Swing Thoughts by Wayne Stewart In this series of articles, I will try to convey the importance of some fundamental concepts of the golf swing. While there are many things to think about while playing golf, there are a few thoughts that must be mastered before swinging a club. It has been said that golf is a mental game. I have to agree. Some of the things we need to consider are taken for granted. How do you go about mastering a thought anyway? First, it helps to believe that a thing is true. Then, we need to believe we can do it. Once these concepts are accepted, then we can find a sequence of actions that allows us to accomplish it. The first and most important concept we will discuss in "Swing Thoughts" is balance. Balance is the ability of the body to maintain a posture while accomplishing some act. If you were to stand on your head, you would have to focus all of your body weight above a single point. Your head. If you could not maintain that focus, you would fall over. To actually stand on your head, your spine and neck need to be straight while you focus on waving your legs around to stay balanced. Granted, standing on your head is difficult because of the fluids in your middle ear getting out of whack. But, the point is, you have to work at staying balanced. I believe that most golfers take this ability to balance too lightly. We figure that we are standing up and that we are automatically balanced. So what is the big deal? Actually, if you get to stand absolutely straight, on level ground, you quite possibly are not on a golf course. To complicate matters, the golf swing is a motion of shifting your balance from two feet to one foot and then the other foot. Care to dance? "OK now I have to think about being balanced while I play golf? Man, you're taking all the fun out of it". Hopefully, it is not that bad. I just want you to catch yourself thinking about your balance once in a while. Especially, before those tough 245 yard shots over the water to the island green second shots you always "Go for" on the par 5's. And those inside the leather tap ins you take for granted. Actually, I hope you catch yourself think about your balance 70 to 95 times a round. Well, do you want to know how to get good posture? Look in the mirror from the side. Stand up straight and let your arms hang naturally at your sides. Keep your feet at a natural, standing width. Is your spine straight? Feel a loose shoulder and dangling arm, knees slightly bent. Hold your head up and don't be stiff. Close your eyes to feel yourself settle into this position. Notice how the weight is not on your toes, and not on your heels. From this position, imagine you are going to sit straight down on a stool directly below your butt. Try it and stop part way down. Are your eyes still closed? Hold this position for as long as it takes your mind to imagine a long fluid golf swing. Feel yourself swaying a little? This little reminder, will refresh your brain when you are on the course with one of those side hill lies, or in the bunker getting ready to blast out. Soon, you will be thinking of your balance 5 times less than you used to, or 90 times more than you used to, whichever. [Home] [Opinion] [Equipment] [Links LS] [Golf Tips] [Rules of Golf] [Monthly Joke]