Has Your Golf Swing Been Built Using Compensations?
Every Golfer that has ever
swung a golf club has at least one compensation in their golf swing. Though, to be more blunt and honest - most
Golfers have a lot more than just one compensation – they have what we call
Compensation Overload.
What’s Compensation Overload? It’s the act of having multiple compensations
in your golf swing that you use to correct previous compensations. In other words, you developed a compensation
that would sometimes eliminate a bad habit, but occasionally you’d overdo that
compensation. So you had a choice – get
rid of that compensation and go back to hitting bad shots or keep that
compensation, but find another compensation that would help you to use that
first compensation more effectively.
Don’t be embarrassed if you have to read that paragraph
again – I had to reread it about 16 times to understand it myself!
Sometimes that second compensation will work, however
many times it won’t. So once you find
that compensation isn’t working as well as you had hoped – it’s off to the driving range to find another
compensation that will allow that compensation to work more consistently.
Now, where this becomes frustrating is when that
compensation that’s helping the other compensation works for a few holes – but then, without warning that compensation abandons you just as fast as it
appeared. So now you’ll have to find
another compensation that will allow this compensation to compensate for
your first compensation.
To give you a clearer picture of how this might relate to
you and to see if you’ve been through a similar
experience, read below:
The very first time you
tried to hit an iron off the ground - you most likely hit behind the golf ball,
missed the golf ball or topped the golf ball. Let’s just say you missed the ball. So after
missing, you probably thought to yourself or were told by someone else to “keep
your head down” (Compensation #1).
Now trying to keep your head down is the ‘Mantra of the
Monkey’. Yet, shockingly to many - it’s just about the
worst thought a Golfer can have in their head when going to hit a golf
ball. Yet, the Monkey is constantly
using it as an excuse for a bad shot. So
on your next swing, because you’re trying to keep your head down, you’re not
able to move your body athletically – so you become armsy (Compensation #2). Which will most likely cause you to hit
straight into the ground behind the golf ball creating a crater big enough to bury a small animal.
Which influences you to think or be told by someone else that you need to use
your legs to shift your weight (Compensation #3). So on your next shot; you try to keep your
head down while shifting your weight. However, this thought will most likely cause you to shift too much weight
onto your back foot on the backswing, yet you won’t move it forward to your
front foot because you’re trying to keep your head down (or still). This most likely would cause you to hit behind
the golf ball again - yet, maybe not as drastically as on your previous effort.
"You know what you're not doing? You're not turning your hips. You need to turn your hips" – Compensation #4. So on your next shot, you try to keep your
head down, shift your weight on the way back and then turn your hips on
the way through. Causing you to move
into a position that would make a Chiropractor smile. However, you're still keeping your head from moving and you still have too much weight on your
back foot - though having your hips turn through helps a little because at least it allows you to end
up catching the golf ball on the way up – hitting a topped shot that rolls
across the ground.
Which is better than hitting behind the golf ball and having
it go nowhere. So you continue to use
those compensations, but after a few shots that are just rolling and not
getting into the air – you need to figure out what you need to do next.
You then think or are told by someone else that you
need to try to get underneath the golf ball (Compensation #5) so that you won’t top it anymore. Now, because you don't know any better and don't understand that it’s almost impossible to get your club
underneath the golf ball to help it up in the air – you try it. And even though it's not perfect - you do come
close. The ball does start to go up in the air a little, albeit on a line
drive. But, at least it’s starting to go
up.
Which prompts some
Monkey to tell you that “you need to hit down on the golf ball” – Compensation
#6.
Yet, because your weight is still too much on your back foot as
you’re swinging down and because your hips are turning through with your
weight on your back foot and you’re still trying to get underneath the golf
ball at the same time that you’re trying to hit down on it – you develop the 'Compensation that launched a million training aides' - Compensation #7: Coming over the top. Or as it is often referred to as an outside to in
swing or casting or whatever you want to call it. This 'flaw' was developed because this
Compensation will at least allow you to hit the golf ball first before hitting the
ground.
And the beauty of this compensation is that it allows you to keep
your head down, shift your weight, turn your hips, as well as it allowing you to try to
get underneath the golf ball as you try to hit down on it. This infamous compensation (Compensation #7) allows you to do all these wonderful
compensations as you start getting the golf ball into the air.
So because you're finally happy that the golf ball is getting up - you start to groove this swing because you like the
results that you’re seeing a lot better than your prior results.
However, (and this is a big 'however') although you’re starting to hit the golf ball more
solid and starting to get the golf ball into the air with a greater frequency –
the golf ball isn’t always going in the direction you were hoping it would go. So you’re told that you need to swing ....
Since Compensations are such a huge aspect of your golf
swing and are unfortunately masqueraded as common golf tips that you're taught – we have decided that this needs to be a
2-part Golf Improvement Weekly. Because many of the golf techniques you're taught as being the "Basics" are really just band-aids to cover other band-aids that you have applied previously. Or in-other-words: Your Golf Swing Was Built Using Compensations.
And Compensations Equal Inconsistency - the more compensations you have in your golf swing, the more inconsistent you'll be when hitting the golf ball. The faster you eliminate compensations from your golf swing - the sooner you'll become more consistent.
So we’ll continue with Compensations next week by talking about
the Mantra of the Golf Instructor - "when all else fails - teach Compensation #8". Which unfortunately is something you’re most likely trying to do on
every golf swing.
Go ahead, be a Player (and get rid of your Compensations!)
Regards,
Marc Solomon - Your Instructor For Life www.GolfMadeSimple.com New Bonus Material For Anyone Considering Video Analysis - We have added our report on: "Using Video Analysis To Improve Your Golf Swing" to the Golf Made Simple website for you to download and view.
If you'd like for us to email you a special Indoor Version of an excellent GMS Putting Drill that you could spend hours on this Winter - email us at IndoorPuttingDrill@GolfMadeSimple.com and put GIW in the subject line.
To view a segment that covers 2 swing drills you can practice inside, email us at: PushUp@GolfMadeSimple.com with the words 'Golf Improvement Weekly' in the subject line to receive a link and password to access the video segment from our DVD - How To Improve Your Golf Swing Indoors.
Which club causes more penalty shots from the fairway; i.e.
errant shots into the water, trees and any place considered to be a Danger
Zone?
A) The 5-iron – 293 votes
B) The 3-wood – 2,213 votes
C) 4 hybrid – 78 votes
D) Sand Wedge – 202 votes
Correct Answer is B. Read why B is the best answer – CLICK HERE
"I Broke 100 For The 1st Time!"
Hi Marc,
I did what you said. Went
out on Sunday morning, had one birdie (I chipped straight into the hole) and 3
pars in a row and I broke 100! I shot 99 and that is with a 10, and two
8's. YEAH!! I even had a par on a 3 par, which included a shot out of the
sand.
I am so thrilled and
motivated to keep it up!
Thanks for everything!
Alison R – Kingston, Jamaica – Sent February 23rd, 2009
Attended Boca Raton Location on October 13th to 15th, 2008
Share Your Golf Made Simple Testimonials | Click Here »
"I Look Forward To Attending Future Programs!"
Hello Alex - I wanted to express my appreciation for the
excellent job that James provided for us during our visit to your Arizona facility
last week.
James has real talent in communication and the ability to
explain complex issues with clarity and simplicity. I was very impressed with the format of the
program and the focus of the teaching.
James is a fantastic representative for your company and
I look forward to attending future programs.
Again, a very sincere thank you to you and James for your
commitment to a great service.
Martin P – Beverly Hills, Michigan – Sent February 19th, 2009
Attended Phoenix location on February 13th to 15th, 2009
Excerpted from Classic GIW Issue 191 from March 15th, 2007
The answer is Optimism. The question – What does every round
of golf start with? How many holes on the golf course does your optimism last?
Can you make it past the 15th hole without losing some optimism? Ok, ok – can
you make it past the 7th hole without losing some optimism about your game? How
about the 3rd hole?
It’s infrequent when a Golfer can go more than 7 holes on a golf course without
losing some optimism. Though, there’s no shame losing your optimism. Believe it
or not – Golf can be frustrating!
I see a lot of Golfers that start out fast on the golf
course making a few pars and bogeys (maybe even a birdie) over the first few
holes – then all of sudden this lose it. What happened? Where did your swing go?
When is it going to ….?
To continue reading the rest of this Classic GIW
- Click Here »
What's The Definition Of Inconsistency?
We haven’t met a Golfer that wouldn’t want to
become more
consistent. And that goes from the
newest newcomer to the game, all the way to the top Touring
Professionals. Take Bob Gilder who plays on the Senior Tour. A couple
weeks of ago in a Champions Tour Event -
he shot a 73, then an 83 and then a 63.
Meaning, he shot 10 strokes higher in round 2 than in round
1. Yet, he shot 20 strokes lower in
round 3 than round 2. Obviously, that’s
more than a stroke a hole difference. Now, this a Professional Golfer doing
this. This a Golfer that won 6 times on
the PGA Tour. So, we’re talking about a
Player.
So what was the difference between the rounds?
Driving Accuracy: Round 2 – 10 Fairways; Round 3 – 8
Fairways. Fairways Hit was yet again
meaningless since he hit more fairways scoring 83 than he hit scoring
63. Putting: Round 2 – 33 Putts; Round 3 – 25 Putts. So 8 of the 20
stroke difference were directly related to putting.
We give Gilder a lot of credit because how many Golfers
would’ve just withdrew or gone through the motions in the next round? Gilder came out fighting and followed up the
45 he scored on the back 9 (in round 2) with the 30 he scored on the front 9
(in round 3). A 15 shot difference
between 9’s. That has to be close to a
record on any Professional Tour.
To view a segment that covers the Belly Swing Drill and Modified Belly
Swing Drill, along with 3 different levels of Push-ups, email us at: pushup@golfmadesimple.com
with the words 'Golf Improvement Weekly' in the subject line to receive
a link and password to access the video segment from our DVD.
FLORIDA
St. Augustine
Amelia Island
Boca Raton
Tampa
CALIFORNIA
Palm Springs
Lake Tahoe
ARIZONA
Phoenix
"World's Best Golf Resorts" TRAVEL + LEISURE / GOLF
"Home of the PGA Tour's Honda Classic
from 1997 to 2002"
"The Golf Club at North Hampton is the 7th Best Course You Can Play In Florida" - GolfWeek
"Home of the PGA Tour's Skins Game
from 2003 to 2006"
"One of 23 courses given a 5 star rating,
including Bethpage Black, Pebble Beach,
Bandon Dunes,
TPC Sawgrass, Kiawah Island
and Pinehurst #2"
Our Boca Raton, Florida Location
Don E., Don S., Neil P., & Gary M.
February 6th to 8th, 2009
GMS La Quinta/Palm Springs Location
Tom & Mary Anne A., Dennis S., Jens S.
February 16th to 18th, 2009 GMS Boca Raton, Florida Location
Doug C., Dave M.
February 16th to 18th, 2009 GMS Phoenix, Arizona Location
GMS Golfer Profile
What does the GMS Golfer look like?
GMS has such a diverse group of Golfers that have come
to see us from all over the world. From CEO's of major corporations to Emmy
Award winning producers to small business owners to elementary school teachers
to regular people like you and I.
With limiting our groups to only 4 Golfers - many of you don't get to meet all
the great people that we get to meet. So we want to introduce you to some of
them.
Do You Have A Nickname:
Bob “Oil Can”
Warpinski. I'm not really sure where the nickname “Oil Can” came from, but it
did originate at a GMS session. It may reflect upon that “I never saw a pyramid
of golf balls, I didn’t want to hit.” This may go back to my working-class
roots or because I am still searching for a nice “oily” golf swing. Probably
some combination of the two.
Where do you live?
Green Bay,
WI…."yes, home of
the Green Bay Football Packers, and so much more…we’ve got it good here!”
Occupation:
Sales Manager, IBM; 23
years with the same company.
Family:
Married my beloved
Nancy on January 5, 1991.
We have a terrific 13 year old daughter, Dana. And, yes, we do have a cat, a
British Shorthair named Nellie. And although my “lowest score” is a 78 at the
Green Bay Country Club – my “best score” was my first date with
Nancy (our first date was
a golf date). I have a plaque in my office that frames both scorecards!
Year and location of first visit to GMS:
The first location was
at South Hampton (
St. Augustine)
in 2003.
Favorite GMS location:
I have been to South
Hampton,
Tampa and
HeronBay (
South
Florida). All three were terrific. If pressed, I would have to
vote for
South Hampton. It’s a great, very
playable, golf course with all the essentials for practicing. We like staying
at the
WorldGolfVillage
with the various amenities in the area for dining and additional golf. The cozy
club house is like home.
We also loved
HeronBay; it’s a fantastic
facility – huge practice areas, very challenging course, the hotel right next
door to the golf course really maximizes your time.
Most memorable GMS moment:
In 2004, I was really
struggling with the putter. I had the yips so bad, I was afraid to step onto
the putting green. One day, Marc experimented with me by having me hold the
putter with just my right hand while having my left hand on my belly near my
belly button. The thumb of my left hand was pressed against the butt end of the
putter shaft. It was goofy, but low-and-behold; I started making putts
like Phil Mickelson! He called it the Thumbs Drill.
That experiment turned into practicing with a belly putter – and right now, you
couldn’t pry my belly putter out of my hands as I've brought my putting average
down to 31 putts per round. Putting has become the strongest and most
consistent part of my game. “Oil Can” is now “One Putt Bob!”
Most valuable thing you have learned at GMS:
Every stroke is the
same. The only difference is the length of the swing and the loft of the club.
Hit the ball in the center of the club face with a nice consistent pace and
you’ll enjoy great results. It’s all really pretty simple, but so hard to
achieve, I think that is why we enjoy golf.
What do you like about GMS:
Personal, customized
instruction. I have been to 6 or 7 GMS 3-day schools, I have hired GMS to
perform seven (7) corporate outings for IBM, and I have referred numerous
colleagues to GMS. With each session there is this “ah ha” moment. The moment
you just “get it”. It happens early in the school when all-of-a-sudden I
witness my golf ball flying higher, straighter, and farther with no more effort
than when I started.
You get schooled in the basics; the basics are then practiced, and the results
are near instantly achieved. It’s an incredible process to be a part of - to
see yourself improve so much, as well as witnessing others in your group doing
the same!
Your favorite golf course and why?:
My home course, The
Brown County Municipal Golf Course in
Oneida,
Wisconsin. I know most of you are
laughing when you read that, but come play it some time, and you’ll know why.
This course is 100% natural. The ground and the ponds and the creeks are all
where God placed them. The Oak tree’s stand 70-80’ tall throughout the course.
The greens are of modest size, the putts run true. There are no gimmick holes.
It’s classic golf. It costs $29 to play on weekdays, $31 on weekends. If I
could only play one course for the rest of my life, it would be "The
County".
Golf Goal for 2009:
Achieve single digit handicap
status. I am now an 11 handicap. When I started with GMS I was much higher. I
really love the fact that I am getting better at golf, the older I get. I’ll be
50 years old during the 2009 season; seems like a great year to become the best
golfer I have ever been!
Favorite PGA, LPGA or Champions Tour Player:
Steve Stricker. He’s
from
Wisconsin.
He practices in the snow. He’s a grinder. He can putt. He’s made an incredible
comeback in his career. He seems to be a regular guy who can play.
If you could play a round of golf with 3 other people (living or
dead), who would you pick to round out your foursome and what golf course (if
you could play anywhere) would you choose to play on?
Wow, tough question!
Without a doubt, one of the other players would be my dad, Bob Sr., who passed
away in 2003. Dad & I played a lot of early morning rounds together; I can
still see the early morning dew prints laying tracks behind us. Dad never saw
my best golf; I would like to show him how I can play now. We would fly to
Ireland and
play golf there. My mom is 100% Irish, and I have never been there. She would
be waiting in club house upon our finish and enjoy a pint with us.
As for filling out the foursome, I would talk you into making it two (2)
groups, a threesome and a foursome that included my dad, my four (4) brothers
(Pat, Ted, Brian, and Rick) and my present day early morning golf partner, Jim
“Boom Boom” Anderson. Jim and I now lay those same early morning dew tracks.
Anything that you’d like to add:
My license plate reads
“2HI1SF” for “Two Holes In One So Far”. I cherish the day I have to send a
check to the Wisconsin DOT for $115 to have the plate changed to “3HI1SF”!!
It's Primetime In North Florida!
The Buzz would like to note that
AmeliaIsland and
St. Augustine, Florida are in full swing right
now. With March, April and May being the
premier months in
North Florida with lots of
sunshine and temperatures between 72 and 82 – it’s the time of the year that these two locations
shine.
And with one of our top Instructors (Hayden Lewis) going
back to full time classes after a brief stint in the GMS office and Jeff
Siegler coming back east after almost 2 years out west at our Phoenix and Lake
Tahoe locations – you have the two most experienced GMS Instructors in St.
Augustine and Amelia Island.
St. Augustine with the World
Golf Hall of Fame, along with being the oldest city in
America is a
fantastic place to visit.
AmeliaIsland
with our golf course – the Golf Club at North Hampton, accommodations at the
Amelia Island Plantation, along with having some of the best restaurants in
Florida is also a really
great place to be.
These next 3 months are primetime for these two locations –
especially with these Instructors.
Regards,
Alex (Alexandria) - Director
Golf Made Simple, Inc.
Toll Free - 1-888-580-3635
International - 001.904.460.8355
Email: Alex@GolfMadeSimple.com
