| If you watch the Golf Channel or read any of | | | | all golfers as well. There is loads of |
| the magazines and books on golf, it will be | | | | evidence on the pro tours that the ones |
| very hard for you to miss the basic theme | | | | making the money are those best at chipping |
| that "There is a perfect swing and you will | | | | and putting. The golf research guru himself, |
| do the most for your game by trying to get | | | | Dave Pelz, actually followed tour players |
| it". Even when you watch a tournament on TV, | | | | around for years taking detailed statistics |
| you see the commentators participate in this | | | | and he proved it (see his book, My Short Game |
| conspiracy by showing us frame-by-frame | | | | Bible). In addition to that, there are too |
| analysis of the pro and critiquing his/her | | | | many pros to list that admit that their swing |
| every move. Now, maybe we can give the TV | | | | is not "technically correct" or maybe not |
| guys a break because they are just trying for | | | | even very good...BUT THEY WIN TOURNAMENTS! |
| some entertainment value and let's face it, | | | | Look at Jim Furyk, 2003 U.S. Open winner. He |
| most of us are interested in the details of | | | | actually has a big loop in his backswing. Lee |
| the swing because we've been brainwashed by | | | | Trevino always told people that they should |
| years of this theme.For many years, I too was | | | | not copy his swing. Even Jack Nicklaus says |
| a "swing zombie" in my quest to improve my | | | | in his books that he wasn't a very good ball |
| golf game. I even participated with a group | | | | striker. Bruce Lietzke has won tournaments on |
| of golfers that all had our swings | | | | the PGA and Senior tours playing his |
| videotaped and then we critiqued each other | | | | left-to-right shot his whole career - And he |
| in a classroom setting. The feedback I | | | | says he rarely practices! On top of that, the |
| received from all of us watching my swing ran | | | | tours are littered with past champions that |
| from "very smooth" to "way off-kilter". | | | | totally lost their game AFTER they tried to |
| Everybody had a differing opinion of many of | | | | change it for the better. And now they are |
| the swings that we watched and at least for | | | | begging their sports psychologist to help |
| me, it only confused me more.In my younger | | | | them "find" their old swing.I have talked to |
| years, I had a typical amateur slice swing | | | | PGA golf instructors that say it's their |
| that obviously came out of my years of | | | | clients that want the swing advice (just like |
| playing baseball and softball. In those days, | | | | I did) even when they recommend working some |
| I would just aim for the left edge of any | | | | other part of their game first. So maybe it's |
| fairway and I could count on the ball moving | | | | our own fault in creating the current |
| left to right, at worst ending up in the | | | | situation where average scores of amateurs |
| right rough but usually hitting the fairway. | | | | have not dropped one stroke in the last 50 |
| I enjoyed playing golf those days but I | | | | years despite the advances in equipment |
| always felt that something was missing. So | | | | technology. Now don't get me wrong, if you |
| when I could finally afford it,I decided to | | | | are a total beginner, maybe you should start |
| take a set of lessons from a pro. Of course I | | | | out with learning the basics of the golf |
| told him that I wanted to get rid of my slice | | | | swing with a lesson. But if you're hitting it |
| swing and he asked me back "are you sure?". | | | | solid most of the time, you are good to go |
| This answer kind of shocked me but he was a | | | | for a real scoring quest as more swing advice |
| very good instructor and by the end of the | | | | is not the quickest way for you to drop your |
| lessons, I was able to hit the ball out of | | | | score. There is just so much more that you |
| bounds both ways, left and right. I figured | | | | can do, on and off the course, that will pay |
| that it would just be a matter of time until | | | | you back in saved strokes for far less time |
| I "dialed" in to hitting it straight. To make | | | | spent than "fixing" your swing. Most of us |
| the story short, 5 years later and I was | | | | have precious little free time that we can |
| still "dialing" and getting wrong numbers | | | | work to improve our games so why not work on |
| (ob, jail, water,no score improvement, | | | | that which will give us the greatest bang for |
| etc.).Looking back, I honestly believe now | | | | our (time) buck?And so, let me be the first |
| that if I had stuck with my old left to right | | | | to make a pledge to the golf spirit inside me |
| swing and just used the rest of what I | | | | (I always thought that golf is like |
| learned from the pro, that I would have | | | | religion): |
| improved significantly. Why? Because I was a | | | | |
| typical golfer and not a 12 handicapper | | | | "I for one, do solemnly swear that I will |
| trying to become a single-digiter (a good | | | | not pay attention to any swing advice of any |
| golfer trying to become a great one). Studies | | | | sort until I can score in the 70's |
| have shown that the overwhelming majority of | | | | consistently with the swing I have (and maybe |
| amateur golfers shoot in the 90's or above | | | | not even then)".Visit Craig Sigl's website |
| for men and it's over 100 for women. If you | | | | at: It is dedicated to score improvement for |
| are in that group, then you really should be | | | | golfers with little time to practice. |
| working on parts of your game that will give | | | | Download free ebook "How you can play better |
| you far more efficient score improvement for | | | | golf using self-hypnosis". Sign up for ezine |
| the time and effort spent. This would | | | | "The Very Busy Golfer." Ecourse with golf |
| primarily be in the area of the short game | | | | instruction tips from a major pro, articles |
| and the mental game.This is absolutely true | | | | on golf equipment and free golf games. |
| for the average golfer but it may be true for | | | | |