Golf Swing Instructions: What Do Tiger Woods And Vijay Singh Have That You Do Not?
- Date: 2008-07-19 - Word Count: 629
Share This!
Who else wants to increase the distance of our swing? Practically all of us, I should think. To that end, 90% of inexperienced golfers seek out golf swing instructions. We are inspired by news stories of the great golfers - how far they can hit the golf ball, the great distance of their drives, etc.
So we avidly search for golf swing instructions on the internet. We look for special classes. We subscribe to golf magazines and watch golf on TV and cable. All this to look for that special edge with which to beat the golf course and grind our golf buddies into the dirt. If you studied NLP, you would ask these two questions: 1) Who is the best golfer in the world of all time? 2) What are the differences between him and me?
The answer to the first question is unarguably Tiger Woods. He burst onto the golfing scene like a meteor - a true prodigy. And yet, unlike many prodigies, he managed to retain his top form year after year for practically a decade now. So, what is the answer to question number two? What does he have that we do not?
On the mental aspect, clearly he is mentally very tough. When he starts strongly, he very often manages to remain ahead of his competitors, shrugging off their pressure. When he does not start well, he never gives up. Not only that, but he also has the ability to continuously put pressure on his opponents, chasing after them until they inevitably cracked. One important fact about him is that he is very consistent. You rarely hear of him making any major mistakes.
Getting back to his swing - when he first caught the notice of reporters, Tiger Woods was considered a big hitter, often hitting the ball farther than most of his opponents. Should we try to imitate his swing from this period? No, because he clearly abandoned his old method of hitting the ball despite his success with it. Kibitzers offered up many reasons, among them the excuse that his old power swing caused too much strain on the body and was beginning to affect his health. Regardless of the true reason, even a casual analysis will show that Tiger Woods's new swing is less powerful, but much more consistent. His new results after he mastered the new swinging technique clearly proves it. You no longer hear about his spectacular drives nowadays. Instead, reporters talk about his consistency and how he makes fewer mistakes. They complain that his game is boring, and yet he holds top position even more often than in the past.
So how does Tiger Woods achieve his spectacular performance? Apparently, by using what some experts call a "one plane swing". One of his major rivals, Vijay Singh also apparently uses a "one plane swing". While both of them have unique features in their swing, there are many common threads which tie them into followers of the "one plane swing" school, pioneered by Ben Hogan and Jim Hardy. One unique aspect of this type of swing is that you employ a more natural rotary swinging motion whereby you match the arm and shoulder planes throughout the swing. Compared to this, the "two plane swing" used by Jack Nicklaus attempts to perfectly time and blend the relatively flat rotation of the body with the upright swinging of the arms.
Before you try looking for golf swing instructions, you are well advised to decide which kind of golf swing you want to learn. At the very least, make sure your golf instructor knows the difference. One common quality of the worst golfers is that they mix in components of both the "one plane swing" and the "two plane swing" into their own swing, making a horrible mess of their game.
So we avidly search for golf swing instructions on the internet. We look for special classes. We subscribe to golf magazines and watch golf on TV and cable. All this to look for that special edge with which to beat the golf course and grind our golf buddies into the dirt. If you studied NLP, you would ask these two questions: 1) Who is the best golfer in the world of all time? 2) What are the differences between him and me?
The answer to the first question is unarguably Tiger Woods. He burst onto the golfing scene like a meteor - a true prodigy. And yet, unlike many prodigies, he managed to retain his top form year after year for practically a decade now. So, what is the answer to question number two? What does he have that we do not?
On the mental aspect, clearly he is mentally very tough. When he starts strongly, he very often manages to remain ahead of his competitors, shrugging off their pressure. When he does not start well, he never gives up. Not only that, but he also has the ability to continuously put pressure on his opponents, chasing after them until they inevitably cracked. One important fact about him is that he is very consistent. You rarely hear of him making any major mistakes.
Getting back to his swing - when he first caught the notice of reporters, Tiger Woods was considered a big hitter, often hitting the ball farther than most of his opponents. Should we try to imitate his swing from this period? No, because he clearly abandoned his old method of hitting the ball despite his success with it. Kibitzers offered up many reasons, among them the excuse that his old power swing caused too much strain on the body and was beginning to affect his health. Regardless of the true reason, even a casual analysis will show that Tiger Woods's new swing is less powerful, but much more consistent. His new results after he mastered the new swinging technique clearly proves it. You no longer hear about his spectacular drives nowadays. Instead, reporters talk about his consistency and how he makes fewer mistakes. They complain that his game is boring, and yet he holds top position even more often than in the past.
So how does Tiger Woods achieve his spectacular performance? Apparently, by using what some experts call a "one plane swing". One of his major rivals, Vijay Singh also apparently uses a "one plane swing". While both of them have unique features in their swing, there are many common threads which tie them into followers of the "one plane swing" school, pioneered by Ben Hogan and Jim Hardy. One unique aspect of this type of swing is that you employ a more natural rotary swinging motion whereby you match the arm and shoulder planes throughout the swing. Compared to this, the "two plane swing" used by Jack Nicklaus attempts to perfectly time and blend the relatively flat rotation of the body with the upright swinging of the arms.
Before you try looking for golf swing instructions, you are well advised to decide which kind of golf swing you want to learn. At the very least, make sure your golf instructor knows the difference. One common quality of the worst golfers is that they mix in components of both the "one plane swing" and the "two plane swing" into their own swing, making a horrible mess of their game.
Related Tags: improve golf swing, golf swing tips, golf lessons online, golf swing instructions, golf driving tips, golf lessons for beginners, golf putting instructions
Godfrey Swain is a weekend golfer who used to struggle on the wrong side of 80. After he opened his mind and learned how to play golf the right way, he is now able to hit the right side of 70 on his good days. If you have these 3 problems with your golf swing: 1) inconsistency; 2) slice; 3) distance, then click here to find out how to improve your golf swing. Your Article Search Directory : Find in Articles
Recent articles in this category:
- Links Golf Courses Of Snowdonia
As the great Ian Woosnam himself once said of playing golf in North Wales: "If you are looking for c - Deciding If Take Golf Lessons
In case you are interested in improving your game or you're just considering beginning to play golf, - Medicus Dual Hinge Driver - Add Distance And Accuracy To Your Drives
The Medicus Dual Hinge Driver will help you to hit longer and straighter drives by giving you instan - Phil Mickelson Putting Style
So what is Phil Mickelson putting style? After all, he can string together a bunch of birdies in a r - 3 Slice Tips To Help You Fix A Slice In Your Swing
For many golfers having the ability to fix a slice is a genuine battle. If you are someone who faces - The Best Of Courses In Golf Are Respected Worldwide
Even the most innocent golfers will fancy playing on the best of golf courses they can meet the expe - 10 Minutes A Day To Building Confidence In Golf
Confidence in golf comes from both a conscious and an unconscious perspective. This article is focus - 10 Critical Areas In The Golf Mental Game
When it comes to golf, the mental game is highly recognized as being a big factor. We conducted a su - Why In Golf Hitting Fat Shots Has Both Mechanical And Mental Factors
When it comes to a lack of confidence in golf, hitting fat shots and hitting thin shots is often a r - Overcome Hitting Fat Golf Shots By Thinking Confidently
Hitting fat golf shots will erode one's confidence, depending upon the age of the golfer. That's cor
Most viewed articles in this category:
- The New Square Drivers - Is It Hip To Be Square?
You've probably heard about the new square drivers. As one golfer commented..."Looks like a tank on - Grooved Golf Swing Series: How To Use Your Elbow While Putting
Here is a tip that will allow you to control the putter head and send it along the right line every - Grooved Golf Swing Series: How To Be A Better Putter - Some Tips
First a look at the alignment of the putter blade as you place it behind the ball. If you have you - Understanding The Basic Rules Of Golf
There are many people who embark on playing golf but do not really try to understand the rules or th - How to Benefit From Golf Training Aids
A person who wants to go into a sporting hobby can choose something that will not only entertain him - Left Handed Golf - Do Left-Handers Play Golf Left-Handed
I am a natural left-hander and I write with my left and play one handed sports such as tennis, badmi - Golf - Equipment Required
How would you like to learn to play like Tiger Woods?Well, we can't promise you that, but we can giv - Golf Swing Instruction Will Improve Your Swing Technique And Distance
Do you see the need for instruction for your golf swing? Most amateur golfers have subpar swing mec - How To Use Golf Training Aids To Get Your Tempo In The Groove
Baaack and thru. Baaack and thru. Baaack and thru. Feel the rhythm, feel the tempo. Bring the club b - Become A Better Golfer By Improving Your Short Game With These Golfing Tips
If you've spent some time either playing or watching golf, then you'll know that around 70 percent o