Rhythm

Almost exactly a year ago I wrote this (below) as a follow up to some other thoughts about how to find good rhythm in one's golf swing:

The pause I'm working on now is not really a pause, but more of a reset - of the shoulders. When I get to the top of the backswing all I think about is 'is my left (lead) shoulder turned closed or pointing at about 90 degrees to the target line?' This sometimes requires a minute adjustment at the top and this in turn inserts a minute pause in the action of the swing - even though the club will keep moving, and is actually dropping slightly, before the downswing commences. This is a kind of pause, without really pausing, but I'm finding it is a useful way to find rhythm in my swing (and prevent the dreaded rush to the bottom) and to hit the ball a little better. There's no doubt, the more rhythm the better.

I concluded that while a pause might work for some, for me it feels too extreme. It is however very important to make sure you reach the top of the backswing and swing smoothly from there - with no hurry and no attempt to swing hard or hit at the ball.

The feeling of reduced effort also feels at first like you are sacrificing power and distance. But, in the beautiful, paradoxical tradition of golf, the end result is that 90 percent of the time the ball goes as far or further - and straighter - because of a couple of factors, as follows:

By swinging smoothly the clubhead actually accelerates more smoothly and reaches a speed that is only occasionally reached when the club is swung hard. This is because the excessive hand action (and often body action) involved in hard swings usually leads to deceleration of the clubhead in the impact zone.

Swinging with a smooth, rhythmic action also greatly improves the chances of making centre clubface contact (finding the sweet spot) which is so important in optimising the potential distance achieved with the relevant club.

There are other benefits, injury prevention being just one, but even the aesthetics of a smooth golf swing are rewarding. Look at some of the great smooth swings of the past - Sam Snead - or of the present - Ernie Els - and who could argue that their easy swings were/are not effective.

I have tried all sorts of ways to swing a golf club. But in my quest to find the secret of 'effortless golf' I don't there can be much doubt that RHYTHM is the key.