Lots of people play golf, and that means lots of people see themselves as golf experts. This is why Robert Mims Memphis has recently decided to address some of the most common golf myths. He hopes that, in so doing, people build a foundation of knowledge and understanding of what this sport really is, and thereby also learn to truly enjoy the game as well.
Robert Mims Memphis on Common Golf Myths
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Always keep your lower body still.
This guideline comes up again and again. You must shift your weight from front to back foot, which means your lower body will inevitably move. If you hesitated, you will have fired with insufficient force.
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Always keep your head down and still.
Another big myth, since doing this will only block your shoulder turn. You must move your head along with the pivot, which isn’t downwards or upwards, but it also isn’t still. A recent report even showed that keeping your head still would result in too much bodily strain.
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Your swing has to be full and big.
This is a myth Mims heard often when at university in Louisville. So much so, in fact, that it wasn’t until he became CFO for a large corporation that he was told this was a semi-myth. It is a semi-myth because it is true, but only for real professional golfers. Unless you are preparing for the Master’s in August and rub shoulders with Tiger Woods, this doesn’t apply to you.
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Always roll your wrists on impact.
This is an old myth that was developed to stop people from gripping their clubs too tightly. However, Mims has cited numerous pieces of kinetic research that shows loosening the grip is natural anyway.
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Your non-dominant arm must always be straight.
Amateurs in the golf community love this one! If they could, they would arrest someone who didn’t do it, treating them as if they just caught them trying to steal or shoplift, in fact! Mims hates to break the news, which is that keeping your arm straight will cost you a lot of yardage. Straight, yes, but not locked into position. It is better to have it not straight than to have it completely stiff.
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Every swing should be slow.
Game is about two things: accuracy and power. You have to have both if you want to be good. You cannot have power and swing slowly. But you also can’t be accurate if you swing so quickly that you can’t see what you’re doing. Find that sweet spot and you will be a master golfer.
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Hit with your upper body.
Last but not least, Mims wants to remind players that golf may be about the back and arms, the legs also have a role to play. They give you resistance, support, and balance. Without them, you couldn’t wind and unwind the torso and upper body. You can’t have one without the other, so while you certainly need upper body strength, your legs are equally important.