Conference 7.286::golf

    Good luck.  A few years ago Faldo, working with Ledbetter (sp?),
    scrapped his swing and spent two years perfecting a mechanically sound
    one...

Well, for what it's worth, in a recent Golf <something> article Peter Kostis
argues against strictly emulating any other swing.  Find what works for you, 
that kind of thing.

As an example he used the book Hogan's Modern Fundamentals.  Perhaps the
most widely read instructional book, Kostis claims this is an anti-hook swing
(since Hogan fought a hook early in his career).  But very few amateurs fight
a hook, most fight a fade (or dare I say it, a sl___).  For them, Kostis
feels following this book would be suicide.

Interesting reading.

Mike

    My advice for whats its worth would be not emulate anyone's swing
    especially Faldo's since he tends to be very mechanical and is
    constantly working on perfecting it.
    
    I would suggest reading Harvey Pennicks Little Red Book which has
    common sense swing ideas and then going out to a range and work out a
    swing that is good for you personally.  Not everyone can have the swing
    of Nick Faldo and most everyone doesn't have the time to perfect and
    keep that type of swing in the groove. 
    
    I believe that a lot of golfers forget that golf should be fun and an
    enjoyable experience.  Perfection is rare and fleeting in golf so enjoy
    your time playing.

    get Ernest Jones book, he teaches one simple thing:
    
    		SWING...SWING...SWING....
    
    get HOGAN's book for the best on fundamentals...
    
    

    Am I the only one who thinks that Hogan's book is overrated?  Sound
    fundamentals do not go out of style, but his grip sure has.  That weak
    grip of his would cause me to 'banana city' if I tried using it. 
    Adjusting the back right foot around for different clubs, rather than
    just moving it closer to the left foot would cause me problems, too. 
    Also, the placement of the ball, in relation to the left foot, does not
    move in Hogan's (or Ledbetter's) book.  That would cause me even more
    problems...  Of course, I can't practice or play each day year round
    either...
    

    
    re: just swing it
    
        well, I spent about 10 years playing golf with that thought in
        mind; it didn't work out too well.
    
        the things that attract me about Faldo's book are:
    
    		o  The overall swing makes a lot of sense, and hitting
    		   more with the right hand is just plain more fun than
    		   my old left-armed swing.  If I can have more fun and
    		   better reliability too, great!  If not, at least I
    		   can have more fun  :)
    
    		o  He disassembles the swing and describes each step
    		   both in terms of geometry and in terms of the 'feeling'
    		   at each phase.  He breaks the swing down very finely,
    		   and believe me, I had something to learn at every stage!
    		   When there's something that isn't going well, I have a
    		   source that I can check with to help diagnose what's
    		   going on.
    
    		o  I can take lessons from someone else who has followed
    		   the guidelines in the book, then refer to the book
    		   before and after the lessons.  
    
        /jim
    

    I was taught that the ball position never really changes.  It just
    seems that way as you narrow and open your stance as the clubs increase
    in loft.  If it stays the same you never have to make adjustments in
    the swing.
    
    Mike
    

    .-1
    
    This works fine for me with irons but not a wood off the tee.  Even the
    pros (saw Johnny Miller demonstrate this) adjust their setup (sort of
    moving the hip towards the ball) when hitting a driver to allow for
    hitting up on the ball.  Since I'd rather not change my setup for a
    wood from a tee, I move the ball just inside of my left heel, and play
    the irons a bit more towards center.  This also makes it easier for me
    to stay behind the ball off the tee and hit a straighter shot.  (This
    is also what my pro has taught me.)  I guess if you have really fast
    hands through the ball with a long club you won't have to make an
    adjustment, but I have to constantly set an image of hitting behind the
    ball off the tee or I fade the shot, or worse...
    

    re: .5 overrated by who???
    
    according to the centennial of golf special edition
    the BEST BOOK(instructional)
    
    	1) Ben Hogan "Five Lessons: The Modern Fundamentals of Golf"
    
    	2) Tommy Armour "How to Play Your Best Gold All The Time"
    
    	3) Jack Nicklaus "Gold My Way"
    
    
    also in the same edition:
    
    BEST IRON PLAYERS OF LAST 100 YEARS were
    
    	1) Ben Hogan
    
    	2) Byron Nelson
    
    	3) Jack Nicklaus
    
    		if I wanted to re-learn the game I'd start with the BEST...
    
    		what has Ledbetter ever accomplished in golf????

    .-1
    
    I'm not knocking the book or Hogan's talent.  I've read through it
    several times and Hogan knew what he was talking about.  The book is
    also thirty years old and, I belive, had it been written today it might
    not carry the same weight.  Of course, if Hogan were playing today and
    was a top tour player it would still sell on his name alone.  (and I'm
    not arguing that fundamentals become outdated...)  By all means, read
    the book... and several others.
    

    Theres a big difference in playing good golf and teaching good golf. 
    If you ask any of the pros to tell what they feel at a certain point in
    their swing they will describe many different things, but when you look
    at them they look the same, (at least at the points in the swing that
    matter).
    
    The secret to Jack's success has been his consistant routine and his
    ability to concentrate more than a really sound fundamental golf swing. 
    I believe you will find in most good golfers that their mental
    skills are what sets them apart.
    
    Mike
    

    
       Mechanical swings are for those that plan on playing a lot of golf
       and can use the reliability a mechanical swing can bring.  Over the
       past few years I worked on getting a compact mechanical swi and
       it has taken a lot of the joy out of playingolf for me.  I'm
       going back to the long loose swing that I grew up on and is more
       natural for me.   ll hit some wild shots, gain back a little
       distance, but will enjoy it more, worry about it less, relax a
       bit and let the scores fall where they may.   Let the pros do
       the grinding!
    
    -rick

    
    I'm back from a short vacation and I've had a chance to give my new
    swing its trial run on the course.
    
    re: work not fun
    
        for me, a 245 yd drive *is* fun!  I'm definately getting more
        distance with my new swing, new grip, new ...
    
    on the other hand, with few exceptions I kept slicing the ball off the
    tee, though the fairway woods were (by my past standards) unbelievable.
    
    if I can just straighten those drives out I'll be all set.
    
       :)
    

    Check the notes on slicing.  You're doing something that is causing you
    to swing outside-in and/or hit with an open club face.
    
    Bob