The Secret of "Three"
Welcome back to our continuing series designed to help the mid to high handicap golfer break ninety consistently.
In the first article, you were asked to re-evaluate a basic concept implicit in traditional golf instruction; that innate tendencies must always be suppressed in favour of proper technique. This presupposition has led to an instruction system obsessed with error correction.
When student and instructor focus exclusively on technical imperfections, many golfers imply give up in frustration and revert to their original style; it may not be mechanically perfect, but at least there is some measure of predictability. The student has learned how to play with the swing flaws.
In the second article, I proposed one method of discovering your innate rhythm using a small metronome. Your natural or innate rhythm is the foundation for the three technical essentials that comprise every consistent swing.
Did I say three essentials?
Surely there are hundreds of technical imperatives. Every golfer knows that it takes years of practice to ingrain all the nuances of proper technique.
There are only three common factors intrinsic in every consistent swing. Every result can be explained in terms of these three elements. In essence, they are the causes. Everything else you hear or read about are effects.
If you score ninety or higher consistently, then you have been investing time and money in a vain attempt to correct effects without addressing the underlying causes. This is the root of inconsistency.
The three essentials of every effective swing are a consistent, grip, posture and swing arc. The grip and posture are the causes, the swing arc is the effect.
Once you understand the essence of these three elements, then you have the foundation for intelligent experimentation to discover the subtle adjustments that produce optimum results for you.
Let's begin with the Full Swing motion. The golf swing is a circle. The ball is simply an unavoidable speed bump, as the clubhead swings on its circular path through the ball.
The integrity of the circle is determined by your grip and posture. The grip and posture are causes - the circle or arc is the effect. A consistent circle is the result of a consistent grip and posture.
What are the basic characteristics of a circle? First, there are no straight lines in a circle. As obvious as this sounds, one of the most common misconceptions I see among golfers on the practice range, is attempting to swing the club back and forward over a straight line to the target. This image only applies to the Short Game: Putting and Chipping.
The second quality of a circle is the mirror-image. Visualize swinging the club into a mirror-image position in the Backswing and Follow-through.
Is this a technically accurate image? No. But our goal is not technical perfection. The objective is to create a simple visual image that will allow your body to react automatically in response to the motion of the club.
The third quality of a circle is derived from Sir Isaac Newton's laws of motion. Basically, the law states that an object in motion will continue in a given direction unless forced off its path by an outside force.
Swing the club on the proper path in the Backswing, and it will naturally swing into a mirror-image position in the Follow-through, unless it is forced off its path by extraneous body motion (ie. the outside force).
The motion of the club is the cause. Your body mechanics are effects. Swing the club in a circle and your body motion has to be correct.
In the next article, you will learn how to discover the grip and posture that produces optimum results.
Once you understand the three essentials of the Full swing, you must develop a routine to help ingrain the new sensations. The website is updated continuously with simple drills that provide instant feedback on your progress. The drills can be rehearsed anywhere; at home, in the office or on the practice range.
Website: http://www.johnstongolfacademy.com.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=D._Johnston
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