Often times an abbreviated swing appears to be "too fast" because it did not swing to a comfortable top position. (Larry Olmsted/WorldGolf.com)

Pausing your golf swing can help it

By Karl Fischer,
Contributor

This is an often-used instruction with some merit, but let's look at it for a moment.

Any time there is a "direction change on a single plane" (such as a pendulum changing direction at the top of its swing), the clubhead speed is zero. It is stopped at the top. Stopped is certainly a pause.

We think that the discipline sought here is not to pause but to "recognize the top of the swing" so that we actually get there and make a "full swing" as opposed to the often ineffective "abbreviated" version.

Teachers at the IRGO Golf Academy have often observed swing's being critiqued as "too fast" ... "slow it down." I do not agree with this generally as such guidance has the real tendency to cause clubhead deceleration, which can be worse than what is already in use. Even swing balance can be compromised.

An abbreviated swing naturally appears to be "too fast" but primarily because the "duration" is short ... the swing does not take very long. Why? Because it did not swing to a comfortable top. When we make "half a trip," it usually takes half as long. Certainly it's fast!

A directly beneficial "duration" improvement is to simply say "and" when you feel the comfortable top of your personal swing. Make sure you get to the top in all "full swings."

October 20, 2003

Karl Fischer has spent some 35-plus plus years teaching golf nationally and internationally earning the title of "IGAD-Doctorate," "CIMTP-Certified International Master Teaching Professional," "CMCB-Certified Master Club-Builder" and "CGC-Certified Golf Clinician." He has written six golf books, thousands of editorials, tips, "Bullet-Proof Drills" and much more. He can be reached at KF@555golf.com or by phone at (817) 673-8888.