jeremyheslop
Active member
Tour Tempo Total Game App Review
Intro
When you think Tempo on the PGA Tour who do you think of? Freddy, the Big Easy, Oosthuizen, Rory? Many people, myself included, wonder what makes a good tempo and rhythm of a golf swing. And more importantly how do we achieve good tempo in our own swings. From the author of the book Tour Tempo comes a mobile app called Tour Tempo Total Game which sets out to help us find that rhythm and tempo in our golf swing.
From the Company
Based on the international best selling golf book, Tour Tempo. The book outlines and explains the discovery of a specific mathematical ratio regarding the elapsed time of the backswing and the elapsed time of the downswing of the Tour Pros. The Tour Tempo System is simple and easy to learn. All you do is 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. It’s just that easy - you literally download the App, turn it on, grab a club and start swinging to the Tempo of the Tour Pros.
Key Features
Initial Thoughts
When I first heard about the Tour Tempo Total Game app I was excited at the prospect of getting a better rhythm to my swing. Having only played the game for a little over 3 years I've struggle with consistency of ball striking. Lack of a good tempo, mostly attributed to rushing the backswing, has led to the typical skull, chunk or mishit. That is where the Total Game app is supposed to come in. By helping a golfer to have the same tempo on each swing it leads to consistency and a squarer club face which should ultimately lead to straighter and potentially longer shots. Let's see if it really delivers what it says.
Testing/Usage
I purchased ($24.99), downloaded, went to the range and fired up the app on my iPhone. Before I get into the testing though let me go over how easy this app is to use. Once you turn the app on it allows you to change from long to short tones, tones to voice, then to tracks all from the same great looking interface. Fast and easy with no fuss involved.
I get to the range hit a couple warm up shots and decide it is time to try out the app. As you can see it takes you to the screen to start listening to long game tones. Each set of tones represents a tempo to try out going from fastest 18/6 to slowest 27/9. These tones are supposed to help out with any full swing. I start with a couple iron shots each with a different tempo. My PGA pro has been trying to slow my swing down and pause at the top so I start with the slowest tempo available 27/9. I click on the 27/9 button and I hear three tones that repeat over and over. 1 pause 2, 3 Based on the instructional video I hear the first tone and start my swing, I hear the second and I start my downswing (pausing at the top) and I try and time impact with the 3rd. It took a few swings to get the correct tempo at impact. I felt like I was making good contact with the ball and I was able to get in a groove. I think the real test will be how it translates to the course but first I want to talk about the short game tones.
After full shots I decided to give the short game tones a try. Starting with the slowest 20/10 tempo which is still pretty fast I worked my way through the tones. Boy was I amazed at how consistently I was hitting chip shots. The short game tones are more of a 1, 2, 3. Back, down, impact. It really allowed me to accelerate through the ball. I have since tried the short game tones with chipping, pitching and even putting all with positive results. I used the iPing putting app while listening to the tones and was surprised at how consistent my overall stroke was. Simply amazing how a music track with drums and a couple of tones can effect something like a putting stroke.
Practicing is fun but the real question is How does the Total Game app help out on the course? The first round I was able to get out after I started using the Total Game app I only listened to the tones before I started the round. Surprisingly I was in a good rhythm the whole day. My driver consistency increased with more FIR than normal and overall was easiest to repeat the long game tones in my head when off the tee. Approach shots with irons and wedges were did not translate as well when I tried to use the same long game tones. Maybe I was more anxious on those shots or maybe I should be practicing with a quicker long game tone. As such I didn't see much improvement in the GIR department. Putting was where I think I saw my biggest change next to the driver. I felt like I was getting putts to the hole and the right speed more often than not. I plan on using the Total Game tones before more of my rounds and during practice sessions and I want to report back my findings on how things go.
Overall
My overall impressions are positive. I think most amateur golfers could benefit from a good tempo. Just don't confuse a good tempo with a slow swing. The documentation describes a tour tempo as 3:1 backswing to downswing ratio. Ernie Els has a 24/8 swing and so does Kyle Stanley. We would all agree Els is smoother but he is not slower. Tiger in 2009 was a 27/9 but is closer to a 21/7 now. Fowler's swing is a 18/6 which makes sense with how quick his stroke is. I would recommend those who are interested in this app to check out the Tour Tempo Total Game website at http://www.tourtempo.com/golf-training-aids/golf-swing-tempo/tour-tempo-apps/ (links to purchase there also) and read the articles from GOLF Magazine and GOLF World. Very informative articles on tempo myths and truths.
Another app from the same company is the Tour Tempo Frame Counter (another iOS app for $1.99). I used it to find out what my tempo was on a few swings. I was 24/8 on what I would consider a good 5 iron and 25/10 on a pull hook driver. I think it reflects I had better tempo on my 5i than I did on my driver shot which indeed was the case. Forum member Snypa13 was 24/7 on a driver swing I recorded of his which hit the fairway. I would consider him to have good tempo and I think I play better when I play with him due to his good tempo.
The only negative on the Tour Tempo Total Game app would be the price. It does have really good practice and instructional videos included which helps but the app is just playing a couple mp3 files over and over with a slick interface. I paid $29.99 for golf GPS apps on the iPhone so while this is not crazy expensive at $24.99 I feel they could have included the Frame Counter app as an added bonus for getting the Total Game version. There is a Tour Tempo Golf app for $19.99 from the same company that excludes the Short Game and a couple other features. I feel the short game tones are worth the $5 after using them especially for putting. So while on the higher end of app purchases I feel it is a good deal for what you get.
For less than the price of a lesson from your local PGA pro you can be hitting shots more consistently and maybe even gain distance. While not everyone's tempo will fit within the 4 long game tones for full swings I think everyone could benefit from a good short game tempo especially in putting. Paired with the iPing app I was making 5 10 footers in a row easily. So go check it out and let me know what you think.
Jeremy H.
Intro
When you think Tempo on the PGA Tour who do you think of? Freddy, the Big Easy, Oosthuizen, Rory? Many people, myself included, wonder what makes a good tempo and rhythm of a golf swing. And more importantly how do we achieve good tempo in our own swings. From the author of the book Tour Tempo comes a mobile app called Tour Tempo Total Game which sets out to help us find that rhythm and tempo in our golf swing.
From the Company
Based on the international best selling golf book, Tour Tempo. The book outlines and explains the discovery of a specific mathematical ratio regarding the elapsed time of the backswing and the elapsed time of the downswing of the Tour Pros. The Tour Tempo System is simple and easy to learn. All you do is 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. It’s just that easy - you literally download the App, turn it on, grab a club and start swinging to the Tempo of the Tour Pros.
Key Features
- Long Game Tones
- Short Game Tones
- Tracks/Focus Songs
- Instructional Videos
- Available on iPhone/iPad, Android and Windows Phone
Initial Thoughts
When I first heard about the Tour Tempo Total Game app I was excited at the prospect of getting a better rhythm to my swing. Having only played the game for a little over 3 years I've struggle with consistency of ball striking. Lack of a good tempo, mostly attributed to rushing the backswing, has led to the typical skull, chunk or mishit. That is where the Total Game app is supposed to come in. By helping a golfer to have the same tempo on each swing it leads to consistency and a squarer club face which should ultimately lead to straighter and potentially longer shots. Let's see if it really delivers what it says.
Testing/Usage
I purchased ($24.99), downloaded, went to the range and fired up the app on my iPhone. Before I get into the testing though let me go over how easy this app is to use. Once you turn the app on it allows you to change from long to short tones, tones to voice, then to tracks all from the same great looking interface. Fast and easy with no fuss involved.
I get to the range hit a couple warm up shots and decide it is time to try out the app. As you can see it takes you to the screen to start listening to long game tones. Each set of tones represents a tempo to try out going from fastest 18/6 to slowest 27/9. These tones are supposed to help out with any full swing. I start with a couple iron shots each with a different tempo. My PGA pro has been trying to slow my swing down and pause at the top so I start with the slowest tempo available 27/9. I click on the 27/9 button and I hear three tones that repeat over and over. 1 pause 2, 3 Based on the instructional video I hear the first tone and start my swing, I hear the second and I start my downswing (pausing at the top) and I try and time impact with the 3rd. It took a few swings to get the correct tempo at impact. I felt like I was making good contact with the ball and I was able to get in a groove. I think the real test will be how it translates to the course but first I want to talk about the short game tones.
After full shots I decided to give the short game tones a try. Starting with the slowest 20/10 tempo which is still pretty fast I worked my way through the tones. Boy was I amazed at how consistently I was hitting chip shots. The short game tones are more of a 1, 2, 3. Back, down, impact. It really allowed me to accelerate through the ball. I have since tried the short game tones with chipping, pitching and even putting all with positive results. I used the iPing putting app while listening to the tones and was surprised at how consistent my overall stroke was. Simply amazing how a music track with drums and a couple of tones can effect something like a putting stroke.
Practicing is fun but the real question is How does the Total Game app help out on the course? The first round I was able to get out after I started using the Total Game app I only listened to the tones before I started the round. Surprisingly I was in a good rhythm the whole day. My driver consistency increased with more FIR than normal and overall was easiest to repeat the long game tones in my head when off the tee. Approach shots with irons and wedges were did not translate as well when I tried to use the same long game tones. Maybe I was more anxious on those shots or maybe I should be practicing with a quicker long game tone. As such I didn't see much improvement in the GIR department. Putting was where I think I saw my biggest change next to the driver. I felt like I was getting putts to the hole and the right speed more often than not. I plan on using the Total Game tones before more of my rounds and during practice sessions and I want to report back my findings on how things go.
Overall
My overall impressions are positive. I think most amateur golfers could benefit from a good tempo. Just don't confuse a good tempo with a slow swing. The documentation describes a tour tempo as 3:1 backswing to downswing ratio. Ernie Els has a 24/8 swing and so does Kyle Stanley. We would all agree Els is smoother but he is not slower. Tiger in 2009 was a 27/9 but is closer to a 21/7 now. Fowler's swing is a 18/6 which makes sense with how quick his stroke is. I would recommend those who are interested in this app to check out the Tour Tempo Total Game website at http://www.tourtempo.com/golf-training-aids/golf-swing-tempo/tour-tempo-apps/ (links to purchase there also) and read the articles from GOLF Magazine and GOLF World. Very informative articles on tempo myths and truths.
Another app from the same company is the Tour Tempo Frame Counter (another iOS app for $1.99). I used it to find out what my tempo was on a few swings. I was 24/8 on what I would consider a good 5 iron and 25/10 on a pull hook driver. I think it reflects I had better tempo on my 5i than I did on my driver shot which indeed was the case. Forum member Snypa13 was 24/7 on a driver swing I recorded of his which hit the fairway. I would consider him to have good tempo and I think I play better when I play with him due to his good tempo.
The only negative on the Tour Tempo Total Game app would be the price. It does have really good practice and instructional videos included which helps but the app is just playing a couple mp3 files over and over with a slick interface. I paid $29.99 for golf GPS apps on the iPhone so while this is not crazy expensive at $24.99 I feel they could have included the Frame Counter app as an added bonus for getting the Total Game version. There is a Tour Tempo Golf app for $19.99 from the same company that excludes the Short Game and a couple other features. I feel the short game tones are worth the $5 after using them especially for putting. So while on the higher end of app purchases I feel it is a good deal for what you get.
For less than the price of a lesson from your local PGA pro you can be hitting shots more consistently and maybe even gain distance. While not everyone's tempo will fit within the 4 long game tones for full swings I think everyone could benefit from a good short game tempo especially in putting. Paired with the iPing app I was making 5 10 footers in a row easily. So go check it out and let me know what you think.
Jeremy H.
