Golf Tip of the Day - How to Improve Your Golf Swing

If you've ever paid much attention to the golf tips I write in this blog, you will notice that I rarely get into specifics about how to swing the golf club, or offer specific ways to putt or hit various shots. There are millions of tips like that on the internet, in books and in magazines. If you read this blog, chances are you've seen a lot of those tips.

Today I offer a very general idea about improving your golf game. If you want to hit the ball better, you need to improve your swing. But, what exactly does that mean and how do you do it? Well, the first thing I will say is that there is no SECRET. Just as there are millions of golf tips to help you improve your swing, there are thousands of ways to swing a golf club relatively effectively.

Consider this...there are over 28,000 PGA professionals (no, I am not one of them). To gain entry into the PGA management program, at some point you must pass a players ability test. Typically, to pass, you have to shoot a couple scores in the mid-70s. I would argue that to do that, you need a reasonably effective golf swing. But, I guarantee, many of those swings are going to look a bit unorthodox.

So, when I say that to play better golf you need to improve your swing, I am not saying you need to go out and try and turn your swing into Ben Hogan's swing. What I am saying is that you should learn about the basic fundamentals of the golf swing and try to apply them to your swing.

Unfortunately, we have some disparity in opinion regarding these basic fundamentals. For instance, the Stack and Tilt swing model will have you set up to the ball with more weight on your front foot and have you feel as if you are keeping more weight on this front foot throughout the swing. That swing will have you finish with definitive tilt in your upper body away from the target.

Other swing models seem to be a response to the Stack and Tilt swing. For instance, CJ Goeck's Perfect Connection model will have you finish in a more upright position that appears to put less strain on the back than the Stack and Tilt swing. Also, there is disagreement among the supposed golf biomechanics as to what model will result in less stress on the body.

So, what does all this mean for the golfer? I strongly believe that the first thing a golfer should do to start making improvements is to get a physical assessment of their body from an experienced trainer or therapist. This will help identify the weaknesses in the body that may be keeping you from making any improvements at all.

Once you identify those weaknesses, work to strengthen them through a training program recommended by your trainer. After that, it is on to the fundamentals.

I believe that the fundamentals of the swing are quite simple. They start with a good grip, good stance and posture, and then you need to train the body how to move properly in the golf swing. Get yourself a video analysis of your swing so you can identify the areas that need most improvement. Then set a goal to improve on those fundamentals. Develop a plan to achieve that goal. This plan should require that you only work on one or two areas of the swing at a time.

Keep this in mind...improving your golf swing is a long term pursuit. If you are simply looking for a quick fix to help you straighten out your slice, don't expect long term improvement in your ball striking. Improving your swing requires knowledge of the fundamentals and the ball flight laws.

One other thing I should add...there is no one golf swing model that is better than the rest. While Ben Hogan had a gorgeous swing, most people do not have the physical capabilities of duplicating that swing. I can't name one player on the PGA Tour who swings like Hogan. None.

There is, however, a golf swing model that will work for best for you, based upon your own abilities. As Hogan used to say, you have to go dig it out of the dirt.

Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com

New Ben Hogan Book Review

I just had the opportunity to read Kris Tschetter’s new book Mr. Hogan, The Man I Knew, an autobiographical account of her relationship with Ben Hogan. The book reveals the man behind the gruff image often portrayed in the media, from the perspective of an LPGA golfer.

A little background. Kris Tschetter received a golf scholarship to play at Texas Christian University in the early 1980s. The university is located in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area where Hogan made his home. She and her brother received junior memberships at the Shady Oaks Country Club where Hogan was a member early in her college career. It was there that she ultimately befriended Hogan.

Hogan, Mr. Hogan as he is referred to by Tschetter, became her mentor and coach, and they ultimately became very close, as did their families. Tschetter reveals a side of the man that virtually no one was aware of, particularly his charitable side and his care for children. She also confirms his desire for privacy and his methodical demeanor.

As my own career as a golf instructor has evolved, I have become more and more fascinated by Hogan due to his success, particularly after his near fatal car accident. Tschetter’s book reveals that Hogan was indeed human, and not just a ball striking machine. He won his many tournaments by outworking and being better prepared than his competitors. It is clear that he could have likely won many more championships and major championships had it not been for the accident. His injuries not just to his legs and hips were devastating, but he also received a head injury that damaged his eyesight. His ability to overcome these injuries and go on to win several more major championships is simply awe inspiring.

As an instructor, what I take away most from the book are the golf course management lessons that Hogan gave to Tschetter. He actually did not stress swinging the golf club a particular way to her. With all the instructors out there who try to copy Hogan’s swing and his teachings, he never felt that his way was the best way. His swing simply worked for him. In the book, there is actually a passage where Tschetter is complaining about her inside takeaway. Hogan replies that she should not focus on that much, and he refers to Ray Floyd’s swing, since he had just won the U.S. Open at Shinnecock. Hogan simply stressed being in the right position just through impact. If you could get that right, chances are, you have made good contact with the ball. I can relate, because I have a similar type of takeaway.

After reading this book, I have concluded that it will be one of the best golf related books for years to come. The information in the book is extremely valuable from the perspective of a golf instructor and any golfer who wants to improve their game. There are no secrets! Becoming a great golfer requires hard work and patience along with a solid foundation in the fundamentals. However, from the standpoint of providing a glimpse into the life of Ben Hogan, I think it is even more revealing. The man clearly should be admired as a person, rather than just a legendary golfer, and Tschetter does an excellent job in uncovering the truth behind the legend. I will be forever grateful for her contribution to the game!

Scott Cole
www.scottcolegolf.com
www.onlinegolfswingcoach.com

Golf Tip of the Day

I completed reading Kris Tschetter's new book about her relationship with Ben Hogan, and will complete a review of that book in the next day or so. One revealing tidbit in the book was that even Ben Hogan suggested he only hit 3 or 4 shots each round just the way he wanted to. Now, of course, Mr. Hogan's misses were far better than the good shots most people make!

Still, what this implies, and it is implied elsewhere in the book, is that there is really no way to swing the club perfectly every time. Hogan was successful because he knew how to manage his game better than anyone else. Sure, he hit the ball better than everyone too, but he stressed golf course management to Tschetter at least as much as the golf swing.

So, while you are out on the course, don't worry so much about mishitting some shots. Just make sure you play to miss the shot in the right place. For instance, if you have water in front of the green, and the pin is cut close to the front of the green, don't shoot at the pin. Instead, hit enough club to get you to the back of the green! If you miss long, chances are you can walk away with bogey or less. Hit it in the water, chances are far greater that you will walk away with double bogey or more.

Enjoy your round!

Scott Cole
www.scottcolegolf.com
www.onlinegolfswingcoach.com