Beware of Golf Tips

One of the most damaging things you can do is become a hoarder of golf tips. I know it’s tough because you are bombarded on all side by the internet, TV, magazines, and your buddies that offer them freely even if they are a 28 handicapper.

One of the really interesting things about golf is that anybody that can get it airborne thinks they can help others. This brings in the subject of myths that keep getting pasted on from golfer to golfer. Things like “you looked up”. Not one golf professional I have ever talked to has ever had a student “look up”. Then we have “keep your head down” or “you took your eye off the ball”. The head doesn’t move independently of the body on the down swing and blind people play golf.

I think one of the reasons so many women quit golf in a short period of time is “tips” from their husband or boyfriend that cause them to get frustrated.

Beware of “golf tip overload.” Photo by Nick Knouse

Then we have the media. Magazine, TV, books, the internet, all offer you conflicting tips on how to fix whatever your problem is. An entire industry has been built around making you believe that the golf swing is extremely technical and complex and by buying this gurus dvd, learning aid, book, etc. your can finally learn the “secret” and will suddenly get dramatically better.

Just remember, the seemingly innocent act of fiddling with your golf swing because of a new tip you picked up somewhere has caused many golfers to say “I have lost my golf swing. I can’t hit the golf ball anymore.”

A golf swing doesn’t disappear; your golf swing is still there … it’s just buried under these new compensations/tips.

If you have a slice there are tons of articles, videos and tips for fixing it. You will read and hear all about why an out to in swing path is causing the problem. If the club is facing in the direction it is traveling (square), an out to in path will simply produce a straight pull to the left. I have yet to find one that says a slice is caused only by the club face being open to the path at impact. That’s too simple and you don’t need to buy anything to fix it. Adjust your grip and grip pressure (lighter) until the club squares up. You can do that on your own.

If you want to get better and enjoy golf more, forget all your tips and swing thoughts. Go out and relax and remember that effort is self-defeating. In golf, the harder you try the worse it gets. Swing smooth, take plenty of club, and work on solid contact.

If you want to read about golf subscribe to GolfWorld – wonderful articles and no instructional tips. You can watch golf on television all you want as long as you are only watching people play golf. When the announcers start doing swing analysis, take a bathroom break.

The point here is to enjoy the game by learning how to get the ball around the course with your swing and remember the most important point – there is no secret and no matter what the equipment companies tell you, their clubs will not dramatically change your game.

(Cover Photo Credit)