Tempo Fundamental #3 – A Steady Count

Tempo Fundamental #3 – A Steady Count

The counting drill is one of the easiest drills in all of golf to use, and yet it is one of the most effective. This drill, which will be highlighted below, will help you obey the fundamental for this section – which is the fact that your tempo should remain steady from the start of your swing to the finish. It doesn’t matter if you are using a fast tempo, a slow tempo, or something in between, the rhythm of your swing should always be stable throughout the entire time the club is in motion.

To learn how to keep your tempo in line during your swing, you should consider putting the counting drill to use in an upcoming range session. You won’t need any special equipment to perform this drill, and you won’t need anyone with you for assistance. This is a very basic drill, yet it has the capability of helping golfers of all skill levels. Follow the steps below to give it a try for yourself.

To start this drill, you only need a golf club and some range balls to hit. While you can perform the drill with any club in your bag, it is recommended to start with a mid-iron such as a seven or eight iron. After you have gotten comfortable with the drill using one of your mid-irons, you can move on to trying it out with other clubs.

Before hitting your first shot, be sure to pick out a target that makes sense for the club you are holding. There is no reason to ever hit a golf shot without having a target in mind, as hitting your targets is the entire point of the game. Scan the driving range to locate a target that will work for your expected distance, and aim yourself up properly to that target before swinging away.

With your stance taken and your aim correct, the time has come to actually hit the ball. This is where the counting comes into play. As you start the swing, you are going to say the number ‘one’. You can count in your head if there are a bunch of people around trying to concentrate on their own practice, but counting out loud is even better when possible.

So, the number ‘one’ is counted when the swing starts, and you will say the number ‘two’ when you get halfway through the backswing. The halfway point of the backswing is marked by the club becoming parallel with the ground, so use that as your point of reference.

Continue on with the swing and count the number ‘three’ when you reach the top of the backswing. It is easy to feel when the top of the backswing has been reached, so this count should be simple and straightforward.

The final number that you are going to count, the number ‘four’, will be counted when you actually hit the ball. Since the downswing happens so quickly, there is no need to count another number on the way down.

In summary, you are going to count ‘one’ at the takeaway, ‘two’ when you are halfway back, ‘three’ at the top, and ‘four’ at impact. So what is the point of all this? The idea is to help you get a feeling for the rhythm of your swing. Hopefully, if you are using a smooth tempo, you will find that you are able to count these numbers of relatively evenly as you swing the club. For many players, however, that will not be the case. For example, you might find that you are rushing your takeaway, meaning that ‘one’ and ‘two’ have to be counted quickly back to back. This drill will help you notice problems like that so you can get your tempo corrected and in order as soon as possible.

Once you have the hang of this drill, give it a try with a variety of clubs. You may find that you have a better tempo with some of your clubs than others, so using the counting drill up and down your bag could help to even things out. For instance, many players have a good rhythm with their driver yet they rush their short irons. If that is a problem that plagues your game, you may be able to make improvements by counting through your swing.

Another benefit to the counting drill is that you could actually use it on the course if you wish. Of course, you probably shouldn’t count out loud while playing a round of golf, but you can absolutely count in your head if that helps you keep your tempo steady throughout the day. There aren’t very many golf swing drills that you can use in the heat of battle, but this is one of them. Give it a try during your next range session and you are likely to be impressed with the improvement that is seen in your game.