| Lesson 3 | | | | and a certain order of performance that prevails in |
| Now back to our story of D.M. | | | | developing the ideal result. For example, before a |
| Once he learned how to position and direct the club | | | | golfer can use his body correctly in swinging the club, |
| on the backswing, and once he began to keep the | | | | he must know how to handle his weight, and only |
| club in that same true position throughout the swing, | | | | when he has a working arrangement between his |
| his scores began to improve. As a matter of record, | | | | weight and his body is he in a position to learn how |
| six months after his first lesson from me he won a | | | | to use his hands. |
| tournament at Bel-Air by shooting a score of 66, four | | | | In other words, there are prior factors and there are |
| under par for 18 holes. One year after he had his first | | | | post factors in a golf swing. Let me call upon a |
| lesson his handicap had been lowered from 13 to 3. | | | | scientific formula to help explain this order of |
| In one week of play he scored a hole in one in | | | | importance that I am discussing. The formula reads |
| addition to scoring a 2 on a 390-yard hole, and | | | | as follows: |
| another 2 on a 410-yard hole. To do this, the ball | | | | Ultimate results depend on post factor efficiency. |
| must have been flying true and straight off his clubs. | | | | These seven words succinctly describe the artistry |
| An interesting sequel to the D.M. story is that ten | | | | of a golf swing; there are things to do, but there is a |
| years after the above-mentioned instruction, he was | | | | certain time to do them. |
| playÂing with a 4 handicap, and in a tournament | | | | First the golfer must handle his weight; but shifting |
| in which there were over 300 entries he turned in | | | | the weight from one foot to the other does nothing |
| the low qualifyÂing score of 67. | | | | of itÂself, it only places the player in a position |
| What brought his handicap from 13 to 3? What gave | | | | where he can use and utilize his body correctly. |
| him the ability to shoot a 66, and ten years later | | | | Secondly, only when the golfer has the basic or prior |
| shoot a 67? It was a simple case of synchronizing | | | | footwork so that he is in a position to use his body |
| the two things every golfer must do if he wants to | | | | to swing the club, are the hands free to exert over |
| play good golf. | | | | the club the proper sense of position and control, and |
| First, there must be a basic ability to swing the club | | | | the ability to apply the club correctly to the ball. In |
| correctly, and the correct way to swing it is with a | | | | other words, a golf shot only flies as the club makes |
| sense of body control. This ability to motivate or | | | | it fly, and how the ball flies is a direct result of the |
| swing the club with the body is impossible unless the | | | | club position. The club position is a direct result of |
| player has the proper footwork and a proper sense | | | | what the hands are doing, and what the hands are |
| of balancing himself, so that he has the full, free use | | | | doing is the post factor that deterÂmines |
| of his body. It is from the body that the power | | | | ultimate efficiency. |
| flows, so that the distance aspect of a golf shot | | | | No wonder so much time and effort is concentrated |
| depends on just how the body is being used. | | | | on the correct grip in golf. |
| Second, the player must be able to kep the club in | | | | I have often said that a runner runs with his feet, |
| position throughout the swing so that the club will | | | | but a goffer golfs with his hands. Of course, for the |
| proÂduce the effect for which it was designed, | | | | runner to get his feet in action, there is a lot of arm |
| and the ball will fly true and straight towards the | | | | and shoulderwork, and for a golfer to get his hands |
| objective. | | | | working, there is a lot of footwork and body action. |
| Now, D.M. had (1) the footwork, which gave him the | | | | To repeat, there are three basic factors in golf: |
| necessary balance so that he could (2) use his body | | | | 1. Footwork, for balance |
| to swing the club, but he was totally lacking in (3) the | | | | 2. Body action, for power |
| proper club positioning control so that his shots kept | | | | 3. Hand action, for club control |
| going "hither and yon," and until he corrected his | | | | But to these three factors there is an order of |
| errors in this respect, his golf game was erratic. | | | | importance, a delicate sense of timing that so many |
| Everybody's golf game is subject to the following | | | | golfers miss. They fail to get the knack of properly |
| anÂalysis. | | | | coordinating these three factors into a working |
| First, how well does the player handle his weight; | | | | arrangement. |
| what is his sense of balance; does he know how to | | | | As there is a certain order of importance, so likewise |
| work his feet and legs in order to establish the | | | | there is a certain order of performance in these |
| proper sense of balance so that the body can be | | | | three basic operations of a golf swing. In other |
| established as the moÂtivating factor in swinging | | | | words, in the properly executed golf shot the player |
| the club? | | | | moves smoothly from one operation to the other, |
| Secondly, how well does the player use his body; | | | | but all operations function collectively towards the |
| does he understand that a golf swing is a | | | | final goal of applying the club to the ball. So there is in |
| double-handed, amÂbidextrous motion in which | | | | the golf shot an order of imÂportance and an |
| there is an upswing as well as a downswing-an | | | | order of performance which precludes any such thing |
| upswing that is made with the right side of the body | | | | as a one-piece swing. Be prepared to reach your |
| and a downswing and follow through that is made | | | | ultimate goal of a smooth, flowing performance |
| with the left side? | | | | through a natural step-by-step procedure rather than |
| Third, if the player has the footwork which will give | | | | through any short cut. |
| him this double-handed, ambidextrous motion with his | | | | The other comment I wish to make is that if there is |
| body, does he knew exactly how to use his hands to | | | | error in the performance of any operation in the |
| exert the necessary positioning control over the club | | | | swing, then such an error would multiply and increase |
| so that he can make the ball do just what he wants | | | | as it would be carried on into the next operation. So |
| it to do? | | | | there must be sure performance in the execution of |
| While these three things are individually necessary | | | | each of the three factors. |
| and important, there is a certain order of importance, | | | | |