Confidence through Physics
Let’s face it: we all crave more confidence in our golf game.
From striping that drive on the crucial 18th to set up your best score of the year, to getting up and down to beat your golfing buddy on the weekend, nothing happens without some belief in your ability to pull off these shots.
So where do we get that elusive confidence from?
A good pre shot routine – yes. Practicing on the range to train your muscles for reliability – yes. Crystal clear memories of previous successes – yes.
Let’s Get Phyisical!
But often these good practices don’t guarantee success as often as we’d like. The reason? We simply haven’t set up our swings for maximum repeatability, and therefore success. We’re not using physics enough.
The PGA training of coaches teaches that we stand and hold the golf club to encourage a biomechanically efficient, powerful and repeatable action. For example, the hands hang down naturally turned in, and that’s how we should place them on the grip, to return to that position at impact. The angled, but straight, spine allows the head to remain the same distance from the ball in the backswing to help a consistent strike.
Common Faults – Is this you?
The trouble is that as golf clubs are such a light thing to hold, we can easily manipulate ithem. We can overpower the natural swing of the club, we act against the physics.
We try and lift the ball in the air, sometimes either hitting the ground or the top of the ball. Swinging fast to try and muscle the ball over 250yards, only to hit it shorter. Holding the putter tighter to keep the face pointing at the target, only to jerk it off line.
In the examples above, the remedy is in the physics. With the head position at impact ahead of the ball, this will encourage a better strike with a ball-turf (slightly downward) contact. In the second example, the driver is a foot longer than the wedges, so the clubhead will travel faster with the same swing. The head is also designed to transfer 50% more power (than the wedges) into ball speed meaning more distance automatically.
And for putting? A smoother, pendulum-like stroke will consistently outperform a tight, controlled grip.
So, relying on the physics is the KEY to repeatability. And that’s PGA coaching.
Would you try this at home…?
In the attached video, my set up is built for a consistent strike, giving me the confidence to hit a crisp chip over the camera. No retakes or new cameras required!
Are you in need of a confidence upgrade? Book here now.
Happy golfing!
Pete
Pete Langford PGA
Professional Golf Coach