Decoding Golfer Speak
As a golfer myself I have certainly uttered each of the statements to come and I know I am not alone. Golfers everywhere have a common set of swing "reasons" why they hit that bad shot. Thankfully, the USGTF Technical Committee has created a list of six phrases that deal with swing sensations and not the actual happening like saying, "I hit it thin." The golfer here is telling us what they are feeling, but the root causes many times are entirely different.
This list delves into what the phrases really mean.
"I swung too quick."
We, as golfers, often believe that swinging too quickly is a bad thing, more so during the backswing. Fact: touring professionals on average swing more quickly than amateurs. Most likely what this person means is they swung more quickly than usual. Typically you'll find this starts with the takeaway where the club is snatched back.
"I came over it."
Golfers utter this phrase when they hit a pull-draw or a pull-hook. Often the better golfers say this as they do not normally come over the top and can feel it better. All it takes is for the hands to be a fraction of an inch too far outside where they usually are when beginning the downswing for a good player to feel this sensation. Fully completing the backswing should take care of this problem for most golfers.
"I didn't clear my hips."
This is closely related to "I came over it." If you do not clear your hips it can cause coming over the top. But remember they are two separate issues. This sensation like the previous can be felt by a better player. It occurs when the player's lower body does not clear as it normally does. The resulting shot is normally a pull, pull-draw or pull-hook, or a draw or hook that started towards the target.
"I got ahead of the ball."
How often have you or someone in your group hit a push, push-fade or a push-slice, and then you hear this phrase? The only thing more common on a golf course would be seeing geese. Generally this happens when you do not completely finish the backswing and move laterally too early with your upper body during transition.
"I came off the ball."
A playing partner of Ben Hogan once said this and Hogan responded with, "What the heck does that mean, 'coming off the ball?'" Translation: The player did not stay down through the impact with their entire body. Often when worried about a shot this can happen due to lack of confidence.
"I looked up." - Grand Prize Winner for Most Uttered Phrase on a Golf Course
Roughly 1.5 million people golf in the United States everyday. I have heard this phrase more times than I can count and often happens when the player tops the ball, hits it thin, or even after hitting it fat. Often is it someone else in the group who will say to their friend after a poor shot that they looked up.
In reality these golfers do not really look up or even lift their heads. At some point during their swing they failed to keep their levels by either unhinging at the hips or unflexing the knees. Someone who hit it fat most likely lost their balance and leaned back during impact, which would raise the lead shoulder early and bring your head with it.
These are just a few phrases and a bit of a translation on what golfers really mean when they say them. Don't forget to take a look at the great lineup of Rukket Sports golf nets at www.rukket.com! There is a net for every skill level and price range.
