I found this little gem in Nancy Lopez's book The Education of a Woman Golfer , which was written back in 1979. Remember, when she came out on Tour in 1978 she won 9 tournaments... and 5 of them were consecutive wins. Everybody wanted to know how she developed that unusual swing of hers.
Here is her recommendation on the way to expand a prevailing golfing swing. It nevertheless rings as true 36 years later. And even though it's kinda lengthy I'm going to cite the entirety, mainly due to the fact that I'm pretty positive the ebook is out of print and also you won't get to read it every other manner. (Yeah, I recognize the page numbers look weird however this is because there has been a two-page photograph unfold within the middle of this quote.)
...I in no way want to think too much about how I hit a golf ball when I'm without a doubt accessible hitting one because, if I do, I'm afraid I might not hit it as well as I appear to do instinctively.
But I can tell you what I concentrate upon when playing, and maybe you'll find it interesting and even helpful. It's not going to be much of the stuff you read in golf instruction books about grips, and stances, and pronation, and unleashing of the cock of the wrists, and all that. That makes me dizzy. I think golf instruction is likely to give you more complicated words and actions to think about than you can possibly swallow, and certainly more than you can digest all at the same time while you're trying to hit a golf ball. My prescription is simple, and it's the same one Dad gave me when I was eight years old. Hit the ball and keep hitting it until you find your natural swing. Then practice, practice, practice, until it's so grooved that you can do it in your sleep.
Saying "find your natural swing" goes against the idea that there's an absolutely right way and a lot of wrong ways to play golf. It seems to me that there is no sure and fixed "right way." Perhaps there is a best way for most people, but there are enough glaring examples of unorthodox players who are fine, and even great ones, for me to question whether any aspect of usual golf teaching is sacred. As an example, take Arnold Palmer. Take Judy Rankin. Take me. None of us would be a model for a film of a classic golf swing. There have been great golf players who used a baseball grip, players who prefer to fade an approach onto a green and those who prefer to draw one into it, players who always pitch right to the hole and try to hold the ball there and others who, under certain conditions, much prefer to pitch and run the shot. There may well be a best way for most people but there's no best way for everybody. (p41, 44, my emphasis) I don't think that needs any more explanation. There are plenty of pros who aren't competitive anymore but they would be if they had simply followed Nancy Lopez's advice.
There is NO ONE RIGHT WAY to hit a golf ball. Find the only that works first-class for you, and become the first-rate at doing it that you can. That's what Nancy says, and he or she's as properly a role model as every person.
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