Taking stock

I've read, heard and seen just about everything on the golf swing that I can possibly absorb. The potential for information overload for any keen golfer is enormous. Consequently, I am constantly trying to identify the elements of golf swing theory that are really important in the golf swing.

This process seems to be going on forever, mainly because I keep coming across golf teachers who claim to be teaching the swing or game in a new way. Most recently I came across so called 'Perfect Connection' golf. Before that I was smitten with 'Swing Machine' golf. And before that I was fascinated by 'The Impact Zone', and many others.

Now these examples of golf instruction methods are worth taking into account. Unfortunately, no one theory or approach is likely to suit all golfers. We have different physiques and mental approaches to the game. One size does not fit all.

Therefore, to try to cut a long story short, I am going to start by simply identifying what I think are the key elements of the good golf swing. I concentrate here on the full swing, though there is much more to playing golf.

Good golfers do three things:

1. Strike the ball consistently
2. Control the distance the ball travels
3. Hit the ball in the desired direction

1. Probably the most frustrating and common fault of the average golfer is the tendency to hit the ball fat or thin, on the toe or heel. The Machine Golf forward tilt instruction is good on this. Failure to transfer the weight correctly (to the front foot in particular) is another common failing. Views on how to do this vary, but the bottom line is that at impact nearly all ones weight must have moved to front foot. The 'Impact Zone' is interesting (if rather too complex) on this also.

2. Good golfers know how far they hit the ball with each club. Noting that the accuracy of the ball strike (see point 1.) is highly relevant here, this knowledge is not quite enough. Golfers need to know how to control the crucial partial shots, pitches and chips, by working on their own distance control method. One error average golfers tend to fall into is to assume they will hit their best shot all the time. Again, refer to point 1. on consistency. There's a theme here.

3. The direction the ball goes and where it finishes up is obviously important. How many million words have been written on curing the slice - that bane of the average golfer. The average slicer is happy to try all sorts of tips on curing the slice. Unfortunately, the slice is the result of many factors, some physiological, some mental. 'Curing' the slice is probably best handled by going back to basics: grip, set up, backswing, transition, weight transfer, etc. There is no reliable quick cure. The same goes for hooks, pulls and pushes.

That's it: three elements identified, three areas of challenge. If there is a unifying theme it is that the golf swing is not a collection of parts or positions, it has an integrity. A good golf swing is more than the sum of its parts. Just occasionally I feel that in my own swing. It's when I can say that 'I've just hit a golf shot'. It happens rarely, but maybe each week I hit one or two more of these 'real' golf shots. Hopefully, this is an accurate observation and not just wishful thinking.