Three things to think about

I'm a huge fan of Paul Wilson's 'Iron Byron' or 'Swing Machine' golf concepts. I think that his central concept of powerless arms is the missing link or the 'secret' that escapes the average golfer and prevents any real or sustained improvement in her or his golf swing.

I think the failure of most amateurs to play consistent golf is also largely down to a failure to use the lower body and core to power the swing. The 'hit' impulse is human nature, as Wilson explains, and it is extremely difficult to overcome. However, it is essential to learn to swing the club from A to B and resist that impulse if a consistent swing plane or path is to be achieved.

There is no doubt that it takes time to ingrain these new ideas and (more importantly) feelings into one's golf swing. For example, one of the first problems encountered is a new bottom of the swing arc, because of the different swing plane. This results in some fat shots and miscues. Another early problem is a change in the distance achieved with each iron club. Of course, more distance is ultimately a good thing; it's easier to hit an eight iron into a green than a six iron.

It doesn't take too long, however, to see some positive results. This might be the occasional drive that goes twenty or thirty yards longer than usual or the effortless iron to a green with a whole new ball flight. And there will be the occasional shot that feels so much more like a 'real' golf shot; that is, a shot that feels balanced, powerful, and yet effortless.

But patience is needed, because there are lots of things that can still go wrong in a golf swing or shot. That's why it's necessary to keep going back to the basic concepts and reviewing one's progress. It's a trial and error process, frustrating at times, but far, far better than doing the same old (wrong) things and expecting improvement.

Here are three things I am trying to keep in mind when I play or practice. These are not only things to try to incorporate into one's swing, they are things to know or know about, and then link to swing keys that we can incorporate into our swings.

1. Body rotation controls the swing plane and the direction the ball will take off the club.

Body rotation is the power source in the 'Swing Machine' golf swing, but Paul Wilson explains how a full turn through the ball is also needed to get the clubhead and ball onto the target line. I used to think (and was once told) that a relatively rapid turn of the hips to the left would cause a slice, push or pull shot. But this is not so, provided the upper body is not over-used. In fact, a failure to turn in this way has all sorts of dire consequences for shot direction. I know this is counter-intuitive for many, but it's true. Check out Wilson's diagnosis and fault fixing full-swing videos for a full explanation of how body turn works in the golf swing.

2. The wrists control the spin on the ball.

Loose wrists (and arms) are essential elements of Wilson's approach. This relates to power and lag, of course, but it also is integral to the action of closing the clubface at impact. Wilson explains how the wrists must be free to close the clubface at impact. Rigid wrists will leave the clubface open and create unwanted side-spin, while overuse of the wrists (conscious use of them) can also close the face of the club too much at impact causing hooks and pulls. The answer is therefore to free up the wrists and allow them to return the clubface to the square position created at set up. Wilson's insistence on a neutral (ore or two knuckle) and loose grip at set up is part of this deal. See his set up videos for more detail.

3. A constant body tilt is essential for consistent ball striking.

This seems obvious, but the average player often dips or lifts up in her or his swing and yet expects to make consistent contact with the ball. This dipping, lifting or lunging of one kind or another is often the result of over-hitting, that is, an effort-full hitting with the arms in the quest for distance. This hit impulse is not only unsuccessful in generating more clubhead speed, but is likely to be responsible for lots of topped, duffed or poorly hit golf shots. Thinking about keeping the body tilt created at set up can help the golfer resist the temptation to hit or lunge at the ball and will introduce a degree of consistency in ball striking that was not possible before.

I can't do justice to Paul Wilson's ideas in a brief blog. But I'm convinced that his concepts will help the average (frustrated) golfer play better golf. Watching pros, listening to tips, even taking lessons from the club pro and knowing that sequencing or timing is important in the golf swing, will not help the average player for very long. The average player needs first to understand why it is important to swing a golf club in a certain way and then systematically and persistently work on the relevant fundamentals of a sound golf swing.

Bear in mind that only one idea can be worked on and incorporated at a time and that lots of patience is needed. Make the effort to go back to Wilson's basics from time to time and try to gradually build on the fundamentals. A combination of understanding and patient trial and error of these fundamentals is the best path to success.

PS. check out Paul Wilson's bunker shot method; it is a seemingly simple technique, yet it is also incredibly effective. Last weekend, I faced one of the most difficult bunker shots of all (downhill lie to about 15 feet of steeply away sloping green). I put it to within 5 feet. The fact that I missed the putt was because I failed to follow Wilson's key to consistent putting. But more on that later.

All you need to know to play effortless consistent golf

In my previous blog I promised more information about the effortless 'Iron Byron' approach to golf. I'll provide that, but I highly recommend checking out Paul Wilson's website and teaching materials because he is the Iron Byron guru. (Iron Byron is the mechanical golf ball/club testing machine that hits the ball with incredible consistency)

The simplicity of Wilson's approach is refreshing, but the best thing about it is that he explains why it is right to do something a certain way. This is sometimes stuff I've never come across before. He also explains why human nature often gets in the way.

I mentioned the lower-body rotational aspect of this approach, but I should now mention some other components of the approach that contribute to the full package. I must reiterate that this is my take on it; people really should look at Wilson't website and other materials.

I think there are six main features of the effortless golf swing advocated by Paul Wilson. I'll list them, in no special order, and say a few words about each.

1. It is important to have a sound fundamental set up - no slouching, leaning, funny grip, or weight placement. Wilson advocates a neutral grip, basically square alignment, 50/50 weight distribution at set up, and says that if you introduce any peculiarities at the set up stage you will need to make compensations in the swing, and that is not a good idea.

2. Think of the lower body - legs and hips - as the power centre of the swing. The rotation of the hips and the transfer of the weight, without swaying, from the back leg to the front leg provide all the power necessary to hit the ball a good distance. The key is to de-power the arms - they simply provide the extension to the club so that the arc created by the turning body is maximised. They add virtually no power to the shot and must stay passive or relaxed (and powerless) in this system - not an easy concept to accept, I admit.

3. A constant forward set up tilt must be maintained until the end of the follow through. It is the key to solid ball striking and consistency. The head will move back and forward a few inches and even up and down an inch or two, but the body must not tilt up or down as the club is swung. This is not often emphasised or explained, but it is crucial.

4. The ball is not the target;, the target (the green or area on the fairway) is the target. The more we think of hitting the ball, the more we make it the target, and the less likely we are to swing through to a good finish. A good finish (which may be described as the club finishing parallel to the spine angle - see Wilson for more) is how you know if you have swung through to the target and not just hit at the ball. Wilson actually talks about the finish of the swing before he talks about initiating the swing (ie. the backswing). It's that important.

5. The wrists must be flexible. The effortless lower-body powered system depends on a flexible connection between the arms/hands and the club. This is where the whip or lag is created that generates clubhead speed. If the wrists and forearms are tense they will not be flexible and clubhead speed will be compromised. Trying to power the swing with the arms and hands will cause this inflexibility and loss of clubhead speed (which equates with power). Paul Wilson explains this very well; check it out.

6. As implied above, the effortless golf swing is just that: effortless. We must not try to hit the ball hard. The harder we try to hit, the more we tense up, lose flexibility in our wrists, sway, lose our forward tilt, etc. The effortless golfer swings well within her or himself, thinking only about turning to the target and swinging with freedom and balance. Timing and consistent contact are critical in creating good clubhead speed. Conservation of effort, reduction of injuries, better control and greater satisfaction are useful side-benefits.

There it is, six simple principles. Of these, I think no. 2 and no. 6 are the most important. The final principle is perhaps the hardest to implement. It's human nature to try to hit the ball as hard and as far as possible. Paul Wilson says a lot more about why this doesn't work and why human nature is holding back the vast majority of average golfers.

Wilson's Iron Byron system is relatively simple and relatively easy and quick to work on, and I thoroughly recommend it to all golfers. If the short game is a problem, check that out also. His ideas on chipping will help many a medium to high handicapper.

Good effortless golfing.

There is a secret to good golf that's not really a secret

In my next few blogs I will describe the ONLY certain way to develop a powerful and consistent, yet effortless golf swing. It's a secret, but it's not a secret. Everyone has heard about it, but only good golfers (who have forgotten they ever learnt it) apply this technique to their golf swings.

The method is simple and can be used by almost anyone - yet the effects are virtually instantaneous. The failure to appreciate the importance of this simple concept is the reason so many average golfers will never get any better - no matter how many lessons they take, golf videos they watch, or new-fangled clubs they buy.

It's not really our fault; the teaching professional who teaches us about set-up, swing plane, weight transfer, etc. etc. also does not realise that by focusing on these technical and mechanical aspects of the swing they are dealing in 'reactions' or 'effects' in the golf swing, not the critical 'actions' that give rise to these reactions.

The average player is therefore left in the dark about the importance of one particular fundamental of the golf swing that is responsible for almost all of these reactions. This golfer does not fully understand this fundamental concept or realise the futility of dealing with reactions when trying to develop a sound golf swing.

Without further ado, I should reveal this fundamental; it is the oft-heard directive 'the golf swing begins from the ground up'. Put another way, the golf downswing is initiated by the lower body; the feet, legs and hips working together to start the down-swing motion.

'Everyone knows that', you might say. They might, but at least ninety percent of golfers choose to start the downswing with the shoulders and arms, rather than with their legs and hips. In simple terms (which is all that's needed really) the correct initial down-swing motion is basically a rotation of the hips. This swing thought alone will work wonders for many golfers - with none of the dire effects cited by some pundits.

However, in my next blog I will try to explain in more detail why this rotational 'action' of the lower body is so important in initiating the golf down-swing. I'll talk about the benefits of the proper body action and the perils of poor body use.

In the meantime, have a look at the website of Paul Wilson, an American golf instructor from Las Vegas, who used the golf-ball testing machine Iron Byron as his inspiration. He is an instuctor who is well worth our attention.