The speed secret about ‘timing' that every golfer should know

When you're chasing speed or distance, it's easy to get caught up in the obvious: speed training, a bigger turn, or just swinging harder, especially when you’re hungry for a few extra yards. But there’s one key move that rarely gets the attention it deserves - and it might just be the most important element of all.

Timing. More specifically, the timing of your delivery. 

For elite players and top instructors, this is a well-understood concept, yet it's largely overlooked by the average golfer. Why? Probably because it’s not as flashy as speed training or other power-building tools. But once you understand how delivery timing works, you’ll realize it’s the hidden engine behind nearly every powerful golf swing. 

It's something I recently incorporated into my own swing-and the results were almost immediate. After a few minutes, I was seeing major gains. But I didn't just want to enjoy the extra speed. I wanted to understand why it was happening-so I could build on it.

To dig deeper into this "secret" move, I spoke with Joe Plecker, a GOLF Top 100 Teacher.

Delay your delivery for maximum power

Plecker explained that by holding off the club for a few extra ticks in my downswing, I was able to stay closed to the target for a beat longer. That subtle delay, he says, helped me shallow the club and build up more angular force-or energy that gets unleashed at the bottom of the swing.

"If you turn too early from the top, or your body slides forward while your hips hang back," Plecker says, "you can have a little bit of an early release of the club." 

And when that happens, you can miss out on the angular force Plecker mentioned-and the power that comes with it. 

Why angular force is key

Many golfers mistakenly think the club should follow their body turn-like the arms are just along for the ride, but they couldn't be more wrong.

"There are wrist angles, trail arm bends, lead arm positions-each of those stores angular force," Plecker says, "When those angles are lost too early in the downswing, you're essentially bleeding power before you even reach the ball."

The real key? Learning to maintain those angles just a little longer-especially during that brief "closed" moment in transition.

"Getting that "throw" of all those angles later in the swing is great added speed," Plecker says.

Think of the release of your angular force like cracking a whip. If you tried to snap it without creating any angles in your wrist or arm, it would fall flat - lacking the speed needed to create a loud "crack."

But when you create those angles - and maintain them until the right moment - you store energy that unleashes in a fast, powerful release. More angles mean more speed, delivered with greater efficiency.

Think: space for more speed

If all this talk of angular force feels a little abstract, there's a simpler way to feel it: space.

"One of the best feelings to key in on is space," Plecker says, "When players rotate too early from the top, they actually feel the opposite. They get crowded. They drift into the space where the club is supposed to go. That's when you see compensations like tucking the arms, shortening the swing, or backing out of it."

But when the delivery is timed well and you delay the turn to let your lower body glide forward, Plecker says, you create room.

"When you have space, the club can sling through. That's when you feel like you've got room and can let it go fast," he says.

Plecker's "hockey" drill for a better release

When it comes to training a proper release, timing and sequencing are everything. One of the most effective ways to train both, without falling out of sync, is with Plecker's split-grip, or "hockey," drill.

To do it, take a mid-iron and get into your typical stance and set up. Take the club to the top of your swing, then, separate your hands on the club, like you're a hockey player holding their stick. From here, Plecker says to think about hitting a slap shot in the downswing.

This move trains the ideal sequencing and the slight delay you need to generate real power. Instead of "throwing from the top," it should feel like your arms are dropping straight down while your hips start to unwind. As your hands approach the bottom of the swing, you should feel your wrists and arms snap into position - cracking the whip - and releasing all the stored energy through the ball.

"It helps train that delayed, powerful release," Plecker says. 

As you practice, focus on keeping your legs stable and feeling the club release out in front of you. If you're struggling to turn through, Plecker suggests pulling your trail leg back slightly to help clear your body and feel that proper release.

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