June 28,2025
It's a process
"Few things are created and perfected at the same time." That is especially true for the golf swing.
Ben Hogan, said that it was a three-month process, when he made a swing or equipment change. First, he needed to understand the reasons for making the change, then he would take it to the range and work on perfecting exactly what he wanted to accomplish. After two months, he was ready to take it to the golf course. Once satisfied that he had control of the new move or equipment, only then he was ready to bring it to tournament golf. Golf students believe their pro will instantly give them the magic cure and their swing will improve instantly. It sometimes happens. But a good teacher is really giving the student a blue print that they should follow to achieve long term success.
In the spring on 1973, I made a decision to seek professional help with my golf swing. Most would have said I was stupid to change my swing based on the results up to then. I had a good junior golf record, got a scholarship to USC, had a decent college career, OK amateur record, turned pro at age 25 and was Southern California PGA Apprentice point winner for the year. But my goal was to play on the PGA Tour and I wasn't playing up to the standard needed to play at the next level. I contacted Paul McGuire, the head professional at San Gabriel Country Club, who I had worked for and someone who had played on the PGA Tour in the 1950's and early 60's. I told him what I wanted and we set about eliminating what he believed were my weaknesses. That afternoon, at San Gabriel Country Club, laid the foundation for my swing that has not changed significantly for the next 52 years. The change was going away from a handier hitting motion and a Johnny Miller like hitting position (reverse C) to what evolved into what Jimmy Ballard started teaching in the early 80's. I didn't know it at the time, but Paul gave me the fundamentals of the todays modern golf swing. Basically, it centered on letting the big muscles move the small muscles and let the hands not be the main focus for power, but more the fine tuning and feel element that they are better suited for. For those that know me, I'm still an Ernst Jones, "swing the clubhead" golfer and teacher. Even Manuel de la Torre, Ernst Jones's greatest disciple, modified Jones's principles to adapt to the modern equipment.
Two months ago, my wife and I went on a nice trip to Greece. We left Greece in good health and arrived back in the US with both of us getting sick. Lynn was in the hospital for two days. She is all better now, but I came down with pneumonia, which just zapped me. It's been over a month of rest and following doctors' orders. With doctors' approval, I've started working out and hitting balls. I soon realized that my stamina and body was just weak and unable to make, or consistently make, the proper swing.
The lesson that I want to relay to students, who are on the road to improving their golf game, is that success is a process and not to think there should be instant success. When I made the first swing change some 52 years ago, it was super hard. As I remember it, it took me a week to make the proper movement and strike the ball properly. The old habit was that strong. It was another week before I did two balls in a row correctly. Then the body started to accept the new movement and I started to see noteworthy consistency. I hit a lot of golf balls during that time, but I NEVER tried different techniques or made shortcuts to reach my goal. I kept trying to do the right move. Each poor shot was not a failure, but one shot less on the road to the correct movement. After over a month, I brought it to the golf course. The temptation to revert back was so great, but I stuck to my plan. I think I shot 80 or so, when I easily could've shot par or better, if I had reverted back. My patience was ultimately rewarded with a more consistent and better ball striking swing that has been my swing foundation for now over 50 years.
What brings this up now, is that I need to regain my swing, due to what the pneumonia did to weaken my body. The doctor says the body will continue to recover, but I needed to go back a make sure my fundamentals were correct, so I then could transition to the proper timing and rhythm. So I went back to basics: drills, fundamentals, rhythm, and timing. I didn't need to learn new positions—just relearn what had always worked. It will take more than a few sessions, but the progress has been enlightening and fun. I'm doing the "learning mode" that transitions into the "trusting mode". So, for my students that read this, the teacher is practicing what he preaches.
Moral. If you're working on your game, remember: success is not instant. It's a process. Stick to your plan, resist shortcuts, and be patient. Improvement doesn't come in a day—but when it does come, it can last a lifetime.
