Slow Is Smooth: Why My Best Swings Started With Slowing Down
Fast Life. Slow Swing.
Why Golf Demands a Different Pace
Settle in. Let’s talk golf.
I work in technology.
Everything moves fast.
Deadlines.
Emails.
Meetings.
Decisions.
Busy is normal.
Fast is rewarded.
If I’m honest, that mindset bled into my golf swing.
My Original Logic
Faster backswing = more power.
More power = more distance.
More distance = better golf.
Seemed reasonable.
It was completely wrong.
The Tornado Theory
My backswing felt like the start of a tornado.
The faster I whipped it back, the more I believed I’d generate speed.
Instead?
I created chaos.
My tempo was rushed.
My transition was jerky.
My arms collapsed.
My balance disappeared.
And my ball flight?
Short and wild. (can you say “slice again!”)
Have You Ever Seen This?
Have you ever seen Ben Griffin sprint between holes?
Collin Morikawa jog to the tee box?
Scottie Scheffler rush a backswing?
No.
Because golf doesn’t reward speed of movement.
It rewards rhythm.
It rewards patience.
It rewards control.
The Counterintuitive Truth
When I finally slowed down my backswing – intentionally – everything changed.
(See my 3:1 tempo post if you haven’t)
When I slowed down:
• My contact improved
• My ball flight stabilized
• My distance increased
• My accuracy tightened
• My mechanics improved.
Slower… went farther.
That still feels backward.
But it works.
Breathing Changed Everything
Slowing down isn’t just mechanical.
It’s physiological.
When I breathe before I swing:
My shoulders drop.
My hands soften.
My rhythm steadies.
Breathing sets tempo.
Tempo sets sequence.
Sequence sets contact. (great contact)
The Slow Down Checklist
Before every shot:
☐ Breathe
☐ Stand tall
☐ Soften your grip
☐ Slow the backswing
☐ Commit to the target
That’s it.
No rebuilding.
No overthinking.
No tornado.
Slow… then swing.
Golf Leaked Into My Life
Here’s the unexpected part.
Slowing down my swing started slowing down my life.
I stand straighter now.
I sit up better in my chair.
I pay attention to posture.
Because posture matters at address.
And when you start caring about one small detail…
You start caring about all of them.
Everything becomes more intentional.
Small Changes. Big Impact.
Slowing my backswing felt small.
Breathing felt small.
Standing taller felt small.
But the results weren’t small.
Distance improved.
Accuracy improved.
Consistency improved.
Life improved.
Small changes. Big impact. (logo was intentional)
The Bigger Lesson
Golf forced me to slow down.
To be present.
To stop rushing.
To stop trying to manufacture speed.
And ironically…
When I slowed down, I became better.
At golf.
And at life.
The Next Shot
Your next shot doesn’t have to be perfect – just intentional.
Slow down. Then swing.
Are you bringing your fast life onto the tee box?
Or have you learned to change tempo?
Drop it in the comments – I’m curious.
Real Talk. Play Better.
Effort builds results.
