Is there a secret to better golf? Of course, there could be more than one but you just might be interested in this one.
I’m going to do something I don’t typically do – offer golf advice. I know this is risky territory, after all who am I to be giving anyone golf advice. I’m not a pro and I’ve never taught. Heck, I’m not even a scratch player. On the other hand, I’ve been on a search for a competitive and repetitive golf swing for the last 20 years. I think I’ve tried most everything. I’ve hit them left, right, up and down. Which is only to say that I’ve suffered like everyone else.
I’ve analyzed myself, my friends and even my wife. I’ve watched hundreds, if not thousands, on the practice tee. I’ve read every instruction book available, yet I couldn’t find a magic bullet anywhere. Heck, I couldn’t find a good ‘visual’ for the complete swing. But I do think I’ve found something that can help most amateur golfers play better golf.
Now this assumes you’ve been playing golf for awhile and have the basic components of grip, stance and swing-plane under control. (If you don’t, then nothing is going to help you.) If you’re like most, you’re not consistent. Some days you’re on and some days you’re not. You also tend to push or slice most of the time, but occasionally come across the ball and pull it.
I believe the hands are the key to better golf. Why? Because they ultimately dictate where the club is going to be. I believe the number one fault is getting the hands further away from the body on the downswing than they were on the takeaway. You’ve got to actively pull your hands in towards your body. If you want to take it a step further, then also manage where your hands are in relation to the ball at impact. At the extremes they’re about even with the ball for the driver and some inches ahead for the wedge. Every other club falls in between. (In reality, the hands stay in basically the same place, it’s the ball that moves backward from your front foot as you move from the driver through the wedge.)
If you can get your hands in the right position, I believe you will have done more to produce solid consistent shots than anything else. Of course you have to ‘release’ your wrists at the right time and keep your body behind the ball, but I’m assuming that most golfers understand this.
One last thought for golfers who want to take this ‘hands’ thing the extra mile.
Imagine yourself making the perfect swing. Your hands would describe the perfect circle around your body. This circle has to be as big as possible. (You can still keep your hands close to your body on the downswing and make the circle as big as possible at the same time). I believe this image might help you. I think most golfers end up pulling their hands off this circle and therein lies most of their problems. Some pull off on the way back, some on the way down, and some on the follow-through.
That’s as good as I’ve got. If it makes sense to you, then give it a try. Please let me know how it works out, but don’t expect me to cover your golf bets!
WARNING: Side effects may include dizziness, euphoria, exuberance or total mental collapse.
