Feel Of Good Golf
Youve heard it said dozens of times. Golf is a game of "feel".
You just know instinctively when somethings right or wrong for
you.
It sounds a little confusing, doesnt it? Lets try to take that
vague feeling and put it into words and action.
First off, lets address the technique of swinging with all your
might. If you swing really hard, then you cant get the feel of a
correctly hit ball and your muscles dont learn the feel of
correct balance. When players have the feel of the shot, their
muscles and sense of touch are tuned in to the correct gauge and
balance and they just know they can hit the ball.
When you want to lunge at the ball, your power should be
developed by twisting your body. If you learn this, it wont take
3 or 4 years before youre hitting the ball a good distance. When
you keep failing with a certain shot, just stop and think what
youre doing, what youre trying to accomplish. Dont try any
certain method unless you have a definite purpose for using it.
Always remember the basics. Think in your mind how it feels to
prepare properly for a shot.
One important point is that its not necessary to feel the power
during the stroke. You want to swing easily. Its the energy
thats transferred to the ball that counts. Get rid of every
little detail that destroys your balance and youll get on the
right track. Cut out everything thats not comfortable. Your
ability to keep your balance and be comfortable is the measure
of the amount of power you can use successfully. Many players
lift their heads at the last instant. This doesnt add power to
the stroke. It actually takes power away from it.
It may sound tricky but you really want to be as comfortable as
possible while playing a game and to do things as easily,
flexibly and fluidly as possible. Much of this comfortability is
purely mental.
Make sure you keep your eye on the ball while youre moving.
Thats what counts. When youre doing things comfortably your
strength is being properly applied.
The second you brace your muscles, youre moving away from the
correct way of playing. If you want to see if your method is
right, check your comfortability level. If you get better
results with your own method then follow your own method and
dont try to imitate someone else. If you want to learn from
someone, ask them why theyre swinging in a certain way and if
you can learn the reason then you can apply the knowledge in
your own way. Just trying to imitate someone elses swing doesnt
benefit you.
Over time, youll acquire the ability to know what shot feels
right, what club feels best, what decision you should make.
Thats the feel. The instinct. The touch of greatness!