Don’t Let These Myths Ruin Your Game

I have been very fortunate to have helped students improve their game for the last decade. When I first meet a student I like to spend a few minutes discussing their game and what they hope to accomplish with their lesson. More often than not my pupil tells me they have been working very hard at “Keeping their Head Down,” but is still not getting the ball in the air. Well, unfortunately through the years golfers have created myths about improving their golf swing. These myths have been responsible for a tremendous amount of frustration and angst for golfers who have tried curing their swing flaw. This month I am going dispel these myths and replace them with helpful truths.

1. Keep Your Head down

If I had a nickel for every time I heard the words “Keep Your Head Down,” I would be putting together a personal stimulus plan to help the economy. Keeping your head down is one of the main causes when golfers top the ball. When you keep your head down too long on the follow through, your arms rise and pull the club up and over the ball. Also, when your head is down you are unable to make the correct shoulder turn in the backswing. When your head is in the correct position you can make a nice free back swing and follow through.

2. You must keep your left arm straight

I certainly don’t advise students to bend their left arm. However, the majority of golfers who try to keep their arm straight end up with too much tension in their arm; that tension spreads quickly into the shoulder muscles resulting in a very restricted backswing. The club should be held securely but with a soft feeling in the hands. I would rather have you keep your left arm “comfortably straight”. This will reduce the amount of tension in your swing and may even help you hit the ball a little longer.

3. Finish High

The “finish with the high hands” myth was a term often used to describe a traditional follow through. When you go back and look at pictures of Jack Nicklaus, you’ll see high hands at the finish. You’ll also see big-time reverse-C back positions that can lead to severe back pain. The reverse-C isn’t the only bad result of a high-hands finish. Other major problems caused by positioning too much weight on your back leg at the finish are poor contact and a loss of distance. Instead of hands high in the finish, I like to see a significantly flatter position that encourages stable posture and a much more comfortable finish position (See Picture Below). Swinging the club around or flatter will help you keep the club on plane and reduce the amount of pressure you put on your back.

Closing

Long standing golf myths are just that, myths. They have been passed down from generation to generation and have somehow stood the test of time. Hopefully modern instruction will eliminate the myths and replace them with information that will help golfers. Thank you for reading this month’s golf tip. You can reach me at rickaltham@pga.com or 207-839-3490 if you have any questions about this month’s golf tip or would like to schedule a lesson.

Previous Golf Tips's (Click The Title To View Golf Tip)

1. Improving Your Golf Posture
2. Are you In Golf Shape?