Golf Wisdom from Slammin Sammy

Posted by doug

March 18, 2009

sam snead book Golf Wisdom from Slammin Sammy
I have started collecting “older” golf instruction books really just for fun. One I am reading now is How to Play Golf by Sam Snead with a copyright of 1946.

It’s really fascinating to read great players view of the swing. The Snead book, at times, can be a little dry. But you never know when (or where) you might get that little gem that can propel your game to a new level.

What is interesting (especially in the excerpt below) is the emphasis on eliminating tension – a true hallmark of that silky smooth swing of Sam Snead.

I am going to be highlighting excerpts from these books as on ongoing type of post. I hope you enjoy them. Please comment and let me know what you think.

Sam Snead on “The Head” from How to Play Golf.

The head is often refer to as the anchor of the golf swing. It keeps the clubhead on he correct path.

You may argue that you have seen expert golfers move the head during the swing, and you are partially right. Fast action pictures have shown that good shotmakers do move the head – but it is a slight movement, and it is a good idea to keep the head as close to the position as possible all during the stroke, It is one way of acquiring a grooved swing.

Think of the head as the axle of a wheel, the club as a spoke, and the clubhead as part of the rim. Any movement of the axle transferred to the rim through the spoke. If the head, or axle, is lifted, control of the clubhead, or rim, is lost. Experts keep the head in the same position for some time after the ball is struck.

The head should not be held so rigidly that tension welds it to the top of the body. This is as bad a condition as moving the head during the swing. If the head is completely isolated from the rest of the body through rigidity, turning of the shoulders cannot take place in a proper swing.

When tension appears, and the head begins to pop up before the ball is struck, attempt to execute the stroke with more ease, starting the swing more slowly. Check the grip, tension might have started there.