Quit Thinking and Just Start Swinging!
March 9, 2008 – 6:58 pm | by Golfdirt
I think the post title pretty much covers the gist of this tip. It’s not like the-ones-who-really-do-know-better have kept this a ”secret” from us. Witness the following two very commonly heard gems of golf wisdom:
- Paralysis by analysis.
- Only have one swing thought at a time.
This is while you’re playing a round. Practicing at the range? Knock yourself out with swing thoughts if you want. (Practically speaking, since no one’s getting inconvenienced waiting for you to tee off or hit your approach… but effectively, it’s not like it’s a good idea to work on more than one thing at time, is it? Your game, your call.)
You don’t think overthinking’s really a problem? Here you go then: an example of a well-meaning article that aims to help, but actually has the opposite effect, I think, giving the hapless golf newb just way too much to worry about.
Hehehe. Sorry; every time I look at this article, I get the giggles.
Technically correct, but boy, if every time you prepare to take a swing you go through this article’s checklist of what goes into a repeatable powerful and accurate shot, it’ll take you an hour to play each hole. Assuming you live through the experience, with everybody boiling over waiting for you to get on with it.
The Golf Swing and How to Improve It
By Jeffrey Ryall
When anyone thinks about the basic elements of the golf swing they think about the grip, stance, and position of the ball and so on. People always think about the physical aspects of the game and that’s only natural as that’s what is in the magazines and what the professionals do in their practice lessons.
But not everyone thinks this way. These people think that the basic components are to do with radius, face, plane and the centering. Focusing on these in a lesson are sometimes as beneficial as the mechanics of the swing.
Face is the direction in which the ball travels when the clubface hits the ball. You need to have the face of the golf club at the same direction when you bring your golf club back as when you hit the ball.
Radius is keeping the same distance from your front shoulder to the ball. This needs to be the same all the way through the shot for you to execute the best strike.
Plane is the angle at which your club strikes the ball. To consistently get good shots this needs to be the same each time you take a shot. Like anything else practice is the key.
Centering. If you want to hit an accurate golf shot you must get this right. Every shot you take has a centre to it . You must keep your back and your head as steady as possible every time you play a shot. If you watch the professionals do it on TV you will notice how steady they keep their head and back through a shot.
You need to be able to do all the basics well to be able to repeat a good shot time after time. To be able to do one basic good and all the rest not so good is not enough.
If you want to be able to repeat a powerful and accurate shot you will need to do all these basic elements well again and again, but as with anything you must put the time in on the practice range to see the improvement in your game. If you practice these as well as the normal basics when people talk about golf, like ball position, grip and stance you will be well on your way to improving your golf handicap and enjoying your game. Golf can be a frustrating game at the best of times but it can also be relaxing and enjoyable when you get it right, happy golfing.
Jeff Ryall runs a fishing website that focuses on information about fishing and fishing related products. You can enjoy reading tips, tricks and techniques about fishing at his site.
GD: OK, boys and girls, did you get all that? So let me get this straight before and while I swing — check face, radius, plane, centering…. and since I’m bothering anyway, throw in ball position, grip and stance, what the hey. Yup, that should about cover it. Thwack. Fore!
