by Bob Duncan, creator of the GolfeCoach!
Time to backtrack: Are you willing to play golf with a club that is designed or manufactured to specifications that prevent the good swing you’re trying to make?
It’s time for you to start playing better golf. You don’t have to play badly any more. Not all pros’ clubs are fit properly — even some on tour!
Better golf starts with a golf club you can hit! There is a famous pro on tour whose father said at an early age that as soon as you learn to hit a 2 iron and a driver you’ll be ready. Think of what that pro had to overcome. What if he learned with a club that he could hit rather than one he couldn’t? As a coach and father, there’s no way I would subject my son to this sort of learning. That pro now has a very unorthodox movement BECAUSE he had to learn with a 2-iron and a driver!
There is a significant bottom line: If you’re trying to learn with a golf club you can’t hit, where are you going?
Many beginning golfers (especially spouses!) are given clubs without any fitting and told if they progress and really enjoy the game then they can have better equipment. But if the club is too aggressive for the individual then how can they progress?
A couple of years ago I encountered just such a problem. A young lady had been given ‘ladies’ clubs and told that if she gets better she could have new clubs. She was a very petite lady who couldn’t hit the ball much over 100 yards. I tested the shafts on those clubs and found that they were just as heavy as and stiffer than my own!
We showed her husband the results and he was dumbfounded. After doing a preliminary driver fitting and getting her distance immediately up to about 140, he was convinced. But, we didn’t get her a ‘whole’ set – we only got custom clubs she could use: a 19 degree driver (yes, 19!), a 28 degree hybrid, a 7, 9, and sand wedge. Needless to say, she was thrilled with her newfound performance.
So, do you groove a swing and then find a club, or find a club so you can groove a swing?
Start with a club you can hit and learn from success! The less accomplished you are, the more a proper clubfitting can help. For those with slower swing speeds, there are drivers available with 16- and even 19-degrees of loft available. In fact, there are at least 10 things you can change about golf clubs that will support or detract from your performance.
Unfortunately some ‘clubfittings’ involve just handing you a club and asking you how you hit it. But, that’s why you went for a clubfitting – so you could test different specifications that affect your ball flight with someone who knows how the club should be changed. The real bottom line is if you can’t hit the club they’re recommending then you shouldn’t buy it.
More in the next blog!!!!!
Should this ball go straight? The golf industry thinks so... But it should go to the right.
by Bob Duncan, creator of the GolfeCoach
Have I got your attention? There are some people who are actually preventing you from getting better at golf! And, you won’t believe who it is!!!
Who is it? It’s many members of the golf industry itself! It’s many of the major club manufacturers, ball manufacturers, training aid manufacturers, and even most instructors…Ok, this one’s off the rails — send in the flack — I can handle it. I’m surprised the shirt manufacturers aren’t telling you their shirts will help you hit the ball farther and straighter! Come to think of it, there’s probably a hat manufacturer that is…
But back to the industry — everyone has their solution for you to hit the ball farther and straighter. It’s in your swing. It’s in this new driver. It’s in this swing jacket. It’s in this video. Sure, just ask Kevin Costner in Tin Cup!
And you know the promises don’t live up to the hype, yet many people buy the marketing claims over the truth…
The truth is that by selling you on the premise that every shot should be solid and go straight — which we KNOW both will not and should not happen - YOU ARE PREVENTED FROM GETTING BETTER AT GOLF!
The truth is that because your ball rarely lies on a perfect lie, it will rarely go straight! Don’t believe me? When was the last time you hit even 75% of your shots straight? Yesterday, you say? Well, yeah, maybe, but that was on the practice range…
It’s not that you can’t hit the ball straight. Not being properly fit for clubs is often the biggest reason why you can’t in the first place. How many manufacturers actually place a warranty on the fit of your clubs? (One.)
The real deal is that you’re not being told when the ball will not go straight! By getting you to believe in the false premise that every ball should and will go straight they’re getting you to try to make every shot go straight!
Even to the point of trying to teach you how to make a ball go straight from a lie that simply will not allow it!
This creates a blind reliance on performance that cannot be successful. For example, rules are made so we don’t have to think, so we just try to do the same thing over and over. Keep your head down. Keep your left arm straight. Stay behind the ball. Extend through the ball. Roll your wrists. It comes from everywhere. But this is where repetitive-motion injuries come from, and the most serious repetitive motion injury is either to your score or to your psyche.
I love the story of the beavers building a dam from the book, Gung Ho, by Ken Blanchard and Sheldon Bowles. Beavers all have a goal, but none of them are doing exactly the same thing in exactly the same sequence with exactly the same ability in exactly the same amount of time. Looks like chaos. But, dam if they don’t get a dam built!
In golf, the industry premise of reliance solely on the model swing creates frustrated robots (robots with feelings?) instead of beavers, continuously searching for the one correct adjustment to apply to every situation. It didn’t work for the robot rover “Spirit” on Mars, and it’s not going to work for you.
You’re better off learning how to play the game of golf.
Here’s a good place for that: The GolfeCoach
I’m not going to lie to you. When you get on the golf course the chances that your next golf shot going straight are very slim. Here are the top 10 reasons why it will be crooked:
1) You didn’t warm up enough. (Nope, sorry, 25 range balls isn’t enough)
2) Your driver doesn’t fit properly. (What? The computer said it was the best? Yes, but did they correct your swing first? The driver should fit an on-balance swing with good body rotation — not what’s happening in #3…).
3) You kept your head down and your left arm straight. (You did, didn’t you? Best way to slice the ball! Of course, you were trying to keep your head down and your left arm straight…)
4) Your ball was teed up too low for your driver. (Creates a downward angle of attack that puts too much backspin and side spin on the ball — if it’s on the way down it probably won’t ’square-up”.
5) Your ball was on a sidehill lie. (Who said your next shot was from the tee? And since the golf course is not flat, when should the ball go straight?)
6) Your ball was on a flat lie, but there was no grass ‘fluffing’ it up. (This is a tight lie — what you often get in the fairway. Very hard to hit solid as contact will be below the center of the face. Hit down you say, to make it go up? Will most likely go to the right, just as in #4. And anyway, how’s that hitting down on a tight lie working for ya? (see, no pulling any punches here))
7) Your ball was in thick rough. (Did it go to the left? And short? I thought so. Hit it fat, didn’t ya?)
8) You tried to hit a solid and straight shot from a fairway bunker. (What were you THINKING? Well, if you took too much sand, maybe it went straight.)
9) Your swing plane was too upright or too flat. (Here’s a secret: One of these produces a hook and one a slice. But which is it?)
10) The sun was in your eyes, the wind was blowing, your foot slipped, you didn’t complete your backswing, you didn’t complete your follow through, you were off balance, you didn’t keep your head still, you didn’t extend enough, you didn’t pronate (huh?), you didn’t stay behind the ball, you didn’t get your weight to your left side, you didn’t swing down the line, you didn’t keep your right elbow in, you didn’t use your dominant eye, you didn’t roll your wrists, you didn’t have the clubface square at address, and your ball position was too far back. Or forward.
Oh, sorry, that was more than 10.
So when WILL the ball go straight? Probably when you least expect it to.
Check out my videos at the GolfeCoach Channel
As a friend of mine once told me, I am willing to be brutally honest and tell you things about your golf game that few other pros are willing to discuss.
Like whether your clubs fit you or not.
Like that your best golf swing will not carry you all the way around the golf course.
Like that often your unpredictable performance is because you made a good golf swing, when you should have altered it.
Like that everyone has a different model golf swing!
Like to get better you have to get beyond conventional instruction!
Like that to play better golf there is instruction beyond the golf swing!
For 10 years I was writing a manuscript for a book with all the ‘unconventional’ things that I teach. But, I couldn’t really sell it in that manuscript form, so I changed it and made it ‘unconventional’.
…So, here’s an unconventional statement:
Golf produces unconventional shots, but they are predictable!
Believe it! Curves are part of the game. If hitting the ball dead straight was the way the game was played, we would build indoor golf courses that were flat!
You can’t use straight line thinking in a 3-dimensional world. For example, when the ball is on a bare lie with no grass, how often does it go to the right? How hard is it to hit it solid and straight? Conventional golf says to change your swing to hit it straight, but blame your swing when it doesn’t go straight.
What’s the alternative? If from this position it is too hard to hit it straight, then don’t! If the ball goes to the right 80% of the time, then why try to do what you can only do 20% of the time?
…Here’s another unconventional statement:
Attitude Creates Performance!
Don’t believe it? Then why do so many people tell kids they need a better attitude? Having a positive attitude means having a ‘Beginner’s Mind’, so positive that you are open to new and different ways of doing something.
But, who does that? Golfers are so busy trying to define and apply the perfect swing that they can’t see beyond it, and place blame on an inability to do it. It’s too easy to think this way, and too hard to perform this way. Instead…
Being positive opens the door to possibility, making success a probability.
You may have heard the story about Thomas Edison who tried and failed 2000 times to produce light from electricity before finding success. The positive aspect is that he was successful in finding 2000 ways in which it didn’t work.
No one can hit the ball straight all the way around a golf course that isn’t flat. And, perhaps, no one can hit the ball straight all the way around a golf course that is flat — don’t know, as I’ve never played on one.
For more unconventional but effective ways to play golf — and play golf your way — get yourself a copy of the GolfeCoach!
Golf revelations for which I am thankful, and the lesson learned:
1) I was first fit for clubs in 1991, and it changed my career. I had 5 different companies in my bag in the 10 years of the 80’s, and I had bought into the idea of quality over function. Lesson: get past the belief system to what actually works.
2) The shorter your swing is, the less you should shift your weight. Balance point is a critical element in short shots. Lesson: where your balance is, is where you’ll contact the ground.
3) The ball will not, and should not, always go straight. The worse the lie is the more influence it has on impact and flight. Lesson: Often the problem is not the golf swing!
4) Don’t risk leaving flop shots, and recognize when the ball is in the wrong place. Lesson: As important as where you can hit it to is where you can miss it to and still play! If faced with a flop shot I know the problem is the shot that got me there…
5) Don’t worry about your swing as much as what to do with your swing. When are you ever on a lie like on the range? Lesson: Learn to play the game instead of relying solely on your ability to make a perfect swing.
6) Recognize that conventional instruction leads to conventional results. Lesson: Go beyond the golf swing and get effective instruction.
7) Recognize that attitude creates performance, and not the other way around. Energy flows where attention goes, so don’t give in to the negative. Lesson: The execution isn’t at fault — it’s the information you put in that is responsible. If you’re not getting the results you want, open your mind and try the opposite of what you’re doing. At least you’ll have both sides of performance. Then find the middle ground!
8) The Game of Golf teaches Mental Character, which is more important than physical skills. Lesson: It’s not that you’re going to hit bad shots, because you will — it’s about enjoying and responding to the challenge.
9) The most important element in Character Development is environment. The Game of Golf provides an environment of challenge with elements of success, failure, and luck. The Rules of Golf are written to make the game fair, with an emphasis on honesty and integrity. Golf is the only sport in which players are taught to call a ‘foul’ on themselves, and they are solely responsible for their own adherence to the rules. Associating with people who observe and practice this type of character will help to develop the character traits we all value.
10) Lesson? This Thanksgiving I am thankful for all of the people who have shaped my character and helped me to develop an effective and successful program to teach, coach, and mentor players in the Game of Golf.
Help! I’m being bombarded by SIMPLE GOLF TIPS!
They’re coming at me from every direction, and trust me, after 48 years of golf I’ve tested them all!
By now you know I’m a CONTRARIAN. If it doesn’t work, I threw it away years ago. Playing golf is not about “the one simple tip that will add 40 yards to your drives — and you’ll hit it straighter than ever before!”
If you’re reading this blog, I’m sure you’re not falling for these (or you soon won’t be!). Seriously, gimme a break!
Golf is like any game — deceptively easy while at the same time marvelously complex. Hit the ball, find it, and hit it again. Get it in that 4 1/4″ hole in as few shots as you can.
Of course, if you’ve heard Robin Williams’ piece on the Scots inventing golf you’d have to agree with him that it’s a … … crazy thing to invent. Your game is affected by the lie of the ball, the wind, the landing area, the rain, and most importantly, your perception of what you should do next.
It’s like playing Monopoly outdoors on a board that constantly changes. You are the little game piece that gets to run around the board. If you only worry about throwing the dice one way and moving your piece, you’re gonna forget about buying a property — and you’re not playing Monopoly!
Think about those board games you played when you were a kid — didn’t you wish there was a full-sized Candyland?
Well, the golf course is exactly that. A pop-up, full-sized board game and you’re the game piece. What an interesting perspective…and you know what? Every night they take the board and fold it up. Until dawn……
So forget the simple tips - they’re not all they’re cracked up to be. And go out tomorrow and PLAY THE GAME!
It’s more fun that way.
In my last 2 blogs I slammed conventional instruction. Yep, whacked a few of those big guys.
It’s amazing how many theories there are vs. practical and effective instruction. If any of these teachers actually took the time to put their theories to the test, they would change them!
Yet, you put those theories to the test every time you play. Major Reality Check: How’s that working for you?
If hitting the ball straight is the measure of success and moderately do-able on the range, why is it so hard to achieve on the course?
Let me let you in on a little secret (ssshhhhh — don’t tell anyone): the golf course is not flat!
And we’re not talking about when it bounces or rolls off line here. If the ball is not on a flat, perfect lie, then it’s not supposed to go dead straight!
Here’s another secret (ssshhhh): Your ability to hit it straight is not completely within your power, no matter what the pro says. Your ability to hit it straight is in inverse proportion to the quality of the lie of the ball.
In other words, the worse the lie gets, the more it should not go straight!
It’s like a baseball player making a perfect swing at an imperfect pitch — what’s he going to get? Doesn’t he have to do something different with his swing to hit a ball that isn’t in his wheelhouse? Of course he does. Shouldn’t he get something different with each pitch? Of course he should.
And so should you.
What if he put the ball on a waist-high tee — would he hit more home runs? Of course he would.
And so would you.
What if the pitcher told him what pitch he was going to throw? Would he be a better hitter? Of course he would.
And that means your golf game should be better than it is, since the ball is talking to you……
Just ask Danny Noonan.
Find out what you’re missing in the game of golf with the GolfeCoach! www.golfecoach.com
What should you do when the ball lies on a slope BELOW your feet? Here’s what conventional instruction suggests — I Googled these on the internet, and some from a VERY FAMOUS teacher:
1) Bend your knees and bend way over at address. (Incorrect, as this makes the shaft more horizontal and the sole of the club doesn’t match the hillside. In fact, the more horizontal the shaft is, the more heel-down the clubhead is, and the more LEFT the ball should go. Why would anyone advise this? For those of you who are left-handers it should go to the left…)
2) Rotate the club back to square, but the shot will curve right (HUH? Why try to rotate the club back to square — if you did so, shouldn’t a square position hit the ball straight? Yet, you’re expecting the ball to go to the right? I repeat: HUH? )
3) Lower your body and maintain posture (Incorrect, as this lowers the heel of the club into the hill. The more you lower your hands, the more left the ball goes — but it’s supposed to go to the right….right?)
4) Sit back on your heels and stay there (Dunno — there’s an awful lot of knee bending in all of these putting the heel more down…and the ball more left)
5) Make a normal swing (Don’t be ridiculous! “That’s what I’ve been doing and it isn’t working!” The ball is in a different place — aren’t I supposed to make some changes? This is more unpredictable - the ball is supposed to go to the right)
6) The toe hits first and opens the face (Not in any of the above where the shaft is more horizontal — the heel would hit first. Try putting your hands in a position where the toe would hit first here. It’s pretty hard to get your wrists in this position, wouldn’t you agree?) So what should you do?
Stick with me here: Pretty much the opposite of these. I’m sure I’ll get some flack for this, but don’t knock it until you try it (more than once): MAKE THE BALL GO RIGHT BY PUTTING YOUR WEIGHT ON THE BALLS OF YOUR FEET, LESS KNEE FLEX, AND SWING MORE UPRIGHT. If you whiff or skull it, you’re too far from it.
There’s more to it, but don’t do anything that would send it to the left when you’re expecting it to go to the right! Like setting up with the heel down and the toe up off the ground…
Remember the premise? That the ball should go RIGHT… Then why would you do things that could send it to the LEFT? Better golf is about predictability, not about a perfect swing that hits the ball solid and straight.
For more, check out the GolfeCoach! And don’t give me that “But that article in the magazine said…” thing. It’s about predictability and what actually happens…
Unconventional? Absolutely!
What should you do when the ball lies on a slope above your feet? Here’s what conventional instruction suggests — I Googled these on the internet:
1) Choke up (Incorrect, as this makes the shaft more vertical and the sole of the club doesn’t match the hillside. In fact, the more vertical the shaft is, the more right the ball should go. Why would anyone advise this?)
2) Use more club (Incorrect, as a ball above your feet will hook and go farther — unless it is severely above your feet)
3) Put your weight on the balls of your feet (Incorrect, as this leans you into the hill, making it more likely you’ll swing into the hill hitting it fat)
4) Maintain your balance (Incorrect — of course, this sounds counter-intuitive, or as my friend says — “Oxymoronic” (probably not a word, but it should be, don’t you agree?))
5) Try to hit it straight (Don’t be ridiculous! This is more unpredictable - this ball is supposed to go to the left — for those of you who are left-handers it should go to the right)
So what should you do? Stick with me here: Pretty much the opposite of these. I’m sure I’ll get some flack for this, but don’t knock it until you try it (more than once):
MAKE THE BALL GO LEFT BY PUTTING YOUR WEIGHT ON YOUR HEELS AND SWING FLATTER.
Remember the premise? That the ball should go left… Then why would you do things that could send it to the right? Better golf is about predictability, not about a perfect swing that hits the ball solid and straight. For more, check out the GolfeCoach .
And don’t give me that “But Tiger…” thing. He changes his swing for given shots more than anybody! Besides, lately he needs an attitude adjustment…but that’s another story.
Play the Game. Get past the golf swing.
If you play golf you have a golf swing.
Maybe you’ve been fitted for clubs, maybe you haven’t.
Are you still trying to hit the ball solid and straight all the way around the golf course? Here’s something you won’t hear from other pros: It’s not going to happen!
If equipment is better, and technology and instruction are better, then why haven’t scores improved? Golf instruction has evolved — rather, disintegrated — into relying solely on the perfect golf swing and faults and fixes. This is the sole reason why scores haven’t improved over the years. If making the golf swing better isn’t the answer, then what is?
If the ball is lying on a side-slope it should go in the direction of the slope. Above your feet should hook or pull, below your feet should slice or push. Why? Because — at impact — the shaft is in a different swing plane and the clubface is no longer facing the target.
Try this: Hold up a 7-iron in front of you and place a tee against the face pointing directly at your nose. Now, tilt the clubface to the right or left. What does the tee do? It begins to point to the right or left.
So if you’re not on level ground, why would the ball go straight? And how often are you on level ground on the golf course?
Playing the Game means helping the ball go in these directions and not fighting it. So, how important is it to focus on hitting the ball straight? And why blame your swing when it’s not?
For more coaching and information, try the GolfeCoach at www.golfecoach.com.