I've spent loads of hours sitting in my favourite cafe watching people teeing off from an assortment of greens on the course it serves. There is a good viewpoint of people driving off up the first and an even better view of the drive from the 8th tee, which includes the view right down to the green. It is an outstanding way to spend a lazy lunchtime, watching other people playing the game I wish I might dedicate more time to.
Now I am not going to say to have the greatest or purest swing out there. It certainly has room for improvement and needs a lot more consistency. But watching others take their tee shot, I can definitely spot the good swing from the bad swing before the ball is struck. Usually the practice swings will show what type of swing is coming up. Occasionally, just the backswing will show the faults.
The thing is, I know if I could stand 20 feet away from myself and watch my swing I might be able to point out corrections. Now, this might not be on the cards, but down on the driving range it is possible to get my wife to video my swing on the camera video phone. The very first time she did that for me I straight away corrected my swing and lost the worst of my slice in an instant. My swing, like many of the people I watch down in the cafe, was far too flat. By bringing the top of the backswing higher the path to the ball was corrected, the spin was lessened and the ball flew straighter.
Why is getting the basic swing correct so significant? Golf is a intricate game at the best of times. Striking at a static ball leaves fear in most people's hearts. It might be easy, but look at the distance a goal keeper kicks a spot ball against the distance of a dropped ball. We, as humans, find a moving ball more simple to strike.
So when it comes to the time to hit the 1.68 inch golf ball with a fast moving club head at the far end of a golf club, held at arm's lenth, the odds are hugely against us. How often when you were starting did you top and even just take a fresh air shot? In all probability more than you care to admit?
By reproducing an 'authentic' golf swing, one that is the acknowledged shape, we are benefitting from the countless years of playing experience of those who have gone before us have put into planning the perfect swing. The perfect swing shape puts the clubhead on the straightest line for the longest length of time, which in actual fact is a measly fraction of a second.
For this brief instance, for that split second immediately before the club strikes the ball to the fraction of a second afterward when the ball has left the tee, the clubhead is moving directly to the target and at a level height.
Getting the perfect swing is not straightforward. But we can try!
Author Resource:-
Keith Lunt works for Golfing Gear, where you can get involved with golf conversation and lots more.
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