The Connection Between Rhythm and Tempo

I believe that rhythm and tempo are the primary fundamentals of golf. Get those right and we can move on to the rest of it.

Rhythm is pretty easy to figure out. It’s three counts up, one count down. You can count to yourself or use a metronome to get the 3:1 swing and probably be doing it after only a few tries. From there it’s a matter of practicing enough to make that your habit.

Tempo, the overall speed of your swing, is a bit more of a problem. There is no correct tempo like there is a correct rhythm. There is only the tempo that works for you.

To find that tempo, I have suggested in previous posts to use a metronome to lock in on the right tempo. I have suggested hitting balls with a gradually increasing tempo until your ball-striking deteriorates, then backing down until ball flight is at its best.

Those methods work well on the practice ground, but are of little value when you're playing. This is a third method that solves that problem.

The correct tempo for you is the one that, on the downswing, is the fastest one possible that does not make you feel like you are rushing, or like you are muscling the club through the ball.

That’s the tempo that allows the pieces of your swing to occur in the right order and at the right time.

You can see how this links up rhythm with tempo. They mutually reinforce each other. Rhythm puts the brake on tempo. Tempo allows the 1 of the 3:1 rhythm to occur (too many golfers swing with a 3:¾ rhythm because their tempo is too fast).

Swing a club at home every day for just a few minutes to practice this. This is a feel that you need to develop and repetition is the only way develop it.