“It’s very difficult to make a real change really quickly. Even if you are more committed and going to commit to get into single figures, it can still take ages,” says PGA qualified golf coach Jack Backhouse.
Golf is a technical sport and nothing highlights this more than when trying to improve your swing.
Speaking on the Your Golf by NCG, alongside professional golfer Nicola Slater, Backhouse explained that there are number of factors as to why these improvements and changes can take time to implement.
The pair alluded to long-term tendencies often reappearing after long lay-offs from practice, and how differing playing conditions can both stump and alter a golfer’s swing.
Commitment is key
How many times have you heard ‘practice makes perfect’ in your life?
So often repetition and consistency are the key to improving at a multitude of things. Golf is no different.
Slater explained that assuming lessons alone will be enough to allow for lasting improvement is a flawed belief.
“You can have a lesson with a pro, but unless you commit to changing those things, and in your own time as well, you’re just never going to really make that progress,” she said.
“You may go for a lesson every two weeks for six months, but if you don’t then work on them in between, it’s kind of a pointless exercise.”
Every golfer has their own swing DNA
“I do have this genuine belief that every golfer has like their own DNA,” Backhouse claimed.
“So, your faults will be your faults forever, and sometimes we’ll be managing them really well, other times we will be managing them less well.
“No matter how much you work to try and get away from whatever your core DNA, your core swing is, eventually it starts to slip back.”
Even golfers who make significant technical improvements can still see old patterns creep back into their game after time away from practice.
Advertisement
Evidently, professional golfers experience this too.
Slater added that: “I’ve stopped playing as much I was previously. I was playing and practicing every single day, I could manage to reduce it (her faults).
“Whereas now playing more like a couple of times a week, very limited practice in comparison to what I was doing, you just see these faults just slip straight back in there.
“I think it would take probably a fair bit more practice to right the wrongs.”
Your environment has an impact
The pair believe that another reason it takes a while to make progress within your swing is that you are constantly battling your environment.
Whether it’s the little habits you pick up from ever-changing weather conditions or the style of course you typically play, it all has an effect.
“You’re constantly fighting your environment,” Backhouse said.
“So, when you have the perfect conditions on the driving range, or even in an indoor simulator, it’s like you’re not battling anything, you just battling yourself.
“You can change your swing 90% in an indoor room, you can change your swing 80% on a range, you could change your swing 60% when you’re playing socially, you can change your swing like 10%, maybe less, when you’re actually playing in a tournament.
“You’ve got to just chip away at it, and accept that it’s a grind. You just gotta work on stuff pretty consistently.”
NOW LISTEN TO OUR PODCAST
- NOW READ: What club golfers can learn from Rory McIlroy’s Master win
- NOW READ: How to go from a mid- to a low-handicap golfer
- NOW READ: 3 simple exercises that will get rid of lower back pain and allow you to play your best golf
NCG GIVEAWAYS – WIN FREE STUFF
- RELATED: Deals of the week – grab yourself a bargain
- RELATED: Golf gear giveaways – FREE prizes
YOUR GOLF NCG YOUTUBE CHANNEL
Don’t forget to check out and like our YouTube channel – YOUR GOLF NCG – where you will find lots of hints, tips and equipment reviews.
