Golf Circuit (James)

@jmiller065 - great questions! I'll try to address them individually.
 
1. Regarding Tempo: I think that metronomes can be excellent training tools - especially for players who have a hard time with consistency and developing rhythm. Regarding the specific ratios that you mentioned, I think they are ok starting points but it's important to find what works best for you. It doesn't really matter how fast you transition as long as you are sequencing properly. Make sure you're not starting your downswing with your upper body, hands or arms - Everything should start with the lower half first. Keeping this in mind might just help you from being so quick at the top. A great drill to do is to get into your stance, cross your arms over your shoulders, take your back swing, and then practice holding your shoulders back while you fire your hips. You should feel your core getting pulled as you develop some tension.
 
2. Regarding Course Management and Strategy: Great questions. I totally agree with you that you don't need to be a big hitter to shoot low scores, and I think that the majority of golfers are more concerned with hitting high pretty looking shots than writing down low numbers on their scorecards. The best advice I can give to players struggling with course management is to keep it simple. If you have clubs in your bag that you don't use often or don't hit well, take them out. If you need a straight shot and nothing in your bag goes straight except for your 9 iron, hit it. As far as tools that will help, I think that looking at a picture of the hole you are about to play and planning how you are going to play it us way underrated. Sure - you might have to make some adjustments along the way but it's much better than just getting up there and trying to whack it as far as you can every time. It's like the old saying goes, "if you don't care where you're going it doesn't much matter how you're going to get there."
 
Thanks so much for the questions - keep them coming!!