How much thought do you put into the rhythm of your golf game? I don’t mean the rhythm of your golf swing, I mean the rhythm of your golf GAME. They aren’t the same thing, and it’s important to understand the difference between the two.
I recently caddied for a young student of mine in a golf tournament she was participating in. The experience was fantastic! However, I couldn’t help but notice the extraordinary amount of time that it took to complete the 9-hole event. The reason? In my opinion, it’s that the kids are being over coached. This over coaching has a negative effect on the junior’s ability to establish a proper rhythm to their golf game.
In order to reach your full potential as a golfer, you must be allowed to develop a natural instinct for how to play the game. This is especially true for junior golfers. When you allow a junior golfer to develop a certain instinct for how to play the game, you are also allowing them to develop a certain rhythm for how to play the game. You’ve heard the phrase, ‘don’t overthink’? It was created for a reason…because it makes sense.
The golfer’s I work with are very familiar with three simple concepts. First, you need to make sure the golf club is comfortable in your hands. Second, you need to make sure you are comfortable in your stance. And finally, you need to make sure you swing in a rhythm that allows you to remain comfortable throughout your golf swing. Of course, we fine tune these areas along the way. However, this is a terrific way to establish a solid foundation for creating a natural instinct and rhythm to the way you play the game.
One of the things that separates golf from other sports is that there is no clock indicating to us when it is time to hit the ball. In basketball, there is a shot clock. In football, there is a play clock. Even baseball is now starting to cut down on the amount of time between innings, and plays. In golf, however, you have complete control over how long you take to hit a shot. Sure, there is technically a 45 second rule that you are expected to not exceed while playing your shot. However, this rule is generally only enforced once a group has already been reported as being too slow.
When I notice a player with proper rhythm to their golf game, I notice a player who is comfortable and ready to play when it is their turn. Get comfortable holding the club, get comfortable in your stance over the ball, and get comfortable with the rhythm of your golf swing. Do these things and the rhythm to your game will improve, and the groups behind you will be happier as well.
PGA Golf Tour Schedule
MAR 16 – 19
Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard Bay Hill Club & Lodge,
Orlando, FL • Purse: $8,700,000. Defending Champion: Jason Day
$1,134,000
MAR 22 – 26
World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play Austin Country
Club, Austin, TX • Purse: $9,750,000. Defending Champion: Jason Day
$1,620,000
MAR 23 – 26
Puerto Rico Open Coco Beach Golf & CC, Rio Grande, PUR • Purse:
$3,000,000. Defending Champion: Tony Finau $540,000
MAR 30 – APR 2
Shell Houston Open GC of Houston, Humble, TX • Purse: $7,000,000.
Defending Champion: Jim Herman $1,224,000
APR 6 – 9
Masters Tournament Augusta National GC, Augusta, GA • Purse: $10,000,000
Defending Champion: Danny Willett $1,800,000
APR 13 – 16
RBC Heritage Harbour Town GL, Hilton Head, SC • Purse: $6,500,000. Defending
Champion: Branden Grace $1,062,000
APR 20 – 23
Valero Texas Open TPC San Antonio – AT&T Oaks, San Antonio, TX • Purse:
$6,200,000. Defending Champion: Charley Hoffman $1,116,000
APR 27 – 30
Zurich Classic of New Orleans TPC Louisiana, Avondale, LA • Purse:
$7,100,000 Defending Champion: Brian Stuard $1,260,000
MAY 4 – 7
Wells Fargo Championship Eagle Point Golf Club, Wilmington, NC • Purse:
$7,500,000. Defending Champion: James Hahn $1,314,000
MAY 11 – 14
THE PLAYERS Championship TPC Sawgrass, Ponte Vedra Beach,
FL • Purse: $10,500,000. Defending Champion: Jason Day $1,890,000
MAY 18 – 21
AT&T Byron Nelson TPC Four Seasons Resort, Irving, TX • Purse:
$7,500,000. Defending Champion: Sergio Garcia $1,314,000
MAY 25 – 28
DEAN & DELUCA Invitational Colonial CC, Fort Worth, TX • Purse:
$6,900,000. Defending Champion: Jordan Spieth $1,206,000
JUN 1 – 4
The Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide Muirfield Village GC,
Dublin, OH • Purse: $8,700,000. Defending Champion: William McGirt $1,530,000
JUN 8 – 11
FedEx St. Jude Classic TPC Southwind, Memphis, TN • Purse:
$6,400,000. Defending Champion: Daniel Berger $1,116,000
JUN 15 – 18
U.S. Open Erin Hills, Erin, WI • Purse: $10,000,000. Defending Champion:
Dustin Johnson $1,800,000
JUN 19 – 20
CVS Health Charity Classic Rhode Island CC, Barrington, RI.
Defending Champion: Keegan Bradley, Jon Curran $150,000
JUN 22 – 25
Travelers Championship TPC River Highlands, Cromwell, CT • Purse:
$6,800,000. Defending Champion: Russell Knox $1,188,000
JUN 29 – JUL 2
Quicken Loans National TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm, Potomac,
MD • Purse: $7,100,000. Defending Champion: Billy Hurley III $1,242,000
JUL 6 – 9
The Greenbrier Classic The Old White TPC, White Sulphur Springs,
WV • Purse: $7,100,000. Defending Champion: Danny Lee $1,206,000
JUL 13 – 16
John Deere Classic TPC Deere Run, Silvis, IL • Purse: $5,600,000. Defending
Champion: Ryan Moore $864,000.
