How "About That!" Finding My Swing Tempo

The first sport I ever played was baseball. I started when I was 6, playing with the 7 and 8 year old kids, and continued until I left for college, playing for American Legion team Post 10. I dreamed of playing for the New York Mets and can still name every player from the 1986 World Series Championship team.

During the baseball season I would watch Mel Allen every Saturday morning on This Week In Baseball. Allen, the long time Yankee announcer, is famous for coining the phrase, "How About That!" As it turns out, my baseball roots are leaking in to my golf game. How about that?

A few post ago I talked about finding a repeatable tempo that produced a good swing. While on the putting green during one of my rounds, I came up with the idea to ask myself an easy question which had an easy answer. I asked myself, "How hard would I have to throw it to get it to the hole." And then I answered myself as I made the stroke, "about that." "About" started the takeaway. "That" is when I made impact with the ball.

During my last few practice sessions, I started applying the same swing thought to my full swing. I have been practicing with my 6 and 7 irons as well as my pitching wedge. Before every shot I ask myself, "How hard would I have to swing this club to get it to the hole." And then I answer myself as I swing, "about that." "About" started the backswing. "That" is when I made impact with the ball.

It doesn't matter what shot I am hitting, that is my tempo. Half shots. Three quarter shots. Full shots. It is all the same. "About that." The same now goes for my chipping and pitch shots. All I have to focus on is getting a good visual in my head of how hard I want to toss it, and then simply do what comes naturally.

My virtual swing coach Mike Southern asked his readers to experiment with the "one-thousand-one" technique. What I am using is about the same tempo, if not exactly the same as Mike's. I think the important thing is that each individual golfer finds something that clicks with them.

I am continually trying to make this game as simple as possible. The pros make golf look simple because they spend an insane amount of hours practicing, but also have a firm understanding that over-complicating things only leads to disaster. Mike left me this comment after I had my "aha" moment of keeping it simple...

Excellent, grasshopper. You are finally attaining enlightenment...

(Translation: This is just a stupid game, and uses moves not so different from the ones you normally make as you go through life. Relax and have some fun! You already know how to do most of this if you just stop making it so difficult. ;-)

Hmm...I already know how to do most of this huh? I guess I do. How About That! Have a great round and always hit your target.



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