Golf instruction is always evolving, but the best tips stand the test of time. In GOLF.com’s Lifetime Tips, we highlight some of the greatest tips that teachers and players have shared in the pages of GOLF Magazine. This week, we look back at our October 1978 issue where Ben Crenshaw split eight keys for a smooth swing.
There is no greater compliment your playing partners can pay you than to say you have a “smooth swing.” A smooth silky movement – a la Couples Fred OR Ernie Els – it is not only aesthetically pleasing, but also quite effective.
But while these smooth oscillations can look effortlessly, they are anything but. A smooth rhythm is created over years of practice and it takes time to improve.
Ben Crenshaw is a prime example of this. And again in the October 1978 issue of GOLF magazinethe two-time Masters champion shared eight keys to developing a smooth swing rhythm. See below.
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Crenshaw keys for smooth tempo
Every golfer has done it. You rush one shot, then another, before you can recover, you’ve made a bogey, a double bogey, or worse. How can you get your rhythm back? The first adjustment is mental.
To slow down, tell yourself, “Golf is a leisurely game. What’s the point of rushing? The ball isn’t going anywhere—only I can move it.” Second, remind yourself of the good shots you hit; you didn’t rush them, did you? Decide that you will move the same way on your next shot.
Now that you’re in the right frame of mind, here are a few more techniques, not all of which will apply whenever you have a very quick swing spell. But they do make a handy checklist, and I’ll bet that, at any point in time, some of them will do the trick for you.
1. Don’t rush your pattern
The first place to look when you’re rushing your shots is before you hit the ball. You may fall into the habit of walking faster than normal between strokes and then stand up too quickly. To slow yourself down, take a few deep breaths. Take a deep breath. As you breathe in, imagine the tension flowing out of your body. Try it; it works for me.
Another point: Go through each step of your regular addressing pattern. Don’t cut your pattern short; you can speed up without noticing. A practice swing can also help. I especially like a “semi-practice swing”. This does wonders for your pace.
2. Take it easy at the address
Once you are on the ball, control the speed of your movement. If it is too fast, the reverse will be too fast. Also check the clamping pressure. A quick backswing often results in a very tight grip, especially with the right hand.
Another must for a smooth back movement is a slight forward press with the right knee – normally an instinctive movement. However, if you’re in a hurry, you tend to leave it out; you may have to consciously think about a push forward before it becomes a habit again.
A fourth common error at address is driving the club into the ground behind the ball. Invariably you will compensate by driving the club too quickly. Let the club “hang” from your shoulders into the grass behind the ball, but slightly off the ground. It makes it much easier to start the swing slowly and smoothly. I do it and Jack Nicklaus does it, so you’ll be in good company.
3. Come back down and slowly
One of the best ways I know to slow back down is to think “low and slow.” If you think “low”, the left shoulder should move back with the arms and clubs as one part. Think “slow” and it’s natural for your left leg to move early in the backswing to coordinate with your upper body movement. Firing the larger muscles of the shoulders and legs as soon as the backswing begins automatically makes you return at a good pace, because these muscles cannot move quickly.
Conversely, when you move backward too quickly, it is usually the result of smaller muscles in the hands and wrists working independently. They pick up the club quickly and the bigger muscles contribute too little too late. You never get a full lock in your hips, shoulders, arms, hands, and club. As a result, you jump from above, get on the ball and soon.
4. Complete the backstroke
No matter how you cut it, you’ll never get a good cut from an incomplete return. However, that’s exactly the problem with going back too quickly – you start down before you ever bend. That’s why I like the thought: Swing the club all the way. The word “all” is the key. Each of us has an optimal closure – an optimal hip turn, optimal shoulder turn, optimal arm swing length and optimal wrist cock. You have to give yourself time to let these things happen.
Wait until you feel your hands and the club have reached that good “‘slot” behind you. Chances are, you’re back at a good pace and your hips, shoulders, arms and ankles have been working properly. You feel like you have all the time in the world to turn back. This is the right feeling you should have.
5. Wait for the ‘pull’
Bobby Jones has said that you have to start in a relaxed manner towards the ball. i agree The only area in the swing where the club should fly is from the hips up on the downswing to the hips high on the following. Start too fast and you can hit too early and dissipate your power long before you reach the ball.
This is why it is a good idea to wait for the “pull”. You feel this pulling action in the left arm, which results from allowing the left heel to return to the ground and the left knee to move to the left, the first movements in an accurate landing. Once you’ve given yourself time to do these essential lower-body movements first, you can safely let it go and, in Jones’ words, “freewheel” through the ball and be completely done.
6. Enter your key
If you have a favorite beat button, write it down where you can see it. A Tour player I knew stuck a tag with the word “Tempo” on his driver’s tag. If I were to do something like this, I would use the words “one-two” – a small “one” to represent low and slow return, and a large “two” for acceleration through impact. Other places to put the keys would be the back of the grip or stamped directly on your golf ball.
7. Choose the right club
One reason why you are rushing to shoot may be that you are not getting enough club. If you usually choose the club that you have to hit hard and hard to get the ball into the hole, then you are putting unnecessary pressure on your swing; you risk rushing the shot every time. Try taking one more club than usual; you’ll swing slower and easier knowing you can get the ball to the bat. You may be on the back side of some greens, but most of the time you will hit the ball the right distance.
8. Take off your shoes
If you’re rushing the move and nothing you’ve tried works, here’s a cure I use that’s foolproof. Step on the practice tee, kick off your shoes and hit a few shots on your stocking feet. Without spikes to keep you steady, you’ll lose your balance if you move too fast. But stick with it. After a few more shots, you’ll start to slow down your swing and hit the ball more consistently. Put your shoes back on and continue swinging at the same pace. I think you will like the results.
