Golf Philosophy - Producing Desired Results

I've taken golf lessons before, and I consider going back to an instructor from time-to-time. One of the guys I play with is very "anti-golf lessons". His argument is that most golf instructors try to teach you how to swing from scratch, and try to make your swing conform to that "universal perfect golf swing".

In some respects I think he's right. I like to compare a golfer's swing to a baseball player's swing...although the ball is moving in baseball, the object is the same; to hit the ball. And I believe that it doesn't really matter what kind of path your swing takes, so long as you make solid contact and it produces desired results.

That last statement is the most important...produce desired results. If a golfer (or baseball player) develops a swing that doesn't necessarily conform to the "mathematically correct" swing, but still performs very well, does anyone complain? Obviously not, and so all things considered, why should it matter how your swing looks, or if your arms form perfect 90 degree angles, or the ball is exactly three inches forward from your back foot? The answer is that it doesn't matter, so long as your swing produces desired results.

And so I think my friend has a point when he argues he won't go to a golf teacher because he doesn't want to interfere with the swing he's developed. Now, I think at some point when you are very confident with your swing, everyone can benefit from at least consulting a golf pro/teacher to help pick up little things here and there that might help improvement. But when someone who has a decent swing and plays with some confidence is "forced" to completely redevelop their swing to conform to some sort of "perfect" swing, it's really not worth the loss in confidence.

What it comes down is producing desired results. I've been repeating this phrase and hopefully it is starting to sink in that 1) you need to first have a target and visualize how you'd like the ball to get to that target before every single swing, and 2) it doesn't matter how you swing, so long as when it's all said and done, the ball ends up where you wanted it. Obviously there are times when studying the "perfect swing" may lead to discoveries in your swing that will help you get over a slice or a hook or whatever your current ailment is. But, the most important thing is to swing comfortably, and with confidence.

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