LPGA Driver Swing vs mine

I have read an article about LPGA Driver swing speed.  Most of the asian golfers (Japanese/Korean) have an average men swing speed.  Around 93 to 98 mph with their driver.   Funny thing, my swing speed is about the same range with them but I don't hit as far as those women.   Those women can hit around 250 yards with that swing speed while mine is only 230 yards top.  So does it take more than swing speed to hit it far?  What are those women secrets?

Sweetspot  It's amazing how much further you can hit by making the right contact.

Quote - Tom Wishon (If you don't know him, try google)
"The “sweet spot” is a term that’s commonly found in those golf club ads; but it’s misused by almost everyone. Technically the sweet spot is a point in- side the head called the Center of Gravity that’s about the size of the sharp end of a pin. It can’t get “larger” and it can’t get “smaller.” It just... is.
IF you have a club that has the right loft for your swing type and swing speed, IF it strikes the ball square, IF it hits the exact center of the golf ball directly in line or slightly above this tiny sweet spot and IF the face is well designed—then the ball will fly the greatest possible distance for your par- ticular swing. Any deviation toward the heel or toe from this perfect contact and the head will start to twist, not only imparting a curving flight to the ball, but causing a loss of distance."
 

You strike on the what we know as a sweet spot, you're in business!

Angle of attack will play a big part also. LPGA tends to hit up on their driver while PGA tends to hit slightly down

difference can be like 20 yards with the same swing speed

Why PGA hits down on driver?

This is the first I've heard of PGA players hitting slightly down on the driver... Make perfect sense for the irons but for drivers? Any supporting materials? Finding this interesting as a discussion...

You will always get more distance if you strike the ball on the way up with the drivers.

reallys wrote:

This is the first I've heard of PGA players hitting slightly down on the driver... Make perfect sense for the irons but for drivers? Any supporting materials? Finding this interesting as a discussion...

You will always get more distance if you strike the ball on the way up with the drivers.

PGA Tour PROs swing are different from the man on the street ... They have tremendous speed and hence, even if their AOA are negative, they could still achieve great distance off the tee ... What they strive are control, accuracy plus penetrating ball flight to fight the strong wind ...

For Remax Long Drive Championship, all participants will definitely want to achieve a positive AOA because all they need is distance ...

@Turbo is right about negative AOA for tour players hitting their drivers. Here is a detailed writeup from GolfWRX:



"Touring professionals have an average AoA of -1 degrees with their driver, while most amateurs should strive for a positive value, or upward AoA for their driver. The reason for the difference is speed. The best players in the world average around 115 mph club head speed with their drivers. With that much speed, they are looking for a launch angle of 11-to-12 degrees to optimize their distance."



http://www.golfwrx.com/255961/how-to-hit-down-on-the-golf-ball/

Lee Sung Woon, KLPGA, has one of the finest athletic golf swing, if not, the finest, that I have seen in LPGA circuit. The steep-to-shallow swing plane, agility, weight shift, power,  With all the motions, look how she manage keep her arms extended in her finishing.. Btw, She averages about 276 yards in driving (#1 in KLPGA)

Makes good sense  Thanks guys, really enjoyed this! 

reallys wrote:

Sweetspot  It's amazing how much further you can hit by making the right contact.

OK I'm told by a Golf Swing coach, you'll hit farther by hitting the upper part of the center.   High launch less spin he said. 

From my understanding the sweetspot is in the middle of the face. 

So which part is true?

With a driver, typically depends on the club. Most drivers will have a visible marking on the face. What do you use? I have seen some with bias towards heel, smack bang in the middle, upper part of the center... you name it.

Take a look at this LPGA player:
http://www.tourspecgolf.com/blog/chie-arimuras-bag-a-sign-of-the-end-of-the-tourstage-viq-line/

Her iron yardages are similar to mine but her driver is longer than mine.   I should find an ex LPGA player to teach me how to swing a driver.

Are ur irons the same loft as her's?

Derek wrote:

Are ur irons the same loft as her's?

Probably...because that's my iron distance since 1999 using old school irons.  I'm about 10 yards longer using Cobra S2.  Those irons are 3-4 degree stronger.

superputt wrote:

Probably...because that's my iron distance since 1999 using old school irons.  I'm about 10 yards longer using Cobra S2.  Those irons are 3-4 degree stronger.

how about your trajectory? would you say it's high, average, low? and what would be your average driver distance?

May i know r u a male or female golfer?

superputt wrote:

Funny thing, my swing speed is about the same range with them but I don't hit as far as those women.

Assuming from the original post, superputt is a man. However, it's not that clear I agree. But an average female golfer who can hit 230 yards? Now that would be impressive! My bets are that superputt is again a man.

superputt wrote:

Derek wrote:

Are ur irons the same loft as her's?

Probably...because that's my iron distance since 1999 using old school irons.  I'm about 10 yards longer using Cobra S2.  Those irons are 3-4 degree stronger.

If that is the case, then likely it is a technique issue. Maybe striking down thus not optimizing spin and launch angle. 

Suggest you go see a Pro who has a launch monitor. Takes the guesswork out. 

Heartland Golf at JCC and Justin Han at Seletar(?) come to mind.

kissthegreen wrote:

Lee Sung Woon, KLPGA, has one of the finest athletic golf swing, if not, the finest, that I have seen in LPGA circuit. The steep-to-shallow swing plane, agility, weight shift, power,  With all the motions, look how she manage keep her arms extended in her finishing.. Btw, She averages about 276 yards in driving (#1 in KLPGA)

I notice that her shaft has flexed forward (already whipped) just before the club head impacts with the ball (see 0:46s).
Is this good?

My impression is if the shaft whips before impact, this mean the shaft is too stiff for the player.
But then, who am I to say when she drives 276 yds...

Flashpacker, I m no expert but I reckon if u watch slow motion on other player swings, there is some forward flex as well.. My guess is that this is due to the whipping effect (after she released from her steep angle and since the ball is often positioned along the front foot heel) + she generated extra power by using/turning her hips early (like rory) and 'squatting' effect..

Derek wrote:

Are ur irons the same loft as her's?

I just checked her irons loft.  They are actually 2 degree stronger than mine.   So?

superputt, remember she will have a specific club for her, it is most likely not the standard spec. Not a good comparison... it could also be shorter/longer than your club. If everything else is the same, 2 degrees may have 5 yards further depending on the club.  

superputt wrote:

Derek wrote:

Are ur irons the same loft as her's?

I just checked her irons loft.  They are actually 2 degree stronger than mine.   So?

Then it means that there is a larger difference in efficiency between her driver swing and yours

I am looking for a swing consultant so that i can swing like mloy