TRAINING · CRITICALLY EXAMINED

Club head speed from 60 — what SuperSpeed really delivers.

Realistically, you can expect a +1 to +3 mph increase in clubhead speed after six to eight weeks of SuperSpeed training. This translates to an additional three to nine yards of carry and less than 0.5 strokes per round. This is far less than the marketing promises, but it is measurable. Where the training fits in, and where short game and your bag can bring a tenfold effect.

SuperSpeed Golf is a commercial training product—three differently weighted sticks in the senior set cost around 200 to 250 euros, with app connectivity and additional programs quickly costing more. Speed gains of 5 to .

The mechanism behind it—overload-underload training with weighted sticks—has been known in sports science for decades. What's new is the packaging as a consumer product and the visibility thanks to social media marketing. Those who understand the idea can use it efficiently with the Senior Stick set. Those who uncritically accept the marketing promises are often disappointed after eight weeks of training—because the promised 10 mph are nowhere to be found and the score has barely moved.

What SuperSpeed *Really* Does for Senior Golfers

Point 1 — The mechanism is solid
✓ NEUROMUSCULAR PATHWAY.
The protocol works with three differently weighted sticks (Senior set: yellow 230 g, blue 245 g, red 270 g). The idea: The nervous system learns to produce higher movement speeds. Well-documented scientifically – the effect size in older players remains moderate.
Point 2 — Realistic Speed Gains
+1 BIS +3 MPH IN 8 WOCHEN.
Peer-reviewed studies (Sasaki 2019, Lamontagne 2021) show gains of one to three mph for the over-60 target group after eight weeks. This corresponds to an additional carry distance of three to nine meters. In terms of score: 0.3 to 0.8 strokes per round – measurable, but small.
Item 3 — Score-Lever Comparison with Short Game
10 TIMES SMALLER THAN WEDGES.
Comparison calculation: Six more meters of driver carry save approximately 0.3 strokes. One meter of more precise wedge distance saves up to three strokes. Someone who puts in 18 training weeks with SuperSpeed instead of on the practice green optimizes the smaller lever by a factor of ten.
Item 4 — Risk of Injury
⚠ Maximum Load.
Maximal-speed swings put disproportionate strain on tendons and ligaments. With existing shoulder, elbow, or back problems, SuperSpeed can be counterproductive—and in the worst-case scenario, lead to months of playing downtime. Consult an orthopedic specialist or physical therapist before starting.
Point 5 - Where training is most likely to be worthwhile
✓ ABOVE ALL BELOW 80 MPH.
The relative benefit is highest at current driver clubhead speeds below 80 mph — meaning for senior golfers with low carry distances, where an additional two to three mph can make a difference of several yards on the green. Above 90 mph, the added effect becomes marginal.
+1–3 mph
Realistic clubhead speed – increase after 6-8 weeks of SuperSpeed training in over-60s — significantly below the advertised 5 to 10 mph
Lamontagne et al. 2021, Sasaki et al. 2019 · Peer-reviewed
Translates to three to nine meters more carry and less than 0.5 strokes per round. Halving marketing promises.

Senior SuperSpeed Protocol in Practice

Module 1 — Senior Set (3 Sticks)
✓ YELLOW / BLUE / RED.
The official Senior set consists of three sticks: yellow (230 g), blue (245 g), and red (270 g). Unlike the standard set, it does not include an overly heavy stick, which reduces the risk of injury for senior players. Purchase price is around €200–€250; additional weights are not recommended for seniors.
Module 2 — Level 1 Protocol (Weeks 1–3)
✓ 3× PER WEEK, 18 SWINGS.
Three training days per week with rest days in between. Per session: 6 swings with yellow (dominant), 6 with blue (non-dominant), 6 with red (dominant). Maximum speed, no balls. Takes 15 minutes.
Module 3 — Level 2 Protocol (Weeks 4-8)
3x per week, 36 swings.
Double repetition count: 12 with yellow, 12 with blue, 12 with red. Step drill (short forward motion in the swing) and Happy Gilmore drill (run-up swing) incorporated. Takes 25 minutes.
Module 4 — Pre- and Post-measurement
✓ LAUNCH MONITOR BEFORE/AFTER.
Before starting the program: ten driver swings with a launch monitor, record the median clubhead speed. After eight weeks: the same measurement, same conditions. Without measurement, SuperSpeed is hopeful training—and all statements about success are just stories. A home device like the Garmin R10 (approx. €300) is perfectly adequate for this.
Module 5 - Mobility as a Prerequisite
✓ HIP + THORACIC SPINE + SHOULDER.
SuperSpeed only works when motion amplitude is present. Daily mobility (hip rotation, thoracic spine rotation, shoulder stretch, ten minutes total) is a prerequisite. Without this foundation, speed training is of little benefit and increases the risk of injury.

Speed matters—but for senior golfers, it's almost always not the biggest lever. Short game and bag optimization will give you more strokes back, for less effort.

— Dr. Greg Rose, co-founder of the Titleist Performance Institute (who also sells speed training programs through TPI — the main point remains valid, but it’s important to be aware of his financial interests)

Three principles for senior golfers considering SuperSpeed.

Realism instead of marketing

Advertising claims of 5 to 10 mph of additional speed for seniors are unrealistic. One to three mph after eight weeks is realistic. Starting with this expectation means making a rational decision—rather than being disappointed later.

Leverage comparison before investment

Before buying the stick set, compare the score levers: wedge calibration, putting routine, bag optimization, course management. Those who have completed these areas can use SuperSpeed as an additional lever. Those who still have wedge deficiencies will get multiple times the score effect there.

Mobility before speed

Mobility is a prerequisite for speed gains. Without a mobility foundation, training effects will not occur, and the risk of injury will increase. Ten minutes of daily mobility is the more cost-effective and sustainable investment.

Common Misconceptions and Marketing Traps

Misunderstanding 1 — „Tour Pro effects also apply to seniors”
Incorrect. The spectacular SuperSpeed examples (Bryson DeChambeau, Rory McIlroy) involve 25- to 35-year-old professional players with intact musculature, daily training, and support staff. Their speed gains are not transferable to senior golfers. Peer-reviewed studies with individuals over 60 show one to three mph – not eight to ten.
Misunderstanding 2 — „SuperSpeed is the only option for distance”
Half-truth. Speed gains bring distance—but the more efficient distance levers for seniors lie elsewhere: custom shaft fitting (five to ten meters more carry without an increase in power), spin-loft optimization, clean ball contact in the center of the sweet spot. Those who haven't yet seen a launch monitor have more sensible options than €250 for clubs.
Misconception 3 — „I can tell if it's working without measuring”
Incorrect - and one of the most common self-deception patterns. Without pre- and post-measurement with a launch monitor, subjective impressions are unreliable: a good training day suggests progress, a bad one feigns stagnation. Only the median values over ten swings before and after the program show whether the effort has had a real effect.

On this page

ON THIS PAGE
01 What SuperSpeed Really Does
02 The Senior Protocol in Practice
03 Marketing traps
04 What Speed Training Doesn't Replace
MS
Mathias Struwe
PUBLISHER · HCP 31 · 68 YRS.
+1–3 mph
Realistic speed increase in 6-8 weeks - not 5 to 10.
REFERENCE
Lamontagne et al. (2021): Effect of overspeed training on swing speed in senior golfers. Sasaki et al. (2019): Speed gains in golfers over 50. Broadie, M. (2014): Every Shot Counts. SuperSpeed Golf – Manufacturer Information and Independent Reviews 2023-2024. German Society for Sports Medicine: Guideline on Rotational Sports in Older Age (2022).

What Speed Training Doesn't Replace

SuperSpeed can add one to three mph of clubhead speed — it doesn't replace short game, course management, or the critical analysis of where your score is truly being lost. Someone who invests 18 hours of training in speed instead of wedges and putting often optimizes the smallest available score lever. SuperSpeed is an elective, not a requirement. It makes sense as a supplement when your bag, short game, and course strategy are solid — overestimated if there are still areas for improvement there.

THREE FIRST STEPS

How to Decide if SuperSpeed is Right for You

01
Measure current clubhead speed
One hour with a launch monitor at a PGA pro. Driver speed under 80 mph: SuperSpeed is relatively highly recommended. Between 80–90 mph: moderately recommended. Over 90 mph: marginally recommended, prioritize other levers.
02
Check quick game status
Before SuperSpeed: Three-circle drill over 60 percent? Wedge distances calibrated to 30/50/70 m? If not—start there. The impact on your score is five to ten times greater than with Speed.
03
Conduct a mobility audit
Check hip and thoracic spine rotation (physio on insurance prescription or PGA-Pro). Without a mobility base, speed training is ineffective and risky. Mobility first, then speed.

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