Let’s focus on the three golfers who were right there at the end of the PGA Championship with a chance to win: Bubba Watson, Martin Kaymer, and Dustin Johnson. As we all know, Martin Kaymer won in a playoff with Bubba Watson.
Martin Kaymer has a “standard” golf swing; it’s a beautiful swing; all of us at the Jim McLean Golf School studied his swing when he’s played at Doral in the PGA Tour event. He’s got a solid game. Bubba Watson and Dustin Johnson are absolute bombers. Their swings are homemade and look untrained; they just get up and whack it, which I love. They have not been ‘overcoached.’ However, they are obviously good enough to play really well under pressure…in this case on a difficult and demanding golf course at Whistling Straits.
Dustin Johnson takes it back shut and, at the top of the backswing, his left wrist is bowed beyond belief; he also has a strong grip and a big dip through impact. However, he has a great move through the ball.
Bubba Watson hits slices and hooks and isn’t in the fairway all the time off the tee. When he gives it a rip, his front foot moves a tremendous amount and he falls backwards. He does not have great balance. Yet he’s the longest on the PGA Tour.
These golfers prove my point there are lots of ways to hit the golf ball. It’s often a mistake to place a method or a template on a golfer, professional or amateur.
Many ‘method’ teachers believe there’s one way for everyone. That’s too simple minded and it’s not correct.
I’ve studied all the great golfers and they are all different.
I teach, and all my teachers teach, within ranges and parameters. We don’t allow total chaos. We keep players within ‘safety zones’ while letting them swing mostly naturally. This ‘method’ has worked for numerous professional golfers and also helps us get great results with ‘average’ golfers.
It’s extremely difficult for a golfer who can’t or won’t practice to adopt a method and make it work. So, if you’re looking for a teacher, you may want to consider one who is not going to change everything…unless you have a lot of time to spend at the ‘rock pile.’
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I was recently interviewed on WFAN, a sports radio station in New York City. Here’s the interview.
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For the Jim McLean Golf School site, go here.
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Scott Martin, a copywriter who lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, is helping me with my blog. For his site, go here. Scott’s helping me with a business book I’m going to sell initially as an ebook.
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