The Virtue of Being a Stupid Monkey (and How it can Help Your Golf Game)

[mvmac]

It would be interesting if the PGA tour kept stats on how long it took a golfer from the time they start reading a putt to when they hit a putt, if the shorter duration means better putters.

Cool info.  One of the best putters in the world, Aaron Baddeley doesn't wast anytime when he brings his eyes back to the ball.  Not many good putters "freeze" over the ball.  I would even say that of good ball strikers.

My natural swing creates a soaring slice of epic proportions, so what Strachan say 'bout that?

My "learned" swing keeps it in play and let's me play golf.

I prefer the latter.

Yes the mental game certainly has it's place in golf but you do need a certain amount of knowledge and skills to play well.

It's the swing that gets the ball into the hole. So my thought when I read nonsense like that, is to completely discount everything else the individual says.....

Let's go easy on the guy.  He's new to the site and trying to find his way.  Thanks.

[xerex250]

its just what ive heard and thought about. i have no idea if its correct or if hes right (cameron) but i know that i got some good control with my irons with camerons ideas. usually my driver goes dead straight and about 210. im just curious if i shouldnt worry about distance and just play the game instead of worrying how far im hitting it? will distance come around over time? or will i improve simply by getting the ball into the hole in fewer strokes every round? i have no idea. thank you for your replies by the way. i deeply appreciate them.

[David in FL]

Let's go easy on the guy.  He's new to the site and trying to find his way.  Thanks.

My comment wasn't directed at xerex250.....but in response to his question and specifically about the person to whom he referred in his post.

[boogielicious]

i just now found a guy named cameron strachan; on his website he had on the home page a thing called: "why golfers dont play as well as they should". Downloaded it and read it. tried it out just a few hours ago and after about 20 shots i waas striking the ball very well. it mainly described how most golf instruction is only based on technique and doing something with your swing and he explains how a so-called "natural" swing is much easier to use. ive also seen the same teachings from a man named liam higgins on an article in golf.com. maybe the swing really isn't important? maybe the whople point of the game isnt the swing but simply getting the ball into the hole in as fewest strokes possible. what are your thoughts?

My issue with these types of methods is they will only get you so far.  My natural motion was on the hockey/baseball side of swinging and did not address the real important keys to a good repeatable golf swing.  The golf swing is not a natural motion for the human body.

If I applied this methodology to playing the guitar, it may only get me to strum some chords and be able to play at a basic level.  The real technique in guitar playing is learned through watching and using expert techniques developed by the best players.  Only then will you become a good player.

The same applies to the golf swing.  If the best players have a commonality to their swing, we should try to achieve those common factors to improve our swing.

[xerex250]

if the golf swing isnt a natural move for the human body then why do people do it? doesnt it ruin your body if you do that? i just looked up mike austin recently and i heard that his golf swing was based on how the human body was actually supposed to move. such as the fact that he used kinesiology (the study of human motion) to make the golf swing work. he was also the longest hitter the game has ever known. world record of 515 yards back in 1960 at the age of 60. thats pretty incredible. so i disagree with the fact that the golf swing is an unnatural move, otherwise wwe wouldnt be able to do it.

cameron also states that our main objective is to hit the ball towards the target. our swing will take care of itself over time. if we simply hit the ball all our problems will be taken care of. he calls this "automatic golf". and please give this a try before you begin criticising it. it worked for me for some time but i got involved in working on the "swing" and it screwed my game up. maybe i should go back to just hiotting the ball in the hole and stop worrying about distance, swinging correctly, or any of that stuff. whats your opinion? should i revert back to just hitting the ball, in which case i had more distance, accuracy and control, or should i work on my swing? im just curious. thank you for your responses.

[iacas]

if the golf swing isnt a natural move for the human body then why do people do it? doesnt it ruin your body if you do that?

I defined the word "natural" to mean something that was done to survive. The golf swing has no real equivalent.

cameron also states that our main objective is to hit the ball towards the target. our swing will take care of itself over time.

Yeah, if golf was that simple, we'd all just "hit the ball towards the target." The swing does NOT take care of itself over time. This thread's drifting off topic.

[xerex250]

did i offend you? if i did i apologize. well that does make sense. im sorry for drifting off topic.

[iacas]

did i offend you? if i did i apologize. well that does make sense. im sorry for drifting off topic.

No. I just don't like threads drifting off topic.

[TriniGolfer85]

I had a lesson with James Hirshfield about a month ago and he told me what to work on and ive been doing that since just like a monkey. At first, my ball contact was poor but i kept at it and now im hitting it alot better with a nice lower ballflight.

[Kelzzy]

Are we talking about guys like Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson. or just the average pro golfer?

[saevel25]

Are we talking about guys like Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson. or just the average pro golfer?

If you actually read the thread you might know that this is for everyone.

[Kelzzy]

If you actually read the thread you might know that this is for everyone.

Please be joking. Are you telling me Tiger Woods is a stupid monkey?

[Golfingdad]

Please be joking. Are you telling me Tiger Woods is a stupid monkey?

R.e.a.d. T.h.e. T.h.r.e.a.d. (To make it even simpler ... Just read the OP)

[Kelzzy]

R.e.a.d. T.h.e. T.h.r.e.a.d. (To make it even simpler ... Just read the OP)

" Players don't need to know why, just how"

Uh... Tiger Woods wrote an freaking book on how to play golf. I'm pretty sure he knows exactly why he's doing what he's doing. I think that goes with a lot of the pros.

[mvmac]

R.e.a.d. T.h.e. T.h.r.e.a.d. (To make it even simpler ... Just read the OP)

I'm seeing a pattern here

"Players don't need to know why, just how"

Uh... Tiger Woods wrote an freaking book on how to play golf. I'm pretty sure he knows exactly why he's doing what he's doing. I think that goes with a lot of the pros.

You would be surprised.  Not everything in his book is correct.  He has a section on the "ideal" top of the backswing position.  It's a joke because he changes it to an "incorrect" position under Haney and changes it again to another "incorrect" position under Foley.  A lot of great players write books, doesn't mean everything they say is correct, Nicklaus gets the ball flight laws wrong.  Books are more about what they feel is happening, not what is really going on.

[Kelzzy]

I'm seeing a pattern here

You would be surprised.  Not everything in his book is correct.  He has a section on the "ideal" top of the backswing position.  It's a joke because he changes it to an "incorrect" position under Haney and changes it again to another "incorrect" position under Foley.  A lot of great players write books, doesn't mean everything they say is correct, Nicklaus gets the ball flight laws wrong.  Books are more about what they feel is happening, not what is really going on.

And who's saying they're wrong? You? Some other dudes?

[mvmac]

And who's saying they're wrong? You? Some other dudes?

Nicklaus says ball starts where the path is and ends up where the face was pointed at impact.  Phil thinks he hinges and holds the angle, Tiger said the right knee stays at the same flex on the backswing.  If you think these three things are correct then you've been reading too much Golf Digest.

Kelzzy, you're speaking from the position of ignorance, please stop doing so and try to learn something from people that have more knowledge and more experience.

[Kelzzy]

Nicklaus says ball starts where the path is and ends up where the face was pointed at impact.  Phil thinks he hinges and holds the angle, Tiger said the right knee stays at the same flex on the backswing.  If you think these three things are correct then you've been reading too much Golf Digest.

Kelzzy, you're speaking from the position of ignorance, please stop doing so and try to learn something from people that have more knowledge and more experience.

Why is it that what you know is correct, but what the actual pros say isn't? I mean, really. Where are you coming from? I'm going to go with something Tiger Woods says rather than some average Joe. I don't agree with Phil, but that's his personal way. Tiger is the best in the world, anybody who doesn't agree with his swing and ideas is a fool.