Scientifically Proven Golf Swing?

One of the new catch phrases I have stumbled upon lately on several golf related websites is "scientifically proven." One site then goes on to claim that their model swing is endorsed by a host of doctors, chiropractors, physical therapists, etc. I also mentioned recently that Hunter Mahan has made the claim that what Sean Foley is teaching him and Tiger Woods, Sean O'Hair and Justin Rose is backed by science.

So, how exactly do you scientifically prove a golf swing? From what I have seen, you have some biomechanics guys plugging some numbers into a computer and up pops an image of this scientifically proven swing. If you address the ball this way, and swing the club this way, you have a swing that is scientifically correct and you will be able to swing the club pain free!

Ok, well, the problem is that no two people are alike. Therefore, no two golf swings are identical. So, how can you prove that any of this stuff will work for the typical golfer? How about a golfer who may have a bum knee, or shoulder, or elbow, a bad back, issues with their neck or even their hands?

In a few of these cases, the golf swing model suggests swinging the club on a more upright swing plane. Well, I can tell you that 90% of all golfers already swing the club on an upright swing plane, in fact, a plane that is too steep! The issue with a steeper swing plane is that your timing must be very good because the hitting area at impact is much smaller than that with a more shallow swing plane. That is why most of the better players on the PGA Tour today have a more rotational, athletic swing, as it allows for more consistent ball striking.

Who is widely regarded to be the best ball striker the game has seen? Well, Ben Hogan of course. And he had a flatter swing plane than most. Moe Norman is also mentioned as a great ball striker, and his swing plane was also a bit flatter. This is not to say that a more upright swing can't work. Jack Nicklaus had a fairly upright plane, and he was terrific with his long irons and at driving the ball, although not so good with his wedge game.

The bottom line is that there are many ways to get it done in this game. Ideally, we want to try and keep things as simple as possible, and as pain free as possible. But, try to look through all the hype. Even if one particular swing model may be more biomechanically sound than another, the fact is, most people won't be able to duplicate that swing, because they just won't be able to get their body to move that way.

The golf swing is a complex, athletic move. Once you get beyond a certain age, it becomes even more difficult to learn to do well. However, by learning about your own strengths and weaknesses, and the general Ball Flight Laws, you can find a way to make significant improvements in your ball striking without making any major changes. Down the road, I will be happy to show you how!

Scott Cole
www.powergolftraining.net