Conference 7.286::golf

    Fundamentals:
    
    Grip
    Stance
    Setup
    Posture
    Axis
    Radius
    Swing Plane
    Ball Position
    Pre-shot Routine
    Mental Skills
    	

Fundamentals:
    
    Grip

    Stance (Posture)

    Setup (Ball Position, Pre-shot Routine)
    

if the fundamentals are correct they lead to correct:

    Axis
    Radius
    Swing Plane


I don't think this is considered a fundamental...

    Mental Skills
    	

    Hit it - Find it - Hit it again - Fast
    
    Rich
    
    PS Mental??? Whazat???

    Advice I give myself:
    
    Stay behind the ball
    Hit the ball (with the right hand)
    No peeking (especially during putting)
    Hit the 3-wood = hit the fairway
    Leave the driver in the bag
    Leave the driver at home
    Burn the driver
    Burn all drivers (to avoid future temptations...)

How about this:

	Don't burn any clubs!
	Burn in the fundamentals!
	Execute a lobotomy on not used brain parts!
	Don't leave the course, no matter what!


ps

with this receipt you would discard the mentals from the fundamentals list !

BJ 

    Too late, I picked up a Boom Boom 11 degree stiff steel shaft over the
    weekend and hit it quite well for 18 yesterday.
    
    Advice:  Get the right shaft flex to fit your swing.
    
    Bob (the-driver's-back-in-the-bag) D.

    > Advice:  Get the right shaft flex to fit your swing.
    
    see 1696.17/.18

    	I was a scorer with the Bank of Boston Senior Classic this past
    week. My assignment for the Pro-Am on Thursday was Dick Rhyan's group.
    During a pause in play he was commenting on the best advice that he had
    received. He was told by Billy Casper that the biggest problem with the
    game is trying to hard. Billy told him to build strong fundalmentals
    and then go out and "let them happen."
    
    
    Roland
    

    re: .3
    
    If mental skills are not fundamentals, and most professional golfers
    state that mental skills are at least 75 percent of the game, then its
    no wonder most people play this game lousy and are frustrated.
    
    I would put mental skills number 1 on the fundamentals list!
    Actually after mental skills the ONLY fundamentals are:
    1. Axis
    2. Swing Plane
    3. Radius
    4. Tourqe (windup)
    
    Thats it!

    re: .10
    
    I've seen alot of golf articles and books over the years and I don't
    ever re-call "mental skills" being refered to as one of golf's
    fundamentals...but if that works for you have at it...
    
    the test for me anyway is consistancy over an ocasional good round once
    in a while...

    Mental skills advice that I've read or heard several times... and
    wished that I always practiced:
    
    Think positive and use visualization.
    
    1. Picture the shot you wish to make, not the one you don't.
    
    2. Mentally 'feel' what it would take to accomplish the shot you wish
       to make.
    
    3. Make it happen...
    
    
    Sounds too easy, doesn't it?

    RE: .11
    
    Just for the fun of argument, Websters defines fundamental as "of
    central importance to a purpose, one of the minimum constituents
    without which a thing or a system would not be what it is."  If you
    look at all the swings (Trevino/Chi Chi/Nickaus/Palmer, etc..) I
    believe you would say that they all look different so if you had to
    pick something that they all do the same, In my opinion it would be
    metal skills.  The basic element to achieve the purpose!  Also the
    least praticed by less skillful players. (Knowing when to be concious
    , preshot, and when to turn it over to your subconsious, swing!)
    
    Grins
    Mike

    re: .13
    
    " The actions that cause the RESULT - these are the true fundamentals
    of golf. For all the personal touches and mannerisms which are part of
    THEIR individual styles, I have never seen a great player whose method
    of striking the ball did not include the fundamentals....Otherwise-it
    is as simple as that-that golfer could not be a great player."
    
    								Ben Hogan
    
    "The test of a golfer is over a period of time, and the ones who
    succeed are those who work on fundamentals." Grip, stance, and posture
    if those ingredients aren't there you better make your changes
    immediately. - Jack Nicklaus
    
    For Tom Watson it was grip, alignment, posture, rhythm and balance...
    
    

    
      Grip  -  Paul Azinger, Ed Fiori  ?
      Stance - Trevino?
      Posture - Fuzzy Zoeller?
    
       Some examples that go against sound fundamentals but still achieve
       excellent results.  There is one point in the swing, where if you
       took a picture of all good golfers and great golfers, it would be
       hard to tell the difference.  That is at impact.  How they arrive
       at the impact point is why we have zillions of how to books on the
       market, because there are that many ways of achieving good results.
    
       The follow-through is a byproduct of the rest of the swing.
    
       Yes, good sound fundamentals (as taught by Hogan etal.) is the best
       approach to learn how to get to a good impact point, but don't
       minimize the importance of talent (hand eye coordination), comfort
       (if you don't feel comfortable over the ball, you ain't gonna hit it
       too well), and the mental aspect of the game (confidence,
       visualization, etc.).
    
    -rick

    
    ok, here's my take on fundamentals:
    
    Think of it as a physics problem; what are the most elemental factors?
    
    	o  address position:
    		o  grip
    		o  stance
    		o  posture
    	o  swing plane:
    		o  relationship of arms and body throughout the swing
        	o  axis of rotation (twist, not tilt)
                o  relationship of wrists to arms to achieve swing plane
    	o  balance:
    		o  weight distribution throughout the swing
    		o  coiling against resistance in the knees
    	o  putting:
    		o  straight putter path
    		o  straight blade angle
    		o  hitting the ball on the sweet spot
    		o  reading greens
    		o  judging distance
        	o  swinging from the shoulders
    	o  mental skills:
    		o  when I figure these out, I'll let you know	;)
    
    /jim
    

    "TRUCE"
    
    I was just trying to make the point that after you learn how to play
    golf, the difference between good and bad scored is mostly mental!
    
    Mike

Walter Hagen said:

It takes about six years to learn how to play golf, the first three years to
learn the game, the next three to forget what you learnt the first three years.

Then you might be at something... 

(i.e. if you haven't followed Sam Sneads advice:
Take a rest from golf for about three weeks, then take a rest from golf forever)

Bengt 

    Some advice!!!
    
    Give the game up , does anyone know a good instructional book
    on how to give the game up.
    
    
    It is a selfish game which breeds gambling breaks up families
    becomes addictive , in short its a bad game.
    
    
    "Now if i can just get the grip right and takeaway on plane i am sure
    i can break 80"
    
    
    
    Its like cocaine without the nose bleeds!!!
    
    
    Repent all you golfers while there is still time!!!!!!!!

    A few tidbits of advice:  If you're not a great putter, never play
    Augusta National or Amherst C.C.  The people at ACC are sick and
    demented when it comes to pin placements, especially on the *(%@^$
    front nine with its fast, roller coaster type greens.  Even the Ranger
    was laughing about how tough it was before we went out.
    
    I'm too upset to talk about this...  Upset at ACC, and certainly with
    myself...  &%%@#! ()):"&!

    
    
    I have read enough of this dribble know what its all about is natural
    ability and practice. You can have the worst grip, stance, posture and
    everything but if you play enough and get the club in the correct
    position at impact you can shoot the lights out. Also play with good
    players and learn good habits.
    
    Its the best advice and free
    
    Practice, practice, practice.
    
    Why is leadbetter not an all time great ?
    
    

    
    >>  why is Le(a?)dbetter not an all time great?
    
        because it's so much easier to know something than to do it
        consistently.  those who can't...

     Some advice my dad once received:

	Lay off the game for 2 weeks...

	

	then give it up altogether!

It seems to me pointless to separate the mental side from the other physical
fundamentals.  I think of them as inseparable and interwoven.  So much so that
once you have learned the basics (grip, alignment, posture) - things that can be
taught and learned in 5 lessons or a weekend, aside from practicing those basics
the rest of the game is ENTIRELY mental.  Actually practicing is really a 
confidence building exercise - in short, mental preparation.

To further illustrate how little good mechanics have to do with good golf I 
remember seeing a golfer (in another league I was in) from a distance appeared
to be a pretty good golfer.  Perfect grip, good posture and alignment, smooth
swing - I though him to be a very low handicapper.  Turns out he didn't break
60 (for 9) that day.  He had some excellent instruction in the past but just
couldn't put it all together.  It has to be that the mind is what puts it all
together - the only true fundaMENTAL.

Bob

    Practice , Practice , Practice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    
    Practice what ? how to shank how to top, how to slice,hook,thin
    the list is endless.
    
    With comments like that its no wonder there are so many slashers
    walking the fairways or should i say rough.
    
    If you have poor fundamentals you may as well jump under a bus you 
    will never break 80 with a swing like a reaper.!!!!!!!
    
    
    If you enjoy the game you are a champion

    
    re 1755.25
    
    How long does it take to read and understand the Fundamentals ? yes
    this is the start point before you consider walking on a golf course
    but to implement this you dont then read the book for two hours a night
    or do you ?
    
    Are you the menace I saw reading a book on the 18th at Wotton Bassett ?

    Sorry about Wooton Bassett , it was not me but Mole a playing companion
    of mine carries Hogans Book, every time he hits a bad shot he
    refers to the book.
    
    He has knocked a few shots off his game he does not get upset when
    he hits a bad shot, he just looks for the cause.
    
    Checks grip stance etc.
    
    Its worth a try only its a bit slow.
    
    
    I prefer a more natural approach to the game.
    
    

    Re:                     <<< Note 1755.25 by PEKING::ANTELLJ >>>

>    Practice what ? how to shank how to top, how to slice,hook,thin
>    the list is endless.

    Yes, you first have to figure out what's wrong (either by yourself or
    with the help of a teaching pro).
    
    BUT THEN you have to PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE  to  redevelop  the
    habit of the corrected swing or stance or grip, etc.  I have  battled
    a fade/slide with my driver most of my golfing life,  and the cure is
    very  simple:  make a full shoulder turn, swing inside out  and  make
    sure I roll my hands.
    
    When I remember  this and concentrate, I am able to shoot some pretty
    decent drives, but the  swing that comes natural to me is without the
    above characteristics.  And unless I practice, whenever I don't think
    about it, watch out: 
    
    FOOOOOOOORRRRREEEEEEEE!!!!
    
    /OLD

    
    I think Trevino said: 
    
             "you can talk to a fade, but a hook won't listen"