| Golf is replete with myths. Covering everything from | | | | amount of time it takes to create your swing from |
| driving to course management, these myths are | | | | beginning to end. That's not good. When you start |
| passed down from father to son, some in the form | | | | varying your swing's tempo from club to club, you |
| of golf tips on swing mechanics, others in the form | | | | destroy the timing required to hit consistent golf |
| of wise advice on how to do things. Unfortunately, | | | | shots. It's one reason why you feel that you can hit |
| many of these myths are just plain wrong. | | | | your irons well one-day but not your woods, and vice |
| Below are three popular myths I like to debunk in my | | | | versa. |
| golf lessons and golf tips. One or two of them may | | | | All of us have our own swing tempo. Some of us |
| have an element of truth in them. The other may | | | | have a fast tempo, like Nick Price. Some of us have |
| have no truth in it at all. Regardless, all of them | | | | a slower tempo, like Fred Couples. Either way is fine, |
| embody ideas that can elevate scores and boost golf | | | | as long as you keep the same tempo for each club in |
| handicaps. | | | | the bag. It's not something you control. If it takes |
| 1. Aim at the Target | | | | two seconds to hit the pitching wedge, it should take |
| We've all heard this statement before. Maybe even | | | | you two seconds to hit the driver. Practice consistent |
| said it. The statement isn't so much mythic as it is | | | | tempo with all your clubs and you'll hit consistent |
| confusing. The question is, aim what at the target? | | | | shots. |
| Your clubface? Your shoulders? Your body? The | | | | 3. Play the ball back with shorter clubs |
| statement doesn't really say. | | | | Most of us vary ball position as we change clubs. The |
| The problem with this myth is that it can cause | | | | shorter the club, the farther back we position the ball. |
| people to misalign themselves in one of two ways, | | | | But incorrect ball positioning can create major |
| hurting his or her golf handicap.o aiming the feet, hips, | | | | problems. With the ball positioned too far forward, |
| knees, and shoulders directly at the target, leaving | | | | our shoulders tend to align too far left of forward. |
| the clubface following a line well right of the target; | | | | Since your club swings where our shoulders point, we |
| or,o aiming to compensate for ballflight errors, like | | | | slice. With the ball positioned too far back, our |
| when you aim left to compensate for the ballflight | | | | shoulders tend to close, encouraging a push or a |
| error of a slice (for right handers). | | | | hook. |
| When aimed correctly, the leading edge of the | | | | While you should position the ball more forward for |
| clubface sits at a right angle to the target line while | | | | the driver than the pitching wedge, you should never |
| your body aligns parallel-left of the target line. This | | | | place the ball farther back than center for any normal |
| set up establishes perfect parallel alignment. This | | | | shot with a level lie, regardless of the club you're |
| position doesn't come naturally. So you need to work | | | | using. |
| on it on the range to recognize when you're aiming | | | | Remember, for normal shots on level lies, there are |
| correctly on the course. | | | | just three basic ball positions;o Short iron: one inch |
| Here's a drill I use in my golf instruction sessions. First, | | | | left of centero Mid-irons: two inches left of centero |
| pick a target and lay one club down on the ground a | | | | Long irons & woods: three inches left of center. |
| few feet in front of the ball, but on the target line. | | | | In addition, always relate the position of the ball to |
| Then, take a second club and lay it down parallel to | | | | your upper body, not your toes. Using your toes can |
| the first but along your toe line to indicate body | | | | create the illusion that the ball is positioned correctly |
| alignment. Make adjustments as necessary. Finally, hit | | | | when in fact it isn't. For example, if you use your |
| a few balls and see what happens. After awhile you'll | | | | toes to position the ball with your foot flared out but |
| have trained your body and eyes to accept this new | | | | then close up your foot, the ball seems to move |
| alignment. | | | | forward in your stance, when it actually hasn't. |
| 2. As the swing gets longer, it gets faster | | | | These are just three of the more popular golf myths |
| If you're like most golfers, you swing the driver | | | | that exist, many of which I address in my golf |
| faster than the 7-iron or 8-iron. Most of us invariably | | | | lessons and golf tips. There are lots more. |
| ramp up our swing speed with longer clubs because | | | | Unfortunately, many of them are just plain wrong. |
| we envision hitting the ball harder and driving it | | | | So be wary of them. And don't be afraid to challenge |
| farther. It's a natural tendency, one I often see when | | | | them. Even if you're wrong, the worse thing that can |
| giving golf lessons. | | | | happen is that you can learn something valuable |
| Unfortunately, when you ramp up your swing speed, | | | | about the game of golf. |
| you destroy your natural swing tempo--the total | | | | |