Tempo and Timing; #1 Most Popular Teacher on You Tube Shawn Clement

[GolfBoyzSATX]

hey shawn i m a junior golfer and my back swing tempo is very quick and theres not a pause at the top of my swing, like i see with other "good swing" players, but i still seem to hit the ball decent and still post some decent scores about and better than they do sometimes. in my thought process, i seem to get the fear that if i dont take the club fast then i wouldnt come down fast enough to hit the golf ball with alot of distance. its funny but i take the club up on plane and love to hit draws

[clemshaw]

@GolfBoyzSATX Have a look at my "sledge Hammer Golf; shawn clement" and "Overswing and fast backswing; shawn clement" videos; you will understand that when you are tuned into the weight of the Arm Club Unit (ACU) and that you are getting ready to use that weight to release through the ball, you cannot rush it! Impossible to have bad rhythm! Shawn

[crobicheaux22]

Shawn,

are you exaggerating a relaxed posture at address, standing motion in the backswing, then loss of posture again in downswing to put more emphasis on really slow tempo?



[ajadubbs]

Shawn great videos. I noticed while you were teaching here on the timing and tempo, I couldn't help to notice your right foot, do you have it set back a little like a quarterback getting ready to break formation? Or are you toes parallel?

Thanks

[bunkerputt]

Shawn, You're the only instructor I've ever heard talk about how to calm down after blowing a gasket redlining at the driving range. I almost wish the range were private so I wouldn't have random strangers to try to impress with distance. LOL!! Thanks for all your videos. In your opinion, can someone ever permanently overcome the tendency to rush the downswing for distance or will we always struggle?

[clemshaw]

@bunkerputt It is human nature to push ourselves and it takes wisdom to recognize our limitations! :) The key is to develop a routine that addresses this issue on every swing; I have just the video for that entitled "baseball mental game for golf; shawn clement" it will help! Shawn

[BubbaWatsonfan15]

Thank you so much!! you made a lot of sense out of this, great illustrations!

[mjs0039]

Hi Shawn

How would we use the 'crane and wrecking ball" analogy for short game, very short chips, uphill or downhill chips.

[skwon11]

Shawn, Great vid. The funny this is, in doing the drill, I can't hit a 7 iron 75 yards. Free and easy aiming for a 75 yard flag it goes 125. Great and funny all at the same time. Of interest to me... I can do this with the driver and consistently as anything else, can get the ball to travel 200 yards... straight as an arrow. It's like having another club in the bag! Thanks again for the vids!

[theciskokidd]

I broke the head off of my 5 Iron to realize i was swinging to hard....haha...So i took out a 7 and followed this tip in the video. Works!

[bcso54]

Shawn,

I have not done any work at my job cause I found your videos, quick question for you. I have a problem I am get all jammed up at impact, it looks terrible it is like I am not releasing the club. I have no answers for it I practice all the time but cant figure it out. What do you think ?

[clemshaw]

@bcso54 #1 get the distance between you and the ball right; "golf pro lesson distance to ball part 2" and then make sure you are swinging to a target and NOT THE BALL! "golf pro lesson fishing and golf" and "golf pro lesson ridiculously easy" part 1 and 2. Enjoy! Shawn

[awesomeskater92]

this video helps me alot with not bringing the club back to fast in my swing because i always wanted to move my left knee to much this is a very good video thanks for posting this it has helped me alot in my game an by the way your swing is bad ass

[yanks4everontop420]

Hey Shawn, I've been watching a lot of your videos and they have helped me so much. Really my only problem is that maybe a 3rd of the time I push the ball out to the right. I hit it perfectly straight (no hook/draw/slice/fad) but it just starts out on a line to the right. What are the usual causes for pushes like this?

[mjs0039]

Hi Shawn

I am using the drill(at 6:23) to start the back swing even when playing. I hope it is not against the rules. However to be able to use inertia and to use the body to lift the arms, I feel that my backs wing is not the slowest or even slow. If it is slow I am not able to let the arms get lifted. How do you think I can have a slower backswing for better tempo and rythm. My ball striking is certainly better than befor even with the faster back swing.Thanks.

[clemshaw]

Great question!! The intensity of the backswing should be the same as when you go to your finish with the arms out in front of you and then let them fall into the backswing; feel how when you let the body turn out of the way, you feel a nice little pop about 1/4 into the backswing when your left hand crosses over the right hand and the wrists hinge upwards; see "golf pro lesson timing and tempo update" Shawn

[mattc1170]

Shawn:

I have a question about ball flight in the tempo drill you describe here. When taking a full backswing and hitting the ball 50%, 75%, etc of the full distance of your club, should this drill result in a push (or push slice) of the ball? If my understanding of shaft flex is correct, if we're using clubs with properly fitted shafts, swinging deliberately slower will result in the clubface staying open at impact. I just want to know make sure I'm doing this drill right..

[clemshaw]

Hey Matt;

You should be striking through the ball very cleanly and the ball should be GOING VERY STRAIGHT!!! Have a look at my latest video entitled "Golf Pro lesson get better divots" which should set you straight; if you still don't have my dvd, I would recommend you get that too to make sure you are not neglecting anything important in the fundamentals; check your grip too with the 4 videos on grip that I have;

Shawn

[lookinthis]

Hey Shawn,

I am a 2 handicap golfer, but i feel i do not even have the right tempo,

This driving range coach told me that even before i finished my back swing, my butt has already start. He also told me that i need a "pause" when i finish my back swing, and then downswing, because what i tend to do is i straight away do the downswing even before i finish my back swing, i am just asking if there is a drill out there for this type of problem.

Thanks!!

[clemshaw]

Have a look at my "golf pro lesson medicine ball drill" and the "golf pro lesson sequence power drills"; my favorite is the "golf pro lesson perpetual motion drill" video; Thanks for the comment; Shawn

[bluesbeats]

hey Shawn I saw you on the course yesterday and I think you are absolutely one fine piece of meat. yummy

[1tontomato]

lol.......thanks for the laughs.

[davidskerr1]

Hey Shawn,

So taking lessons at my local course, the pro recommended to not dip the knee or hip at the start of the swing (to reduce overall body movement).

I am struggling a little now as my timing is off. I can try to work through this, is there any issue with starting from a 'static' position in the backswing?

[clemshaw]

Hey David; great question that plagues many a golfer and many golf professionals are completely oblivious to this; watch a tennis player serve a ball and see how he moves forwards first or a professional musician in an orchestra...static kills instinct!! Many pros have been brainwashed because they think the answer to overuse and or perceived overuse of the legs is no use at all like the solution to preventing accidents is to stop the wheels on a car...LOL! See "timing and tempo update" video

[cliffhregis]

He does look like Will Farrell. I was just saying that the other day.

Shawn is a much better golfer.

[drummerkingmike]

I always think he looks like a priest - cos of that little white square on the collar! Hah!

Another great one Shawn! Thanks!

[gerrardlord]

Shawn, ur videoes are by the far best on youtube.

is it just me that he's just like Will Farrell?

[jim27100]

Awesome! great stuff Shawn! love the race car analogy! :D

[chaz23j]

awesome video, I need to "feel" my golf swing, this should help me relax and let the club do the work! Thanks Shawn! :-)

[molsondrive1970]

Hi again Shawn... I've been learning how to play from your videos for about a year now... Thank you.. I think I'm starting to get it now but I think I'm stuck. It doesn't matter if I'm using an iron, wood, or driver, I'm just reaching 100 -130 yards every time. I don't get it. Please help!

[clemshaw]

You need to practice whipping the snot out of the club towards the target making the club whistle in 5 channel dolby surround!!! GRIP IT AND WHIP IT! DON'T HOLD BACK AND DON'T TRY TO HIT THE BALL!

[twinretina]

A few things I don't like about this swing. 1 - you're not preloading (watch Sergio on how he generates a 120 degree angle during his downswing). Your wrists are breaking too early before you hit the ball (loss of power here), that is, not enough lag generated. 3 - you right foot starts to come up too soon because you're wrapping yourself around instead of driving your hips 20 degrees right of your target through the ball. 4 - not enough extension after impact and you are upright like a board.

[Michael10659]

And you're comparing "Can't Hit The Ball Straight Sergio" to Shawn here. Wow, just Wow. You make no sense. Plenty of power in the swing Shawn demo's because i've proved it.  I now hit my 7 iron 165 and i never did that before.

[clemshaw]

BTW; thanks for the defense Michael! Shawn

[clemshaw]

Who the heck are you talking about?? I hit 7 iron 180 and carry my Driver 290! How long have you been playing and teaching? My right foot comes up at the end of my swing like Kenny Perry and Scott Verplank and Moe Norman...Stay with Stack and Tilt, you deserve each other...Shawn

[jwsmith000]

You're right, Shawn is a scratch golfer both left and right, and he has entered golf tournaments with 7 LH and 7 RH clubs in his bag. Clearly he needs to take lessons himself!!! :P

[bluejfk]

But don't your hips have to get awya faster if you are "gunning it" ???

[clemshaw]

As long as your focus is to gun it to the target and not to the ball; your instincts will take over and get the job done every single time without fail; the instant you let the ball become your target, your instincts won't fail you there either...but you won't like the results of that one!:)

Shawn

[bluejfk]

And neither will the owners of the homes along the right side of the golf hole!!

[MrAveragegolfer]

good video it help me a lot thank you !

[simonmccabe]

Hi,

Got a lot from this clip. However, struggling to stop backswing from going back too far, think i might be 'braking' to use your analogy. Is there a drill to limit the backswing? When I do limit and time correctly there seems to be a much truer and straighter hit . Thanks, Simon

[clemshaw]

hey Simon;

See the "golf pro lesson Golf Swing medicine" and "Golf pro lesson momentum toss" part 1 and 2;

Shawn

[sookme1964]

That is my swing....I start my swing by passing over the ball then going back....I find this to help me slow down and make better contact with the ball.

Most of the people I play with find this a very strange move.

[clemshaw]

This is one of Mike Weir's and Nick Faldo's favorite drills! And there is nothing wrong with what you are doing; I have many students that enjoyed this drill so much they took it to the course too and have solid success;

Shawn

[jdotson]

The best way for me to feel this easy flow is using the old school way of feel loose and letting the club lag back a bit in the take away. As I am still in the learning stages. Shawn brings this up in other videos as well. The best!

[clemshaw]

Yes; very good and thanks!

The other video is the "Golf Pro Lesson student swing analysis" part 2 in the second half of the video...Shawn

[preachaboy77712]

I guess this is a question and a comment...I really appreciate this lesson as it has given me a great thing to focus on, helping me immediately to hit better shots. I also apply this to putting as far applying the "juice" at the moment you were describing. Is this applicable to putting also?

[clemshaw]

Yes! Chipping, putting, pitching, bunkers...

Great insight from you! Shawn

[clemshaw]

Also, see the "golf pro lesson how much hit to apply"

Shawn

[preachaboy77712]

Will do...thanks!

[turners7172]

Just thought I'd ask since i noticed, you really don't push off your back foot and your right heel looks a little fake through the shot. Just wondering if it was because you are showing in slow motion or is that the way you just swing?

[clemshaw]

Great Observation!

Exactly! Ever see Scott verplank and Kenny Perry's right heel through impact? It is down all the way through to the finish! See the following videos from my "you Tube Shawn Page" on my website:

-Leverage Power

-Feet together drill

-One Leg drill

-Downswing Weightshift

If you need to push off the right side it means you are stuck there; it is not only possible to whip without that push, it is more powerful and more efficient as it allows you to maintain spine angle...

[unclePTM]

absolutely nailed the issue,,,at least for my kids! i would like to think that the tempo you are talking about, if done correctly as you have demonstrated, will promote better lag retention, thus add more power through impact zone, without doing anything extra really.

[clemshaw]

Big Time!

Thanks for the comment!

Shawn

[sealing7]

i hope you put canadian golf instruction on the map with these tips

[jellybelly1960]

Hi Shawn, I been looking at your videos for a week or so now and have to say they are the best most logical pieces of instruction I ever read. Brilliant!

I wonder what your thoughts are regarding tempo in as much as when you look at the likes of Ben Hogan and a lot of the tour pros they have lighting quick backwings; I can't see how they are using just momentum to start their swings? I guess us aspiring handicappers will be much better going for a slower tempo like yourself?

[clemshaw]

Hey Jelly Belly! Even the best can still improve! A great tempo to emulate was that of Sam Snead and Tiger Woods; Sam's was way more effortless but Tiger still has a great transition with a natural pause when swinging well.

Thanks for the comment; Shawn

[swenson35]

absolutly amazing. has helped me out so much and what i feel quite simple. im using your wrecking ball idea and your swing and it is working perfectly for me

[clemshaw]

Thanks Swenson! Shawn

[CosmicSPC]

SUPERB!!!!

[deemsitso]

Shawn, thank you for the clarity of your teaching. Your analogies and visuals have explained many mysterious but nevertheless vital elements of the golf swing. It all makes sense to me. I am beginning to get it in my head and on the driving range! I will definitely be ordering your DVD.

Ian James

[Scampern]

Shawn. I love you. Been struggling lately with pulls and slice and pull hooks and what not.

Timing has been all off the map. Been training my muscles as well and as I got stronger I wanted to punish the ball.

Suddenly I remembered two things" Let the arms fall" " When would you push the swing" ?

Result: 50% effort, same distance. Im shocked. The ball was compressed. Now I just need to get rid of the compensations from my "old" swing and ill be happy as ever :D

I will order your dvd right now

[thebudman61]

Shawn- Please take this video off, I don't want ANYONE I play with to see it. You really do a great job, man. All the success in the world to you. Bud

[kmh196700]

Thanks for your help Shawn. Using the bracing of the right hip, I drove within a 40 yd chip shot on a 355 yd par 4;hit 56 degree wedge 110 yd up hill; now, using an 8 iron on par 3 165 yd and this happens when I swing braced and effortless. This amazes me. I am still not consistant, but I know that I can hit these shots, because I have done it using your tips.

[clemshaw]

Just a sign of great things to come dude! :)

Shawn

[pangking2006]

Hi, shwan! I really like your video! The point of "momentum" helped me find a lots of answers about the golf swing, and developed a picture what real golf swing sure looks (or feel) like in my mind. I just got some question here, on your DVD, its including all your videos on youtube here? and I've took some lessons with my instructor since I started play 2 years ago, who teaching me a little different from your swing, if I want to change my current swing to your swing, do you have any advice?

[clemshaw]

Hi Pangking and thanks for your nice comment;

My 3 DVD set is 4 hours long and is done from scratch and has all the elements of these you tube videos and in priority sequence with training methods and on course execution for all shots; you will enjoy it! This is where you want to go for sure; in the meantime, you can go to my "You Tube Shawn" page of my website (shawnclementgolf dot com) and look at the "Stacked and Complete" video and a few other titles of interest...Shawn

[OutLaw2107]

So true, These by far are the best instructional videos I've seen. I'm a chef at a golf course and the pros there can't teach worth a lick. I'll be able to beat them easily this year. I'm going to tell them all about you and your instruction style. My worst enemy was my grip..very weak, you fixed it. Still getting comfortable with it but hitting it straight and solid 80% of the time. Thanks a million

[clemshaw]

Thanks for the kind words you guys! I very much appreciate you taking the time to comment!

Shawn

[kmh196700]

Shawn, you are the best!

[mecas94]

I agree...ive seen like all his vids. n theyre all the best n theyve helped me soooo much

[jajeeman]

While the timing of the metronome is personal to each persons swing-- what do you think of Putting at 80/sec; Chip 72/sec; What do you think is reasonable for a driver or mid to long iron?

Thanks again

[clemshaw]

Sorry about that Jajeeman; I was away and forgot to get back to you on this one; metronomes have their place but there is a reason you are having issues with them here; every swing has it's own rhythm that is created by abandoning the club to gravity and centrifugal force...I used to work a lot with them but stopped because I found something much easier to repeat for each shot; the feel of uninterrupted momentum combined with the swing sequence...so tough to explain in 500 characters...

[jajeeman]

Shawn:

Any comments to string of comments:

Thanks for the video -- any thoughts on how to incorporate a metronome into the full swing would be appreciated. I use for putting but have not had much success with a full swing.

Thanks

[screamingeagletim]

Hi Shawn, great techniques here. I have heard you talking in other videos about the "true top of the backswing."  I was wondering what that is and where I should feel it at? I'm guessing that it is the first move down toward contact with the ball? Thanks again. I'll be ordering the DVDs soon.

[clemshaw]

Hi Tim! Good to hear from you!

The Golf Hockey video has it with my good buddy Steve Lee! You will then get the rhythm for it in the "Sequence Power Drills" and "Swing Sequence" videos...You have them all on my "You Tube Shawn" page of my website at shawnclementgolf dot com

[keefgan89]

thanx shawn. this should help when i play with a front nine of 20 plus points then mess it up. if i focus on the tempo i should drop that handicap. thanx

[jajeeman]

Thanks for the video -- any thoughts on how to incorporate a metronome into the full swing would be appreciated. I use for putting but have not had much success with a full swing.

Thanks

[Bartknopik]

Shawn, I've had problems with trying to use Music also(I see you have music to golf too on your playlist). I've also tried the swing tempo. It makes sense that one should have the same consistency; or is it a matter of allowing the inner clock and ability to readjust the tempo from swing to swing. I'm thinking more about fine tuning here rather than fixing an abrupt swing tempo. I know there is something to this as Vijay uses a 1-13 count and other use a waltz 1-2,3.

[clemshaw]

Hi Bart;

Great Question as well as "Jajeeman's" comment about the metronome above. I have experimented with the metronome heavily as well as with different beats and it does come down to readjusting your inner clock...you can use a tune or a metronome to calm you into a state of awareness that would allow you to reclaim that inner clock...I call it "reset the red line"...Who needs meditation when you have golf right? :)

[itubeutude]

Good video. Thanks shawn.

You make it look easy and I must admit that tempo is not something I think about when I'm playing.

[loftboy2000]

Shawn,

If i use one of your other analogies ie the boxer throwing the punch back - Do i need to worry about the turn of the hips or should that happen naturally ? On the same subject, should my left arm go directly back ? ie perpendicular to my target /foot line.

thanks again.

[clemshaw]

Great questions!

For the punch: This is for awareness as to how the hips-pelvis unit gets out of the way as you punch straight back. When you connect the right hand to the club, the left hand will get pulled in front of the center of the chest at address and they stay there as you go back; Shawn

[honketyhank]

Thumbs up, yet again. Question: on this and other videos you talk about the back, plant, swat (or some similar terms) and say that for a hard swing and an easy swing everything is the same until the "swat" which is where you "pour on the juice" to hit hard or easy.

What are the moving parts that drive the "swat" and what muscles do we use to "pour on the juice"? Maybe enough here for a whole 'nother video?

[clemshaw]

Or enough for a thesis!! :)

It has been scientifically shown that there are over 220 muscles that fire during the golf swing at different times and different intensities...believe me, you don't want to go there consciously; this is why I use analogies to collect a feel and a rhythm then use that to create consistency. Let me think about that video...:)

[honketyhank]

220? No wonder I ain't got no swat.

I feel 4 things to varying degrees and with varying results. 1) A push with right hand through impact; 2) A whippy feel of right forearm a la your skipping stone throw; 3) a push on my left hip with my left leg; 4) an acceleration of my shoulder turn.

Are any of those bad habits? Are some OK but mutually exclusive?

Thanks, I look forward to the video.

[clemshaw]

For #1: As long as you are assisting momentum that is already there...For #2: Yes!...#3: Feel like your left side is Gliding out of the way; no pushing required...#4:Shoulders gliding around your axis effortlessly like the "Golf Pro Lesson Hammer Throw" or the way you would crack the baseball bat through the ball...Shawn

[honketyhank]

Alright. muchas specibo, monsieur.

[kiwisenior]

HiShawn

One of your best!

I have found that if I get the left knee to point at the ball the tempo and sequence isjust about automatic

Thanks Again.

John