Swinging Freely – The Secret to Unlocking Your Best Golf

One of the most rewarding parts of coaching is seeing a player truly let go for the first time.

Last week, during a session on the course, I had one of those moments. My player had been working hard on his technique — putting in the time, focusing on mechanics, and building solid habits. But his club speed led me to feel he was holding back. Each swing looked careful rather than confident.

We’ve all been there. You make a couple of tentative swings, hoping to “get it right,” and suddenly your body feels tight, your rhythm disappears, and you try to steer the shot towards the target.

So I said to him: “You’ve done the work. Now I want you to give yourself permission to just swing freely.”

It was like a switch flipped.

The next few shots were completely different — faster club speed, crisper strikes, and the ball flight that we were looking for. The sound at impact told the story before the ball even landed.

The more he trusted himself, the better it got. The focus shifted from how to swing, to simply playing the shot.

We took that same mindset onto the course — same trust, same freedom — and what followed was a joy to watch. Each shot came with that unmistakable mix of surprise and satisfaction that golfers live for. The reaction said it all.

Why Swinging Freely Works

When you let go of control, you often gain it back in a better form. A free swing isn’t reckless — it’s the natural result of trust. Your practice has already built the technique. On the course, your job is to let that technique do its thing.

Tension is the real enemy of a good golf swing. It slows you down, changes your rhythm, and dulls your instincts. Freedom brings speed, rhythm, and flow.

It’s not about trying harder — it’s about trusting more and acceptance.

Coaching Takeaway

The best swings happen when you stop trying to make them perfect. Trust the work you’ve put in, commit to the target, and let your swing flow freely. Acceptance of your target creates freedom to perform. Freedom improves speed, rhythm and timing. The results follow.