Do we over complicate?

I read all the threads on this site about wrist cock, swing plane, takeaway, backswing etc and wonder sometimes if we spend too much time thinking about the technicalities of the game, instead of just keeping it simple. The great Peter Thompson once said, when asked about his swing, "I take the club back, then swing it forward and hit the ball.", or words to that effect. Isn't it just about having a good set-up, clearing your mind of all "swing thoughts" and just hitting the ball?

What fun is that? We would have nothing to talk about...So how was your all's day? Mine was great. I

If is really was that simple, then everyone would be doing it perfect all the time. The reality is that once you understand enough of it to make it automatic, then it becomes simple...not the other way around: Keeping it simple does not make it automatic.

I understand what you're saying and I'd be the first to say that I've gained some great tips from this site. But if you're adressing the ball thinking, "turn shoulders, smooth takeaway, wrist cock, point club at target, start downswing with hips, keep head down, hit through the ball, full follow through," you're going to be too tense even to lift the club off the ground. Which I think is why you see so many new golfers, standing over the ball for so long, with every muscle in their body tensed up and finally making a complete hash of it. I'm not a pro and don't teach the game but I really do believe that people's heads are filled with far too much information that they don't need.

I am in total agreement. Too much going on at once is impossible to correctly keep track and analyze during a single swing.

Most players want to play the best they can for every shot...natural human instinct. And you are right, if they attempt perfection, it takes the beginner to think about each item and execute it correctly taking an eternity over the ball, and a pro no thought at all.

Good topic.

Seve said "Two turns and a Swish".

Treating a complex game as if it were simple only leads to inaccurate and misleading instruction.

Treating a simple game as if it were complicated only leads to diarrhea of the brain and overly constricted sphincters.

Yeah, and what's your handicap?

I like your comment, two turns and a swish. That's about as complicated as it gets on the course. Setup, two turns and a swish. Isn't that what every shot is?

GolfBald

well i got a m8 from america who plays a little bit and all he dose is step up to the ball and hit it and it goes long and straight. when u give him tips on how to improve the ball normally ends up off the fairway.

then there is me who steps up after him and its like " ok fee shoulders smooth back swing........."

No the golf swing without a doubt is a complex motion....

The problem is sifting out the good information from the bad and many instructors will actually teach you to do the opposite of what actually happens in a good golf swing. The only information you should be afraid of is the wrong variety.

I think there is definitely a tendency to over-complicate, yet also a tendency to over-simplify by saying, "just go back and through and let the ball get in the way of the swing". For Seve and some of these other golfers who have been golfing since 6 years old, yeah, "back and through" is easy for them. But for me, who just took up the game last fall at age 44, "back and through" doesn't cut it. Plus, as a beginner, you don't know what "bad" info is, compared to "good".

The person I took lessons from stressed grip, balance, and getting the club head square at impact. I asked him a lot about wrist action, knee bend, hips, elbows, etc, and he said forget about all that. Balance was his key. It seemed to work for me. That being said, I still have a ways to go, I just need to practice.

The best thing to do is get a pro to evaluate your swing, then work on 2 or 3 things you need to get some consistency.

I know this may seem crude.

Once you can set up square to your target.

Swing back anyway you want "lots of top tour pros have strange backswings"

If you imagine you have a long spike stuck straight through the top of your skull, through you body and out of your a*se and into the ground. Imagine this when you hit the ball (ie keep everything fixed through the ball you will see an improvement)!!!!

Don't just take my word for it look at any top pro on tv.