Tempo, Tempo!

We would all like to take our best golf swing, put it in a bottle, seal it up, and then uncork that bottle whenever we needed to use that swing. Unfortunately, we can't bottle our best swing. All we can do is practice diligently and try to build a 'repeatable' swing to the best of our ability.

A main goal of practice should be to ultimately get to where the swing is more 'automatic'. There is no shortcut to getting there, there's just a whole lot of repetition and training of the muscle memory via practicing (similar to a toddler training themselves to walk - once they get it, they've got it). The 'getting to automatic' phase of learning the golf swing can be incredibly frustrating, but the beginner must remind themselves that they are getting closer with each ball they hit, regardless of whether solid contact was achieved or the ball shanked off the hosel. Remember, we often learn more from our mistakes than our success.

So, what is the quickest and most efficient way to 'get to automatic'? I believe it has a whole lot to do with tempo, as if we don't have the same tempo with each swing then it becomes incredibly difficult to hit solid, repeatable shots. Golfers should try to 'swing to a cadence' in order to achieve a good repeatable tempo.

It should be noted that most golfers (especially beginners) try to swing the club too hard and too fast, as if they were in a hurry to hit the ball and get the swing over with. They often need to be reminded that it is a golf 'swing' not a 'hit at the golf ball'. Slowing down is almost always good advice, no matter what the golfer's skill level is. Remember that the muscles in the arms and upper body have very little to do with achieving distance; rather, the lower body and hips should initiate, then dictate the downswing. The arms and hands should simply follow along as a result of the body uncoiling towards the target. When this is done properly, all the stored energy, or 'centrifugal force', created as a result of the uncoiling motion will cause the clubhead to reach maximum speed at the proper time (the moment of contact). That being said, once the golfer learns to start the backswing slower and start the downswing slower, it's time to 'pick a tempo'.

Choosing your tempo is quite easy. You simply count '1,2,3' on your backswing and '1,2,3' on your downswing, or something to that effect. Obviously, you don't have to say this out-loud; just 'think' it in your mind as you swing. You may think '1,2,3' is too long to count for a backswing or downswing, especially if you are used to rushing it, but remember that slowing down is almost always beneficial. I used to say 'Fred-die' on my backswing and 'Cou-ples' on my downswing, but this was too easy to rush because there are only two syllables in each word. I now say 'Ser-gi-o' on my backswing and 'Gar-ci-a' on the downswing, and I find this cadence slows me down to where I should be.

It may be that you do have a faster swing, as some pros have very fast swings, too (Corey Pavin comes to mind). If this is the case then you may want to count '1,2' back, '1,2' down or use the 'Fre-die Cou-ples' cadence when you swing.

The point is to create a mental device to draw upon that will make repetition easier. This is most beneficial in 'pressure' type situations (think: 1st tee on a busy day and you're playing with your father in law for the first time and he's a scratch player), as these are the times when a golfer is most likely to 'rush' the swing (maybe in order to get it over with!). If the golfer takes a deep breath and utilizes their 'mental tempo device' they will be much more likely to swing smoothly and less likely to try and force it.

Feel

When I think 'feel' as it relates to the golf swing, I immidiately think of 'feeling the weight of the club head throughout the swing.' If you can achieve this, you will achieve a great feel for the game. Sounds easy enough, but too many golfers grip the club too hard and try to 'hit' at the ball, rather than swing through it. A very common mistake is 'trying too hard'. Most golfers would do a lot better by 'trying less, and feeling more'. Through this awareness comes improvement.

Pick up a lofted iron and waggle it back and forth a little, making sure to grip the club lightly. You'll notice that pros do this before every shot they take, and there is a good reason. They are feeling the weight of the clubhead swinging back and forth and they are preparing themselves to make a smooth golf swing. This also relaxes the muscles and prevents tension from creeping into the upper body. The waggle is the 'small rehearsal' of the swing that every golfer should incorporate into their pre-shot routine. The practice swing would be considered the 'big rehearsal', and is not as important as the waggle in my opinion (this applies only to the full swing; I do recommend a practice swing for any putts, chips, and any shorter shots or specialty shots).

The more you can be 'aware' of where your clubhead is throughout your swing, the better your chance of success. If you are gripping too tight and are unaware of where the clubhead is as you swing, you are taking a pretty big leap of faith in believing that you will deliver the clubhead square to the ball at the proper moment.

Of course, nothing comes easy in this game. Obtaining a better understanding of the golf swing, learning the proper checkpoints of the swing, repeating them, and training (or re-training) your body (muscle memory) comes with a lot of practice. After you put in the work, things start becoming more automatic and less forced, which leads to gaining more feel and ultimately, success on the course.

Here are a few drills that can help you incorporate more 'feel' into your game:

> Take swings with your eyes closed, while focusing on feeling where the clubhead is throughout the swing. You can try this one with or without a ball. Also try making chip shots with your eyes closed, and chip shots with your left hand only.

> Take practice swings with two clubs, or with a weighted club. It's difficult to try and manipulate the club/s with your hands and arms when you do this because it's too heavy. This forces you to feel the club head and slow things down.

> Find a nice, smooth, repeatable tempo. A good way to do this is to count '1,2' on the backswing and '1,2' on the downswing. This will help prevent 'rushing it from the top' and help you resist 'trying to hit it hard'. I believe it was Bobby Jones who said "Lazy up, lazy down."

> Practice short shots often (at least 50/50 with respect to the full swing). This will give you instant feedback and improve your overall 'touch'. Many people don't realize that when you are practicing the short swing, you are really practicing your full swing as well, because the short swing is just a smaller version of the big one.

> Close your eyes, take the club back so that the shaft is parallel to the ground, then twirl the club around in your hands and stop after a couple of twirls. See if you can feel exactly what angle the club head is at. This drill will dramatically improve your 'awareness' of the club head, which is essential for getting more feel in your game.

The strange thing about golf is that the less you try, the better you tend to play. Relax, have fun, and the other stuff will come naturally.