Tension-Free Golf Swing: Proven Tips to Relax, Reduce Tension & Swing Better

Clint McCormick

Sep 30, 2025 . 6 mins read

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Low handicappers, high handicappers, and everyone in between can feel the negative effects of tension in a golf swing.

The tension never stays consistent; you won’t always know when it’s coming, and it can change your game in a variety of ways.

The bottom line is that it needs to go.

If you are like me and want to eliminate or at least control some of the tension in your golf swing, I’ve got some great drills, tips, and tricks to help you in this process.

Tension in Your Golf Swing (Key Takeaways)

Tension in the golf swing is essentially pressure. This pressure can be in the hands and arms, and it can even run into the back and the shoulders. It causes inconsistency, poor tempo, and weaker performance.

Here are the key points to remember (explained in detail below):

• Tension affects golfers of all levels.
• Reduce tension after both good and bad shots by sticking to your routine.
• A tension-free swing feels smooth, fluid, and balanced.
• Watch for signs like gritted teeth, tight grip, or stiff wrists.
• Simple drills and breathing techniques can help you release tension and swing freely.

Reducing Tension While on the Golf Course

We tend to get ourselves into trouble right after a great or dreadful shot.

Learning how to be a golfer who treats a birdie the same way they treat a bogey is very valuable.

You need to have the same exact routine for every single shot you take on the course.

This level of repetition closes the thought door on the previous shot and forces you to move on to the next one, no matter the results of the previous.

We say this, too, because your pre-shot routine is as much about building confidence in your plan. You won’t have as much tension if you believe in yourself. A prepared golfer is a successful golfer.

What Does a Tension-Free Golf Swing Look Like?

When your body moves fluidly, with a slow backswing that transitions into a smooth downswing on the same path, you have a tension-free swing.

Tension-free swings are those that look effortless and natural, and that you could swing even harder if you wanted.

One thing I have always noticed about golfers with tension-free swings is how quickly their swing speed can be, even though it doesn’t appear to be the case.

Golfers really are able to go after the ball, but it looks like they have a slow swing speed, and that is partly due to less tension. If you control your weight transfer and finish as balanced as you started, it’s a good indication that tension is not an issue with your swing.

How Can I Tell if I Have Too Much Tension?

There are visible and invisible signs of golf swing tension.

Complicating things even more, while a wide spray of shots tends to be due to a poor swing, it’s not always the case.

When it comes and goes, especially at critical times in a round, tension is often the cause.

• Teeth: The most common thing you’ll see identifying tension in the golf swing, and it has nothing to do with your swing, it is gritted teeth. You tense up when you grit your teeth, almost as if bracing for this big, major collision with the ball. Instead, you should feel relaxed and be breathing easily.
• Hands and Wrists: When you’re holding on too tightly, you’re bracing for something. You need a balance where your grip is secure but loose enough that you feel feedback from your contact on each shot. Wrist motion also plays a role in this; excessive tension can restrict the wrists from performing their intended function.

Drills to Reduce Tension in Your Golf Game

These drills won’t solve every tension problem you have, but they’ll definitely help.

Holding a Tee in Your Teeth

The next time you’re on the range, hold a tee between your teeth. It’ll prevent you from biting down and tensing up as you swing. This will train you to loosen the jaw, stop gritting your teeth, and relax over the ball.

Counting

Now, this is as much a timing drill as it is a tension reduction exercise (meaning it’s a double positive for your game).

1. Begin counting up from one the moment you step over the ball through the time you finish.
2. While others may finish on a different number, you should always finish with the same number.
3. If you’re able to accomplish this, it means your swing is consistent and unhurried. Finishing on a different number reveals inconsistencies that need to be corrected.

The second part of this exercise is to keep the same speed and intensity with each number you count. Most people with tension in their swing will emphasize the number at impact (one, two, THREE) or speed up their counting for the downswing.

Counting steadily is an easy way to reduce tension in a golf swing without thinking or trying too hard.

Practice with a Metronome

The Hackmotion system comes equipped with a metronome feature that lets you customize your beats per minute.

You can use it for practice on the range to relieve pressure and also on the putting green. Reducing tension in your swing should also include the short game.

Learn to Breathe

It’s a simple but effective trick – breathing. When you hold your breath, you create tension. When your breathing is relaxed, you’ll have a relaxed golf swing. Take a deep breath right before you swing, and tension disappears.

Change the Swing Thoughts

The more a golfer piles up swing thoughts or starts considering the bad areas on the course where they could potentially hit the ball, the worse the tension gets.

Once you learn to control these thoughts and make them more positive, you’ll relieve tension.

Final Thoughts

Don’t for a second think you are the only golfer with tension in your golf swing. However, to become a great player, you need to learn to control tension and eventually eliminate it from your golf swing.

Hackmotion comes with drills preloaded to help you improve your tempo and reduce tension. You can track your practice routines, and the system will alert you when your tension increases or you get out of position. Hackmotion is like having a professional golf instructor right on your wrist.