Ask ten golfers what “good tempo” means and you’ll get ten answers. Smooth. Slow. Unhurried. Effortless. They’re all fair, but none of them is much use on the range when you’re trying to fix a swing that feels rushed.
The most useful definition we know of comes from a simple ratio, and it’s one of the ideas that shaped how we think about tempo at DE-SHANK.
Where the 3:1 idea comes from
In 2004, John Novosel published a book called Tour Tempo. As Golf Digest explains, Novosel analysed the swings of many tour players and found that their backswings took about three times as long as their downswings. That 3-to-1 ratio held whether the player swung quickly or slowly.
The Tour Tempo team describes it using video frames. A “24/8” tempo means 24 frames of video for the backswing and 8 for the downswing. A “27/9” tempo is slower overall, but the ratio is still 3:1. Their full list runs from 18/6 to 30/10.
All credit for the ratio and the frame-count system goes to Novosel and Tour Tempo.
Speed isn’t the same as tempo
This is the part most golfers miss. A good tempo doesn’t have to be slow. Golf Digest notes that Tiger Woods moved from a 27/9 tempo as a young player to 24/8 by 2002. Both his backswing and downswing got faster, but the 3:1 ratio stayed the same.
So if you naturally swing quickly, you don’t need to slow down. You need your backswing and downswing to stay in proportion. If you naturally swing slowly, the same applies.
Why a rushed transition hurts
When the downswing starts too early, before the backswing has finished, the ratio collapses. You might see a 2:1 or even closer. In our experience, that usually comes with:
- an arms-first downswing that throws the club outside the line
- inconsistent contact as the low point moves around
- a feeling of “snatching” at the ball
Three ways to practise a better tempo
1. Count it out
The simplest drill is a count. Say “one, two” as you swing back, and “three” at impact. The backswing gets two beats; the downswing gets one, and it happens quickly. It won’t be a perfect 3:1, but it stops the backswing being cut short. Padraig Harrington teaches a similar counting idea in his video “Rhythm in the Golf Swing”, where he suggests counting “one, two” to the top before you go.
2. Use an audio guide
Novosel’s system uses audio tones to set the rhythm. You can also use a metronome app: set a slow beat, take the club back over three beats and swing through on the fourth. Start with half swings and build up.
3. Measure it
Feel is unreliable, especially when you’re trying to change something. A swing that feels painfully slow is often perfectly normal on video. Tour Tempo suggests filming your swing and counting frames. That works, but it’s slow.
This is where DE-SHANK helps. Prop up your phone with your whole body in view, tap the mic and say “record”. After each swing, you’ll get a tempo score from 30 to 100, along with scores for head movement, hip sway and posture change. Our voice coach talks you through the result, so you don’t have to walk back to your phone. You can see more in our features.
DE-SHANK gives estimates from one camera view. It’s designed for practice feedback, to help you spot habits and track trends.
A 15-minute tempo session
Here’s a session you can do on the range or in the garden net:
- Five swings, no ball. Count “one, two, three” out loud. Focus on finishing the backswing.
- Ten half swings with a ball. Keep the count. Note your tempo scores.
- Ten full swings. Same count, in your head this time.
- Five “pressure” swings. Pick a target and imagine it’s the 18th. See whether your tempo holds.
Compare your scores from steps 2 to 4. If they drop when you add pressure, that’s your project for the next few weeks.
Common mistakes
- Slowing everything down. Remember, it’s the ratio that matters, not the overall speed.
- Pausing for too long at the top. A tiny feeling of a pause can help, but a freeze breaks the rhythm.
- Only practising tempo with a driver. Your wedges and irons need the same rhythm.
Our take
The 3:1 ratio isn’t a magic number for every golfer, but it’s a sensible, well-researched benchmark. If your swing feels rushed, it’s the first place we’d look. For more drills, browse our Coaching Tips.
Try DE-SHANK free
Find out what your tempo really looks like. Try the free DE-SHANK beta and get a tempo score on every swing. It’s free during the beta.
