This is a refreshing thought! We are always being told to “swing like a pro”. Could it be possible that the untrained everyday Joe or Jane CAN’T swing like a pro. I have learned that I can’t swing exactly like a pro and I have seen what others have done to overcome weaknesses in there swing. I just wanted to share these observations with you because it may lead to your golfing success with more consistent hits.
Take for example the situation where a person has been injured in war, in a car accident or in past athletic endeavors (with a broken leg, arm or ankle while skiing or a wrenched shoulder while reaching for a ball or even a jar on a shelf). Yes, this could be anyone of us and we don’t realize that the limitation in our muscles is harming our swing.
I recently read an article by Shawn Clement, a Class A Professional at Richmond Hill Golf Club in Ontario, Canada advising that you should “use your natural physiology to improve your swing and your game”. I had never thought of it this way. For example: if your natural body swing is a blocked swing at 15 degrees to your target line why not swing with an open stance by 15 degrees to the left. Just setup that way and hit up your target line.
Rory McIlroy has a unique swing and you do too. Take lessons to get it right and then make your swing work for you.
These are examples of my friends who are adapting to accommodate a physical limitation:
-Mary: (major car accident). Her back swing is with a bent leading arm but she releases her arms and club to a straight arm at impact and has an amazing 200 yard drive. [She also lifts her leading foot like a baseball player swinging a bat and she loses her balance backwards on every swing. YES, she breaks every rule for a great golf swing and still has a Handicap Index of 15.]
-Frank: (Swollen arm from an infection in his youth.) He sets up his drive with an extremely closed stance and consistently nails the ball up the center of the fairway.
-Andy: (An athlete with timing limitations.) He sets up with more pressure on his leading foot so that he can control his hits for extreme distance and direction control.
-Myself: (Lower back discectomy limiting spine rotation.) I setup with an open stance and slightly open club face to allow an inside to up the target line swing to control my direction.
Shawn Clement found research that proves that your body positions in your backswing is never exactly the same. Your mind compensates to hit up your target line. He said that “Your mind needs to focus on your target. Your target will change your swing to adapt to hit to the target.” I’m just recommending that you go one step further. Sort out your physical limitation. Then setup for your golf swing to work with your limitation. You will only be successful if you focus on YOUR consistent setup for YOUR body.
You may not have any physical limitations but I’m willing to bet that your swing will change as your body ages. You may have noticed it with Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer as we watched them age. It’s still in your best interest to swing with a straight leading arm, flat wrist and with wrist lag in your backswing for more consistent and longer hits. GOLFSTR+ is a great training aid to help you learn 6 swing fixes. Buy one today at: www.golfstr.com
