coolhand
Head Pro
If anyone wants a copy of the book just let me know and I'll send you my copy (good book but not for me), just make an appropriate donation to the H4H Meet site.
kid2
Money List Winner
JustOne
Ryder Cup Winner
I agree with the term 'keep it simple' definitely... but realistically that term doesn't work, if it did then people wouldn't overswing or drag the club waaay inside on the backswing. We'd all be knocking it down the middle with nice simple swings..... but hang on... that would mean all of our swings would have to look good (well they would if we weren't overswinging or dragging the club behind us).... now that would be something. If they all have to look good then there must be a basic swing model that all these good looking swings have to adhere to. Interesting.
Foxholer
Blackballed
This strikes me as a pretty good approach, though there are a couple of questions....
Why did you go to the range? Do you rate a range session;s success - if so, how? If you hit a poor shot, do (and how do) you adjust? This last question is also relevant on the course. I'm pretty sure there would be a wide range of answers that probably reflect the different attitudes to how technical any swing related knowledge should/needs to be. And, imo, several of the answers - especially from the low guys - will be affected as much by experience of what has worked, for them, in the past as any 'best practice' method imposed or suggested.
So I agree, it's whatever floats your boat Personally, I'm a bit towards the techie stuff at the range, but (try to) let the swing happen on the course.
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NWJocko
Tour Winner
I went to the range as the weather was too bad to go on the course, and I intend to go a little more regularly (new one opened just down the road from my house).
Not sure how to judge te success or otherwise as I really don't go very often until now. Was hitting the ball nicely though if that counts?
On the course when I hit a bad one I know how that swing felt so try not to repeat that and swing normally to hit the next one, not always successful!
I'm neither talented or suggesting that any approach is better. I quite often read that understanding the ball flight laws are essential to fixing any issues on the course. At a very high level id agree but not to the level of depth some on here would suggest.
Foxholer
Blackballed
Ok. How do you know you were hitting it well? No need to answer..just challenging the concept of not measuring success.
I don't believe understanding ball flight laws is essential either. I believe it can help (most) though - if used appropriately! It's also a good basis for a teacher to indicate why they are trying to get a student to do something.
A classic high handicapper situation is the one hit down the middle that fades/sleces enough to warrant a correction, By the 4th or 5th tee, he's aiming it into the trees just in front of the Ladies tee and still carving it into the right rough! For the low guy, it resolves the cause of the Draw that was simply a Push, with less likelihood of turning it into a hook!
Robobum
Money List Winner
I'm still embarrassed about that issue mate.
I should have spotted that you were wearing shorts!!
ScienceBoy
Money List Winner
Sometimes that is part of the fun! Always striving to be better, always working to improve.
I sit firmly between both camps here, there is too much detail and there are things you need to know to diagnose a shot. Most golfers should learn the basic skills of knowing how to fix the shot shape they see after hitting a ball. If it starts right and goes left or starts left and stays left etc
Once you can fix yourself a little, have a few drills to work on at the range and learn a bit of course management you can play golf for fun with ease.
If you just wish to stand up to a ball, whack it then repeat... stick to playing golf down the range! It will be much more fun for all!
kid2
Money List Winner
I'm still embarrassed about that issue mate.
I should have spotted that you were wearing shorts!!
It was more JO's comment that had me a little nervous......:rofl:
Mmm, really should resist........ I really do try and stay out of these's threads, and especially those in the Ask The Experts section.
My version of keep it simple; if you take a neutral stance and grip, and are given a 7 iron and told to hit the ball 30yds you'll soon master it. Having mastered the 30yd shot, you're now told to hit it 60yds... not difficult, and with what you learned with the 30yd shot you just extend it up to 60yds. 120yds will give you a 3/4 swing but you're starting to get to your limits for the 7 iron...
Shock, horror! Swap the 7 iron for a 6 iron and the 120yd shot is suddenly easier, AND you can dial the distance up to 140yds quite easily. But, again, as you approach the limit for that club the results tail off. Change to a 5 iron and you're knocking it out towards 170yds without too much pain ---- I think you've probably got the hang of what I'm trying to 'promote.'
The above will give you a relatively safe way of navigating around a course. But when you add a slightly closed stance with a relatively strong grip, aiming for a draw, you've added some performance enhancing features but they come with the danger of missing right or turning it over. Get it right and it makes a positive difference, but get it wrong and it comes at a cost.
If you want to know if a tick tock, easy swing works get yourself down to the club midweek and watch an experienced 70yr old knock his 3 wood 170yds down the middle, his 5 wood 140yds to on or near the green then chip on and putt.
Now for something a little more complex. Learn to hit it badly - comes natural to some of us. Take your normal stance but a really strong grip. Hit half a doz balls to see what the result is. Then do the same with a really weak grip, and watch the results. You gain two things from this, 1) you learn what 'wrong' feels like, and 2) the next time you've got a tree in the way you now know how to bend it like Beckham. Also, you now know that between those two 'bad' feels there is a 'good' feel that gives good results.
Having mastered the keep it simple stuff you now have the feel for what gets it out there a reasonable distance and reasonably safely. Now you can start to learn things like laying it off at the top for that gentle fade that lands softly on the green, instead of the gentle draw that lands just a little bit 'hot' and runs on a little bit. Seriously, the innate learning ability you've had since you were go-go gag-ga'ing of experimenting and copying can give you what you want providing you trust your natural instincts. The more 'plastic' your learning becomes, the longer it takes to become successful - not saying you won't achieve it but...
The game is simple, if you learn the simple things well. These are the building blocks you need before you start trying to move the ball around.
My version of keep it simple; if you take a neutral stance and grip, and are given a 7 iron and told to hit the ball 30yds you'll soon master it. Having mastered the 30yd shot, you're now told to hit it 60yds... not difficult, and with what you learned with the 30yd shot you just extend it up to 60yds. 120yds will give you a 3/4 swing but you're starting to get to your limits for the 7 iron...
Shock, horror! Swap the 7 iron for a 6 iron and the 120yd shot is suddenly easier, AND you can dial the distance up to 140yds quite easily. But, again, as you approach the limit for that club the results tail off. Change to a 5 iron and you're knocking it out towards 170yds without too much pain ---- I think you've probably got the hang of what I'm trying to 'promote.'
The above will give you a relatively safe way of navigating around a course. But when you add a slightly closed stance with a relatively strong grip, aiming for a draw, you've added some performance enhancing features but they come with the danger of missing right or turning it over. Get it right and it makes a positive difference, but get it wrong and it comes at a cost.
If you want to know if a tick tock, easy swing works get yourself down to the club midweek and watch an experienced 70yr old knock his 3 wood 170yds down the middle, his 5 wood 140yds to on or near the green then chip on and putt.
Now for something a little more complex. Learn to hit it badly - comes natural to some of us. Take your normal stance but a really strong grip. Hit half a doz balls to see what the result is. Then do the same with a really weak grip, and watch the results. You gain two things from this, 1) you learn what 'wrong' feels like, and 2) the next time you've got a tree in the way you now know how to bend it like Beckham. Also, you now know that between those two 'bad' feels there is a 'good' feel that gives good results.
Having mastered the keep it simple stuff you now have the feel for what gets it out there a reasonable distance and reasonably safely. Now you can start to learn things like laying it off at the top for that gentle fade that lands softly on the green, instead of the gentle draw that lands just a little bit 'hot' and runs on a little bit. Seriously, the innate learning ability you've had since you were go-go gag-ga'ing of experimenting and copying can give you what you want providing you trust your natural instincts. The more 'plastic' your learning becomes, the longer it takes to become successful - not saying you won't achieve it but...
The game is simple, if you learn the simple things well. These are the building blocks you need before you start trying to move the ball around.
JustOne
Ryder Cup Winner
Nice post hairy feet... I mean Hobbit
Do you think we're too obsessed with swinging the club well, and hitting it too far, rather than SCORING?
Robobum
Money List Winner
two-clubs
Assistant Pro
D
Deleted Member 1156
Guest
Nice post hairy feet... I mean Hobbit
Do you think we're too obsessed with swinging the club well, and hitting it too far, rather than SCORING?
That is exactly what I think. People only require a couple of basic, simple moves/positions/thoughts to hit decent shots. As long as they learn to repeat them they can get the ball from tee to green in a low number of shots.
One Planer
Global Moderator
I'm one of the folk on here who like to talk technical 
I'm of the opinon that if I have a basic understanding of what action causes what effect, if I'm constantly hitting a bad shot, I know roughly where to look to fix it so my ound isn't completey ruined.
I'm of the opinion that simplicity is the best option, but on the other hand knowledge is power
I'm of the opinon that if I have a basic understanding of what action causes what effect, if I'm constantly hitting a bad shot, I know roughly where to look to fix it so my ound isn't completey ruined.
I'm of the opinion that simplicity is the best option, but on the other hand knowledge is power
JustOne
Ryder Cup Winner
So what is it that causes people to swing like their arms are gonna come out of their sockets? wrap the club around their neck like John Daly and smash the club into the ground 6" behind the ball?
One Planer
Global Moderator
I'm one of the folk on here who like to talk technical
I'm of the opinon that if I have a basic understanding of what action causes what effect, if I'm constantly hitting a bad shot, I know roughly where to look to fix it so my ound isn't completey ruined.
I'm of the opinion that simplicity is the best option, but on the other hand knowledge is power
I'm of the opinon that if I have a basic understanding of what action causes what effect, if I'm constantly hitting a bad shot, I know roughly where to look to fix it so my ound isn't completey ruined.
I'm of the opinion that simplicity is the best option, but on the other hand knowledge is power
D
Deleted Member 1156
Guest
Maybe people seek to understand the technical aspects of the golf swing because they think it makes them a "better" player? Maybe we should just address the ball, ensure we have the basics right then swing the club back and through without thinking about it too much? Just like Robobum does, a guy who plays to a standard that the majority of us can only dream of.
Whatever method you choose, good luck. I think this thread has run it's course now.
Whatever method you choose, good luck. I think this thread has run it's course now.
Slime
Tour Winner
It's their testicles!
They want everyone to know how big their testicles are and believe they can do this by hitting the ball mahoosive distances.
I think the male ego has a lot to answer for here. The harder/further they hit the ball, the more 'manly' they think they are and we all know that the swing can easily go to pot when we overdo it. The human body is easier to control when using it well within it's limits ............ so why do so many of us try to push the boundaries just that little bit further by swinging that little bit faster and that little bit longer?
Nudging a 7 iron 140yds is easier to learn than smashing a 9 iron 140yds, but most of us still go for a hard nine rather than a soft seven.
Just my opinion .............. I wanted to share it.
Slime.
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