Every junior golfer swings too fast. This drill resets the tempo.

Equipment needed: A 7-iron or pitching wedge, twenty balls on tees at a driving range, an alignment stick.

Setup: Set up at the tee with the alignment stick on the ground showing the target line.

How to run it:

  1. Take the club back on a count of “one… two.”
  2. Hold for a fraction at the top — “and.”
  3. Swing through on “three.”
  4. So: “one-two-and-three.” Out loud at first.
  5. Twenty balls. Don’t think about distance. Think about tempo.

What to look for: A smooth transition at the top. If the kid is whipping the club down, they’re skipping “and.”

Variation: Try a slower count, “one-two-three-and-four,” for ages 8-9. Builds patience into the swing.