Hello golfers. This week we have a question from Tim in Woodinville and who is wondering about all these different methods of teaching that he has been reading about.
He mentions the stack and tilt, one plane/two plane swing, and natural golf to name a few. These methods all have their followers and all have their critics. Golfers have asked which is the right one for me. I have looked at these methods and there is a lot I agree with and some I don’t agree with.
The reality is the right method for you is the one that can get you swinging the same every time. To have a predictable swing and result is the holy grail of golf. It really doesn’t matter what you do as long as you are able to do it over and over. The problems arise when your swing is different every time or is the same but causes you to slice into the woods every time.
In these instances changes need to be made. My base philosophy is that a good swing is one that repeats and the most repeatable swing is one that is simple and without any unnecessary moves. I believe that any good athletic move (including a golf swing) has a few basic fundamentals. One of these include weight shift, balance and acceleration through impact or release.
Golf swings must be different because people are different; however all good swings have the same good fundamentals. A by-product of this consistent swing is a consistent ball flight. Good players either hit the ball left to right or right to left. One is not better than the other.
What this allows these players to do on the course is to eliminate one side of the course. If you consistently hit the ball right to left, the right side of the course including any hazards are not generally in play. If you have an inconsistent swing that produces both ball flights, which is a tough way to play golf. A good example of this is the Pacific Northwest’s own Ryan Moore who won his first PGA tournament this weekend.
He has a unique and somewhat unorthodox move but it includes all the base fundamentals that are needed and produces a very predictable ball flight. He sets up down the left side and hits a power fade. Of course he can hit the ball right to left but he mostly hits the ball left to right thus eliminating the left side of the course.
Let me leave with one more thought: do not try to hit a golf ball straight. Develop a consistent swing that produces either a controlled left to right or right to left ball flight.
Tyrone Hardy is co-owner of Hardy Golf LLC. and Director of Golf at Ballinger Lake GC and Gleneagle GC. He can reached at: tyroneh@ballingerlakegolf.com.
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