Finding the Right Swing

You know, the single most important element in improving your ball-striking isn’t hitting more balls or buying the latest driver…

It’s understanding your golf swing — really understanding what you are doing, not what you think you’re doing.

As a coach, I can’t stress this enough.

Time and again, I’ve seen players — from 30-handicaps to tour pros — who believe they’re doing one thing… and the video shows something completely different.

One of the most famous golf books ever written is Ben Hogan’s Five Lessons: The Modern Fundamentals of Golf. It’s the best-selling golf instruction book in history.

In it, Hogan described what it felt like he did in his swing — not necessarily what he actually did.

Funny story — sports psychologist Bob Rotella once had lunch with Hogan and told him,

“Ben, people say what you wrote and what you actually did weren’t the same.” Hogan thought for a moment and said, “You know, I think they’re probably right.” If Ben Hogan didn’t fully know what he was doing… where does that leave the rest of us?

So, improvement starts when you truly understand your default swing — the motion you naturally make — versus the swing you’re trying to make.

Video is a great tool for this. But more important is feel. When a student looks at me and says, “Aha! I felt that!” — that’s when real learning begins. Before that, it’s just words.

Now, here’s the tough part: swing changes are hard. Your current motion is deeply ingrained, even if it’s not producing great shots. And let’s talk about the biggest swing killer out there — the internet. You hit a few shanks and Google “how to stop shanking.”

Big mistake. Why? Because unless that “fix” is built on your current swing pattern, it might be meaningless — or worse, it could make things harder.

Think of it like directions: “How do I get to Philadelphia?” Well… that depends. If you’re in San Francisco, you go east. If you’re in Miami, you go north. Without knowing your starting point, you’re lost before you begin.

Here’s what my teaching mentor, John Jacobs, taught me: “The sole purpose of the golf swing is to produce good, solid impact. The method employed is of no consequence if it can be repeated.”

That quote shaped my entire coaching philosophy.

If you can hit good shots and repeat them — congratulations, you’ve got a good golf swing.

Forget “method bias.” The swing that works for you is the right one.

Another trap: tour pros giving swing tips online. Ask yourself — has that pro ever seen your swing? Probably not. And remember, even great players often describe what they think they do, not what’s actually happening.

At the end of the day, every bad shot comes from a faulty impact. We don’t kick the ball around the course — we hit it with a club. So, learn to swing the clubhead, not just your body. If you haven’t read it yet, grab a copy of Ernest Jones’ Swing the Clubhead.

It’s old-school wisdom that’s more relevant today than ever.

And next time you want to improve your swing — skip the search bar, pick up your phone, and talk to a coach who understands your motion.

That’s how real progress begins.