Adam Scott has one of the most iconic swings of the modern era, and arguably one of the best of the past 20 years. He uses ground forces and great balance throughout to produce one of the most beautiful swings in golf.
With a move worth lusting over like Scott’s, it’s natural to wonder what his swing thoughts are when he’s on his game. The answer is quite simple.
“I’ve kind of kept returning to this very deliberate backswing to keep the pace off the ball slow,” Scott said in his presser ahead of The Northern Trust.
In a world where Bryson DeChambeau violently rips the club back in his takeaway, it can be easy to forget that long and languid can be a successful blueprint. But Scott (among others) is proof of that concept. Tempo in the swing is key.
“It seems it’s very easy for my swing to get fast off the ball, and I do like a thought to focus on rhythm,” he said.
Scott explained that a swing he admires in terms of tempo is that of LPGA Tour star Inbee Park. The former world No. 1 has been a mainstay at the top of the women’s game over the past 12 years, riding a deliberate tempo to seven major championships during that time.
“It’s so slow and deliberate,” Scott said on Park’s swing. “To me that’s the extreme opposite of what I feel when I’m not swinging well. So I focus on like having the slowest backswing possible.”
If you’re struggling with your swing, try to slow things down. Once you get your tempo locked in, it becomes much easier to stay balanced and make solid contact.
Zephyr Melton is an assistant editor for GOLF.com where he spends his days blogging, producing and editing. Prior to joining the team at GOLF, he attended the University of Texas followed by stops with the Texas Golf Association, Team USA, the Green Bay Packers and the PGA Tour. He assists on all things instruction and covers amateur and women’s golf. He can be reached at zephyr_melton@golf.com.