For years, I have had a raging debate with many players on where the divot should start. Over the years, I have heard at the back of the ball, the middle of the ball or in front of the ball. We all agreed that behind the ball was bad news. Of course, it is important to point out that the following is for your irons and not your woods. I do not believe in taking a divot with my woods because it causes my stroke to lose power. We can discuss this in the future. As we move through the discussion, think of where your divot starts and the type of contact you have with your ball. Continue reading →
I have heard this statement so many times that I wonder if people really mean it! “I need to fix my swing”. Yet they never do; they ask a player with a 20 handicap for tips…not sure that is a recipe for success. Each swing is unique to each player. Of course we would all like to swing like Ben Hogan, but that is usually not the case.
The Bleacher Report covers the Top 20 swings of all time. I am sure, that after you look at it, you can come up with many players who could make that list. Ultimately, they all have the same basic swing and the results are in their successes.
But what about the rest of us! We do not have that smooth take away or high follow through that ensures consistent results all the time….but do you really need it! I remember pros like Ray Floyd and Lee Trevino who had less than text-book swings, but were very successful. Also, look at this video of pros who have swings that you do not want to duplicate.
As you can see, even swings that are not text-book can still lead to success. Moe Norman, considered one of the best ball strikers of all time had an ugly swing. But could he hit a ball!
Ultimately, your swing is your swing. Sometimes it is best just to embrace what you can do and not worry so much about what you cannot. If you do decide to change, it is best to see your local club pro or a PGA professional (like Rick Williams at mindbodygolf.com). They will be able to help you work out all the kinks. Tips from your friends is probably not the best way to solve your swing problems.
In closing, if you are deciding to buy a new $500 dollar driver thinking it will fix your swing…may I suggest you save $400 and take two lessons before you buy new equipment!
The Grateful Golfer 