|
|
Table of Contents
WARREN's PHILOSOPHY
MANY WAYS of HITTING
The PRACTICE TEE
GOLF TRUISMS
WARREN's PHILOSOPHY
Warren believes that given the correct information in an organized manner,
humans can learn anything. "Correct information" means acquiring knowledge
and "organized manner" means proper teaching sequences. The golf swing is
a series of motions that must be learned and understood and then performed
in the correct sequence.
Unfortunately, golf is being taught without expanding the golfer's knowledge
of the golf swing. Lack of knowledge is the single, most important reason why
handicaps have not decreased in the past 50 years. This knowledge has always
been available. But, communicating this knowledge and in the proper sequence
is the key to "becoming a good golfer" and having lower scores.
It is essential to have good posture at the setup and maintain that posture while the arms
and club move on plane. Keeping the club on plane is the absolute requirement for solid
contact and hitting straight and far.
If you do not have the knowledge that the golf swing motion is made up of 6
parts and if you do not know which part contributed to the good or bad shot, then
lowering your handicap permanently will be almost impossible.
The golf swing is a series of motions that must be learned and understood and
only then performed in the correct sequence. The teaching method Warren uses,
combines technical explanations with practice drills that will help any golfer
no matter what their ability level.
When you draw a circle with a compass, the circle is perfect. Why? Because the center
of the circle and the distance from the pencil to the center are fixed. Thus the pencil
is able to return to the same spot it started at. A good golf swing is based on the
same principle. It needs to have a center, which is the bottom of the spine. This means
you should not shift your weight to your back foot on your back swing, or consciously shift
it forward on the downswing. By keeping your center fixed through the backswing your posture
is good, and the club on plane, then your upper body will rotate causing your weight to
automatically shift to the front foot. If you try to shift your weight consciously,
and your timing is not perfect, then you will accidently move the center of the swing circle
preventing the club from returning to its original starting point. Similarly if you change
the distance your elbows are from the center of the swing (by pulling them towards the ball)
the arc of the circle the club is on will also change preventing the club from returning to its
original starting point.
MANY WAYS OF HITTING
If there are so many ways to hit a golf ball you would think golfers would get lucky
a little more often. If you were going to start on a journey from Toronto, Canada to
Orlando, Florida, wouldn't you first get a map of the best possible route? This is not
to say that there is only one route to get there but at least with a map you have a
chance. You wouldn't just get in your car and hope you end up in Florida would you?
Somehow the golf world has been conned into the belief that there are many, many ways
to make a golf ball go straight. Of course this gives all those golfers who don't want
to take lessons or can't afford to take lessons a convenient cop-out when in fact
there are very few ways to make that sphere (golf ball) fly on a relatively straight
line with adequate power.
CLARIFICATION:
I'm not directly trying to sell lessons. What I would like to do is shake up the
golfing world so that the facts and not the opinions find their way to the surface.
THE DIFFERENT LOOKS:
Let's start this section by only referring to the very good players who strike the
ball well the majority of the time.
BODY TYPES:
The human eye in general has a tendency to only see major movements. Few are trained
to follow the smaller, more precise motions. Therefore, when a golf swing is observed
the observer picks up the movements of the body and the arms but seldom pays attention
to the line the club shaft is traveling on from the waist high position of the backswing
to the waist high position of the follow through. Neither are they aware of something
that is very common with almost all golf ball strikers. The finish position - they all
end up on their left foot with their arms over the left shoulder and their right wrist
in the bent condition. THIS IS NOT AN ACCIDENT.
The different looks people are seeing are:
- The different body types.
- The different ways of getting the club to the top of the backswing.
- The different alignments due to the player’s set up pattern.
- The difference between a hitter and a swinger.
What you don't see is the line the shaft followed from waist high position on the
backswing to waist high position on the follow through. It's like a magic act - your
eyes get pulled away from where the magic is taking place. Instead of saying,
'There are many ways to swing a golf club' they should have said.
'There are a few variations in the look of a golf swing but, from waist high on
the backswing to waist high position on the follow through, there are some laws of
physics and geometry that must be paid attention to. My want for all golfers is for
them to possess the facts of how to improve their golf games and the disappearance
of unorganized, illogical golf tips based solely on opinion/never based on facts.
The PRACTICE TEE
Okay, the first thing that needs to happen here is you need to admit that
your time spent practicing has gained you little, if any success. Once you
admit that, then what you are about to read may make a lot of sense.
If the vast majority of golfers in the world are failing to improve no
matter how much they play or practice, what conclusions should be drawn.
How about:
- They have the wrong information.
- There is no such thing as muscle memory.
- Without instant accurate feedback, practice time is wasted.
Think about it, how can you practice and actually get worse. Could it be that the game of
golf is not what it appears to be? Could it be that straight doesn't equal straight, or up
doesn't equal up? How much time are you going to spend swinging down the line hitting the ball
to the right before you figure out that down the line equals right? How long will you
spend trying to sweep the ball, hitting the ball short, thin or fat before you realize
that you're not supposed to sweep the ball. Let me lay out for you the truth, provided
it makes some sense to you. You can search deeper, if not then you know to stop here.
Divots are good and take place after impact. What does that tell you about your weight
pressure at impact?
- Where would it be if you tried to get under the ball or sweep it?
- My arms square the clubface not my hands. A human is not built to swing straight, the
truth is my arms swing on plane which squares the clubface.
- My hands are educated to stay passive, which is only possible if I understand they are
not responsible for squaring the clubface.
- Ball position should absolutely not be in the middle of my stance, and you do not keep
changing ball position for each club.
The PRACTICE SWING
I believe that it is far easier to get into the (bad) habit of hitting the
ball from your back foot. If this applies to you then get out your sand wedge and over exaggerate
the steepness of your angle of attack down onto and through the ball. This
will cause the ball to go up, it will also cause a divot after impact,
therefore, put your weight pressure on your front foot. The more often this
is done, the sooner the body will stop resisting the correct motion.
The second drill also includes ball position and a square stance . The arms
always swing left through the ball, by moving the ball well ahead of my left
foot and then six inches in from the target line. I can force you into not
trying to swing straight. Swing the club and allow the ball to go left (do
not fight it). Remember, this drill is to continuously and without any chance
of failure allow you day in and day out to feel the arms go left which pulls
the body through the ball putting your weight on your front foot. The
easiest shot in the world to fix is a hook, the hardest is a slice. After
hitting four and five shots as previously suggested, simply move the ball
back to the normal position and watch how far right they don't go. However,
do not be in a hurry to give up the ratio of 5 left, 1 straight.
All of the above will work if you have paid attention to your hip line. When
you practice your square stance (hip line), you can do it with a club or a
ball at home in front of a mirror. Stand like you're going to hit the ball
at the mirror, notice as you put your right hand lower than your left how
your hip line wants to open. Practice squaring it. Make it a habit and you
won't need to think very hard about it on the golf course. Last, but
extremely important. You could have everything perfect, square stance, on
plane arms, ball positions, but if the hands are not trained, anything could
happen. What a shame because your hands are the easiest to train. They
always end up in the same position on all full shots. My suggestion when
practicing would be to start in your finish position. Make sure your right
wrist is bent and your left wrist is fairly flat, put your club behind the
ball, swing back and then down onto the ball, left through impact from a
square stance to your finish position and then check your hands. If at that
point they're not correct, fix them immediately before hitting your next
shot.
In closing, here's what you need to know:
- Your stance should be squared (hip line).
- Your arms should swing on plane (left).
- Your angle of attack is down onto the ball (divot after impact).
- Your hands finish right wrist bent, left wrist fairly flat.
- Your sequence through the ball is clubhead, hands, arms and body.
- Your ball position is wherever the ball needs to be so that the clubhead
is square to the target line, just before it goes left.
To Practice
- - Check hip line
- - Ball position
- - Sandwedge, over exaggerate, downwards motion
- - Start in your follow-through position to see where you want to get to.
It's not that tough if you take the time to organize yourself. Personally, I'd prefer an organized
struggle over an unorganized impossibility struggle.
GOLF TRUISMS
Giving you information that will allow you to seek
out the correct understandings.
The biggest reason why the majority of golfers are not improving is the
misleading information that they are receiving. The golf swing only becomes
complicated when conflicting or wrong mechanics are given. Below are listed
some popular golf sayings that I believe are misleading. I have added to the
sayings the truth. Take this article to whomever you decide to take lessons
from and have the instructor explain these theories. You will quickly find
that you have a golf swing that not only works, but better still, one
you understand.
Keep Your Head Down
The Truth:
If you swing down onto and through the ball your head cannot come up.
Sweep the Ball
The Truth:
If you hit the ball down and make a divot after impact it will feel like you
swept the ball. If you try to sweep the ball you will probably hit the ball
fat or thin and not very far.
Cock Your Wrists
The Truth:
Only one wrist cocks in the golf swing. For right-handers it's the left and
for left-handers it's the right.
Lead With the Legs
The Truth:
Knowing how to make a divot after impact causes the look of the legs
leading. Trying to lead with the legs will cause the golfer to block the
ball.
Power Comes From the Big Muscles
The Truth:
Speed is produced by the correct motion of the hands and then arms.
Swing Smooth & Easy
The Truth:
When you swing your best it feels smooth and easy. If you want the ball to
go far speed is required. Don't be afraid to swing fast, a good swing
traveling at a high rate of speed will feel smooth and easy but the ball
will go far.
Understanding of the truths is very important to your golfing success.
Bypassing these concepts will cause you many more frustrating rounds than
necessary.
|
