ShareThisBy JIM SUTTIE
Monday, October 16, 2006
Last summer while on the range at the John Deere Classic with my friend and student Paul Azinger, we were looking at the different swing styles. Lots of ways to make successful golf swing and a repeatable swing. But, there was something they all had in common. They had good tempo, rhythm, timing, and balance. Paul asked me to further define and give my thoughts on these basic four fundamentals:
_ 1. Tempo is the overall speed or pace of your swing, fast like Nick Price or slow like Ernie Els. Everyone has their own unique tempo based on how we do things on a daily basis. Generally, the average golfer's tempo is too fast and you would be better off trying to be slow and deliberate when playing golf. Take full swings at half speed. Good tempo is far more important than perfect mechanics.
_ 2. Rhythm is the overall "beat" of the swing. Or, how a golfer accelerates and decelerates his golf club through the swinging process. Slow your swing down as you reach the top and from there only gradually accelerate your club from the top.
_ 3. Timing is the element that allows a teenager such as Michelle Wie to drive the ball so far. Timing is the sequence of movement. Timing is like a linkage system; the better the linkage, the better the shot. Backswing should be: a. clubhead, b. hands and arms, c. shoulders, d. torso, e. hips, f. knees and feet. It is simply the reverse coming down in the downswing. The feet start the movement.
_ 4. Balance is the most important fundamental but oftentimes the most forgotten and most neglected. There are two types of balance _ balance while at address, or static balance, and balance while moving or dynamic balance. If your weight is evenly distributed between the right and left foot and the toe and heel, you generally will have good balance. Keep your balance on the backswing while you turn your torso over your right leg. If you can finish with your head balanced over your left leg and hold your finish for five seconds, you have acceptable balance.
(Dr. Jim Suttie, the 2000 PGA Teacher of the Year, is director of instruction at The Club at TwinEagles in North Naples, Fla. and at Cog Hill Golf Club in Lemont, Ill. His new book is "Your Perfect Swing" and is available at bookstores and at amazon.com. He also is a Golf Magazine Top 100 Teacher and rated No. 15 by Golf Digest. Suttie coaches the Florida Gulf Coast University men's golf team. E-mail him at jmsuttie@aol.com.)
