(sketch contributed by Uki)
I like this tip: "less is more"
For the beginner golfer, it is not easy to accept this tip which means that if he uses less force (power) he will hit the ball further. No way! (He is thinking that I was trying to pull a fast one on him and so refuses to believe me) However, the logic is very simple:
For the beginner golfer, it is not easy to accept this tip which means that if he uses less force (power) he will hit the ball further. No way! (He is thinking that I was trying to pull a fast one on him and so refuses to believe me) However, the logic is very simple:
1. There ain't no trees in the middle of the fairway! After landing the ball will roll on and on...
2. If he uses less power, his chances of striking the ball on the "sweet spot" of the club is increased.
If he had used all his strength no one knows where the ball goes, probably into the bush where the rough will prevent it rolling at all. It could be even worse. The ball may hit a tree and bounce backwards towards the golfer! While he stands at the tee, if a golfer thinks of all these tips given on the sketch, he will become a very confused golfer and will probably miss hitting the ball altogether.
I usually think of not more than 2. (less is more, release). All the other stuff will take care of themselves if we have hit enough balls at the range. The golf swing becomes automatic after hitting 30,000 balls. We call this phenomena, muscle memory. Just hit the ball as usual and let it go wherever it wants to. If not happy with the end result, we adjust one variable at a time until we get it right.
That picture has most of the 65 points to keep an eye on, when you go to the tee box!
When I think of more than 3, I cannot coordinate my movements any more. I become frozen and cannot hit the ball well.
However, when I have more than 1.5 seconds to analyst my own swing fault, having a comprehensive list like this one, can actually help me understand what has gone wrong and slowly working towards a solution.
For example at the driving range. There is time to see the immediate result of the swing and to think about a way to correct the swing fault based on the list you have here. Usually the feel of the swing is a good guide towards a correct solution. Golf is a game that is learned by doing. We must have some swing theory, the correct grip and reasonable equipment. The rest is up to us. No amount of golf lessons from a pro can help unless we are willing to spend the time to practice at the range with buckets of balls.
I find the most interesting moment was when I suddenly discovered one day that I could actually bend the ball deliberately left or right around a tree at the dogleg. That was when I became addicted to the game.
Bending the ball's flight left is quite easy for me when using a mid iron (5,6,7). Somehow, along the way I have lost the ability to bend the ball right. With the long irons the reverse is true. Easy for me to slice with a 3 iron; much harder to draw to the left. It is even more difficult with the driver. When you can hit a deliberate draw shot, bending slightly to the left, with the longest club in the bag, you have arrived and can start telling people that you are a golfer and hopefully a single handicapper!
It is right to say that muscle memory is transient and cannot be saved on hard disk (utak) permanently; but it can be grooved into our swing at the driving range if we are willing to hit enough buckets of balls! Practising on the golf course is an impossibility because our muscle memory is gone by the time we meet another similar situation when we need to execute another similar shot (eg a drive on the tee box or a shot out of the bunker). Usually it is at least 5 to 10 minutes later. It is a no go; has to be done at the driving range where the time interval between shots can be as little as 15 seconds and the muscle memory is still very fresh. You can make one small change at a time until finally you got the result you wanted. Then you continue to hit your buckets of balls until you have grooved your swing. It becomes second nature from now onwards and you no longer need to think about it, any more. It just happens when you pick up your club, every time.
If he had used all his strength no one knows where the ball goes, probably into the bush where the rough will prevent it rolling at all. It could be even worse. The ball may hit a tree and bounce backwards towards the golfer! While he stands at the tee, if a golfer thinks of all these tips given on the sketch, he will become a very confused golfer and will probably miss hitting the ball altogether.
I usually think of not more than 2. (less is more, release). All the other stuff will take care of themselves if we have hit enough balls at the range. The golf swing becomes automatic after hitting 30,000 balls. We call this phenomena, muscle memory. Just hit the ball as usual and let it go wherever it wants to. If not happy with the end result, we adjust one variable at a time until we get it right.
That picture has most of the 65 points to keep an eye on, when you go to the tee box!
When I think of more than 3, I cannot coordinate my movements any more. I become frozen and cannot hit the ball well.
However, when I have more than 1.5 seconds to analyst my own swing fault, having a comprehensive list like this one, can actually help me understand what has gone wrong and slowly working towards a solution.
For example at the driving range. There is time to see the immediate result of the swing and to think about a way to correct the swing fault based on the list you have here. Usually the feel of the swing is a good guide towards a correct solution. Golf is a game that is learned by doing. We must have some swing theory, the correct grip and reasonable equipment. The rest is up to us. No amount of golf lessons from a pro can help unless we are willing to spend the time to practice at the range with buckets of balls.
I find the most interesting moment was when I suddenly discovered one day that I could actually bend the ball deliberately left or right around a tree at the dogleg. That was when I became addicted to the game.
Bending the ball's flight left is quite easy for me when using a mid iron (5,6,7). Somehow, along the way I have lost the ability to bend the ball right. With the long irons the reverse is true. Easy for me to slice with a 3 iron; much harder to draw to the left. It is even more difficult with the driver. When you can hit a deliberate draw shot, bending slightly to the left, with the longest club in the bag, you have arrived and can start telling people that you are a golfer and hopefully a single handicapper!
It is right to say that muscle memory is transient and cannot be saved on hard disk (utak) permanently; but it can be grooved into our swing at the driving range if we are willing to hit enough buckets of balls! Practising on the golf course is an impossibility because our muscle memory is gone by the time we meet another similar situation when we need to execute another similar shot (eg a drive on the tee box or a shot out of the bunker). Usually it is at least 5 to 10 minutes later. It is a no go; has to be done at the driving range where the time interval between shots can be as little as 15 seconds and the muscle memory is still very fresh. You can make one small change at a time until finally you got the result you wanted. Then you continue to hit your buckets of balls until you have grooved your swing. It becomes second nature from now onwards and you no longer need to think about it, any more. It just happens when you pick up your club, every time.
Kelsey goes to confession: "Forgive me fadder fer I have blasphemed."
ReplyDelete"On the golf course, no doubt," says the priest knowingly. Kelsey nods shamefully.
"It was the 12th at Muddlemoor. Hit my drive into the right trees. A squirrel absconded with the ball but as it chased across the fairway a hawk swooped down and snatched 'im." The priest's eyes grow wide as Kelsey continues. "Just over the green, the hawk is set upon by an eagle, looses the squirrel and the ball drops down a foot from the cup." The priest glowers.
"Ya missed the fookin putt, dint ya??"