Taking A Golf Lesson Isnt Always The Answer
Golfers will do anything they can in hopes to play better golf and hit the LONG ball. Am I
right? Are you in this category? If so, I'm quite confident to say you've taken a golf
lesson or two. Golf lessons can be very effective in getting you back on track, if your swing
has gone south. But, not always.
How many times have you taken a golf lesson, only to
be more frustrated and hitting the ball worse than before that golf lesson? Do you know why
this happens? It can be many different reasons, such as too many swing thoughts; making
drastic changes that require hours at the range and hitting thousands of balls; or lastly,
your body just can't effectively move in the way it needs to, to make a mechanically correct
golf swing.
I'm inclined to say that for the majority of golfers, especially the older
golfer, it's the last reason above. Your body just can't move the way it needs to. The
question now is, why?
Why can't your body do what you know it needs to do to swing the
club correctly? It can drive you to the point of quitting the game. But there is hope.
There is an approach that will almost 100% of the time correct this problem. Do you want to
know what it is? It's addressing your "physical limitations". That's what's
keeping you from a great game of golf.
Do you ever get on the course and just feel like
you can't make a full backswing? Or, it just feels impossible to maintain your golf posture
and "stay in your swing"? No amount of golf lessons or hitting balls will correct
this. This is a "physical" issue with your body, and until you work on it, it will
never get better. I've seen it time and time again. Golfers walking off the course in pure
disgust. They've taken golf lessons, hit balls at the range, and even bought the latest,
greatest titanium drive; and yet still can't play like they think they are capable of.
Finding out your "physical limitations" is the first step to a lifelong better game
of golf. Once you find out what's keeping you from making that perfect swing, you can set up
a game plan to improve it. It may be a flexibility issue, or it may be a strength issue. But
either way, you've got to find out what it is.
The most common issue (especially for the
older golfer) is flexibility. Not being able to rotate your body fully on the backswing,
creating that power and torque for maximum clubhead speed. If your back swing is cut short,
you will LOSE yards on your drives! And I say again; no amount of lessons or hitting balls
will make that any better. You've got to do specific golf stretches to improve this
limitation.
Now on the other side of these limiting factors is strength, specific to
golf. And one of the most common limitations is weak hamstrings (the back of the upper leg).
The role of the hamstring is critical. It allows you to maintain your golf posture throughout
the swing and for 18 holes. It prevents undo strain on your lower back. And can give you a
steady, comfortable position while putting.
If your hamstrings are weak, I can almost
say with certainty, you've got some low-back pain or injury. This is prevalent in older
golfers and even the younger ones too. Back pain is the number reason to keep a golfer from
playing his/her best. Have you ever walked off the course with your back in pain? I'm sure
at one time or another you have. Now do you think hitting more balls or taking more lessons
will improve this? I think you know the answer.
If you have a difficult time,
"staying in your swing", it most definitely could be the above scenario. In order
to maintain the forward flex in your upper body (golf posture), your hamstrings need to have
optimal strength (and flexibility). If not, your hamstring will send a message to your brain
saying, "get out of this position, I can't hold it any longer". Do you think his
has ever happened to you?
So working on the physical side of your game improvement may
be the missing link. I can assuredly tell you with this approach, your game WILL improve.
There is no doubt. Getting your body to move just a little better will make a huge difference
in your ability to make an optimal swing for 18 holes. So before you take that next golf
lesson, take a look at your BODY first!