Piling on here. Figured that out around my 5th round this year when I realized that taking my 6 iron and just trying to punch out of the woods was giving me my best contact. Even 175 right down the middle off the tee is plenty valuable in a scramble, and getting the experience of hitting down the fairway is going to help a lot more than bouncing through the trees until you make it to the green. While I don't disagree with the concept, I have always found this hard to implement. Trying to shorten my swing or not swing as hard just messes up my timing. The advice for me that always seems to work is relax and let the club do the work. It seems like over-swingers throw their hips forward and then miss the ball instead of being smooth. Might just be anecdotal, but I feel like most beginners start in an overswinging mode. Playing with crappy clubs/balls, usually trying to catch up to everyone else, etc. Definitely not relaxed. I think what you're talking about is almost the next step, at least where I'm at. Slowly lengthen back out once you get used to a smooth, easy swing that you can replicate.