Doubts

Golf and Self Doubts

The more I look into this sport, the more frequently I imagine that I've been doing it all wrong and need a major revamp.

This happened today too.  Now it's all of 11:30 and I've not tried any of this, but I saw a YouTube video about putting and the guy said that the putting stroke is done with the core and not the shoulders.

What?

Yes, it seems that while they are connected, they are different.

I wandered out in the backyard to collect some cans that the wind has blown around -- well that was my excuse if Barb asked, but I wanted to play with this core movement too.  I found that it did a couple of things.  It moved my shoulders, but left them relaxed.  I think that may be important or useful.  It also seems gentle and soft and yet, not giving up a lot of control.  I was swinging a sand wedge and was delighted by the feel of the swing, its path, and speed.  I suspect that moving the shoulders might tighten the core, i.e., create some resistense to a full turn, before the turn is made away from the ball.  We all want a full turn, so this might be important too.

I'll play with this a bit.  I found the putter of my current dreams the other day, used, at considerable discount; and I wanted to try the core stroke with it.  Barb is off for some sewing this afternoon and weather willing, I'll wander off to the range and play around a bit.


Rich II and myself have an on going debate on whether golf skill is technique versus physical ability.  R2 advanced Fred Funk as evidence that  it is not technique as Fred can't hit it very far and certainly he has access to all the instruction he might want and the time to incorporate it.  I have no answer for that.  This core stuff might be important and that leads me to question all my earlier understanding of the swing.  I was not putting with this.  I was trying to move my shoulders and getting more handsy that I wanted to. 

I'm also a lot shorter off the tee than I used to be  -- this may help.  Now, I'm not hurting my neck or back either, so I need to tred carefully.

It's always something new...