How to Improve Your Golf Swing Tempo
by Bradley Turner, Keiser University College of Golf Director of Online Golf Instruction – MBA, PGA
There are plenty of videos and articles on the Internet for the avid golfer to view and study. It is interesting that so much of the golf instruction today is focused on the latest technology in golf. This trendy information can send golfers down the rabbit hole of too much information that is not applicable to their swing problems. A few years ago, I had a 25 handicap student explain to me that his ground reaction forces were not working properly, which was the root cause of his swing errors. I politely asked him to stop looking at golf videos on the Internet!
I love all the new technology in golf instruction and believe it has made golf coaches better at their craft. For example, the technologies I love to utilize at the College of Golf are the Flightscope launch monitors and the latest edition of the Swing Catalyst. These are powerful tools for sure and can really help coaches zero in on swing problems in their students. However, analyzing PGA Tour golf swings with this technology will fall on deaf ears for Internet followers because so many do not have access to this high-tech equipment. Studying what tour players do is certainly an important aspect of developing as an instructor. But I do believe this information can get overwhelmingly complex to the average golfer who will never swing a golf club like a tour player.
Old Golf Wisdom
Most golfers can benefit from the wisdom that has been around for centuries. Many amateurs would improve in short order if they only held the club as Harry Vardon did in 1900. The importance of the grip has been around as long as golf has been played, yet today we see poor grips all the time! Balance was another old-school fundamental that is buried in golf instruction today, even though most all coaches agree that good balance is essential to consistency. A seemingly forgotten swing thought in modern coaching is tempo and rhythm. Bobby Jones was famously quoted as saying, “rhythm and timing are the two things which we all must have, yet no one knows how to teach either.” Let’s tackle the challenge that Bobby Jones put forth and attempt to teach this by starting with some definitions.
Tempo and Rhythm
Sequencing in the golf swing is a term often used by golf coaches today to explain the timing of the body and golf club. When either the club or body begins to vary from a learned timing pattern, the result is an inconsistent ball flight. Instead of using the term sequencing, old school teachers and players spoke about tempo and rhythm.
Tempo
In music, tempo means the speed at which a piece of music should be played. You can play a piece slowly, moderately, or at a fast pace. In golf, we measure the time it takes a player from initial takeaway to impact. Just as in music, golfers can have a fast tempo to their swing like Jon Rahm, while others will have a slower tempo similar to Xander Schauffle.
Rhythm
In music, rhythm is the arrangement of the notes of a melody usually laid out into regular groups of beats. Even if you hit the notes on the music sheet correctly but fail to stay in the rhythm or beat of the song, you really don’t have anything good to listen to! Another way of thinking about rhythm is the cadence of a poem or limerick. Just saying the words accurately does not bring to life a poem or limerick. Saying the words in the proper rhythm or cadence is important.
In the golf swing, good positioning but poor rhythm does not build consistency in ball striking. Ultimately, the best players in the world will have varying tempos to their golf swing, but they all have wonderful rhythms to produce powerful and well-timed golf shots. And with good rhythm, golfers of all skill levels will improve the timing in their golf swing and begin to play to their potential.
How to Develop Your Own Tempo
A good starting point in building a consistent golf swing is to find your best swing tempo. Generally, a swing that has a shorter length backswing will require a faster tempo to generate adequate clubhead speed. The longer the backswing, the more likely the player will have a slower tempo to generate a similar clubhead speed. For example, Jon Rahm has a much shorter backswing and faster swing tempo than most players on the PGA Tour. Xander Schauffele has a much slower tempo and a longer backswing than Rahm. A slow tempo does not equate to slow clubhead speed. According to the PGA Tour stats, Xander has a slightly higher clubhead speed of 119.02 mph than Rahm, who swings the driver at 118.34 mph.
The best way to find your ideal tempo is to go to the driving range and experiment with different tempos. Start by emulating a shorter and faster swing like Jon Rahm and take note of the resulting ball flight. Then go to the opposite end of the spectrum and take a longer and slower swing like Xander. What were the differences in ball flight? Which end of the spectrum felt the best to you? Most likely, you will be somewhere in between Rahm and Xander. Once you find a tempo that you like and one that rewards you with better ball flight outcomes, you are zeroing in on your own authentic tempo. A great way to better understand your own swing tempo is by downloading a free app from the team at Tour Tempo. The Frame Counter App will count the number of frames it takes you from the start of the swing to the top. Once you begin the forward swing, it will count the frames until impact. This will give you a ratio of the backswing to the forward swing.
Tempo Is a Good Playing Thought
Under pressure, many golfers begin to rush their golf swings. When the tempo of the golf swing changes, it disrupts the rhythm necessary for consistency and repeatability. These changes make it almost impossible for a golfer to properly time the position of the clubface through the impact zone. A change in tempo will create a change in ball flight! Consequently, a great playing thought is to maintain the tempo and rhythm of your golf swing. The more consistent you are in replicating your own swing tempo, the more likely you will have the rhythm and timing to hit consistent golf shots.
If you’d like to study with Bradley Turner and other PGA Master Professionals, contact the College of Golf today.
