The harder you hit the golf ball (within reason) the further the golf ball will go. And to hit the ball harder you need to swing the club faster. And although just throwing yourself at the ball will increase your speed, there are a lot of very simple, but proven drills you can work on for just a few minutes a day, or even as part of your warm-up routine. You can find the perfect driver , but it won’t do you any good if you can’t use it properly.

With the R&A and USGA announcing in November 2023 that the rules around how far golf balls can travel are changing, there is no better time to work on adding speed to your golf swing.

1. The Martin Borgmann Warm-up

Martin Borgmann is the fastest swinger in golf so there is no better place to start when trying to increase your speed than with him.

He has a very specific warm-up routine comprising various drills which all focus on speed rather than technique. This quick series of drills is a great speed training routine for at home and requires no additional equipment other than your driver (or even just a spare shaft).

How does it work ?

The basic premise is to start with a lightweight clubs or shaft and then progressing to a heavier club. The easiest way to do this is to start by taking the head off the driver for a warmup then put it back on for the workout swings.

Warm up with sets of one-handed swings with your right hand, then left hand, dominant and non-dominant sides. Focus only on generating speed rather than thinking about technique. Pay specific attention to your speed past the ball.

Still with the light shaft, do 6 swings, one at 80%, one at 90%, and then four swings on full power.

Then repeat for three sets.

Then attach back on the clubhead and repeat the same three sets.

2. "Hammer Time” Drill

 Allowing the wrist to fully cock on the backswing and throw them at the ball on the downswing is another way to build speed at impact with your driver swing.

Shawn Clement demonstrates the power of the wrists to get much-increased power and swing speed. He looks at wrist positioning in other sports like tennis and baseball and how "bowing the wrist" can actually reduce power, lead to wrist injuries, or cause golfers elbow – all things to avoid!

How does it work?

The natural "cocking" grip and swing for hammering a post into the ground with a normal hammer illustrates perfectly the huge power in the wrists that can be unlocked in the golf swing. Same with a how a machete is used to chop through a bamboo shoot.

The drill shows how that grip and swing of hammering down can be used to hammer sideways as in the golf swing.  Once you see the analogy and bring that strong wrist position to their golf swing, you'll gain more swing speed and extra yards.

3. Break the Swing Drill

This is a brilliant drill by Mike Bender.  It just uses an alignment rod so it’s great for practicing at home. This drill applies the same concept of energy transfer used to crack a whip or flick a towel.

How does it work?

Using an alignment rod (or just a club upside down) make a full swing and listen to the swoosh sound. Then make the same swing but stop immediately at impact. There will be a much greater, more powerful, swoosh and snap of the alignment rod or club.

This is the perfect drill for a quick, low impact warm-up. You will immediately see the difference in your speed on the range and course.

4. The Baseball Pitcher Drill

The first of two drills from Seb Twaddell is the Baseball Pitcher. This is perfect to work on at the range but perhaps not one for the course.

How does it work?

This is a simple one, coil your body up like a baseball pitcher does right before they unleash the ball. You’re just winding up your golf swing, rather than pitching arm!

Bringing your front leg up and across your body to emphasise the wind up in your backswing, then shift all the weight forward into the swing. It's almost a half Happy Gilmore swing.

This drill will really help the sequencing of your body and down swing, great for golfers who struggle  with inconsistencies in their swing. It’s also great if you tend to get stuck on the back foot or behind the ball. Using your front leg forces you forward and your weight through the impact zone.

5. The Double Pump Drill

The second Seb Twaddell drill is the Double Pump. This is the drill from the 5 above which should give the biggest bang for buck for the average golfer (and also the easiest to do!).

How does it work?

This drill involves a shorter initial down swing that stops at your elbows, before you take the club back to your top position, and then completing the full down swing and contact through the ball.

The first downswing pump focusses on keeping the right arm lever long, the swing wide, and the left leg heel planted. It stops your right side down getting stuck behind you in the golf swing helping you get square (or beyond) at impact, just like the best drivers of the ball in the world.

It should feel smooth, with the only tension being on the right arm pulling down.