Coaches Corner: Don't Rush It, Flush It. The Power Of Tempo

As a coach, one of the most overlooked fundamentals I see in golfers—regardless of skill level—is tempo. Players often get caught up in mechanics like grip, stance, or club path, but if your tempo is off, none of that matters much. Good tempo brings it all together. 

In simple terms, tempo is the overall rhythm of your swing. More specifically, I’m talking about the transition—the moment you change direction at the top of the backswing, all the way through impact and into your finish. That section of the swing is where everything needs to stay
connected. When players rush the transition, the upper and lower body can fall out of sync, leading to mis-hits, pulls, or slices. On the flip side, if it's too slow or tentative, the swing can lose energy and sequence. But when the tempo is right—when the swing flows with a natural, consistent rhythm - you get better timing, more solid contact, and ultimately, more consistent ball striking.
Tempo isn’t about swinging fast or slow—it’s about the right pace for you, and repeating it under pressure. In this blog, we’ll take a closer look at how tempo affects your swing and some simple ways to improve it.

Finding Your Tempo
So how do you figure out the right tempo? The first thing I tell players is this: don’t try to copy someone else’s swing speed or rhythm. Tempo isn’t about swinging fast or slow—it’s about what feels natural to you. Some players have a naturally quicker pace and a shorter backswing. Others move with a slower, more flowing motion and take the club further back. Both can be effective. The trick is finding what suits your body and how you move.
If you try to slow your swing down too much just to “stay in control,” you can lose power and coordination. On the other hand, if you try to swing too fast, especially in transition, your body can get out of sync and you start to spray it. A good tempo doesn’t feel forced—it feels comfortable, like you’re swinging within yourself, and you’re able to repeat it shot after shot. A shorter swing might naturally have a quicker tempo, but it can still be smooth and controlled. A longer swing might feel slower, but it can still produce just as much clubhead speed. That’s the beauty of tempo—it’s personal. It’s about working with your natural tendencies, not fighting
them.

How Equipment Affects Tempo
Another part of the tempo conversation that often gets overlooked is equipment. Specifically, the shaft weight, flex, and overall swing weight of your club can influence how you swing.

If a club is too light, it becomes harder to feel the head during the swing. This can cause you to rush the transition or lose connection through the ball. On the flip side, if it’s too heavy, your body might start compensating—maybe overusing your hands or overloading your lower body just to move the club. Either way, poor equipment fit can throw off your natural tempo and lead to inconsistency. That’s why finding the right club setup is just as important as finding the right swing rhythm. When your gear matches your tempo, everything feels easier—your swing becomes more
balanced, your timing improves, and solid contact becomes more consistent.

Wrapping It Up
At the end of the day, good tempo is about trusting your own movement and building a swing that works for you. Paired with equipment that suits your rhythm, it’s a game-changer. You don’t need to swing harder or slower- you need to swing smarter and more in sync with your natural
motion. If you’re not sure where to start, or if you want to find out if your clubs are helping or hurting your swing, come see us at Golf HQ. Coach Louie and Steve can help you dial in your tempo and make sure your gear is set up to support it. The right tempo and the right tools? That’s the
recipe for striping it.