Swing Tempos: Yesterday and Today

[kc8kir]

Here's a strange topic. I was watching a lot of old golf videos, including the swings of some of the greatest ball strikers (Hogan, Snead, etc). While all of them had a smooth swing, they also had very quick tempos. This got me thinking . Looking at tour pros, you see relatively fast tempos, but not as quick in appearance as the old pros. Go to your range, and you see people swinging MUCH slower, almost as if they are trying to keep the swing slow for control.

This really got me thinking. I headed out to the range and tried swinging with more of an old school tempo. Still smooth, but more accelerated. The difference was amazing. I could feel how I loaded the shaft, and my body began to respond to that feeling with a good lower body action, a square wrist action and very crisp strikes. It felt great and the ball flight was much stronger than my usual tempo. I know I was getting more clubhead speed, but it didn't feel out of control. On the contrary, with a little practice it has started feeling more controlled, but less like I am steering the club. 6 irons were flying long and true, 190 yards by the driving range flags. For me, that's fantastic, as my 6 iron was usually only good to about 170.

I wondered if anyone else is having the same experience, or would like to discuss why tempo seems to have slowed down so much (or perhaps the advice given to amateurs has been misinterpreted?). I remember in 5 Lessons, Hogan said the average golfer should not fear swinging hard and full. You still swing within yourself and don't sacrifice form (right leg stability, spine angle, etc), but swing full.

The swing began to feel much more like a repeatable athletic move, than a contrived positional motion. It was a sweet feeling.

Comments?

[shortstop20]

This somewhat relates to what you're saying, although not totally but I couldn't help myself.

I personally am one that has never bought into the "swing 80% with your irons" stuff. I personally don't get it. I am just as accurate with the swing I use now as I am when I try to slow it down for "accuracy". Then some of the same people say it's OK to swing hard(not out of your shoes but hard) with your driver. Why would I swing hard with the longest club in the bag, that is the hardest to hit straight, although it does have the largest face........and then swing 80% with a SW that feels like a baby's toy in my hand because it's so small and way easier to control. Swinging slow doesn't teach you anything besides swinging slow.

[GolfProHopeful]

They way I look at it is this, you are always supposed to stay balanced, no matter what, if you have a good swing then you are going to want to use it, when you first start out early in your round it is nice to have a very slow, intent backswing. Speeding up as you reach your apex. It sounds like you are really coming into your swing and the light bulb has gone off! That is a very good step in your games progress. Keep up the good work! and congrats on your new iorns! mew equiptment can have a hugh effect on your confidence.

Cheers, Rick