| Golf is definitely a sport with a | | | | even if you are not totally relaxed. A |
| difference. The similarity between golf | | | | loose swing is the outcome of a big hip |
| and other sports, such as track and | | | | turn on the backswing or a sway, bad |
| field, ends at the need for a proper | | | | wrist and foot movement and a certain |
| technique. Though professional golf may | | | | type of grip. |
| require some basic minimal physical | | | | 3. "Stop at the Top of the Swing" |
| training, the weekend golfer can achieve | | | | Another fallacious instruction given is |
| high degrees of success in the game | | | | with regard to stopping at the top of |
| without following a fitness regime at | | | | the swing. It is an established |
| all. Concentration on a suitable | | | | mechanical principle that any object |
| technique, diligent application, | | | | moving in one direction must come to a |
| avoiding common mistakes and having a | | | | complete stop before moving in the |
| positive attitude can produce excellent | | | | opposite direction. Consciously stopping |
| results in the golf swing and overall | | | | at the 'top of the swing' results in |
| game. | | | | freezing of the body movement thus |
| When looking for golf instruction, even | | | | disrupting the rhythm that it |
| though someone may want to observe and | | | | significantly contributes to the swing. |
| imitate professionals, the fact is that | | | | 4. "Turn Your Hips To The Left" |
| though spectacular movements can be | | | | Don't try and 'turn your hips to the |
| noticed, the subtle ones mostly skip | | | | left' on purpose. Hip turning does take |
| even the careful observer unless you | | | | place during a swing but more often than |
| know what you are specifically looking | | | | not, it is a natural turn after the |
| for. The irony is that it is these | | | | golfer has moved laterally to the left. |
| subtle movements that are critical in | | | | When golfers make an actual effort to do |
| dictating a style and perfecting the art | | | | nothing more than turn their hips, it |
| of a swing. | | | | results in a ruined swing and poor shot. |
| This peculiar aspect of golfing has | | | | 5. "Keep Your Head Down" |
| given rise to many fallacies or myths | | | | This is a commonly quoted directive |
| about the mechanical principles that are | | | | given by most weekend golfers. However, |
| used in golf. It is thus imperative to | | | | the head needs to instead be kept back |
| know which ones to avoid. Here we will | | | | through the golf swing and the subtle |
| address a few of the most commonly heard | | | | movements that occur will do so |
| today. | | | | naturally. It is actually completely |
| 1. "Relax" and "Use a Light Grip" | | | | unnatural to try to fix your head in a |
| A very natural combination of a 'relax' | | | | locked position throughout the golf |
| and 'light grip' is often used by | | | | swing. By concentrating on this one |
| instructors teaching the golf swing | | | | point too much, you lose focus from the |
| today. Even though 'light grip' relates | | | | rest of the golf swing that actually |
| naturally with 'relax', the admonition | | | | helps to generate the power needed to |
| to 'relax' actually became standard with | | | | drive the ball forward. |
| golf instructors in order to loosen up | | | | You need not be a professional golfer to |
| their students who were self conscious | | | | improve your golf swing and scores |
| and frightened to the point of rigidity. | | | | quicly. Better and more consistent golf |
| Over time these instructions seem to be | | | | can be played by the weekend golfer by |
| issued to anyone who starts a training | | | | simply heeding some good advice and |
| session. However, inability to use these | | | | practicing sound discipline. The |
| techniques in the correct perspective | | | | important thing to note is to follow the |
| can do more harm than good. | | | | modern techniques that have evolved over |
| 2. "Be Loose" | | | | the years, avoid fallacious outdated |
| Another common instruction, 'be loose', | | | | instructions and learn to manage the |
| may sound the same as "relax" yet is | | | | game properly. |
| very different. The swing can be loose | | | | |