|
|
| |
| Information-Golfing.com-Your Complete Golfing Information Source | |
|
|
|
Your Golf Swing Is Good Enough
If you watch the Golf Channel or read any of the magazines and books on golf, it will be very hard for you to miss the basic theme that "There is a perfect swing and you will do the most for your game by trying to get it". Even when you watch a tournament on TV, you see the commentators participate in this conspiracy by showing us frame-by-frame analysis of the pro and critiquing his/her every move. Now, maybe we can give the TV guys a break because they are just trying for some entertainment value and let's face it, most of us are interested in the details of the swing because we've been brainwashed by years of this theme. For many years, I too was a "swing zombie" in my quest to improve my golf game. I even participated with a group of golfers that all had our swings videotaped and then we critiqued each other in a classroom setting. The feedback I received from all of us watching my swing ran from "very smooth" to "way off-kilter". Everybody had a differing opinion of many of the swings that we watched and at least for me, it only confused me more. In my younger years, I had a typical amateur slice swing that obviously came out of my years of playing baseball and softball. In those days, I would just aim for the left edge of any fairway and I could count on the ball moving left to right, at worst ending up in the right rough but usually hitting the fairway. I enjoyed playing golf those days but I always felt that something was missing. So when I could finally afford it,I decided to take a set of lessons from a pro. Of course I told him that I wanted to get rid of my slice swing and he asked me back "are you sure?". This answer kind of shocked me but he was a very good instructor and by the end of the lessons, I was able to hit the ball out of bounds both ways, left and right. I figured that it would just be a matter of time until I "dialed" in to hitting it straight. To make the story short, 5 years later and I was still "dialing" and getting wrong numbers (ob, jail, water,no score improvement, etc.). Looking back, I honestly believe now that if I had stuck with my old left to right swing and just used the rest of what I learned from the pro, that I would have improved significantly. Why? Because I was a typical golfer and not a 12 handicapper trying to become a single-digiter (a good golfer trying to become a great one). Studies have shown that the overwhelming majority of amateur golfers shoot in the 90's or above for men and it's over 100 for women. If you are in that group, then you really should be working on parts of your game that will give you far more efficient score improvement for the time and effort spent. This would primarily be in the area of the short game and the mental game. This is absolutely true for the average golfer but it may be true for all golfers as well. There is loads of evidence on the pro tours that the ones making the money are those best at chipping and putting. The golf research guru himself, Dave Pelz, actually followed tour players around for years taking detailed statistics and he proved it (see his book, My Short Game Bible). In addition to that, there are too many pros to list that admit that their swing is not "technically correct" or maybe not even very good...BUT THEY WIN TOURNAMENTS! Look at Jim Furyk, 2003 U.S. Open winner. He actually has a big loop in his backswing. Lee Trevino always told people that they should not copy his swing. Even Jack Nicklaus says in his books that he wasn't a very good ball striker. Bruce Lietzke has won tournaments on the PGA and Senior tours playing his left-to-right shot his whole career - And he says he rarely practices! On top of that, the tours are littered with past champions that totally lost their game AFTER they tried to change it for the better. And now they are begging their sports psychologist to help them "find" their old swing. I have talked to PGA golf instructors that say it's their clients that want the swing advice (just like I did) even when they recommend working some other part of their game first. So maybe it's our own fault in creating the current situation where average scores of amateurs have not dropped one stroke in the last 50 years despite the advances in equipment technology. Now don't get me wrong, if you are a total beginner, maybe you should start out with learning the basics of the golf swing with a lesson. But if you're hitting it solid most of the time, you are good to go for a real scoring quest as more swing advice is not the quickest way for you to drop your score. There is just so much more that you can do, on and off the course, that will pay you back in saved strokes for far less time spent than "fixing" your swing. Most of us have precious little free time that we can work to improve our games so why not work on that which will give us the greatest bang for our (time) buck? And so, let me be the first to make a pledge to the golf spirit inside me (I always thought that golf is like religion): "I for one, do solemnly swear that I will not pay attention to any swing advice of any sort until I can score in the 70's consistently with the swing I have (and maybe not even then)". Visit Craig Sigl's website at: http://www.break80golf.com It is dedicated to score improvement for golfers with little time to practice. Download free ebook "How you can play better golf using self-hypnosis". Sign up for ezine "The Very Busy Golfer." Ecourse with golf instruction tips from a major pro, articles on golf equipment and free golf games.
MORE RESOURCES:
Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Stronger Abs for Golf Everyone wants a firm midsection. For the golfer, it delivers much more than just a coveted physique. Left Handed Golf Tips Where do you find left handed golf tips? You find right handed golf tips in every golf magazine available but it is nearly impossible to flip the instructions around to fit you. In addition, let's not even talk about trying to flip the diagrams and pictures! How do you learn to play golf left handed? Here are a few golf tips for left handers. Junior Golfers Gain A Competitive Edge By Building A Stronger Body Strength training for juniors is supported by organizations such as the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA). Each of these organizations encourages children's participation in appropriately designed training programs as long as they are competently supervised. Why Exercise Is Crucial In Achieving The Correct Golf Swing Achieving the correct golf swing is the magic key that will open all the doors to better and more enjoyable golf.However the correct golf swing becomes very difficult to pull off for one simple reason. Guide To Buy Used Golf Clubs For Beginner Golfer If you are just starting out to play golf, you should never buy a new golf club set immediately as you may discover that this game is not for you later on. Furthermore, you are yet to find the type of golf clubs that fits you during the learning stage. Advice On Golf Training Aid Products There are many different types of golf swing faults and a golf training aid can go a long way in helping any golfer deal with their specific problem area.The golf swing is the essence of the golf game and therefore it would not be a bad idea to get even two golf training aids that are specific to your swing fault. Do You Fear Golf Weight Training Programs In a sport that hardly has any controversies; few issues have come as close to being controversial as golf weight training programs have. More so with amateur and non-professional golfers. Who Invented The Game Of Golf? Well, who actually did invent the game of Golf? The question has been asked and argued for many years with no true winner. Many countries have a valid claim to an early game that resembles the game of golf. How Important Is A Golf Fitness Program A golf fitness program can make the difference between you optimizing your golf potential or playing the same frustrating golf you may be used to playing.It's no secret that the body swings the club and plays the game?so why wouldn't you consider a golf fitness program to play your best?A golf fitness program consists of strength, flexibility, endurance and even nutrition. 4 Essential Elements of Golf Fitness Are you ready to take your golf game to a new level? Golf fitness and a whole body approach to your golf game may be the answer. Many of you have spent hours on the driving range sharpening your golf skills. Becoming an Ageless Golfer It happens to all of us, even though we do not want to admit it. The reality is we all get older. Golf Swing Training The Right Way Golf swing training is a critical area in the improvement of any golfer's game. Yet not all golf swing training programs are the same. Golf Stretching Exercises Have A Direct Impact On Your Drives Golf stretching exercises have been known to have such a huge impact on the golf swing that their popularity amongst golfers has spread like wild fire in recent years.Yet in some cases the golf stretching routines have not been gotten from a real golf-specific exercise expert. Play Better Golf Through Exercise Play better golf. Isn't that what every golfer thinks about 24/7? Golf can be the most humbling game you will ever play?but we keep coming back for more. Improve Your Golf Swing Fundamentals And Watch Your Game Transform Most golfers are aware that by focusing on the golf swing fundamentals, one by one, they stand the best chance of dramatically improving their game. This is because the golf swing fundamentals make up the golf swing which is at the heart of the game of golf. A Valuable Golf Workout Tip Here is a golf workout tip that you can afford to ignore at your own peril.Even as more and more golfers get into golf-exercises and physical training programs, many do not realize how important warming up is. Guide to Playing Golf for Free and Getting Huge Discounts on Golf Balls, Golf Gloves, and Golf Stuff If you love to play golf as much as most golf enthusiasts, you would probably play more if the great game of golf and most golf equipment wasn't so grossly expensive. An 18-hole round of golf at even a moderately expensive golf course averages about $36. Online Golf Instructions Are Cheap But Effective The number of online golf instruction programs on the net has grown tremendously in recent times. And yet they still continue to grow in leaps and bounds. Top of the Mountain: The Masters, Augusta, GA If you're a stockbroker, the center of the world is New York. If you are a commodities trader, it's Chicago. Play Exclusive Las Vegas Golf Courses - The Not-So-Secret Secret Experience the luxury of tour-class caddies. Play the private golf courses that celebrities and touring pros play.
|
| home | site map |
| © 2006 |
