4 Timing Drills For Golf

In this game of inches, it's impossible to strike the ball crisply every time you play. With that in mind, in the video and article below, Golf Monthly Top 50 Coach Andrew Reynolds runs through four drills that will help you rediscover your timing.

It happens to us all. A few poorly struck shots and suddenly your timing is gone and you feel incapable to getting the club properly on the back of the ball. However, there are some great drills that will quickly get you back on track. Here are four of my favourites...

1. Half-swings

Whether you’re in the middle of a round or at the range trying to work through your timing issues, making half-length, half-paced swings is a great place to start. If on the course, make some practice swings like this before each shot and if you're at the range, begin your session by hitting some half-swing shots before upping the ante. 

Remember, it needs to be quite a slow movement back and through. It's one of the things tour players do that you don't and it works so well because it helps you feel the clubhead better during the swing and will naturally slow you down.

2. Find your feel

Poor ball-striking often stems from excess tension in your hands and arms. When you are nervous or trying to hit the ball too hard, your grip pressure can become too tight and you lose the mobility in your wrists and your feel of the club. Take a look at any of the best players in the world - there is barely an ounce of tension in their bodies firing on all cylinders.

To rediscover your feel, try holding your fingers very lightly on the grip. As you set your hands on the club feel as if the forefinger and thumb of both hands are in control of the club – the rest are there purely for support. This will soften your grip and get the club moving with much more flow, releasing as it should through the ball.

3. Acceleration drill

Another reason your timing can be off stems from trying to hit the ball too hard. Golfers often wonder how long their backswing should be and in my experience, the desire for extra distance causes it to get too long. The knock-on effect is an early wrist extension in the downswing, which restricts your power and often disrupts your timing. 

The simple way to stop yourself casting in the golf swing (releasing the club too early) is to make a slightly shorter backswing (two-thirds the normal length) and then swing through to a full finish. This will help you accelerate the club through impact and find that crisp contact you are looking for. If you are catching your shots a little thin or fat, this is a great drill to use.

4. Synchronisation check

There are occasions when, try as you might, you aren’t able to rectify the problem while out on the course. That’s fine – even the world’s best players have days when their timing is off. However, if you are serious about rectifying the issue, head to the range and hit a series of 50-yard wedge shots.

The aim here is to keep the club shaft out in front of you at all times. At the address, top of backswing, impact and in the finish, the clubhead should be pointing directly away from your chest. Try to get this image in your mind as you swing and the synchronisation between your body and arms will improve.