86 The Basics

Give your swing some rhythm with four simple set-up steps.

‘You could have amazing technique, but if you can’t put it all together with the right rhythm, you won’t hit your best shots’ RORY MCILROY

For many of us, the basics are all about how you set up to the ball – grip, aim, stance, posture. But I believe rhythm is a true fundamental of the game, too. Every good swing has it. It’s what gives your action coordination and timing. It’s the oil that lubricates your swing.

“Just as important as mechanical thoughts is making sure you’re swinging with good tempo,” says Rory Mcilroy. “You could have amazing technique, but if you can’t put it all together with the right rhythm, you won’t hit your best tee shots.”

Most club golfers think of rhythm as something that only exists once the swing has started. But I want to introduce a different concept to you – that you set your rhythm during your pre-shot routine. By focusing on the tempo of what you do before you hit the ball, you set a beat for your swing to follow. It sounds simple, but it really works. Follow this plan...

PLAYINGTHROUGH PROBLEMS

Imagine you and your partner are stuck behind a slow fourball. You are standing around on the tee, bored, waiting for the fairway to clear. But suddenly you get the wave, and you’re up. You want to hit before they change their minds… and taking your time over the shot feels like you’re taking the mick. When was the last time you hit a good shot in these circumstances? Quite possibly never! Instantly, you’re going from a standstill to 100mph, and your swing feels unprepared and jerky. Our problem with the playing-through shot is a great example of the value of setting swing rhythm through a pre-shot routine. Next time you are called through, commit to going through your regular processes, and taking your usual time over the shot.

YOUR COACH

CHRIS RYAN Founder of the HIT Golf Academy, based at Forest of Arden. chrisryangolf.com

Setting the rhythm

You might already have a pre-shot routine. But re-examine it in terms of pace and rhythm. We are looking for consistency here; if you were being timed, we’d want very similar numbers from the start of the process to the moment you take the club away.

1 Start point Consistency

Use a deep breath to signal the start of your pre-shot routine, and the setting of your rhythm. Exhaling helps release any tension in your body. Start from the same point every time. For most golfers, this will be a few paces behind the ball.

2 Step in Pace

Use the gap between your breath and starting to walk as an opportunity to begin setting your rhythm. Then walk in to take your stance. But pay special attention to how many steps you take – the same every time – and how quickly you take them. The pace of your steps will go a long way to establishing your pace of movement.

3 Prepare to hit Rhythm

As you take your stance you have two further opportunities to dial in your rhythm. You can waggle the clubhead and/or you can shift your weight from foot to foot, again at a pace that matches your movement up to this point. Once more, keep the number of waggles, weight shifts and looks at the hole the same.

4 Backswing Flow

Go through this process carefully, and by the time the club moves back you’ve gone through three or four phases, all of which are setting a rhythm for your action. Your swing tempo becomes automatic, helping you flow into your backswing – a key component of a smooth and rhythmic action.