By, Bill Tindall • Tumble Creek Head PGA Professional
Very often, a person handicaps their chance at success by doing something which is actually counterproductive to solving their problem. There are many thoughts which are considered “sacred” that when misused or misunderstood may actually reinforce your tendency or cause a new problem. Here’s some of what I consider to be potential “killer thoughts” and why:KEEP YOUR HEAD DOWN
This is the most often used excuse for poor shots and in actuality may cause many problems. Attempting to keep one’s head down at any point during the swing is a mistake. A better thought is to keep your eye on the ball, allowing yourself to follow the shot. Take an easy practice swing with someone holding your head down and you will find it is impossible to move to the finish, thus causing other problems. You will never see the club hit the ball, so relax your eyes and, thus, your swing.SIT DOWN
Very often, a person feels themselves pulling up at impact and they react by squatting or sitting down. This reaction is what I call the “Jack in the Box” move because the further you push “Jack” down into the box, the higher he will jump out. Instead of working to stay down, be sure that you are not putting your body into a position where this is the natural reaction. Remember, downward pressure creates upward movement. Set up at a level you can maintain throughout the swing. Stand on your legs and just loosen your knees.KEEP YOUR LEFT ARM STIFF
We all know that tension is not good during the swing and therefore a stiff left arm only creates problems. Usually, an attempt to keep your left arm straight results in it being forced to bend. Your arm will stay straight enough if you set the club in a timely manner (see below).SWEEP THE CLUB BACK
We have been told to sweep the clubhead back, inferring that our wrists should be immobile. Studies have concluded, however, that those who cock their wrists the earliest will release the latest — this is good. As you start your backswing, allow your hands to gradually lift the clubhead up as your arms swing back. Think of how you would lift a hammer to strike a nail— you most certainly wouldn’t keep your wrist immobile. Getting the club into a “lite” position will make it easy for you to maintain your straight (not stiff) left arm. Cocking your wrists late in the swing will almost certainly result in your left arm collapsing and a loss of power. There are always exceptions (Jack Nicklaus was one) but you will notice that almost all great players have the shaft at 90 degrees to their left arm by the time their left arm is parallel to the ground.KEEP YOUR RIGHT ELBOW CLOSE TO THE BODY ON THE BACKSWING
It is true that we would like to see your right elbow close to your body at impact but if you keep it too snug to your body on the backswing, it will most likely be forced to move away from your body on the forward swing, resulting in an “over the top” move — falling back, pulling up, etc. Take a swing just with your right arm holding it tight to your body and stop at the top of your backswing — how does it feel? Really weak! Your right elbow should start fairly close to your body and then swing away, so that it will naturally move back to its starting position.A WIDE STANCE WILL CREATE MORE POWER
If the width of your stance forces you to stay centered on the backswing, you will not be balanced properly. Think why the legs on a sawhorse are spread wide — to keep the center stable. If the wind is blowing hard and you don’t want to move while you are putting, use a wider stance but be careful when you are swinging the club. Your stance should never be so wide that it is impossible for your hips to be facing the target on your finish.
Bill Tindall is the head professional at Tumble Creek Golf Club at Suncadia Resort. The head pro at Broadmoor Golf Club from 1977-99, Tindall also coached the University of Washington men’s golf team from 1984-92. He played in three U.S. Senior Opens, making the cut each time.
