Golf, Play Within Yourself

“That’s not just amateurs, that’s everyone.” Rory McIlroy.

Rory McIlroy

These are tips people gave me when I played the game 50 years ago as a 20-year-old; wow seems like yesterday.

• Swing within a barrel.

• Keep your left arm straight.

• Weight on the balls of your feet.

• Slow one-piece takeaway.

• Texas wedge, use the putter when just off the green.

• Keep your head steady and eye on the back of the ball.

• The swing, it’s a circle.

Jack Niklaus released a book in the early 1970s, it's where some of these tips came from. There was no YouTube or social media in those days. Without that book I wouldn’t have a clue where to start.

Want to lower your scores

Here are golfing words of wisdom from winner of four majors, Rory McIlroy. “Honestly, trying to play shots that they can't pull off. I think if most amateurs played within themselves, and just took on what they could and didn't try to do too much by trying to play above their level. They would shoot better scores, and their handicaps would come way down.”

“That’s not just amateurs, that’s everyone. It’s hard and it takes discipline. Play within yourself. Constantly remind yourself.” Rory again.

The Takeaway – Tom Watson

We all can’t swing a golf club like Rory, but I’ve come across a swing video by PGA Great, Tom Watson. Watson explains how and why you take the club away, a method that Hall of Fame great, Jack Niklaus appears to endorse in his 1970s book. The way I see it, Rory advocates the mental approach to golf, recommending you play within yourself. Tom Watson in his video, gives you tools to help you reduce your scores.

Some points Tom Watson wants you to remember.

• The first two feet of the takeaway is the most important part of the swing.

• This is what happens in the takeaway. You start the club, left hand, left forearm, left shoulder, moving all back in unison, over the first two feet of the back swing. The right hand is there for the ride.

• Notice the lead side; the shoulder dips, the knee bends moving the rear hip back; the arm, the hand and the club are moving back in unison for the first two feet.

• All the angles you set at address do not change when swinging the club back for the first two feet.

• This is important when taking away, your hands must remain quiet, holding the same position you set them at address.

•  Another key element in the proper take away is the hands in, clubhead out.

• What you're doing here is this. You maintain the angle between the club shaft and your left (lead) arm. Maintain that angle going back in your back swing. That's the proper way; you don't want to break that angle.

• You want to maintain that angle deep into your back swing, so your hands will hinge properly at the top.

• Another key ingredient to a proper take away is tempo over the takeaway. You must find your own body rhythm. Tom Watson has a very fast backswing. Fred Couples on the other hand, takes away nice and slow.

Review

• Start with the waggle

• Left arm, left hand and left shoulder start the backswing.

• Maintain angle of shaft and left arm.

• Hands in, clubhead out.

• Left knee collapse in toward the ball.

• Right hip turns out of the way

• Transition up until you feel a good, tight pull in your back.

Summary

Play within yourself advises Rory McIlroy to score better. Tom Watson shows how a good takeaway done correctly will help you achieve lower scores.