If you play golf, you already have the bug to improve your game. That’s why we get so frustrated at times when errant shots happen. We are always searching for ways to improve our power and consistency. One thing that I have learned is that you will never improve your game if you don’t experiment and commit to changes that work for your game.
I was inspired to write this Swing Tip by a recent success that I experienced. I was not happy with control the control of my tennis shots. I did the unthinkable by asking for a lower tension for the strings on my tennis racquet. Lower tension should give me more power and less control (but I wanted more control). Fortunately for me, my topspin swing with this new lower string tension is giving me much better control. I’m not sure why this is working for me but I’m happy with my new found success.
This strange occurrence got me thinking that every golf swing rule can be broken with great success. I’m hoping that some of these examples will give you ideas to improve your swing.
Jim Furyk’s Swing: I have started using a backswing where my club points at the reverse of my target line as I swing high and loop at the top to swing up the slot like a baseball player hitting a low pitch. My friends pointed out that it looks like a Jim Furyk’s swing (without the very high plane swing). I had a perfect driving game last week. It works for my driver by not for my irons.
John Daly’s Swing: His over rotation in his backswing gives him a lot more power but swing consistency and flexibility will most likely make his swing impossible to duplicate.
Justin Rose Plumb Bobbing his for Putts: He is only using his putter to Plumb Bob from behind his ball. His game has been going downhill recently so he may want to start checking the slope from behind the hole (instead of behind his ball). I love to find the slope at the hole using PB but Justin Rose needs to understand that he is only determining the slope under his feet (which most likely is not the same as the slope where the ball breaks as it slows down near the hole).
Rickie Fowler’s Waggle: Rickie does a 2 foot takeaway rehearsal waggle to make sure that he is starting his rotation with his shoulders, core and waist. I love to do the same waggle because it also slows down my backswing to give me time to set my lagging wrists at the top of my backswing.
Nick Price Swing: His backswing is almost as fast as his forward swing. I have no idea how this helps the consistency of his swing but it works for him.
Hideki Matsuyama has a pause at the top of his swing as if he is checking to see that his club is loaded. I really believe that he is allowing time to start the loading transition from his trailing to his leading leg. If you rush your swing you will never have time to make a smooth transition (and weight shift). It also helps him to avoid casting his club outside.
Ernie El’s Swing: Big Easy earned his name because he appears to be swinging at 80%. That is a great thought for everyone. He is actually accelerating through his downswing to generate 100% of the club head speed that he needs to generate distance.
You may want to try new clubs, new types of golf balls, exercise for flexibility or a golf training aid like GOLFSTR+ to learn new swing habits. It may be just the miracle that you need for your game. Buy one today at www.golfstr.com
A very good and comprehensive review of various ways to improve your golf,thank you .
I watch regularly the Golf Opens/events on the TV ,and try to understand and analyse what these execellent players do ,including course management ,mental management under great pressure .The last WASTE MANAGEMENT Open at PHOENIX was illustrative in this respect .There was much to learn from the last holes played by CHEZ REAVIE and GARY WOODLAND and the narrow win in play off by GARY WOODLAND .
Above all ,I feel strongly that you should work hard to reduce your physical weaknesses and enhance your capabilities .At age over 83 this is so much important for my game …
I always love your comments. I’m only 70 but I know that I am having wonderful success with some of the swing comments that I added for this blog. I missed the play off last week as I was on the golf course. My modified Jim Furyk swing is adding about 30 yards to every drive – Wide and High backswing and looping at the top with a release up the slot (like hitting low pitch in baseball or cricket). Unfortunately, I’m now driving through the doglegs and into trouble.
Will Curry