Every golfer has a unique journey the is riddled with rough patches brushed over with outstanding results. It is the natural order of things there is only one way to play your best golf. Play golf like Tiger Woods or Jack Nicklaus or Bobby Jones; it is as simple as that. Obviously, this is an over simplification but if you can play like these legends then I tip my hat to your game. The problem that most golfers is that they try to play golf by aping a swing that they really cannot perform. I have followed that path myself until I learn a very import lesson that completely altered my approach and perspective of how to play my best golf!
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Creating a Square Swing Path
As a general rule, I hit the ball straight. This tells me that my swing mechanics coordinated to a point where the club face is square to the golf ball on contact. Unfortunately, my swing path does deviate from time to time and if I miss the ball, I generally pull it left. This is a know error in my swing mechanics and I often work ensuring that my swing path is square to my aim line. Hence, I am always looking for simple, repeatable, and sustainable drills that provide instant feedback. I think I have found one.
Continue readingDo Results Point to the Cause of a Poor Golf Swing?
Determining what happened during any golf swing is a challenge. Sometimes golfers, especially me on certain days, over analyze the tiniest mistakes and think that corrective action is required. Experience has taught me that waiting to see if this swing error persists over a round or two before trying to worry about making adjustments. If I do decide that something needs to be addressed, then I have to determine what is causing the problem before making any changes. This step is a bit more challenging because I find that the results do not always point the the cause of my swing woes. It really is a bit more complicated than it seems.
>!–more–>Any golf swing can be dissected into large, medium, small, and minute movements. The plethora of actions during any golf swing need to timed is such a manner as to produce a square club face on impact. Or at least the position required to produce the shot shape needed at that time. It really is a magical dance that has the potential for something to go wrong on every swing. Obviously, I cannot break down every movement because of the complexity of the interaction, but I do have a thought process that helps me narrow down my search and analysis.
The first thing I do is take a step back and look at the larger picture. Understanding the result of my consistent poor shots is is not always based in the where the ball finishes. Well, actually where the ball finishes is a big indicator, but not always. The point is that I think that it is important to look at the big picture of my poor results.
Next, I focus on my specifics. I watch to see what my divot looks like; I see if my ball is pulled or pushed consistently; Is my ball long or short of my target; how did my contact sound; how does my contact feel; or am I making the right course management decisions. There is a longer list of possibilities, but I think you get the point. There are many specifics that will give me a clue as too what the problems might be taking down my golf score.
So, the real question is do the results of poor results point to the cause of the golf swing? I would say probably. **Side note** I was going to stop writing my article right now, but I thought all the screaming at the monitors would be a bad thing 😉 ** I actually think that most amateurs should seek professional help to solve most of their swing woes. However, mature golfers, like Brian, Kevin, Lorne and BMc, understand their grooved swing enough to dissect swing woes without always seeking professional advice. We understand that consistent errors are caused by a plethora of possibilities. I think if you asked these sage players they would be able to tell you that results of their swings do indicated what the problems could be.
Results do help point out swing errors. The more experienced you are, the better opportunities you have to identify our swing errors. But until you are that level, seek professional help from your local golf pro.
I am grateful golfer! See you on the links!
Hitting My Approach Shots Left
During every golf season, I always have challenges with some aspect of my golf swing that I did not expect. This year my woes are surfacing where I feel like I am hitting the heel of my irons first causing my club face to close. As such, my approach shots end up left of the green. This fixable miss is something that happens a few times a round, but not all the time. I sat down last night and went through the mechanics of my swing and I thing I found out what I am doing wrong. Now it is time to fix it!
Continue readingIs Driver Loft Important For Increased Distance?
The discussion of more driver loft for increase distance has decided to rear its confusing head again. It is interesting that the hype created by manufacturers is fueling the potential desire to change driver settings without really understanding the reasons or science of why hitting it higher is important. I have recently changed my hitting technique to launch my ball a bit higher to gain some added distance, but that is because I was handcuffing myself by trying to drive the ball versus launching the ball. More on that below. Regardless, it is important to understand that hitting the ball higher does not necessarily equate to longer distances with the driver; there are so many other factors to understand!
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The Grateful Golfer 