Dance with the girl you brought

[Wingover718]

In an attempt to better my game I have read numerous books, magazines and web threads. Amongst other advice is often the suggestion to play the shot that you are hitting on a particular day rather than struggle with your own swing mechanics. What do you think causes the variations in shot shape or quaility the most from one day to another? If there is something at all to this piece of advice, then there may be one thing that can change daily more than others. I know the question is very subjective as there are many different swings out there. But, what is likely to cause a player who was hitting mostly straight on Tuesday to faulter another day in the same week.

[BugDude]

If anyone knew the answer to that question, they'd be a millionaire many times over and the ultimate golf guru.

[saevel25]

Realize that hitting the ball straight should not be the goal of the golfer. The best way to play is to curve the ball left or right, with a push draw or push fade.

[rustyredcab]

Originally Posted by Wingover718

...

I know the question is very subjective as there are many different swings out there. But, what is likely to cause a player who was hitting mostly straight on Tuesday to faulter another day in the same week?

Each swing has lots of moving parts. Getting them all moving when they should, how they should, and consistently is not easy. If it was easy, we'd do it. Heck, it isn't easy to get the non-moving parts of the swing correct every time.

So, our swing changes could be anything from static things you'd think we could repeat like grip and set up, to exactly how and when you start your hip turn.

One thing I really try to do is get the static things correct. Not easy. I've been to a number of schools with the same instructor (great BTW). They really focus on the correct grip and setup. By the end of the school, with the help of aids and hands on teaching, most of us have the grip correct on our own when we grab a club. At the start of each alumni school, 9 of 10 students need some grip adjustment. You hear pros talking about working on their grips. I think I heard that last weekend Tiger was working on his putting grip and attributed some of his putting woes to an incorrect grip. Should be easy to get correct every time, but it is not easy to have the EXACT same grip on Tuesday and Thursday. Now imagine timing your hip and shoulder turns.