Tempo

[narshadda]

Hey all,

I am having a huge issue with tempo. Do you guys have any recommendations for gaining proper tempo. Right now I try to take it back slow but as soon as I get the club back in my swing, I am trying to kill it.

I believe that it is engrained in muscle memory since I played a lot of baseball, but there has to be something I can do to get things working better.

Thanks,
Narsh

[John Boy]

I am guessing that your problem isnt tempo, yet the way you attack the ball. I am assuming you are right-handed, if not, just do the opposite. You have to make sure you pull through the ball with your left hand/arm. DO NOT try to help the ball in the air. DO NOT push through the ball with your right hand. It is just there as a guide. Pull back with your left arm straight and then swing through the ball like it isnt there (WITH YOUR LEFT ARM!!!)
As I have told others, there is a lot more to it. This can get you started though. Good Luck.

[narshadda]

Thanks! I'll give that a shot - I think I am definitely trying to help get the ball in the air - I always hit it pretty thin. For example tonight at the range I was hitting my SW 150yds consistantly. Definitely not what that club should be doing.

[catfell]

Narshadda,

I've read, received and heard a lot of swing advice, and strangely enough it seems like everyone has a different take of a good swing, and of course they are all right. So please take my suggestions with a grain of salt.

My personal breakthrough with my swing was three-fold.

I have been playing ice hockey for a long time, and all my playing partners have mentioned that I seem to be "hockeying" the ball and just using my arms to swing.

1. You have to hit down on the ball. Let the club's loft get the ball up. Good divots happen when you make contact with the ball first and while still moving downward, the club takes a divot.

2. Your hips start the swing, (not including the takeaway of course). If you look at all decent ball strikers, the hips start turning away before the arms start moving. Throughout the swing the hips are always ahead of the shoulders, which are ahead of the hands, which is ahead of the clubhead.

3. Spine tilt and chin up. Until I saw myself in a mirror, I never realized I was hunching over the ball at address. With a straight back, bent over at the hips, I can turn my spine away from the ball with my backswing, and by keeping my chin up, can maximize my twist. Then all I have to do is turn my hips and then shoulders on the single plane that is perpendicular to my spine, and hopefully my arms don't freak out too much and just come through the ball. Actually the spine thing is probably a baseball hitting fundimental as well, but I'm not a baseball guy.

Good luck and keep having fun.

Just my 2¢,

catfell

[powerfade]

Thanks! I'll give that a shot - I think I am definitely trying to help get the ball in the air - I always hit it pretty thin. For example tonight at the range I was hitting my SW 150yds consistantly. Definitely not what that club should be doing.

narshadda - think of that SW (and any other wedge) as finesse clubs only. No power required. Shorten up the backswing (I'm assuming it's a full swing if you're nuking it 150) and think smooth and oily.

If your really interested in tempo overall, there's an interesting book/CD out there called Tour Tempo by John Novosel. I've read both praise and criticism for the book, but if you're tempo is way off, this book/CD may at least show you where you stand. I have it and found it helpful, and like I said, interesting.

[pmcarync]

I recall a 'technique' that I heard from Michael Hebron to help people with tempo (and also to help those that have too many 'swing thoughts' going through their head...it reinforced his message that good consistent swings come from subconscience brain effort, not conscience brain effort)... it's the 1-2-3 method... say "1, 2, 3" to yourself (i.e. in your head) in a consistent cadence, starting with "1" at your take-away, "2" should come as you reach the top, and "3" should come as you strike the ball.

[powerfade]

I recall a 'technique' that I heard from Michael Hebron to help people with tempo (and also to help those that have too many 'swing thoughts' going through their head...it reinforced his message that good consistent swings come from subconscience brain effort, not conscience brain effort)... it's the 1-2-3 method... say "1, 2, 3" to yourself (i.e. in your head) in a consistent cadence, starting with "1" at your take-away, "2" should come as you reach the top, and "3" should come as you strike the ball.

This is what Tour Tempo is based on but the 1-2-3 cadence is not equal beats apart. It was discovered noting the frame counter of video of tour players beginning at the takeaway, top of backswing, then impact. There was a consistent 3-to-1 ratio. The ratios were 21/7, 24/8, 27/9, and some 30/10. An example is 21/7 where 21 is the framecount from 'start of takeaway' to 'impact' and 7 is the count from 'top of backswing' to 'impact'. (This would be the ratio for the quicker swings).

The interesting thing is seeing this on video along with the cooresponding cadences. It definetely raises an eyebrow. Some examples of tour pros... 21/7 Jack Nick Price Jesper Parnevik Ben Hogan 24/8 Sam Snead Tiger (2002) Mickelson Sergio Couples (25/9) Els & Vijay (24/9) 27/9 Tiger (1997) Toms Furyk Seeing where (or if) your swing fits into a 3-to-1 ratio can, at least, tell you whether your tempo is close to being "right". Obviously, "right" may not be for everyone but if you're way off (extra slow backswing and fast to impact), this book/CD may help. The 'feel' players have probably already clicked to another topic by now but if you want to know, and possibly help, with your tempo, I'd checkout this book. You can read the first 35 pages at a bookstore and tell whether it's for you. 1..2-3 1..2-3