How to Simplify a Golf Swing
There has probably been more written about the swinging of a golf club than any other athletic maneuver. A golf guru recently said that he estimated there were 60,000 ways to swing a club. A well received golf instruction book was entitled "101 Golf Tips." A human being's motor cortex cannot handle 10 golf tips when a swing is initiated. Recent brain wave studies reveal that the best golfers' minds go BLANK when a swing is initiated. Simple is better.
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Instructions
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Realize that once a golf swing is initiated, it is basically controlled by motor cortex activity beyond your conscious control. The concept of "motor memory" is a valid physiologic concept in that you do not consciously control the dynamic part of a golf swing.
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Understand that the concept of motor memory implies that you will play as you practice. Laying down proper "motor memories" are the key to improving your golf swing.
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Understand that the "static" parts of the--swing, grip, alignment and stance (GAS)--CAN be controlled and MUST be set properly before a good shot can be executed. Work on these basics.
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Familiarize yourself with the elements of classical simple swing. This golf swing is basically the adoption of a relaxed, balanced athletic stance. The dynamic part of the swing is a coordinated coiling--winding up as would a baseball hitter--and uncoiling swing through the golf ball. It has been described as a baseball swing at the ground.
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Integrate work on rhythm into all your practice. After mastering GAS, good rhythm is the next factor common to all good players.
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Investigate the recently popular theories of a simple swing. These include the concept called "The Simple Swing" as well as "The Natural Swing."
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Establish a working relationship with a Professional Golfers of America (PGA) teaching pro if possible. Working with a knowledgeable teaching professional will accelerate improvement in your game regardless of the nature of your swing.
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Tips & Warnings
There is reason to believe that the very elite golfers--golfers like Tiger Woods--do have a conscious sense of a clubhead as it progresses through a swing. The average golfer does not.
A golfer who does not have proper grip, alignment and stance (GAS) can execute a successful shot, but it will be executed either as a happenstance of chance or an accommodation to whatever is wrong with GAS. Accommodations to GAS mistakes are highly inconsistent.
