Boost Swing Speed: Fast Backswing Tip From a Top 100 Teacher

The pursuit of distance in golf is a constant, and for many amateur players, it feels like a ceiling exists – a point beyond which swing speed simply won’t increase. But according to GOLF Top 100 Teacher Bernie Najar, and as demonstrated by GOLF.com’s game improvement editor Zephyr Melton in a recent training session, that ceiling might be self-imposed. The key isn’t necessarily swinging *harder*, but swinging *faster* from the highly beginning of the backswing.

Melton’s experience, detailed in a recent “speed training boot camp” with Najar, highlights a common misconception: the idea that a smooth, “low and slow” takeaway is the foundation of a powerful swing. Najar challenges this notion, arguing that energy input early in the backswing is crucial for maximizing clubhead speed at impact.

“What’s important to realize is that energy into the club happens early in the backswing,” Najar explains. “It’s not ‘take it back slow.’”

The instinct for control often leads golfers to inhibit their initial movement, effectively capping their potential speed. Najar’s approach, honed through working with some of the world’s longest hitters – including Kyle Berkshire – focuses on “revving up” the club from the start. This isn’t about losing control, but about initiating the swing with more intent and acceleration.

The comparison to Bryson DeChambeau is apt. DeChambeau’s famously aggressive takeaway, often noticeably faster than that of many amateur golfers, isn’t a flaw, but a deliberate strategy to generate maximum power. It’s a visual representation of the principle Najar advocates: if you aim for to achieve greater speed, you must start building it immediately.

“We’ve got to gain you putting more into the golf club early,” Najar emphasizes. “Putting more into the golf club means you really have to rev it up a little.”

This advice isn’t a quick fix, and it will likely challenge a golfer’s ingrained sense of swing mechanics. It requires a willingness to relinquish some perceived control and trust in the body’s ability to adapt to a more aggressive initiation. Though, the potential reward – increased swing speed and, greater distance – is significant.

The concept extends beyond simply trying to swing faster. It’s about changing the *timing* of when that speed is generated. By focusing on early acceleration, golfers can tap into a reserve of power they may not have known they possessed. It’s a subtle shift in thinking that can yield substantial results.

The broader context of this instruction aligns with a growing trend in golf towards a more athletic and power-focused approach. While finesse and precision remain vital, the ability to generate clubhead speed is increasingly recognized as a key differentiator at all levels of the game. Technologies like golf simulators, as offered by companies like Smart Golf Simulators and Golf Daddy, are playing an increasingly important role in allowing golfers to measure and refine their swing speed in a controlled environment.

Golf Daddy, for example, emphasizes the importance of data-driven improvement, offering detailed analytics to help golfers understand their swing and build lasting fundamentals. These tools provide the feedback necessary to implement techniques like Najar’s, allowing golfers to track their progress and make informed adjustments.

The message is clear: don’t be afraid to challenge conventional wisdom. The pursuit of distance isn’t about brute force, but about efficient energy transfer. And that transfer begins not at impact, but with the very first movement of the backswing. As Melton discovered, and as Najar consistently demonstrates, unlocking that potential is within reach for golfers willing to “rev it up” from the start.

Bernie Najar is a GOLF Top 100 Teacher and the director of instruction at Caves Valley GC in Owings Mills, Md. His book, Speed/Power/Finesse: How to Play the Three Games of Golf, further explores his teaching philosophies.