November 19, 2019- by Steven E. Greer, MD
The November 18th episode of Swing Expedition with Chris Como went back to Grant Waite in Orlando. This time, they focused on how he helps a tour player, Charles Howell III, incorporate new swing changes.
This was a fascinating segment to me because they are doing exactly what I have developed on my own, in a vacuum, out of necessity. Also, even these two pros have run into moments of experimentation that have led to disastrous results. Recall, I have officially quit the game once this year, and almost quit again recently, after my experiments led me down a bad rabbit hole.
I assumed that my bad experiences were unique to me and my unusual methods. Nope.
What Grant and Charles are doing is absolutely the same thing that I have been doing. I can summarize it like this:
A) Experiment with ways to “feel” the swing change in order to achieve “real” Keep in mind that the “feel” is always something extremely awkward and unnatural at first. Our brains are very powerful at protecting us. New swing movements make our vestibular system sense danger as we fall out of balance.
B) After experimenting with a new movement, see immediate video feedback to teach the brain what the “real” feels like. This is crucial. Surprisingly, not many people do it. People are afraid to see their swings, so they will never ever improve. Bite the bullet. Take your medicine, and start looking at your swing.
C) Overcome the resistance by the brain and embrace the new “feel” How do you do that? You use drills.
D) Focus on the part of the swing you are changing. Isolate it. Then, do the new movement in slow motion. Start indoors with air swings and sleep on it. Then, try it on the range. Ingrain that new swing change and then try it a bit faster. The brain will never change the neurocircuity if you swing at full speed.
In the video above, you see me now working on getting better weight transfer to the left as the club is still going toward the target. I am overdoing it and my head moves to the left, but that is part of my drill. I will settle that down soon. It helps me to “feel” it if I dip down onto a flexed left knee. In the video below, you will also see me isolate that portion of the swing and do it in slow motion.
The fact that Howell has a great teacher like Grant standing there forces him to stay disciplined. Only recently have I realized that I forget the mission halfway through a session. I learned some tricks to keep me on mission.
A) I never have balls on the ground to rake over and hit. I keep three in my pocket. Staring at a bunch of balls is kryptonite.
B) I walk a distance of at least 10-yards to sit in the golf cart or a bench to review the film. You have to leave the hitting zone to process it.
I should also write down the mission before going to the range.
If you look at my swing now compared to 2016, you will be amazed. I have successfully transformed from a flipper into a modern launcher. I have asked around and I do not think many people like me, with decades of bad habits to reverse, have accomplished this.
For me, this Golf Project has been pure torture at times and most people would have given up long ago. However, I do not think others need to suffer through this. I can show people within minutes how to achieve things that took me years to do.
There needs to be a whole new paradigm of golf instruction. The brain and neurology is more important than physics and mechanics. The human body is NOT a robot. It is a fluid biological beast with a stubborn brain.