A vehicle includes an engine, transmission, and controller. The transmission has gear sets each having multiple nodes, an input member continuously connected to the engine and one of the gear sets, and a binary clutch assembly. The controller executes a method to detect a requested event of a binary clutch engagement and to command a calibrated energy pulse from the engine to the input member in response to the requested event. The energy pulse reduces slip across the binary clutch assembly. The controller applies the binary clutch assembly within a calibrated window of initiation of the pulse, and may shift the transmission into reverse or drive. A transmission has the controller, at least first, second, and third gear sets, an input member selectively connected to the first gear set and continuously connected to the second gear set, and a binary clutch assembly connected to the first and second gear sets.