| 1. YOU DON'T NEED ANY GOLF LESSONS | | | | 25 compression. Then the boys and I will mix a few |
| Here at the onset I would like to state for the | | | | baskets with a 50/50 blend consisting of the |
| record that I am not a professional golfer, or a | | | | facet-flites and some expensive high quality balls. |
| professional golf teacher. It won't be long before you | | | | After watching guys hit out of these baskets, one of |
| also discover that I am not a professional writer | | | | the observers stated that he was unable to tell |
| either. (Note to self - disclaimer out of the way.) I | | | | which balls were the range balls and which were the |
| have immense respect for all professional golf | | | | good quality balls. Then we gave out baskets with |
| instructors. They have devoted their lives to helping | | | | the same mix except that this time the good balls |
| you improve your golf and your golf swing. They do | | | | were all on the top and the range balls all on the |
| this because they love helping, not because of the | | | | bottom. The only thing that came out of that |
| immense fortunes involved. | | | | observation was that the average golfer was better |
| The problem is that most of these instructors have | | | | off with the range balls, because they didn't fly as |
| been teaching for so long, they are far removed | | | | far into the woods. What I am saying here is that if |
| from the beginning golfers point of view. They try to | | | | your swing isn't dialed up you will not be able to see |
| instruct beginners with mechanical swing thoughts | | | | any difference in your score because of the golf ball |
| when beginners need to be shown and told of the | | | | you choose. One of the retired guys that shags golf |
| more intangible aspects of the golf swing. Instructors | | | | balls off the courses and sells them to me, brings |
| usually want to try to teach you "their" swing, or | | | | many top of the line balls that appear to have been |
| "the" swing, and are not that concerned with "your" | | | | hit only one time. This is an arrows or Indian issue, if |
| swing. I promise, you will never have anything but | | | | ever there was one. |
| "your" swing. | | | | 4. MOMENTARY MUSINGS ON THE |
| There are only two ways to obtain a golf swing. One | | | | MANIFESTATIONS OF THE MONKEY MANS |
| is technique and the other is feel. Unless you were | | | | MISGUIDED MISSION TO MEASURE |
| five years old, living on number seven at "BLA NA | | | | Many men have a need to measure things. The |
| NA" Country Club when you started swinging a golf | | | | problem arises out of the fact that they don't know |
| club, you will never achieve a golf swing with | | | | what to measure, or they don't know how to |
| technique. Your only chance of having a swing, if you | | | | measure it. |
| started later than that, is learning the swing through | | | | It's not how far down the line the ball goes, it's how |
| feel. Technique is easy to teach, but hard to learn. | | | | far OFF the line the ball goes. |
| Feel is easy to learn, but hard to teach. You will have | | | | Men always measure the distance they hit their clubs |
| to accept two things in order to begin learning a | | | | based on the best swing they ever made with that |
| swing with feel. | | | | club. You only make the best swing you ever made |
| Your swing is not that big. | | | | one time in your life. It is entirely likely the swing you |
| This game takes a lifetime to learn. You can't be in | | | | are about to make is not that "once in a lifetime" |
| too much of a hurry. | | | | swing. You had better take more club than you think |
| Start with the smallest, slowest, softest swing you | | | | you need, so your mind can let you take a swing |
| can make. Grow your swing out from there. | | | | you can control. |
| 2. DRIVERS ARE USELESS-TAKE 'EM OUT AND | | | | Something like 65% of the score in golf occurs from |
| LEAVE 'EM OUT! | | | | within 100 yards of the flag. So what if you can hit |
| (Why do you think they call them woods?) | | | | those 500 yard drives, (which you can't) they are |
| The driver is the club used by PROFESSIONALS to | | | | meaningless when you scull four shots across the |
| get below par. It is not required to get to par. If you | | | | green and then six-putt. THE SHORT GAME |
| can't shoot at or near par golf without a driver, that | | | | CONTAINS ALL THE MAJESTY IN GOLF. (And 90% |
| club will prevent you from ever doing so. When you | | | | of all the scoring opportunities) |
| miss a driver (big) it generally costs you three | | | | You must watch your tool. NO, NOT THAT TOOL, |
| strokes. Either the lost ball, unplayable lie, "O'Byss", | | | | MONKEY MAN! Have you ever seen a carpenter look |
| (out of bounds) or the "hero shot" that didn't come | | | | away at the instant his hammer was going to strike |
| off. If you miss with the driver three times, you will | | | | the nail? You must do whatever it takes to insure |
| NEVER break eighty. And I'm " knowin your missin it" | | | | that you watch your club do the work you intend it |
| more than three times. Answer the following | | | | to do! The club must be well past the impact zone |
| questions truthfully: How many times have you | | | | before you start your way up to the finish. |
| scored a bird or even a par on that long par four, (or | | | | 5. BACK TO THE FIRST (and most inflammatory) |
| eagle or bird on that par five) because you ripped an | | | | STATEMENT |
| awesome drive off the tee? How many times have | | | | Quite a few instructors teach out at my range. |
| you taken a bogey (or worse) because you pounded | | | | Probably because it is convenient, not because it is |
| a wicked banana into the woods? I bet it is less than | | | | the finest third rate goat pasture in Bexar county. To |
| five for the former, and more than five hundred for | | | | a teacher, they all claim to want to get a student |
| the latter. Isn't it? Do you see that red flag, there, | | | | with no experience, before that student has |
| right in front of your face? GET RID OF THAT | | | | developed any "bad habits." Yet I notice that they |
| DRIVER! GO UP TO THE TEE CARRYING THE CLUB | | | | are able to help students with bad habits to a much |
| YOU CAN HIT WITH EXTREME CONFIDENCE RIGHT | | | | greater degree that those with no habits. I would |
| UP THE MIDDLE. And I don't care how far it goes, as | | | | recommend that you develop a small swing (feel |
| long as it goes up the middle. Now, you're striding off | | | | your way) and then let an instructor refine the |
| the tee having had some success. And there is the | | | | geometry of your swing. They can all help you, |
| outside chance you will make a good second shot. | | | | whatever you decide. Remember, I said you do not |
| And so on... I am not even going to go into the anger | | | | NEED lessons, I did not say you shouldn't want some. |
| mismanagement issues you will avoid by not using | | | | I have written another article that helps to describe |
| that club. (Anger mismanagement can also easily | | | | finding a swing with feel. It is entitled CONTAINMENT |
| destroy your game) Oh yeah, you will also be saving | | | | THEORY AND THE NONSENSE ZONE. |
| hundreds or thousands of dollars not buying those | | | | Remember those four or five swings you make each |
| drivers that were going to get you those ten extra | | | | round when you barely swing at the ball and it leaps |
| yards. Which, by the way, they would have gotten | | | | off the club? You wonder what it was you did to |
| you. (ten extra yards into the woods) | | | | produce that shot? That was a swing you made with |
| 3. IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT BALL YOU USE | | | | feel, when you had no thought of how you were |
| When it comes time to renew the golf balls at my | | | | going to make that swing. That is how feel works. It |
| range, I always go for the best. Out comes the | | | | is wonderful and easy. Ever made a swing like that |
| Rolodex, twisted open to the number for Rage | | | | when you had a mechanical swing thought in your |
| Ranger Inc. I always go for their top of the line ball, | | | | mind? That is what I am talking about. |
| the FACET-FLITE SMOOTH-SIDER OCTAGON, in a | | | | |