Where do I go from here?

skitoolong · November 13, 2006

Recently I had a total hip replacement of my left hip. Never was much of a golfer before, you know the guy... couple of company outings a year with a week or two of range time before to try and get ready. Now, I can rotate around my hip. It's not an arm swing. So I've decided it's time to learn again. 'm an athlete, not necessarily ball sports, but I've achieved high levels in most athletic endeavors I've tried.

So, my ortho said golf would be a good substitute for much of the running and other pre-op activities. I've got a 13 y.o. son who shows promise in golf too. So I've decided to give a run at it. I took half a dozen lessons to get me on the right track, and I expect I'm about a 15 or so right now. Perhaps I'm reading too much, over analyzing (my nature) I don't know what, but I'm pretty much lost in my swing right now.

I do have some lower back issues, so I have difficulty taking a full turn away from the ball. I guess what I'm wondering if I want to go at it from a book/online/DVD angle, which are some of or the best routes. I'd like to say that I could just go down and get my local PGA pro and start from there, but I've got a couple of kids I'm putting through school, and my golf doesn't make the priority money-wise.

I do learn well from books, and video. I do have a camera and a tripod capable of 30 fps, and a copy of the V1 software on my computer and I know how to use it. I have the ability to run comparisons split screen, and I think I have enough kinestetic sense to have a go at it.

I know golf is a different animal, and probably the most difficult thing I've tried, but I've been pretty successful in self coaching in tennis, skiing, and other sports. It's probably not the best approach, but it's my only option at this point.

I'm dedicated to work on this 4-5x a week at least.

I'm just running into a roadblock in deciding on the method. There seem to be so many. Hardy with his 1PS, (I do have a flat plane due to a left shoulder injury..it's difficult to get my left arm plane above my shoulders, and a not-so good lower back). I've seen the Leadbetter DVD series with the software included. Looks like it might be more advanced than what I have. I've seen a few websites that I can sign up for membership monthly and visit to get "lessons" or send in my video for analysis.

I'm just lost though. I don't want to get taken, money and time are precious. I don't mind committing to a method and an instructor that is the correct path, but my worst fear is buying into a hundred dollar DVD and maybe a supplimental membership and find out that I'm traveling along the wrong path. I am truely dedicated to improving. I've had my clubs fitted, I play LT2's 4-pw, a 21* 585h, couple of VSteel's and a 540XD in a stiff flex shaft. I did take the time to get the shafts and clubs fitted to me.

So, I know this is long winded, but it's important to me. Given theis vast body of collective wisdome out there, surely there must be some opinion on how a guy might proceed in order to make best use of his limited finincial resources and time given the fact that he is dedicated to improval.

Thanks for the time to read this, and any of your helpful suggestions.

juststeve · November 13, 2006

In my opionion you are making a serious mistake try to go the book DVD route. Whether a book or DVD it must be geared to the great mass of golfers who do not have your limitation, hip, back and shoulder. One size never fits all but particularly so in your case.

Interview some teachers. Find one knowledgeable enough to buiold a swing that fits what you can do, not what someone else can do.

Steve

skitoolong · November 13, 2006

Thanks for the reply. Right now, the hip isn't a limitation.

But it certainly was.

I KNOW the instructor route is the correct one. My priorities, however, are getting my kids through school. At this point, I have to make those tough decisios.

skitoolong · November 13, 2006

I am doing what I can for my limitations. Perhaps I overstated my injuries. I've been looking at the 1ps/2ps debate, and my shoulder position is definately 1ps. I can't get that left arm above the right shoulder like I see in the 2ps positions. Ad far as the lower back go, I do work on flexibility, for instance, I can bend over with a (relatively) flat back with my head against a wall and rotate my shoulders 90 degrees each way. But that's all. not 91 or 92. 90.

Although I don't want to hurt myself, I'm not afraid of a little discomfort. I spent a year training for and finishing an ironman triathlon, so a little discomfort is expected, thanks.

Does that help?

mikpga · November 17, 2006

Wow...

One thing that I noticed from your post...You didn't identify any goals that you have...

I would start by identifying what your short term and long term goals are with your game...

It sounds like committing time isn't the issue, but money is...

Would that be a correct assessment?

Feel free to email me with your questions / thoughts...

press · November 18, 2006

I have spent my life teaching myself the golf swing, I have done a decent job. I have many many books on the subject. I have spent months on swings and realized that I could not be consistant with them. I have gone to 6 teachers over the decades and had the bad luck that none of them were any good, they taught one swing and that one swing was no good for me. I have not been to a teacher in many years and dont intend to go. If you have decided that you are a 1 planer, then I would invest in Hardys book, its a good book but it doesn`t tell you everything. It does a pretty good job at compairing 1 plane to 2 plane. If those fundementles fit, then I would go on to the DVD`s. If those worked for you, and you felt you could go farther with 1 plane, than you have the capibabality of doing on your own, then I would find a teacher that teaches "1 plane"

Now to be objective the teaching is better now but you have to still find a good honest teacher and that isn`t any easier than it was before. Teaching can be very expensive and on a limited budget, its tough today. Good Luck

rony · November 24, 2006

It is my opinion that golf instructors take what works for them and try to teach that method to everyone that they give lessons to. I believe that a beginner should take some lessons to learn the setup and basic fundamentals. After that, because we are all built differently, I think you should just play and do what works for you to make a squared contact with the ball........PERIOD! I don't think you should try to make your swing look like anybody else. Look at Lee Trevino, Jim Furyk, Arnold Palmer, Kenny Perry, John Daly......and on and on. Do any of these guys have the perfect swing? Of course not, because there is no such thing as the perfect swing. If you really want to improve, play the course and practice until you find what you, with your body, with your ability, with your determination, has to do to make squared contact with the ball. We have all been amazed, watching people with the most God Awful swings, put the ball exactly where they wanted it, shot after shot. THEY FOUND WHAT WORKS FOR THEM! ;)