I've spent scores of hours sitting in my favourite cafe watching people teeing off from a variety of greens on the course it serves. There is a good point of view of people driving off up the first and an still better view of the drive from the 8th tee, which includes the view right down to the green. It is an first-rate way to spend a lazy lunchtime, watching other people playing the game I wish I may possibly give more time to.
Now I am not going to declare to have the greatest or purest swing out there. It positively has room for enhancement and wants a lot more consistency. But watching others take their tee shot, I can definitely spot the good swing from the bad swing before the ball is struck. Generally the practice swings will show what kind of swing is coming up. Occasionally, just the backswing will show the faults.
The thing is, I know if I could stand 20 feet away from myself and watch my swing I should be able to point out corrections. Now, this may not be workable, but down on the driving range it is achievable to get my wife to video my swing on the camera video phone. The very first time she did that for me I immediately corrected my swing and lost the worst of my slice in an instant. My swing, like many of the people I watch down in the cafe, was far too flat. By bringing the top of the backswing higher the path to the ball was corrected, the spin was lessened and the ball flew straighter.
Why is getting the basic swing right so imperative? Golf is a tough game at the best of times. Striking at a static ball leaves fear in most people's hearts. It should be easy, but look at the distance a goal keeper kicks a spot ball opposed to the distance of a dropped ball. We, as humans, find a moving ball easier to strike.
So when it comes to the time to hit the 1.68 inch golf ball with a hastily moving club head at the far end of a golf club, held at arm's lenth, the odds are hugely against us. How often when you were starting did you top and even just take a fresh air shot? Almost certainly more than you care to admit?
By reproducing an 'authentic' golf swing, one that is the accepted shape, we are benefitting from the many years of playing experience of those who have gone before us have put into planning the perfect swing. The ideal swing shape puts the clubhead on the straightest line for the longest length of time, which in actual fact is a measly fraction of a second.
For this brief moment in time, for that split second just before the club strikes the ball to the fraction of a second afterward when the ball has left the tee, the clubhead is moving directly to the target and at a level height.
Getting the ideal swing is not easy. But we can try!
Author Resource:-
Keith Lunt writes for Golf Equipment, where you can get involved with golf chatter and lots more.
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