Instruction
3 keys that took me from a 14-handicap to a pro
Back in January 2003, I was a 27-year old 14-handicapper who had only broken 80 once on a normal length golf course, a 78 at the Walker Course at Clemson University. At the time, breaking 90 was sort of my barometer for playing well.
As luck would have it, right after I moved out to California to embark on my golf journey I was taken under the wing of a local Pro named Dan Shauger. By the end of March, Dan helped me add 63 yards to my longest drive and shoot my first 18-hole round of golf under par.
Since then, I’ve posted multiple tournament rounds in the 60s and made numerous cuts in professional golf events. My lowest score in a casual 18-hole round of golf is now a 64 (8-under) at GolfPark Otelfingen in Switzerland, where I now reside.
Obviously, a lot of people were curious about what I did to make such a dramatic improvement. As I look back in hindsight, here are what I consider to be the three things that had the greatest influence on improving my game and lowering my scores.
1. Less Clubface Rotation
As I talked about in my article, “The 6 Actions of the Wrists & Forearms”, it’s very commonly taught to pronate and supinate your wrists and forearms in the swing.
In the beginning of my golf journey I was self-coaching and was doing exactly that — rolling my wrists and forearms open in the back swing and then rolling them back to square and then over to closed as I swung through the ball. I remember thinking one day on the range at Lost Canyons in California that it would probably be easier to hit straighter if I didn’t roll like what I was seeing in photos of the golf books I was reading, but I figured if some of the best players in the world were doing it, then maybe I should try it too.
Interestingly, once I met Dan, he took a lot of that clubface rotation out of my swing and, wouldn’t you know it, I started hitting much straighter. All those disastrous doubles and triples that I used to have that ruined my scores started turning in to pars and bogeys and my handicap started to really drop.
If you are struggling with hitting the ball with any kind of predictable shot shape and don’t want as high maintenance of a swing, I would definitely look in to minimizing the amount of wrist rolling you are doing through the hitting zone.
It was by far the biggest thing that helped improve my precision and accuracy.
2. A More Steady Head
Back when I was a player who shot in the 80s and 90s, I had quite a bit of lateral head movement during my swing. I suppose that was born out of some tip I had heard about getting my front shoulder turned back over my rear foot in the back swing. My head drifted away from the target and then laterally back towards it.
Although there is the added benefit of the club path deviating less from the target line as you are coming through the ball with this top-half type of lateral move through the ball, it does create a complication in that the bottom of your swing arc is constantly changing.
This isn’t so bad if you’re sweeping the ball, but it can be more of a problem if you take a divot — in particular for me on uphill shots when I didn’t get my body weight back up the hill. Invariably, I would have a number of score-killing fat shots during my rounds.
Once Dan had me minimize the amount of head movement I was making during my swing, my ball striking consistency really improved because the low point in my swing wasn’t moving around so much.
I should clarify that I’m not advocating for your head to be perfectly still or saying that you still can’t hit good shots with some head movement, however, I would consider looking in to minimizing dramatic vertical and horizontal head movement until after the ball is struck if you are struggling with your ball striking.
For me, it helped cut down on my fat shots and translated into hitting closer to the center of the club face much more often, which of course had numerous subsequent benefits like more average distance, better distance control, etc.
3. Less Tension
Aside from minimizing my club face rotation and cutting down on my head movement, the thing that really rounded out my improvements was getting rid of excessive tension.
The difference between a well-struck shot on target and one that gives up distance and goes off line isn’t much. Introducing tension in to your swing can really complicate getting the club consistently and solidly back on the ball.
You might also equate tension to a rusty door hinge. It takes a lot more energy to close a door with rusty hinges than it does one that’s well lubricated. Plus, the one that’s oily will move faster and with less effort.
I think this is a little easier said than done, especially for us guys, because it requires a bit of ego management to not want to be manly and hit every club as far as humanly possible. However, the self control was an important discipline for me to get better at managing.
The great Canadian player George Knudson was a strong advocate of never swinging beyond a point of sacrificing balance. Harry Hilary Von Frankenberg, who has shot in the 50s three times in competition, stressed that a golfer should be relaxed and graceful and cannot ever be too boneless or too loose nor too muscleless. Mike Austin, the man that hit the 515-yard drive in the U.S. National Senior Open, spoke of supple quickness, which I think is a good way of describing it because swinging without tension doesn’t necessarily mean swinging slow. You can still swing fast…just be soft and supple.
One of my favorite tension-relieving drills is to hit a bucket of balls while blowing a subtle amount of air through my nose or mouth while hitting each ball. If there’s a big disruption to the flow of air during the swing, I’ll know I had some tension in my swing. Sometimes while I’m doing this I’ll also focus on keeping my face relaxed and not gritting my teeth while I swing…or I’ll imagine myself swinging with the grace and balance of Ernie Els or Fred Couples. By the end of the bucket, my shots are usually much better.
Obviously, individual keys will differ from person to person. However, as a generalization, if you are looking to lower your handicap I would definitely tell you to consider rotating the club less through impact, keeping a relatively relaxed steadiness to your head until the ball is gone, and taking care not to clench up too tight during all of your shots from full swings, to pitches, and chips.
Those are the things that made the most difference to my scores and perhaps you’ll find that they can help you drop some shots from tee to green as well.
The LPGA Tour is kicking off its 2026 season this week at Lake Nona Golf and Country Club in Orlando, and the pros are dealing with something most Florida golfers rarely face: freezing temperatures.
“It’s colder here than in the UK at the minute, which is a first,” said England’s Charley Hull during Wednesday’s media day at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions.
Even Lydia Ko, who lives at Lake Nona, seemed surprised by the cold snap. “We’re pretty much getting to below zero in celsius here, which maybe in other parts of the country they would be thankful, but when you’re in Florida it is a little bit of a surprise,” she said.
If the world’s best players are adjusting their games for cold weather, recreational golfers should, too. Here’s how to play smart when the mercury drops.
Understand What Cold Does to Your Game
Before you change anything, you need to know what you’re fighting against. Cold air is denser than warm air, which means your ball won’t fly as far. Period.
Hull noticed this immediately during practice rounds at Lake Nona. She mentioned hitting a gap wedge into the 18th hole during a previous win but needing a 4-iron during Tuesday’s practice round. That’s a difference of four or five clubs for the same shot.
Action item: Expect to lose 5-10 yards on every club in your bag when temperatures dip below 50 degrees. Plan accordingly and don’t be stubborn about club selection.
Layer Up Without Restricting Your Swing
Hull admitted she wore three pairs of pants during practice. While that might be extreme for most of us, staying warm is critical to playing well in cold conditions.
Your muscles need warmth to function properly. When you’re cold, your body tightens up and your swing gets shorter and faster. Neither of those things help you hit good golf shots.
Action item: Wear multiple thin layers instead of one bulky jacket. Look for golf-specific cold weather gear that stretches with your swing. Keep hand warmers in your pockets between shots. And don’t forget a good hat because you lose significant body heat through your head.
Take More Club Than You Think You Need
This is where ego gets in the way of good scores. When it’s cold, the ball doesn’t compress as well off the clubface. Combined with denser air, you’re looking at serious distance loss.
The pros at Lake Nona are dealing with a course that measures 6,642 yards but plays much longer this week. If they’re adjusting, you should too.
Action item: Take at least one extra club on every approach shot. In temperatures below 40 degrees, consider taking two extra clubs. It’s better to fly the ball to the back of the green than to come up short in a bunker.
Adjust Your Expectations on the Greens
Cold weather affects putting in ways most golfers don’t consider. The ball is harder and doesn’t roll as smoothly. Your hands are cold, making it harder to feel the putter. And if there’s any moisture on the greens, they’ll be slower than normal.
Ko mentioned that she still sometimes reads the greens wrong at Lake Nona despite being a member for years. Cold weather makes that challenge even tougher.
Action item: Hit putts more firmly than usual. The ball needs extra speed to hold its line on cold greens. Take a few extra practice strokes to get a feel for the speed before you putt.
Embrace the Mental Challenge
Hull said something interesting about cold weather golf: “I like the mental toughness of it.”
That’s the right attitude. Everyone on the course is dealing with the same conditions. The player who stays patient and doesn’t get frustrated by the extra difficulty will come out ahead.
Action item: Lower your expectations by a few strokes. If you normally shoot 85, accept that 90 might be a good score in 40-degree weather. Focus on solid contact and smart decisions rather than perfect shots.
Warm Up Longer and Smarter
This might be the most important tip of all. Cold muscles are tight muscles, and tight muscles get injured easily.
World No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul revealed she’s been protecting a wrist injury that bothered her late last season. Cold weather makes those kinds of injuries more likely if you don’t prepare properly.
Action item: Spend at least 20 minutes warming up before your round. Start with stretching, then hit easy wedge shots before working up to your driver. Keep moving between shots on the course to maintain body heat and flexibility.
The pros at Lake Nona this week will adapt and compete at the highest level despite the cold. You can do the same at your local course by following these tips and keeping a positive attitude.
PGA Professional Brendon Elliott is an award-winning coach and golf writer. You can check out his writing work and learn more about him by visiting BEAGOLFER.golf and OneMoreRollGolf.com. Also, check out “Playing Through” now on R.org, RG.org’s partner site, each Monday.
Editor’s note: Brendon shares his nearly 30 years of experience in the game with GolfWRX readers through his ongoing tip series. He looks forward to providing valuable insights and advice to help golfers improve their game. Stay tuned for more tips!
Brooks Koepka is back on the PGA Tour, and whether you love him or hate him, the guy knows how to win when it matters. After his LIV Golf stint, the five-time major champion returns this week at the Farmers Insurance Open.
What makes Koepka fascinating? He doesn’t fit the mold. His swing isn’t textbook. He doesn’t obsess over mechanics. Yet he’s won three PGA Championships and two U.S. Opens, regularly making it look easier than guys with prettier swings.
So, what can average golfers learn from someone who treats the game so differently? Quite a bit.
Stop Overthinking Every Shot
Koepka describes his approach as “reactionary” rather than mechanical. While most tour pros grind over swing thoughts, Brooks sees the target and hits it. No mental checklist.
This might be the most valuable lesson for weekend golfers who’ve watched too many YouTube swing videos.
How to actually do this:
On the range, hit five balls where you stare at the target for three seconds prior to addressing the ball. Don’t think about grip or stance. Just burn that target into your brain. You’ll be shocked at how pure you hit it when your brain focuses on where the ball is going instead of how you’re swinging.
Next time you play, give yourself a rule: Once you pull the club, you’ve got 15 seconds to hit. Koepka is one of the fastest players on tour because he doesn’t give his brain time to sabotage him.
If you feel tension in your hands at address, you’re trying to control too much. Koepka’s grip pressure is famously light. Loosen up until the club almost feels like it might slip, then add just enough pressure to hold on. That’s your swing thought: soft hands, see the target.
This approach works better under pressure. When you’re standing over that shot with water left and OB right, the last thing you need is a mental checklist. See it, feel it, hit it.
Play to Your Strengths (Even If They’re Not Pretty)
Koepka uses a strong grip that wouldn’t pass muster in some teaching circles. But he’s built his game around what works for him, elite driving distance and recovery skills. He doesn’t try to be someone he’s not.
Here’s how to build your game like Brooks:
Look at your last five rounds and figure out where you’re actually gaining strokes. Bombing it off the tee, but can’t hit greens? Lean into it. Play courses where distance matters more than precision. On tight holes, grip down on your 3-wood instead of trying to thread a driver through a keyhole you’ll miss seven times out of ten.
Koepka knows he can scramble, so he’s not afraid to miss greens. If you’re deadly from 50 to 75 yards, start leaving yourself those distances on the par 5’s instead of going for them in two every time.
Know when to take your medicine. Koepka in the trees at the PGA? He’s punching out to 100 yards, not trying to bend a 6-iron around three oaks. You’re in the rough with a flyer lie and water short? Hit your 8-iron to the middle and move on. That’s not playing scared, that’s playing smart.
Save Your Best for When It Counts
Here’s a wild stat: Koepka’s putting average in majors is often more than a full stroke better per round than in regular events. He elevates when pressure is highest.
How does an amateur tap into that gear? It’s not about trying harder, it’s about caring differently.
Here’s what actually works:
Decide which rounds matter to you. Club championship? Member-guest? That annual trip with college buddies? Circle those dates and treat them differently. Koepka doesn’t care much about regular tour events, but majors? That’s when he locks in.
Two weeks before your big round, change your practice. Stop beating balls mindlessly. Play nine holes in which every shot has consequences. Miss the fairway? Hit from the rough on the next hole too. Three-putt? Twenty push-ups. Koepka’s practice intensity ramps up before majors because he’s rehearsing pressure, not just swings.
Develop a between-shot routine that resets your brain. Koepka is famous for his blank expression after bad shots. Try this: After any shot, take three deep breaths while walking, then find something specific to notice, a tree, a cloud, someone’s shirt. That’s your reset button. By the time you reach your ball, the last shot is gone.
The Bottom Line
Brooks Koepka’s return reminds us there’s no single path to success in golf. His “substance over style” approach proves that results matter more than looking good.
You don’t need a perfect swing; you need a reliable one that holds up under pressure. You don’t need to hit every shot in the book; you need the shots you can count on. And you don’t need to play great every time; you need to play great when it matters.
Welcome back, Brooks. Thanks for the reminder that golf is ultimately about getting the ball in the hole, not winning style points.
PGA Professional Brendon Elliott is an award-winning coach and golf writer. You can check out his writing work and learn more about him by visiting BEAGOLFER.golf and OneMoreRollGolf.com. Also, check out “Playing Through” now on R.org, RG.org’s partner site, each Monday.
Editor’s note: Brendon shares his nearly 30 years of experience in the game with GolfWRX readers through his ongoing tip series. He looks forward to providing valuable insights and advice to help golfers improve their game. Stay tuned for more tips!
Blades Brown made a big impression last week in the California desert, and not just because he’s only 18. He put up numbers that would catch any weekend golfer’s attention. Most of us won’t hit 317-yard drives or find 86% of our greens in regulation, but there’s a lot to learn from how Brown managed his game at The American Express.
Here are three practical lessons from his performance that you can use on your own course this weekend.
Step 1: Give Priority to Accuracy Over Distance Off The Tee
Brown’s driving stats are impressive. He averaged almost 318 yards off the tee, ranking 12th in the field. More importantly, he hit 76.79% of his fairways, tying for fourth place in the tournament.
Think about that ratio for a second. Brown could have swung harder, chased more distance and tried to overpower the course. Instead, he played smart golf and kept his ball in play.
Your Action Item: Next time you’re on the tee box, ask yourself a simple question before pulling the driver. Do you need maximum distance here, or do you need to be in the fairway? If there’s trouble lurking or the hole doesn’t demand every yard you can muster, take something off your swing. Grip down an inch. Make a three-quarter swing. Do whatever it takes to find the short grass. Brown’s approach illustrates that fairways lead to greens, and greens lead to birdies. He made 22 of them last week, along with an eagle.
The math is simple. When you’re hitting three out of every four fairways like Brown did, you’re giving yourself legitimate looks at the green with your approach shots. That’s when scoring happens.
Step 2: Commit To Hitting More Greens
This is where Brown really separated himself. He hit 62 of 72 greens in regulation, an 86.11% clip that tied for first in the entire field. Read that again. An 18-year-old kid tied for the lead in one of the most important ball-striking statistics in professional golf.
How did he do it? By keeping his ball in the fairway (see Step 1) and giving himself clean looks with mid-irons and wedges.
Your Action Item: Start tracking your greens in regulation. You don’t need a fancy app or a statistics degree. Just mark down whether you hit the green in the regulation number of strokes. Par 3s in one shot. Par 4s in two shots. Par 5s in three shots.
Once you know your baseline, set a goal to improve it by 10%. If you’re currently hitting five greens per round, aim for six. The beauty of this approach is that it forces you to think strategically about club selection and shot shape. Brown’s strokes gained approach number was positive (0.179), meaning he was better than the field average. You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to be on the dance floor more often.
When you hit more greens, you eliminate the need for heroic short game shots. Brown only had to scramble 10 times all week, and he got up and down 70% of the time. That’s solid, but the real story is that he rarely put himself in scrambling situations to begin with.
Step 3: Minimize Mistakes And Stay Patient
Here’s the stat that jumps off the page: Brown made only three bogeys all week. Three. In four rounds of professional golf against the best players in the world.
He also made just one double bogey. That kind of clean card doesn’t happen by accident. It happens when you play within yourself, avoid the big miss and trust that pars are never bad scores.
Your Action Item: Before your next round, decide that you’re going to play boring golf. No hero shots over water. No driver on tight holes just because you can. No aggressive pins when there’s a safe side of the green.
Brown’s performance shows us that consistency beats flash every single time. He didn’t lead the field in any single strokes gained category, but he was solid across the board. That’s how you post numbers and cash checks.
Give these three steps a try. Your scorecard will thank you.
PGA Professional Brendon Elliott is an award-winning coach and golf writer. You can check out his writing work and learn more about him by visiting BEAGOLFER.golf and OneMoreRollGolf.com. Also, check out “The Starter” now on R.org, RG.org’s partner site, each Monday.
Editor’s note: Brendon shares his nearly 30 years of experience in the game with GolfWRX readers through his ongoing tip series. He looks forward to providing valuable insights and advice to help golfers improve their game. Stay tuned for more tips!
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Kirk
Jul 23, 2015 at 12:35 am
Hey Jaacob. Really liked the breathing thing on your article. I find myself breathing like a sniper, and holding my breath for the swing. You’re saying to breath in on the take away, and out on the swinging through?
Also, I started golf recently when I was just 21 years old, and am about a 15 handicapper. I too would like to make golf a lifestyle and be great at it like you. I have confidence that I can do it, but I’m worried about how I can afford that lifestyle. Do you have to work a side job to pay for all the tournaments you enter? And do you win any prize money that helps a little bit (or the whole way) to support your lifestyle? I really admire it and want to have that lifestyle, which is why I ask.
Kevin
Oct 15, 2014 at 4:50 pm
Hi Jacob, took up golf this year and I’m down to a 12.9 handicap which in delighted with but I would like to get better. I have a mental block where I think of my score continuously throughout a round and it affects my game
Especially at the end of a round, do you have any advice for me would be muchly appreciated.
Thanks
Kevin
Oct 15, 2014 at 4:46 pm
Hi Jacob, took up golf this year and I’m down to a 12.9 handicap which in delighted with but I would like to get better. I have a mental block where I think of my score continuously throughout a round and it affects my game
Especially at the end of a round
121w.at
Jun 28, 2014 at 9:12 pm
Hey there. Today employing yahoo. That is an exceptionally well crafted post. I most certainly will ensure that you save them plus come back to discover more of one’s helpful tips. Basically posting. I’ll definitely recovery.
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nik dallos
Nov 6, 2013 at 12:33 am
Jaacob, ive been very frustrated with trying to gain a couple extra yards. From short/long, heavy/light, stiff,x,xx,xxx shafts, different methods of swinging the club, hours of pouring over different swing speed tips etc. Im still stuck around 107-114 mph clubhead speed. I feel I have maxed out my given speed. I feel like tossing in the towel and ending my search for more speed. How much faster can a guy get? Sure 90 to 104 mph is a great improvement, but where can you go from there? Its especially frustrating being a former 5’9″ 230 lb (and no im not fat!) college runningback . You tall wirey guys are so flexible and lanky! Its not fair !
Jaacob Bowden
Jun 29, 2014 at 7:20 am
Hi Nik,
Average amateur swing speed is around 93 mph. Typical Tour player is about 113 mph (average range of about 104 to 124). Top long drive guys have averaged in the mid 140s in the final rounds of the RE/MAX World Long Drive Championships.
So if you’re willing to work at it, the sky is the limit.
Have a look at the swing speed training programs at http://www.swingmangolf.com.
Typically, people pick up 12-16 mph in the first month of training. There’s no reason why that couldn’t be you too!
Liam M
Jun 7, 2013 at 6:16 pm
Congrats Jaacob! I’m in the exact same boat as you! I regular shoot 80’s and am off a 14 handicap, with these tips hopefully i’ll have the same success you did! Congratulations on your achievment!
Scott G
Apr 1, 2013 at 8:55 pm
Great article. I think I’ve gotten #1 and #2 nailed in the past year. To accomplish #1 I strengthened my grip and opened my stance a little bit. Misses are playable instead of being off the planet. #2 I focus on during my practice swings because I know I have a tendency to sway too much, leading to inconsistency.
I don’t give much thought to #3. Hopefully it will be the final key that takes me from being a 14 handicap to something much better.
Pluto66
Mar 16, 2013 at 5:04 am
Great advise. But I find tension to be the hardest. A another tip I’ve tried is to hold a piece of Pringles chips or similar between your teeth while hitting balls. Try not to crush it! Any tension and you will fail not to do so.
Jaacob Bowden
Mar 17, 2013 at 8:25 am
Thanks, Pluto66.
You’ve also got a great suggestion for helping with tension…especially for those of us that like Pringles!
Socorr4
Mar 12, 2013 at 9:31 am
My problem seems to be tension since I have a quiet head and resonably consistent hand position. I tried hitting balls yesterday while consciously expiring air through my mouth. It requires some discipline. We’re conditioned to hit between breaths after exhaling, and I’m not sure I did the exercise correctly.
It did help my control by allowing me to hit the ball more consistently on the sweet spot. The range balls at my club have limited flight due to lack of space, which make it difficult to assess distance.
Jaacob Bowden
Mar 12, 2013 at 12:08 pm
Glad to hear it helped you hit more consistently. You’re right, it can take a little bit of discipline.
I find that sometimes when first trying it, my shots aren’t quite as good…but after a few shots (anywhere from 5-20 balls for me) my body adjusts and I start hitting better. Once I have the feeling of swinging with less tension, then I don’t worry about the breathing any more.
Dre
Jul 16, 2014 at 12:20 pm
For this drill, are you exhaling through back swing and down swing? Or only on the down swing?
Thanks,
Jeff G
Mar 11, 2013 at 2:20 pm
Jaacob, Great advice. I subscribed to your website and had some great success improving swing speed until back issues derailed my game. What would you consider to be the maximum allowable head movement for those of us battling flexibility issues? If I try and minimize head motion, I cannot achieve a full turn. If I allow a few inches lateral motion (driver) and a couple on full irons I seem to get normal distance, but there are consistency issues.
Jaacob Bowden
Mar 12, 2013 at 5:48 am
Hi Jeff, thanks.
Hmmm, I think maximum allowable head movement will differ from person to person. There are a number of factors at play.
As one example, some people rely quite a bit on their vision as well as their inner ear for balance. You can test this by timing how long you can balance on one foot with your eyes open versus eyes closed.
If you’re someone like me who uses vision quite a bit for balance, having so much head movement that at the top of your back swing the ball goes out of site of one of your eyes, it can make it more difficult to swing back down in balance and strike the ball cleanly.
Conversely, all else being equal, someone that doesn’t use their eyes as much to balance could get away with more head movement.
Ideally it would be nice to work on your flexibility. But if you don’t plan on doing that, then I would just say to try to find the middle point between allowing enough head movement that lets you turn for more power but not so much that it has a major disruption on your ball striking consistency. There will likely be a tip-off point where you really start losing control, so it will just take a little bit of trial and error at the range to find your personal threshold.
Rey Omar
Mar 11, 2013 at 5:07 am
Hey mate, how did you minimize the head movement in your swing? It’s something that I’m really struggling with at the moment.
Great article.
Cheers.
Jaacob Bowden
Mar 11, 2013 at 6:53 am
Hi Rey, there’s quite a few ways to do it. Here are a few.
Originally, I would just use a video camera. I’d record a couple of swings and identify where in the swing I was moving it, take a few more swings without the camera to work on eliminating or mitigating it, and then check again on camera.
I’ve also closed one eye and used the bridge of my nose as a reference point to something on the ground and made swings while paying attention to not letting my nose move from that reference point.
If you’ve got a buddy around, you can have them stand in front of you and hold the butt end of a club up next to your ear. Then just try to swing without bumping your head on the grip.
I’ve never used it and it would cost some money…but similarly I think the Benderstik training aid would accomplish the same thing as having someone hold a club up next to your head.
John Boisvenue
Mar 4, 2013 at 9:51 pm
Great advice. I tend to over swing with the driver, and the three keys should benefit my swing. Enjoyed your blog.
Roch
Mar 4, 2013 at 8:23 am
Bonjour Jaacob,
The first time I saw your swing was In Mike Austin DVD. Then I went to your web site and you refer to Count Yogi(Harry Frankenberg) about the width of the stance. Then I bought the simple set system from Count Yogi.
I’m still impress from that man and wonder why is not know better. However I think most teacher are to complicate and Count Yogi a little to simple. This is one reason why I love you post and web site.
Also I like the fact that you have an open mind and generous to gave credit to others. For years I wonder about club rotation. Count Yogi and you are on the same page with this and my game is better since I use this method. If you have study Harry Frankenberg method can you tell us the simmilarity between you and him.
Thank you for you excelent work.
Merci
Roch
Jaacob Bowden
Mar 5, 2013 at 8:29 am
Bonjour Roch, merci pour le commentaire.
I’m glad my work has been helpful for you. Yes, I do try to keep an open mind…as well as to come from a place of integrity and humility. You can see a little bit of that reflected in my word choice. For example, I try to stay away from words like “correct” and “proper” in any of my teaching.
I also agree with you that some teachers unnecessarily over complicate the game, although I do believe there is value and a place for analysis and in-depth study. It just depends on the situation and the person involved. Good teachers can do both when needed.
As I understand, Count Yogi was banned by the US PGA from tournaments for racial reasons…and because his teachings went against what the US PGA was teaching at the time. Were he allowed to compete, I think it’s feasible he could have won many US PGA sanctioned tournaments and been much more mainstream.
Similarly I think Moe Norman would have won many US PGA tournaments as well had he not been ostracized for being so eccentric.
And although I don’t think he would’ve won lots of tournaments due to his poor putting, it’s also feasible that Mike Austin would be more popular too. His swing method is a bit difficult to learn, but it is also the most powerful one I’ve ever experimented with.
Yes, the Yogi system is simple. But similar to how a great zen master would teach in short phrases, parables, etc…I find there’s also a wonderful underlying wisdom to it. For example, a phrase that you might not give much thought to like “easy game, nothing to it” could indicate his mind set and the law of attraction at work in his game.
Sometimes when I listen to him or read his material I’ll pause for a moment on seemingly trivial things to ponder deeper meaning (same with Moe Norman, Mike Austin, and others).
Personally, I’m sure there’s a lot more I can and will learn about the Yogi system, but I do have some experience. I’ve read George Peper’s chapter about him in “The Secret of Golf” many times, I have his 3 books, I’ve watched numerous videos of him, found things around the internet, and I’ve met with Timothy Nicholls (whose chipping was excellent…I’ve only seen one other pro or amateur chip that well, a Paul Runyan advocate) at the range once.
With Yogi, there’s no focus on manipulating the club face, shifting your weight, or technical stuff like that. You just follow the same routine every time with all shots…and focus on nothing more than being smooth and graceful.
Over time you can become super consistent because you aren’t making changes to your swing, thought process, routine, etc. The swing can be handled more by the subconscious and thus make it easier to put your mind’s eye on the target. Your myelin can become more insulated from the repeated use of the same neuromuscular pathways and signal transmissions get faster. You can be more in balance and not over swing from the focus on being boneless.
I could go on…but the short of it is that I think overall it’s a good system for playing golf and Count Yogi is one of numerous people (Dan Shauger – my first teacher and who introduced me to Mike Austin, Geoff Mangum – most knowledgeable putting person I’ve ever come across, Moe Norman – overall game, Dave Pelz – overall research and short game, George Knudson – overall game, Paul Runyan – short game, Tom Wishon – equipment, Cynthia Shapiro – mental coach, Roberto Moretti – practice and skill acquisition, and Fredrik Tuxen – Trackman, to name a few) who have very significantly and positively influenced my game.
In fact the 3 keys that I mentioned above in the article would fit right in with the Yogi method (as well as the Austin swing).
Anyway, hope that helps a bit…
Roch
Mar 5, 2013 at 12:30 pm
Thanks Jaacob,
It is clear for me now that not turning the clubface will work better for me.
I’d like to ask you a question about motion. In the mid 80’s I bought the book swing the club head from Ernest Jones. The day that I finished read that book I shoot 77. I often pratice swinging a weight attach to a rope.
Bobby Jones,Jim flick and some others refer to him. Mike Austin said swing the clubhead but showed us how to throught the clubhead from the top. Count Yogi in his book said don’t through the clubhead and tell us how to control the clubhead mentaly at 100%.
Can you tell us what’s your thought on clubhead motion.
Thanks again.
Roch
Roch
Mar 6, 2013 at 7:09 am
Count Yogi wrote don’t swing the clubhead not throw the clubhead.
My mistake.
Roch
Jaacob Bowden
Mar 7, 2013 at 7:38 am
Hmmm, that could be a long answer to go in to all the possibilities! :-p
But briefly with Austin and Yogi in particular, I find the Austin motion more powerful but more difficult to learn and control. To me it’s a bit tricky to throw from the top and then allow the club to release freely through the hitting area in a tension-free manner. “Throw and let it go” as one could say.
For regular golf I also find it hard to keep my concentration on my target while also focusing on the throw from the top…plus, my club face awareness isn’t as good.
However, for long drive I think it’s a great option because it’s more powerful and you have 6 penalty-free chances to get a ball in play versus only 1 in normal golf. That being said, I have still played great golf with the pure Austin motion.
With Yogi there’s not as much power since you aren’t leveraging your hands as much, but I think it’s easier to learn, to repeat, to be consistent, and to use for regular golf. The simplicity of it can allow one to more easily control the club mentally and remain target-oriented.
Personally, I use a bit of a hybrid. I wanted to be have the ease, club awareness, and mental control of the Yogi swing but also have the option to throw with my hands and leverage them more when necessary like in the Austin swing. Since I compete in speed golf as well (finished 5th in 2012 World Championships…gonna be aired on CBS next month on the Saturday of the Masters!), I also needed something that I could just step up and hit the ball roughly where I wanted without practice swings.
It took awhile to get that sorted out but I think I have it now.
So at setup I turn my lead shoulder clockwise. The shoulder rotation gives me a bit of a strong looking grip from a face-on viewpoint, despite it actually being more neutral. But this allows me to just turn in the back swing, keep soft wrists, and have the club cock naturally (further than it would in the Yogi swing) through inertia without rotating the club face open. I’m also conceptually very aware of where the club is the entire time.
On the down swing, when I pivot my lower spine towards the target similar to Austin it brings the club back through the ball with very little club face rotation…but with more natural lag than Yogi.
With the lack of club face rotation in the back swing and down swing, I can also throw from the top like Austin in a case where I need extra power.
My swing ends up being a bit low and laid-off in the back swing…and more homegrown and less pretty looking in general, but the effectiveness is much better for me.
Hopefully that makes a bit of sense. It’s a bit tough to explain without pictures and video…or being in person to demonstrate.
Anthony
Mar 3, 2013 at 7:38 pm
Nice post Jaccob and congratulations on your progression as a golfer, very good.
Excellent points, not only does keeping the clubface more square in the takeaway reduce the clubface opening and closing so much, combined with a left arm close to the body (not outside the line) you get the shaft going back on or just above the plane (wrists can hingle vertically when left arm is in the correct position) makes golf so much easier. Points 2 & 3 are important aswell.
I never really got this stuff right, but I’m getting there now.
I Had the correct backswinig going for a round backin December and the result was a -7 65… & like you said, you have to hit the irons close to do this.
With an average swing you can shoot a few under par – with good putting, but to shoot in the mid 60’s you need good putting and a good swing to hit those irons close.
Cheers,
Anthony
Jaacob Bowden
Mar 4, 2013 at 6:16 am
Thanks Anthony…and congratulations on your remarkable 65 (-7).
Indeed shooting mid-60s and even lower is a whole new level than just a couple under par. Rich Hunt has some interesting observations that I would agree with as a player about what needs to happen to do this -> http://www.golfwrx.com/63409/what-does-it-take-for-the-best-to-go-low/.
Basically, you have to drive it well enough to give yourself chances to get at the flag as often as possible. Ideally it’s best to be in the fairway but you’ve got to avoid getting behind trees, going in to hazards or OB, etc. You need a lot of birdies so you need a lot of chances. First priority is just getting the ball in play.
Then once you’re in position off the tee you need to be striking it well enough to get close enough to the hole to have a putt that you can reasonably make. It’s nice when a long putt goes in but it’s not realistic to rely on making a lot of long ones.
My 64 was from 8 birdies and 0 bogeys. I drove it as well as I ever have that day. My tee shots were long and I got in to no trouble at all. I was at least green high in two shots on all four par-5s and basically had tap-ins or easy putts for those 4 birdies. The other 4 birdies I manages to pick up from hitting those iron shots pretty close as well. The rest of the round wasn’t perfect but basically I didn’t do anything dumb enough to give away any shots on the other holes. I forget exactly but I don’t recall missing any putts inside 10 feet.
It was a great day!
Rex Dietrick
Jul 15, 2014 at 3:30 pm
You said “With Yogi there’s not as much power since you aren’t leveraging your hands as much”
If that’s true, how do you explain Count Yogi’s records:
Fifty-five holes-in-one; nine of them on par-4 holes, two in succession (187 and 347 yards); one 416-yard hole-in-one
Played a 550-yard hole in two strokes in Corpus Christi, Texas, driving 453 yards and sinking the next shot with a wedge.
Great site!
Thanks!
Dave Pierce
Mar 3, 2013 at 10:57 am
Jaacob I have played with you before in our days at Crystal Highlands in Missouri and at Lost Cayons in California, believe me you are 100% improved and if people that want to learn or are already pretty good golfers should come to you for lessons!
Jaacob Bowden
Mar 4, 2013 at 5:13 am
Hey Dave, thanks for the kind words. We should play together with my Dad again the next time I’m back in St. Louis. I had already improved a ton by the time you and I played Lost Canyons…but I’ve come even further since then!
I haven’t gotten to play Crystal Highlands since the railroad bought it all those years ago. That course brings back nice memories from high school. I’m not sure if I ever shot lower than 87 or 88 there. I’d be curious to have a go at it again now that I became a good player and turned pro.
Thomy
Mar 3, 2013 at 9:43 am
@ Chris… We are speaking about 18 Holes!
Send me a text once u r back at Otelfingen, would be glad to see that.
Jaacob Bowden
Mar 3, 2013 at 8:16 am
G & Todd, thank you.
Chris
Feb 27, 2013 at 2:59 pm
I shot 64 at Otelfingen with a set of rentals. Your swing is piss poor in the take away but not too bad at impact. Good luck to you but play some decent courses…Otelfingen is a joke.
Jaacob Bowden
Mar 3, 2013 at 8:51 am
Hi Chris, thanks for your comment.
Why in your opinion is the take-a-way piss poor? And are you referring to a particular swing? I’m always open to updating my view point, but I need a solid argument to do it. 😉
Also, for your information, I’ve played some very good courses…Pebble Beach, Spyglass Hill, Bayonet, Bandon Dunes, Emirates Golf Club, Jumeirah Golf Estates, and St. Andrews to name a few.
If you shot 64 with a set of rentals at the same Otelfingen that I played, then I take my hat off to you.
First of all, shooting under par with clubs that you aren’t used to would be extremely difficult for anyone. Most birdies come from hitting the ball close to the flag, so it would be very hard to do until you know how far the clubs go and have some experience with them.
Secondly, Otelfingen isn’t that long at 6865 yards (6277 meters) from the back tees. But the course rating is 73.3 and slope is 133…with fairways as narrow as a US Open setup. When the rough is up and the wind blows, it is more challenging than numerous Tour level courses that I’ve played. I don’t like the crowds, but facility-wise I find it a nice place to practice.
Rufiolegacy
Mar 16, 2013 at 10:22 pm
This, is the response of a gentleman. Good on you Jaacob, fantastic read. Thanks for the tips!
Todd
Feb 27, 2013 at 8:59 am
Solid stuff! Nice work.
G
Feb 27, 2013 at 2:38 am
Those are all amazing advices. And well done to you!