The Importance of Golf Fundamentals

Golf fundamentals are often neglected by the senior golfers, they think the golf fundamentals are just for the beginners, and they are only interested in the latest gadget, gimmick, trend or secret method of the game. However, the senior golfers should understand that they can play good golf even with poor fundamentals but it's so much easier to get the golf game on track and keep it on track if their golf swing is fundamentally sound.

There is a moment in every golf swing whether it is a full driver swing, a 3 foot putt, or a 30 yard pitch, impact, is really the only thing that matters whether you're pounding your driver or trying to coax in a 3 footer. Whether or not you can square the face of the club to the intended target line at impact determines how successful any single swing will be. For example, Lee Trevino's swing was not what you'd call classic but he was very skilled at squaring the face of the club to the target line at impact. He spent years honing his motion to a fine edge, spending countless hours on the driving range and golf course so that he could consistently square the face of the club to his intended target line. Jim Furyk is another example of someone with a less than classic motion who has major championship talent and who has spent his entire life honing his golf swing so that he can consistently square the club face to the intended target line. Fred Couples is another example and the list goes on and on. These players, all from different set-up positions, have trained themselves to square the club face to the intended target line at impact and you can too.

Most of the players don't have the time or talent required to hone their action to this very fine edge so it's awesomely important that with limited practice and playing time. They give themselves the very best possible chance to hit good shots and that means to play their best golf it would behoove each of them, no matter their current handicap, to work on developing sound fundamentals. It's just easier with a good grip, good posture, and good alignment to hit shots that fly toward the target and that's what the golfer all want. Many players want to play like Tiger Woods, who consistently shoot in the upper 80's, 90's and worse, steer clear of the very fundamental concepts that would help them play better and shoot lower scores. I believe that Tiger Woods works diligently on fundamental concepts like grip, posture, and alignment. He does this because he knows that if one of these fundamentals gets a little off, it will affect his entire swing. He knows this as do all tour players and most low handicappers.

Good players work consistently to develop and maintain a good grip, athletic posture, and square alignment. Bad players don't. Players who struggle seem to work on gimmicks, fads, and tricks in an effort to improve but somehow year after year, they have a new set of clubs, new pair of shoes, the latest golf ball technology, a brand new gimmick, and yet they shoot the same old scores and hit the same bad shots. Now I know that working on your grip, posture, and alignment are not nearly as exciting as working with the latest gadget you bought on the Golf Channel that will allow you to hit the ball 350 yards but if you'll try working on your fundamentals, you'll see results that you won't find anywhere else. You might actually be surprised how good your swing really is when you put yourself in the optimum positions to excel. It's truly essential to get out there and get to work on the concepts if you are going to shoot the scores you have always dreamed of.

I know it, Tiger knows it, and know YOU know it...so get out there and get to work on the concepts that are truly essential if you are going to shoot the scores you've always dreamed of.
OK, we're continuing to talk about how absolutely essential that proper alignment really is and I want you to put on your thinking cap on and answer a quick question for me.

If you are shooting a gun and you want to hit your intended target with any consistency, first you have to aim the gun at the target in order to hit it, your golf swing is, in many ways, just like shooting a gun at a target. If we don't get ourselves aimed at the target, we're certainly not going to hit it many times. Now having drawn this parallel, I can confidently say that nothing will destroy a good golf swing quicker than poor alignment. Your eyes can see the target and subconsciously, you know where it is even if you're not looking at it...i.e. when you address the ball. So, if you unknowingly aim away from the target, a good swing will produce a bad result, or even worse, you'll try to alter your swing in some manner in an attempt to hit the target, reinforcing a bad motion. Either of these results produces negative feedback in your mind regarding the good swing you're trying to cultivate. This negative feedback produces self-doubt and self-doubt almost always leads to disaster on the golf course. On the other hand, a good swing with proper alignment is rewarded with a good result, and positive feedback. This positive reinforcement can only come from hitting good shots.

When consistently fed positive feedback, your mind encourages your body to reproduce the good swing over and over again making it more and more likely that you will produce this swing even under intense pressure. Professional players are constantly monitoring their alignment because they know if it gets even a little bit skewed, it will adversely affect their swing and their psyche. Golf is all about confidence and confidence is derived from producing successes. Having said all that, IF you are going to improve your golf swing dramatically, build your confidence, and consistently shoot lower scores, it is absolutely essential that you make good alignment a given part of your set-up. The more good shots you hit, the more successes you are able to achieve, the easier it is to hit more good shots and produce more successes even under major championship pressure.