Leaderboards iconLeaderboards Become a Member iconBecome a Member Shop iconShop , external linkTrade In iconTrade In , external link
quick coaching

Find a Rhythm and Tempo that Fits Your Game

By Brendon Elliott, PGA
Published on

In golf, we hear a lot about maintaining a good tempo or rhythm when we swing. But many times, that simple concept creates a great deal of confusion…especially when we also hear that we must create speed with our swing in order to strike the ball well and with distance.
Some players swing fast but are all out of sync and lack a consistent tempo and rhythm. Others have a good rhythm but do not have enough speed to hit the ball as far as they desire. So what’s the deal here with Tempo, Rhythm and Speed?
By definition, Tempo is “The rate or speed of motion or activity; pace.”
By definition Speed is “The rate at which someone or something is able to move or operate.”
When we refer to Swing Tempo in golf, or the Rhythm of someone’s swing, we generally break this down into a ratio of the rate of time a player’s backswing takes in relation to the downswing. In 2004, John Novosel's book, Tour Tempo, told us that virtually all good golf swings are built on a 3-to-1 ratio. That means the downswing is three times as fast as the backswing.
It’s important for players not to confuse swing tempo/rhythm with swing speed…Swing speed is how fast the club is moving at a particular point in the swing, not the ratio of the backswing to downswing times. 
A player that can generate 125 miles per hour of clubhead speed with their driver can absolutely swing at a tempo or rate of 3-to-1…many PGA Tour Professionals do just that. At the same time, a player that generates 90 miles per hour of clubhead speed with the driver can also swing at a 3-to-1 Ratio. 
How to Develop your own Authentic Tempo
I was very fortunate to have worked with an incredible PGA Professional and Coach, Mr. Bradley Turner, for several years while I was an instructor at the Golf Academy of America. Brad is now the Director of Online Golf Instruction at Keiser University’s School of Golf. I asked Brad to share a quick tip on developing Tempo and Rhythm, since he has one of the most in sync swings I know…
Every golfer will have a tempo that works best for their swing style.  Generally, a swing that has a shorter length backswing will require a faster tempo to generate adequate club head speed.  The longer the backswing, the more likely the player will have a slower tempo to generate a similar club head speed.  For example, Jon Rahm has a much shorter backswing and faster swing tempo than most players on the PGA Tour.  Xander Schauffele has a much slower tempo and a longer backswing than Rahm.  A slow tempo does not equate to slow club head speed.  According to the PGA Tour stats, Xander has a slightly higher clubhead speed of 119.02 mph, than Rahm who swings the driver at 118.34 mph. 
The best way to find your authentic tempo is to go to the driving range and experiment with different tempos. Start by emulating a shorter and faster swing like Jon Rahm and take note of the resulting ball flight. Then go to the opposite end of the spectrum and take a longer and slower swing like Xander.  What was the differences in ball flight?  Which end of the spectrum felt the best to you?  Most likely, you will be somewhere in between Rahm and Xander.  Once you find a tempo that you like and one that rewards you with better ball flight outcomes, you are zeroing in on your own authentic tempo.
Brendon R. Elliott, PGA

Sorrento, FL

Brendon Elliott

Director of Instruction, Freelance Golf Writer

[Brendon Elliott, PGA](https://brendonelliott.com/), is an award-winning PGA Professional, player-development coach and nationally recognized golf writer with three decades of experience in the golf industry. As of 2026, he has been a PGA Professional for 17 years and has earned more than 25 PGA Section and Chapter honors for his work in coaching, education and player development. In 2017, he received the PGA of America National Youth Player Development Award. ## Coaching Competitive Teenage Golfers Through [BE A GOLFER](https://beagolfer.golf/home), Brendon specializes in working with competitive teenage golfers who want to improve their performance, better understand their games and prepare for the demands of high school, junior tournament and college golf. His primary focus is [Remote Coaching](https://beagolfer.golf/remote-coaching), which allows him to remain actively involved in a player’s development regardless of location. Rather than relying on occasional lessons or isolated swing fixes, Brendon works with players throughout their competitive journey. His coaching covers much more than the golf swing. Players receive ongoing guidance in structured practice, short-game development, putting, course management, tournament preparation, performance analysis, goal setting and the mental and physical habits required to improve over time. Using video analysis, virtual coaching sessions, performance data and regular communication, Brendon helps each player understand what to work on, why it matters and how to make meaningful progress between practices and tournaments. Brendon accepts only a limited number of in-person students in Central Florida. His priority is building long-term [Remote Coaching](https://beagolfer.golf/remote-coaching) relationships with competitive teenage golfers and their families. The goal is not simply to help a young player hit better shots. It is to help that player become more prepared, more accountable and more capable of navigating everything competitive golf demands. Brendon’s career has included serving as a head golf professional, general manager, college golf educator, career development director, academy owner and longtime junior golf leader. He founded Little Linksters Golf Academy in 2008 and led the organization for more than 16 years before selling the academy in late 2024 and launching [BE A GOLFER](https://beagolfer.golf/home). ## Golf Writing and Media Brendon is also a nationally recognized and prolific golf writer and storyteller. He is the Senior Golf Writer for [Athlon Sports](https://athlonsports.com/author/brendon-elliott) and has written extensively about professional golf, instruction, player development, equipment, golf history and the people shaping the game. His work has also appeared with PGA.com, GolfWRX, PGA Magazine, MyGolfSpy and several other prominent golf media outlets. Through [One More Roll Golf Media](https://onemorerollgolf.com/), Brendon provides editorial content, feature writing, consulting and media services throughout the golf industry. His background as a coach and educator shapes the way he writes, while his work as a writer strengthens the way he coaches. He understands how to explain complicated ideas clearly, ask better questions and connect the technical, strategic and personal sides of golf.