How important are swing mechanics to you?

[Deleted Member 1156]

Just reading some of the threads in the Ask the Experts section. Made me consider, how important is all the technical stuff to you?

If you post any comments, it would be interesting if you also state your handicap as i would like to see if there is any correlation between technical awareness and playing ability.

 

[Birchy]

About as important as car mechanics. If I turn the key and it goes im not bothered :thup:

 

[JustOne]

Just reading some of the threads in the Ask the Experts section. Made me consider, how important is all the technical stuff to you?

Very.

Most swings you're likely to see day-in day-out are RUBBISH and the player could score lower if they had a better one. :thup:



Mine is also rubbish.

 

[duncan mackie]

About as important as car mechanics. If I turn the key and it goes im not bothered :thup:

perfect analogy

I think the likely issue in the thread is separating out the improving/changing golfer from the steady state implied in your answer.

I've not voted as there isn't a choice for 'I like to understand them thoroughly to understand what's going wrong and how to resolve it but if I can play 18 holes without once considering any aspect of swing mechanics then that's fantastic!'

 

[HomerJSimpson]

My swing can be described as quirky at best but as long as it repeats more often than not I'm happy. I have a decent idea of how it works these days but I don't analyse it in detail (well not anymore)

 

[JustOne]

About as important as car mechanics. If I turn the key and it goes im not bothered :thup:

How about if it starts but it only does 40mph instead of the 70mph you want

 

[Birchy]

How about if it starts but it only does 40mph instead of the 70mph you want

I understand it enough to troubleshoot on the go as ive had enough problems in the past lol.

I wouldn't say I spend a lot of time trying to understand them or to make mine textbook though.

I prefer to have minimal thoughts about mechanics etc when playing golf. I know enough to keep my swing going and im happy with that.

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

Very.

Most swings you're likely to see day-in day-out are RUBBISH and the player could score lower if they had a better one. :thup:

Very true James, wouldn't argue with you about that.

But my view is that the swing is basically a very simple back and through motion. It's possible to have a better swing without getting technical. I don't know what thoughts go through his head but if you look at Woosnam's swing as an example, it is ridiculousy easy looking. Just back...and through.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-rv1jorxY8

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

perfect analogy

I think the likely issue in the thread is separating out the improving/changing golfer from the steady state implied in your answer.

I've not voted as there isn't a choice for 'I like to understand them thoroughly to understand what's going wrong and how to resolve it but if I can play 18 holes without once considering any aspect of swing mechanics then that's fantastic!'

I think the 'Fairly' option should cover your viewpoint :thup:

 

[JustOne]

Very true James, wouldn't argue with you about that.

But my view is that the swing is basically a very simple back and through motion. It's possible to have a better swing without getting technical. I don't know what thoughts go through his head but if you look at Woosnam's swing as an example, it is ridiculousy easy looking. Just back...and through.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-rv1jorxY8

It says on that vid you posted "He gets his elbow in front of his hip nicely"..... what if he didn't?

You need to know mechanics to be able to fix swings for people who DON'T get their elbow in front of their hip nicely :thup:

Well YOU don't need to know.... but some of us want to.

 

[CMAC]

I like the swing mechanics, I know basics and some slightly more technical aspects but the swing is a simple and natural motion so when it gets uber technical I switch off.

I also want to know about it because I'm interested and it helps me self diagnose as I constantly want to improve.

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

It says on that vid you posted "He gets his elbow in front of his hip nicely"

The guy who made the video put that in, not Woosie.

But like I said, I have no idea what thoughts go through his head but it certainly looks like simple ones.

Personally, I don't like to get bogged down, I have 2 thoughts. Left shoulder under my chin at the top of the backswing then look at the ball through impact on the way down.

#2thoughtsareplenty

 

[JustOne]

Personally, I don't like to get bogged down, I have 2 thoughts. Left shoulder under my chin at the top of the backswing then look at the ball through impact on the way down.

#2thoughtsareplenty

You play off about 4 or 5 h/cap? Out of interest.... Why don't you play off scratch?

Could it be that your swing isn't good enough to play off scratch?

 

[Birchy]

You play off about 4 or 5 h/cap? Out of interest.... Why don't you play off scratch?

Could it be that your swing isn't good enough?

Its not always the best swing mechanics = best golfer.

 

[JustOne]

Its not always the best swing mechanics = best golfer.

Depends how you define mechanics, if returning the club to the required position at impact is 'mechanics' then I'd disagree with you. if however you are looking at the entire swing and perhaps defining something that is perceived 'ugly' as mechanics, then I'd agree with you. Impact is all that counts... and that IS mechanics.

Furyk has an ungainly swing, when it works he's brilliant... when it doesn't he misses the cut. That's golf.

When it's not working he has to fix it... that's mechanics.

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

You play off about 4 or 5 h/cap? Out of interest.... Why don't you play off scratch?

Could it be that your swing isn't good enough to play off scratch?

I don't play off scratch for several reasons.......

1) Yes, my swing isn't good enough
2) Yes it could be better
3) I play about once a fortnight so I think I do pretty well to maintain my handicap at this level
4) Have you seen my short game?
5) I have neither the time nor inclination to work hard enough to get down to that level and TBH, as I'm mid 50's it ain't gonna happen now.

 

[JustOne]

I don't play off scratch for several reasons.......

1) Yes, my swing isn't good enough
2) Yes it could be better
3) I play about once a fortnight so I think I do pretty well to maintain my handicap at this level
4) Have you seen my short game?
5) I have neither the time nor inclination to work hard enough to get down to that level and TBH, as I'm mid 50's it ain't gonna happen now.

All good answers. :thup: I can't be arsed to practice (or play very much) any more. I won't get to scratch because the mechanics of my swing are crap BUT the mechanics are good enough to play to a level that I'm more or less happy with. The majority of golfers however AREN'T happy, and to that end they need to improve their mechanics.... although judging by most threads on this place a new set of clubs or a different ball will likely improve their scores, sod fixing the swing!!

nb: I have taken my glove off to type this reply... now where's that 'zone'? :rofl:

 

[Spear-Chucker]

Not at all important to me during play but think about specific mechanics lots during practice. I know enough about my game to diagnose the major errors but prefer to stand over the ball and just hit the shot I imagine. I got the basics early on and just took it from there. I guess I benefit from years of grooving a reasonably reliable action but my technical knowledge from what I can glean from reading is pretty poor. I do know that the more mechanics I think about the worse I play.

 

[JustOne]

I guess I benefit from years of grooving a reasonably reliable action but my technical knowledge from what I can glean from reading is pretty poor. I do know that the more mechanics I think about the worse I play.

You need to hit a lowish hook into a green after a poor drive, what do you do to make that happen?

 

[Deleted member 1147]

To me it's important in so much as I want to do it pretty well, and when things are going south I'd like to be able to analyse why, during the round, and correct it.
I'm off a shaky 5 at the moment. It should be better and when I have a lesson to fix the odd fault they are generally only small faults, but they are faults and I would be better if I got rid of them.
In fact some of my faults are ones I'm fully aware of, I just struggle to undo them when on the course.