Rhythm check 5 minutes

Rafa says: “I’ll finish off my practice with a few wedges from 100 yards and in, just to get the rhythm back in my swing. Sometimes you feel that when you’re hitting drivers, you’re swinging very quickly and I want to get my tempo back on track. Once I’ve hit a few more wedge shots I feel like I’m ready to go.”

Pro tip: Whenever you practise, it is worth remembering how easy it is for your rhythm to speed up. If you feel like you are starting to swing too quickly and losing control, grab a short-iron and try this drill. Make a normal swing but stop at the top for a split second. Repeat this for another five or ten balls and then get back to your practice. This simple tip ensures you aren’t grooving anything negative into your golf swing.

Rafa has a textbook impact position. As he strikes the ball, his hips and chest have already rotated to face the target – his arms follow this powerful body rotation