Magazine Golf Tips Rant

[allin]

I have a real problem with magazine golf tips. They tend to be presented as if they apply to everyone. For example the putting tip to move the hands handle and club head together applies to straight back and through putters. If you use a heel shafted, especially blade putter and take the putter inside to square I don't feel this applies, the club head moves a lot farther than the hands. Like him or not guys like Hardy who at least try to define who certain tips apply to are rare. The tips should always have a context for what golfer or swing type they apply to. When I was a new golfer and didn't understand this I feel these tips wasted a lot of time and slowed my progress. Adding to new golfers frustration is the last thing we need. If Mags can't do this then they should stick to features on golfers, tournaments and equipment.

[georgep]

As with just about anything, you have to decide for yourself what's in your best interest. I often come across tips that I disregard entirely, because I know they are a) not going to help me or b) screw me up entirely. I would say that I generally find at least one truly helpful new or refresher tip per issue. But there's some real screwy stuff to avoid as well.

[iacas]

As with just about anything, you have to decide for yourself what's in your best interest. I often come across tips that I disregard entirely, because I know they are a) not going to help me or b) screw me up entirely. I would say that I generally find at least one truly helpful new or refresher tip per issue. But there's some real screwy stuff to avoid as well.

Ditto that.

And the problem I have with the poll is that the last two options aren't mutually exclusive. I chose the last one, but the third applies as well.

[Madriver]

the pro that taught me used to say Golf Magazine tips were his best recruter for new students. He loved em especially when John Daly first became popular on tour. They profiled his swing and within a month he was flush with new students that had tried the "Grip it and Rip it" method....

[allin]

Ditto that.

And the problem I have with the poll is that the last two options aren't mutually exclusive. I chose the last one, but the third applies as well.

I just didn't think about that, if you want to change it fine by me.

[Rezgolf]

one of the main things that I usually do when reading tips in magazines is, try to picture in my mind if the tip is feasable to my game. I cant coil like tiger, I cant putt with a claw grip like dimarco, and I surely cant do the reverse flop like mickelson. One tip I do remember is a foldout of Ernie Els' swing. It is so smooth and (for lack of a better term)....easy. It makes me see what a smooth swing looks like.

[Rafcin]

I do look through swing sequences (like Rezgolf), but stay away from tips and "fixes"... as well as from infomercials

[Madriver]

one of the main things that I usually do when reading tips in magazines is, try to picture in my mind if the tip is feasable to my game. I cant coil like tiger, I cant putt with a claw grip like dimarco, and I surely cant do the reverse flop like mickelson. One tip I do remember is a foldout of Ernie Els' swing. It is so smooth and (for lack of a better term)....easy. It makes me see what a smooth swing looks like.

...for me watching a good swing on tape or TV is a very good thing. Trying to emulate the tempo and one piece takeaway seem to always help my game. This would NOT include J.D or Tiger...Ernie and most of the women really help my swing thoughts.

[Xt1ncT]

For me magazine tips = BAD NEWS.

I've learend (finally) not to take any notice of people in golf shops who don't know my swing, and also magazine tips. I just go to the one guy now, who knows how I swing the club, and what my main fault is - it's pretty much always the same one..!!!

I like to read the articles and to read things that don't involve the full swing. But that's about it for me. Oh and the WITB articles are always good to look at.