Padraig Harrington is a three-time major champion and one of the most curious minds in golf. He’s also generous with what he knows. His official YouTube channel, home to his “Paddy’s Golf Tips” series, is full of short, practical lessons.
One we keep coming back to is “Rhythm in the Golf Swing: Key Tips for Swinging Smoothly with Power”, published in July 2025. It’s under seven minutes long and tackles a question most club golfers get wrong: can you swing smoothly and still hit it hard?
DE-SHANK isn’t affiliated with Padraig Harrington, and nothing here suggests he endorses our app. We just think the video is worth your time.
The big idea: smooth and hard can go together
Harrington opens with a point that surprises a lot of golfers. He says it’s possible to have good rhythm and hit the ball hard, and that the best golfers look smooth while swinging hard, because they have great rhythm and coordination.
That matters, because many of us hear “rhythm” and think “slow down”. Harrington is clear that he isn’t asking anyone to swing slowly. He even says that if a fast takeaway suits you, that’s fine.
Four lessons from the video
1. Don’t get stuck over the ball
Harrington says it’s very hard to take the club away smoothly if you’re static at address. Good rhythm starts with a little movement as you prepare to hit. If you freeze, the takeaway tends to be jerky.
2. Be relaxed at the top
He wants you to feel you have time at the top of the backswing, with the muscles relaxed. He describes what he’s after as “a barely imperceptible pause”. In his words, “it’s not a freezer”. It’s a moment of relaxation before you “turn on the power”.
For weekend golfers, he even says he’s not against feeling so relaxed at the top that you could almost let go of the club.
3. Count your swing
His main tool is counting. Say “one, two” through the backswing, then go. He notes it’s much easier to count in your head than out loud, and that counting is a technique players have used to manage pressure over the years. He also says the count shouldn’t make you decelerate: it’s “relax and go”.
There’s a lovely moment where he mentions someone on the range who counted “one, two, 17” because 17 felt like the right pace for his downswing. It’s a good reminder that the count is personal.
4. Try the step drill
Harrington also demonstrates a step drill, which he says produces the same rhythm and makes you take more time. He uses it to show how timing and rhythm connect.
How to practise Harrington’s ideas
Here’s a simple session built around the video. Please watch the original for his full explanation and demonstrations.
- Waggle and go (5 balls). Add a small movement before the takeaway, so you’re never fully static.
- Count in your head (10 balls). “One, two” to the top, then swing through. Don’t slow the downswing.
- Find your number (5 balls). Experiment with your own count, as in his “17” example.
- Step drill (5 balls). Follow his demonstration in the video.
- Normal swings (10 balls). Keep the feeling of a relaxed top.
Check that it’s working
Harrington makes a sensible point: there’s no value in working on rhythm unless you can play at that speed on the course. If counting makes you swing much more slowly, it isn’t helping.
That’s a good use for DE-SHANK. Record a few swings before and after you start counting. Your tempo score shows the rhythm of your backswing and downswing, so you can see whether the count is making your rhythm more consistent. You’ll also get scores for head movement, hip sway and posture change. See all our features.
DE-SHANK gives estimates from one camera view. It’s designed for practice feedback, to help you spot habits and track trends.
Why we like this video
It’s honest and unfussy. Harrington doesn’t claim there’s one right tempo. He gives you a few tools, explains why they work, and admits when something isn’t quite right in his own swing. That’s a refreshing way to learn.
If you enjoy it, his official channel and the Paddy’s Golf Tips page on his website have plenty more.
For more profiles like this, browse our YouTube Coaches section.
Try DE-SHANK free
Find out whether counting improves your rhythm. Try the free DE-SHANK beta and track your tempo on every swing. It’s free during the beta.
