Finding a Player’s Optimal Swing Speed

Timing in golf is important if a player wants to be consistent.  Most players are unaware of how beneficial
it is to practice with a metronome.   The average golf swing takes between .97 to 1.14 seconds.  Each
player has a perfect speed for them.  People with a fast resting heart rate typically have a quick swing and
those with a slow resting heart rate normally have a slower swing.  This is timed from when the club
leaves the ball until it returns.

What really surprises some students is that the time it takes from when the club leaves the ball until
impact should be the same for every club, and almost every shot.  This is true from the putter to the
driver.  When putting a 3-footer and a 50-footer the strokes should take the same amount of total time.   If
your speed is 57 or 71 beats per minute this is the same total time with the driver, pitch shot, chip, and
iron swings.
Often when you start using a metronome with good players their swings change for the better.  I have had
good players struggling with their swing and by simply teaching them what their swing number is and
hitting shots with the metronome on, their swing issues disappear.   Have your player start on 60 bps,
have the club leave the ball on the beep, and then make contact on the next beep.  This may be too slow
for some or too fast for others.  It normally takes about five swings for a player to learn their
number.  Once the player knows his or her number you can use that to practice with woods, irons,
chipping, and putting.

As good as this works for the full swing it is especially helpful in putting.   Have the player place a ball
every five feet away from the hole, out to 40 feet.  Use the metronome and have the player take the putter
away from the ball on the beep and make contact on the next beep.  You and your student will be amazed
by how much this helps with speed control, and it will automatically modify the length of the
stroke.   Then have them practice shorter putts using the metronome and watch the stroke improve.
This is one of those swing aids that will help a player at any level, especially good players.  Have your
students download a metronome app for free on their phones and they are on the way to finding their
optimal swing speed.
Jim Hartnet, PGA
Owner, myhome4golf.com