No, these tips aren't for people interested in meeting each other for a date. The
only date I want you to have is with your clubs at the practice range in order to
build your swing correctly.
I see many people trying to swing the club on line, straight back, straight through.
This is impossible to do. There has also been a lot of discussion about upright,
medium and flat plane swings. I think a better way to describe it would be swings
that are too steep or too shallow.
To develop the best plane swing is to learn and coordinate your muscles to
synchronize your natural body motions. These motions, which I will break down
in depth in an upcoming series, are not difficult; in fact, they are very easy
to understand.
There is only one reason these motions are difficult to execute: it's the golf
ball. All golfers will make a better swing without a ball in front of them.
Why? Because without a ball, there is nothing to hit, so we concentrate on
the swing. The ball hypnotizes us into hitting it, and that's the big problem:
we should concentrate on swinging, not hitting. The ball will get in the way.
Hitting action deteriorates the motion. The dominating left side will not
allow for a hitting action; only a pulling action. The throwing action comes
from the right side.
There are two ways you can move an object, either pulling or pushing
(throwing). Theo only position that one can pull is in front of the
object being pulled. If you are behind it, you would have to be pushing
(throwing) it. The legs, pulling as the shoulders remain passive, builds
up the centrifugal force that creates the speed (distance) and accuracy.
Golf is difficult for one main reason: focusing on the ball causes you
to want to hit it. To prove this statement, I have taught numerous people
around the country who were blind. After I taught them some simple basics,
I placed a ball down and they made good contact on a regular basis - mainly
because they saw no ball! They were not hypnotized into hitting, and
their action was instead a swinging motion.
Keeping your eye on the ball is okay if it doesn't register a hitting
action. The key is keeping your head steady as opposed to keeping your
eye on the ball, which is a myth. The eyes don't move the head, the
shoulders move the head, regardless of where the eyes are.
Balance is so important to a swinging motion. Using the head as the
center of balance, eye position is a must. For proper eye position,
keep the face vertical until after impact, letting the eyes follow
the ball by rotating the head to the left and looking under and up
at the ball with the eyes in a more vertical position. Following the
ball horizontally raises the head. If the head moves from the center
of balance, it causes loss of motion, which leads to poor shot making.
To get the most out of your game this year, start swinging to your
target instead of trying to hit or steer it on the correct path. When
you're playing well, remember this: "Relax and swing - don't worry
about a thing."
