Better distance control may have more to do with rhythm than you think.
Here's something most golfers have never measured.
According to TrackMan, Tour players typically have a putting tempo between 1.9 and 2.1.
In simple terms, the backstroke takes roughly twice as long as the forward stroke.
About 2:1.
But here's what's really interesting.
As putts change length, good putters don't simply abandon their rhythm and start hitting the ball harder.
The stroke can become longer while the underlying timing remains remarkably consistent.
Research supports the importance of this idea. Studies of skilled golfers have found that putting distance is adjusted through changes including stroke amplitude, while consistency in the motion remains an important part of skilled putting.
That's a very different way to think about distance control:
Don't just ask, “How hard do I hit this?”
Think about allowing the stroke to become longer while preserving a familiar rhythm.
Because your putting stroke already has a tempo.
The real question is whether you know what yours is—and whether you can repeat it when it matters.
Next time you're putting, pay attention to rhythm instead of speed.
Until next time,
Your friends at GoingLow.com
