Alright, so I wanted to talk about this whole “pause at the top of the golf swing” thing I’ve been messing around with. I’m no pro, not even close, but I read about it, saw some guys doing it, and thought, why not give it a whirl? My swing felt like a runaway train most of the time, you know? Just a blur of motion and then, whoosh, ball goes somewhere, usually not where I wanted.
My First Attempts – A Bit of a Mess
So, I headed to the driving range, all set to try this magical pause. Let me tell you, the first few swings were, uh, not pretty. I literally felt like I was going to topple over. I’d get to what I thought was the top, try to stop, and everything just felt… wrong. My body wanted to keep going, and the club felt like it weighed a ton. The balls I did hit? Some dribbled a few feet, others went sharply right. It was awkward, man, super awkward. I felt like a robot trying to do ballet or something.
I almost gave up right there. Thought, “This is stupid, it’s making me worse!” But then I remembered how bad my “normal” swing felt anyway, so I figured I didn’t have much to lose by sticking with it for a bit longer.
Getting a Feel For It
So, I decided to really break it down. I started making these super slow backswings. Like, painfully slow. And instead of a hard, jerky stop at the top, I tried to just… arrive. To feel a moment of stillness, a gathering, before I started the downswing. It wasn’t about freezing for a second, more like letting things settle. I focused on just getting to a balanced position at the top, even if it meant my swing looked shorter or felt weird.
I spent a good few sessions just doing that. Half swings, three-quarter swings, focusing on that little transition moment. I’d watch better players, and it looked so smooth for them, but for me, I had to consciously create that moment. My old way was just a snatch back and then a heave forward.
What I Started to Notice
Slowly, very slowly, something started to change. When I actually managed that little hesitation, a few things happened:
- I could actually feel where the club was. Before, it was a mystery up there.
- My balance seemed to improve. I wasn’t lunging at the ball so much.
- It felt like my arms and body had a split second to sync up before starting down.
- I wasn’t rushing the transition, which was my biggest problem.
It wasn’t like a big, obvious pause you might see some pros do for a drill. For me, it was more an internal feeling of ‘okay, I’m set, now go.’ It was probably barely noticeable to anyone watching, but I could feel it.
Seeing Some Better Shots, Finally
And then, after a while, the shots started to get better. Not every time, of course. I still hit my share of stinkers. But the good shots? They felt so much purer. The contact was more solid. I started hitting the ball more towards the center of the clubface. And the ball flight was definitely straighter. I wasn’t suddenly bombing it 300 yards, don’t get me wrong, but it was going where I was aiming more often.
That was a big deal for me. Consistency was what I was after. It made me realize how much just rushing from the top was messing up my sequence and my ability to deliver the club properly.
How I Use It Now
So, now, that feeling of a slight pause, or at least a very deliberate transition, is something I try to build into every swing, from wedges to my driver. I don’t always get it right. When I’m on the course and feeling a bit of pressure, the old rush can creep back in. It’s a constant work in progress, like everything in golf, right?
But when I do remember, and I take that tiny moment at the top to gather myself, my shots are almost always better. It helps me stay smoother and more in control. It’s not a magic bullet, but it’s definitely a tool that’s helped me tidy up my messy swing a fair bit. If you’re struggling with tempo or feeling rushed, maybe just try feeling that little moment of quiet at the top. It might feel weird at first, probably will, but stick with it for a bit. It kinda worked for me, anyway.
