My Advice to Any Golfer

[Billiam]

Don't ever try to make drastic changes to your swing when what you have it working for you.


I used to use an abbreviated swing in which I would go back as far as I could until my left arm wanted to bend and then went into my backswing. First I tried to tinker around to go all the way back. I kept at that for a few weeks going out almost every night but I added about ten strokes for nine holes. There was no improvement. Then, my uncle told me I needed to turn my hips more when I swing, so my swing got changed again for that. I added yet ANOTHER ten strokes on per nine holes. I used to golf around 50 on a good day on nine holes, now I can hardly break 70.


I've gone about a full month now with crappy scores, and I'm upset I wasted away all of this good time for golfing trying to learn a new swing that obviously doesn't fit me. Do what you feel is natural and stick with it. I'm trying to refind my old swing again, but now I've spent so much time trying to do all these new swings that I can't do my old swing anymore either. I'm working on it still and hoping that I'm making progress.

[m11]

Don't ever try to make drastic changes to your swing when what you have it working for you.

Off-hand tips usually dont help much. They give may give you the right concept but its difficult to apply properly unless that person can give you a detailed explanation of how to implement that tip. I try not to give to many of those "take your club back further tips" without providing a detailed analysis ...generally with video... of a persons swing. The issue is that what you feel is a full swing is likely much further back than where you need to be at. There are also too many factors that contribute to a good golf swing for a tip such as "open your hips more" to really help out. All that really does is throw off something that it inate to you...and that is tempo. So my overall opinion on off hand comments is that they really shouldnt be taken to heart. If you are interested in improving your game, you need to allow someone who has an idea of what they are talking about to really break down your swing for you going from the ground up.

[Billiam]

If anyone cares I refound my stroke with my three wood in last night's round. Got 'em all up in the air, none of these gay grounders I've been fighting lately lol... still can't find my swing with the irons though so the score was about in-between what I was hitting a little bit ago and before I tweaked with my swing.

[tm22721]

Mastering the dynamics of a classic pro swing proved too difficult so I was tempted to try tips and other short cuts. Only to learn that there are no alternatives to a proper transition or weight shift.

[jambalaya]

If you are satisfied with shooting a 50 over nine holes then sure, don't make any changes. But if you are a novice golfer that wants to improve then drastic changes are probably required. The correct way to do it though is to get lessons. A tweak here and a tweak there like you found out may make things worse for you. Even lessons will make things worse for you for a while. Absent lessons, put some videos of your swing at Swing Academy for analysis. It's free and very beneficial.

[alf174]

Be patient, you'll get it straightened out.

I came out of a 3 week putting slump a couple of weeks back where I could do nothing but gorilla arm the ball (distance control in the can). And then in a matter of two holes one day I fixed it. Just before I was going to disembowel myself on the signature hole's green.

[immts007]

Hell, I'm not afraid to try new things - I've tried lots, and it's worked for me. No, not when my swing is 'working' but if I start chunking and topping and generally making a mess - I'll read a chapter from "The 7 Laws" or watch A.J. Bonar's video (the clubhead is like a baseball bat), or experiment with the "no backswing swing" (this last one has really helped me get back into plane a few times). I take what works and discard what doesn't... and little by little these things are accumulating into what is 'my swing'.

Dunno. Maybe not for everybody - but I'm happy with the fact that I've taken strokes off my game every few months I've played since I first swung a club 2 years ago march when I was 40 years old

[Lange]

my uncle told me I needed to turn my hips more when I swing,

That isn't exactly what one would call a great tip, because being new to the sport you may not understand that just twisting your hips could make you worse. There is tons more parts to the swing, and being still a novice to golf turning your hips can make things much worse and way off track from where you were. Best idea is to seak full information on swings and slowly at times on the range try to figure it out. Keep it up man!

[Billiam]

Thanks to everyone for the advice/encouragment. I'm working out the kinks still, and this new 'hybrid' type swing I've started using to hit my three wood good last night was kind of a mixture of my old swing and what I was trying to do before.

[Lange]

this new 'hybrid' type swing I've started using to hit my three wood good last night was kind of a mixture of my old swing and what I was trying to do before.

That is a great way to start things and build confidence back to your 3 wood. Sometimes for woods and your driver as well, it's good to almost pretend that your hitting a iron. I myself try'd it last year and it did some justice to get my confidence back then i went to try and develop the real deal. Now im sitting comfortably with a nice swing.