| There are good golf tips and bad golf tips. The | | | | The suggestion was well meant. However, for a |
| question is, "how do you decide which golf tips to | | | | player who had a well grooved habit of swinging |
| listen to?" | | | | slightly over the top of the ball, as Arnold Palmer was |
| This question has been brought home to me recently | | | | wont to do, it proved to be one golf tip too much. |
| because a good friend took up golf about two years | | | | He became so conscious of his right elbow that it |
| ago. He has really caught the bug and plays several | | | | threw the whole of the rest of his swing out of |
| times a week. He also has lessons and practices | | | | shape and it took him months to get it back again. |
| frequently. Whenever we play together he is | | | | The point is that the golf tip didn't fit in with the rest |
| constantly asking for tips and advice about his swing. | | | | of his swing. |
| It is my belief that you should only give a player a | | | | This is a mistake that many golfers make. They listen |
| golf tip if you are sure that it will fit in with the rest | | | | to all the golf tips out there and try to adopt them all |
| of his swing. I have seen far too many players lose | | | | in their desperate search for a good swing. It is my |
| their swings when trying to adopt a golf tip which | | | | belief that your aim should be to groove a golf swing |
| simply does not fit in with everything else that goes | | | | that will give you streams of straight and long golf |
| on when they swing the club. | | | | shots by modelling your swing on one set of advice. |
| OK, I know, there are certain golf tips which are | | | | Then you should develop a mind movie of that swing |
| universally sound, like, "keep your head still." But | | | | so that you can reproduce it whenever you play a |
| equally there are plenty of other golf tips that can be | | | | shot. |
| ruinous even when given with the best of intentions. | | | | Think how long some of the most famous |
| In particular I recall a good player with whom I'd | | | | partnerships between players and their swing |
| played many rounds who always drew the ball right | | | | coaches have lasted. Think of Jack Nicklaus and Jack |
| to left, usually with good control. One day when his | | | | Grout, Tiger Woods and Butch Harmon, Nick Faldo |
| draw was a bit exaggerated, his partner suggested | | | | and David Lead better to name but a few. All these |
| this perfectly sound golf tip: "You know, if you were | | | | great players relied on one coach's vision of their |
| to keep your right elbow well tucked in on the | | | | swing to keep their mind movie in shape. They did |
| downswing you would lose that nasty hook." | | | | not go asking for golf tips from other players. |