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Cameron Young’s Backswing Pause: A Swing Drill for Distance and Accuracy

Learn the 2026 Players Champion’s backswing technique that can help you hit longer and straighter shots with this simple swing drill.

Learn the 2026 Players Champion’s backswing technique that can help you hit longer and straighter shots with this simple swing drill.

Cameron Young, winner of PGA Tour events and the 2026 Players Champion, has revealed a valuable swing technique that golfers of all levels can use to improve both distance and accuracy. The key lies in a deliberate backswing pause that Young incorporates into his golf swing.

In his instructional series The Golf Fix, available on GolfPass, Young’s swing coach Devan B breaks down exactly how this backswing pause works and why it can transform your ball striking. The technique is straightforward in concept but requires proper execution to deliver results on the course.

Understanding the Backswing Pause

The backswing pause is a brief moment of hesitation at the top of your backswing before you begin your downswing. Rather than rushing through the transition from backswing to downswing—a common mistake among amateur golfers—Young incorporates a controlled pause that promotes better sequencing and tempo.

This pause serves multiple purposes in the golf swing. First, it allows your lower body to initiate the downswing before your upper body accelerates. This sequencing is fundamental to generating power and consistency. Second, the pause creates a moment of stability at the top of the swing, reducing compensatory movements that lead to mishits. Third, it naturally slows down your overall swing tempo, which many golfers find produces more predictable results.

Benefits for Distance and Accuracy

Young’s technique demonstrates why this simple adjustment yields improvements in both categories—often golfers must choose between hitting farther and hitting straighter. However, the backswing pause accomplishes both objectives simultaneously.

By establishing better sequencing, you engage your larger muscle groups more efficiently, which translates to increased clubhead speed and distance. Meanwhile, the pause reduces the timing variables that cause off-center hits and wayward shots. The result is improved ball flight consistency and accuracy without sacrificing power.

Devan B’s explanation in The Golf Fix series provides visual demonstrations showing how professional-level technique can be adapted to different skill levels. Whether you’re a beginner working to build fundamentals or an experienced golfer seeking refinement, the backswing pause offers tangible benefits.

To implement this drill, practice pausing for a count of one at the top of your backswing during range sessions. Focus on the feeling of your lower body leading the downswing while your upper body remains quiet. Over time, this becomes automatic, and you’ll notice improved contact quality and shot consistency on the course.

For a complete walkthrough of Young’s swing technique and additional tips from The Golf Fix, viewers can access the content through GolfPass’s streaming platform.

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