Let’s Get Back To Basics
Golfers everywhere are always looking for it. “The secret!” That one thing that will cure all of their woes and make them the next Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, or for older generations, Jack Nicklaus. But what is that secret? If it’s been found, learned and taught, why aren’t there numerous articles and books about the topic? Why isn’t the Golf Channel airing a show over and over dedicated to this Loch Ness, or UFO of golf?
You aren’t able to find anything because, I’m sorry to say it doesn’t exist. Just like other creatures of mythology, few claim to have experienced or learned the secret that makes their golf swing the greatest ever. But the claims have all gone unproven. You would think that in this modern era of technology, launch monitors, slow motion video that Nobel Prize winner turned golf savant would be able to unlock the mysteries of the golf universe.
Now, let me explain this to you. As a PGA Golf Professional, I do feel that I am somewhat of an expert on the game of golf and specifically the golf swing. I am always learning more, but I do know my far share, and proudly and humbly share my knowledge with my clients, playing partners, or anyone who wants to listen to me ramble on about the golf swing.
I would like to share with you, not “The Secret”, but rather some pearls of wisdom that will help simplify the game and improve your score. Too many players can get caught up with the abundance of information that is available to them. Face it, you as a golfer are exposed to endless tidbits of advice, drills, swing thoughts, reference, everywhere you look. But what a golfer needs to focus on more that any other thing are the basics of grip, alignment, and set-up…G.A.P!
The grip is the most important aspect of the golf swing to focus on. It is your connection to the golf club, and how you place your hands on the club can make returning the clubface squarely back to the ball either rather simple, or very complicated. To learn the proper way to hold you golf club, take a look at this instruction video.
Alignment. What more can be said on the importance of aim than the fact that you can make the most perfect, textbook swing, but if you are not properly aimed at your target. This is the one thing that you will see tour players, and elite golfers always working on when they are on the practice tee. Having something down, a golf club or alignment rod, on the ground aimed at their target, allowing them to reinforce the correct alignment toward their target. Using an alignment aid will allow you to not only work on getting your feet, hips, and shoulders set parallel to the target line before you swing, but will also allow you mind to learn what the visual perception looks like when you are properly aimed. As a test, get set up towards a target as you are ready to swing the club. But before hitting the ball, take your club and lay it down in front of your feet so that it is touching your toes on both feet. Take a few steps back and see how far left or right you are actually aligned. Now that that same club and just spin it a little left or right so that it is “actually” aimed at your target and step back into the shot. Now look at the target and see how different it looks to you. That is the visual perception that you need to start learning.
And finally, let’s talk about the set-up position. Golf is a sport, and you are an athlete for playing it. As in any other sport, we need to get into a good athletic position to hit the ball. Feet shoulder width apart, or slightly wider, a little bit of knee flex, and a bend at the hips. The other key to this, is the fact that you want to have your arms relaxed and hanging almost straight down to the grip of the club. This is where most weekend warriors error, they start reaching for the ball, feeling as though they will have more power and hit longer shots. Truth be told, you are much less likely to make solid contact from that position, resulting in even shorter shots. Additionally, you have the clubhead traveling down your intended target line for a shorter amount of time when you are reaching for the ball, causing you to start the ball off line more often than not.
Now, with all of that said, get out there and work on your fundamentals. You can never make them good enough, and your golf game will thank you for the effort!