| What's the difference between timing, tempo, and | | | | movements using auditory feedback. In this case, |
| rhythm, and which is the most important to your | | | | the training trained participants to tap their hands |
| golf swing? I often ask these questions of players | | | | and feet in synchrony with certain sounds. Golf |
| who take my golf lessons. I don't expect them to | | | | lessons were not included in the training. The |
| know the answers to these questions, but I do | | | | control group read golf instruction literature. After |
| expect them to remember that, when all is said | | | | five weeks, the two groups were tested again. |
| and done, timing is more critical to a solid golf | | | | Accuracy was measured by the distance in feet |
| swing than rhythm and tempo. | | | | between the tee and the ball's final resting place. |
| Rhythm is the flow or look of your swing. If you | | | | The scores were averaged over 15 trials for each |
| have good rhythm in golf, or anything else for | | | | participant. The training group outperformed the |
| that matter, you look good doing it. Your swing | | | | control group, which showed no improvement. |
| might not be efficient or productive but you get | | | | The findings, according to the scientists, suggest |
| points for style. Some players who take my golf | | | | that training in timing improves the accuracy of |
| lessons look great hitting a ball but their timing is | | | | the golf swing. Furthermore, the improvement in |
| off and the swings are ineffective. | | | | performance was consistent across golf clubs. |
| Tempo is the speed at which you swing a club. | | | | Reasons for Improvement |
| You can swing fast, slow, or in-between. Lanny | | | | One reason for the change, scientist theorized, is |
| Wadkins and Tom Watson have fast tempos. | | | | that the training improved the golf swing by |
| Ernie Els and Fred Couples have slow tempos. | | | | fine-tuning the swing's timing "properties" (tempo |
| Tempo, for the most part, is the way you do | | | | and rhythm). Another possibility, they said, is that |
| things. You either do things quickly or you do | | | | the training made the coordination between one's |
| them more slowly. When it comes to tempo, golf | | | | intention and voluntary movement more precise. |
| instruction is irrelevant. | | | | In other words, the training fine-tuned the |
| Timing is the order of movement. Another term | | | | coordination between intention and movement. |
| for timing is sequencing. A swing can be fast and | | | | Whatever the reason, the importance of timing in |
| have good sequencing but lack good rhythm. A | | | | the golf swing was recognized long ago by one of |
| slower, rhythmic swing might not have good | | | | golf's greatest players, Bobby Jones, who had a |
| timing. Tiger Woods is on the fast side when it | | | | lot to say about the golf swing that still holds true. |
| comes to tempo but he's more rhythmic than | | | | Jones believed that while swing styles might |
| Wadkins. Both have great timing. | | | | change from year to year, there would never be |
| Of the three--rhythm, tempo, and timing-- the last | | | | a change in the sequence of movements on the |
| is the most important. When your timing is off, as | | | | forward swing of the club. Although the triggers |
| I've said in my golf tips articles, power leaks and | | | | might be different, the downswing begins with the |
| or misdirection of the club occurs. The good thing | | | | feet and knees as your weight starts to shift. |
| about timing is that it can be improved and you | | | | Next will be the hips, abs, back, and shoulders, and |
| don't always have to have a club in your hands to | | | | then the arms and hands, in that order. |
| do it. What's more, improving your timing may | | | | Of course, you don't have to conduct an |
| also improve swing accuracy. | | | | experiment to evaluate and improve your timing. |
| Science, Timing, and Golf | | | | All you have to do is swing a club at half speed. |
| Science, timing, and golf are no strangers. A few | | | | Take a 6-rion for example and try hitting it half |
| years ago a group of scientists conducted a | | | | the distance you normally do, or try hitting a |
| study on timing and the golf swing. A team of | | | | driver only100 yards. Your sense of sequence will |
| golfers was split up into a control group and a | | | | improve. The idea with this exercise is that |
| training group. Both groups were tested before | | | | before you can swing properly at full-speed you |
| the experiment took place, using accuracy as a | | | | need to be able to do it at half-speed. |
| measure of golf performance. | | | | Work on timing, instead of how far you hit the |
| The training group then received 10 hours of | | | | ball, when you're on the range. Chances are you'll |
| training using a specialized metronome, which | | | | not only improve your distance and accuracy but |
| trains a person to match a variety of | | | | your golf handicap as well. |