One aspect of putting that is misunderstood by some is the importance of tempo.

Tempo is an important element in music. Musicians often use a metronome to set the tempo. It gives them an audible cue to help them get the feel for a certain number of beats per minute. Tick-tock tick-tock tick-tock. Depending on the tempo of the piece, the tick-tocks will be faster or slower.

What many don’t realize is that putting should have a tempo too. What even more people don’t realize is that the tempo is the same for every putt.

Unless you’ve studied the science of pendulums (certainly you’ve heard putting referred to as a “pendulum” action), it might not seem logical that the stroke for a 3-foot putt should have the same tempo as the stroke for a 50-foot putt. Clearly the 50-footer requires a longer stroke. That’s right, but it’s also a faster stroke.

If you have access to a metronome, get it and head to the putting green. I’ve seen ones that are specifically geared toward golf. Either type will be fine.

If you don’t have access to one, then you’ll have to make due with tick-tocking in your head. Just make sure you don’t subconsciously speed up and slow down the tick-tocking. It should remain constant.

Set up the metronome to beat at what seems like a decent pace for putting (there is no exact “correct” tempo) or start tick-tocking in your head, where the tick is the end of the backswing and the tock is the end of the follow through.

Start making practice strokes to the beat.

You should notice that for any length stroke, the tempo is exactly the same. The backswing finishes on the tick and the follow through ends on the tock. This is true for any length swing.

You should also notice that the backswing and follow through should be the same length. Taking a short backswing and long follow through leads to a stroke where you have to give it some “oomph” to get the ball there on longer putts. That will lead to inconsistency. Taking a longer backswing with a shorter follow through means you’ll need to decelerate, a killer for any kind of golf shot.

If your backswing takes the putter back three inches from the ball for a particular length putt, then the follow through should go three inches past the ball.

Keep practicing different length strokes with the metronome (or while tick-tocking in your head) and really get the feel for getting to the tick at the end of the back swing and the tock at the end of the follow through. Also, be sure your backswing and follow through are the same lengths.

After you feel like your tempo is solid, start stroking some actual putts to the same beat. Putt short ones and long ones and really get the feeling of how the length of the swing changes for distance, but that the tempo is exactly the same.

What tempo should you use?

There is no correct answer to that question. Some people are just “fast”. Everything about them is quick. Walking, talking, thinking, and their golf swings are all fast. Other people do those things at a slower pace. People fall everywhere in between.

In general, I think you want to try and keep your swing at a tempo that suits you. If you’re a fast person, then you might try a fast tempo. If you’re slower, then try a slower tempo. Experiment until you find a tempo that works for you. As I said, there is no correct tempo.

One other note: tempo doesn’t just apply to putting. It matters in the full swing. Next time you’re at the driving range, do some mental tick-tocks with your full swing to build an even tempo. It will help promote a smooth backswing, downswing, and follow through that will keep your body working within its natural rhythm.

That’s a great way to build consistency. A nice tempo will also promote a better transition from backswing to down swing. Many times, players take a smooth backswing, then feel like they need to accelerate and build power, so they jerk their hands down and get everything moving out of sequence and throw off the tempo.

Concentrate on tempo during practice and you will definitely see an improvement in your game.

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