Majority of the golfers on the 1st Tee trying to impress their group by trying to hit it on the green, even though the average driver distance is maybe 180 yards. The most common fault I notice is that everyone tries to swing as hard as they can when it comes to hitting it far.

But here’s the truth: it’s not really about swinging hard. It’s not “Grip it and Rip it.” That’s just a marketing line which sounds cool. In reality, professionals don’t play that way. They use their brains. They play smarter, not harder.

Professionals don’t try to take their hardest swing. They swing at about 80–90% of their tempo. Why? Because they value contact far more. When you swing all out and miss the center of the clubface, you actually lose both distance and ball speed. A centered strike creates far more power than a reckless swing.

This is why tempo plays such a key role. If golf was just about strength, then bodybuilders and powerlifters would be the longest hitters in the world. But that’s not the reality. Instead, players like Min Woo Lee, Rory McIlroy, and Justin Thomas hit it so far because their sequencing and synchronization are nearly perfect — not because they swing the hardest.

Want to work on your tempo? Here you go :-

1. Pause Drill (Hideki Matsuyama style): Go to the top, stop completely for a second or two, then swing. This helps release tension and brings your body into sync, improving both rhythm and tempo.

2. 70% Swing with a Finish: Switch your mindset. Try swinging at only 60–70% effort, but make sure you finish balanced on your lead side. If you can’t hold your finish, you’re still swinging too hard.

And remember — swinging at 60–70% doesn’t mean slowing down or decelerating. You’re still accelerating through the shot and finishing strong on the lead side. It just means you’re in a much more comfortable space, swinging smooth and easy instead of tightening every muscle and forcing it.

At the end of the day, the longest and straightest drives come from center contact and good tempo, not from trying to swing the club as hard as you can.

Coach’s Tip on how to improve your game
-Sreenjoy Majumdar
Head Pro at Protouch Golf Academy
NGAI Certified Training Professional