Want More Consistent Ball Striking – Stop Rushing Your Downswing!

After all the other work is done – including picking a club, aiming your shot, and lifting up to the top of the backswing – it’s extremely easy to get in a hurry and rush down to the ball.

Of course, every golfer knows that this mistake can lead to disaster. The key question in this article isn’t whether or not it’s bad to rush the downswing – we know it is – but rather how you can stop doing it while out on the course.

This can be a tricky mistake to correct, but it’s possible with the right game plan and plenty of practice. Let’s dive in.

What is Rushing Your Downswing Exactly?

First, we need to be on the same page about what it means to rush through the downswing.

After all, it’s a good thing to have a high swing speed and hit the ball hard, so wouldn’t that be the same as rushing? Not quite.

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When you rush the downswing, what we are really talking about is the transition from the backswing to the downswing. It’s this phase of the swing that needs to be executed with the proper tempo and timing.

Then, once you are through the transition, you are free to pour on the speed and hit the ball as hard as you like.

Why Golfers Rush Their Downswing Transition

Anytime you get into a “why” about the game of golf, you have to be careful not to overgeneralize. Golfers are all individuals, and the cause of their mistakes can vary wildly from player to player.

With that said, there tend to be three main causes of why golfers are compelled to rush through the transition and into the downswing. Read through the list below to see if any of these sound like you:

1. Trying to hit the ball too hard

This is the big one. When you rush, it’s quite possible that you are doing so because you are trying to hit a shot extra hard, and your body feels like getting through the swing as quickly as possible is the best way to do just that.

Of course, as you probably know, rushing your swing will have the opposite effect, and you’ll likely hit a weaker, less accurate shot as a result.

2. Feeling nervous

Another leading cause of rushing is the nerves that you may feel out on the course. This is why so many people feel like they hit the ball great on the driving range only to struggle with their swing on the course.

On the range, there is no pressure.

Once you get onto the first tee and beyond, however, you feel at least some pressure and you may rush to get each swing over with and relieve those nerves.

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Everyone has their own reasons for feeling nerves on the course, whether it’s having to swing while others are watching or just simply wanting to play your best and knowing you only get one try at each shot.

3. Lack of a process

Golf is a game of waiting and then hurrying. For much of your round, you’ll either be walking to your ball, or riding around in a cart. Then, when the time comes for you to hit your shot, it feels like everything happens quickly.

It’s easy to rush when you feel like you have been waiting and then suddenly everyone is looking at you and expecting you to swing. This is where a solid process is so important. Having a routine that you go through before each and every shot – without exception – will help even out your tempo and make you more comfortable on the course.

Building a Good Foundation

So, we have a pretty good understanding of what rushing is and why it happens. But what can you do about it?

Like most other things in golf, you’ll want to get started by heading to the driving range.

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It’s true that this is an issue that can pop up only on the course, but it’s still good to make sure you have a solid foundation on the range, so your swing is in a good place before every round.

Here are three ideas for your next practice session to help you cut down on the chances of rushing your downswing:

1. Switch clubs between every shot

The trouble with the driving range is that another ball is always sitting there waiting to be staged and knocked out into the distance. So, if you make a bad swing, you can just quickly swipe another one in front of you and go at it again.

As you might imagine, this habit promotes rushing, because you are going from swing to swing in such a hurry. Make it a point to switch clubs between every shot – that’s right, every shot – to slow yourself down and better imitate the experience of playing actual golf.

2. Take 0ne-handed practice swings

It’s usually the bottom hand on the club that is responsible for forcing the transition and rushing into the downswing (the right hand for a right-handed golfer). So, while practicing, make some rehearsal swings with only your top hand on the club.

The transition on such a swing will have to be slower just because you don’t have the strength available to force the club back down quickly.

Make one or two of these practice swings then go back to hitting balls. You might find that your tempo is improved just through this habit alone.

3. Ignore the distances

Driving ranges are a lousy place to evaluate your distance. Not only are the range balls usually beat up and lacking the spring of a regular golf ball, but the area is wide open, and you can easily fall into a pattern of swinging way harder than you would ever swing on the course.

Do your best to forget about distance when on the range and focus solely on hitting your target lines and making good contact with the ball.

Final Thoughts

Rushing your downswing might be something that plagues your game regularly, or it may only pop up from time to time in certain situations.

Whatever the case, we hope this discussion helps get you on track and avoid this costly error in the rounds ahead. Play well!