A big problem (some would say the biggest) of less-skilled golfers is their swing tempo. They make ungainly looking, inefficient swings and may not even know they are doing something wrong and certainly not know what to do to correct it. Rather than a swing with an athletic take away which merges into a smooth transition at the top and then accelerates through the hitting area to a balanced finish something else happens.

Often she or he snatches the club away from the ball, lifts it high overhead and then throws it at the ball accompanied by a multitude of body contortions once described not too kindly as a lurch flowed by a lunge. Neither smooth nor efficient, certainly not aesthetically pleasing and not something destined to produce consistent, well struck shots. This isn’t to say we all should look like touring professionals, even at that level there are polar opposites…think of Palmer’s slashing move versus Snead’s syrupy, almost languid swing. However we should have a proper swing tempo and rhythm, one that fits us and our ability and there is help available from a bit of modern technology.

The Sonic Golf System-1 consists of an insert mounted in a special grip that wirelessly transmits a signal to a receiver worn on the belt. The receiver in turn produces a tone matching the swing speed and tempo the user can hear through earphones as he swings…the faster the club moves the louder the tone.

A little time with the unit and it becomes obvious the better the swing rhythm the louder the sound will be at the bottom which of course is where the club meets the ball. A big advantage, unlike some other training aids, is the Sonic Golf System-1 can be used while actually hitting balls so there’s immediate feedback from what the swing sounded like to what the ball did in flight.

The Sonic Golf System-1 Solo Edition for individual use retails for $399.99. It’s a useful aid and worth the money for those interested in improving their swings.