A Funny, Funny Game

[iacas]

Last week I was having a hard time. A real hard time. I was not getting my weight through to my left side. Or I was doing it too early. I was dipping a bit on my backswing. I was hitting the ball fat, off the heel, thin, and off the toe. I'd pull shots, I'd push shots, and I'd over-cut a few others. I think I even hit some snap hooks. My distance sucked and the only thing that let me break 200 (or what felt like 200) was my short game, which stayed okay.

I of course had a list of about three, four, or five different things I was doing wrong, but I know better than to try to fix the symptoms. You've got to find the root cause.

Finally, the one thing I was doing wrong dawned on me, and I fixed that and hit the ball as solidly as ever.

In other words, the golf swing is often a series of compensations. Fix the earliest thing that goes wrong, and all the later compensations may just fix themselves.

So, keep that in mind. For a lot of people, the "earliest" thing they can fix is their grip or setup. Always work from the beginning.

P.S. For me, it was the dip on the backswing. I was trying to get height in my backswing, but sometimes I dip to try to get that height. Steady head, lift the arms with a shoulder turn, I had to realize. As soon as I did that, bammo.

[Lefty731PM]

Last week I was having a hard time. A real hard time. I was not getting my weight through to my left side. Or I was doing it too early. I was dipping a bit on my backswing. I was hitting the ball fat, off the heel, thin, and off the toe. I'd pull shots, I'd push shots, and I'd over-cut a few others. I think I even hit some snap hooks. My distance sucked and the only thing that let me break 200 (or what felt like 200) was my short game, which stayed okay.

Obviously, Iacas, everything except your wedges need to be replaced..

Hey! Here's an idea for a few threads. 1. Driver recommendations 2. Iron recommendations 3. Any putter recommendations You might get one or two people responding. Seriously, as your post is exactly on the button as to why I have stated that I have never heard a good player boast about his game. It is because the game is so humbling. 68 today does not mean something similar tomorrow. The frustration is what brings us back. That's the challenge. Anyone who plays at a high level is fully aware of this and hence has to have a degree of humility.

[iacas]

Obviously, Iacas, everything except your wedges need to be replaced..

I realize you're trying to make a point, but you're failing at doing so and really just kind of contributing negatively at this point.

I'm not a fan of pushing out negativity into the world. So please, for my sake, knock it off - keep your complaining about others on the forum to the thread you've started on that topic. Don't hijack other threads to keep whining.

Seriously, as your post is exactly on the button as to why I have stated that I have never heard a good player boast about his game. It is because the game is so humbling.

Indeed. A good player realizes how much better he could be if only for one more little thing...

And that time when it all comes together, just once, keeps us coming back for months.

[Dent]

I am having the same problem, but Realized my first component problem was Turning my wrists right before I make impact, which is causing the clubface to open a large ammount.

After I fix that, Ill start doing full swings again instead of 3/4.

[golf_junkie27]

I have a swing video that I watch whenever I struggle. It reminds to focus, to keep everything simple, to stick to my routine and most importantly, let the club do the work.

When I do this and get good results, I laugh and talk to myself. I realize that I can't get ahead of myself. That the current shot is most important. I can't execute B if I don't execute A.

[sonicblue]

In other words, the golf swing is often a series of compensations. Fix the earliest thing that goes wrong, and all the later compensations may just fix themselves.

Not only do I think this is an incredibly insightful and productive piece of advice, I think it is precisely the type of approach that a lot of "instructional pieces" (magazine articles, infomercials, etc...) completely ignore. IMO, anyone with a decent knowledge of the swing, knows that the high handicapper makes their mistakes VERY early, whether it be:

1) their initial shot decision (club, target, e.g.) 2) their setup/alignment 3) the first couple feet of their takeaway/backswing Great post, something for us all to remember. It's easy to think you need to get your hips moving through, your club in the slot, your left wrist straight.....but it's more important to ensure your setup is sound every single time, which usually makes those later moves less prone to problem.