Phase Six — WHERE IS YOUR SPINE?

"Whaaaat? Why it is behind my tummy and heart!" Right. But, it is also at a specific angle that you set in Phase Four. To make comfortable, controlled turns in next 2 phases you need to be aware of your spine angle.

A pause in steps

Everything you have done in phases listed above has been to prepare you for next 2 phases. You do not have to rush through above steps. But, you do not want to take too long at each stage. Now, you are about to carry out motion phases which can last less than 3 seconds.

If you carefully prepare yourself in above phases you will be ready for stresses you will experience in takeaway and return swing movements.

Phase Seven - TAKEAWAY or Backswing

Your golf swing can be ruined within first inch of whatever movement you do in this phase. Here, you need to know how to comfortably do 2 critical movements. To maintain top control of these 2 movements you must know how to do a whole lot of "don't move this or that". But, "whole lot" is taken care of in Phase Five. This phase is a positional move which you will learn to do in a rhythmic tempo with next phase. You do not use power or speed in this phase. You simply want to get your body, arms, and golf club a suitable distance away from your start position from where you can then apply a desired blow to golf ball. If you feel a bit weak during this phase and at end of this phase then that is OK -- if you feel comfortable and ready for "violence" of next phase.

Phase Eight — THE RETURN SWING

If you have executed phases above to where you feel comfortable and ready then you have to do a lot of awkward work to ruin a good return swing to ball. An important part of this phase which you mentally train yourself at home is to realize that some of muscles throughout your body, legs, and upper arms have either bunched up or stretched out of their position of Phase Six. Part of return swing involves "unbunching" or relaxing muscles which tightened to carry out takeaway phase. Part of return swing involves tightening muscles which relaxed and stretched to allow takeaway movements. The above two activity groups have to be carried out while holding as close as you can to posture position set up in Phase Four. All through this aggressive activity there are stresses on your body which are often caused by desired movements in other parts of your body. Most importantly, you must not give in to "one wrong thought" I have described in previous article of series of free articles available on my website. My lesson modules teach you a method of carrying out 3 essential movements which are basic to return swing of most of your golf shots.

Phase Nine — THE FOLLOW-THROUGH

The momentum you create in Phase Eight will determine how you finish your swing movements after ball has been hit. If you lose your balance and lean or fall in direction ball is flying then any swing error is minor. If you lose your balance in any other direction then you have done something very incorrect in Phase Eight. Many of swing errors of previous 2 phases familiar to golfers will cause you to have an incorrect finish position in this phase. The only time I teach you anything about a correct finish to your swing is when I show you my two basic turning exercises which come with all of my lesson modules.

FOCUS Training As You Practice These Phases

Above, I use word, "focus". In each phase you are to focus on purpose of that phase and on any steps you follow for that particular phase. When you have completed step(s) of a phase you then change your focus to steps and purpose of next phase. You keep doing this until all phases have been completed.

Phases 1 to 6 can be methodically thought out for every golf swing you do for rest of your life. Phases 7 to 9 happen quickly in which you respond to a feeling or to 1 or 2 key thoughts which you have practiced. You practice steps of each of these last 3 phases at home and at practice facilities.

You can use my swing instructions or my exercises to teach your mind steps in slow motion. The more your mind can automatically remember steps then better it can direct and guide your muscle movements during quickness of actual golf swing.

Why Should You Practice These Phases?

In my lesson modules I will make frequent references to this process as it applies to putting, chipping, pitching, and full swing.

These phases are a good starting point for you to learn as you venture forth to learn to golf or to become a better golfer. You will eventually develop your own process for playing a golf shot.

Practice these phases at home until each of them becomes automatic. You will begin to pick a one-word thought or phrase which helps you to remember each step.

As you become adept at completing whole routine you will begin to see a panorama picture of your body, ball, target destination, and surrounding golf course or driving range scenery.

Your goal is to be able to walk up to a tee or ball in grass, set up to ball, and make minor adjustments until you feel comfortable and until you see desired "picture". As soon as you see "picture" and feel comfortable you will execute your golf swing before you have time to fidget or to get apprehensive.

Apprehension causes nervousness which causes tension which inhibits your golf swing. Someone says relax or be loose and next time you flop around like a rag doll and wonder why you hit a poor golf shot.

Practice these phases and you will build confidence that you will make your best swing most of time.

Copyrite June 18, 2004

But what I soon found out is that golf has a sneaky way of adding a little bit of exercise to your life. And that’s great for those of us that hate to take time out to exercise.

On a side note, I would encourage everyone to walk course once in a while. Here is what I suggest to my students who are golf newbie’s: After playing a year or two, instead of trying to back up from white tees to blue, try to walk more this year and wait until next year to back up to blue tees.

Fun

When I play golf I have a great time.

Fellowship with friends or being paired up with someone I don’t know and making new friendships is another awesome benefit golf has to offer.

And there is nothing more exciting than dropping an approach shot next to pin, sinking a monster putt, or smashing a long drive in front of your playing partners.

These are some of reasons I play, but I think it is very important to figure out why you are out slapping balls around too.

Figuring out purpose of golf in your life can only make you a better golfer... let me explain:

When I started off playing, I was not that good, as I'm sure many of you weren't. That being said, I would get so frustrated at poor shots, missed putts, doubles and triples, and double pars. And most of time I would act like a complete fool. I would get frustrated to no end... slamming my clubs down, or throwing them, and it was a given that I would be ticked off rest of day.

I can't imagine what I must of looked like, probably an imbecile. There are guys that I'm playing with that are 20-30 strokes better than me, but I'm one acting like an idiot. And there is no doubt in my mind that this foolish behavior and mindset totally stunted my growth as a baby golfer.

Then I realized, only way to learn and get better is to play purpose-driven golf... even if only purpose for my next round was strictly just to have fun.

What I would like for you to do before next time you go play a round is ask yourself "Why am I going out today?"

If you keep a focus through your round that: I am out here to have fun or I am out here to hang out with my friends or I am out here to get healthy and be physically active or I am out here to feel like I accomplished something today... then you will have that reason and not let your mind run aimlessly with emotion.

I'm sure some of you old-timers have learned this over years (and by way I would love to hear from you if you have a relative story dave@thedaveway.com). This is usually why if you have hit a round with a person that has played for years... they may not have talent that you do... but they can score right with you or sometimes beat snot out of you.

Let poor shots go away, let good shots not get you too emotionally high... just learn from each swing!