As a PGA Teaching Professional, I have interaction with all sorts of players on a regular basis. It always amazes me to see how others try and adapt another players fundamentals. Then again, this is golf, and we are all trying to get the most out if it that we can.
Common denominators I see and look for fall into these four categories first.
- Grip
- Alignment
- Stance
- Posture
Commonly called G.A.S.P.! Why do I call it GASP? Because every time I step up to hit a golf shot, I GASP and say to myself… “Cool, I get to hit another great golf shot.” Where as most people hope and wonder what is going to happen. Another reason I GASP is, it reminds me of my fundamentals.
In looking at these four primary things in everyone. I am looking for what is solid and what is not solid.
These things are the all important beginnings to a solid golf swing and good shot making. This is what all PGA and LPGA Professionals look at in there assessments of students. Yes we also look at the swing. But it is much more important, that your fundamentals are solid before you make the golf swing. We always look at the end result of what your “Golf Equation” is going to produce!
If your initial fundamentals of GASP are not strong and solid, we go into helping you build or re-build them first. And the reason we go into building the fundamentals is because, without them, trying to fix something like club head speed is really sort of moot. As how can you swing faster and in control if you can’t control the club at a slower speed?
Ask your self the following simple questions.
- Is my grip solid and does the pressure change throughout the swing?
- What about my foundation, does it move around before impact?
- What if I build my swing as solidly as I built my house
- Is my posture consistent with the swing I want to produce
Knowing these things and making adjustments to make your swing more stable is really what “Golf Equation” is all about. To adapt a new method may take a little time, but if you it do it correctly, the time it takes to change will be far less than the time you will spend having the enjoyment out of your more solid fundamentals.
Another thing to think about is this. When someone tells you or shows you something about your golf swing, you would do yourself well to make them justify it, before just accepting it as a given. It matters not who gives you the advice, be it best friend, your local club pro, or a tour player. If it does not make common sense (TO YOU), then you might not be able to make the adjustment. And if you can’t make the adjustment, then it won’t be of any benefit to you.
Changing and fixing your golf swing takes time and effort. Any changes you make, should be simple and easy to insert so you can adopt it/them to the framework and platform of the swing you are looking to accomplish. Even the best players in the world understand that it takes time to make a new swing thought stick. And we all certainly know how easy it is to go backwards to an old thought or move, that may seem comfortable but produces bad or questionable results.
It is easy to want to go backwards, but you MUST be diligent in making the change you want. Remember this, when you were getting your lesson or tip, and your PGA or LPGA Professional, told you, demonstrated for you, and also got you to do it yourself, and it was an easier move to make with them present, then there is no doubt that you can make the move or adjustment, it is only a simple matter of applying it so that you can do it by yourself.
Be gentle and kind to yourself, in making the changes. There is no reason for you to beat yourself up just because you have not perfected the new change. Being overly critical of yourself, only sends you in the wrong direction and backwards towards, what was not working to begin with. Remember you are trying to figure your your own “Golf Equation”!
One of the biggest things I tell all students is this. Enjoy the process upon making your swing perform best for you. The probability of you making a conversion to swing like Tiger, Phil, Bubba, Aaron, or even your local club pro, is very slim. OH sure, you can get close, but there is no way you can make their swing as you are not them. Make your own swing, and have fun in doing it. That’s the great thing about golf, it is different for everyone and there are no two swings alike…ANYWHERE.
Until next time, hit em long, straight, and as few times as possible on the golf course.
Happy Golfing and Have a Great Day. I’ll see you on the Lesson Tee.
Robb Nunn
PGA Teaching Professional