Golf Tips - Tempo: Improving the Swing, and the Putt

THE SWING: Tempo for our purpose is the length of time it takes to make a swing from start to finish.

You must establish a smooth, rhythmic tempo to get the most out of your game day in and day out. If you are having a bad day, check your tempo first. Make sure it is smooth and rhythmic.

You will find the longer the club, the wider the arc will be and consequently the faster the club will swing. Maintaining your established tempo will automatically dictate the speed of the club.

The important thing to remember is that every club should be swung at the same tempo.

PUTTING: I like to use the same tempo for every length putt. That is, take the same length of time for every putting stroke.

Two things dictate how far the putt travels:

1. The length of the back swing
2. The speed of the club head

Establish your tempo with about a six-foot putt (the length of time the stroke takes from start to finish). Using a metronome is the best way to practice this. However, you still must mentally establish your tempo. You will find with a little practice the length and speed of the putt automatically change using the same tempo.

This is a very positive approach to putting. Try it, you may surprise yourself.