The evolution of my golf game was slow and sometimes challenging. In my early years, I felt that off the rack equipment was well suited for my game. Therefore, I never really focused on the finer aspects of how technology could improve my overall game. That is until I decided to compete more and needed every advantage I could find to lower my golf scores. That is when I stumbled across the knowledge of how golf grip size was an important concept I completely overlooked. Well, not any more!
Continue readingswing mechanics
Making Solid Contact With Irons
It is likely that most amateur golfers are met with varying degrees of success when hitting irons. The longer the iron, the more the challenge. I can honestly say that I switch to a 3 and 4 hybrid because of how poorly I struck my long irons. Having said that, I do work diligently on making solid contact with my 5 iron through lob wedge. I feel that with these clubs I have a better than not chance of being successful. As a follow up to yesterday’s post about my second shot, most of the time it is with an iron and as such I think it is important to dedicate some time to hitting them well.
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!
Fighting Your Golf Swing Or Going With It
Through the course of any golf season, I encounter times when I fight my golf swing. These periods of struggle sometimes last more that a few holes, rounds, or an eternity (or at least it seems that way). Fighting my golf swing can bring a great deal of frustration because in most cases I do not know exactly the cause. Sometimes it just shows up and disappears without any rhythm or reason. There are times when my swing is consistently off and it is during those times I decide to go with my current swing mechanics and try to limit the damage. This is a real solution and I think it should be taught to all beginners.
Continue readingReverting Back to Old Golf Habits
As a golfer with many years of experience, I have tried a plethora of techniques in an effort to lower my golf score. I have willingly embarked on this, sometimes frustrating, journey with no regrets. Along the way I have learned a great deal about myself and this self actualization has helped improve my core golf game to a point where my golf game only requires minor tweaks. I realize that I will never be a player who will consistently shoot below par, but I continue to keep that vision of success at the forefront of my efforts to improve. Unfortunately, my journey has some pitfalls such as relearning habits that I thought I had kicked. For some reasons, these poor habits pop up from time to time and this is the frustrating part of my journey.
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The Grateful Golfer 