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Range PracticeRhythm and Tempo Irons Beginner / Intermediate ⏱ 11 min 🇫🇷 Video in French

Golf Tempo: The Pause-at-the-Top Drill

Irregular contact, shanks, fat and thin shots, or big slices on your drive? Before looking for a technical flaw, Jean-Baptiste Gonnet suggests you check your tempo. He recommends three exercises to do at every practice session: feet together, pausing at the top of the backswing, and starting your swing by pushing a water bottle.

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Jean-Baptiste Gonnet
Jean-Baptiste Gonnet · his YouTube channelFree lesson selected by Fred P.

To be continued

7 minSame problem4 Rhythm Exercises for Your Warm-up: Jump Rope and Weighted ClubPaul Lambersens · Beginner / Intermediate8 minNext Level UpWedge Pyramid: Raphaël Jacquelin's Pre-Shot RoutineRaphaël Jacquelin · Intermediate / Expert12 minFrom the same proStart the Downswing With Your Hips: Jean-Baptiste GonnetJean-Baptiste Gonnet · Intermediate

What the lesson shows

Jean-Baptiste Gonnet sees two tempo mistakes among the amateurs. First, a club that got off to a rocky start, moving my hands too quickly. Then, especially with the long clubs, the urge to’accelerate very quickly from the top When hitting the ball: the club then passes over the path, resulting in poor contact, fat shots, thin shots, slices, and a loss of distance. First solution: to stamp your feet together, short shots with a 7-iron, five to ten balls. If you pull the club or force the shot, you'll miss.

Second exercise: a true pause at the top of the backswing, wait until the club completes its rotation, then make contact by starting the downswing with your lower body rather than your hands. At first, it’s very tempting to use your arms to generate speed. Third exercise: place a water bottle or a ball behind the clubhead and push her back to start all together. Alternative: Don't put the club down on the ground before you start.

The Exercise, Step by Step

  1. Using a 7-iron, after warming up, press your feet together.
  2. Tap five to ten gentle, rhythmic taps.
  3. Return to your normal stance and bring the club up to the top of the backswing.
  4. Take a real break when you finish your rotation.
  5. Start the downswing with your lower body, without using your arms to push off.
  6. Place a water bottle or a ball just behind the clubhead and push it backward to start.
  7. Variation: Lift the club off the ground just before taking your swing, instead of setting it down.

Key Takeaways

Many contact issues are, at their core, issues of tempo.
Pushing from above puts the club in the way.
With our feet together, we'll fall if we pull away or use too much force.
The break at the top gives you time to finish the rotation.
The downswing starts with the lower body, not the hands.
Pushing a gourd backward forces the entire group to start moving.

Mistakes to Avoid

  • Pull the club out of the ground with your hands as you start your swing.
  • Accelerate very quickly from the top of the backswing.
  • Taking a break that's too short—one that isn't really a break.
  • Resume the downward movement with your arms after the pause.
  • Work on everything at once instead of one exercise at a time.

Driving Range Mode

Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.

  1. Five to ten jumps with feet together at the start of the session
  2. A swing with a pause at the top of the backswing
  3. A few starts by pushing a water bottle
  4. On the course: a practice swing with a pause before taking the shot

Your Questions

How long should the break last?

The video doesn't specify the duration, but emphasizes a real pause: the club comes to rest at the top, the rotation ends, and then you swing.

Why is it so hard to hit the ball after the break?

Because you have to build up speed without using your arms to propel yourself forward. At first, you're tempted to do that; that's exactly the sign that your arms are dominating the movement.

Why push a gourd instead of a ball?

Both work. The water bottle, which is a little heavier, makes it even easier to start off gently, all together, without jerking the club.

What's the point of not putting the club down on the ground?

Once the club is in place, sometimes you press it against the ground and then yank it away. Lifting it off the ground just before you start makes this sudden start more difficult.

Learn More

All “Practice” videos →Find the lesson that's right for youAll “Rhythm and Tempo” videos →Find the lesson that's right for you 4 Rhythm Exercises for Your Warm-up: Jump Rope and Weighted ClubA warm-up session consisting of four exercises performed in sequence: one-handed upside-down club, rope, flexible weighted club, and then a standard club in continuous motion. Same speed on the upswing and downswing: slow down your swingMove up and down at what feels like the same speed, then hold the finish position for three seconds: an imbalance at the finish indicates that your body is moving too fast. Wedge Pyramid: Raphaël Jacquelin's Pre-Shot RoutineRaphaël Jacquelin's pre-shot routine: a pyramid of wedges ranging from 30 to 100 m, verified by radar, with fixed distances based on the wedge, grip length, and swing amplitude. Jean-Baptiste GonnetAll of his lessons

Video posted on YouTube by its creator (Jean-Baptiste Gonnet). Best Golf Tips selects and summarizes the best free lessons, without hosting them.

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