Golf Tempo Drills To Perfect Your Swing Rhythm

Having a good rhythm can be the bedrock of a solid and effective swing. It can be just as important as having the perfect golf grip or ensuring your golf swing posture is on point. With that in mind, we asked PGA pro Ben Emerson to share some golf tempo drills in the video and article below that will help you develop the perfect flow to your swing…

How fast or slow should you swing the golf club? It’s a common question golfers ask themselves as they look to get the most out of their games. But it’s a difficult one to answer as not everyone swings at the same speed naturally, and different tempos work for different people. Also, how wide your golf stance is will have a bearing on the speed of your swing as it can help or hinder the amount of rotation you're able to create.

Ultimately, there is no hard and fast rule when it comes to tempo, but there are some drills that are great for helping golfers find out the tempo that suits them best and that will allow them to extract every drop of performance out of themselves.

To set up the drill demonstrated by Ben in the video above, place three balls on tee pegs in a line, all about a foot apart. Then, with your driver, address the first ball and swing as slow as you can for a full swing. This is what we call ‘awareness speed swinging’ as getting a guide of exactly what is a slow swing will help you to find your desired tempo. You'll also notice that with a slower swing, you'll avoid creating too much spin with the driver.

Moving onto the second ball and this is where you want to empty the tank - channel your inner Bryson DeChambeau. This is an action probably best reserved for the driving range, but experiencing what it feels like to swing as fast as you possibly can will further heighten your senses and assist you in figuring out the tempo that suits your game best.

It's also one of the ways to get more power in your golf swing. And if this is the route you decide you want to go down, it's definitely worth understanding how launch angle and power are linked.

Unsurprisingly, on the final ball, you want to try and find a happy medium, settling on a tempo that feels natural. It won’t happen straight away, but over time, this drill will really help you hone the most suitable rhythm. 

Whether you generally have a faster swing or like to keep things smooth, that’s up to you, but having gone to both ends of the spectrum, you’ll be better equipped to trust your instincts on the range, and then take that to the course.