Tangled web update

I had one of the most tiring and frustrating rounds of golf of all time the other day; here's why.

I thought why not try to use a swing that would suit a slightly older, slightly less flexible, golfer. So, I researched that and went straight to the course to try it out - straight to the course - first mistake.

Anyway, nine holes later, I'm finished, score wise, energy wise. I was out of ideas - except one, as follows.

Play the swing you've got. Make sure the fundamentals of set up and swing path are ok, then go with it. If that swing has served you fairly well, don't try to reinvent it, maybe tweak your set up a little, maybe try to be more rhythmic with better sequencing, but nothing more.

The goal should really be to keep the ball in play, give yourself the chance of making a decent score and finishing off each hole as well as possible - i.e. with some short game / putting practice.

I'm clearly a slow learner. The tangled web of tips and techniques from the web that I've tried to incorporate in my game, almost weekly, has only got me more and more tangled in a web of confusion.

That's it.

Tangled web

I've now been round the mulberry bush enough times to know that I have been barking up the wrong trees too often and mixing my metaphors so often that I've got myself into a tangled web.

Having realised this, I've gone back to the swing I had 25 years ago that fundamentally relied on rhythm and timing to get the ball away. I simply haven't been able to find a better swing or swing method. 

My lack of upper body flexibility (and advancing age) mean that I can't turn massively and create a long, powerful swing. I need to work with a shorter, more compact swing. However, this doesn't mean I can't build into that some good rhythm and timing - and good sequencing.

I've found that my years of playing the game mean that barring some irregularity of lie (ball deep in rough, or on a severe slope, in a divot, whatever) I can pretty well guarantee some OK sort of strike without resorting to any extreme or technical swing measures - and this includes my old hobby-horse 'connection' - I'm embarrassed to say.

As for weight transfer, straight arm, finish position, rotation. extension, etc. etc. I think these things have to exist as effects of the swing, rather than causal factors. Maybe thinking of the swing as like the simple act of throwing a ball can help, but other efforts to 'think swing', are probably counter-productive.

I said this 15 years ago, but I have to repeat that set up and posture are very important. For example, I cured a slice simply by setting up square to closed (shoulders not feet) with a sound grip. Combine this with an unhurried, rhythmic swing and there's a good chance the shot will be passable at worst.

Where shots are saved and scores made is, of course, the short game. This has been a problem for me in recent years, mainly because I've lost some confidence courtesy of some sh**nks and 3-putts. My short game is now starting to come back, but it's been a battle. I'm hoping my simplified swing thoughts will allow me to concentrate more on scoring. I want to get my handicap down again.

Golf swing can be a tangled web. I've been trapped in it for eons; time for me to escape.