What swing speed do you need for 170 ball speed?

About 113 to 115 mph.

Ball speed divided by club speed is smash factor. TrackMan says a golfer should hope for a driver smash factor near 1.50, and its PGA Tour average is 1.49. So 170 divided by 1.50 is 113 mph, and 170 divided by 1.48 is 115 mph.

That is tour speed. TrackMan lists the PGA Tour average at roughly 115 mph of club speed, which is where 170 mph ball speed lives. An amateur with a 1.44 smash factor would need 118 mph to get there.

If you really are in this range, soft balls cost you the most. In MyGolfSpy’s 2026 robot test, soft two-piece balls were 4 to 5 mph slower than the Pro V1 control at 115 mph, while firm tour balls matched or beat it.