The Swing Speed Revolution Nobody’s Talking About: Why Golf’s Most Popular Myth Needs to Die

I’ve been around professional golf long enough to know that the sport moves in cycles. Equipment cycles, swing theory cycles, fitness cycles. But here’s what fascinates me after three-and-a-half decades covering this game: the most damaging myths persist longest, especially when they’re wrapped in poetic language.

Take “low and slow,” for instance. It’s been gospel in clubhouses from Pebble Beach to your local municipal course for decades. Smooth takeaway. Controlled tempo. Easy does it. Sounds good. Feels right. And it’s absolute hogwash if you actually want to hit the ball farther.

I’m not saying this lightly. Having caddied for Tom Lehman back in the ’90s, I watched him thread the needle between power and precision better than almost anyone I’ve seen. But even Tom would adapt his approach based on what the modern game demanded. And what it demands now is a fundamental rethinking about when speed actually matters.

Energy Happens Early (Or It Doesn’t Happen At All)

Bernie Najar, who’s coached some of the longest hitters in professional golf including Kyle Berkshire, crystallized this for me in a way that cuts through all the noise:

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

That’s not just teaching philosophy—that’s physics colliding with tradition, and tradition is losing.

What strikes me about this approach is how much it mirrors what we’ve seen on the PGA Tour over the last decade. Look at Bryson DeChambeau’s rise, or the way young players like Rory McIlroy have evolved their games. They’re not being deliberately reckless, but they’re aggressive early. They understand that clubhead speed at impact is the result of work done long before impact occurs. The takeaway isn’t just a ceremonial beginning—it’s where the magic actually starts.

In my experience covering 15 Masters and countless tour events, I’ve noticed the players who figured this out earliest gained a real competitive edge. The ones still clinging to the “low and slow” philosophy? They’re either adapting or getting left behind.

The Control Paradox

Here’s the counterintuitive part that most amateurs get wrong:

“It’ll challenge your need to feel in control throughout your entire swing, but you’ll also find that you have more speed in the tank than you thought.”

That’s the real sticking point. We’re taught from day one that golf is about control. Measured, deliberate, calm. And in certain aspects of your game—your short game, your course management, your mental approach—that’s absolutely correct. But raw power generation? That’s a different beast entirely.

The irony is that by *releasing* control over the takeaway—by “really reving it up a little,” as Najar puts it—you actually gain control over the results. More energy early in the swing means a more consistent sequence. It means you’re loading the club properly instead of hoping to steal speed late in the downswing. It’s efficient. It’s elegant. And it’s the exact opposite of what we’ve been telling recreational golfers for years.

What This Means for the Average Player

I’ve seen a lot of trends come and go in golf instruction. Some stick because they’re actually valuable. Others persist because they’re comfortable or because they make coaches feel like they’re protecting their students from themselves.

This isn’t a trend—it’s a correction. And what makes it encouraging is that it’s being championed by credible voices. Bernie Najar isn’t some fringe YouTube personality. He’s a GOLF Top 100 Teacher working with serious long-hitters and teaching the next generation at Caves Valley. When someone of that caliber is explicitly debunking conventional wisdom, it deserves serious consideration.

What I’m genuinely excited about is the democratization of this knowledge. Twenty years ago, you had to be on the professional circuit or have access to a top-tier coach to understand these principles. Now it’s available to anyone willing to challenge their assumptions about the swing.

The Bigger Picture

Having caddied and covered this sport for so long, I’ve learned that golf constantly reinvents itself. The equipment gets better. The athletes get stronger. The understanding of biomechanics gets sharper. And occasionally—not often, but occasionally—someone articulates something about the swing that makes everything click into focus.

This feels like one of those moments.

“If you want to get the most speed possible, you’ve got to start ripping the club back fast.”

It’s simple. It’s counterintuitive. And for anyone who’s plateaued on their swing speed—or just wants to understand why the long hitters actually do what they do—it’s the kind of insight that changes everything.

The beautiful thing about golf is that there’s always room to get better. The frustrating thing is how often we hold ourselves back with outdated ideas. This one’s worth ditching.