Instruction
You’ve probably read a lot of golf instruction that tells you that you to stay behind the ball at impact, or at least keep you head behind it. Have you tried to do this, but found it nearly impossible? Here’s a magic move, if you’re not already doing it, that will dramatically improve your contact, consistency and distance and who couldn’t use some of that.
If you don't practice this shot routinely, you can be tempted to swing towards your target - where the clubface is aimed - rather than along your body. This is the kiss of death. You're almost certain to swing the hosel into the ball with a shank the likely outcome.
I'm always surprised when I have a preconceived notion about something, only to discover something that completely changes my mind. Harmon's 'Four Cornerstones of Winning Golf' is just such a book. If you want a solid, simple accurate reference manual on how to play better golf, then this book is as good as any.
I've read a lot of golf instruction articles and books and seen my share of video, but the article titled "In 'Sync'' by Denis Pugh takes the cake. He has hit the nail directly on the head for explaining the key components of a consistent and durable swing for any age player.
Anytime I hear the "straight left arm" in the golf swing I cringe. Just the visual of it will put your mind in an un-dynamic position. It's like a shortstop waiting for a ground ball with straight legs - kinda hard to be agile from that position.
I think there's a lot of mis-understanding about keeping the right arm straight in the backswing and downswing. My GolfDash partner, John, even mentioned it in a recent article titled
Golf Resolutions for 2010 mentioning:
"Keep the left arm straight from takeaway to well past impact. If I bend the arm I lose consistent contact because the width ...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMo6aOfw0Bg
This guy Jamie Sadlowski is incredible to watch in this long drive contest video. Talk about sheer power! The guy is 5'10" tall and 165 lbs!
A couple things I noticed when watching his swing. First, it is so well balanced. Not some sort of wind up and casting at the ball - like your trying to kill a squirrel with a hockey stick!
Therefore, consider going slightly wider in your stance when hitting the driver. You need a solid base when you generate greater speed by swinging the driver.
Second, the takeaway and backswing are very deliberate and not rushed. It takes time to build energy and power - which is a good reminder for anyone.
I know, it can sometimes be depressing ...
At the end of every year I try to make a list of the key things I learned about my game through the course of the season.
1. GolfDash: How does the mind "influence" the physical body and vice versa?
Dr. Joe: I like to say that the golf swing is 90% mental and 10% mental. That is to say, there is nothing that we do physically that is not, at some level, controlled by our mind.
The key is finding a way to let the "thinking" mind do all the preliminaries to physical performance - selecting a target, judging the lie, gauging weather influences, etc., then letting our "intuitive" mind take over, to let our bodies make a free swing.
2. GolfDash: What is the best "state of mind" to play golf ...
I know what you're thinking, if there was really 'A Way' to get better in golf, some guy or gal out there would be richer than Tiger. You couldn't build a practice facility big enough to hold all the people who'd be throwing money your way.
In spite of that reasoning, I do believe that major improvements for golfers are just around the corner. We, or at least the golfing scientists among us, are really starting to understand what goes on in the golf swing thanks to high tech analysis tools.
But it's going to take time for it all this knowledge to trickle down. New younger pros are going to have to ...
When the shoulder is locked you don't have to pull it in on the downswing to return to your setup position at contact - a simpler swing is a better more consistent swing. Also, and this is equally important, you transfer power better from your core to the club face to the ball.
