Summary
When most golfers think about swing speed, they picture upper-body strength, fast hands, or a powerful shoulder turn. But there’s one element that often separates amateurs from professionals: how they use the ground.
If you watch the best players in the world, you’ll notice they aren’t just swinging with their arms — they’re pushing, pressing, and jumping off the ground to generate speed. This is where amateurs leave free yards on the table.
What Are Ground Forces in Golf?
In simple terms, ground forces are the pressures and forces you create by pushing into the turf during your swing. They’re broken into three types:
- Vertical Force – Pushing up against the ground (think of a jump).
- Horizontal Force – Sliding or shifting pressure side to side.
- Rotational Force – Twisting against the ground to rotate your hips faster.
The pros master the balance of these forces. The average amateur? Not so much.
Why Amateurs Struggle
Many recreational golfers swing “from the top” with their arms and shoulders, forgetting the lower body entirely. This not only limits speed but also hurts consistency. Without using the ground effectively, your swing becomes upper-body heavy — fast hands with no real engine behind them.
Drills to Train Ground Use
Here are three drills to help you feel and use the ground more like the pros:
- Step Swing Drill
- Start with your feet together.
- As you swing back, step your lead foot into position and swing through.
- This trains weight shift and helps you feel horizontal force.
- Vertical Jump Swing
- Take your stance and, without a ball, swing up to the top.
- As you start down, imagine you’re about to jump.
- This exaggerates vertical force and helps you “push off” the ground.
- Pressure Board Drill (if you have access)
- Practice with a pressure mat or even a bathroom scale under your lead foot.
- Try to “spike” the pressure into your lead side before impact.
- This teaches you how to sequence your lower body before the arms release.
The Payoff
When amateurs learn to use the ground correctly, swing speed often increases without lifting a single dumbbell. You’re essentially unlocking power you already have — just hidden beneath your feet.
The next time you’re chasing extra miles per hour, remember: speed doesn’t just come from your hands or your driver shaft. It starts from the ground up.