Playing golf this weekend with a few friends I was reminded how often we revert back to old bad habits. It is amazing to me how often bad habits creep back again and again. Playing with two smart guys, a tour caddy and business owner who I have helped over the years reinforced how bad habits return to haunt many of us.
I guess this shouldn’t be surprising as this is normally the case in our day to day lives. Many of us forget to exercise, eat properly, don’t stay discipline at work or just repeat stupid mistakes.
We all have tendencies that have return to our lives and in golf. These can be very aggravating. Since we all do this maybe we should be aware of our top habitual habits so we can make a check list.
If you talk to a few tour players they are all aware of their tendencies and corrections.
It is rare to go through a round of golf without struggling with our swings. Most golfers I play with seem surprised when things go bad, they shouldn’t be surprised. If something happens every time you play shouldn’t you be prepared to make an assessment and then an adjustment?
So here is the normal issues and fixes for three players, Eric, Jim and me.
Eric played in college and can still play. He has a problem starting his down swing with his arms and upper body first. This is not the root problem, a late hinge of the club sets this up. When he swings good he has the club shaft in a 90 degree angle from his left forearm when the left arm is horizontal to the ground in the back swing. When he doesn’t do this he flops the club around at the top and then he starts to decelerate his body at the bottom of the swing so he can make corrections. This causes the dreaded Lt. Dan, no legs.
The FIX, when it starts to go bad make sure you set the club first then get the body working second. This will make the ball hook a little until the body starts to work again which will get the ball flight will straighten out.
Jim is a 14 who likes to take a big back swing, swing hard and does not stay in balance. Recently he has gone to a “3/4 swing” with very good results, he shot 37 on the front nine Saturday. The 3/4 swing also involves keeping flat footed on the back swing keeping the weight more towards the heels than the toes.
When he does this 3/4 swing in balance he plays very good and hits it longer than normal. When he gets tired he lengthens his back swing and gets on his toes in the downswing causing erratic shots.
The FIX, when things start to go bad take a 3/4 back swing and keep the weight off the toes and towards the heels.
Me, I have a bunch of bad, repeating habits. I have a tendency to take the club inside, set the club late, poor posture, not make a shoulder turn, lazy lower body, poor extension, weight on toes at impact and open the club face on the back swing when putting.
I can’t obviously think about all these when I swing but I definitely do inventory when the ball flight is not cooperating. If I am playing great, which is rare, I don’t have to think of any or very many of these items to keep playing well. So my current check list before each shot is:
- Get weight to instep on back swing and left heel at impact
- Get the club set by the time the left arm is horizontal on the back swing
- Make sure pre-swing that my posture is good.
- When putting, don’t roll open the club face.
Hopefully you don’t have as many items on your check list as me but if you do make a check list. There is no rule in golf about checking your list before each shot. I have had students write their check list on their golf glove. You could put your notes on your phone and check it every few holes.
Most successful people I know in business use check lists so why not apply this discipline to golf? Before you play your next round of golf spend a little time and write your most dominant repeating poor habits. Bad set up , bad posture, right knee bends too much, 75% max swing or what ever your tendencies may be.
After listing your bad habits note the fix for each. For me I open the putter face so my fix is take the putter back with the heel. It may not make sense to you but it does to me and it works. So make your list of faults and fixes.
Here is a few web locations for check list items;
http://www.simplegolf.com/checklist.htm
http://www.moderngolfthoughts.com/golf_sage_blog/golf-swing-fundamentals-checklist
http://www.golftipsdigest.com/golf-swing-checklist.html
You have to know where you are to know where you are going, someone smart said that. So make your lists and next time you play when things aren’t going your way don’t get upset or start to complain. Check your list, make your corrections and then things will start to improve!
Jim Hartnett
myhome4golf.com
