x
Skip to main content
Golf Logo
InsideGolf Join Now  / Log In
Find the sweet spot every time with this 3-club drill
SHARE
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share by Email
Golf Logo
  • News
    • Latest
      • News
      • Features
      • Shows
      • PGA Tour Schedule
    • Series
      • Tour Confidential
      • Monday Finish
      • Hot Mic
      • Rogers Report
    • Shows
      • The Scoop
      • Subpar
      • Seen & Heard
  • Instruction
    • Game Improvement
      • Driving
      • Approach Shots
      • Bunker Shots
      • Short Game
      • Putting
      • Rules
      • Fitness
    • Series
      • Top 100 Teachers
      • Rules Guy
      • The Etiquetteist
    • Shows
      • Warming Up
      • Play Smart
      • Short Game Chef
      • Pros Teaching Joes
  • Gear
    • Clubs
      • Drivers
      • Irons
      • Hybrids
      • Fairway Woods
      • Wedges
      • Putters
    • Other Gear
      • Balls
      • Shoes
      • Apparel
      • Golf Accessories
    • Series
      • ClubTest
      • Winner’s Bag
    • Shows
      • Fully Equipped
  • Travel & Lifestyle
    • Travel
      • Course Finder
      • Courses
      • Resorts
    • Lifestyle
      • Accessories
      • Celebrities
      • Food
      • Style
      • Betting Advice
    • Shows
      • Super Secrets
      • Destination Golf
  • Shop
    • Shop
      • Clubs
      • Shafts
      • Training Aids
      • Balls
      • Bags
      • Technology
      • Apparel
      • Accessories
      • Our Picks
      • Shop All
    • Collections
      • The GOLF Collection
      • The Birdie Juice Collection
      • The Fully Equipped Collection
      • Shop All
  • Newsletters
    • Sign Up for GOLF’s Newsletters
      • Hot Mic
      • Monday Finish
      • Play Smart
      • Our Picks
      • Top Stories
      • Sign Up for All
  • News
    • Latest News
    • Features
    • Shows
    • PGA Tour Schedule
  • Instruction
    • All Instruction
    • Driving
    • Approach Shots
    • Bunker Shots
    • Short Game
    • Putting
    • Rules
    • Fitness
  • Gear
    • All Gear
    • Drivers
    • Irons
    • Hybrids
    • Fairway Woods
    • Wedges
    • Putters
    • Balls
    • Shoes
    • Apparel
    • Golf Accessories
  • Travel & Lifestyle
    • All Travel
    • All Lifestyle
    • Course Finder
    • Courses
    • Resorts
    • Accessories
    • Celebrities
    • Food
    • Style
    • Betting Advice
  • Series
    • Tour Confidential
    • Monday Finish
    • Hot Mic
    • Rogers Report
    • Rules Guy
    • The Etiquetteist
    • ClubTest
    • Winner’s Bag
  • Shows
    • The Scoop
    • Subpar
    • Seen & Heard
    • Warming Up
    • Play Smart
    • Short Game Chef
    • Pros Teaching Joes
    • Fully Equipped
    • Super Secrets
    • Destination Golf
  • Shop
    • Clubs
    • Shafts
    • Training Aids
    • Balls
    • Bags
    • Technology
    • Apparel
    • Accessories
    • The GOLF Collection
    • The Birdie Juice Collection
    • The Fully Equipped Collection
  • Newsletters
    • Hot Mic
    • Monday Finish
    • Play Smart
    • Top Stories
    • Our Picks
    • Sign Up for All
InsideGolf Join Now  / Log In
InsideGolf

InsideGOLF: +$140 value for $39.99

Join Today
Instruction

Find the sweet spot every time with this 3-club drill

By: Adam Smith, GOLF Teacher to Watch , Maddi MacClurg January 14, 2025
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share by Email
Golfer at top of backswing

This three-club drill will help you smooth out your tempo.

Getty Images

Welcome to Shaving Strokes, a GOLF.com series where the game’s brightest minds share their tips to help you, well, shave strokes! Today, GOLF Top 100 Teacher to Watch Adam Smith teaches you how to boost your tempo and improve your contact with his three-club drill.

Many amateur golfers make the fatal mistake of over-swinging in an effort to generate more distance. But, longer swings actually work against you because they reduce control and result in off-center strikes that kill your power.

Fortunately, getting your swing under control is easier than you think. All you need to do is throttle back and focus on tempo. 

Swing at 75 percent

I always say: Tempo isn’t how fast you swing, it’s how you swing fast. And, a great trick for developing a swing that is powerful and controlled, is to hit shots at about 75 percent. 

It might sound counterintuitive, but, reducing your swing force improves your delivery and produces more efficient, center-face strikes, which means higher ball speeds and more distance. 

Want to experience the benefits of a smooth-tempo swing? Boost your contact and consistency, and even add a few yards back onto your game with my three-club drill.

Short Game
phil mickelson hits chip shot in front of crowd of fans
Phil Mickelson’s ‘aggressive contact’ trick for sticking 50-yard pitch shots
By: Zephyr Melton

My 3-club drill for tempo 

For this drill, it’s best to start with a target that’s 100 yards away. Next, grab the club you would typically hit from this distance as well as the next two lower-lofted clubs in your bag. For example, if you usually hit a 100-yard shot with a pitching wedge, grab that, plus your 9-iron and 8-iron. 

Now, imagine a green around your target. Your goal is to land as many shots on this “green” as possible. You’ll get 10 attempts with each club, hitting your highest lofted option first. As you track your progress, pay attention to your ball flight and distance control for each club. 

Once you’ve finished, tally up your total. You might be surprised to find that you were more consistent with the lower-lofted clubs. That’s because, unlike the highest lofted option, these clubs required a switch with less effort, which in turn, smoothed out your tempo. 

And, you can use this drill from any distance. Try it with long irons and even your woods to inject a bit of rhythm back into your game. 

Latest In Instruction

3 hours ago

2 keys for playing golf at elevation, according to LIV pros

1 day ago

The secret behind Justin Thomas’ crazy clubhead speed

1 day ago

How a simple grip change can fix your bunker shots

1 day ago

This 'hallmark' of elite ball strikers is absent in high handicappers

generic profile image

Golf.com Photographer

generic profile image

Golf.com Editor

Related Articles

Driving
mike malizia swings golf club

Make a perfect downswing and hit more fairways. Here's how

By: Mike Malizia, Top 100 Teacher
Approach Shots
arnold palmer swings golf club

Arnold Palmer shares the secrets to hitting pure shot with long irons

By: Zephyr Melton
Instruction
golfer hits shot out of fairway bunker

6 shots amateurs never practice — but they should

By: Tom Stickney, with Zephyr Melton
Instruction
golfer uses pencil to write on scorecard

6 reasons you should keep a Handicap Index

By: Kellie Stenzel, Top 100 Teacher
Driving
rory mcilroy swings driver during the 2025 masters

Rory McIlroy's 5 'game-changers' for improving your ball striking

By: Zephyr Melton
News
Patrick Reed at the 2025 Masters

Patrick Reed is within reach of his second Masters title — and so much more

By: Michael Bamberger
Instruction
Golfer putting on green from above.

7 tips for reading greens more effectively

By: Kellie Stenzel, Top 100 Teacher
News
fred ridley at augusta national during masters week

Augusta National boss takes dead aim at one of game’s chronic issues

By: Michael Bamberger
News
scottie scheffler tees off on the 18th hole at augusta national at the 2024 masters.

You don't know pressure until you know Masters pressure

By: Michael Bamberger
Sign up for GOLF's Newsletters
Get the latest news, the hottest instruction tips, new product releases, golf media insider reports and more delivered directly to your inbox. Choose your favorites now.
Sign Up
Categories
  • News
  • Instruction
  • Gear
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
Services
  • Masthead
  • GOLF Media Kit
  • GOLF Magazine Customer Service
  • TERMS OF SERVICE
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • Opt-out of Ads/Sharing
  • Your Privacy Choices
Social
  • facebook
  • x
  • instagram
  • youtube
Membership
InsideGOLF Logo
More than $140 Value for JUST $39.99

INCLUDES 12 SRIXON Z-STAR XV GOLF BALLS, 1 YR OF GOLF MAGAZINE, $20 FAIRWAY JOCKEY CREDIT - AND MUCH MORE!

LEARN MORE

© 2025 EB Golf Media LLC. An 8AM Golf Affiliated Brand. All Rights Reserved. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy a linked product, GOLF.COM may earn a fee. Pricing may vary.

Go to golf.com

This content is available only to InsideGOLF members.

More than $140 in value for $39.99

1 Dozen Srixon Golf Balls

$20 Fairwayjockey.com credit

1 year GOLF Magazine subscription

50+ pieces of insiders-only content each month on GOLF.com

GOLF Magazine’s 600+ Issue digital archive

Weekly insider newsletters curated by GOLF’s top creators

Free True Spec fitting with any club purchase

50% off GolfLogix Green Books

50% off GolfLogix Game Improvement App

$100 off any Fairway Jockey purchase of $500+

$100 off any Miura Iron purchase of $500+

Join Now

Already a member? Sign in