Something old, something new

 In my last post, many months ago, I referred to the need to simplify the golf swing, make it as natural as possible - like throwing a stone - and re-focus on things like alignment and course strategy.

All well and good; set up and strategy are important, as is swinging within yourself. However, I can now suggest there are two other fundamentals based on my experiences in recent weeks.

The first of these relates to the swing arc. That is, the immense value of a wide backswing or wide extension of the arms away from yourself in the backswing. This means forgetting about the position of the trail elbow, forgetting about the precise direction of the swing or worrying about body rotation. It is simply about keeping the lead arm as extended (straight but not rigid) as possible in the backswing. This will usually mean a shorter backswing for most older and less flexible players, but the width created compensates for the shorter swing because the wider arc of the swing generates plenty of clubhead speed. A side-benefit of this straight arm arc is greater consistency; maintaining a constant width arc helps you return the club to the back of the ball more consistently. This is especially true for those who don't hit hundreds of balls in practice each week.

The second fundamental I've recognised lately comes as a slight surprise to me. Having long since dismissed the old 'keep your eye on the ball' furphy long ago, I now realise that the other old saying 'keep you head down', often disregarded as another example of hoary old, outdated golf wisdom, is not so silly after all. In fact, when it comes to shots off the turf I realise now that it is essential to stay down or keep you head down well into the contact zone. This doesn't mean stare at the ball or literally drop you head lower, it means keep a steady position, no lifting up, no swaying just before and at the point of contact. With irons, where there is a particularly strong temptation to see the result of the shot, it is very easy to lift up or look up early before the shot is completed. It might only make one or two grooves difference, but this can translate into thin or fat shots and twenty yards more or twenty yards less than the intended distance, not to mention other directional errors.

Finally, I should mention one other old golf maxim that actually makes a lot of sense: let the club do the work. This refers in particular to the tendency for us to try to lift the ball, when that very action results in the opposite result. Golf clubs are designed to 'launch' the ball. Let them do it. And while you're at it don't try to hit too hard - mia culpa - makes me wonder if it's too late to teach this old dog a few new tricks.