Every time we pick up a Golf publication or turn on the television we get hammered with how hard golf is. In spite of what the media, the TV announcers, the Tour players, and the golf instructors are all running around telling everyone golf does not have to be so difficult. It is NOT difficult unless you want to play at a very high level.
Do you ever hear anyone saying tennis or baseball or skiing is hard to learn? It only becomes difficult if you want to be really good at it.
Hitting a Golf Ball Is Not Hard
If you just want to be a social golfer that plays with friends and family for enjoyment and is content to shoot in the 90’s at least occasionally golf can be very easy. After all you are only hitting a ball with a stick. The stick and the ball have evolved over time, but the objective of hitting a ball into a hole using a stick has not changed throughout the history of the game.
Hitting a good golf shot only requires three things. The club face must be aimed at the target at impact. The club face must also be moving towards the target, or along the target line at impact and we must strike the back of the ball. That is the extent of it. What happens before or after impact is of very little consequence as long as those three conditions exist. This has been true throughout history and is still true today. Today’s fascination with over analyzing swing and body positions is ruining golf for the masses.
Golf Can Be Difficult
The major reason golf can be difficult to learn is because it is rarely taught properly. It is generally taught from the point of view that people naturally want to be able to be very good golfers so they are taught the perfect golf grip, stance, and alignment and shown how to swing the club “properly.”
Right there is a major reason that people have trouble learning golf and get frustrated even to the point of quitting.
In fact they should be told to grab the club comfortably, which will be more of a baseball or 10 finger grip, and do whatever is necessary to hit the ball generally going in a particular direction. The less information they are given and the more help they get to figure out for their self the better.
“Many teachers like to talk, and expect the students to remember what they say and to learn it (this style encourages superficial learning – and rapid forgetting!).”
Make Golf Easier
Try your absolute best to ignore what you have been told in the past and simply learn to control the club face. This means learning to use your hands and NOT your body. Your hands control the club face. Your body will move naturally to accommodate your hands and arms.
Also remember that unless you have the talent of a tour player then looking at their swings, listening to what they have to say, and what their teachers have to say is a total waste of time and will ruin your swing.
For more simple tips and swing drills check out this YouTube channel. The feedback from golfers is really positive.
Cover Photo via Flickr
