Alright so this morning I grabbed my seven iron thinking I’d finally figure out that whole “pause at the top” thing everyone keeps yapping about. Honestly? Felt totally unnatural the first ten swings. Like holding your breath at the top of a rollercoaster just before the drop – weird and kinda scary.
Started in my backyard mat, bare feet on the grass trying to feel grounded. Took the club back slow, slower than I normally do, real slow. Focused hard on my shoulder turn. When I felt my hands reach what I thought was the top… bam, my brain screamed “SWING DOWN NOW YOU IDIOT!” And I did. Rushed it every single time. Felt like an absolute muppet.
Here’s what I stumbled into doing that actually started working:
- Forget trying to see or feel some mythical “perfect” position at the top first.
- Put a tee halfway back in my backswing path – something to actually swing past, you know?
- Started counting out loud: “One” for taking it back, “Two” for reaching that tee halfway point… “Three” for getting the club all the way up top… and then I literally made myself go… “One Mississippi” before allowing any downswing. Sounds dumb. Felt dumber. But…
After like twenty frustrating tries, it finally clicked. At “One Mississippi,” I actually paused. Legit stopped. Like, club hanging up there, my body coiled but not moving. And guess what? My shoulder didn’t feel tense. My weight wasn’t sliding forward like a maniac. I just… waited. Then after that tiny pause, the downswing happened almost by itself. Smooth. Didn’t even try to force it.
Hit five off the mat after that. Not perfect shots, sure, but they felt solid and flew straight instead of slicing off into next week. Muscle memory kicked in way better after that initial “hold” moment.
Biggest takeaway today wasn’t mechanics – it was fighting the panic. That tiny pause stops your body trying to murder the ball immediately. It settles you. Lets the club actually finish going back. Don’t think about positions. Think: “Finish the backswing fully. Then… wait. Just a breath.” Sounds stupidly simple now. But damn, it works.
