I watched this video over the weekend... Coming from baseball and hockey, it's very hard to slow my swing down.... I did all of this today and golfed my best round ever with 4 birdies... This really worked! Swung about 70% all round.... Unbelievable!
This video feels like it was directed at me specifically. These are all things I've thought about, worked on, recognized in my game. You did a great job putting them all in one place. Now just to learn to do them consistently.
Well you're 90% there coz you know the answers. You're not alone mate, we're all in that boat 😅 Let's make a pact that whoever masters it first gives the other one a cut from his first PGA tour win?!
You have a great sense of humor, you’re affable, and your advice is spot-on. Most importantly you can make fun of yourself (1992 VHS camcorder). Thanks for being different.
Coming back to the game just now after a long break. After chasing positions and sequencing for the first five or six visits to the range, this was a refreshing, much needed change for me. "Finish the backswing" and "monkey see, monkey do" helped a lot. Probably the best I've hit the ball since 2016 or so. Thanks Manu. I have no idea what your background is professionally, but your communication and presentation skills are top notch. And thanks for the Tempo Town reference. I'm Vijay's age and could watch him and Ernie swing all day.
Well this comment made my day - thanks so much for that Mike! Glad you found it helpful. I totally understand the "chasing positions" feeling, did that for a long time until I figured out I don't practice enough to perfect those and could get to a better spot with feels and some mental work. I'm excited to hear how your journey goes, and what works for you! Great to have you join the crew 😃
Awesome video. I'm usually the only one at the range taking my time, taking breaks and most importantly, going thru the whole pre shot routine every time, including visualising the shot.
Thanks! Sounds like you have it handled! My game changed when I learned to actually work on the routine instead of racing through the largest bucket I could find!
@@upbeatgolfer it was something the Golden Bear said. He treated every shot, including the range, like he was playing in a major. He also said if he wanted to hit it further, he'd swing slower.
Excellent focus point. Tempo is a product of relaxation, readiness and trust. Relaxed allows the double pendulum to operate unhindered. Readiness allows you to properly transition from back swing into downswing naturally. Trust allows you your preparation created from address to the top of your swing to unfold without conscious effort to hit the ball. Leave your hands and arms relaxed from the top. Shift your weight and allow your turn to happen as a consequence. All angles will release smoothly.
As I was prepping for the 2008 U.S. Mid Am, my coach, Paul Marchand (Fred Couples coach btw), made me swing as slowly as possible-rreeeaally slow, taking like 10secs to make a practice swing….over and over. Reason? “It’s easy to speed up a golf swing on the course, but almost impossible to slow one down.”
@@upbeatgolfer great! Remember, those were just practice swings over and over. Putting a ball on the tee and doing it before a round very helpful as well….and I need to remember to do it as well!
Great tips. There's so much that can help golfers that 99% of golfers have never even thought about. For me, yoga and golf walk hand in hand. First, like you said comes breathing. Most importantly, breath through your nose only when at the ball, reducing oxygen intake. In through the nose, hold, then out through the mouth. Lower that heart rate, eliminate thoughts from the mind. Golf should be played in a meditative state of bliss, or as Chubbs would say, in your happy place. Look around at how beautiful everything on the course is. The colours, the trees, the water, the sky, the smell, the sounds. There's no reason to be angry ever when playing golf. Patience and routine are the virtues to follow. Training the brain to run on autopilot in a calm state of focus is the goal. Even if it doesn't improve your score, it will improve your enjoyment of the game and turn those 18 holes from a potential hell of frustration into the heaven of zen you can escape to from our busy lives.
1000%. Man I feel zen just reading that comment of yours 😃 I do agree wholeheartedly though. My main cues on the course are to breathe, and walk tall. I also have a reset routine (which I've mentioned in some other videos so sorry if I'm repeating what you already know) that I use when shots don't work out as planned - and a big part of it is watching the wind in the trees or the squirrels/ducks run around at my local course (we have a LOT of squirrels). The external focus takes a lot of the pressure off (of how well I'm hitting a ball with a stick, yes I know), and also gets the attention out of my head which is key. Thanks again for your comment - what a great note!
@@upbeatgolfer Thank you very much! We get flocks of green parakeets and Bonelli eagles amongst the corks and palms here on the south coast of Spain. Every time it’s just a joy to set foot on the course.
Visualise Practice Calm Finish. My new mantra to help me eliminate those frustrating quick swings that usually end up in a bad shot. First video of yours I've watched and I like your style of teaching, thanks 👍
Thank you Manu, honestly this is the best golf channel I have ever subscribed to. So so many out there with apalling delivery. Your teaching just suits me perfect. 60 odd year old trying to slow smooth tempo. I love it. Thank you so much. 👍😎⛳️
Thank you!!! This comment made my week! I'm really glad you find it helpful. Let me know if there are any specific topics you'd like addressed, and if I know anything I can share, I will! 😃
First time viewer and subscribed. Spot on! I was wondering when someone would lay down the swing basics which is more useful than a lot of other confusing videos (one says do this, the other says don't do this. LOL). I've used Freddie Couples for many years and the 5.5.5. swing thought before hitting. I came up with the swing thought many years ago. I say 5.5.5 before I start my swing...I've been playing for over 60 years and just turned 72. I still hit the ball a pretty good distance. My Driver average carry is 235 yards. 1 to 10...The first 5 means grip pressure (results in smooth take away), second 5 means back swing speed (helps complete the back swing) , third 5 means coming down on the forward swing (helps to complete the swing)...Everything falls in place. Keep up the great information flow. Big thumbs up.
Glad you liked it! And thanks for sharing your 5-5-5 model - I like how it covers the whole swing, and I'm going to try it next time on the range. Thank you!
Great video… I liked the word calm golf instead of slow golf. I like what you said about think golf, feel golf, play golf boxes. I will try and add that to my routine along with some of the other tips you mentioned.
Glad you liked it! "Calm" was super helpful for me too, because no one wants to be slow 😅 And actually the next video (I'm editing it right now) is about more info on the think/feel/play boxes, so hopefully you'll find that useful too!
Personal body management; 1) visualize ur swing, 2) slow down around the shot plan/swing, 3) be in the moment purposeful. Not every swing can/should be 100% effort. I hear several pros state” less lofted wedge, easier swing”
100%! I heard Ben Hogan once said "show me the man who hits full shots with his wedges...I want to play him for money", and I keep that in mind every time I feel like really leaning on a wedge to get it to the flag.
Great points. Another pro comparison - watch them walk. Their pace is consistent and rather slow. While we ride a lot we do still walk to our ball. Maybe try to cut the rushing there also. Another - keep a 'song in your head' hopefully not a heavy metal banger - but something calmer and consistent in its rhythm. Nice job on the whole video. Fun but great points.
1000% on both points! That's a great point about carts vs walking - the change in rhythm between riding definitely affects how we approach the ball and the general tempo in our head -- everything is relative, so trying to slow down from 120% to 80% is harder than slowing from 100% to 80% (like when you get off a highway and have to slow down, it feels like a crawl). I think a similar issue happens when we're walking but we're going uphill vs flat/downhill because the heart rate is elevated so it feels like we're walking faster... And also re: the song! I've shot some great rounds when I had a song in my head. The key is to embrace it vs. fighting it. Personally I like to pick a song I really like and just listen to it on repeat as I arrive at the golf course and on the putting green. It's worked wonders! (I change it every month or two) There's more in how pros (and regular folks) walk and how it affects the game. I'm actually working on a video about it right now which will be out soon! (Edit: pressed save too soon)
Excellent video. Thanks so much. First time I have seen it put this way - everything rings true and I will definitely be using this advice. Plus - love the way you deliver it - a breath of fresh air 🙏🏼👏🏼
Complete the backswing. No idea why, but it’s all clicked just from that single comment. Combined with the other stuff in this video it is pure visual genius.
I subscribed. This is my #1 goal this season. When I do it, I hit the best shots I've ever hit. I have three daughters under the age of 5, so I'm used to trying to get many things done quickly with the endless requests in the house. Sometimes this gets transferred to the golf course, at least at the start of the round. I've been trying to swing slower than I did last year, then a bit slower still, bit by bit and my distance has not dropped off an iota, in fact it maintains or increases due to better contact, not more speed at my skill level. I carry my 7i to 160 yards and if all I were to do is keep doing that sort of distance, but very straight and consistent, then that would make for awesome approach golf through the bag. I don't need to hit my 7i 180 or 200 to make it in recreational golf. What I need to do is slow down to be more consistent, because I have the ability to make the shots if I don't get in my own way (also took a bunch of lessons to improve swing mechanics, but they get undermined with a fast tempo). Loved the video and saved it.
Love this! I know what you mean about the speed of things in life getting transferred to the course at times 😅 One thing I'm working on recently is trying to take a really slow backswing for the intricate shots like wedges and bunker shots. It's been helping me with great contact and spin, and it also helps me get my head back in the game instead of thinking about whatever emails I haven't answered or videos I haven't edited! Would love to hear if this helps with dropping your handicap!
Another great video! I love your breakdown of the mental aspects of the game and how you tie it in to the physical aspects. The most underrated golf channel on RUclips. Keep up the great work!
Thanks Matt! You are the best. Glad you liked this - it's definitely helped me not rush when I'm over the ball -- as long as I prime my mental game before/during the round 😅
My best friend, Swayne gave me a lesson on tempo by just having a smooth even one...and I improved three strokes on the next nine holes by just thinking about smoothing out my tempo. This is a great lesson..thanks!
All good advice, especially the one on finishing the backswing. A key aspect of that is not rushing or short cutting the transition to the downswing regardless of whether you are taking a full swing or trying to hit a half or three quarter swing, as when forced to use a longer iron to keep a shot under overhanging branches. I’ve been playing for over 60 years and still find that it is so easy to forget this when you are distracted by other thoughts or tired. It can wreck any shot, from driver to fairway wood to approach iron to chip, making you hit fat or top the ball, because just as you say your movement is now thrown out of sequence. It means in most cases just pausing a bit at the end of the backswing to allow the momentum of the club head to slow down so it can be reversed smoothly into forward momentum in the downswing. You don’t need to come to a full stop like a few pros do, just get the brain to think or remember to pause briefly.
100% agreed. Just enough to load everything up so it be released fully! It's interesting how hard it is to do though, especially when the mind is busy with other things 😅
Good video my man, much needed and never heard of or seen anyone make a video like this and it’s all true from the mental side. Look forward to what else u dial in to.
Thanks dude! Yeah I'm pretty excited to see too :D Seriously though, I do think the mental side of things and these tiny tweaks about what you think about *before* you hit the shot are legit game-changing - they've def worked for me. Glad you liked this!
This video is what I needed. I've struggled for years with swinging too hard. Your video has some great tips - I especially like the swing thought of being calm. Thanks!
Good tips. I'm reminded of some sort of oriental adage. "When the student is ready,, the teacher will come." Boy was I ready to get this instruction!! Thanks
Ha love it! I'm glad you liked it! 😃 Funnily enough I was thinking of that adage myself recently, and realized it could also be (from my own experience), "when the student is ready, he will finally realize the teacher was always there"...
Hurt my bicep at the range the other day, trying too hard, but I wanted to use up my remaining balls, despite the pain…..those remaining shots were the best ones as I had no push in my swing, and the club did the job
Good advice. After 48 years what finally worked for me was Joe Dante’s EBWB -early backward wrist break. I was hoping for something new but let’s face it, everything in the swing has been done sometime somewhere by someone during the 350 years or so of this game. Packaged differently, named, explained, felt differently but essentially the same. Though equipment has come a long way since featheries and hickory, the human body has not evolved much. Among the 12 good things EBWB can do for you this is no. 3: Gives you the feeling that you have plenty of time to go to the top and come down. Joe compliments my Mike Austin method as no other instructor does. Only found them 7 years ago and am very satisfied with finally “digging it out of the dirt” to suit my needs. Over a million ways to advance the ball per Homer Kelley. Hope you all find your cup of tea. Fairways and Greens! PenguinGolf
This is great coaching and thanks. I especially like the vicarious learning part as I find I do that a lot. Yeah, I watch Ernie and Fred but I also chronically watch the relaxed swings of female pros too as, a group, they are soooo relaxed in their routines and swings. Thanks!
Totally! I think as amateurs we can learn a lot more from the LPGA golfers because of the perfect technique and incredible timing/tempo etc. I love the "chronically watch" comment! Personally I do that with Nelly Korda's swings on the range - it's part of my warmup mental priming. Glad you liked it and thanks for letting me know!
I absolutely LOVE this lesson and u do a beautiful (and upbeat) job of breaking it down into 4 easy to follow steps. Totally RIGHT ON in your thinking and as u said every golfer struggles with this
Thanks Manu, terrific tips/reminders that I don't think we hear enough of. Subbed and liked. On the topic of rushing after a bad shot, I got a great tip years ago that said. "Your penance for making a bad shot, is a 25% power reduction in the next shot." Pretty much like clockwork, things would get better. Looking forward to digging into your content.
Popped up on my suggestions and now subscribed. Love the cool, calm advice. My worst rush is when you've been moaning for 4 holes about the slow guys in front, then suddenly they say - 'play through' and you go tee up and hit really quick and shank it into a forest... then they are behind you moaning how slow you are.
@simonmackness403 Haha isn't it funny how that happens! Maybe we need to change that to "can we please play through and can you all please turn around while we hit?" 😅 Glad you liked the video and welcome to the crew!
I’m not going to lie, the first 2 mins of this video was just me trying to get past the shoes. BUT, I’m glad I did, very good perspective 👏 I’ve spent the last few months trying to slow down, but my brain struggles to comprehend that - but remaining calm, no teeth clenching, no power swings, just calm, time, flow ….i can handle that much better. To someone who swings fast, slow kinda relates to lazy… and that creates its own problems. I’m going to go away and practice this - I’m stuck on 6 handicap - so let’s see what happens !
Hahaha yes the shoes were surprisingly polarizing! Glad you stuck it out though 🙂 I totally hear you on the slow=lazy idea, and once you start making lazy swings everything else starts falling apart! I'd love to hear how this works for you! And also what you think the keys are for you to get off the 6hcp!
This is just awesome. BTW, F.Couples at the Shell's WWof Golf...he swings so smoothly, and pretty much on every shot, he mumbles, 'get down ball'...it's just amazing. Great lesson TUG. Subscribed.
Soft grip really helps with being a focus, you tend to swing smoother if gripping the club 4 out of 10, this then allows the swing to flow instead of being rushed.
Agreed, though lately I've been experimenting with different grip pressures to see whether they help with good body movement. I've found holding distance wedges a little tighter helps me be more accurate and in control of the club face.
@@upbeatgolfer I can see how that would be a good feeling, I have heard some of the greats of the game say how they preferred to grip their scoring clubs a little firmer to keep the club face square to their intended target line.
Yup - my coach says the same thing about holding the club a little tighter. Personally I find I can control my club path a little more when holding the club a bit more firmly.
@@upbeatgolfer the feel that always comes to mind is holding a bird in your hands. On the humorous side, it depends on if it's a sparrow or a chicken 😂
I tell a buddy of mine, swing at 60 to 70 percent and get 98 percent of the distance. And in fact you might get 110 percent of the distance because the club will either be de-lofted or there will be much better contact with the ball. Good stuff!!
@@upbeatgolfer Thanks, I'll come back next week after I've done a few short after work practice sessions this week and played next Wed, fingers crossed.
Always take some warm up swings with the eyes closed - that immediately engages the central nervous system to work you in balance - Hold your finish is a great final thought - for any golfer - especially the Tour golfers who start getting very nervous under tournament pressures - good video !
Awesome vid. Thanks! I used to play Fred Couples on repeat for tempo. Helped a ton. If I can humbly suggest one more with longer shots; driver down through long irons: pretend like you're only hitting it 100 yards. Pick a 100 yard target on the fairway in line with your goal. With my driver it slows me down and makes the pace much better while retaining distance and accuracy.
Great Video. I started in 2020 And took a lesson that summer my coach said the key to a good swing is dependent on Timing Tempo and Balance (I will never forget that) But on a skill level it was completely meaningless until now. I like how delayed the learning processes is at times, I can never get board at this rate. Took 4 years for a proper grip to make sense now Tempo has it’s place 🤦♂️
Really good advice and you made it easy to understand. A pro once tokd me 80% effort will hit the ball better than 100% efgort, which is the same as calming it down like you are saying. Thanks
My pleasure - glad you liked it! 100% agree on the 80% piece -- it's hard to remember on the course sometimes when the urge to get those extra 20y kicks in 😅
Wow Manu, are you sure you didn’t make this video just for me? 😂 not only are you laugh out loud funny and original, I love your refreshing take on all the crap that goes on in our brains that kill our enjoyment. We don’t need to watch more technique videos. We all need to work on the mental side! Thank you for your brilliance. You are my new favourite golf RUclipsr!!!! Ps where is that tempo app that you referred to?
Thanks Joanne - your comment made my day! I'm so glad you liked the video and that it resonates 😃 100% agreed on the mental game piece - I spent years hitting giant buckets and got so much more progress from a little mental game work. Plus it makes the rounds more fun, or at least useful when the scores are terrible! Re: the tempo app, I tried using a metronome personally, but it didn't work for me because I was too focused on that. So I just watch other folks' swings. Another commenter mentioned the Tour Tempo app, and they have some info on their website (tourtempo.com). The main thing I remember is that the ideal tempo is 3:1, but I'm not an expert in this space. Personally I think the right tempo is a) whatever makes you feel good, and b) whatever gets you to make a good backswing (shoulder + hip turn + weight shift). We're not pros and we don't work out all the time so we might not have the stability to support the moves they do, so copying them is not always the answer. Just my 2c - but would love to hear what works for you! Thanks again, and welcome to the crew! 🙂
Love it! Breathing is definitely THE key. The pause at the tops of the swing is an interesting one because it feels different to everyone, e.g. Cam Young vs. Matt Fitzpatrick
Thanks for the great video - Reminded me of what I need to get back to doing. Many years ago when I was starting to golf, I taped Larry Mize’s golf swing at the Masters. Beautiful, smooth swing. I watched that video, probably hundreds of times, and did my best to copy him. Years later when I was golfing with the pro of our local Country Club, after one of my tee shots he said: “Ooooooh! You put the Ooooooh in Smooooth!” I need to get back to doing that. Now that I am 71, and don’t hit it as far as I used to, I find myself swinging harder and harder to get more distance. Thank goodness for you and the internet - now I don’t have to find that old tape or a VHS player 😂! I have already looked up Larry Mize’s golf swing🏌️♂️and WILL be playing (like him) later today.
Love that! And thanks for this awesome comment! I love that story, and I'm excited to hear how your round went today. It's kind of amazing how quickly our minds learn from watching things right? And you *just gave me a GREAT idea (while I was typing this!): what if we expanded the videos we're watching to create a repertoire for the main shots we'll encounter on the course (drive, normal iron shot, knockdown, greenside bunker, etc.)? And then watched the one for the next shot coming up before hitting it? Might be an interesting experiment. Thanks again (and for this idea)!
Before heading to the course, I hit some balls into my practice net - trying to get that “Larry Mize” silky smooth swing. It was a very crappy day for golf - cold, windy and then rainy. I didn’t score well (several three putts, bad chips and a couple balls in the ponds). However, I was hitting some very good drives and iron shots when I remembered to “swing like Larry”. I am VERY excited to get out there on a nice day and slow my swing down. THANK YOU!
@nicklakin1709 That's great! Who cares about the short game misses on a tough day when you're striping the long shots! Congrats and I'm excited to hear how it goes on the good days 😃
the tour tempo app is amazing. the audio cue is so good. i put it on my earbuds at the range. you get to choose different tempos. different tempos suit different swings and folks. Cheat code: 18/6(Rahm - Lightning), 21/7(Tiger/Rory/Hogan/Scott/Norman - probably most common these days) 24/8(Veejay/Couples/Els) Dont confuse smooth rhythm (Els, Couples, Veejay ect) with slow. Those boys are half way down the fairway eating a PB&J sando before most Ams have got to the top of their back swing 😁
Haha your PBJ comment cracked me up! That is super cool - I will check it out, thanks for sharing! And great to see the standard 3:1 ratio of backswing to downswing is consistent across the greats, so our 90/30 swings are on the right track 😅
@@upbeatgolfer apologies, it will make sense on the app. The PGA pro who made the app has a great Instagram by the same name. All those pros mentioned are all 3:1 ratios with slightly different speeds. 18/6 in the case of Rahm means 18fps:6fps on a 30fps video. Rahm: shorter swing therefore backswing takes a fraction less time and because the club doesn't go back as far he get it to the ball quicker, but still 3:1. Els: longer swing so therefore backswing takes a fraction longer and downswing takes a fraction longer. But Els is still fast AF! Rahm is like a gunshot however. It's subtle difference and both roughly reach the same club head spead at impact (this explains the lack of huge difference in distance between the two players). Really makes you think what suits different players. As tiger got bulkier and less mobile his swing got shorter and his tempo changed as a result. I like a shorter back swing and faster tempo cus im not that mobile, but I'm strong enough to transition the club with a short and fast back swing.
This is super useful and interesting - I checked out the website and it makes a lot of sense. I'll try out the app too. One interesting thing I read about Rahm (from an interview with him on Golf.com) is that he preloads his weight on the right side at address, so he doesn't have to move it back and then through, which I imagine allows him to swing so fast. That makes me think that to change your tempo you probably also want to check out your setup too. I just checked out the article again, the whole thing is magic. golf.com/news/jon-rahms-secret-to-powerful-drives-put-the-big-muscles-to-work/
@@upbeatgolfer glad you liked tour tempo. It's great info. Yeah I guess with Rahm: he's moving the club back such a short distance and fast in his backswing, he simply doesn't have time to get his weight to the lead side in a conventional way. I know I had to start my swing more lead when I shortened it for that reason. Kinda like stack and tilt.
Interesting. And does that still let you clear your left hip alright? I've heard there's a school of thought from Australia about keeping your weight on the left side throughout the swing - I haven't tried it but a friend of mine switched to it completely and loves it.
Awesome! Glad you liked it! Lmk if you have any other topics that you wish folks talked about and I'll make something up (jk - I'll see if we can find something 😃).
Thanks, this was great because you broke down the subtle technique of why and how pros have learned to incorporate all of these important aspects of getting prepared to hit a good golf shot instead of the many pitfalls rushing to hit bad shots.
Thanks! Glad you liked it! Yeah it's interesting to see how pros already have so much of this baked into their routines and standard way of going about things. And we spend all our time trying to copy their swings 😅
That's a great point! I did worry about getting stuck in Hideki/Cam Young mode with the pause, but apparently that pause drill is the key. For me it definitely helps me make sure I get my weight to my trail leg so I'm not going through the transition too quickly. Thanks for bringing this up!
Yeah I like the osmosis from watching a great player. Tiger, Norman, Nicklaus all had that slow draw away; I think it gives the arms a head start so their legs/hips don't get active too early. Here are couple of "Magic Move" "Anchors" that worked for me in competitions for years including years and personal best scores of 5 and 6 under par (best now in -7). 1. Focus on your back instep throughout the swing (or something else); this has the effect of you being anchored and not out of control. 2. Another one I used for years including when I shot -6 was "see the shaft coming down"; translation: on the transition I am looking for the shaft - if your mind, body and shaft are in sync, by definition, you are in control of your swing (you know where the club is). You can still swing fast but you not out of control and out of the slot coming down. 3. "Wait" at the top works well and key to 3/4 and half shots - swing-wait-swing. That said.... I think the more one-plane you are, and perhaps, more perfect your mechanics, the less you have to wait - if at all. Of course you still have to complete your backswing. You still need to "know what YOUR best swing feels like" (I say "know the swing you are going to make before you make it"). For example, Hogan or Nick Price are simply "reacting" (action reaction) or unwinding. Scheffler has a pure rhythm - you can see him fully swing back, then his big transition into the downswing. I heard Elkington (pure swing) say he thinks of it as a 100m swimming race where he must "touch" the end after 50m then touch the end of the pool at the end of the second 50m - so he has two ends to his swing - with a transition in-between. Cheers
Thank you for this vid! This content helped me hit more flushed and straighter shots out on the course earlier this morning! It was the "finish the backswing" that did it for me 🙌🙌 Appreciate you!! 🤟 #subscribed
Thank you! Glad you liked it! And really great to hear you got the Tiger book. I have two copies 😃 I find it really useful to really think about technique across all different kinds of shots -- it's too easy to get caught up in whatever swing thing I'm working on and forget about the basics of the shot, and this book is a great compendium + reminder. Would love to hear what you think!
Haha that was my favorite part too (well it was a tie between that and Michael Bolton). Annnnd now I have the "I did it for the cookie" song in my head. What a great night! 😃
My best shots have been tic tock tic, bing bang boom, thinking about sitting on the couch watching TV, lately that hasn’t happened needed this thanks man
Haha I'm sorry it feels like a pain to watch most of the video, guess I have to work on that... Seriously though - glad the summary works for you! Personally I find I retain the concepts much better if I watch the video, with repetition being the mother of skill and all that.
I know that feeling! In case it helps: I don't know your swing at all, but for me the reason I was casting was that "slower tempo" actually slowed down/stopped my lower body, so my wrists were trying to save me by casting the club. What worked for me was making sure I finished my backswing (whatever it needed to be for that shot) and still moving aggressively through the ball = making sure my lower body still drove the shot. Would love to hear what you think of this!
Love the How I Play Golf book- or at least I did back in the day when it came out. 😊 I’m working on technique again and I think I’ll pull my copy out. My sense of it was (and this is a good thing) that it is basically a Butch Harmon clinic in a book. 😎
Right?! It's so good, and the fact that it's mostly photos makes it a lot easier for me to understand vs some of the older books that are mostly text. I also think it does an incredible job of teaching technique for shots you can't really practice on the range (like above and below your feet). I'm also reading Butch Harmon's Playing Lessons right now. His way of explaining things is so great, and it just works for me! Any other Butch stuff you recommend?
@@upbeatgolfer It's weird Butch never did a good book on his own. The one he did do was poor, IMO. It would be great to do a reprint of his best Golf Digest columns from the 90s. The most ahead of its time book = The Four Magic Moves to Winning Golf by Joe Dante. Mid-60s and reads like it was written today.
I watched this video over the weekend... Coming from baseball and hockey, it's very hard to slow my swing down.... I did all of this today and golfed my best round ever with 4 birdies... This really worked! Swung about 70% all round.... Unbelievable!
YES! That is awesome - so glad to hear it (and thanks for letting me know). Hope the next round is even better - please keep me posted!
It gets better.. In my 2nd round since watching this video, I get my first hole in one! Unbelievable, it's true.
Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat!!! CONGRATS!!! That is awesome! How did it feel? And has it changed anything in your game/thinking?!
It felt better than you could imagine.. Seeing the ball disappear was intense! Still brings me joy just thinking about it!
For me I found slowing down my breathing over the ball really helped me.
Teaching pro told me 30 years ago to remember this comment “why are you in such a hurry to hit a bad shot”. I’ve never forgotten the comment.
Hahaha that one hurts 🥹
You just changed my life
You just changed my life 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
he's long gone now. forget about him.
This video feels like it was directed at me specifically. These are all things I've thought about, worked on, recognized in my game. You did a great job putting them all in one place. Now just to learn to do them consistently.
Well you're 90% there coz you know the answers. You're not alone mate, we're all in that boat 😅
Let's make a pact that whoever masters it first gives the other one a cut from his first PGA tour win?!
@@upbeatgolfer
Dont know how my youtube algorithm knew i needed this ... but I totally needed this 😅
Haha they're watching us on the golf course 😅
Glad you liked it and thanks for telling me!
You have a great sense of humor, you’re affable, and your advice is spot-on. Most importantly you can make fun of yourself (1992 VHS camcorder). Thanks for being different.
Well this comment is delightful - thank you!!! Glad you liked it and welcome to the crew! There are dozens of us! 😃
Coming back to the game just now after a long break. After chasing positions and sequencing for the first five or six visits to the range, this was a refreshing, much needed change for me. "Finish the backswing" and "monkey see, monkey do" helped a lot. Probably the best I've hit the ball since 2016 or so. Thanks Manu. I have no idea what your background is professionally, but your communication and presentation skills are top notch. And thanks for the Tempo Town reference. I'm Vijay's age and could watch him and Ernie swing all day.
Well this comment made my day - thanks so much for that Mike! Glad you found it helpful. I totally understand the "chasing positions" feeling, did that for a long time until I figured out I don't practice enough to perfect those and could get to a better spot with feels and some mental work. I'm excited to hear how your journey goes, and what works for you! Great to have you join the crew 😃
Awesome video. I'm usually the only one at the range taking my time, taking breaks and most importantly, going thru the whole pre shot routine every time, including visualising the shot.
Thanks! Sounds like you have it handled! My game changed when I learned to actually work on the routine instead of racing through the largest bucket I could find!
@@upbeatgolfer it was something the Golden Bear said. He treated every shot, including the range, like he was playing in a major. He also said if he wanted to hit it further, he'd swing slower.
Excellent focus point. Tempo is a product of relaxation, readiness and trust. Relaxed allows the double pendulum to operate unhindered. Readiness allows you to properly transition from back swing into downswing naturally. Trust allows you your preparation created from address to the top of your swing to unfold without conscious effort to hit the ball. Leave your hands and arms relaxed from the top. Shift your weight and allow your turn to happen as a consequence. All angles will release smoothly.
Love the way you phrased that. Thanks! And glad you liked the video!
Must be related to Adam Scott
@@joshdawson7879 lol
As I was prepping for the 2008 U.S. Mid Am, my coach, Paul Marchand (Fred Couples coach btw), made me swing as slowly as possible-rreeeaally slow, taking like 10secs to make a practice swing….over and over. Reason? “It’s easy to speed up a golf swing on the course, but almost impossible to slow one down.”
Wow that's a great story - thanks for sharing! I'm going to try that out on the range next time I play!
@@upbeatgolfer great! Remember, those were just practice swings over and over. Putting a ball on the tee and doing it before a round very helpful as well….and I need to remember to do it as well!
Great tips. There's so much that can help golfers that 99% of golfers have never even thought about. For me, yoga and golf walk hand in hand. First, like you said comes breathing. Most importantly, breath through your nose only when at the ball, reducing oxygen intake. In through the nose, hold, then out through the mouth. Lower that heart rate, eliminate thoughts from the mind. Golf should be played in a meditative state of bliss, or as Chubbs would say, in your happy place. Look around at how beautiful everything on the course is. The colours, the trees, the water, the sky, the smell, the sounds. There's no reason to be angry ever when playing golf.
Patience and routine are the virtues to follow. Training the brain to run on autopilot in a calm state of focus is the goal. Even if it doesn't improve your score, it will improve your enjoyment of the game and turn those 18 holes from a potential hell of frustration into the heaven of zen you can escape to from our busy lives.
1000%. Man I feel zen just reading that comment of yours 😃
I do agree wholeheartedly though. My main cues on the course are to breathe, and walk tall. I also have a reset routine (which I've mentioned in some other videos so sorry if I'm repeating what you already know) that I use when shots don't work out as planned - and a big part of it is watching the wind in the trees or the squirrels/ducks run around at my local course (we have a LOT of squirrels). The external focus takes a lot of the pressure off (of how well I'm hitting a ball with a stick, yes I know), and also gets the attention out of my head which is key.
Thanks again for your comment - what a great note!
@@upbeatgolfer Thank you very much! We get flocks of green parakeets and Bonelli eagles amongst the corks and palms here on the south coast of Spain. Every time it’s just a joy to set foot on the course.
That sounds amazing. Like a wildlife park at the golf course!
I only learned about “box breathing” a couple of years ago. It’s amazing how well it works.
Visualise Practice Calm Finish.
My new mantra to help me eliminate those frustrating quick swings that usually end up in a bad shot.
First video of yours I've watched and I like your style of teaching, thanks 👍
Thank you Manu, honestly this is the best golf channel I have ever subscribed to. So so many out there with apalling delivery. Your teaching just suits me perfect. 60 odd year old trying to slow smooth tempo. I love it. Thank you so much. 👍😎⛳️
Thank you!!! This comment made my week! I'm really glad you find it helpful. Let me know if there are any specific topics you'd like addressed, and if I know anything I can share, I will! 😃
First time viewer and subscribed. Spot on! I was wondering when someone would lay down the swing basics which is more useful than a lot of other confusing videos (one says do this, the other says don't do this. LOL). I've used Freddie Couples for many years and the 5.5.5. swing thought before hitting. I came up with the swing thought many years ago. I say 5.5.5 before I start my swing...I've been playing for over 60 years and just turned 72. I still hit the ball a pretty good distance. My Driver average carry is 235 yards. 1 to 10...The first 5 means grip pressure (results in smooth take away), second 5 means back swing speed (helps complete the back swing) , third 5 means coming down on the forward swing (helps to complete the swing)...Everything falls in place. Keep up the great information flow. Big thumbs up.
Glad you liked it! And thanks for sharing your 5-5-5 model - I like how it covers the whole swing, and I'm going to try it next time on the range. Thank you!
Great video… I liked the word calm golf instead of slow golf. I like what you said about think golf, feel golf, play golf boxes. I will try and add that to my routine along with some of the other tips you mentioned.
Glad you liked it! "Calm" was super helpful for me too, because no one wants to be slow 😅
And actually the next video (I'm editing it right now) is about more info on the think/feel/play boxes, so hopefully you'll find that useful too!
agreed, it's a great cue.
Unbelievably sound advice with powerful presentation, and a dollop of humour. Very, very good. Dou
Thank you! Really glad you liked it! 😃
Personal body management; 1) visualize ur swing, 2) slow down around the shot plan/swing, 3) be in the moment purposeful. Not every swing can/should be 100% effort. I hear several pros state” less lofted wedge, easier swing”
100%! I heard Ben Hogan once said "show me the man who hits full shots with his wedges...I want to play him for money", and I keep that in mind every time I feel like really leaning on a wedge to get it to the flag.
Great points. Another pro comparison - watch them walk. Their pace is consistent and rather slow. While we ride a lot we do still walk to our ball. Maybe try to cut the rushing there also. Another - keep a 'song in your head' hopefully not a heavy metal banger - but something calmer and consistent in its rhythm. Nice job on the whole video. Fun but great points.
1000% on both points! That's a great point about carts vs walking - the change in rhythm between riding definitely affects how we approach the ball and the general tempo in our head -- everything is relative, so trying to slow down from 120% to 80% is harder than slowing from 100% to 80% (like when you get off a highway and have to slow down, it feels like a crawl). I think a similar issue happens when we're walking but we're going uphill vs flat/downhill because the heart rate is elevated so it feels like we're walking faster...
And also re: the song! I've shot some great rounds when I had a song in my head. The key is to embrace it vs. fighting it. Personally I like to pick a song I really like and just listen to it on repeat as I arrive at the golf course and on the putting green. It's worked wonders! (I change it every month or two)
There's more in how pros (and regular folks) walk and how it affects the game. I'm actually working on a video about it right now which will be out soon!
(Edit: pressed save too soon)
Excellent video. Thanks so much. First time I have seen it put this way - everything rings true and I will definitely be using this advice. Plus - love the way you deliver it - a breath of fresh air 🙏🏼👏🏼
Thank you! Glad you liked it, and really happy to have you here!
Complete the backswing. No idea why, but it’s all clicked just from that single comment. Combined with the other stuff in this video it is pure visual genius.
Love it! Funny how some random phrase puts all the pieces into place. Let us know how it goes on the course!
I subscribed. This is my #1 goal this season. When I do it, I hit the best shots I've ever hit. I have three daughters under the age of 5, so I'm used to trying to get many things done quickly with the endless requests in the house. Sometimes this gets transferred to the golf course, at least at the start of the round. I've been trying to swing slower than I did last year, then a bit slower still, bit by bit and my distance has not dropped off an iota, in fact it maintains or increases due to better contact, not more speed at my skill level. I carry my 7i to 160 yards and if all I were to do is keep doing that sort of distance, but very straight and consistent, then that would make for awesome approach golf through the bag. I don't need to hit my 7i 180 or 200 to make it in recreational golf. What I need to do is slow down to be more consistent, because I have the ability to make the shots if I don't get in my own way (also took a bunch of lessons to improve swing mechanics, but they get undermined with a fast tempo). Loved the video and saved it.
Love this! I know what you mean about the speed of things in life getting transferred to the course at times 😅 One thing I'm working on recently is trying to take a really slow backswing for the intricate shots like wedges and bunker shots. It's been helping me with great contact and spin, and it also helps me get my head back in the game instead of thinking about whatever emails I haven't answered or videos I haven't edited! Would love to hear if this helps with dropping your handicap!
Feeling like the club is extremely heavy is a good swing thought
Love that! Thanks for the tip! 😃
Interesting concept 👍👍👍
Yes! It's a club, swing it like a heavy club. Great advice
Another great video! I love your breakdown of the mental aspects of the game and how you tie it in to the physical aspects. The most underrated golf channel on RUclips. Keep up the great work!
Thanks Matt! You are the best. Glad you liked this - it's definitely helped me not rush when I'm over the ball -- as long as I prime my mental game before/during the round 😅
My best friend, Swayne gave me a lesson on tempo by just having a smooth even one...and I improved three strokes on the next nine holes by just thinking about smoothing out my tempo. This is a great lesson..thanks!
Glad you liked it!
All good advice, especially the one on finishing the backswing. A key aspect of that is not rushing or short cutting the transition to the downswing regardless of whether you are taking a full swing or trying to hit a half or three quarter swing, as when forced to use a longer iron to keep a shot under overhanging branches. I’ve been playing for over 60 years and still find that it is so easy to forget this when you are distracted by other thoughts or tired. It can wreck any shot, from driver to fairway wood to approach iron to chip, making you hit fat or top the ball, because just as you say your movement is now thrown out of sequence. It means in most cases just pausing a bit at the end of the backswing to allow the momentum of the club head to slow down so it can be reversed smoothly into forward momentum in the downswing. You don’t need to come to a full stop like a few pros do, just get the brain to think or remember to pause briefly.
100% agreed. Just enough to load everything up so it be released fully! It's interesting how hard it is to do though, especially when the mind is busy with other things 😅
I think this is one of the single best videos I have seen on RUclips. Saved. Subscribed. Will repeatedly watch. Great stuff thanks so much.
Well this comment is the best! Thanks dude! I'm glad you liked it and thanks for the kind words. Excited to share more (hopefully) useful stuff!
That's exactly what I need to do. I hope I will remember when I get to 1st Tee. Thanks for the video.
I’ve consumed every lesson out there. After digesting it all, this is what became most important.
Right?! So much time spent on trying to perfect this position or that angle, but we rarely think about the thoughts that knock it all off kilter!
Good video my man, much needed and never heard of or seen anyone make a video like this and it’s all true from the mental side. Look forward to what else u dial in to.
Thanks dude! Yeah I'm pretty excited to see too :D
Seriously though, I do think the mental side of things and these tiny tweaks about what you think about *before* you hit the shot are legit game-changing - they've def worked for me. Glad you liked this!
nice take. yes, you certainly cant execute good rhythm if you're not relaxed. If you wanna hit piss missiles you gotta be zen.
😂
@@upbeatgolfer it's quite the paradox, isn't it. Namaste mfers I outdrove your ass. I don't make the rules.
Namaste 🤣
Terrific idea to watch Ernie, Annika or Fred before I play. So smooth. Thank you from Massachusetts
This video is what I needed. I've struggled for years with swinging too hard. Your video has some great tips - I especially like the swing thought of being calm. Thanks!
Awesome, glad you found it helpful! 😃
Good tips. I'm reminded of some sort of oriental adage. "When the student is ready,, the teacher will come." Boy was I ready to get this instruction!! Thanks
Ha love it! I'm glad you liked it! 😃
Funnily enough I was thinking of that adage myself recently, and realized it could also be (from my own experience), "when the student is ready, he will finally realize the teacher was always there"...
Hurt my bicep at the range the other day, trying too hard, but I wanted to use up my remaining balls, despite the pain…..those remaining shots were the best ones as I had no push in my swing, and the club did the job
Good advice.
After 48 years what finally worked for me was Joe Dante’s EBWB -early backward wrist break.
I was hoping for something new but let’s face it, everything in the swing has been done sometime somewhere by someone during the 350 years or so of this game. Packaged differently, named, explained, felt differently but essentially the same. Though equipment has come a long way since featheries and hickory, the human body has not evolved much.
Among the 12 good things EBWB can do for you this is no.
3: Gives you the feeling that you have plenty of time to go to the top and come down.
Joe compliments my Mike Austin method as no other instructor does. Only found them 7 years ago and am very satisfied with finally “digging it out of the dirt” to suit my needs.
Over a million ways to advance the ball per Homer Kelley. Hope you all find your cup of tea.
Fairways and Greens!
PenguinGolf
Slowing down has helped me avoid rushing shots. I avoid mishits and somehow I hit farther than before. Thank you.
That's awesome! Glad you found this useful 😃
This is great coaching and thanks. I especially like the vicarious learning part as I find I do that a lot. Yeah, I watch Ernie and Fred but I also chronically watch the relaxed swings of female pros too as, a group, they are soooo relaxed in their routines and swings. Thanks!
Totally! I think as amateurs we can learn a lot more from the LPGA golfers because of the perfect technique and incredible timing/tempo etc. I love the "chronically watch" comment! Personally I do that with Nelly Korda's swings on the range - it's part of my warmup mental priming.
Glad you liked it and thanks for letting me know!
I absolutely LOVE this lesson and u do a beautiful (and upbeat) job of breaking it down into 4 easy to follow steps. Totally RIGHT ON in your thinking and as u said every golfer struggles with this
Thanks for the kind words, and I'm glad you liked it!
Hey Upbeat, this video has really helped a lot. Shot my best round of the year after reviewing it before I played. Thx
Whaaaaat?!! That is awesome - congrats! Anything specific that really helped?
Thanks Manu, terrific tips/reminders that I don't think we hear enough of. Subbed and liked. On the topic of rushing after a bad shot, I got a great tip years ago that said. "Your penance for making a bad shot, is a 25% power reduction in the next shot." Pretty much like clockwork, things would get better. Looking forward to digging into your content.
That is a great point! Doesn't really seem like "penance" when it fixes your next shot though 😃
Maybe it's more of a reward?!
Popped up on my suggestions and now subscribed. Love the cool, calm advice. My worst rush is when you've been moaning for 4 holes about the slow guys in front, then suddenly they say - 'play through' and you go tee up and hit really quick and shank it into a forest... then they are behind you moaning how slow you are.
Happened yesterday and almost ended with blood on the green.
@simonmackness403 Haha isn't it funny how that happens! Maybe we need to change that to "can we please play through and can you all please turn around while we hit?" 😅
Glad you liked the video and welcome to the crew!
@bobcrawley3580 Yikes. To be fair it's expected - c'mon we're out here trying to hit balls off grass with sticks - have some respect! 😃
Your channel is my new favorite and I sent it to friends and my Dad. Cheers and thanks! I do not want a refund. 🤣
Hahaha love it! Brb gonna go spend that refund budget on some new Jordans 😃
Great video. Love your sense of humor. Thank you!
Awesome! Thank you! I'm going to print this out and show it to my wife every day. 😃
I’m not going to lie, the first 2 mins of this video was just me trying to get past the shoes. BUT, I’m glad I did, very good perspective 👏 I’ve spent the last few months trying to slow down, but my brain struggles to comprehend that - but remaining calm, no teeth clenching, no power swings, just calm, time, flow ….i can handle that much better. To someone who swings fast, slow kinda relates to lazy… and that creates its own problems. I’m going to go away and practice this - I’m stuck on 6 handicap - so let’s see what happens !
Hahaha yes the shoes were surprisingly polarizing! Glad you stuck it out though 🙂 I totally hear you on the slow=lazy idea, and once you start making lazy swings everything else starts falling apart!
I'd love to hear how this works for you! And also what you think the keys are for you to get off the 6hcp!
maybe the best golf advice video I have ever seen.
Love it - thank you! Glad you found it helpful! 😃
This is just awesome. BTW, F.Couples at the Shell's WWof Golf...he swings so smoothly, and pretty much on every shot, he mumbles, 'get down ball'...it's just amazing. Great lesson TUG. Subscribed.
Glad you liked it! And 100% agree on basically every swing Freddie's ever made 😃 So much power and finesse at the same time!
Soft grip really helps with being a focus, you tend to swing smoother if gripping the club 4 out of 10, this then allows the swing to flow instead of being rushed.
Agreed, though lately I've been experimenting with different grip pressures to see whether they help with good body movement. I've found holding distance wedges a little tighter helps me be more accurate and in control of the club face.
@@upbeatgolfer I can see how that would be a good feeling, I have heard some of the greats of the game say how they preferred to grip their scoring clubs a little firmer to keep the club face square to their intended target line.
Yup - my coach says the same thing about holding the club a little tighter. Personally I find I can control my club path a little more when holding the club a bit more firmly.
@@upbeatgolfer the feel that always comes to mind is holding a bird in your hands.
On the humorous side, it depends on if it's a sparrow or a chicken 😂
HAHAHAHAHA touche
I tell a buddy of mine, swing at 60 to 70 percent and get 98 percent of the distance. And in fact you might get 110 percent of the distance because the club will either be de-lofted or there will be much better contact with the ball.
Good stuff!!
Totally! I'm amazed at how much more I get with a lower effort swing. But then the "swing for the fences impulse" kicks in 😅
Brilliant in every way, thank you, just had a lesson yesterday and this is what we were working on.
Thank you! Glad you liked it! Would love to hear how it goes for you.
@@upbeatgolfer Thanks, I'll come back next week after I've done a few short after work practice sessions this week and played next Wed, fingers crossed.
Always take some warm up swings with the eyes closed - that immediately engages the central nervous system to work you in balance - Hold your finish is a great final thought - for any golfer - especially the Tour golfers who start getting very nervous under tournament pressures - good video !
That's a great call! I'm gonna test it out this week! Thank you!
Subscribed. Great video. I feel like I rush because I can’t wait to see what’s gonna happen!
Ha yes me too! It's so hard to be patient and let the swing complete itself before looking up 😅
Awesome vid. Thanks! I used to play Fred Couples on repeat for tempo. Helped a ton. If I can humbly suggest one more with longer shots; driver down through long irons: pretend like you're only hitting it 100 yards. Pick a 100 yard target on the fairway in line with your goal. With my driver it slows me down and makes the pace much better while retaining distance and accuracy.
Glad you liked it! And great suggestion! I did that in the past with great results, will bring it back into the rotation. Thanks!
Loved how everything was broken down and explained, will give it a go next time out👍🏻
Awesome (and thank you)! Would love to hear how it goes!
Super video. I find imaging Ernie Els swing very helpful.All of your tips are useful. Thanks
Thanks! Ernie Els IS kind of amazing right? So much power from such a smooth swing...
Great Video. I started in 2020
And took a lesson that summer my coach said the key to a good swing is dependent on Timing Tempo and Balance (I will never forget that)
But on a skill level it was completely meaningless until now. I like how delayed the learning processes is at times, I can never get board at this rate. Took 4 years for a proper grip to make sense now Tempo has it’s place 🤦♂️
That is an awesome tip - thanks for sharing!
I really dig the mental approach and general lighthearted approach to teaching. Subscribed!
Love it! (Attempted) hilarity is a must. Glad you joined the crew - great to have you here 😃
You have my attention. Great video! And yes, you are funny too
Haha thank you! Glad you liked it! And thanks for the comment about being funny - I printed that out and show it to my wife constantly 😃
Really good advice and you made it easy to understand. A pro once tokd me 80% effort will hit the ball better than 100% efgort, which is the same as calming it down like you are saying. Thanks
My pleasure - glad you liked it! 100% agree on the 80% piece -- it's hard to remember on the course sometimes when the urge to get those extra 20y kicks in 😅
Wow Manu, are you sure you didn’t make this video just for me? 😂 not only are you laugh out loud funny and original, I love your refreshing take on all the crap that goes on in our brains that kill our enjoyment. We don’t need to watch more technique videos. We all need to work on the mental side! Thank you for your brilliance. You are my new favourite golf RUclipsr!!!!
Ps where is that tempo app that you referred to?
Thanks Joanne - your comment made my day! I'm so glad you liked the video and that it resonates 😃 100% agreed on the mental game piece - I spent years hitting giant buckets and got so much more progress from a little mental game work. Plus it makes the rounds more fun, or at least useful when the scores are terrible!
Re: the tempo app, I tried using a metronome personally, but it didn't work for me because I was too focused on that. So I just watch other folks' swings. Another commenter mentioned the Tour Tempo app, and they have some info on their website (tourtempo.com). The main thing I remember is that the ideal tempo is 3:1, but I'm not an expert in this space. Personally I think the right tempo is a) whatever makes you feel good, and b) whatever gets you to make a good backswing (shoulder + hip turn + weight shift). We're not pros and we don't work out all the time so we might not have the stability to support the moves they do, so copying them is not always the answer. Just my 2c - but would love to hear what works for you!
Thanks again, and welcome to the crew! 🙂
Dude what a video! Great tips Manu. Loved every bit of it!
Thanks! Glad you liked it and thanks for telling me - it means a lot! 😃
Wow, great simple and practical tips! When I slow down - all goes well in my game! Thank you
My pleasure! Glad you found it helpful! I hope it works for you on the course :)
The Lonely Island throwback had me hooked. Hat tipped, sir
Hahaha I'm so glad you liked that! I was laughing the whole time I was editing that in 😃
Two more things:
1. Take a DEEP BREATH
and
2. PAUSE at the top of the swing
(on the order of “finish your back swing”)
Good stuff 👍🏻
Love it! Breathing is definitely THE key. The pause at the tops of the swing is an interesting one because it feels different to everyone, e.g. Cam Young vs. Matt Fitzpatrick
I have had this problem as well. I have learned the slow practice Swing has helped me tremendously in slowing my brain/swing down.
It's so interesting how that works. You'd think that a full speed swing to replicate the shot would be best, but apparently not 😅
Amazing to see your passion come to life here buddy! Congrats Manu.
Thanks dude! It's pretty awesome having your buddies find the videos in the wild 😃
Thanks for the great video - Reminded me of what I need to get back to doing. Many years ago when I was starting to golf, I taped Larry Mize’s golf swing at the Masters. Beautiful, smooth swing. I watched that video, probably hundreds of times, and did my best to copy him. Years later when I was golfing with the pro of our local Country Club, after one of my tee shots he said: “Ooooooh! You put the Ooooooh in Smooooth!” I need to get back to doing that. Now that I am 71, and don’t hit it as far as I used to, I find myself swinging harder and harder to get more distance. Thank goodness for you and the internet - now I don’t have to find that old tape or a VHS player 😂! I have already looked up Larry Mize’s golf swing🏌️♂️and WILL be playing (like him) later today.
Love that! And thanks for this awesome comment! I love that story, and I'm excited to hear how your round went today.
It's kind of amazing how quickly our minds learn from watching things right? And you *just gave me a GREAT idea (while I was typing this!): what if we expanded the videos we're watching to create a repertoire for the main shots we'll encounter on the course (drive, normal iron shot, knockdown, greenside bunker, etc.)? And then watched the one for the next shot coming up before hitting it? Might be an interesting experiment. Thanks again (and for this idea)!
Before heading to the course, I hit some balls into my practice net - trying to get that “Larry Mize” silky smooth swing. It was a very crappy day for golf - cold, windy and then rainy. I didn’t score well (several three putts, bad chips and a couple balls in the ponds). However, I was hitting some very good drives and iron shots when I remembered to “swing like Larry”. I am VERY excited to get out there on a nice day and slow my swing down. THANK YOU!
I am also very partial to Uncle Larry’s swing….. He has told me to slow down many times.
@nicklakin1709 That's great! Who cares about the short game misses on a tough day when you're striping the long shots! Congrats and I'm excited to hear how it goes on the good days 😃
@JaredMize9 wait are you serious?! That is awesome!
Tempo tempo tempo. It is critical to my swing. Such an easy concept but so difficult to execute. 😅. Thank you for the tips!
100%! My pleasure - glad you liked them!
the tour tempo app is amazing. the audio cue is so good. i put it on my earbuds at the range. you get to choose different tempos. different tempos suit different swings and folks.
Cheat code:
18/6(Rahm - Lightning),
21/7(Tiger/Rory/Hogan/Scott/Norman - probably most common these days)
24/8(Veejay/Couples/Els)
Dont confuse smooth rhythm (Els, Couples, Veejay ect) with slow. Those boys are half way down the fairway eating a PB&J sando before most Ams have got to the top of their back swing 😁
Haha your PBJ comment cracked me up! That is super cool - I will check it out, thanks for sharing! And great to see the standard 3:1 ratio of backswing to downswing is consistent across the greats, so our 90/30 swings are on the right track 😅
@@upbeatgolfer apologies, it will make sense on the app. The PGA pro who made the app has a great Instagram by the same name. All those pros mentioned are all 3:1 ratios with slightly different speeds. 18/6 in the case of Rahm means 18fps:6fps on a 30fps video. Rahm: shorter swing therefore backswing takes a fraction less time and because the club doesn't go back as far he get it to the ball quicker, but still 3:1. Els: longer swing so therefore backswing takes a fraction longer and downswing takes a fraction longer. But Els is still fast AF! Rahm is like a gunshot however. It's subtle difference and both roughly reach the same club head spead at impact (this explains the lack of huge difference in distance between the two players). Really makes you think what suits different players. As tiger got bulkier and less mobile his swing got shorter and his tempo changed as a result. I like a shorter back swing and faster tempo cus im not that mobile, but I'm strong enough to transition the club with a short and fast back swing.
This is super useful and interesting - I checked out the website and it makes a lot of sense. I'll try out the app too.
One interesting thing I read about Rahm (from an interview with him on Golf.com) is that he preloads his weight on the right side at address, so he doesn't have to move it back and then through, which I imagine allows him to swing so fast. That makes me think that to change your tempo you probably also want to check out your setup too. I just checked out the article again, the whole thing is magic. golf.com/news/jon-rahms-secret-to-powerful-drives-put-the-big-muscles-to-work/
@@upbeatgolfer glad you liked tour tempo. It's great info. Yeah I guess with Rahm: he's moving the club back such a short distance and fast in his backswing, he simply doesn't have time to get his weight to the lead side in a conventional way. I know I had to start my swing more lead when I shortened it for that reason. Kinda like stack and tilt.
Interesting. And does that still let you clear your left hip alright? I've heard there's a school of thought from Australia about keeping your weight on the left side throughout the swing - I haven't tried it but a friend of mine switched to it completely and loves it.
Great ideas! I shot a really good score today following these suggestions- especially driver but also wedges- Thank-you!
YES!!! That is awesome! And thanks for telling me/us! Anything specific that stuck out?
I subbed thanks for talking about something that no instructors really do on RUclips.
Awesome! Glad you liked it! Lmk if you have any other topics that you wish folks talked about and I'll make something up (jk - I'll see if we can find something 😃).
Thanks, this was great because you broke down the subtle technique of why and how pros have learned to incorporate all of these important aspects of getting prepared to hit a good golf shot instead of the many pitfalls rushing to hit bad shots.
Thanks! Glad you liked it! Yeah it's interesting to see how pros already have so much of this baked into their routines and standard way of going about things. And we spend all our time trying to copy their swings 😅
Great and concrete 4 tips, many thanks!
Woohoo! Thanks mate - glad you liked them!
Nice video....I also started to focus on a pause at the top of my swing. I get the the top of my swing and count to 2 before starting the downswing.
That's a great point! I did worry about getting stuck in Hideki/Cam Young mode with the pause, but apparently that pause drill is the key. For me it definitely helps me make sure I get my weight to my trail leg so I'm not going through the transition too quickly. Thanks for bringing this up!
Awesome video! Let’s see this seasons (updated) what’s in the bag!
Ha you got it! It's in the works!
@@upbeatgolfer can’t wait!
I totally agree with that rushing the takeaway is a big issue.
Super helpful tips to the number 1 shot killer for me. Thanks man..
Awesome, great to hear it! You're welcome, and great to have you here!
I can't seem to slow down or take a practise swing. After watching your video. I will give it a try this Saturday.
I hope it works for you! Lmk how it goes!
Yeah I like the osmosis from watching a great player. Tiger, Norman, Nicklaus all had that slow draw away; I think it gives the arms a head start so their legs/hips don't get active too early.
Here are couple of "Magic Move" "Anchors" that worked for me in competitions for years including years and personal best scores of 5 and 6 under par (best now in -7).
1. Focus on your back instep throughout the swing (or something else); this has the effect of you being anchored and not out of control.
2. Another one I used for years including when I shot -6 was "see the shaft coming down"; translation: on the transition I am looking for the shaft - if your mind, body and shaft are in sync, by definition, you are in control of your swing (you know where the club is). You can still swing fast but you not out of control and out of the slot coming down.
3. "Wait" at the top works well and key to 3/4 and half shots - swing-wait-swing.
That said.... I think the more one-plane you are, and perhaps, more perfect your mechanics, the less you have to wait - if at all. Of course you still have to complete your backswing. You still need to "know what YOUR best swing feels like" (I say "know the swing you are going to make before you make it"). For example, Hogan or Nick Price are simply "reacting" (action reaction) or unwinding.
Scheffler has a pure rhythm - you can see him fully swing back, then his big transition into the downswing. I heard Elkington (pure swing) say he thinks of it as a 100m swimming race where he must "touch" the end after 50m then touch the end of the pool at the end of the second 50m - so he has two ends to his swing - with a transition in-between. Cheers
Thanks for this awesome comment! Really appreciate you sharing these tips 😃
Good points....especially stay calm after a bad shot 👍
Thanks! Calm is key, also saves money on club repair 😅
The first video of yours I've come across. I really liked the information and especially the delivery. Great stuff!
Awesome, thank you! Really glad you liked it, and I hope it helps on the course!
Thank you for this vid! This content helped me hit more flushed and straighter shots out on the course earlier this morning! It was the "finish the backswing" that did it for me 🙌🙌
Appreciate you!! 🤟 #subscribed
Whaaaat! That is awesome - instant results FTW! So glad to hear that and thanks for sharing. So great to have you here 😃
Thanks for the great video buddy.
Great tips.
Went out and bought the Tiger book - looking forward to starting that tonight.
Keep up the great work.
Thank you! Glad you liked it! And really great to hear you got the Tiger book. I have two copies 😃 I find it really useful to really think about technique across all different kinds of shots -- it's too easy to get caught up in whatever swing thing I'm working on and forget about the basics of the shot, and this book is a great compendium + reminder. Would love to hear what you think!
Thank you so much. This advice is pure gold!!
Glad you like it! And thanks for letting me know 😃
you really have a cool teaching method there, i like it! with just
the right kind of humour, 😊👍
Thanks! Glad you like it! 😃
Great video and I enjoyed the comic relief-cookie!!
Haha that was my favorite part too (well it was a tie between that and Michael Bolton).
Annnnd now I have the "I did it for the cookie" song in my head. What a great night! 😃
My best shots have been tic tock tic, bing bang boom, thinking about sitting on the couch watching TV, lately that hasn’t happened needed this thanks man
So glad to hear that! Glad you found this helpful, and thanks for telling me dude!
GOOD ADVICE. Another good tip is to go to the last segment of these videos for the 'summary' , it cuts out 90% of the pain!
Haha I'm sorry it feels like a pain to watch most of the video, guess I have to work on that...
Seriously though - glad the summary works for you! Personally I find I retain the concepts much better if I watch the video, with repetition being the mother of skill and all that.
Love this, love the humour. Subscribed !
Glad you liked it! Welcome to the crew! 😃
Thanks for the tips. I liked it.👍
Really fun and clean demonstration
Thank you! Glad you liked it!
Hilarious way to teach: I enjoyed it! Thanks
Glad you liked it! 😃
Well done! Very helpful!
Thanks! Glad you liked it!
This is a great video. When I try to slow down my tempo, I cast more. It’s like my wrists become impatient and become insubordinate to my thoughts.
I know that feeling! In case it helps: I don't know your swing at all, but for me the reason I was casting was that "slower tempo" actually slowed down/stopped my lower body, so my wrists were trying to save me by casting the club. What worked for me was making sure I finished my backswing (whatever it needed to be for that shot) and still moving aggressively through the ball = making sure my lower body still drove the shot. Would love to hear what you think of this!
This is it!! Keep these coming
Thanks! You got it!
An effortless way to improve your game while sitting on your couch. It worked for me.
Payne Stewart had an effortless driver swing, but the ball really exploded out there...with great distance.
I love this man, great video
Thanks dude! Glad you liked it 😃
Excellent video; instantly liked & subscribed.
Awesome, thank you! Welcome to the crew! 😃
Good choice of players on which to model your tempo
Glad you liked it! 😃
Love the How I Play Golf book- or at least I did back in the day when it came out. 😊
I’m working on technique again and I think I’ll pull my copy out.
My sense of it was (and this is a good thing) that it is basically a Butch Harmon clinic in a book.
😎
Right?! It's so good, and the fact that it's mostly photos makes it a lot easier for me to understand vs some of the older books that are mostly text. I also think it does an incredible job of teaching technique for shots you can't really practice on the range (like above and below your feet). I'm also reading Butch Harmon's Playing Lessons right now. His way of explaining things is so great, and it just works for me! Any other Butch stuff you recommend?
@@upbeatgolfer It's weird Butch never did a good book on his own. The one he did do was poor, IMO. It would be great to do a reprint of his best Golf Digest columns from the 90s. The most ahead of its time book = The Four Magic Moves to Winning Golf by Joe Dante. Mid-60s and reads like it was written today.
Thanks for the rec - I just got hold of it and will read!
Great content!
Thank you.
Keep on in that same spirit please!
Ha you got it! And thank you for the kind words! Glad you liked it 😃
Just discovered your channel. Great content, great instruction. Thank you.
Awesome, thank you! Great to have you here! 😃
Your content is always so awesome!
Ha thank you! Now that you know all the secrets, no strokes next time we play 😃