The Aha! Moment

On May 8th, I experienced an Aha! moment. The moment where everything comes together and you know things have changed for the better. Mine happened on the lesson tee at the golf course while giving a lesson. Actually it was my second lesson of the afternoon.

I had earlier played in the U.S. Open Local Qualifier at Sherrill Park Golf Course in Richardson, TX. I shot 82. I left wondering what was happening. I knew I was close, but I was frustrated. This was the low point.

That afternoon during the second lesson things changed. My student was not letting his trailing elbow or wrist bend during the backswing. He could have hurt himself playing that way. I demonstrated how the elbow bendsand the wrist hinges. Then I demonstrated this action while swinging a club. Then I hit a ball. Wow! My most solid shot of the day. To prove it wasn't a fluke, I hit another. Same result. I was on to something.

After the lesson, I played a few holes and the results were spectacular. Solid shots with a straight or slightly left to right ball flight.

I have never hit a left to right shot with any kind of repeatable action before. And the divots were going at the target or slightly left of target. 43 years of right to left and divots going right were gone in 10 minutes.

The divots going right has plaqued me for years. I've tried everything and even asked Jim McLean for advice. Nothing worked. Now in ten minutes it's gone.

You might be thinking, how is this possible? It is possible and with accurate information, I can help anyone begin to their journey to excellent golf. A bold statement.

If you know your dominant eye, your dominant swinging side, and your dominant hand/arm, you will get better. This not only works with full swings but also with chipping, pitching and putting. The difference is dramatic.

My earlier posts on placing the club in the fingers properly, setting up and alignment are still sound. Add the dominant characteristics and things change.

I am still dumbfounded when I see someone with major swing faults begin swinging the club on plane and square. This usually happens within 30 minutes. It seems to simple. Am I the only one to think of this?

It has changed the way I look at tournament golf. I see most tour players do not swing the club in a manner which is the most efficient for them. This translates into the club not swinging on plane or being square. If the club is on plane and square, they are manipulating the club to make it happen.

Players who are not efficient;
Tiger Woods
Ernie Els
Jay Williamson
Nick O'Hern
Jack Nicklaus
Zach Johnson

Players who are efficient;
Angel Cabrera

There other players in both camps and I will add to the list as I see more players.

Aha! I now understand.

Thanks for your attention
Mike