When another golfer lingers over the ball too long, you can almost see the analysis paralysis setting in as they run through a Rolodex of swing thoughts. But the delay can be trickier to recognize when it’s you over the ball.
If you face this issue, you’ve likely been advised to pull the trigger faster — to keep those thoughts from piling up and, just get on with it! It sounds logical, but a recent study by Eric Alpenfels, a GOLF Top 100 Teacher, and Bob Christina reveals that this long-held belief might be hurting your game more than helping it.
In the study, 32 low-to-mid handicappers were asked to hit drives under four different timing conditions. The first was what Alpenfels refers to as “reacting to the target,” or having zero delay after taking a final peek. Second was a two-second delay, pulling the trigger just a short wait after looking back at the ball. Third was a four-second delay and the final, control condition asked golfers to use whatever timing is normal to them.
The results were fascinating.
The study found that swinging without delay did not lead to better drives, in either distance or accuracy. In fact, the best performance — particularly in terms of consistency — came when players waited two seconds after looking at the target. But here’s the kicker: these players were instructed to count those seconds out loud — “one-thousand-one, one-thousand-two.” That simple structure helped them focus on the process and avoid overthinking.
Surprisingly, the worst performance came when golfers did things the way they usually do. With their own natural delay, golfers were more erratic, both in distance and in how far offline their shots landed.
So, what does it all mean?
What’s kicking around in your head during that brief moment before you swing is incredibly important. Counting out a few seconds after you look at the target gives your brain just enough time to settle before your body lets it fly. We’re not suggesting a wholly revamped pre-shot routine, but it’s worth a try next time you practice.
Set up, settle in over the ball like you normally would, then after your final glance at the target, look down at the ball and count “one-thousand-one, one-thousand-two,” and go. That tiny adjustment might be just enough to add some consistency to your tee game.
