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