Unfolding Process

Week 6:

 

    In a game where score is a benchmark of success it’s surprising how many golfers believe that their score is in direct relation to how well they swing the club; good swing = good score; bad swing = bad score. This concept excludes the idea of scoring well when you are swinging poorly, a must skill in a game where the best ball sticker ever, Ben Hogan said he expected to make only six good shots a round. Of course Hogan’s concept of good was a bit different than everyone else but none-the-less the point stands – the swing ain’t the only thing!

    This week cultivate the concept of golf as an unfolding process: As you progress from the tee, where by rule, all positions are equal, you either increase or decrease your positional advantage until you hole out -- the ultimate positional advantage.  This is the same process for every hole you play and to maximize your performance you need to develop a plan that maneuvers the ball to favorable positions just as the good billiard player controls the cue ball to run the table.  Thus the strategy for scoring golf is POSITION and those who consistently gain positional advantage consistently score well.

    POSITIONAL ADVANTAGE

    Like your swing concept, your golf game will never be any better than your concept of what a good golf game should be. If your concept of the game is hitting pretty shots, having fun or hitting it farther than the next player then you will focus all your energies toward your goal and scoring will become an afterthought.

    You may not even be aware that you're doing this and if somebody asked you, you'd say that score is most important, but subconsciously your priorities drive your behavior.  Scorers prioritize for low scores and use the swing as a vehicle.  How the shot effects their position is the important factor for scoring.  This way they keep a clear mind that can focus on their most important goal -- scoring.

 

If you can get on the golf course this week focus on the process of your play rather than your swing. If you’re snowed in watch one of the many tournaments on TV, pick a player and after you’ve watched them play, track them on PGAtour.com where their round is outlined shot by shot. You’re not looking at their swings but how they position the ball around the course.

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Week Five

In week five it’s time to explore one of the most basic mechanisms of your golf swing – SWING PLANE – you cannot build a correct swing without it. Most golfers find swing plane a confusing topic so to clear up the confusion lets be clear about two terms. The first is the shaft plane which is the angle the shaft forms with the ground at address. Each of your clubs has a different shaft angle but once you assume the correct set up, you don't have to consciously adjust your swing because the correct progression of shaft angles is built into your clubs at the factory - it’s called the lie of club.

The second concept is the swing plane angle, the angle of your shaft while the club is in motion. Thus while the shaft plane at address is chosen for you, the swing plane angle is your own creation so it can go wrong in a hurry. Here’s the rule of thumb: If your ball flight is inconsistent, one time left, one time right, sprinkled with some fat and thin then chances are you have a swing plane problem. Too steep usually spells slice [open at impact] while too shallow usually results in hook [face closing at impact]

To track the correct plane for your swing put a ball in place then position two clubs forming a target line, one in front and one in back of the ball. Now take your address position in front of a full-length mirror using a six iron so the mirror is reflecting a down-the-target-line view. Using an erasable marker or colored tape, have a friend draw a line over the reflection of the shaft and extend that line from the heel of your club up through the reflection of your body. This is the shaft plane angle of address and to achieve maximum consistency your goal is to return the club on the same shaft angle at impact.

         

Now swing and stop to check your swing halfway back, halfway down and halfway after impact to make sure that the shaft angle [your swing plane angle at that point] points at the target line.  

Understanding swing plane means that you can self-diagnose and that’s the key to consistency – it doesn’t mean you won’t hit bad shots but you will be able to get back on track quicker so it’s worth the week to get your arms around this concept.

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