Musically speaking, I think of the putting stroke as the
true pendulum rhythm of “tick-tock” and the full swing as a waltzing “1,2,3..1,2,3”
dance. In both instances there is a
balance and equality to both sides of a beautiful, graceful and effortless golf
swing.
Because it is a smaller swing and the motion is limited to
the singularity of one body part moving (the shoulders) the pure pendulum
rhythm of “tick-tock” works very well in putting. It is truly the image of the grandfather
clock’s timing arm swinging effortlessly and eternally back and forth.
That being said, there is a difference between rhythm and
tempo. Rhythm refers to an organization
of beats and a repeatable reference to those beats. Tempo refers to the amount of time (slow or
fast) within which these beats take place.
All great golfers have great rhythm.
They hit the beat in their swings with regularity and ease. Tempo, on the other hand, varies greatly from
player to player.
In music, the measurement of tempo is in bpm (beats per
minute). When we apply this to a golf
swing, for example, a fast swing registers in the 120 bpm range and a slower
tempo would fall into the 90 bpm range. Therefore,
what is important is not that you have a specific tempo, what is important is
that you find a tempo that fits your body type and your personality. Basically, it should be something that feels
very natural and repeatable.
The following are some general principles to find your ideal
tempo in the game of golf.
·
Taller people generally gravitate towards slower
tempos (nearer the 90bpm range). Shorter
individuals generally have quicker tempos (nearer the 120bpm range).
·
More energetic individuals tend to feel better
with a quick tempo. It is how they move
through life and this tempo fits the pace that they experience life. More languid, flowing types generally prefer
the feeling of a slower pace for the same reasons.
·
The pace with which we walk generally speaks to
our preferences for tempo in life. If we
tend to speed walk like there is someplace to go and not a whole lot of time to
get there, a quicker tempo in golf will tend to suit us well. If we enjoy strolls that meander and have no
general rush, a slower tempo in golf will fit this preference better.
Tick-Tock Drill:
Finding your Ideal Tempo
In the modern age there are numerous smart phone apps the
give us free access to a metronome. I
use one called “Mobile Metronome” developed by Gabriel Simoes for working on my
own tempo and for helping my students discover their own, ideal tempo. If you have a smart phone, I encourage you to
download one of these apps on your phone.
If you don’t, a real version of the metronome works wonderfully as
well. If neither of these is possible, here
are some musical references to help you find the tempo that “fits your soul”
the best.
120 bpm songs (Allegro)
Are you a mover and a shaker? This playlist is for those with pep in their
step.
110 bpm songs (Moderato)
You move with purpose in life. This playlist is for those marching along to
the beat in your soul.
100 bpm songs (Andante)
You are walking the middle path in life. This playlist is for those that move not too
fast and not too slow.
90 bpm songs (Andante)
Strolling through life.
This playlist is for those who mossy along with a bounce in their step.
Whether you use a smart phone metronome app, a real
metronome or one of the musical playlists from above, I suggest that you spend
some time paying attention to your ideal tempo.
·
Go for a walk and find the stride that fits your
body the best. Tap your steps into the
metronome app or notice how it falls with the beat of the music.
·
Practice putting with a variety of beats using a
metronome or music. Notice the rhythm of
the pendulum that feels most natural and effortless to you.
·
Listen to the playlists above and notice which tempo
feels like the most comfortable and “homey” for you.
Once you determine your ideal tempo, create your own
playlist of songs that fit into the ideal bpm for you and bring some headphones
to the course with you. You might be
surprised how enjoyable putting practice can become when you add the harmonies,
rhythm and ideal tempo of music to it.
No comments:
Post a Comment