The Texas WedgeHog – Rootin’ Out The Truth!

We really struck a nerve with Tuesday’s article about Chris’ dilemma about golf, and I want to thank all of you for chiming in to encourage him to stick with it, get lessons, continue learning and enjoy himself on the course. The majority of comments offered guidance to Chris to help him continue his improvement, and a few of you expressed your own frustrations with not getting better. So that’s my topic of today.

A couple of years ago, I attended a symposium put on by Golf Digest’s research department. I have worked with these guys in the past and they are very smart and thorough. They explored the typical responses as to why people quit or don’t play more – too much time, too expensive, etc. But the magazine’s research department uncovered the real fact – by a large margin, the number 1 reason people give up the game is that they don’t get better! So, with all that’s published and all the teaching pros available to help us learn, why is that? It’s really kind of puzzling to me, actually. So, this morning the Texas WedgeHog is going to try to “root out the truth” on this matter. Put on your steel toe work boots, because I’m probably going to step on some toes here.

The Texas WedgeHog’s Top Five Reasons Golfers Don’t Improve

1. Most golfers don’t really understand the golf swing. You watch golf and your practice and you play, but you don’t really understand the dynamics of what is really happening at 100 mph during the golf swing. There are dozens of good books on the subject – my favorite is Ben Hogan’s “Five Lessons – The Modern Fundamentals of Golf”. READ IT. LEARN IT. It will help you immensely if you really understand what the swing is really all about. Use a full length mirror to pose in key positions in the swing to match those drawings. If you don’t, none of the tips and tricks in the golf magazines, videos, etc. will do anything but screw you up. All the practice in the world will not help if you are not building a sound fundamental golf swing.

2. Golf instruction/teachers are lost. That applies both to professionals and your well-intentioned buddies. No one can “teach” another person to swing a golf club – you can only guide them in the learning process. And every step of the way requires repetition and fundamental understanding. My rap on many teachers is that they don’t take time to clearly understand that particular student’s learning style or his/her immediate and long-term objectives. Someone who learns by observation is going to be lost in long explanations. Another who is analytical wants to fully comprehend the details of what the instructor is communicating. And if they just want to fix their slice, don’t try to rebuild their swing – just fix the slice!

3. Learning golf doesn’t start in the middle. A sound golf swing is built like a house. First the foundation, then the framing, roof, exterior walls, interior, paint and trim. You can’t do one before the other. In golf, it all starts with the grip. If you do not hold the club properly, you’ll NEVER accomplish a sound golf swing. Then you learn good posture and set up. If you don’t start in a good position, the body can’t perform the swing maneuvers. With a good grip and a sound set up posture, I believe anyone can learn a functional golf swing pretty easily. But if those two foundations are not sound, the walls and roof will never be reliable.

4. Most bad shots are ordained before the swing ever begins. I am rarely surprised by a bad shot, or a good one, actually. The golf swing is not a very forgiving thing. If you are too close to the ball or too far . . . if it’s too far forward or backward . . . if you are aligned right or left of your intended line . . . your chances of success are diminished quickly and significantly. The ball is 1.68” in diameter, and the functional striking area on a golf club is about 1.5” wide. If you vary in your set up by even ¾” you have imposed a serious obstacle to success. If you do nothing else to improve your golf game . . . . LEARN HOW TO SET UP THE SAME WAY, IN THE SAME PLACE EVERY TIME.

5. Learn to “swing” the club, not “hit” the ball. This sounds simple, but the golf swing is not a hitting action, it’s a swinging action. The baseball hitter is just that, because the ball is in a different place every time – high, low, inside, outside, curve. He has to rely on quick eye hand coordination. In contrast, the golf swing is just that – a swing of the club. You have total control over where the ball is going to be, so that you can be quite precise in the relationship between your body and the ball and the target line. You can swing when you want to, at the pace you find comfortable. And you can take your time to make sure the ball will be precisely in the way of that swing.

Learning the golf swing doesn’t require a driving range at all. In fact, your backyard presents a much better learning environment because the ball is not in the way to give you false feedback. Your goal is only the swing itself. Understand that you can make a great swing, and often do, but the shot doesn’t work out because it was in the wrong place, maybe by only ¼” or so. Take time to learn and practice your swing, focusing on a good top of backswing position and a sound rotating release through impact. Learn the proper body turn and weight shift. Slow motion is your friend. So is “posing” and repeating segments of the swing to really learn them. Learn the swing at home, refine your ball striking on the range and play golf on the course!

So, there you have my five reasons. I’d like to hear your comments on any and all of them, and your thoughts as to how we should address each one. Oh, and don’t forget to add your own.

Terry Koehler is "The Wedge Guy" and President of SCOR Golf- The Short Game Company.

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