The Tour Tempo System - Golf's "Final Secret" is Fundamental and Accessible

- If you watch snowboarders or X-Game athletes closely, you may notice the ubiquitous white ear buds. Music plays a big role in getting them “in the zone” for their competition. And it isn’t just extreme sports either. Most athletes these days have their tunes. As a runner, I seem to always be moving to the beat of some song that is stuck in my head (I don’t wear ear buds when I run).

On the golf course, I find myself keeping time to whatever song has ear-wormed its way in. Could be Amy Winehouse’s “Rehab,” or “Dancin” by Aaron Smith and Luvli. In fact, I have a playlist on my iPod of “Golf Tunes.” I found that as long as there is a beat in my head, I seem to swing freely and accurately. I also noticed that if I lose the beat for any reason, I start messing up. In a sense, I am no stranger to the concept of tempo. It seems to go hand and hand with what I already do.

When I was handed a little green book titled TOUR TEMPO (176 pages) by John Novosel and Sports Illustrated senior writer, John Garrity, I’ll admit I was curious. It was touted as “GOLF’S LAST SECRET FINALLY REVEALED.” Did they come up with something that I may have been doing all along?

The book's thesis is that good tempo is not a personality trait, but “a golf fundamental.” Novosel spent a lot of time studying PGA greats trying to figure out what made their swing be so powerful, yet seem so effortless. What he discovered is that nearly every champion demonstrated identical time proportion in his or her swing, a common ratio between takeaway and downswing.

No matter the style or form, the winning tempo was always the same – 3 parts backswing to 1 part downswing. If you flip through the book, you will see that he painstakingly documented the swing tempo of professional golfers -- separating them into categories like 21/7, 24/8 and 27/9. It’s like you can sense when the light bulb (aha!) moment occurred as he saw the pattern emerge. His next challenge was to figure out how to package this discovery in a way that golfers can benefit.

The resulting TOUR TEMPO system was published over five years ago (April 2004). Through clear, step-by-step instruction, golfers are taught how to master two basic drills to synchronize their swings. In addition to the book, there is an instructional CD-ROM that contains videos illustrating exactly how to learn the tempo secrets of the Tour Pros. Also included is a calibrated soundtrack that can be used practicing at a driving range, in your backyard or living room.

Over a period of five years, the TOUR TEMPO system has evolved to where the website today (http://www.tourtempo.com/) offers professional certification. There is also an endorsement by Padraig Harrington. This year, it arrived in the Apple iTunes store. Now that was a really smart move!

How it works

The book starts off by outlining and explaining the discovery of the specific mathematical ratio regarding elapsed time of the back swing and the elapsed time of the downswing of the Tour Pros.

What “the system" does is train you in a sort of Pavlovian way... where you react to three scientifically spaced musical notes. These musical notes alert you to start your takeaway, start your downswing, and then, the third note lines you up with impact. Sounds simple, but can be brain boggling.

In an attempt to facilitate learning, the TOUR TEMPO MICRO PLAYER was developed. It is a lightweight device that resembles a Bluetooth headset and fits securely and comfortably right on your ear. The player contains all the Swing Tones that were first revealed in the book. It also includes a bonus 18/6 sequence, as well as four new TOUR TEMPO TONES for the short game.

Introducing the Micro Player was the right idea, but not one that will go over well with the younger generation. In fact, that is part of the issue with the original packaged solution. CDs have faded in popularity. And, as Steve Jobs has noted, people don’t read. Having that micro player in your ear is not exactly “hip” either. We all know white ear buds rule. That’s why the introduction of the TOUR TEMPO app in the iTunes store in May of this year was a brilliant move. In fact, talking in the context of this app makes the system easier to understand.

TOUR TEMPO iPhone App

They really jammed this app (http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/tour-tempo-golf/id313846742?mt=8) with extra features to justify its price, $14.99, which is relatively high for the iTunes Store, but a bargain compared to buying the book ($24.99) or the package with the TOUR TEMPO MICRO PLAYER ($109.99).

>> TOUR TEMPO TONES are designed to teach you how to swing with the tempo ratios of the pros. As mentioned, the 3 parts backswing to one part downswing translates to: 21/7, 24/8, and 27/9. The idea is train your subconscious mind to swing with one of these tempos.

>> TEMPO TRACKS take the Pavlovian thing out of the equation by using songs that have been written, recorded and engineered to meet the exact standards of the Tour Tempo ratios. The point is that the more you listen to the Tracks, the more the rhythm will be ingrained.

>> FOCUS TRACKS are relaxation songs that contain Tones of Tour Tempo. Supposedly, these tap alpha waves enabling an optimum state for concentration – which they are referring to as “the Zone.”

>> VIDEOS are for visual learners; the videos included in the app are ideal. They demonstrate and offer a complete explanation of the how the Tones work and simplify the process that accelerates the time to benefit.

A nice addition to the iPhone/iPod edition of TOUR TEMPO is the "in-app" coupon that is good for $10 off an order from the TOUR TEMPO Shop (one time).

Conclusion

First of all, congratulations go out to John Novosel for making this discovery. It had to be pretty amazing when he realized the elixir he stumbled upon. He seems to have done a great job packaging it up so that any golfer who is looking for a means of breaking through – gaining more distance and potentially lowering their score per round – has an option that is affordable. In fact, the biggest investment appears to be time.

That brings me to the next point of TOUR TEMPO. As we enter winter in many parts of the States golf options are limited or non-existent. It is technically the “off season.” There’s a quote by William James that talks about learning to swim in the winter and ice skate in the summer. I believe that approach is necessary with TOUR TEMPO.

If you are actively playing weekly rounds then introducing the type of radical change presented in the TOUR TEMPO swing – an accelerated swing – can be disastrous. A principle accepted by athletes is that you get worse before you get better. Is there anything more mortifying than tinkering with your swing while the rest of your foursome looks on?

I advocate that you make the time investment in the off-season. Visualize it. Internalize it. Practice it. And at some point, you’ll own it.

For me personally, the approach is way too structured. I like what I’ve got going with my iPod golf tunes. Could I swing faster and hit the ball farther? Possibly. But I think that for me, and folks in my generation, the ultimate breakthrough will be coming up with a system that correlates the swing tempo with songs that can be purchased from the iTunes store. Now that’s a sure winner!