clubface adding more distance and even more control. It also seemed that my whole swing was more athletic. I will be back at he range tomorrow to keep working on it. I had to have been geting a lot more swing speed the way the ball was traveling. I also have been suffering from lack of swing speed 82-88 MPH. I may have unlocked more speed. By the way does anyone make and affordable portable swing meter it could be something fun to use as you make swing adjustment. I guess the saying should be lightly grip it and rip it.

It looks like a great product...do you know what retailers carry it?

I thought I saw that at Dicks but could be mistaken. It's a good bet anyway since they seem to have the biggest stock anywhere.

swing weight.

I have a donut weight but I am worried about damaging the club so I use it on my old clubs. I don't know how much in can damage a shaft and make the club head come flying off.

I got a swing-speed meter at Golf Radar Gun > Golf Swing Speed Indicator > Swing Speed Radars It's a GREAT way to measure swing speed easily. Just like any kind of other exercise, prepare to build up your swing GRADUALLY. In six months I've gone from 94mph to 101mph and have NOT suffered in accuracy. One more (CRAZY) tip? Wear leather-soled STREET SHOES on the range when you are working on increasing your swing-speed. It will teach you how to swing with CONTROL of your body. Swing too hard wering these shoes and you will fall flat on your @#% !!!

I played the other day with a guy who is a professional "long driving competitor". I use my swing-speed meter ON the couse all the time as well, so I measured him and his speed was 132MPH. I have a SkyCaddie and "marked" his ball so I can honestly say he some drives that were OVER 340 yards!!!

....I shot a 77 to his 89. Whew...I'm glad I can't hit it 340!!!

LOL!

That's impressive Mr. Billinoc...77, great increase in ss too!

I focus on swinging through with my left shoulder, sternum, and hips towards the target. This will give you clubhead lag, which will increase your swing speed. Check this out: Free Golf Tips - Clubhead Lag for Distance, Accuracy

Oh, I also got a swing speed radar Swing Speed Radar for Golf Clubhead Speed
It's pretty good, and it helps my tempo time as well. With previous posts, they are certainly right that you can find tips that work for you and maintain consistency.

Id just go to their website. Sports Sensors, Inc--Overview and order one direct. That's where I got mine. I got 2 ot them, one to measure my swing speed, and a second one to measure the ball speed on the same shot. That way you know how well the driver/ball combination is working for your swing. The driver or ball that give you the best transfer ratio. is what you want . Just divide the ball speed by the swing speed for a dozen shots with each driver or ball, and you will know what to take out to the couse to play. And always remember, The easier you swing, the fast you will be swinging. It just works that way.

I don't know why but when I typed swingspeedradar, the site came up with sport sensors, inc -Overview instead. Funny how all this stuff works sometimes. As for price, they sell two models, $100 or $150.