Rhythm & Tempo

 

Tempo and rhythm in the golf swing are not the same. Tempo is the measure of time—how fast or slow your swing is. It refers to the cadence that makes all the moving parts flow together.

Rhythm, on the other hand, is the ratio of time it takes to complete different phases of the swing. Think of it as the relationship between the backswing and the downswing. When John Novosel studied the tempo of top golfers across generations, he discovered a consistent rhythm ratio of 3:1—meaning the backswing takes three times as long as the downswing. He wrote a fantastic book called Tour Tempo, which I highly recommend. You can check it out here: Tour Tempo by John Novosel.

If you're looking for a practical way to train this, there's also an affordable Tour Tempo app. It provides full swing and short game options, allowing you to find the tempo that best suits your swing. The app offers three main tempo settings: 27:9, 24:8, and 21:7. These numbers represent frames per second, and most players find they need to speed up their backswing quite a bit. When I’ve used this app with students, they’re often shocked at how fast they need to move. This is usually because they’ve been taught to "swing slow"—a common misconception. Interestingly, when Novosel studied amateur golfers, he found that their rhythm was far less consistent than that of professionals.

Why Is Swing Rhythm So Important?

To be consistent, you need constants. If your rhythm changes from swing to swing, your timing will be off, leading to errant shots. This becomes even more noticeable in high-pressure situations, like club competitions or big rounds.

A perfect example of rhythm's impact is the infamous final round of the 1996 Masters. Greg Norman, the world’s No. 1 at the time, held a six-shot lead after three flawless rounds. But by the back nine on Sunday, his timing seemed off, his shots were wild, and his distance control disappeared. When analyzed years later, it was discovered that Norman's tempo had sped up in the final round—likely due to tension. You don’t suddenly lose your ability overnight, but when your tempo and rhythm fall out of sync, it can feel that way.

How to Practice Rhythm

A simple but effective drill is the towel swing. Take a towel, wind it up so it’s about three feet long, and start swinging it back and forth. Swing it over your trail shoulder on the backswing and through to your finish. As you swing, say to yourself: "One annnd two." The "and" should be slightly elongated, and you should feel a snap at impact as you say "two."

Good Training Aids for Rhythm:

• The Orange Whip – A fantastic tool for ingraining smooth tempo and rhythm. Click here to view

• A Thick Rope (4 feet long) – Swinging a rope helps you feel the natural flow of a proper swing.

If you want to be more consistent under pressure, dialing in your rhythm is key. Give these drills a go, and you’ll start seeing the difference!