Joe,
A question from a high handicapper with a limited budget. How much would it help if I got new clubs?
Cary
Hi Cary,
Some people think buying expensive clubs will automatically guarantee better scores. If you have a lot of money, go ahead and get custom-fitted clubs, but if you are a beginner or high handicapper, and you would rather not spend a lot of money, you might first start with less expensive clubs, or borrow some from a friend, and when you find some that you hit really well, then have the specs measured and use those specs when you are ready to buy newer clubs. Everybody is built differently, so your clubs should at least be the right length, shaft flex, and lie angle for you, in order to do your best. Otherwise you may be fighting a slice or hook only because those clubs do not fit your type of swing, while a different set of clubs might help correct slices or hooks without a swing change. For those of us who cannot afford the cost of new clubs, there is only a small financial risk to consider getting used clubs from classified ads, garage sales, or stores that sell used sporting equipment. To even further minimize your risk, ask if you would be allowed to try the clubs at a driving range and possibly get your money back if you do not like the way you hit with them.
Joe
Monday, September 05, 2005
Joe,
There are so many different tips on TV, in magazines, in books, on videos, etc., and some of them seem contradictory to each other, for example on the backswing some say to set the wrist cock early while others say delay the wrist cock until you near the top of the backswing. I am drowning in too much information, how can anyone sort this out? Help!!!
Ian
Hello Ian,
Many tips are aimed a low handicappers who are trying to achieve every bit of distance and control. But the average golfer first needs to focus on consistent ball striking before worrying about distance. Some people have had success with early wrist cock while others avoid that. Some people like to grip it and rip it. However, I do not believe it is good advice for high handicappers to take a full turn and swing hard. Most tips may work for some people, but not for others. Avoid any instructions that are giving you more and more things to think about while you are swinging, since they must be assuming you already can make clean contact on every shot, and you must be playing several times per week. For higher handicappers, or people who play less frequently, I feel we must be careful to keep the game simple. It makes no sense to overly complicate the swing for them. Clean contact on every shot is of paramount importance. We are not robots. We all have different amounts of hand-eye coordination skills and athleticism. No two people are built the same. Everyone has some differences in bone and muscle structure, and the way our natural hinges work (wrists, elbows, shoulders, hips, knees, etc.). Although it seems to make sense to try to imitate the way the pros swing to some degree, you can’t expect the average golfer to execute every single move like the pros can. Pros play every day and have personal swing coaches, and the best customized equipment. People who play less frequently and have average equipment, average physical skills, and cannot afford lessons, must tailor their expectations accordingly. It is OK to have a long list of swing keys, but it is hard to think of more than one or two at a time during your swing. Therefore, just pick from your list one key for the backswing and one for the downswing. There may be a certain combination of keys that seem to work better one day and a different combination on another day. Why is that? Because your swing is controlled by many different muscles of differing sizes and shapes, all of which are getting bigger or smaller, stronger or weaker in different combinations every day, so without you realizing it, your swing does change. This is true for all sports, not just golf. Nobody ever maintains a perfect swing for very long. Even Jack and Tiger have always been tinkering with their swings. Just stay with the tips that improve your ball striking consistency.
Joe
There are so many different tips on TV, in magazines, in books, on videos, etc., and some of them seem contradictory to each other, for example on the backswing some say to set the wrist cock early while others say delay the wrist cock until you near the top of the backswing. I am drowning in too much information, how can anyone sort this out? Help!!!
Ian
Hello Ian,
Many tips are aimed a low handicappers who are trying to achieve every bit of distance and control. But the average golfer first needs to focus on consistent ball striking before worrying about distance. Some people have had success with early wrist cock while others avoid that. Some people like to grip it and rip it. However, I do not believe it is good advice for high handicappers to take a full turn and swing hard. Most tips may work for some people, but not for others. Avoid any instructions that are giving you more and more things to think about while you are swinging, since they must be assuming you already can make clean contact on every shot, and you must be playing several times per week. For higher handicappers, or people who play less frequently, I feel we must be careful to keep the game simple. It makes no sense to overly complicate the swing for them. Clean contact on every shot is of paramount importance. We are not robots. We all have different amounts of hand-eye coordination skills and athleticism. No two people are built the same. Everyone has some differences in bone and muscle structure, and the way our natural hinges work (wrists, elbows, shoulders, hips, knees, etc.). Although it seems to make sense to try to imitate the way the pros swing to some degree, you can’t expect the average golfer to execute every single move like the pros can. Pros play every day and have personal swing coaches, and the best customized equipment. People who play less frequently and have average equipment, average physical skills, and cannot afford lessons, must tailor their expectations accordingly. It is OK to have a long list of swing keys, but it is hard to think of more than one or two at a time during your swing. Therefore, just pick from your list one key for the backswing and one for the downswing. There may be a certain combination of keys that seem to work better one day and a different combination on another day. Why is that? Because your swing is controlled by many different muscles of differing sizes and shapes, all of which are getting bigger or smaller, stronger or weaker in different combinations every day, so without you realizing it, your swing does change. This is true for all sports, not just golf. Nobody ever maintains a perfect swing for very long. Even Jack and Tiger have always been tinkering with their swings. Just stay with the tips that improve your ball striking consistency.
Joe
