Why does Hovland do that ‘double pump’ swing – and could it improve your driving?

After watching golf’s pantomime villain snatch a last-gasp victory at the WGC Mexico, it was nice to see the extremely likeable Viktor Hovland claim his first PGA Tour title at the Puerto Rico Open.

The Norwegian has quickly established himself among the game’s elite since turning pro and even caused his first social media stir in 2019 by putting his now famous ‘double pump’ driver swing drill into tournament play.

In case you’ve not seen it, or if you need a reminder, check out this tweet from the PGA Tour:

Viktor Hovland reaching back for a little more power … 🧐 pic.twitter.com/3DfWsCYfF0

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) June 23, 2019

So why does he do it and is it worth trying?

According to his coach Denny Lucas, Hovland has a tendency to swing too long at the top of his backswing which can lead to inaccuracy in the form of an uncontrollable slice.

But by pausing, he is able to better control where he positions the club which, Hovland says, allows him to shape the ball right-to-left and squeeze out some extra yards.

• Related: What’s in Hovland’s bag for 2020?

“I found that when I stopped, I positioned my swing to where I can feel a draw. My drives were going way straighter and farther, and so thought I might as well just try it in a tournament,” Hovland explained.

Although he doesn’t do it at every event he plays, and it didn’t appear in Puerto Rico, I’m sure it won’t be long before we see it in action again.

I certainly wouldn’t suggest taking something like this into your next competition round, but if you’re struggling to control the length of your driver swing, perhaps it could be worth experimenting with Hovland’s drill at the range.

What’s the best swing drill you’ve tried? Let me know in the comments or send me a tweet.