| Rhythm and Tempo
Grip, alinement, posture, swing mechanics: All of this is important, but I do believe that consistently good ball striking comes when you can produce the same rhythm and tempo shot after shot.
To me, tempo is the count involved in the swing such as one-two, one-two-three, or one-two-three-four. A stiff moving robot could duplicate the same count over and over, but something would be missing that would make the swing smooth and fluid. To me, that something is rhythm.
A swing can be smooth and yet quick such as Nick Price or Tom Watson. A swing can be smooth and seemingly slow like Ernie or Retief (If I could have any swing, I would choose Retief's.) I have seen in more than one place that how quick you swing is related to personality. Fast walkers and talkers tend to be on the quick side. Slow walkers and talkers, like Freddie Couples, tend to swing a little slower. You might want to ask yourself which type or you, and it might be that you are in between these two types. I am digressing as usual, but remember the speed of the swing is not the same as the rhythm and tempo.
For years, I had a slow one-two in my mind as I swung. The left shoulder went under my chin on "one." The right shoulder went under my chin on "two." The idea was to get back to the ball with the clubface square. This worked, but I found myself striking at the ball rather than passing the clubhead through the ball at times. I also got a little quick at times. But over all, it worked pretty well.
Then I read the Sam Snead tip that we should swing in Waltz Time, one-two-three. I went to the top on "one." Came to the ball on "two." Then came to a full finish on "three." I believe this gave me improved rhythm, and it slowed me down some. Actually, before I got to this, I was going one-two to get to the top, and instead of "three" I would say "boom" as I swung to the ball. That worked too, but I did have trouble starting the down-swing slowly which I personally think is the way to go.
At present, I am doing something that works better for me than just about anything I have tried. Please do not laugh too hard. I take the club away and have it coming up on "one." At "two" I want the back of my right shoulder looking at the target meaning I have completely coiled and completed my back-swing. (I refuse to follow the advice of many to start the down-swing just before the back-swing is finished to get a power boost. This destroys my timing.) With my back still facing the target I press down on my left heel and ALMOST simultaneously bring by hands down on "three." I now have the club where I can come to the ball from the inside, and on "four" I do just that and there is impact.
To keep from hitting at the ball rather than passing the clubhead through the ball, I ALWAYS "swing to the finish." Doing so prevents de-acceleration which is one of the great "no-no's" in this game.
Certainly, I do not think of all these numbers as I play a round. On the practice tee, I do think of them. My second most favorite drill is hitting the driver (other clubs too on occasion) with "full motion but half speed." The idea is to slow things down so that I hit a driver about l50 yards. At this slowed down pace, I can do four parts of the swing by the numbers and work at "BLENDING" them all together which means adding rhythm to the tempo. Always swinging to a full finish. When things start getting pretty smooth, consistent, solid, and accurate, I add a little speed to each additional shot until I start to lose the good characteristics. Like Tiger and the other pros, you will find yourself using 70-80 per cent of your power. By slowing the swing down in this manner, your percentage of good contact shots improves. Good contact is what best gives us the distance we want, and you can get that good contact more often by swinging more within yourself. Of course you will never hit your putter 240 yards like a Pinnacle Man wearing black.
A while ago I mentioned Timing. The swing has certain movements like the shoulder turn, the arm swing, the hip turn, the wrist action, etc. There is a proper sequence of these movements, and there is also an optimal moment during the swing for each movement to happen. Getting these moment right means getting your timing right.
All of this stuff is important. However, there is no human who can consciously think of all this during a swing. It is a slow process, but at the range or where ever you can, you work on these things one at a time. When you play a round, you visualize the shot, address the ball with perhaps one simple thought (mine is SMOOTH), then "trusting your swing" you just "do it." Leave the execution to the subconscious. The subconscious "knows" the stuff you have been practicing. And to give the subconscious a better chance to execute properly, loosen up on the ol' grip. That will loosen up the arms, shoulders, etc. Now the subconscious can be in charge. The conscious is like the coach. The subconscious is the player. Each of us has both a coach and a player within us. The player has to do the execution. Give the power to execute the swing to the subconscious. Get good at this, and get ready to enter the ZONE. There is such a thing, believe me, and you cannot enter it consciously. Let the coach visualize the shot, choose the club, choose the shot shape, take consideration of the lie, the wind, the hazards, get you alined, etc. But without any needless hesitation, trigger the swing and allow the subconscious to "just do it."
The very best of luck to you with your game. Sincerely, Cypressperch  |
07-12-2006, 08:21 PM
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