What's the point in practising the wrong things?

leaney

leaney

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My playing partner has been playing golf now for 4 years. But he still shoots well over 100 most weekends.
Last weekend he shot 125 and today he shot 110.

He actually spends a lot of time practising - he even had the this week off work and he said he had been practising for 4 hours a day - I don't doubt him because I know he practices every chance he gets.

But here's the problem...... He thinks that he can improve by doing it in his own little way.
He stands with his hands miles from ball, so he's stretching right out for the ball. His knees are are really bent, the ball is near his back foot and he insists on taking the biggest divot known to man, on every shot - even if it means hitting it 'fat' and I could go on. (He's had 8 lessons, so I would imagine the pro has given up trying to help him).

I think he's been a bit frustrated lately because I've been shooting in the 80's and I started playing 7 months.

But.... I've been working hard on practising the correct things in the correct way.

He thinks he's right, so there's little point in me trying to help him or make subtle suggestions.

After 4 years of shooting 110+, surely you would realise that you something was wrong?
 
You can take horse to water but cant make it drink it springs to mind.

Sounds like he totally ignored the pro's advice and keeps doing his own thing... seen it a few times
 
I went down that road in the summer of 2008. I was obsessed with grooving a better swin and spen most summer evenings pounding balls. Bit by bit the stuff I'd worked on over the winter and spring with my teacher were gobbled up as more flaws crept in and I'd cure one problem with another. My golf got worse, handicap went up and I spent the autumns and winter sorting it out. Totally missed on playing in the eveningns and it was a real waste.

These days I practice with clear goals in mind. If I'm working on drills post lesson, I limit myself to one basket and really take my time. I rehearse and rehearse and get the feeling, and only hit a few at a time. Once I progress I try and swing without consciously thinking about the changes and trust the work I've done. If it goes wrong then we step back to the drills.

I admire those on here that are self taught and got to a good standard. Golf has never come naturally and I've fought tooth and nail to garnish what I can over the years. Yes I practice hard but I like to think most of the time I practice smart too
 
leaney, Has he ever seen his stance and swing? perhaps you could volunteer to record his swing, from what you say even he should spot some changes are in order.
 
goldenbare said:
leaney, Has he ever seen his stance and swing? perhaps you could volunteer to record his swing, from what you say even he should spot some changes are in order.
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Sometimes its hard for a golfer to accept faults from a mate even with good intentions and with the damming evidence. I know a guy who recorded his long standing partners swing as he was struggling and they had a big fall out as they had conflicting views on what was wrong. If you are going to film it why not ask the pro if he could look at it and suggest he perhaps gets a refresher lesson
 
goldenbare said:
leaney, Has he ever seen his stance and swing? perhaps you could volunteer to record his swing, from what you say even he should spot some changes are in order.
Click to expand...

I bumped into him at the range a few weeks and I recorded his swing for him, with my iphone app. But it didn't make any difference.

Thing is....I guess it's up to him what he does. But surely he knows he won't improve though?

The reason why his golf causes me a problem is not just because I have to look at his self made set up at least 110 times a round.
But every time he duffs a shot, I get a running commentary on where he went wrong and how he just 'worked out' what he needs to do on the next shot (even though he'll bugger his next shot anyway).
All I want to do is play my shot and concentrate on my own game. I don't want to have to listen to why he thinks his way is best.

I know I'm crackers playing with him but I'm not spoilt for choice on playing partners.

Did I also mention that he likes to throw his clubs, speaks on my back swing and also likes to drop and play another ball if he duff his shot (which is nearly all the time).....this also ends up in the same place most of time.

I
 
For the record.....I know I'm not a great golfer and I have no problems playing with people who have higher handicaps than myself.

It's just getting to the point now, where everything added up is becoming too much for me to handle.

I wouldn't mind playing by myself but as we're both members of the same club, it's hard for me to sneak out without him.

I work for the smae copany as the bloke, so I'm trying my best not to offend him.
 
Your mate sounds like 99% of the people here, knows everything about the game, won't change their own swing, will tell everyone else what they're doing wrong, he probably talks a good game too... it's really nothing new. You nailed the answer...

Thing is....I guess it's up to him what he does.
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Relax and enjoy your own game. If it gets to the stage you don't like playing with him then find a new partner, it sounds selfish but you gotta let him worry about his own game whilst you worry about improving/enjoying your own.
 
leaney said:
I bumped into him at the range a few weeks and I recorded his swing for him, with my iphone app. But it didn't make any difference.

Thing is....I guess it's up to him what he does. But surely he knows he won't improve though?

The reason why his golf causes me a problem is not just because I have to look at his self made set up at least 110 times a round.
But every time he duffs a shot, I get a running commentary on where he went wrong and how he just 'worked out' what he needs to do on the next shot (even though he'll bugger his next shot anyway).
All I want to do is play my shot and concentrate on my own game. I don't want to have to listen to why he thinks his way is best.

I know I'm crackers playing with him but I'm not spoilt for choice on playing partners.

Did I also mention that he likes to throw his clubs, speaks on my back swing and also likes to drop and play another ball if he duff his shot (which is nearly all the time).....this also ends up in the same place most of time.

I
Click to expand...

you must be a man of great patience Leaney,
 
Captainron said:
Some peopkle just don't get it. I have spent hours and hours trying to play guitar and I suck at it. Maybe he will just never be a good golfer.
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Dont ever give up the guitar, took me 10 years to get good enough to play live in bands which i did for 10 years more and then bass guitar,

I think there are different types of golfer and i have met several of them

1. The good golfer low hcp but doesnt know the technical side or how to fix a fault that appears and needs the pro to put him back on the rails
2. The crap golfer high hcp who is same as above but refuses to accept his problems or take advice

3. The learning technical golfer ( any hcp ) who understands ball flights, swing paths , club face angles, swing speeds etc etc and can and will progress if he is correct finding his faults and either sees a pro or works on it himself
4. The newcome where there is so much going on he doesnt know his rear end to his elbow !!

It takes all sorts i guess, i would like to say i am the technical golfer where i read, study and absorb as much detail about the golf game that i can find to try and put my faults right.


I have been very average over the 4 / 5 years playing, the first year a total waste of practice and 6 lessons
second year out to in correction to cure the slice, another 6 lessons slow improvement
3rd year another 6 lessons to improve ball striking etc
and by this time i was getting to understand a bit about faults but just couldnt seem to shift them

However i have just downloaded the Perfect Connection Golf swing DVD's and my god this guy makes complete sense for late starters in thire older years about how to swing a club, a basic 3/4 swing style that just seems so more compact an easier to master, more lke Luke Donalds swing i guess

I am now striking the ball better better distance and direction with a 3/4 swing !
 
Last edited:
tell him you've found some great teaching video's on youtube and tell him to do a search for Mark Crosley. They're very good and then leave him to it.
 
Dave B said:
tell him you've found some great teaching video's on youtube and tell him to do a search for Mark Crosley. They're very good and then leave him to it.
Click to expand...

It's funny you mention this!

I gave him the info on this 4 weeks ago! And he says that he has watched Mark Crossley's Youtube clips.

I have the give the fella credit though. Because if I was shooting at least 110 every week, after playing for 4 years - I would have given up ages ago.
 
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