My Swing

[Martin Levac]

Re: My Swing

I had learnt the art of hitting a ball well by the time I was six years old. At that time my father would throw the ball to me and I would hit it back. I remember hitting it so well it zoomed passed my father and through the green house window, now that was a good strike as far as I was concerned but my father thought I was insubordinate!! Can you explain how this works regarding your theory above?

Yes, I can.

The Laws of the universe are obvious to us when we are young. We obey them without thinking. We throw a ball up, it falls down. We spin a ball sideways, it curves. We accept reality as it is. We deal with it as best we can. Once we learn the basic principle of the sweet spot on a stick, we immediately exploit it. The sweet spot is a form of the Laws of the universe. We learn to strike the ball on the sweet spot without thinking because we see the ball fly farthest this way. When it hurts, when we strike the ball off center, the ball doesn't fly as far.

We don't intellectualize all this: We're 6 years old. But we act as if we knew what to do without having had formal education on the subject.

We learn quickly because we are not hampered by the objections (we call it advice these days) of other people. "...now that was a good strike as far as I was concerned but my father thought I was insubordinate." You knew what to do, how to obey the Laws of the universe, but your father objected. Samson is receiving advice in line with what your father gave you. And he's receiving advice about the Laws of the universe. It's not all to obey the advice, we must do so successfully too.


Would you concur?

[Cliff]

Re: My Swing

Nope sorry you have lost me again. maybe it's fate

[Martin Levac]

Re: My Swing

Nope sorry you have lost me again. maybe it's fate

For a moment there, I thought you were becoming reasonable. I guess you fooled me.

[Ian Hancock]

Re: My Swing

The Laws of the universe are obvious to us when we are young. We obey them without thinking. We throw a ball up, it falls down. We spin a ball sideways, it curves. We accept reality as it is. We deal with it as best we can. Once we learn the basic principle of the sweet spot on a stick, we immediately exploit it. The sweet spot is a form of the Laws of the universe. We learn to strike the ball on the sweet spot without thinking because we see the ball fly farthest this way. When it hurts, when we strike the ball off center, the ball doesn't fly as far.

We don't intellectualize all this: We're 6 years old. But we act as if we knew what to do without having had formal education on the subject.

We learn quickly because we are not hampered by the objections

Would you concur?

Martin,

This must be the best few lines I have read on this site for ages, you have touched on something we all should know, what you have written indicates why adults can't learn or have difficulty learning golf in general, a child learns by results and nothing more.

Take the approach into the ball from the inside and then back to inside 90% of adults cannot understand that because over many years they learn and think to propel something forward you must be on line with the object you are hitting, approaching the ball from the inside with a open clubface makes no sense to an adult.

very good.

Ian.

[Martin Levac]

Re: My Swing

Martin,

This must be the best few lines I have read on this site for ages, you have touched on something we all should know, what you have written indicates why adults can't learn or have difficulty learning golf in general, a child learns by results and nothing more.

Take the approach into the ball from the inside and then back to inside 90% of adults cannot understand that because over many years they learn and think to propel something forward you must be on line with the object you are hitting, approaching the ball from the inside with a open clubface makes no sense to an adult.

very good.

Ian.

I'm glad you think so. If I found a way to make an adult learn as a child would, I'd patent the method and make a fortune. I found that it was so much easier to teach a child who hadn't yet been "corrupted" by our objections. I would use simple terms and the instructions were readily executed as is without question. With an adult, there's always some question about why and how and why not and shouldn't I and I shouldn't. I must always justify why it should be done this way and not the way they say in the magazine.

[Ian Hancock]

Re: My Swing

Hi Martin,

I think the 3Skills golf method is very similar to the 'child and golf' statement, it encourages you to forget the golf swing completely and focus on hitting the ball a certain way, i.e just focus on the result then simply keep repeating it.

A truly great way to learn.


Ian.

[BrianW]

Re: My Swing

OK, I think there is something true regarding the naive way a child may approach a task like swinging one object into another but lets not carried away with it.

I see kids at the range hitting balls and they tend to swing the club at the ball like an axe, much too fast with an upright stance that normally tops it a few yards. I don't think the actions required to create good ball flight is intrinsic or natural, in fact most of it is counter instinctive. Even the 3-Skills system relies on the student carrying out a set of strict drills to ingrain the correct way to strike the ball.

[Ian Hancock]

Re: My Swing

Hi Brian,

I agree we shouldn't get carried away, I think Martin is just touching on the instinctivness of a child, if it burns it fingers it learns not to touch again simple as that really. I also see children swinging clubs like axes but you need to see that child a year later without any tuition whatsoever, the question being would the child improve.

In Langers book he makes this point clear, he learned with a stronger grip he hit the ball further and scored better, when he tried changing it for a few months he said he couldn't break 80, I suspect Seve was the same also on the beach with a 3 iron, you would only hit a few fat then you would learn not to very quickly, that if your wrist doesn't break first.

Ian.

[bdbl]

Re: My Swing

Hi Brian,

I agree we shouldn't get carried away, I think Martin is just touching on the instinctivness of a child, if it burns it fingers it learns not to touch again simple as that really. I also see children swinging clubs like axes but you need to see that child a year later without any tuition whatsoever, the question being would the child improve.

In Langers book he makes this point clear, he learned with a stronger grip he hit the ball further and scored better, when he tried changing it for a few months he said he couldn't break 80, I suspect Seve was the same also on the beach with a 3 iron, you would only hit a few fat then you would learn not to very quickly, that if your wrist doesn't break first.

Ian.

Have to agree that Martin is touching on an important point; to repeat myself from an earlier post, "I'm coming to the conclusion that we shouldn't worry too much about "how" rather we should let go and just "do". More and more I'm coming to the conclusion that anyone who has ever hit it off the screws or pitched it close once probably knows all they need to know; its the questioning, teaching, analysis (and videos ) that messes us up."

I just wish though, Martin, you'd stop to think for a moment about how your posts might come across to others; stylistically you write in a punchy, almost "bullet point" way which in some circumstances is probably fine. Here, however, it comes across to many, as dogmatic and patronising which is a shame as I'm sure that your intention is to help.

[jbrunk]

Re: My Swing

That is how I played for 8 years as I taught myself how to hit a golf ball. Couldn't break 80, so I went and figured out how to do it right, and now I can play.

[Martin Levac]

Re: My Swing

I just wish though, Martin, you'd stop to think for a moment about how your posts might come across to others; stylistically you write in a punchy, almost "bullet point" way which in some circumstances is probably fine. Here, however, it comes across to many, as dogmatic and patronising which is a shame as I'm sure that your intention is to help.

Point taken. I'm working on that.

[BrianW]

Re: My Swing

Point taken. I'm working on that.

Martin,

That's good, I am always impressed by your individuality and would like to see you put it over in a way that seems more conciliatory.

[Samson72]

Re: My Swing

Hi Again!
I've changed two things in my swing and the result is pretty good. The things that i've done is.

At some point in the backswing, or even immediately as your first move back, bend your right wrist straight back.

And..

Get your right very upper arm connected to your upper right pec early. I bold these because you only want one connection point, rather than the whole upper right arm stuck to your side all through the swing.

This has really helped me to come more frome the inside. My shots are now stright or a small draw insead of a fade, slice or pull. I even hook the ball some times and that's a new one for me.
I don't have a new video yet but it feel like i'm on the right track.
Another thing that probably will help me this season is the new clubs that i have ordered. I did a costum fit and found out that needed stiffer and heavier shafts in my clubs and that the lie angel on my irons did not fit my swing.

I have now ordered the..
TaylorMade R7 TP 4-pw with Project-X riffle 5.5 shafts bent 2° upright with two layers of tape under the yellow Golf Pride New Decade Multi Compound grips. yummie
the..
Titleist 585.H 19° with the UST Proforce V2 Hybrid 85 shaft

I also tryed the titleist 906 F4 15.5° with the Aldila VS Proto 80 Fairway shaft and I liked it but I'm going to try it with the UST Proforce shaft as well before I decide.
I also tryed the TaylorMade Rescue TP and The Burner TP fairwaywood but the Titleist felt sooo much better.

Thanks again for your great tips.
/Samson72

[jambalaya]

Re: My Swing

I am not going to step on all of the great advice you have recieved from the others but keeping that right knee flexed and level on your backswing would really help. You really seem to be straightening it on the backswing. It is really throwing off your swing plane off in my opinon.

[brit63]

Re: My Swing

Hello

Good swing. However it looks like that you are using your arms a little too much in order to get more power, especially during the downswing. At the beginning of the downswing, you should use your lower body more and just let the arms follow.