Jackson Reid
Tempo, also called rhythm, is one of golf's most highly individualized aspects. While there's no right or wrong tempo, finding your natural tempo can improve your game. Tempo refers to the elapsed time of your golf swing from the moment you begin your takeaway to the completion of your follow-through. It is not the same as clubhead speed. A good player’s swing does not change much from day-to-day, but their tempo can fluctuate, affecting their transition from backswing to downswing and their timing at impact. Tension is a major cause of a hurried swing tempo, so it's important to relax and stay loose throughout the game. There are many ways to find your natural tempo, including using a metronome, experimenting with different speeds, and using training aids like The Orange Whip.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Tempo definition | Elapsed time of your golf swing from the moment you begin your takeaway to the completion of your follow-through |
| Tempo importance | One of the most important fundamentals of the swing |
| Tempo and clubhead speed | Tempo is not clubhead speed; golfers can have the same clubhead speed but different swing tempos |
| Individuality of tempo | Golf tempo is highly individualised, with no right or wrong tempo |
| Tempo and personality | Your swing's rhythm should match your mannerisms and temperament |
| Tempo and tension | Tension is a major cause of a hurried swing tempo |
| Tempo and grip | Hold the club lightly at address, then firm your grip slightly before you start your backswing |
| Tempo and power | A shortened swing arc can reduce power |
| Tempo and accuracy | Rushing the club down from the top can reduce accuracy |
| Tempo and consistency | Developing a consistent tempo can reduce fluctuations in your ball-striking |
| Tempo training | Use a metronome, training aids, or a smartphone app to improve your tempo |
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What You'll Learn
Tension and grip pressure
Golfers who struggle with a late release are often gripping the club too tightly. Holding the club too tightly creates tension in your hands, arms, and shoulders, which reduces power and can lead to poor swing mechanics, injury, and fatigue. You may also experience less power with a lighter grip. However, gripping the club too loosely is not the answer, as this can create inconsistent clubface angles at impact. The club can move around in your hands, and you may experience inconsistent ball contact and less accuracy.
The ideal grip pressure allows you to control the golf club without restricting movement. Most golfers find that a medium-pressure grip is best, but this will depend on the individual and the type of shot being played. For example, in the short game, lighter grip pressure can enhance feel and touch.
To find your optimal grip pressure, you can experiment with different pressures on the driving range. One simple drill is to hold the club just in front of you above the ground. If you can't feel the clubhead, your grip pressure is too tight. Release some tension until the clubhead feels heavy. You can also try gradually releasing pressure from an extremely tight grip, or visualise holding a small bird or a tube of toothpaste.
Once you have found your optimal grip pressure, you can work on maintaining a consistent grip pressure throughout your swing. Many golfers tighten their grip during the backswing or downswing, which leads to tension and reduced power. You can practice holding a steady pressure from address through impact.
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Practice swings
Start by assuming your usual stance with your club of choice. Focus on maintaining a relaxed, athletic posture with a slight bend in your knees and a
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Individual rhythm
Golf tempo, also called rhythm, is highly individualised. There is no right or wrong tempo, but there is a pace that is natural for you. Ideally, your swing's rhythm should match your own mannerisms and temperament. If you're an active or fidgety person, you'll probably play best at a quick tempo. If you tend to be relaxed and calm, a slower tempo could bring out your best game.
There are several methods to determine your natural tempo. One drill involves teeing up four balls in a row, about six inches apart. Hit each ball without stopping, one after another. By looking at the results of the shots and thinking about your comfort level when hitting them, you can get an indication of whether you are more comfortable with a slow or fast speed in your game.
You can also learn about your long game by working on your short game, as most short game shots are simply miniature versions of your full swing. Take note of how you move the club when chipping or pitching the ball onto the green. This drill should help bring your full swing tempo and your short game tempo closer together.
Another method is to use a metronome. Download a free metronome app onto your smartphone, plug in your earphones and set the metronome to a certain BPM (beat per minute). Start your swing on one beat and hit the ball on the next. Keep hitting balls and adjusting the BPM until you are happy with the results of your shots. Once you know the BPM or tempo of your good swings, you can work on perfecting that tempo.
You can also use training aids to help you find your perfect swing ratio. The Orange Whip is a popular golf gadget that trains your tempo and provides instant feedback. Any wobble in your swing indicates a need to improve tempo and balance.
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Training aids
There are several training aids available to help golfers improve their swing tempo. A popular option is the Orange Whip Trainer, a flexible, weighted swing tool that helps golfers slow down and improve their golf fitness training. The Orange Whip Trainer is used by over 300 tour golf professionals and was voted the #1 golf training aid on the market by LPGA and PGA Tour professionals. Similarly, the SKLZ Gold Flex golf training aid is designed to help golfers improve their golf strength and tempo by helping them find the natural feel of lag and develop their core golf muscles.
Swing trainers such as the Lag Shot, SuperSpeed Golf Training System, and SKLZ Tempo and Grip Golf Trainer are also effective in improving swing tempo. The Lag Shot can be used while hitting golf shots or as a warm-up tool, and it helps golfers improve their tempo and create lag in their swing, resulting in more distance, higher ball flight, and greater accuracy. The SuperSpeed Golf Training System and SKLZ Tempo and Grip Golf Trainer both use interchangeable weights to help golfers improve their tempo with different clubs.
Mobile applications such as the Mobile Golf Tempo Training App and the Tour Tempo app are also useful tools for improving swing tempo. These apps emit audio or vibrational signals to guide golfers through their backswing, downswing, and impact, helping them achieve the correct tempo and timing.
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Tempo and timing
Tempo, also called rhythm, is one of golf's most highly individualized aspects. There's no "right" tempo, but there is a pace that's natural for you. The trick is to find it. Ideally, your swing's rhythm should match your own mannerisms and temperament. If you're a very active or fidgety person, perhaps one who walks and talks briskly, you'll probably play best at a quick tempo. If you tend to be relaxed and calm, moving and speaking at a more casual speed, a matching tempo could bring out your best golf.
Tension is a major cause of a hurried swing tempo, especially with amateur golfers. You should be deliberate with all the actions you take prior to taking your stance and setting the club behind the ball. Also, relaxing and staying loose throughout the round is key. Check your grip for signs of tension. Both Tiger and Jack have discussed this in their golf instruction books. They recommend holding the club lightly at address, then firming the grip slightly before you start your backswing. The goal is to find the amount of grip pressure you need to maintain control of the club without tensing your hands and forearms.
To find your natural tempo, try this drill: On the driving range, tee up four balls in a row, side by side, about six inches apart. (Alternatively, use an iron or hybrid club.) Hit each ball without stopping, one after another. Right away, you should have some indication of whether you were better off with a slow tempo or a fast one. By looking at the results of the shots, and thinking about your comfort level when hitting those shots, you can get a sense of whether you are more comfortable with a slow or fast speed in your game.
Another way to find your best ball-striking tempo is to use a metronome. Download a free metronome app onto your smartphone, plug in your earphones and set the metronome to a certain BPM (beat per minute). Start your swing on one beat and hit the ball on the next beat. Keep hitting balls and adjusting the BPM to a beat where you are happy with the results of your shots. Once you know the BPM or tempo of your good swings, you can work on grooving that tempo on the range. When you head out on the course, you will be able to draw on your memory of good swing tempo to get a consistently good ball-strike more often.
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Frequently asked questions
Tempo, also called rhythm, is the elapsed time of your golf swing from the moment you begin your takeaway to the completion of your follow-through. It is one of golf's most highly individualized aspects, and there is no right or wrong tempo.
Tempo is important because it can have a detrimental effect on your transition from backswing to downswing as well as your timing at impact. If you can develop a consistent tempo, you will find that you won’t get any great fluctuation in your ball-striking.
You can find your natural tempo by experimenting with different speeds on the driving range. You can also try a golf drill: tee up four balls in a row, about six inches apart, and hit each ball without stopping. By looking at the results of the shots and your comfort level, you can get an indication of whether you are more comfortable with a slow or fast tempo.
