The name of the website says it all!
The Golf Process…the game of golf is a process that begins with an understanding of the fundamentals of the swing, ball flight laws and the ability to organize your thoughts in order to gain consistency. Far too many players though the years have failed to improve, or worse yet, got worse because they never committed to a process that allows for continual improvement.
My blog will be random at times with thoughts that may jump from one topic to another very quickly, however if a player is solidly grounded in fundamentals and a process that is mastery driven they will never stray too far from their game.
Experimentation is important for improvement, but a player must be able to get back to an original starting point if necessary.
When a player goes out to practice it is important to have alignment stick(s) or club(s) on the ground to practice alignment to the ball and aim to the target. Clubhead path with all clubs except the driver can be monitored by the divot. The resulting curvature of ball flight tells the player the rest of the story. Only after taking about twenty shots from the same setup position with the same grip and the same committed finish position should a player analyze shot pattern. The feedback will then allow a player to make logical changes to the setup and grip that may influence the ball flight. Twenty more shots (or so) without adjustment and reevaluate again. Learn from the experience. Path of the clubhead plus clubface position equals ball flight. This needs to become instinct.
9 BALL FLIGHT LAWS – Assuming contact on the face of the club and assuming a right handed player. Reverse for lefty’s.
(Clubface is about 80% of the Equation)
1. Path of Club on Line + Clubface Square = Straight Ball Flight
2. Path of Club on Line + Clubface Left = Slight Pull Left and The Ball will Curve Left.
3. Path of Club on Line + Clubface Right = Push Right and The Ball will Curve Right.
4. Path of Club Left + Clubface Square to Path = Pull to Left
5. Path of Club Left + Clubface Left = Pull Left and The Ball will Curve More to the Left.
6. Path of Club Left + Clubface Right = Pull Left and The Ball will Curve to the Right. This is the weakest shot in golf.
7. Path of Club Right + Clubface Square to Path = Push to Right
8. Path of Club Right + Clubface Square to target = Slight Push to the Right and the Ball will Curve Left.
9. Path of Club Right + Clubface Left of Target = Starts Right and Hooks Hard Left.
For great players this is instinct. They feel the path with the swing and can manipulate (usually with the starting grip) how to apply the clubface.