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.