How to Fix Your Golf Swing: Use Opposites

Filling Up Your Toolbox

 
“Fix a golfer’s swing, and he might swing well for a day.  Teach a golfer to fix his own swing, and he will swing well forever.”  -Me
 
99% of popular golf instruction gives you quick tips.  “Keep your head down.”  “Tuck your elbow.”  “Bend your wrist.”  Some of these tips will work for some people, but none of them work for everyone, everyday.
 
In this new series, How to Fix Your Golf Swing, I’m not going to give you tips.  Instead, I’m going to fill your toolbox with ways to adjust your own swing as it changes day by day and year by year.
 

This Lesson Is For You If:

 
You want to learn ways to fix your swing on your own
 
You’re trying to make a big change to your golf swing
 
You’ve tried tweaking your swing but aren’t seeing results

Feel Can Fool You

 I’ve written before about how feel is real.  Here’s the other side of that coin: just because you feel something doesn’t mean it’s true.  For example, you might feel like you’re really closing the face through impact, but if the ball is shooting out the right, you’re not.
 
This conflict between feel and reality is the reason why many people have trouble making swing changes.  They feel like they’re doing something, but the reality is that they aren’t.  Video and launch monitors can help bridge this divide, but many golfers don’t have regular access to either one.  So what should you do?
 

 

Do the Opposite

 The swing concept I want to offer to you in this lesson is so obvious and simplistic that people overlook its power: do the opposite.
 
If you tend to hit the ball on the heel of the club, make ten swings trying to hit the ball on the very edge of the toe.  You won’t be able to do it.  If you really go for the toe, you’ll probably hit the ball dead center.  This will teach you how much you need to exaggerate the feel to overcome your current problem.
 
This same concept works for nearly every swing problem.  If your shots start to the left, try starting the ball hard right (or vice versa).  If you hit fat shots, try to hit the ball with only the very bottom groove of the club.  Too thin?  Try to get into the turf half an inch behind the ball.
 
You can use this idea for changing your swing path and shot shape, too, but it’s a little trickier.  First diagnose if your problem is club face or club path.  While you’re at it, make sure you understand gear effect.  If you’ve got all that down, you can work on fixing your slice by trying to hit hooks or the other way around.
 

Matt Saternus

Founder, Editor In Chief at PluggedInGolf.com

Matt is the Founder and Editor in Chief of Plugged In Golf. He’s worked in nearly every job in the golf industry from club fitting to instruction to writing and speaking. Matt lives in the northwest suburbs of Chicago with his wife and two daughters.