Post-connection

Post-connection is not anti-connection or abandonment of the concept of connection. This is still an important principle, in my view, of the way to control the swing path, to maximise the input of body rotation in concert with the motion of the arms.

However, while this is a sensation to work on during practice, and to rehearse in practice swings, there is a need to think or feel slightly differently when actually trying to hit a shot on the course.

The hope is that connection will have become ingrained, quintessential to one's swing motion, with no need to focus on it during shot-making. This allows other priorities to emerge, including and in particular, rhythm.

Rhythm is another key concept in my view. One of the great failings of a lot of average (and worse) golfers is a rush from the top of the backswing in an attempt to 'kill' the ball. It occurred to me the other day that during a shot, especially a pressure shot, say on a tight driving hole, that I needed to be very conscious of not rushing.

In some cases, this will mean incorporating that slight 'pause that refreshes', but it doesn't have to be any kind of conscious pause, just an awareness that there is plenty of time to commence the downswing. Again, overemphasis of the pause can cause problems, so it has to be a change of direction that is simply unhurried, allowing all the moving parts to align, for the weight to start to shift, and for the clubhead to stay on (or dip below) plane.

Post-connection is about having something in place that is essentially unconscious or sub-conscious, because, as we know, the unconscious mind is very powerful indeed. In the same way, timing and rhythm are elements of the golf swing that are difficult to define, let along prescribe.

The 'zone' is a well known concept in golf, which is again difficult to define or attain. In a way, we need to find that zone for the split second at the top of our swings as we transition to the downswing - on every swing. It's not easy to do. But I think an awareness of the need to aspire to it is a start.

Finally, my observations about Jack's piston putting method have now been tested. I think there is a lot to be said for it. As a right-hander, using the right hand to control the putter makes sense to me - it's our feeling hand, our control hand. Jack also uses a certain amount of connection in his right arm and side in the stroke, which I think helps with the putter swing plane.

But more on this later - and more on the elusive post-connection challenge.

The pain

It pains me to have to admit I was wrong. Which means there have been a lot of wrongs and a lot of pain. But the good news is that sometimes two wrongs or even many wrongs can make a right.

Last round I discovered or re-discovered the benefits of 'connection'. That is, making sure my left shoulder and left upper arm operated as a unit - stayed connected through the backswing and into contact.

It's a physical connection, but also a mental awareness that creates stability and synchronisation of the arms and body. The great Jimmy Ballard was a big proponent of this type of connection, along with a number of other principles associated with various braces or feelings for the golf swing.

I discovered this connection some time ago, but, as usual, I went searching for more. This search has taken me to all sorts of theories or methods, but nothing has really made any difference, at times even producing poor and inconsistent results. They are all in this blog.

The problem many people have with connection theory is that it can make you feel constrained or tight and therefore less powerful. And while it's great to have a free flowing, armsy swing, like John Daly or Fred Couples, you need to have a lot of natural talent and hit a lot of golf balls to achieve any sort of consistency.

The tightness or constraint that comes with connecting the upper arm and shoulder unit, and inevitably reducing the length of your backswing, is actually no less powerful. For many it adds power, and particularly consistency, for a couple of reasons:

Connection does not restrict width, provided you keep your left (lead) arm straight. Width (a wide club arc) is critical in creating clubhead speed, and is much more important than a long, armsy backswing which might or might not result in acceleration of the clubhead where it matters - at and just after contact.

Connection also allows the body, connected to the arms, to turn in synchrony with the arms. This coordination adds power and actually simplifies timing. Timing, which I've talked about in relation to pauses and transitional issues, is very important - and very elusive.

So, a connected swing is a simpler swing, a more consistent swing and is no less and probably more powerful. It also makes it easier to time the swing - synchronisation again.

In a way, this concept of connection takes me back to Swing Machine Golf and Paul Wilson. This is because his method was based on a machine-like, body rotation, sort of rigid-arm swing. I have a few reservations about following a method that is supposed to be one size fits all - golfers come in all sorts and sizes - but a repeatable swing is an important key to good golf.

A quick word about chipping. I am going to adopt a multiple club approach. That is, using a 7, 9, gap wedge depending on the ratio of green-side grass to green, with the objective of landing the ball on the surface. The idea would be to have virtually the same backswing and tempo, using the different elevation (ball flight) created by different clubs to determine the landing spot - which is critical in distance control. Raised greens and lie must come into the equation, but trying to use one club has not been working for me lately. Keys are a stable left (lead) wrist and head forward and over the ball.

Putting is another problem area lately. Although recently watching old Jack putt crouched over the ball and using his right hand like a piston appeals to me as a method that might work for me. The main objective being to feel the distance - direction (reading putts) is not such an issue - I three-putt much more often by leaving putts short or long.

I think connection is the key for me along with some smarter short game tactics. I've felt the pain of playing badly and inconsistently. Admitting that I've been wrong about a lot of things about the golf swing is the pain I need to accept. And golf is only a game - isn't it?

More rhythm

I've talked about ways to find rhythm previously. But another thought occurs to me and it relates to 'the pause that refreshes'.

In fact, pausing a la Matsuyama, can be a recipe for loss of rhythm. There is a tendency to panic if you stop your swing at the top. Even though the ball is going nowhere until you hit it, you worry that it might and you tense up.

The pause I'm working on now is not really a pause, but more of a reset - of the shoulders. When I get to the top of the backswing all I think about is 'is my left (lead) shoulder turned closed or pointing at about 90 degrees to the target line?' This sometimes requires a minute adjustment at the top and this in turn inserts a minute pause in the action of the swing - even though the club will keep moving, and is actually dropping slightly, before the downswing commences.

This is a kind of pause, without really pausing, but I'm finding it is a useful way to find rhythm in my swing (prevent the dreaded rush to the bottom) and to hit the ball a little better. There's no doubt, the more rhythm the better.