Leaderboards iconLeaderboards Become a Member iconBecome a Member Shop iconShop , external transformedLinkTrade In iconTrade In , external transformedLink
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.
More from PGA
image
Find Your Rhythm with This Tempo Drill from Rich Jones, PGA
image
One Simple, Yet Powerful, Tip From Jack Nicklaus We Should All Follow
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.

Find a Coach

Take the next step in your golf journey by connecting with a PGA Coach in your area.
Search Now
Brendon R. Elliott, PGA

Sorrento, FL

Brendon Elliott

Director of Instruction, Freelance Golf Writer

After 16 remarkable years of nurturing young talent and fostering a love for golf through The Little Linksters Golf Academy, Brendon Elliott is excited to announce the transition of leadership to esteemed Coach Ricky Collado in 2025. As the baton is passed, Coach Ricky will take charge of all operations and become the primary point of contact for any Linksters-related inquiries. As Brendon steps into a new chapter, the focus will shift to launching and growing BE A GOLFER, a new academy dedicated to competitive teenage golfers. This initiative will continue both in-person and remote coaching, harnessing years of expertise to nurture the next generation of golfing talent. Further expanding horizons, Brendon will also dedicate time to One More Roll Golf Media. This venture aims to collaborate with various golf media outlets and businesses, delivering high-quality written, video, and voice content. Despite these new ventures, Brendon will remain closely connected with Little Linksters. A commitment to collaboration with Coach Ricky will continue, particularly with projects like the PGA Junior League, ensuring a lasting impact and smooth transition. “I am thrilled about the future of Little Linksters under Coach Ricky Collado’s leadership. This transition marks a change and an exciting new direction for me and the academy. I look forward to contributing my efforts towards developing competitive young golfers and advancing in the golf media landscape.” ~ Brendon R. Elliott, PGA More About Coach Brendon... Brendon Elliott is a distinguished PGA Professional who has received over 25 prestigious industry awards recognizing his contributions and influence in youth golf, most notably, the 2017 PGA of America National Youth Player Development Award. With numerous appearances on the Golf Channel and local news outlets in Florida, Brendon has established himself as a respected educator and influencer in the golf industry. Renowned for his expertise in all aspects of golf, he is a sought-after speaker at golfing events and panels. In the past three years, Brendon has expanded into media, writing for esteemed outlets such as PGA.com, PGA Magazine, Golf.com, GolfWRX.com, RG.org, and many others. Elliott is also part of the “Quiet Please Golf Podcast” crew and hosts a livestream show on the Golf Live App called “Monday Evening Tee Time.” Brendon’s dedication to advancing the sport has made a significant impact on the golf community.

Meet Brendon
PGA Home Page
PGA of America

The PGA of America is one of the world's largest sports organizations, composed of PGA of America Golf Professionals who work daily to grow interest and participation in the game of golf.

Follow Us
FacebookXLinkedinInstagramYouTubeTikTok
ExploreFind a Coach Find a Course PGA Events Leaderboard Stories PGA Shop , external transformedLink
ContactContact About Media Center , external transformedLinkPartners
JoinBecome a PGA Member Work In Golf PGA Sections PGA of America Careers , external transformedLink
ImpactPGA REACH , external transformedLinkPGA Inclusion Make Golf Your Thing , external transformedLink
© Copyright PGA of America 2024.
Privacy Policy California Privacy Notice Terms of Service Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information , external transformedLink
Official Technology Services AgencyCapTech