20 Days with the Guru: Day 1 “Physical Basics Of the Instrument”

I feel like I am in a bit of a golfing rut. Writers block as they say. The problem isn’t the lack of ideas, it is too many ideas to choose from. So in an attempt to get some blogging “FLOW”, I will be writing a tip, idea or whatever is on my mind for “20”, yes “20” straight days. The golf channel has 12 days at the academy…I have twenty days with the guru. I will attempt to educate you and entertain you as only my warped little golfing mind can do. So here is your idea for the day………………Understand the golfing instrument. “the club”
1. The club face, the club head and the club shaft all make up the tool that we use to propel the ball at the target. There are many methods, styles and ideas on how to create an efficient golf swing but it doesn’t matter as long as you adhere to the physicality of the way the club is built. (now it is up to you and your coach to figure out which one works for you). No matter what you are trying to do, there is no debating that there are two things the club must do to direct the ball in the manner that you wish.
1. Swing on a tilted “circle” on or parallel to the angle that the club rests on the playing surface “the ground”.
AN EASY WAY TO UNDERSTAND PLANE: The 5 Parallels
Assuming a stance that is square to the target, the club should be parallel to the target line at waist-high (1), parallel at the top of your swing when the club is perpendicular to the ground (2), parallel to the target line at waist-high on the downswing (3), parallel to the target line at waist-high on the front side (post impact)’(4) parallel to target line at three-quarters in the follow through.(5)2. Club face should be slightly open to the target line at impact and the ball should be struck on the inside quarter. The face of the club is only square a split second as the ball separates from the face.
3. The shaft of the club must lean towards the target in the impact zone as this is the key to compression and solid contact (also is the way the ball gets airborne).
For you expert golfers out there, you would be surprised at how many golfers don’t know these key physical basics of how to use the club, so bear with me as I never assume that my students or my audience knows anything……like a shanker that thinks he is hitting the ball off the toe of the club so they stand closer to the ball……what?
As we approach the winter season, get your golfing area in your house that will allow you to do some mirror work. I will expand on the importance of indoor practice as we move towards Christmas.
This is the best time to take a golf lesson because you aren’t playing as much so you are more likely to commit to a swing change. Stick with me and we will get an improvement plan in place.
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