Your Golf Swing Is Good Enough

If you watch the Golf Channel or read any of the magazines and books on golf, it will be very hard for you to miss the basic theme that "There is a perfect swing and you will do the most for your game by trying to get it". Even when you watch a tournament on TV, you see the commentators participate in this conspiracy by showing us frame-by-frame analysis of the pro and critiquing his/her every move. Now, maybe we can give the TV guys a break because they are just trying for some entertainment value and let's face it, most of us are interested in the details of the swing because we've been brainwashed by years of this theme.

For many years, I too was a "swing zombie" in my quest to improve my golf game. I even participated with a group of golfers that all had our swings videotaped and then we critiqued each other in a classroom setting. The feedback I received from all of us watching my swing ran from "very smooth" to "way off-kilter". Everybody had a differing opinion of many of the swings that we watched and at least for me, it only confused me more.

In my younger years, I had a typical amateur slice swing that obviously came out of my years of playing baseball and softball. In those days, I would just aim for the left edge of any fairway and I could count on the ball moving left to right, at worst ending up in the right rough but usually hitting the fairway. I enjoyed playing golf those days but I always felt that something was missing. So when I could finally afford it,I decided to take a set of lessons from a pro. Of course I told him that I wanted to get rid of my slice swing and he asked me back "are you sure?". This answer kind of shocked me but he was a very good instructor and by the end of the lessons, I was able to hit the ball out of bounds both ways, left and right. I figured that it would just be a matter of time until I "dialed" in to hitting it straight. To make the story short, 5 years later and I was still "dialing" and getting wrong numbers (ob, jail, water,no score improvement, etc.).

Looking back, I honestly believe now that if I had stuck with my old left to right swing and just used the rest of what I learned from the pro, that I would have improved significantly. Why? Because I was a typical golfer and not a 12 handicapper trying to become a single-digiter (a good golfer trying to become a great one). Studies have shown that the overwhelming majority of amateur golfers shoot in the 90's or above for men and it's over 100 for women. If you are in that group, then you really should be working on parts of your game that will give you far more efficient score improvement for the time and effort spent. This would primarily be in the area of the short game and the mental game.

This is absolutely true for the average golfer but it may be true for all golfers as well. There is loads of evidence on the pro tours that the ones making the money are those best at chipping and putting. The golf research guru himself, Dave Pelz, actually followed tour players around for years taking detailed statistics and he proved it (see his book, My Short Game Bible). In addition to that, there are too many pros to list that admit that their swing is not "technically correct" or maybe not even very good...BUT THEY WIN TOURNAMENTS! Look at Jim Furyk, 2003 U.S. Open winner. He actually has a big loop in his backswing. Lee Trevino always told people that they should not copy his swing. Even Jack Nicklaus says in his books that he wasn't a very good ball striker. Bruce Lietzke has won tournaments on the PGA and Senior tours playing his left-to-right shot his whole career - And he says he rarely practices! On top of that, the tours are littered with past champions that totally lost their game AFTER they tried to change it for the better. And now they are begging their sports psychologist to help them "find" their old swing.

I have talked to PGA golf instructors that say it's their clients that want the swing advice (just like I did) even when they recommend working some other part of their game first. So maybe it's our own fault in creating the current situation where average scores of amateurs have not dropped one stroke in the last 50 years despite the advances in equipment technology. Now don't get me wrong, if you are a total beginner, maybe you should start out with learning the basics of the golf swing with a lesson. But if you're hitting it solid most of the time, you are good to go for a real scoring quest as more swing advice is not the quickest way for you to drop your score. There is just so much more that you can do, on and off the course, that will pay you back in saved strokes for far less time spent than "fixing" your swing. Most of us have precious little free time that we can work to improve our games so why not work on that which will give us the greatest bang for our (time) buck?

And so, let me be the first to make a pledge to the golf spirit inside me (I always thought that golf is like religion): "I for one, do solemnly swear that I will not pay attention to any swing advice of any sort until I can score in the 70's consistently with the swing I have (and maybe not even then)".

Visit Craig Sigl's website at: http://www.break80golf.com It is dedicated to score improvement for golfers with little time to practice. Download free ebook "How you can play better golf using self-hypnosis". Sign up for ezine "The Very Busy Golfer." Ecourse with golf instruction tips from a major pro, articles on golf equipment and free golf games.

---

Back Exercise And Golf Are Synonymous

Back exercise and golf. Doesn't that sound like a common denominator? Of all the injuries in golf, the low back is by far the highest one.To explain why doing back exercise for golf... Read More

Sports Psychology for Golfers: 4 Tips for Beating the Yips

When players labels themselves as having the putting yips, they think they have an incurable disease. Putting confidence declines and the fear of missing putts makes matters worse. Players who suffer from the... Read More

Golf Course History - You Could Play On The Worlds Oldest Golf Course

The oldest golf course in the world...If I asked you where the oldest golf course in the world was what would you say? Scotland ? yes, good guess so far. But where in... Read More

Putting and My Aching Back!

I am guessing that all of us can relate to the title of this article. I am sure you have bent over for that 4 footer (can't give you that 4 footer, sorry),... Read More

The Reason Why Clone Golf Clubs Are Worth It

When it comes to choosing a new set up of golf clubs, you are obviously going to want the best, but more importantly you are going to want them at cheap prices. This... Read More

A Valuable Golf Swing Tip

No serious golfer will fail to be eager and maybe even desperate for a golf swing tip that actually works. This is because of the simple reason that a golf swing is the... Read More

Play Exclusive Las Vegas Golf Courses ? The Not-So-Secret Secret

Experience the luxury of tour-class caddies. Play the private golf courses that celebrities and touring pros play. Get tee times on a course that once required a $100,000 gambling credit line at local... Read More

Controlled Body Movement The Key Essential For Your Golf Game

Basic body movement is essential in any sport. Of course it is also essential for any type of physical activity we do.As parents, we teach little children how to do the simplest of... Read More

Secret Sneaky Tactic To Get A Complete Used Golf Club Sets On A Discount With Auction Sites

Have you experienced this when you're bidding on ebay or other auction site? You bid on an item, lets say used golf club sets, you put you're first bid. Then you leave it... Read More

Take Your Eyes Off that Ball!

O.k., so you love golf. I know, I know. Me too.There you are, exhilarated just by being on the course again, away from the worries of real life. Man, this is great.But come... Read More

A Lower Body Golf Swing Can Generate Maximum Power

The perfect lower body golf swing involves the legs to a very large extent and it is therefore true to say that exercise that conditions these parts of the body will have a... Read More

Are You Fully Committed to Playing Your Best Golf?

After taking golf lessons and/or attempting to make changes in one's swing, many players have a difficult time fully committing to executing the new swing on the golf course. There are a variety... Read More

Sciatica Exercises Alleviate Discomfort For Golfers

If you are fortunate enough to have never experienced sciatica, you may be wondering what it is. The sciatic nerves run from your lower back down each of your legs. They are the... Read More

Achieving The Perfect Golf Swing Drill

The perfect golf swing drill is a joy to behold. And yet it is not too hard to achieve.The perfect golf swing drill starts with a proper back swing with the golf club... Read More

Basics Of Golf Swing Instruction - Go With Exercises

Golf swing instruction starts with an understanding of the different segments of the golf swing. Understanding the golf swing segments will give anybody a firm foundation to learn all the tricks of the... Read More

Invest in the Right Equipment and Take Your Game to the Next Level

Golf is a $60 billion per year industry. Much of that staggering figure comes from money spent on new "technologically advanced" equipment. Equipment the manufacturers claim will let us hit the ball farther... Read More

3 Easy Changes to Shave Strokes from Your Golf Game

Here are 3 easy golf tips that will immediately give you a better swing and improve your hitting! It did for me almost instantly once I got the feel of it.I went from... Read More

Golf Swing Tips Will Not Work By Themselves

Golf swing tips are rampant! Golfers can't get enough of them. But are they working?or are they adding to the confusion and frustration of your game? Many qualified instructors will tell you to... Read More

What are You Doing to Improve Your Golf Swing?

Improve your golf swing. You have probably tried everything, from following advice that worked for your friends to so called 'tips from experts.' So what else can you really do to improve your... Read More

Golf Information Overload?

You've come home from work dead tired. You grab the mail on your way in and notice your new copy of your favorite golfing magazine is in the pile. It puts a slight... Read More

Discover How Golf Schools Can Help You Play Better

Services offered by Golf Schools need to be analyzed before joining it. A number of schools have mushroomed all around and every school claims that their school is the best. In view of... Read More

Myrtle Beach Golf Vacations and Hurricanes ? How to Weather the Storm

Hurricane season in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina runs from June through November each year. The peak months for hurricane activity are August and September. If you are planning a Myrtle Beach golf vacation... Read More

Why You Should Be A Risk-Taking Golfer

Very few people, whether they are golfers or not, realize that the mind cannot stand still. Even the most unobservant person's mind is continually receiving new impressions. In the course of a single... Read More

How To Achieve The Proper Golf Swing

Every golfer wants to know the magic secret to achieving the proper golf swing. One that is repeatable and produces results.If you have been trying to accomplish the proper golf swing through traditional... Read More

What Hinders You From Hitting Long Drives Will Shock You

Hitting long golf drives is the desire of every golfer when they are on the course.Sadly many fail to achieve this objective most of the time and the best game in the world... Read More

Junior Golf Is Becoming More Competitive?Why?

How do you get the edge when you're playing junior golf? To keep up with the top junior golfer's means getting stronger both physically and mentally; and almost perfecting your golf swing. That's... Read More

Secrets Of The Avid Golfer

Every avid golfer has got to be the sort of person who enjoys the game immensely. It has been proven that we tend to be very good at doings things that we enjoy... Read More

Golf Shots Versus Golf Swings - You Need Shots On The Course!

Why do so many golfers hit a shot and immediately realize they messed up?There are two parts to a golf shot.Part one is planning.In order to send the ball towards the target on... Read More

Balance Your Checkbook and Golf Swing

We all search for it. Balance in our daily lives. Balance while riding a bike. Politicians are always debating a balanced budget in Washington, and most of us could use a little balance... Read More