Golf Swing Myths You'd Like to See Go Bye-Bye

[Richie3Jack]

Here's mine and it's a very basic one that just about every instructor I've ever ignores.

KEEPING YOUR EYE ON THE BALL

or

KEEPING YOUR HEAD DOWN

The past 2 days were the first time I've played in a long time and I wound up playing with some higher handicap players both days and what was the common theme for their bad shots?

To the effect of 'I hit it bad because I picked up my head.'

I actually get a kick out of this because I will watch these golfers and THEIR HEAD IS DOWN and they are LOOKING AT THE BALL at impact.

If I was an instructor, one of the things I would be extremely aggressive with in order to market my service is that keeping your eye on the ball or keeping your head down, almost all of the time, is a bunch of bunk.

You hit ground balls, you hit chili dips, you hit shanks, etc. because you have lousy control over the low point, clubface and the path.

Of course, if I was a golf instructor, the aggressiveness of this message may change depending where I work. If it's at a plush resort, you're not going to get many course members interested in taking a lesson from you. There's other ways you have to market and establish yourself. But if I was at a club...private, semi, or muni you could best bet I would try to make that message clear.

Why?

Because only 10% of the golfing population gets lessons and I believe a big chunk of the golfers who do not get lessons is because they think it mostly boils down to 'keeping your head down.' But, if you can show that it's a bunch of bunk AND show how to get the ball consistently airborn, I think more lessons will come your way.

Of course, the hard part is actually being a good enough teacher to turn around the student's game.

So, what are the golfing myths you would like to see forever gone?





3JACK

[Richie3Jack]

Backswing is too long. Not that I don't think a backswing can be too long, but I also think that backswings can be long and still be perfectly fine. Snead and Hogan pre-accident are great examples.



3JACK

[gmbtempe]

myth: good players come in shallow, flat...they come in on plane but steep with the irons.

[jonnygrouville]

Not sure if it qualifies as a myth, but I'm not a fan of the traditional 'one-piece' takeaway. I think this has left a lot of people with the clubhead too low and too inside.

I suppose the underlying (over-simplified) myth would be that the hands don't do anything in the backswing.

[golfbaka]

'Keep your head down' is one you really do hear ALL the time. I even find myself saying it sometimes even though I know its a load of nonsense! Helps with comradery on the course... and saves me saying something like 'I ran out of right arm' and getting funny looks...

Mine would be - 'backswing is 80% of the swing' or some such arbitrary figure!

[TeddyIrons]

I'm not a fan of "hit down on the ball". I think hitting down on the ball is thanks to a good pivot and low point control, and not a concious effort to take a large chunk of turf.

[Richie3Jack]

What's funny about 'keeping your head down' is that you'll hear some golfers say 'I thought I kept my head down, but I obviously didn't.'





3JACK

[golfbaka]

I heard a golfer this Saturday say to his friend, who can complimented him on his chipping, was that the KEY to good chipping was keeping your head down! These are the guys I play against so that's fine!

How about this as a great myth that there's 'a magic move' which if you can just find out will suddenly turn you into Tiger (on the golf course anyway!)!

[Richie3Jack]

I'd like to see golfers worry much, much, much less about BACKSWING plane and more about the clubface in the backswing. Usually golfers do the opposite and ignore the clubface on the backswing and wonder why they hit shots all over the place.




3JACK

[mudball]

Good topic. Things I have grown to hate.
Reach for the sky on backswing
Create the X-factor (shoulder/hip rotation)
Slow backswing

Result a takeaway and pivot that do not involve swinging the club. Also you don't hit the ball on the backswing.

[phana24jg]

How about "keep your head still"? I have seen many golfers completely destroy their pivot with this silly bromide.

[danadahlquist]

Feb 21, 2010 23:14:34 GMT -5 dennyalberts said:

A weak grip This is a killer.

Denny Hogan had one. Anna uses one?

[gmbtempe]

Feb 27, 2010 3:43:34 GMT -5 danadahlquist said:

Feb 21, 2010 23:14:34 GMT -5 dennyalberts said:

A weak grip This is a killer.

Denny Hogan had one. Anna uses one?

Dana,

You just used two professional golfers, and I would bet two of the more flexible golfers as well, I don't think a weak grip is a good for the majority of players .