You gotta have rhythm...DJ - 10.18.08So much technical jargon is written and talked about, when discussing the golf swing.
However, a vital piece of the jigsaw is often ignored by amateurs…. Rhythm and Tempo!!!
Now if you look at any professional golfer’s swing, you will definitely be able to distinguish a difference between a backswing and a through swing.
The time it takes to swing the club back and to the top, and the time it takes to bring the club back through to impact will be different, with the through swing noticeably quicker.
This is known as good tempo…
Take Tiger; the best player in the world bar none even has a streaky driver; and the majority of the time, it is due to a change in tempo, or more accurately an increase in tempo to hit it harder.
Next time you watch a player like Ernie Els or Freddie Couples, take a close look at their tempo…. Effortless! Yet, these guys still crank it over 300 yards…… How????
Tour Pro’s…
Pro’s such as Els, Couples, Davis Love III, Annika Sorenstam, all with ‘great’ rhythm generate power by perfect timing… At impact the rhythm and tempo of their swing combine to generate effortless power.
Compare their swings to pro’s such as JB Holmes, John Daly, Laura Davies, long ball hitters, who put everything into their tee shots; and you will see a vast difference in speed and technique.
How you can do it???
So how do you ensure that the rhythm and tempo you are currently using is ideal for solid, centre hits??
Swing Count…
The most popular swing count is the 1 and 2, with the 2 being quicker than the 1…
Try it out, start your backswing counting 1, at the top of your swing a slight pause for the ‘and’ and then drop that club through impact to a full finish for the 2.
A Full Finish…
Another great example is Lorena Ochoa. Lorena finishes off every full swing with a bounce of the club across her shoulders, often 3 times. Try this on the range and you will soon see that your rhythm, tempo and more importantly balance are all in sync and you will produce more centre hits.
Toe Tap drill…
One more tip for you to try, and this is an old successful trick…
On the range first and then on the course, while turning away from the ball try to get your left shoulder (right handed golfers) as far across to your right knee as possible, then as you fire your hips back through to a finish… tap your right foot 3 times while at a finish.
This will again make you turn all the way through the ball, slow your swing down a little and more importantly, be balanced throughout the swing.
New Secrets…
In this new era of golf, with 460cc drivers and golf balls with less spin to produce greater distances, POWER seems to be the name of the game… However, the difference between effortless power and “swinging out of your shoes” is rhythm and tempo.
Work on it, and you will soon see improved results, without giving away too many secrets…
And nothing is more worthwhile than hitting your first drive long and straight past your buddies, without even breaking a sweat…
