Master the Downswing Transition: Pause Drill

How to rewire your thinking and calm nerves for a better downswing.

Hey, Performance Golfers, Matt Walter here at the Vanderbilt Legends Club. Going to drop a great nugget on you today about how to do a Hideki Matsuyama drill to rewire your downswing and make more effective strikes on the golf ball.

So, how are we going to set this up, and what's the purpose of this drill? Well, the main purpose of this drill is going to help you relearn your downswing to create an effective strike on the golf ball. A big problem I see day-to-day is, the moment of truth from when you change from the backswing to a downswing, what initiates that downswing is really hard to overcome because the time it takes for that motion to happen is so fraction-of-a-second that we can't help but do what comes natural to us, which may or may not be the right answer.

So, why we do the Hideki drill... And if you don't know who Hideki Matsuyama is, he's a PGA Tour player who's famously known for the slight pause at the top of his backswing. It comes at some arguments between coaches whether it's good or not, and 99.9% of the golfers don't do this hitch, but I think there's a lot of benefit to doing it while you practice so that you can learn how to effectively start your downswing.

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[robsaxepga]

I work on three things. Shoulder turn in the backswing, smoothing out my transition and getting the right knee and hip "under" just after transition. It's funny you say "rewire" the transition because that's what it felt like to me when I started working on it. I get to the top, stop and then gently bunt drivers out about 200 or 220 yards. At the top, initially I felt what I can only describe as an electrical impulse to over speed the club at my stopping point to start down. Once I practiced this drill a few times, I felt "rewired", my transition smoothed out and my shot control increased. Good video, man. Keep it up.

[roamer]

Thank you for a very clear and helpful video. Its just what I needed to improve my transition. Cheers

[johnlysic]

Good explanation - I am adding that drill right away this morning - thank you

[garthdownton]

I have often wondered how Hideki (spelling) can even hit a ball. Off -on-off-on swings have a lot going on to make them function. My guess is the pause allows the lower body to initiate the downswing! This is a "on off on off on off" swing, I would shank every iron shot or at best hit huge blocks! It is one swing on tour that has always intrigued me! He obviously knows what he is doing and can make a good living doing it!

[williamreichert]

My version of this is to complete the backswing all the way to the top. THEN PAUSE. After starting the pause a lateral move with your. hips.
This move ( because you are completely wound up ) will start your downswing. Once you feel the pause and have bumped your hips, complete your downswing. This will( if done right) happen automatically.
1.Go back. 2. Pause 3 complete the downswing. It's all about timing.

[scottsanders]

The pause works for Cameron Young as well.
I’m not Nick Price, so if I don’t at least “feel” a slight pause at the top everything gets out of whack

[Grayback]

Awesome video and explanation, thank you!

[jupitergolfandre]

I have been using this drill for a few months now as I am trying to rewire my downswing. I have 2 big questions ... 1- at the top of the pause ..where is the weight on your feet.? I have been experimenting with trasferring the weight to my left heel at the top of the pause(when I am stopped and before downswing and it seems to be helping somewhat). 2- At the top of the pause. what initiates your downswing. ? When doing this I have been trying to hardwire to use my lower body to initiate the swing in lieu of my previous arm/shoulder heavy downswing motion which causes early extension, a minor reroute at the top and draw/ hooking tendencies. I have been trying to use the thought of my left heel pressing into the ground very hard to get the swing going. It is starting to come along but it still isnt "smooth"
any help would be appreciated .
thank you

[edshort]

At setup, there is perhaps a 15 degree angle from left arm to club shaft. But during downswing at ball impact, the angle is closer to 0 degrees. The loss of 15 degree causes a Lengthening of the distance from left shoulder to club head. This could cause the club head to badly chunk into the ground before the head reaches the ball. Clearly some aspect of body position at ball impact is crucially different as compared to body position at setup, and the difference prevents chunking the ground.But what exactly is that difference in body position??Another instructor says the difference is that, at ball impact, the forward bend at the waist we have at setup - is replaced by less bend meaning a more standing straight up posture: the distance between the left shoulder and the left foot is longer at ball impact than at setup. Does the Performance Golf Zone instructor agree?  Thanks. Ed.

[pauldunne]

Ur transition is poor ur right hip pops out