Drill Library

3 proven drills for tempo.

3:1 Tempo Counting Drill

Tempo

Tour players swing with a backswing roughly three times longer than the downswing. Counting a “one-two-three… one” rhythm out loud grooves that ratio.

How to do it

  1. 1Without a ball, swing while counting evenly: “one-two-three” to the top of the backswing.
  2. 2Say “one” as you swing down and through impact — the downswing gets a single beat.
  3. 3Keep the count (and swing) smooth; don’t jump on the downswing beat.
  4. 4Add a ball and keep counting out loud, matching your strike to the final beat.

Feel: Unhurried going back, one decisive beat coming down — like a waltz ending in a snap.

Equipment: none (a metronome app is a nice upgrade)

Feet-Together Drill

Tempo

Hitting balls with your feet touching removes the lower-body safety net, instantly exposing lunges and over-swinging while grooving balance and smooth tempo.

How to do it

  1. 1Take a mid-iron and stand with your feet touching, ball centred.
  2. 2Make three-quarter swings at about 60% effort and hit the ball.
  3. 3If you stumble or fall off balance, you swung too hard — slow down until you finish steady.
  4. 4Hit ten balls this way, then return to a normal stance and keep the same smoothness.

Feel: The club swings around a quiet, centered body — effortless instead of forced.

Equipment: none

Continuous Swing Drill (Swing the Fence)

Tempo

Swinging back and forth continuously without stopping, like swishing a stick through tall grass, melts tension and restores natural rhythm when the swing gets mechanical.

How to do it

  1. 1Take your setup without a ball and start swinging back and through continuously.
  2. 2Make eight to ten uninterrupted swings, brushing the same spot of turf each time.
  3. 3Let the momentum of each swing start the next one — no pauses, no steering.
  4. 4Step up to a ball and hit it with the same flowing, non-stop feeling.

Feel: The club swings you — loose arms, brushing the grass in an even rhythm.

Equipment: none