COMMON FLAWS
In the game of golf (as in the game of life), there are the golf gods and the golf demons. Every golfer, whether amateur or professional, shares a special relationship with both. On a good day, we enjoy the attention of the golf gods and sink that thirty-foot putt. On a bad day, the demons rear their ugly heads, and we watch the ball hook wickedly to the left and make a big splash as it hits the water.
The demons in golf are often the result of a swing flaw or multiple swing flaws. Most of these flaws can be put into one of three main categories:
- Grip Issues
- Setup Issues (Static Geometry)
- Swing Issues (Dynamic geometry)
- Timing/Tempo issues (timing issues)
Understanding the geometry of the golf swing goes a long way toward both recognizing swing flaws as well as correcting them.
To get a pure shot, the kinematics and the timing need to be precise. A small deviation in any part of the geometry of either the setup or the swing (rotation) can have a significant impact on where the ball will end up. One could argue that improper grip ultimately leads to a majority of kinematic problems (i.e., problems with the geometry of the shot). Grip issues are in a category of its own because of the importance of a good grip. If you don’t get the grip right, the rest of the swing doesn’t really matter.
Professionals and low-handicap golfers, through sheer athleticism and lots of hard work, have learned to control and even use these flaws to their advantage. The rest of us mere mortals struggle to control these flaws every time we step on to a golf course.
# 1: Grip Issues
A good grip is one of the fundamental requirements to a good golf swing. If the grip is flawed, the rest of the swing is compromised. A strong grip can help a golfer achieve more clubhead speed and hence more distance, but it’s usually at the expense of accuracy. A strong grip will promote a hooked shoot that will peel off to the left and into the woods.
Suggestion: Maintain a neutral grip with a flat left wrist, especially if you are a beginning golfer or an intermediate level golfer who suffers from and who tends to pull shots to the left of the target line.
# 2: Setup Issues (Static Geometry)
A good and consistent golf swing requires good consistent geometry at setup.
Suggestion: Maintain good posture during setup. Keep the back straight and pivot at the hips during setup.
#3: Swing Issues (Dynamic Geometry)
Incorrect geometry during the backswing, top of the swing, downswing, impact, and finish make it difficult to hit a ball consistently and accurately. Remember that if you don’t get the geometry correct, the physics doesn’t matter.
Suggestion: Maintain good geometry throughout the swing.
#4: Timing/Tempo Issues
The two main factors that affect ball flight are clubface angle at impact and sidespin. The club path determines the clubface angle and sidespin, which results from the timing between primary and secondary rotation.
Tempo is the timing of each part of the swing. For example, the backswing and downswing may have a count of three. The backswing is on count one and count two and then the downswing to impact is on count three. Distance is gained by timing the release of the secondary rotation during the downswing concerning the primary rotation of the shoulders.
Suggestion:Practice, practice practice but make sure that you are practicing the right stuff.