Courage and Work

Courage and Work

Greetings Golfers,

“All happiness depends on courage and work” Balzac

 
Did you know that the famous French author was talking about golf?

 
Kind of shocking isn’t it?

 
Well … you’re not going to get better sitting around the house. It’s going to take work. So let’s talk about what you need to work on.

 
As you know, I’m a big believer in controlling the ball with your swing. Your swing. And that means controlling spin.

 
Everyone talks about path. When I was just beginning to play … I played with two buddies who were on college golf teams. Mid-round … I asked for advice to cure my slice. One guy told me to swing out to right-field. I did. It went right … and then sliced and went farther right … almost to Hawaii. I didn’t need to change my path … I needed to learn how to control the clubface.

 
Why would any sane person swing to the right if they couldn’t make the ball spin left?

 
Ironically, a good way to understand spin … also combines with the proper path.

 
For example: A draw/hook spin is the same as a tennis topspin. So, make a tennis topspin swing with your arm. You will naturally swing from the inside-out. Try to make a topspin swing from the outside-in … you can’t do it (without falling down).

 
Then … do the opposite shot - a tennis drop shot. You will naturally come from the outside to in.

 
The topspin shot rolls over the face as it comes into contact with the ball … and the drop-shot opens the face as it comes into contact with the ball.

 
And they both … naturally … provide the proper path to the spin of the shot.

 
Though Balzac was considered a “Romantic” writer … he was also considered a “Realist”. A pretty cool combination. And necessary to enjoy and improve at golf. As he said “All happiness depends on courage and work”. I see the courage as the “Romantic” and the work as the “Realist”.

 
See … golf relates to everything.

Cheers!

Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com