Putting Tempo and Distance Control

[dsc123]

The Windup:

My first introduction to tempo was the Pelz Putting Bible.  I found "my" tempo, downloaded a metronome app, and drove my wife bonkers putting to a tick tock while she was watching American Idol (which drove me bonkers, so we were even).  I always sort of assumed that I had a good tempo.

Recently, I got the iPing putting app and one of the things it measures is tempo.  Apparently, my tempo is wildly inconsistent.  So I used a google play gift certificate to buy the Tour Tempo App and added 'extremely slow' to my 'wildly inconsistent.'

I set out hitting putts with the tour tempo app tick tocking away and the iPing app giving me actual feedback on the tempo I was hitting.  But I find it very difficult to start the stroke on command--I stand there waiting then feel rushed when the beep comes.  Perhaps I should work a bit with tour tempo to get a sense of the rhythm, but then mostly hit balls with iPing but not tour tempo.

---

The Questions:

So here's what I'm hoping to discuss:

1. The importance of tempo.

2. How to monitor/measure tempo.

3. How to improve tempo.

4. Anything else reasonably relevant to this.

Thanks!

[mvmac]

The Questions:

So here's what I'm hoping to discuss:

1. The importance of tempo.

2. How to monitor/measure tempo.

3. How to improve tempo.

4. Anything else reasonably relevant to this.

Thanks!

Couple good videos

[maddog81]

Very helpfull vids

[dsc123]

Thanks, mike!

[dchoye]

Interesting! for my long putts i tend to have a 'cut stroke" and when I have problems with tempo i just try to fade my putts into the hole.

Not sure if that actually happens but that's the feeling I have and it helps find my distance control and tempo when I practice that type of stroke.

[iacas]

So here's what I'm hoping to discuss:

1. The importance of tempo.

Are you going to actually discuss these things? :)

Good putters all have a consistent tempo. It's not the same as another good putter, but it's the same for any one good putter on any stroke. Whether it's Brandt Snedeker (fast) or Ben Crenshaw (slower), their tempo is "theirs" and it's the same on every putt.

2. How to monitor/measure tempo.

You've already got the tools.

A metronome. The iPING app. SAM PuttLab. Your own sense of rhythm.

Two tees, placed equal distances on either side of the golf ball, with a lack of a "hit" or a "slow-down" (braking) are a good indicator that tempo is good or close to it.

3. How to improve tempo.

Practice it. :)

4. Anything else reasonably relevant to this.

The best drills for putting tempo often relate to putting stroke length . The drill I said above is good. Make your stroke more like a pendulum and less "hitty."

Edit: one addition. Your putter should be at peak speed or even slightly decelerating when it hits the golf ball. The thought that you want to "accelerate" into the ball has ruined many people's tempo.

[boogielicious]

Are you going to actually discuss these things? :)

Good putters all have a consistent tempo. It's not the same as another good putter, but it's the same for any one good putter on any stroke. Whether it's Brandt Snedeker (fast) or Ben Crenshaw (slower), their tempo is "theirs" and it's the same on every putt.

You've already got the tools.

A metronome. The iPING app. SAM PuttLab. Your own sense of rhythm.

Two tees, placed equal distances on either side of the golf ball, with a lack of a "hit" or a "slow-down" (braking) are a good indicator that tempo is good or close to it.

Practice it. :)

The best drills for putting tempo often relate to putting stroke length. The drill I said above is good. Make your stroke more like a pendulum and less "hitty."

Edit: one addition. Your putter should be at peak speed or even slightly decelerating when it hits the golf ball. The thought that you want to "accelerate" into the ball has ruined many people's tempo.

You can use a word or phrase too.  I have used words like Edelweiss broken into three parts in 3/4 time (waltz).  Tom Watson talked about using this for full swings, but it applies to putting too.