Troubleshooting Guide

[tm22721]

For anything mechanical there is usually a troubleshooting guide at the end of the manual.

Would the low handicappers be willing to distill their considerable expertise into such a compendium for the rest of us ? I know that you can't dumb down golf to something so simple and no two experts seem to agree 100%. Yet the same questions come up over and over again.

Maybe in a chart format sorted by Flaw vs. Probable Cause vs. Recommended Solution and posted as a sticky thread "FAQ" ?

[albatross]

I think that's a good idea!

[DavidFehertysBike]

I dont know if im a "low handicapper" or not. But I shoot close to par or in the 70's often. It seems like it might be a little thereputic for me to do one here..lol.

Below are some things I go through when im hitting alot of bad shots with my irons. I really dont care how I hit the woods because those clubs are always going to be hit or miss, IMO. Good fundementals and proper takeaway/turn is the only thing I concern myself with woods. However i hit it is just however i hit it.

If im pulling/duck hooking the ball (my most common bad shot) i go through this.

1). Alignment - Am i really pulling the ball or just open to the target? I put a shaft down the target line at a range and practice, If the pulls continue at the range I make an ajustment to my alignment before I do anything else by making sure my hips, arms and shoulders are all parellell to where i am aiming.

2) Posture - Am I coming up and out of my address posture? If so, I have a habit of making a kind of "over the top" move. I use the aid of an informed friend (usually my pro) with this one.

3) Hands/forearms - Am i rotating my hands too fast from the top, closing the face at impact? I take nice easy half swings with a SW to see if that is going on. I usually end up chicken winging my finish when im doing this so that is an easy give away as well.

4) Not completing the backswing on full swings- When I dont make a full turn back (for me this is tucking my left shoudler under my chin) I will be in a bad position when I get to the impact zone. I will be at "X" position on my forward swing when my brain thinks im at "Y" I rememdy this by taking easy swings with a 7i, making sure I turn my back to the ball. I dont worry about swing plane things, i never do.

5. Am I pulling to hard from the left side on the start of the forward swing? - My most serious issue. I have no remedy for this and dont know what makes me do it, my guess its a timing and rythm thing. When i feel myself doing that I will just back off from golf for about a week or so and hope my timing returns.

I guess I can add more later..

[sonicblue]

1) You're swinging with your hands and arms (my biggest tendency/problem).

2) You're swinging too hard and losing your balance.

That should about cover it. ;)