MGS Off-Season Speed Challenge

[Vegan_Golfer_PNW]

Just now, RichL85 said:

Likely stupid, but legitimate question. Are we going with playing speed or "let it rip" speed. I ask because last week I had another session and when hitting drives, my swing speed was averaging 95mph, and I know a huge part of this is mental and sequencing. We also took the ball away and took some swings. Basically, just swing for the fences with no worries about the consequences. Three of those swings averaged 104.7. That's a fairly large difference for my starting speed. Feel free to change my starting speed if that makes more sense. I'm honestly just not sure if this is all about max speed, or actually useful playing speed?

Dry swings (no ball, average of three swings)

[Golfspy_TCB]

Just now, RichL85 said:

Likely stupid, but legitimate question. Are we going with playing speed or "let it rip" speed. I ask because last week I had another session and when hitting drives, my swing speed was averaging 95mph, and I know a huge part of this is mental and sequencing. We also took the ball away and took some swings. Basically, just swing for the fences with no worries about the consequences. Three of those swings averaged 104.7. That's a fairly large difference for my starting speed. Feel free to change my starting speed if that makes more sense. I'm honestly just not sure if this is all about max speed, or actually useful playing speed?

I know what my answer is... but I'll defer to El Capitan @ejgaudette

[mstuewe]

6 hours ago, ejgaudette said:

So new scoring system is up and scoring had been adjusted to the following system.

Starting Speed * 0.27 + Speed Increase

In looking at the data it looks like say getting to 36 points will be a good score. This will take @Golfspy_TCB needs to gain 12 mph, I would need to add 8 mph, someone @Getoffmylawn would need to add 6 mph and @edingc would need to add 5 mph while @AndySP would need to add about 3.5 mph. So I think it will come down to decimal points, so be sure to get that average of 3 wing accurate in March as it may decide the winner.

I think this scoring keeps everything fair given this will only last 5 months and we have to span about 30 mph of starting speed .4 was just too high for the starting speed. Good luck everyone and lets go get it.

I believe you didn’t account for multiplying the speed gains x 5.  The formula is (current speed x 0.4) + (5 x speed gains)

[snicerz]

13 hours ago, Golfspy_TCB said:

I have a quick question for those of you who have already been working through various swing speed protocols... the rest period between "workouts" is crucial from what I have researched (and makes sense based on working out more in my younger days...).  How do you mix in your workouts with playing rounds?  I try to get out and play at least 3 rounds a week.. most every Saturday/Sunday... so how would that impact the "rest" days?

I know we are all in competition with each other here   but was curious how you all approach this.  My thought is to target initial speed workouts on maybe Monday and Thursday... so I have two days after the first workout of the week, and one rest day before my first weekend round.  But then I would be coming of two rounds and the next day doing a swing speed workout.  

I did 2 speed workouts last week with a day rest between.  I saw triple digits on the light weight rypstick at the end of the 2nd session, and saw a few mph increase on my Driver as well..   I played poorly over the weekend.... hope the two aren't related.

 

I just decided to embrace the chaos and accept that some days I just won’t be feeling it and will have to power through. Yes that means I’ll have rounds where I just can’t get anything going right but I’ve started to realize that backing off during my tired rounds goes a long ways. Sure I lose some distance but I can always move up to a closer teebox and still have fun. 
 

For reference, I got back into the gym after an extended Covid break. That’s usually m/w/f, the Stack seems to be every 2-3 days, and I try to at least get nine in on weekdays w/ 18+ on the weekends. 
 

Sleep and nutrition have a bigger impact on me than doubling up training on a given day. 

[GolfSpy_APH]

Happy to see everyone having fun with this! Maybe next year I will join in on the fun

[mstuewe]

1 hour ago, GolfSpy_APH said:

Happy to see everyone having fun with this! Maybe next year I will join in on the fun

Why not this year?

Edited November 8, 2022 by mstuewe

[GolfSpy_APH]

2 minutes ago, mstuewe said:

Why not this year?

All my kit to measure SS is with others so have no way to accurately measure to participate 

[ejgaudette]

17 hours ago, RichL85 said:

Likely stupid, but legitimate question. Are we going with playing speed or "let it rip" speed. I ask because last week I had another session and when hitting drives, my swing speed was averaging 95mph, and I know a huge part of this is mental and sequencing. We also took the ball away and took some swings. Basically, just swing for the fences with no worries about the consequences. Three of those swings averaged 104.7. That's a fairly large difference for my starting speed. Feel free to change my starting speed if that makes more sense. I'm honestly just not sure if this is all about max speed, or actually useful playing speed?

 

17 hours ago, Vegan_Golfer_PNW said:

Dry swings (no ball, average of three swings)

 

17 hours ago, Golfspy_TCB said:

I know what my answer is... but I'll defer to El Capitan @ejgaudette

Yes no ball swings are preferred, a but selfish since I cannot hit balls all winter and I am sure others can't too

14 hours ago, mstuewe said:

I believe you didn’t account for multiplying the speed gains x 5.  The formula is (current speed x 0.4) + (5 x speed gains)

Yes that is a good point, but I think I ended up with a formula that does work well.

[Golfspy_TCB]

7 hours ago, snicerz said:

I just decided to embrace the chaos

I think this needs to be my mantra from now on @snicerz.  

[ejgaudette]

Just watched this video and think it is a great one to add for anyone doing some workouts as well. I know I will be adding it.

 

[Lacassem]

Finally was able to get some starting speeds yesterday. 105. Board it @ejgaudette

[ejgaudette]

6 minutes ago, Lacassem said:

Finally was able to get some starting speeds yesterday. 105. Board it @ejgaudette

I'll add you now! great to have you joining us

[ejgaudette]

Also reminder folks one more week to get the baseline speeds in! Would love to get this to 20 participants.

[edingc]

First update for me on the final range day of the season. Looking like snow this weekend...

I am about halfway through the Stack Foundations protocol and have been weightlifting, stretching and jogging a bit over the past couple of weeks since the season ended.

I'm going to approach this by trying to keep my drives on the grid. Anything that is more than 30 yards left or right of target in the air is getting thrown out.

I hit 24 drivers today on the Mevo+. My best three "in play" per my above rules were 116.8, 116.7 and 116 MPH. Average of 116.5 MPH, or a +2.5 MPH jump since starting the Stack. Impact did leave something to be desired as my ball speeds were less than ideal for the swing speed.

Pretty sure I did set a new ball speed record on a slower swing, though:

Can't wait to keep at it!

[ejgaudette]

Today was one of those days were you just don't really have it. Just did not feel fast or up for the speed training, but I moved myself through it and paid attention to trying to learn what I can and say ok this is the speed for today still try to get that as high as possible, even if pbs are far off. I know I can sometimes struggle with that grind when the speed is not there and it is clearly a play for the longer term.

I know we will all have those days and I know this challenge helped give a little motivation for that. So thank you everyone and tomorrow is another day to be faster.

[Golfspy_TCB]

Just getting my legs under me on this challenge (pun intended).  Not sure what the data means yet.  Still trying figure out how to remove the governor on swinging fast... seems like it should be easier than it is.  

All that said, I'm seeing some gains... probably more about learning how to swing fast than building the muscles to support a faster swing at this point... it will be an interesting journey.  Interestingly, after my baseline swings... I haven't been able to match my average with the beginning swings of each session yet.  But I can see the protocol working as I increase the top speed with the driver from before using the RypStick in each session to after going through the protocol.  

As Bon Scott said... It's a long way to the top if you want to rock and roll.  

[Golfspy_TCB]

By the way... I chose a modified Superspeed protocol for my own use.  My knees were not doing well with the RypStick protocol.  I may try that protocol again after using this protocol 6-8 weeks. 

 

[Vegan_Golfer_PNW]

15 minutes ago, Golfspy_TCB said:

Just getting my legs under me on this challenge (pun intended).  Not sure what the data means yet.  Still trying figure out how to remove the governor on swinging fast... seems like it should be easier than it is.  

All that said, I'm seeing some gains... probably more about learning how to swing fast than building the muscles to support a faster swing at this point... it will be an interesting journey.  Interestingly, after my baseline swings... I haven't been able to match my average with the beginning swings of each session yet.  But I can see the protocol working as I increase the top speed with the driver from before using the RypStick in each session to after going through the protocol.  

As Bon Scott said... It's a long way to the top if you want to rock and roll.  

you'll get there! FYI, this was me last year october. Now i am up at 109. Granted this is with the MaxSwingSpeed trainer

 

[Golfspy_TCB]

5 minutes ago, Vegan_Golfer_PNW said:

you'll get there! FYI, this was me last year october. Now i am up at 109. Granted this is with the MaxSwingSpeed trainer

 

Those are some impressive gains VG!!!  Thanks for the encouragement!!

[GolfSpy MPR]

36 minutes ago, Golfspy_TCB said:

probably more about learning how to swing fast than building the muscles to support a faster swing at this point

I think this is true for the vast majority of amateur golfers (including me). I don't discount the importance of strength and fitness (and it's something I'm working on quite a bit). But I think most of the benefit from swing speed training isn't the stick, the weights, or the specific protocols: it's the feedback from the radar. Gradually learning what is fast is so critical to getting faster.