Maverick McNealy uses a unique method to increase swing speed.
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Welcome to Play smarta regular game improvement column on GOLF.com that will help you become a smarter and better golfer.
Winter is the worst time of year for golfers in cold climates. Temperatures are low, golf courses are closed and daylight is scant. It’s a golfer’s worst nightmare.
For someone like me who grew up with year-round golf, moving north took some adjustment. For the first time in my life, golf had a true off-season.
I didn’t like the off-season at first, but I’ve since grown to like it. The off-season not only allows me to rest from the previous season, but also allows me to make changes to my game in preparation for the upcoming season.
It’s the same approach that professionals use. But when it comes to making some changes, there are certain professionals who can: small but different than others.
Take a recent PGA Tour winner for example Maverick McNealy, For example. In a recent appearance on Smylie Kaufman’s podcast, McNealy revealed that one of the ways he increases his swing speed in the offseason is by getting on the ice.
Mava’s unique speed training
Everyone wants to swing the club faster and there are many ways to do it. Some golfers go to the gym to bulk up a bit, while others do just that speed training programs. However, McNealy’s method for adding swing speed is a little different than most.
McNealy, a former No. 1-ranked amateur, grew up playing hockey in California and still tries to get plenty of ice time during the off-season. The on-ice reps not only keep him connected to his old sport, but also help him with his golf game.
“I just shoot [hockey] pucks,” McNealy says. “It makes me faster.”
McNealy estimates that if he gets a few hours on the ice each week, he’ll be back on the golf course with an extra two to three miles per hour on his golf swing.
Similar to the golf swing, the motion of shooting a hockey puck requires a specific sequence of body movement to generate power. And while the movement of a hockey swing is slightly different than a golf swing, it forces you to use similar muscle groups.
“It’s hard to train the way your body moves in the gym,” he says. “Weights and stuff are generally very one-dimensional. Getting all the muscle groups to work together, to synchronize with each other – as if I was just hurting in random places. I just want to buy a skateboard and just smoke pucks in the garage.
