Are You A Swatter Or A Hitter?

Golf is a tough game. You are attempting to hit a small ball with a clubhead that is not necessarily that large. Unlike other sports, the target is usually smaller and if you don’t hit it the specified or general area, golf becomes an adventure! 

There are so many things to think about in the golf swing and as humans we make it more complicated than it is. Most important, we attempt to play without any help from a professional and too much help from those who don’t do it any better than we do. 

As in anything worth doing, there is a process in learning to play golf. Most of us start out just trying to “whack it” and it usually goes downhill from there because you have to find the ball to play.

After 50 plus years of teaching, I have learned so much and still learning daily. Here’s my take on starting the game and building a plan to progress.

·      The hands must understand what the clubface is doing to repeat hitting the ball solid…….solid is related to ball flight

·      Golf is a rotational sport…..you must learn the core plays the key role in all golf swings

·      Fundamentals never go away…..they are a constant work in progress

·      You must play on a regular basis to get better…….work on your swing motion during a lesson or a range session……..work on shot making and scoring when you play

Be systematic about learning to put the clubface on the ball. When you begin making consistently solid contact, it gets to be fun!

Create your own system and follow it:

·      Fundamentals: grip, posture / balance, alignement, ball position

·      Work on swing motion with short shots & clubs until you hit it solid….work into longer clubs as shots get better

·      Take it to the golf course as many times as possible

Don’t be a waver or swatter at the golf ball……learn a swing motion that lets you feel a solid hit every time!

Ray cutright

Pga master professional, instruction

HOW I THINK:

• There are certain positions in the golf swing that all great players repeat and do the same.

• The IMPACT position is the moment of truth.

• Practice must be feel and result driven.

• Mechanics are athletic and feel driven. They are delivered and understood differently by each student.

• The swing motion along with a proper practice routine is ongoing and can always improve.

• The student must understand that it’s about correct repetition under playing conditions that produce shots for improved scoring.

• Proper instructor assessment, delivery, and teacher - student communication provide the foundation for student improvement.

• It starts with a plan that is regularly reviewed and adapted along the learning path.

• I hate failure / come prepared to learn & get better.

PUTTING THE PIECES TOGETHER TO PLAY GOLF:

• Givens: Pre Swing Fundamentals

  • Grip

  • Posture

  • Alignment

  • Ball Position

  The foundation for an improving swing motion always starts with these givens and will always be the starting points you go back to………this where all good players start!

• Swing Motion - Where It Starts And How To Repeat / Feel It…………Improve Under Playing Conditions

• Playing:

  • Setup / Understanding And Repeating The Givens

  • Swing Motion Under Playing Conditions

  • Playing Parts:

    • Full Swing

    • Short Game

    • Putting

    • Mental / Strategy

    • Understanding And Fixing Yourself

    • Identifying And Developing Meaningful Practice Sessions

GIVENS IN THE SETUP PROCESS:

GRIP:

• Understanding How Hands Go On The Club

• Feeling The Proper And Most Powerful Position

• Understanding The Marriage Of The Grip And Clubface

• Seeing And Feeling The Clubface At Impact

POSTURE:

• Balance Is Essential In Any Sport!

• You Must Have A Consistent Posture To Repeat Your Swing Motion

• A 3 Part Sequence:

  • Stand Tall And Feet Wide Enough To Maintain BALANCE Throughout Swing Motion

  • Tilt At Waist So Arms Hang

  • Slight Athletic Knee Flex

ALIGNMENT:

• Understanding Ball Path vs Swing Path

• Developing And Repeating A Consistent Alignment Process

BALL POSITION:

• middle to left heel / understanding your maximum contact point

• specialty shots / various placements

TO REPEAT A MOTION:

• You must understand and believe it

• You must feel it

• You must practice to repeat it

• It must produce results that satisfy you

• You must turn it into scoring

• You must see the end result

HOW DO YOU LEARN:

Visually

Fundamentals

Feel

Drills / Repetition

Playing

Targets

That’s What We Have To Find Out!!!!!!!!

WHY DRILLS:

• to understand and feel the proper physical motion

• to repeat the motion in an actual swing situation

• taking it to the golf course