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Inexperienced
teachers tend to work on a players golf swing.
Experienced teachers work on a players ball flight.
The difference is, there is a different swing for everybody,
depending on your body and temperment. But the ball hit
into the air can only go in 9 directions. (straight,
straight with curve right, straight with curve left, then
for the next 3 substitute the word pull where you see
straight, and the next 3 substitute the word push).
Furthermore,
golfers have preferences as to the flight; some prefer
looking at a fade (Hogan, Trevino), some like a draw (Billy
Casper), some like to hit it straight (Moe Norman). If you
are struggling with your game, look first at the flight.
Only then can you make the proper corrections
I have had
the good fortune to have watched some of the greatest
teachers of the modern era giving lessons. They seem to be
working magic with their accurate assessment of the players
problem, and quick improvements that happen after their
sometimes subtle suggestions. It's not magic: it's
science. Those great teachers know what the club is doing
to cause a certain undesired ball flight, and can offer a
fix on the spot.
I heard Mike
Hebron say that the ball is a little computer, sitting there
waiting to be programmed. It only knows the moment of
impact, when the club meets the ball. Where it goes is the
printout. The ball can only go where impact programs it
to go.
Let the ball
be your teacher, and you can get your game on track
quickly. Suggested reading is anything by Hank Haney, or
John Jacobs, the two masters of understanding ball-flight. |
