The term tempo seems to be increasing in popularity. It can be found in discussions of the golf swing, in running, in execution of a game as for example, basketball and when discussing various types of throws or hits. Because of this it is necessary to look more closely at exactly what this term means and what role it plays in the execution of sports skills.
Tempo is the speed of your swing. According to some professional instructors, you can hit or throw a ball straighter and farther with a swing that has a lower tempo. By this they mean that your swing is slower and easier than the maximum speed that you can generate.
Most golfers can probably appreciate these comments because when you try to swing the club at maximum speed you usually end up changing something in the swing and you end up with a poorly hit ball. When you try to generate the most speed possible in the golf, baseball, or tennis swing, you often fall off balance during or after you complete the swing. In this scenario you typically mishit the ball.
To be even more technical, tempo refers to the changes in the speed of execution of the skill. This is sometimes called rhythm but the key point is that there is a change in the speed during the execution. Thus in some skills such as the hammer throw or the rotational technique in shot putting, it is possible to distinguish a speed up and slow down during the execution. Even in sprinting as for example in the 100 m dash, runners slow down and speed up approximately every 10 m. They do not run at a constant speed as most people believe.
If you can determine what the optimal changes in speed should be during execution of a skill, then this can be taught to the athlete so that he or she is better able to execute as needed in gameplay. In many sports, as for example in throwing and hitting a baseball, we typically see a gradual buildup of speed from the initial movement to the final release or hit. This does not however mean that there no moments or instances of a slowdown.
In regard to tempo it may be more accurate, to state that your swing should be as fast as you can generate, as long as you can still maintain good balance. This means that you still have a good swing and it will only be a matter of time before you hit or throw a ball straighter and farther, if you are mis-hitting. To state that your swing should be considerably slower and easier implies a major decrease in bat, racquet or clubhead speed: this is not conducive to a good swing or game.
Also, when considering tempo, it is necessary to think in terms of speed of movement on the backswing as well as on the downswing, i.e., the rhythm of your swing which takes in alternation of speed throughout the swing. Thus, once you establish the tempo and rhythm that is suitable for you, you should be able to swing with comfort and still be able to generate maximum speed at contact.
For more information on this topic see Build a better athlete.