Rule 17 of 25 · Chapter III — The Motion That Delivers It

Swing every iron at the same tempo and change distance with the club, not the effort.

Why this rule exists

Effort changes sequence: swing harder and the arms take over, the low point moves back, and you lose both strike and face control right when you need them. Distance already comes in built-in increments — that's what having eight irons is for. One tempo also makes your carry numbers mean something, because they were all produced by the same swing.

In practice

Pick a rhythm you can repeat — count it, hum it, whatever holds — and use it from 9-iron to 4-iron. When a number falls between clubs, take the longer club and swing the same speed with a shorter finish, or grip down half an inch, rather than easing off or lashing at it. On the range, hit the same club twice in a row and judge yourself on how alike the two swings felt, not how far they went.

When it doesn't apply

Wind, water carries, and pin-high-or-nothing situations sometimes call for a controlled three-quarter swing, which is a different length at the same tempo — not a slower or harder one. When you're playing for speed gains in practice, swing hard on purpose, away from any target that matters.