How to improve on your own?

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bcoak

bcoak

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Since I am in MA and no chance of getting to see Brian, I was wondering if you had any thoughts on how someone could improve on their own?
I have a decent short game and practice that a good amount. I am in the process of changing my putting stroke to the one advocated by Geoff Mangum and at this early stage I am very enthused.
I know I need to hit more fairways and I also recognize I need to get better at hitting half shots/knockdowns from 120yds and in to get better at scoring (hitting a fw would help that process).
I have an instructer I have seen over the past few years and while I think he is good and correct in his assessment of my flaws I also think he tells everyone the same thing. I also do not have the time to implement all the changes he advocates.
I am athletic and people tell me I have a very good swing. I just wish for more consistency and a way to come up with a plan to improve on a limited time schedule.
Any thoughts appreciated.
 
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Jim Kobylinski

Super Moderator
it's really hard to get better on your own because no matter how well you think you are doing something how you read it, lots of times you aren't quite doing it right.

Happeneed everytime i saw brian and happens a lot with students. Sometimes you really just need someone to show you exactly how to fix what you want to fix and then go do it.
 
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hue

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Jim Kobylinski said:
it's really hard to get better on your own because no matter how well you think you are doing something how you read it, lots of times you aren't quite doing it right.

Happeneed everytime i saw brian and happens a lot with students. Sometimes you really just need someone to show you exactly how to fix what you want to fix and then go do it.
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This is a great post and very true. Many of us on this website have a fair understanding of what we should be doing in our swings yet very often what we are actually doing is at odds with intellectual understanding. I saw this first hand at a golf school that I attended, and I KNOW I fall into this category. We get stuck in a rut of our own making and need a good coach to break us out of our habits.
 
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Jared Willerson

Super Moderator
The best way to learn on your own is to use video and mirrors.

I get into the bad habit of making full swings on air, in my garage. I just want to see what certain things feel like and I end up making 20 minutes worth of air swings, and a lot of times gain a bad habit.

I am going to be disciplined this winter, though and not do that. I am going to focus on my motion, making slow motion swings, and mostly work on my putting and chip and pitch in the back yard.
 
bts

bts

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glcoach said:
The best way to learn on your own is to use video and mirrors.
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I'm with this, which can give you the opportunity to establish the relationship between what you do or what you intend to (the "cause") and what you get (the "effect").
 
tongzilla

tongzilla

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flopshot59 said:
What type of stroke does Geoff advocate?
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Vertical (only) Hinging. Paw stroke, i.e. frozen arms with rocking shoulders. There may be some independent arm movement for longer strokes so it feels "natural". He teaches that the clubhead needs to be going straight along the target line (with square clubface) only a bit before and after impact. In other words, he doesn't teach an arc stroke, nor a stroke that requires the face to be square throughout. The putter and arms are moved by gravity, i.e. pendulum. Vary distance of putt ONLY by length of stroke. Neck parallel to the ground with eyes looking straight out (dead gaze).
 
self-mastery

self-mastery

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I'm practicing acquired motion for the next month, my putting, and various wedge shots (making the ball stop on a fast green, from a tight lie)

I'm happy with my full swing; it's my short game that ruins me.
 
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hue

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Feel and real are very often two different things. You might have good concepts but don't execute them despite thinking and feeling you are. This is a danger of doing things by yourself. A good coach will spot this and the shock of discovering that you are not doing things right will plant the seeds of change and he will provide the solution. A good coach will break you out of a rut. You then go and put in the work and "Improve on your own". I really do not think it is a good idea to think you can do it on your own. I KNOW I can't and I have a better understanding of what I should be doing than most people. A good man knows his limitations and by knowing them you don't become limited.
 
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