Motion: Take ownership

This final section relates to the overall rhythm and tempo of your motion, and it’s not so much about technique as about experimentation. Highperforming golfers take ownership of the flow of motion in their actions, adjusting it to the shot and the situation. With some trial and error, you can develop the speed and rhythm that works best for you, relative to the shot. Focus on two specific areas:

1 Speed and even tempo

Begin by making swings where your backswing tempo matches your downswing tempo. Use a scale of 1-10, 1 being slow and 10 being fast. Pick a number, ensuring that by the end you’ve tried slow, medium and fast tempos. Hit six-to-12 balls at that speed, changing targets with each shot.

Adapt-ability

By the end of the session you should be beginning to get a feel for how a certain speed seems to work best for a certain shot length or trajectory. There is no right or wrong about this; you are simply getting used to the fact that swing speed and tempo is something you can adapt to improve results in different situations, and working out how.

2 Speed variations

Now take the experiment to the next level by changing backswing and downswing tempos. Try slow-to-fast, and quicker back to slower through. Use that 1-10 scale again, perhaps starting with a 3 back and 7 through then a 7 back and 3 through. Again, hit up to a dozen balls at different targets with each combination.

Tailored tempo

As before, monitor how mixing up backswing and throughswing speeds can create different effects and results. Perhaps you will find a slow-back, fast-through action works better for 30-yarders, or the opposite helps you die the ball on to a downslope. Your results will be specific to you, but make sure you take note of the numbers that seem best suited to different situations. Now you have flexible and proven solutions to the variety of bunker challenges you will face out on the course.