About two weeks ago, I was watching a newbie golfer trying to get the ball into the air. He had a bit of talent as well, that was evident from the way he stood to the ball and how he took the club back.
Chances are this young fella would be half a decent player. But that may never happen.
Why?
Cause of something I call the curse of the newbie golfer.
You’ve probably seen it happen yourself, you’ve more than likely experienced it as well. And I’ll have a strong bet, it’s stopped you getting a lot better, held you back if you like.
You see this young fella, taking his first few swipes at the ball, was not alone.
Oh no.
He had a very well-meaning and annoying, other golfer accompanying him on his visit to the range.
This chap was the oracle of all golf instruction, there was not a thing he didn’t know about the golf swing and he definitely felt the need to impart his advice on the young fella.
Who he was to the young bloke, who knew, could have been his dad or uncle or just a friend.
Not important.
After every swing the young bloke was treated to a frame by frame analysis of “what he did wrong”, the oracle treating our young friend to the vast knowledge he had on the golf swing. Which I hasten to add was all wrong.
Every now and then, the oracle would stop his sermon and move to his own range bay and hit a few shots. I just stood there and shook my head, turns out the oracle couldn’t swing the club himself, and would be doing very well if he got one going forward and in the air.
Golf has to be one of the only sports where someone just as rubbish as the next person is compelled to impart all their pearls of wisdom.
Chances are they are coming from a position of just wanting to help, but it does more harm than good and ruins more people than it helps. I mean you wouldn’t take a driving lessons off someone who can’t drive would ya!
Anyways here’s the rub, in your quest to get better and improve your golf game, be very careful about who you take your advice from when it comes to swinging a club. The wrong advice, just one simple tip can ruin you and hold you back for years.
Proceed with caution.
Most of this game is common sense, if it don’t sound right, it probably isn’t right.
Moving on though, if your a golfer looking to improve and take a few strokes off your score, check out the “9 Ways to Lower Your Handicap and Shoot Your Best Round Ever” E-book, you can get a copy here and best news is, it won’t cost you a dime.
May all your drives be long and straight
Bob James PGA