Major Winner Reveals Secret to Maintaining Swing Speed as You Age
As you age in golf, maintaining your swing speed and power is crucial for long-term enjoyment. Three-time major winner Padraig Harrington shares his key insights for staying competitive.
The main strategy? Swing hard now to preserve distance later. Harrington emphasizes that golfers will naturally lose 50-75 yards between ages 50 and 75, making it essential to build speed early.
Here's Harrington's specific advice for maintaining swing speed:
- Practice maximum-effort swings once per week
- Aim for 110 mph club head speed during these practice sessions
- Focus on raw speed, not technique or ball flight
- Swing "like you're trying to fell a tree with an ax"
- Use a launch monitor for feedback
The goal isn't to use these aggressive swings on the course. Instead, these practice sessions help raise your speed ceiling. When you can reach 110 mph in practice, a smooth 100 mph swing feels effortless.
By building this speed reserve now, you're more likely to maintain playable distances as you age. According to Harrington, if you can swing at 100 mph at age 65, "you'd be a king."
Supporting this swing speed work, Harrington recommends:
- Regular gym sessions
- Proper technique training
- Maintaining an active lifestyle
- Continuous practice and play
The key message is clear: invest in your swing speed now to enjoy better golf later in life. This proactive approach helps combat the natural distance loss that comes with aging.