Every time you learn something new, you start with the fundamentals. They are the basics that not only get you started, but are the foundation upon which every aspect of that new skill is built. They are fundamental because all skilled practitioners do them, and when things go right, you correct yourself by going back to basics. In fact, to be as skilled as possible, never leave them.
Golf has four fundamentals. They are a calm mind, the setting, the tempo and rhythm, and the impact.
The mind leads the body. When the mind is calm, it will make good decisions and the body will be able to perform the skills it has been trained to do. A good preparation leads the body easily to a good swing. Bad setup makes a good shot a matter of luck. Tempo and rhythm ensure that all parts of the swing occur in the correct order and at the correct time. To hit the ball straight, the clubface must meet the ball traveling directly toward the target with the clubface square on that path.
A Calm Mind. When we play golf, we must replace thought, which is subject to the dictates of our emotional condition, with a state of psychophysical union, a unification of mind and body, that allows us to apply what we have learned regardless of environmental stresses.
The application of the psychophysical union to golf is twofold: when planning the shot that we are about to execute and when executing it. The application is the same for each shot, from the putt, the chip, the iron and the drive.
You plan a shot by calming your mind and letting the solution come to you. That way, he’ll hit shots within his ability, and they’ll be shots that work. It makes golf very easy.
When the time comes to shoot, the knowledge of the mind is also housed in the body. Your body becomes a physical expression of your mind, not taking orders from the mind, but the manifested mind.
Develop a calm mind away from the golf course. Regardless of what others say or do, or what happens to you, stay calm and receive it in a positive way. There is something good that can come out of any situation. Get used to looking for it. Being at peace on the golf course cannot happen unless you are at peace with your life.
Startup. Setup varies by club and shot. The one common element in every setup, regardless of the shot, is to calm your mind first. The state of your mind is just as important as the position of your body. This is the most positive golf habit you can develop to play better.
Other common principles are to have a good grip so that the hands work as a unit. Good posture is essential. Keep your back straight, lean forward from the hips, keep your weight forward, let your arms hang naturally. Align your feet, knees, hips, and shoulders with your goal. Hold the stick lightly, don’t squeeze it. You can apply these attributes to every shot, from chip to putt.
Time and Rhythm. Tempo measures the absolute speed of a golf swing. Rhythm describes the relative duration of its parts. Every good golfer swings the club at the same rate. Movement from address to the top of the backswing takes two counts, and from there back to impact takes one count. This fact has been known for a long time. Tempo, however, is a personal matter. Some golfers swing faster, in general, than others.
To find the right tempo and rhythm for you, get a metronome and set it to 126. Count the ticks and time your swing so that you start on the first tick, reach the top of the backswing on the third tick, and hit. the ball on the fourth tick.
You may find that the metronome setting is too slow. If so, move it to 132 and try again. Continue until you reach the point where you can no longer control your swing. Slow down the settings until you achieve clean, direct hits at the fastest tempo you can comfortably control.
Impact. Impact is the goal of golf. The entire swing is reduced to 1/500th of a second when the club and ball are in contact with each other. The clubface should be square, travel toward the target, and make contact with the ball in the center. That’s a tall order when the club is moving at 90 mph or so, but that’s what a good shot requires.
Practice straight and line impacts by making small, slow swings, no more than a foot long, while your body is in the impact position. Gradually make your swings longer, but as the clubface goes through impact, make sure the clubface is square and drifting toward a hypothetical target.
Keep lengthening your swing until you reach the point where your hands are at hip height on the backswing and follow through. Swaying back and forth as much with the club going through the impact as it should. Be sure to square the club with your swing, not your hands.
Building these four fundamentals into your game will have more effect, faster, than any other practice you can do.
