(A note from The Surge and the Staff at PPGS: We hope everyone is enjoying this holiday season. For me and my family, we're celebrating Christmas! In honor of Christmas, I'm taking the day off from the blog, but will return Saturday, December 26. Everyone at PPGS sends best wishes and good cheer. We truly appreciate your comments and thoughtfulness.)
One of the great things about golf is being able to play with your friends. And one of the aspects of playing golf is the willingness of friends to jump in and give swing advice to each other. After all, golf is difficult. We can't see our swing, so do we need the eyes and advice from our golfing buddies to help us play better? In most cases they are always ready, willing and able to jump in and play teaching professional. Paul mentions his friends are always helping him, but it doesn't seem to help much. Paul also can't seem to keep his forward arm straight in the backswing. Could there be an underlying problem with this friendly advice he receives?
Paul Brooks says:
Hi Don, I am new to golf and have realized that as poor a player as I am right now I have become addicted to the game. Now with that in mind I believe I will get better over time just by playing, but I have a concern with learning bad habits along the way. My friends try to help my game with their concept of the swing, stance, etc. which is greatly appreciated, but no matter what I have not been able to get my swing down properly. I am right handed and as I start my swing, turning my body to the right, I still have a bend in my left arm and have not been able to correct this. I know that this is adding strokes to my game due to inconsistency in my swing. Is there a way I can correct my swing so that I can have a steady consistent swing every time?
The Surge says:
Friends helping friends is a great thing to have in making it through the tough and tumble times in this world. That also applies to golf, and many times to a greater degree, as playing golf turns many players into experts and teaching professionals. They can't resist helping their friends by dispensing swing tips, whether asked for or not. The intent is honorable and well meaning, but the issue is whether the instruction is correct and do you really want it.
The first point to consider in accepting instruction from a friend is whether you really want it in the first place. I tell many of my students, especially ladies and juniors, beware of friends and strangers bearing gifts of golf tips and lessons when playing and, especially, when practicing on the range. Beware because tips and lessons only help if they are relative to what they are learning and working on. I tell them that I am teaching them the PPGS and as they know we setup and swing quite differently than the general norm of instruction. Therefore, most anything taught to them from tips, drills and instruction will be counter productive and downright damaging to their setup and swing.
So, how do you handle your playing partner or friend or the stranger on the range who is eager to help the lady, junior golfer and everyone who they perceive needs their help? Politely refuse their help. You do this by saying you appreciate their concern, but you presently are taking lessons (you can even mention the professional's name) and you would prefer to stay focused on your instruction program from them. Thanks for their interest and concern, but no thanks to needing and accepting their help.
The key to learning is you first have to believe in the method and commit to it and your instructor. If every time someone chirps in with swing tips and instruction and you accept it and change your setup and swing, you are doing nothing more than running in circles like the dog chasing his tail. You never catch it and never improve likely get worse.
The smorgasbord at your favorite restaurant is a great way to satisfy your hunger when you can't make up your mind what you really want for dinner. Smorgasbord golf instruction doesn't work. So, when you are approached with 'good intent' advice you did not ask for or care to receive, hold strong and politely refuse. Even listening is dangerous. Say, Thanks but NO Thanks.
Now, since Paul did ask for help concerning his breaking down forward arm in the backswing, I think we need to look at two issues. First is setup relative to grip pressure. Too light a grip pressure can cause this bending as well as improperly applied grip pressure. When we squeeze our fingers on the grip, we must squeeze upward and with pressure equal to a firm handshake. On a grip pressure meter scale of 1being light to 5 being tight, we want to be a 3. The grip and forearms are firm and taut but not tight and tense. Firm enough that you can maintain keeping the forward arm relatively straight as you lift the club in the backswing.
The #1 swing problem that causes the forward arm to fold and break down like a cheap chair is tucking the back elbow in close to the hip. The forward arm is the boss in the backswing. The back arm is the follower and goes where the forward arm leads it. So when the forward arm, along with the back arm, is lifting the club in the backswing, the back arm also has to lift. Keeping it tucked close to the hip and thus holding it down, is big time resistance to the forward arm lifting. It also can't stay straight. Bending is the only result of tucking! So let the back arm go with the flow of the forward arm lifting up and away from the hip and the forward arm stays straight.
The Surge!