Play "golf", not play "swing"

[saevel25]

I am pretty much a stock shot guy, which is my slight draw. If the pin is back right i can go at it, if its front right, i will just aim at the pin and draw it off to just right of it. I really don't bother fading away from bunkers, or drawing away from water. I have no issues with going right over water and drawing it back. Its just my style, if i start trying to hit a fade or draw it more, or cut it, hit it high, hit it low, then i start thinknig to much. The only other stock shot i play is a knock down shot when i really have a head wind, other than that, its pretty much 1 shot guy, 98% of the time.

[jamo]

In regards to your Tiger comment, I think he has been playing "swing" all year. The results speak for themselves.

Not at all, I think he is 180* the other way. If he was playing "swing" he would have fixed his swing. He contended at the Masters on his iron play and short game alone.

[jamo]

My take on the discussion, and the reason I started this thread, was that there is an emphasis these days on perfecting the swing. If you have a perfect swing, then you will become a perfect golfer. Chamblee took issue with that, stating that perhaps on the PGA tour today, players should be more concerned with getting the ball in the hole rather than constantly chasing the unattainable.

Perfecting the golf swing is not a new thing. Hogan, Nicklaus, Nelson, Faldo, Tiger, those guys all have practiced tirelessly trying to make their swing the most efficient and as repeatable as possible. If you don't consistently try to make your swing better, then becoming a better golfer is very hard. The guys on tour are all very good putters and chippers, but the swing is the hardest to get right. If you have a chance to become better, and make more money, why not take it?

[clam fist]

Something to think about for sure.

[sean_miller]

When I practice I play "swing"

James -

I originally posted, "Agreed - 100%." The more I think about it, the more I'm not so sure. I actually tend to practice like a play quite often - visualize the hole, the shot, imagine the target on the range is on the course - so I do a lot of "golfing" on the range too. Mix it up. Before finishing a practice session, imagine a couple holes to see how things will go when in the "on course" mindset. Also, if it's a practice round (typically a 9-holer or pitch and putt by myself) I'll be working on something and there will be some swingthoughts sprinkled in there.

[Harmonious]

Perfecting the golf swing is not a new thing. Hogan, Nicklaus, Nelson, Faldo, Tiger, those guys all have practiced tirelessly trying to make their swing the most efficient and as repeatable as possible. If you don't consistently try to make your swing better, then becoming a better golfer is very hard. The guys on tour are all very good putters and chippers, but the swing is the hardest to get right. If you have a chance to become better, and make more money, why not take it?

Agreed that everyone wants to play the best they can. However, the widespread use of video has changed how golf is taught. It's about emphasizing having the correct positions during the swing, the correct impact position, etc. Of the 5 guys you named, only Tiger and maybe Faldo in his later years, had unlimited access to high speed video. Had they been around back then, how many current teacher gurus would have tried to change Hogan's too flat and too long swing , Nicklaus' flying right elbow, and Nelson's dipping. Had they tried to change their swing to match the accepted "perfect" swing, would they have become champions? I doubt it. Those guys found what worked for them, and worked at it until they had complete confidence that it could hold up under tournament pressure.

For us rank amateurs, seeking the perfect swing is likewise hopeless. Can't remember who it was, but there was someone who posted the question here within the past week. After reviewing a video of his swing, he had identified at least 10 major faults, and wanted to know which one to work on first. That has got to lead to serious frustration. Maybe Bagger Vance had a bigger impact on me than I realized: "Golf is a game that can't be won, only played".

[jamo]

Agreed that everyone wants to play the best they can. However, the widespread use of video has changed how golf is taught. It's about emphasizing having the correct positions during the swing, the correct impact position, etc. Of the 5 guys you named, only Tiger and maybe Faldo in his later years, had unlimited access to high speed video. Had they been around back then, how many current teacher gurus would have tried to change Hogan's too flat and too long swing , Nicklaus' flying right elbow, and Nelson's dipping. Had they tried to change their swing to match the accepted "perfect" swing, would they have become champions? I doubt it. Those guys found what worked for them, and worked at it until they had complete confidence that it could hold up under tournament pressure.

I agree that all of them played well with what they had, but you don't think that if Jack got rid of the elbow he could have been better? The golf swing is all about efficiency, and eliminating that move could have made his swing that much better. A scary thought, for sure.

And the quote you put at the bottom, golf might not be a "winnable" game and it might not be a "game of perfect", but to me the best part of playing golf is trying to achieve perfection. Trying to be just a bit better than you were yesterday, and the best way to do that is to make your swing better. Putting comes and goes, and everyone duffs chip shots along the way, but building a powerful, repeatable swing is what has drawn me to golf. Maybe I'm in the minority on that, but it's what I like about the sport. It's the same way with other things too. When I played baseball I would change my swing every other day, trying to make adjustments. When I play basketball I am always looking for the perfect elbow position, and the perfect wrist release. And when I play golf it's not about "hitting positions", it's about making my swing as efficient as it can be, and maximizing the little bit of natural ability that I do have.

[anthony]

What's the difference? You can't manage the course properly without a swing to put the ball where you want it to go. A golfer's swing is the most important aspect of his or her game in my opinion.

[James_Black]

What's the difference? You can't manage the course properly without a swing to put the ball where you want it to go. A golfer's swing is the most important aspect of his or her game in my opinion.

It's about people focusing on their swing while playing.

A lot of people say to play golf instead of focusing on their swing. No point fiddling around with your swing while playing.

[Zeph]

No point fiddling around with your swing while playing.

Why not? It is a good place to practice.

If you practice a swing change on the range, why not try to keep the momentum on the course?

[James_Black]

Why not? It is a good place to practice.

Because the range is where I practice.

On the course I normally play against a friend. I don't want to blame a new swing I tried out for the first time on course if I lose the game.

[kevin.chan]

I play golf all the time coz i hardly visit the range .

I do always hope for miracle at the course ..lol !