The venerable Mr. B says there can be great variance in the golf swing, except in two areas- the transition from backswing to down swing and impact.
Herbert:
"Even among tour pros there is a lot of variation at impact. Hips, shoulders hands and wrists are in much different positions depending on the player in question. Also as we have been discussing here recently the bend in the spine varies a great deal from player to player.
Pretty much all tour pros when viewed from face on are y with the lead arm and clubshaft at impact though some are a lot more y then others. All of them have the trail arm bent though some are much more then others and the position of the elbow varies quite a bit. I think that all that I have seen have the trail wrist bent back and again some more then others.
So there should be one set of conditions that is ideal correct? LOL, LOL, LOL as soon as you can point that out I will be ready to pursue it!"
I view the Absolutes as those that exist in all fine swings without exception, as Herbert pointed out. So for example, bent lead wrist at Impact is an Absolute, the degree of bend varies, so that is not an Absolute. The degree of forward lean to the ball varies, but all tour pros on average have more forward bend than the average amateur. All quality iron shots have the divot forward of the ball position...some take a thin divot, some take a thick one. Divot forward of the ball is the Absolute. We all walk, but with a different pace and stride. We all talk, but with divergent accents and rate of speech. So yes, there are certain conditions that are not only ideal, but actually required, and that is no LOL matter.
This concept is not unique to Bertholy or The Blueprint or golf. For any learned motor activity, there are certain things that must be done, and then there is variance around those Absolutes. I am not a guitar player, but it is a good example. A chord F is a chord F is a chord F. If you want to make the sound of chord F, you must place your fingers on a certain fret and strum a certain string...or you won't make it...period, end of story. But I guarantee you Clapton, Hendrix, and Santanna all look different as they play the Chord F. And if you told Clapton that he was not making chord F "the correct way", that he needed to do it like Santanna in order to be correct, he would be like "WTF you talking about, it still sounds the same, whether I do it it his way or my way....leave me alone!"
Hogan said it decades ago in his book and it really is true - just master a few basic fundamentals is all that is needed to play great golf. That's the problem in golf instruction - determining what is "right" and fundamental. Doug Ferreri recently reminded me of one of Bertholy's favorite sayings - Golf is the only sport where there are just as many instructors as players! Focusing on the Absolutes keeps things in perspective.
Moe often talked about "hitting his positions". If your system or method moves you closer to improving on the Absolutes in your golf swing, then that is a good method. That's what counts. Years ago Natural Golf did a video of some amateurs using the NG method. Peter posted those swings in our library and it is very obvious that those amateur's swings failed to reach the "benchmark's" - so obviously that "method didn't work". That's not saying those folks didn't hit the ball better than before Natural Golf, or that they didn't play better. Just that their swings didn't change that much in terms of what a quality golf stroke should be.
And finally, there is building a golf swing, and there is playing golf. When someone says there is more to golf than Bertholy...or swing mechanics...or just learning a system...they are so right. Most people never quit building their swing and take their mechanics and their method out on the course. They are still thinking "golf swing" when they should be thinking GOLF. Most teachers only teach golf swing...very few teach GOLF and the art of playing and the mental aspects needed to play well. For proof of this you need only visit your local bookstore and browse the golf books or even easier watch all the "golf tips" on youtube.
The information that is available on the mental side of things is mostly anecdotal ideas, subterfuge and advice on attitudinal adjustments to thinking. Attitude is important, but doesn't address the process of what actually goes on inside during shot execution. Two of the most famous of these "mental coaches" are Rotella and Valiante. For example, Rotella says to "stay in the present" to play your best game - but ummmm...just how do we do that doc?
Kevin
"A Blueprint For Golf Excellence"
Never quit til you have a swing you'll never forget!
