Driving · Drill
Two Easy Ways to Smooth Out Your Tempo
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Good tempo makes your swing repeat. Here are two simple ways to train it. One: use a metronome app. Pick a beat that feels natural, roughly 60 to 80 per minute. Go back with one click and through with the next. Make practice swings first, then hit balls. Two: count out loud. Say "one" going back, "two" at the top, and "three" through the ball. Use the same rhythm for every club in your bag.
The drill
- Set a metronome between 60 and 80 bpm.
- Make practice swings to the beat.
- Hit balls on the same beat.
- Or count one, two, three out loud.
- Keep the same count for every club.
Why it works
Tempo is the timing between your backswing and your downswing. If that timing changes from swing to swing, your arms, body and club reach the ball out of sync, and contact and direction vary. A fixed beat or count gives you one pattern to repeat, so your motion has less room to speed up or rush from the top. Using the same rhythm with every club keeps the feel consistent, even though the swing gets longer or shorter.
Common mistakes
- You pick a beat that is too fast and rush the swing to keep up.Slow the metronome toward 60 bpm until you can reach the top and the ball without hurrying.
- You hit the click at the top instead of going back on one click and through on the next.Start the backswing on one click and arrive at the ball on the next, so the whole swing fits between two clicks.
- You count in your head, or change the count from club to club.Say "one, two, three" out loud and keep the same count and rhythm for every club.
How you'll know it's working
- Your contact becomes more consistent, with fewer thin and heavy strikes.
- Your practice swings and ball swings feel the same speed and take the same time.
- Your shots land in a tighter group, and your driver and irons feel like the same swing.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: Make slow practice swings to the beat with no ball until the rhythm feels natural, then hit short shots with a wedge.
Harder: Hit full shots with a driver on the same beat, then switch clubs every shot without changing the count or the beat.
Common questions
What is a good tempo for a golf swing?
Good tempo is one you can repeat. For this drill, a metronome between 60 and 80 bpm is a natural place to start, and you can adjust within that range.
Should I use the same tempo for every club?
Yes, keep the same rhythm and count for every club. Your swing will be longer or shorter, but the timing between backswing and downswing stays consistent.
