How to use a smooth tempo to generate power — just like Ernie Els

Golf instruction is ever-evolving, but the best advice stands the test of time. In GOLF.com’s new series, Timeless Tips, we’re highlighting some of the greatest advice teachers and players have dispensed in the pages of GOLF Magazine. Today we go back into the archive to our June 1995 issue where we published a story on Ernie Els’ smooth — and powerful — swing. For unlimited access to the full GOLF Magazine digital archive, join InsideGOLF today; you’ll enjoy $140 of value for only $39.99/year.

There are some swings in golf that just look smooth. Think Jake Knapp. Fred Couples. Nelly Korda. Sam Snead. All of these swings are as graceful as they are effective, and they’re the moves that many of us aspire to copy. Best of all, these swings aren’t just smooth — they’re also powerful.

One of the first-ballot hall-of-famers in the smooth tempo discipline is Ernie Els. The big South African carved out a heck of a career gaming his smooth and powerful move, and it even earned him the nickname “The Big Easy.”

Back in June of 1995, ahead of his U.S. Open title defense, GOLF Magazine ran a feature on many admirable elements of Els’ swing. One such portion focused on his envy-inducing tempo and powerful driving, broken down by legendary instructor Jim Flick. Check it out below.

How to swing like The Big Easy

Watch Ernie Els swing a golf club and you can’t help but think of a taller version of Sam Snead. Perhaps no one since Snead has owned such an explosive, yet graceful swing. Like Snead, Els nears perfection in his balance and timing. Everything is in the right place at the right time without a hint of excess effort at any point from start to finish.

At the tender age of 25, Els has already harnessed the three components for a controlled, repeatable swing: Rhythm, balance, and timing. Every golfer has heard these terms but here are my definitions. Rhythm is the harmonious movements of the body and club; balance is the ability to keep all of the parts of the body under control; and timing is the proper sequential movement of the body parts and the club for maximum efficiency.

But don’t think that good rhythm, balance, and timing occur simply by swinging the club at a controllable pace. There are certain mechanics in the setup and swing that must be present to set the proper sequence in motion and deliver the clubhead squarely to the ball.

Within these mechanics, adjustments may be necessary to accommodate individual needs. Els has made a few modifications from the standard setup to better accommodate his height. The results are spectacular. Here’s what you can learn from the U.S. Open champion to improve your swing’s balance and timing.

Start in balance, stay in balance

What happens during the swing is largely a reflection of what is created at address, and Ernie has a nearly perfect setup. Notice that his spine is angled away from the target. This promotes a full, upper-body coil at the top of the backswing with the weight over the right foot. I also like the wide platform he has created. Notice that his heels are shoulder-width apart, not his toes, and he uses slightly more knee flex than most good players. This wider stance and extra knee flex lower his center of gravity slightly, which is helpful for improving balance in a tall player. Also notice that his weight is evenly balanced in front and behind the balls of his feet. Again, this creates perfect balance at address / and to swing in balance you must start in balance.

Don’t go inside

Tall golfers, in particular, tend to pull the club inside the target line too soon on the backswing. When the club gets too far inside, it feels heavier, which adds unnecessary tension in the arms and hands. Els avoids this problem by keeping the clubhead outside his hands well into his backswing.

The correct arc makes things easier

Notice that a line drawn from the end of Els’s shaft to the ground points inside the target line while the shaft is positioned between his arms. This puts his clubhead on the proper arc for his height. The correct arc is important for a rhythmic, balanced swing because the more vertical the arc, the lighter the clubhead feels and less effort is needed to control it. The lighter the clubhead feels, the less tension is created in the hands and arms.

Start with a swing, not a turn

Rhythm and timing are enhanced by a swinging motion. Swinging doesn’t create tension, whereas turning does. That is why almost every great golfer begins his motion by swinging the club back rather than by turning his body. Ernie has started his motion by swinging his arms. His body turns in response to the arms’ lead. The proper sequence has been established, resulting in a slightly flatter clubhead arc on the downswing. This helps deliver the clubhead to the ball from slightly inside the target line and promotes a draw — Els’s preferred shot shape. Remember this by thinking: “Take the high road up and take the low road down.”

The payoff

At impact Els’s nearly perfect combination of superb timing, balance, and rhythm has delivered the clubhead squarely to the ball. His body looks relaxed even when his clubhead is moving more than 100 miles per hour. There is no excessive lower-body twisting or sliding and his weight remains between his feet. With the driver you can see that Ernie’s head has moved slightly backwards. This accommodates a slightly ascending clubhead path into impact for a ball that is teed-up. On an iron shot, his head doesn’t move as far back so he can make a descending blow. Els understands that controlling the club is the key to hitting the ball close to his target. He doesn’t fight the club to control it, but rather creates a swing that minimizes tension and maximizes clubhead speed. It’s a swing that — like Snead’s — should serve him well as long as he plays.