| Learning the golf swing normally comes in phases. | | | | He stepped up and nailed that first tee shot and |
| We begin with basics like grip and stance. Then we | | | | followed that up with a solid second shot. His shot |
| move on to swing mechanics focusing on things like | | | | making had returned, at least rhythmrarily. The rest |
| takeaway and shaft angle. Once we have a good | | | | of us were just waiting for him to “lose it” |
| understanding of those things a successful golf swing | | | | again but Dooley kept it up all day. |
| is all about the execution. Can we execute | | | | So on the way from the 15th green to the 16th tee |
| consistently over an entire round? Round after | | | | I asked him about his recovery. He told me, ‘I |
| round? | | | | have a song in my head now.” I must have had |
| When we fail to swing consistently, we often go | | | | a blank stare because he went on to explain that he |
| examine our basics and mechanics to correct our | | | | had learned from the eBook called “How to |
| swing fault. When that happens to you and there is | | | | Break 80” about good swing rhythm. He said he |
| no obvious fault with either your basics or mechanics | | | | followed that up with a few range balls where he put |
| then I submit you may want to consider these | | | | his swing to the rhythm of a song. He began to |
| keys: swing rhythm or tempo. | | | | sing, “One and Two then Three and Four” |
| They say timing is everything. My life experience | | | | and explained that each number represented a |
| supports that thought as well and it applies to the | | | | certain point in his golf swing. One was takeaway, |
| golf swing as well. I have a good friend and playing | | | | two was when the club reached the top of the |
| partner, Dooley Duffer who taught me something | | | | backswing, three was impact and four was his finish |
| about this rhythm and timing thing this fall. During the | | | | position. He said he had been singing that song to |
| summer Dooley was swinging better than ever. His | | | | himself all day. |
| drives were long, extra long, and under control. He | | | | I left that conversation with a chuckle only to watch |
| was confident that he would find the short grass | | | | Dooley lace another tee shot off of the 16th. So |
| from the tee box nearly every time. His scores | | | | his issue at the beginning of autumn had not been so |
| certainly reflected his good play. Our group was | | | | much about basics or mechanics but poor golf swing |
| impressed. | | | | rhythm. Once he returned to the proper golf swing |
| But as the summer changed to fall he “lost | | | | rhythm that resulted in a more consistent result on |
| it” so to speak. He became inconsistent and | | | | the golf course. |
| erratic. Dooley often had that puzzled look on his | | | | All I know is that whatever Dooley learned from |
| face after a shot. You know the one that says, | | | | How to Break 80 by Jack Moorehouse sure did fix |
| “What just happened here?” Dooley began | | | | what ailed his swing. He still uses that little song when |
| chasing his swing fault by checking his grip, stance | | | | he notices things getting out of whack again. It has |
| and alignment and shaft angle at the half-way point | | | | made him a better player. |
| of the backswing. Nothing worked to fix his swing. | | | | If your thinking your swing could benefit from good |
| Then at the start of a round back in October Dooley | | | | swing rhythm you might want to check out the |
| came to the first tee grinning. His mood was very up. | | | | eBook Dooley is always talking about. |