This problem is not just a Zone problem but with tours and ladder play as well. This is when your swing meter does not move smoothly throughout the swing. The cause of this problem is simple, there are other program(s) running, with or without your knowledge, at the same time in the background and are taking up some of your PCs processing power (CPU). Thus Links is deprived of some CPU and the meter sputters instead of moving smoothly. The solution of this problem is not so simple. You have to try to figure out which program or programs are running in the background. The most obvious thing to do is to make sure that Links and Zone Friends are the only things running when you are in the zone. Make sure you shut down ICQ or MSN Messenger or any other instant messaging programs you might have installed. Make sure you shut down Napster, KaZaa or any other file sharing programs you might be running also. These program do not always show up in the TaskBar but may also be in the System tray. DO NOT shut down or disable any Anti-Virus program you have. 

If you are sure that Links and Zone Friends are the only other obvious programs running and you are still having meter problems, you have to look for the not so obvious programs that might be running. These include spyware and maybe even a virus. To get rid of any spyware programs running on your PC without your knowledge, go to www.lavasoftusa.com and download and run AdAware. This will scan your PC and list all the known spyware programs running on your PC without your knowledge. You will be surprised on what you find the first time you run AdAware, I promise you. You should also get the latest virus definitions for your anti-virus program and scan your PC again. If you don't have any anti-virus program running, get the trial version of Norton Anti-Virus at www.symantec.com and run it. It will take care of any virus you might have and you can decide if you want to buy it later..  

The above steps should solve any meter problems you might be having. That means the meter was smooth and then all of a sudden you started getting problems. If the meter is sputtering from the first time you run Links, try the above steps but if they don't solve your problem, you might have a hardware or driver problem. Try getting the latest sound card and video card drivers for you particular PC.

Additon courtesy of GFoG_SAGraver - 08/20/2002

Another reason u may get a slow meter during a match when it's otherwise working fine is a synching problem. Sometimes when you take your shot so quickly, all the players haven't completely synced and you get a slow, sputtering meter. 

Additions Courtesy of TT_SueB - 08/29/2002

Other reasons why some have meter issues are more than one similar device installed in the PC. Some motherboards come with a video card or onboard sound, but when the user installs an external one and doesn't disable the onboard one, Links gets very confused. Run Directx Diags (enter "dxdiag" in the Run window) to see if there are any interrupt (irq) conflicts. Also make sure the are no video or sound devices with a red X next to them in the windows Device Manager. You might need to disable the conflicting device in your default hardware setup.

You might also try using software rendering and disable panoramic views and lower the graphic settings in game