Do more by doing less. This concept is so foreign and so difficult to embrace by the average golfer. If you want to be a better golfer, you must understand the concept of doing more by doing less. The final step is to fully embrace and practice this concept. Just talking about it will not work. The true reflection of how much you accept this concept is seen in the improvement of your golf shots. When you actually do less, your golf shots will improve.
In my previous blog, “Channel Adult Training in Golf”, I discussed how the training to become a successful adult interferes with playing golf. We are trained that trying harder (doing more) will result in better outcomes. We are also trained that doing a little extra (doing more) will give more benefits.
The most important concept about the golf swing is that, in golf, trying harder never works. We also know that even though doing the extra credit problem on a test will give you a higher grade on the test, but doing a little extra in the golf swing will give you a failing grade in golf.
When I talk about doing less I am talking about the amount of force and motion that is used in the golf swing. The average golfer “just swings” and is not really aware of the amount of force of the swing. In most cases the force of the swing is the result of a violent swing instead of a rhythmic and efficient swing.
I want to bring up the business concept of The Law of Diminishing Returns. This is a concept that states that as you add more resources to a project, the returns will improve proportionally. But a point is reached where additional resources will actually result in diminishing returns. This applies to how much force you use in your swing.
The length of the back swing controls the amount of force in the down swing. Being aware of the length of the back swing is foreign the average golfer. In order to do determine your maximum back swing length, you must be precisely aware of the length of the back swing. You want to find your personal point of diminishing returns.
The best way to do this is on the driving range. Go through your pre-shot routine, use your rhythm, and swing in balance to make a swing that uses about what you feel is 40% of your maximum back swing length. The ball should go straight. Note the distance the ball travels in the air. Swing at 40% of maximum back swing length for five to ten shots until you hit shots that are fairly consistent. I determine the length of my back swing by focusing on how I raise the right upper arm and the hands.
Now increase the length of the back swing to what you feel is 50% of maximum. The shots should still be going straight but a little farther in the air. Again, swing at 50% of maximum back swing length for five to ten shots until you hit shots that are fairly consistent.
Keep increasing the length of the back swing you use by what you feel is 10% more back swing until you reach a point where the ball does not travel further in the air or is no longer going straight. You have reached the point of diminishing returns. Now drop back down to the previous back swing length and your shots should now be going straight and about the same distance. This is the length of back swing you should be using for your full swing.
You will feel that the length of back swing that produces the best result is a lot less than their “normal” swing. This drill will show the concept of “do more by doing less.”
The most difficult part is to embrace the concept to do less is a requirement of an efficient golf swing. As soon as your shots get worse, it is because you tried too hard. You reached and went past the point of diminishing returns. You will do more by doing less.
The reason the ball travels farther when the length of the back swing is increased is because the muscles are increasingly stretched. The reason for reaching the point of diminishing returns is because the stretch in the back swing transforms from the stretching of the muscles to tightening of the muscles. Once the muscles tighten, the energy dissipates. What is thought to be building more energy by increasing the length of the back swing is nullified by the tightening muscles. Tight muscles result in shorter distance. What feels like 50% of your maximum back swing length is your maximum back swing length. Just because the back swing is increased does not necessarily mean that more distance will be gained. Golf is a crazy game.