Tempo and Rhythm

Some people confuse Tempo with Rhythm in golf. They are two different things. Simply put, tempo equals time and rhythm equals ratio.

Tempo is how fast you swing a golf club. Some players swing slower and some have a fast swing. It’s the “time” it takes for you to take your backstroke and return the club to impact.

Rhythm is more important. It’s the “ratio” between backstroke speed and forward stroke speed.

In putting, the ideal rhythm is 2 to 1. Measured in time, that would be 0.6 seconds on the backstroke and 0.3 on the forward stroke. The total stroke time would be 0.9 seconds. Just under a second total time.

I measure the Tempo and Rhythm with Blast Motion Golf.

This rhythm is the same for all length putts. Longer putts require a longer stroke.

Try using a metronome

Pro players all have a combined tempo and rhythm of between 72 and 80 beats a minute on a metronome. 90 percent of players are at 76 beats a minute. Speed control and distance control are what it takes to be a great putter.

I’ve purchased a couple metronome’s over the years, but you can download a metronome app for free online.

Find your rhythm

Set your metronome or metronome app for 76 beats a minute. Try taking a dozen golf balls and putt them from 20 or 25 feet to a hole. First, make a note if they are grouped within a 3 foot circle. Second, are they around the hole, past the hole or short of the hole.

If your putts are consistently past the hole, 76 beats per minute are too slow. You are taking a longer backstroke.

If your putts are consistently short of the hole 76 beats per minute are too fast. You are taking too short of a backstroke.

Go up or down a beat or two and adjust accordingly until you begin to find the perfect speed and distance.

Say it out loud

There are different ways to focus on your rhythm. When putting, I say 1000 on my backstroke and 1 on my forward stroke. Other people say One Two.

Is the rhythm the same for all clubs? No. The typical full swing ratio is 3 to 1. Putting is 2 to 1.

Try saying 1000 one for putts, One and Two for pitch shots, and One Hundred and One One for full shots.

I say it to myself on the course and mostly on putts.