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Tom Hoge Wanted More Speed - Here's How We Helped Him Find It

Tom Hoge wants 190 mph ball speed.  At least, that’s the running joke between him and his coach, Scott Hamilton.  Scott, one of the best coaches in the world, would be happy with 175 mph, but Tom is determined to prove that he can touch 190.

While 190 mph is probably not necessary, Tom could benefit from adding a few mph.  This year, he ranks 158th in Strokes Gained: Off The Tee, while cruising at 170 mph ball speed (PGA TOUR average is 174 mph).  Since ball speed is so closely related to driving performance, we knew we wanted to look for ways we could cheat some more speed out of his swing.

After evaluating his physical capabilities, force and 3D data, we identified three opportunities to improve his scoring potential off the tee. 

The Driver is a “Specialty Shot”

We believe there is a misconception that golfers only have one swing.  "Specialty shots" like a flop shot and chip shot have significantly different mechanics from a stock 7-iron.  Similarly, we believe the driver is a specialty shot.

Tom is an ELITE iron player, ranking 18th in SG: Approach in 2025 and 4th in SG: Approach in 2024.  However, the mechanics that make him great with an iron don’t necessarily benefit him with a driver. 

While an iron is struck with a descending blow (negative attack angle), the best drivers in the world typically have a positive attack angle.  Therefore, swinging a driver with “iron mechanics” might not be efficient, especially if hoping to generate significant speed.

One of the most effective and least invasive strategies to encourage a positive angle of attack is to adjust set up.  We call it plumb bob. Here's Greg explaining it in our Power Level 3 course:

 

Load to Explode

“You can’t shut a shut door.”

If you’ve watched our channel this last year, you’ve probably heard that line from Greg.  He’s referring to players who stay on their lead leg in the backswing instead of loading into the trail leg.  If all of their pressure is towards the target in the backswing, they have no incentive to drive that way in transition. 

In evaluating Tom’s force plate data, it was clear that lateral force was low relative to our PGA TOUR average.  While vertical force and torque are most closely associated with club head speed, lateral force is critical for adding energy to the system.  Consider why a pitcher strides down the mound or why a quarterback steps into a throw.

Greg was encouraging Tom to load more onto his trail side so that he could drive to the lead side.

 

New Swing, New Driver Specs

It should be a crime for any golfer to play with poorly fit equipment.  In terms of improving golf performance, optimizing equipment is the easy button.  Gym work is hard.  Swing work is hard.  Equipment changes are easy.  

Tom came in with a driver that was perfectly dialed for his swing, but after Greg’s recommendations changed his attack angle, he needed different settings to optimize launch and spin loft.  

This video from our Golf Level 2 online course highlights the importance of spin loft and how we can control it:

Helping golfers add speed is one of the most important - and exciting - opportunities for coaches.  While there are numerous paths to more distance, the key is knowing where to look. 

If you are a coach, fitness or medical professional interested in learning more about how to help golfers determine if their body is affecting their swing, check out our newly updated Level 1 online course.

View TPI Level 1 Online Course

If you're a golfer interested in a physical assessment, you can connect with a TPI Certified expert via our Find an Expert page. 

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