Some golf instructors recommend counting to help develop tempo in golf.
It's true that statistical data shows the ratio of backswing to downswing is remarkably consistent among Tour professionals who display excellent rhythmical tempo in their golf swings.
However, there's no need to get overly caught up in the tempo issue.
We've demonstrated time and time again that Chuck can go to the top of his golf swing, stop, have a conversation, then come down and hit the ball close to his full distance — so obviously tempo isn't the deciding factor in how well you strike the ball.
Of course, we're not saying that tempo is unimportant.
Rhythm and tempo are what help unify all the moving parts and make your golf swing consistent and repeatable. A great deal goes into achieving that fluid feel.
It's No Cure-All
Is tempo in golf important? Absolutely — but it's not a cure-all for underlying swing mechanics.
There are entire books dedicated to the importance of tempo, claiming that it fixes golf swing flaws. That's a misleading premise.
Tempo alone doesn't change your movement patterns. You may swing faster or smoother than before, but you're still executing the same fundamental motions.
The one thing it might do is help you stop manipulating the club as much. It might glue things together slightly better, but it's not going to correct your movement in golf.
Tempo Doesn't Mean Rush
Most golfers tend to rush their downswing, ramping their speed up as suddenly as possible.
Instead, learn to sequence your golf swing correctly and start the downswing smoothly. Think of it as building to a crescendo.
Build speed steadily, not suddenly. Let it ramp up gradually.
Allow the speed to come to you, because that's what enables you to sequence the larger body parts that simply can't attain the high speeds your hands and arms achieve. For a data-driven look at how well your swing sequencing scores, try a free AI swing analysis.
In other words, yes — tempo is important, but the slower you can go at first when learning new movements, the better.
Learn the new movement patterns, sequence things correctly, and then let the speed come back to you once you've mastered the mechanics. To practice your sequencing with real-time AI coaching, check out a free AI golf lesson that gives you feedback on every rep.
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Watch part 2 now to see how you're moving your body in the opposite direction of the pros!
Create good tempo in golf by letting speed build naturally
