Breaking down the distance myth

The distance myth

How many times have you heard that the secret to pulling off the best drive possible is to hit the ball as hard as possible with as much force as you can?

We all have a golfing buddy that prides themselves on hitting the ball really far, but the funny thing about golf, whether you’re just starting out or all the way even up to professional level, is that we’re all different and our golf swings are completely unique.

We all like to hear a satisfying smack when we hit the ball on the driving range, but how much of that is down to speed? Considering that all our swings are unique, it’s mostly all down to us and our ability.

Think back to when you very first held a golf club, it was a miracle if you managed to hit the ball 50 yards in the air! You’ve played a lot of golf since then and your performance has increased over time. Now the idea of being challenged to hit a drive just 50 yards is laughable.

However, another big factor that will determine the results of your shots is the quality of your gear, and the latest ZX Mk II drivers from Srixon are packed with tech to help you succeed. Please read on as we break down the myth that hitting the ball harder will always give you more distance.

Hitting the ball cleanly

While your natural strength is a big part of getting the ball off the ground and into the air, it’s important that you make a clean impact to give the ball the impressive flight you’re after. Modern driver faces are designed to transfer as much energy from the club into the ball as possible to keep the momentum going to gain maximum distance.

The Srixon ZX5 Mk II driver features a variable face thickness pattern so you’ll have an enhanced COR when you hit the ball. COR stands for Coefficient of Restitution, and is defined as the final velocity to initial velocity between two objects after their collision. So, if you have an enhanced COR, you have a better transfer of energy from your driver to your ball, resulting in a faster ball speed and more distance down the fairway.

The ZX5 Mk II also has Srixon’s Rebound Frame that sits behind the face and helps focus the energy transfer. One of the reasons why this driver swings so well is because of how the weight is distributed. The titanium crown on the clubhead is incredibly thin and light, allowing mass to be focused where it’s best suited.

Naturally, the closer your strike is to the centre of the clubface, the better your shot will be. However, a huge benefit to these modern driver faces is that they’re incredibly forgiving across the entire face. This means if you mishit a shot and don’t hit it perfectly out of the centre of the face, you’ll still hit it closer to your intended target than you would with previous models.

So, whether you approach the ball with a fast or a slow swing, the biggest thing to consider and strive to improve upon is the quality of your contact. While there will always persist to be a myth that hitting it fast = hitting it far, you need to hit the ball cleanly to get the best result.

Different ZX Mk II models

You may not even be aware, but brands including Srixon make specific driver models to accommodate different players, and you’ll definitely fit into needing one of these models in regards to swing speed.

The three driver models in the ZX MkII range are the ZX5 Mk II, ZX5 LS Mk II, and the ZX7 Mk II.

As we’ve already discussed, the ZX5 Mk II has a fantastic clubface that will help you generate amazing ball speeds. The club also has an adjustable hosel to vary the angle of the face so you can adjust the launch and spin characteristics to your preference.

The ZX5 LS Mk II model is the ‘Low Spin’ option in Srixon’s latest driver range. The club has a forward-plated adjustable 8g weight to help you maximise distance above all else. This club is fantastic for players that have a fast-paced swing and want to get the most out of their drives.

The ZX7 M kII driver is a fantastic choice if you want to build up some confidence and get more consistency in your drives. The club has two weight port locations so you can vary the weight and loft on your drives.

We're here to help

When you get custom fit for a driver, we’ll walk you through how important it is that you’re playing with the right gear for your game.

It’s also important to keep in mind that there are a variety of shaft options available to you when deciding on a new club. Shafts have different levels of flexibility so you’ll need to consider the flex that’s most appropriate for you. Essentially, the faster you swing the club, the stiffer your shaft should be.

So, to answer the question, swing speed may have a bearing on how much distance you get, but hitting it far is determined more by how clean your strike is. It’s definitely a good idea to consider how fast your swing speed is the next time you head out to practice. We’re always on-hand to offer you a custom-fitting so you can better get to know your gear and your game.