The secret of consistent ball-striking!

[onplane]

The thing that bothers me the most as an instructor is that my profession has made hitting a golf ball correctly seem harder then it is. There are two things every golfer already knows how to do, but don't tap in to when hitting a golf ball. If they applied these to their golfswings, golf would become easier, and they would not realy struggle with consistency again. We are all "hard wired" to do these things. The trick is just tapping into them!

 

[LyleG]

There are two things every golfer already knows how to do, but don't tap in to when hitting a golf ball.

And they are?

 

[onplane]

create power, and control direction. The trick is doing this in posture! My 4 year old can hit a tee ball in any direction you ask him to. If you look at film of him doing this (and I can promise you he is not trying to contort his body into any positions to match up to some pro on a video screen) his body, like yours mimics what today's greatest ball-strikers are doing. The problem most golfers have is not tapping into these abilities while they are bent over in golfing posture. This can be overcome though...I see it every day that I am teaching. Let me know if I can explain these two simple concepts in more detail. They are easy to do, and teach. They just take up some words to explain. In short, our minds are "hard wired" to do 2 very important things: use our bodies to create maximum power in hitting something, and the ability to hit something in a specific direction. The problem is these things are second nature when standing upright, and fall way down the list when bent over. This is why I teach these key points to a golfer standing up, then show him how these things feel bent over. I'd love to share this with you guys.

 

[LyleG]

Let me know if I can explain these two simple concepts in more detail.

This is starting to sound like a sales pitch. You started the thread, so it should be expected you would explain your reasoning.

 

[onplane]

not a sales pitch! You seem to be the only person interested, and I gave you a brief explanation above. I am new to this, and didn't think it was appropriate to write a couple of pages explaining something I know would help people. Sorry.

 

[warbirdlover]

I'm interested. Keep going.

 

[ezra76]

So this is you?? http://www.greatrivergolfclub.com/www/academy.asp

Great to have you aboard. This is a public, free, forum where we share our knowledge and experiences, ask and answer each other's questions. It would be wonderful to have such a knowledgable contributor.

Nice course BTW. That's where my mother's side of the family is from.

 

[Rockford35]

David,

If you feel strongly about your system, then take the time to write it out. There are plenty of people here that would benefit from another perspective.

Lyle's skepticism comes from a long, long line of spam posters, which is unfortunately an undesired aspect of having an internet posting board. When someone comes offering what appears to be a service, or, something too good to be true, it most likely is. I'm sure Lyle meant no offence towards you personally.

There are many of us here that try our best to help the newer and lesser skilled players play to their maximum potential, so anything you offer would be welcomed greatly.

(Unless you start charging, then I'm gonna look like a goof. LOL. )

Welcome to the board. I hope to hear your take on things from here on in.

Regards,

Thomas
Rockford35
Moderator, Shot Talk

 

[ezra76]

I'll trade you a nice TP driver for a lesson and a round.

 

[onplane]

thanks! The hardest thing for most golfers to do is make solid contact with the ball. Impact is everything, and when we are in our golfing posture we don't get enough visual cues to tell us how to move the club correctly. If you were hitting a baseball, and while the ball was in the air I told you which direction to hit it, you could! High means high. Right means right etc.. Even better, your body would move the bat/club on a perfect "plane" and would move in such a way as to create the most power. This is what I meant when I said "hard wired". We already know how to do these things correctly (which means in a way that produces the results we want, not in a way that is identical to everyone else, although similar) when we are in the right situation (standing up, for example, instead of in posture). Try this and tell me if it works. A common denominator of solid powerful impact with an iron has the shaft of the club leaning towards the target at impact with the hands ahaed of the ball. The hips and are facing towards the target, and the right wrist is still bent back (retaining the angle). Here's what I want you to do. Grip an iron, then stand up as if you were a batter waiting for a pitch. you should be in a batting stance. Now without stepping forward amke a "check swing" (a swing that you change your mind on...one that doesn't cross the plate). Let your body respond, let the bat barrel fall, do everything as if you were trying to hit the ball, but stop as soon as your hands pass the ball. What you should look like is very similar to this perfect impact position I described. Now, bend over in that position into your golfing posture. If you did this correctly you look just like a tour player!!! From this position go back up to the top of your swing, and then back down to impact. It's easy!!!! You can very quickly train your body through some simple drills to make the same swing in posture that you would upright hitting a baseball. Sorry for the length of this. I tried to explain before that this is harder to explain then do. Let me know. I am not trying to make a sales pitch, although I would like to write a golf book that would really help golfers some day! I look forward to hearing from you guys! DC

 

[LyleG]

Dave,

I meant no offense at all. Great post and welcome aboard. I look forward to reading more from you.

 

[onplane]

I have nothing to sell, other than the fact that I do make my living teaching in person. I mentioned before that I am very interested in writing a golf book that would truly help golfers. That is why I've been teaching for the last 22 years. One reason I tried to explore this forum was to hear what real golfers had to say. So if it looks like I am asking a lot of questions when I start one of these things off, it is because I am truly interested in hearing what real golfers think. Thanks for welcoming me. If I do anything out of line, please let me know. DC

 

[onplane]

That TP driver I use is great. I may take you up on it this spring!

 

[demon]

thanks! The hardest thing for most golfers to do is make solid contact with the ball. Impact is everything, and when we are in our golfing posture we don't get enough visual cues to tell us how to move the club correctly. If you were hitting a baseball, and while the ball was in the air I told you which direction to hit it, you could! High means high. Right means right etc.. Even better, your body would move the bat/club on a perfect "plane" and would move in such a way as to create the most power. This is what I meant when I said "hard wired". We already know how to do these things correctly (which means in a way that produces the results we want, not in a way that is identical to everyone else, although similar) when we are in the right situation (standing up, for example, instead of in posture). Try this and tell me if it works. A common denominator of solid powerful impact with an iron has the shaft of the club leaning towards the target at impact with the hands ahaed of the ball. The hips and are facing towards the target, and the right wrist is still bent back (retaining the angle). Here's what I want you to do. Grip an iron, then stand up as if you were a batter waiting for a pitch. you should be in a batting stance. Now without stepping forward amke a "check swing" (a swing that you change your mind on...one that doesn't cross the plate). Let your body respond, let the bat barrel fall, do everything as if you were trying to hit the ball, but stop as soon as your hands pass the ball. What you should look like is very similar to this perfect impact position I described. Now, bend over in that position into your golfing posture. If you did this correctly you look just like a tour player!!! From this position go back up to the top of your swing, and then back down to impact. It's easy!!!! You can very quickly train your body through some simple drills to make the same swing in posture that you would upright hitting a baseball. Sorry for the length of this. I tried to explain before that this is harder to explain then do. Let me know. I am not trying to make a sales pitch, although I would like to write a golf book that would really help golfers some day! I look forward to hearing from you guys! DC

I tried your technique and I was perfect when comparing the two, then I tried my more upright swing that I just switched from and I was way more vertical at the top of my backswing. Interesting take on swing planes.

 

[warbirdlover]

onplane,

When you get a chance edit your signature to show what's in your bag. I'd be mighty interested in seeing what a well known teaching pro hits!! Thanks.

WBL