Watching someone try to hit the ball for the very first time is interesting. What they tell their bodies to do is often an expression of the way they live their life. For example, do they turn their back to the target? Golf is one of the only sports where each participant should turn their back to the target during the backswing. This demands courage as they completely turn away from the very place where they want the ball to go knowing that only by doing so will they be able to generate enough power to send the ball far enough to reach their goal.
So, when someone turns half way and relies just on their arms to hit the ball like swinging an hammer they may be expressing their fears. Perhaps they are afraid of not making proper contact. Or, they might be fearful of being able to maintain their balance through the entire swing. Still, another reason might be that they have an old injury they don’t want to reinjure. The key is to notice and help them understand the “whys” behind their swing.
A good coach will recognize the situation and help the student find their courage or identify a proper work-around that will help the student take a proper swing for the long-term. Some students will find their courage with someone to hold their hand almost literally as they swing the club in slow motion. Others like being told, “Just do it.” There are many ways to help the student get to a place where their body will trust that what their mind is telling them is safe, proper, and will help them get what they want – a proper golf shot.
A good swing begins with COURAGE.
