Welcome to Play Smart, a regular GOLF.com game-improvement column that will help you become a smarter, better golfer.

I like trying to hit the ball hard. When I go to the simulator, I always carve out some time at the end of my sessions to swing as hard as I can. There’s nothing more satisfying than catching one just right and seeing a new personal best flash up on screen.

But while chasing speed is a fun conquest, it can also be frustrating. There are days when I feel sluggish and slow, and my swing speed reflects that. Worse yet, there are weeks on end where I’ve felt like I hit a plateau, maxing out on my swing speed for good.

Such was the case for me late last year. And after failing to add any swing speed for several weeks, I felt at a loss. That’s when I turned to swing-speed guru Bernie Najar. Not only is he a GOLF Top 100 Teacher, but he’s also taught some of the longest hitters in the game, such as Kyle Berkshire.

At last winter’s Top 100 Teacher Summit, I teamed up with Bernie for a speed training boot camp to get as many tips and tricks on speed as I could. Check out the video below to see all of them, or read on for a simple tip that will instantly boost your swing speed.

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Try this for an instant speed boost

Clubhead speed is measured at the moment you impact the ball, but if you want more power, you need to think about speeding up long before that. In fact, how fast you’re going at impact is directly tied to how fast you start your swing.

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

One of the most popular adages in golf is that you should take the club back “low and slow.” But if you are trying to hit the ball longer, well, that’s a load of BS.

To get the maximum amount of energy into the golf club — and generate more speed — it’s important to put that energy into the club as soon as possible.

Think about how it looks when Bryson DeChambeau is swinging a driver. His takeaway is faster than lots of amateurs’ swings — and that’s no accident. If you want to get the most speed possible, you’ve got to start ripping the club back fast.

“We’ve got to get you putting more into the golf club early,” Bernie says. “Putting more into the golf club means you really have to rev it up a little.”

If you’re struggling to get more swing speed, give it a shot. 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.

Bernie Najar is a GOLF Top 100 Teacher and the director of instruction at Caves Valley GC in Owings Mills, Md. If you want to learn more about his teaching philosophies, check out his book Speed/Power/Finesse: How to Play the Three Games of Golf.

Skinner’s counter to the idea his side may have been better advised to drop slightly deeper to prevent Harder making those runs was sound.

“There are two mistakes in there from us,” he said.

“If you get pressure on the ball, you can’t play the long ball. They tried it a few times and played the ball out of play.

“It worked for them tonight but if I stop those two chances, they don’t score.”

It sounds simple. But execution is key at the highest level. If you don’t do that properly, you will get punished.

There are a number of minor details to explain why United came out on the wrong side of a tight result.

One of them is unquestionably squad depth.

Take the case of Japan midfielder Hinata Miyazawa, who played in the final of the Asian Cup in Sydney on Sunday, then travelled back to start for United.

By contrast, Tanikawa, who did not get on the pitch against Australia, started on the bench for Bayern, who were mindful of the effects of jetlag and wanted the midfielder to make an impact, which she did, by setting up Harder, then scoring the winner.

Skinner simply does not have enough players to rotate like that.

It makes the next few days, which feature another Old Trafford outing against Women’s Super League leaders Manchester City on Saturday before the trip to Germany for the second leg with Bayern next Wednesday (17:45 BST), particularly tough.

“We’ve played the most football in Europe this year, and we’ve got a really small squad right now, so it will challenge us,” said Skinner.

“It will take us to the depths. But the carrot is there for us.

“We expect it to be difficult. You can kind of trench your mind into what you must do.

“That’s why my players are at Manchester United. If they didn’t want to do it, they wouldn’t be at this club. They’re going to give it absolutely everything.”

Harry Maguire is confident of agreeing a new deal with Manchester United but the England defender stressed he would not want to stay at the club just for “sentimental” reasons.

The 33-year-old has been an ever-present since Michael Carrick took charge in January, with the centre-back helping the side rise to third in the Premier League and earning an international recall in the process.

Maguire is part of Thomas Tuchel’s final squad before he makes his selection for the World Cup, where his United contract is due to expire midway through the tournament.

But talks are advancing on a new deal, the Press Association understands, and the towering centre-back is ready to stay with the club he joined from Leicester for £80million in 2019.

“I think there’s been talks,” Maguire said. “I think we’ll reach an agreement where it’s best for the club and myself.

“What that agreement is, I’m sure you’ll find out over the next few weeks. But, yeah, I think it’ll get sorted sooner rather than later, whether I stay or leave. But I think it will – it should – get sorted pretty soon.”

Put to him United appears to be in his heart, he said: “Yeah, I love this club. But it’s got to be right for myself, it’s got to be right for the club as well.

“I don’t want to be staying on a sentimental value. I want to be staying because I want to be there and the club want me to drive the club forward still, and they feel like I’ve got a big part to play in it.

“And if that’s the case, then I’m sure we’ll sit down and reach something.”

Maguire joked he has a “long time off” to sort things out following his red card in Friday’s 2-2 draw at Bournemouth – a “bad end to a good day” that saw his England return confirmed.

The defender is full of praise for the work done by United boss Carrick, including the “smooth” transition to a back four from a three that had not worked effectively under Ruben Amorim.

“I don’t really have much bad to say about Ruben,” Maguire said ahead of Friday’s friendly against Uruguay. “I really like Ruben, I think he’s got great ideas. The ideas just didn’t work at Manchester United.

“I do believe he’ll go on and have an amazing career and his next club he’ll probably go and win many, many football matches.

“It just didn’t click or work and I think us as players have got to take a lot of responsibility for that as well.

“But I think he has led the club in a direction – and I do think he deserves a lot of credit for that – where he’s built a good, solid squad.”

Maguire prefers a back four as it allows him to be a more aggressive, front-footed defender, while the formation switch has seen midfielder Kobbie Mainoo return to the fold.

The 20-year-old had until recently looked more likely to head out on loan in January than be gearing up for a shot at a World Cup spot, but he too has returned to the England set-up after 18 months away.

Maguire said of “magnificent” Mainoo, who is also in talks over new terms: “I’m sure there are areas that he wants to improve and he still can improve, because he’s so young, really, for what he’s been through.

“He’s been through a lot in his short career where he’s probably thinking, ‘I need to get out and go and play some games’.

“To be back in with a chance of being at a World Cup is a great turnaround for him.”

Doma United FC have secured promotion to the Nigeria Premier Football League after a 2-0 victory over Mighty Jets FC on Wednesday, sparking wild celebrations among their supporters.

The crucial win at the Pantami Stadium confirmed Doma United as winners of Conference C in the Nigeria National League, sealing their return to the top flight just two years after relegation.

The “Savannah Scorpions” went into the match knowing that victory would guarantee promotion, and they delivered with a composed performance in front of their home fans.

Speaking after the match, head coach Najib Mabo expressed his joy at guiding the team back to the elite division.

“It is a special moment for us. The players showed great commitment and discipline to achieve this goal. We are proud to return Doma United to the NPFL,” he said.

The young coach had earlier described the fixture as emotional due to his strong ties with Mighty Jets, a club closely linked to his late father, Ismaila Mabo.

Despite the emotional challenge, Mabo remained focused on the task, leading his side to a victory that not only secured promotion but also confirmed relegation for the Jos-based club.

Doma United’s success has been built on consistency throughout the season, with a strong home record playing a key role in their campaign.

The result triggered celebrations in Gombe, as fans and players marked a quick return to the NPFL, where the club will compete again next season.

On March 8 fireworks lit up the sky in Ahmedabad as India celebrated a memorable T20 World Cup triumph. Far away in Mumbai, Prithvi Shaw quietly stepped into a new phase of his life. Away from the roaring crowds and national euphoria, the 26-year-old got engaged to his long-time girlfriend Akriti Agarwal. It was a personal milestone which, in many ways, could redefine the trajectory of his cricketing journey.

For Shaw, the timing was critical and symbolic. A few months ago he found himself at a crossroads, unsure about what was next. Over the past couple of years, his career had drifted from the promise that once made him one of India’s brightest young stars to hopelessness. He went from a dream Test debut century in 2018 to being dropped from domestic squads and going unsold at the IPL 2025 auction.

But if there’s one thing that stands out now, it is a renewed sense of purpose—fuelled not just by ambition, but also by stability off the field.

“I’m not married yet, but I’m engaged… having the right partner makes a big difference,” Shaw says, almost candidly to a question asked by NDTV during a casual press briefing by the Delhi Capitals. He was shy, trying to gather his thoughts, admitted that it was not a question he’s used to answering. He called Agarwal his “lucky charm,” saying that their relationship has been built on effort and understanding. “We’ve both worked very hard to build this. It wasn’t easy. We understand each other’s professional lives—I’m a cricketer, she’s an actress—and that means both have to make sacrifices.”

Shaw has often been criticised for lack of discipline and focus, but on Wednesday it seemed there was a subtle but important shift. The Maharashtra batter spoke of balance, boundaries, and emotional support, perhaps missing during his more turbulent years.

There is also a sense of self-awareness. “Sometimes I still feel like a kid,” he admits, reflecting on how quickly time has passed since his early days in international cricket. “But when you have a partner who understands you, it helps. I feel I have the right person beside me.”

That emotional anchor may prove crucial as Shaw attempts what could be one of the toughest comebacks in Indian cricket.

After a disappointing run that saw him dropped from Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy squad in 2024 due to concerns over fitness and discipline, Shaw’s stock fell sharply. His struggles were further highlighted when he went unsold in the IPL 2025 auction—a significant fall for a player who was once bought for Rs 1.2 crore after leading India to the Under-19 World Cup title in 2018.

It is this second chance that now defines his mindset. And he looks forward to a chance to open for India again.

“That’s exactly why I’m playing… there’s no doubt I want to come back to the Indian team,” Shaw says with conviction. But this time, the intent is backed by action. “I feel like I’m putting in two to three times more effort than before. I’m giving 200%—not just on match days, but in practice as well.”

For Shaw, preparation is no longer just physical, it is deeply mental. He admits that stress once affected him significantly, but his approach has evolved. “Now I try to handle everything with a smile. You have to be mentally strong, especially when you go through tough phases. Life is a challenge—you can’t run away from it.”

There’s also a noticeable shift in how he views failure and expectations. Once seen as a prodigy burdened by hype, Shaw now speaks like someone who has made peace with the unpredictability of the sport. “You can’t promise anything in cricket. It could be a quick 50, a slow 50, or even a zero. What matters is giving your 100%.” So what’s new for him this season? The Mumbaikar says,“ I got engaged, that’s one big highlight! But apart from that, it’s been hard work—three times more than before. Training, mental strength… everything.”

He is wiser with a supportive partner by his side. Delhi will hope for this wisdom and the new- found calm to impact his cricket as well.