Double Eagle
New member
Here's a touchy subject. I'm watching the Bridgestone Invitational and I hear Justin Rose had to withdraw. That captured my attention so I went on line to find out why. Back spasms made him withdraw. The other item I saw, and I have to admit to a strong bias, is Rose is getting instruction from Shawn Foley. What other famous golfer had severe back problems while under Foley's tutelage? None other than Tiger Woods. Then there is Hunter Mahan and Sean O'Hair, both students or former students of Foley. Do his students play well using his methods? YES! But, for how long?
I am not singling out Foley for this although it appears an inordinate number of his stable have or will develop back problems. Look at what Tiger has gone through with Butch Harmon and Hank Haney. I think every coach that encourages and or teaches the modern swing is responsible for frustration of the average golfer and the physical problems of all golfers, especially the back injuries.
If you wish to point out how hard the modern golfer swings as the cause for back trouble let me refer to a golfer from way back that hit the ball just as far if not farther than today with the clubs of Mr. Palmer's day, Mike Austin. At the age of 65 he hit a 515 yd drive in a sanctioned tournament using a steel shafted wooden headed driver and a balata ball. That drive is not the point. The point is how he swung the club. Imagine being a long hitter for over 40 years like him. Using the old classic swing he had no back problems. The only physical problems he had came after he had a stroke. The golfers of today hit just as far as Austin did and few do not struggle with back problems.
Let's start with how many frustrated golfers there are in the world. Scoring for the non pro golfer is very high. According to "Golf Digest" handicapping consultant Dean Knuth says that "if we're talking about all golfers -- those with handicaps and those without -- the average score would be more than 100." If we look at officially handicapped golfers, you know who you aren't, the average score is 90. But, since most golfers don't have a handicap because they're so bad the average score is most likely over 100. It appears that only 26% of golfers in the world shoot under 90. Why?
Again, let's go back to modern instruction. What are we told? "The game of golf is the most difficult game in the world." I've been told that by a PGA instructor. What makes it difficult? Here's where it gets touchy. I think it's the instruction. I've played most sports and none of them have the overwhelming number of positions and thoughts that are supposed to make it possible to play the game at an enjoyable level. What's an enjoyable level? How about mid 80's with the occasional dip into the 70's. For those who have taken lessons as an adult, imagine applying what you've been told to make a "good" golf swing to any other sport that involves hitting something. Could you play baseball that way? How about tennis? The answer is no. So why do we think golf is any different? I don't think it is. I think from having been instructed in the modern swing and picking up the classic swing from 1950's and 60's golf books, magazines and TV and from YouTube instructors like Ron Sisson, Brian Sparks and Miguel de la Torre today, oh, and let's add Mike Austin too, that the modern swing is responsible for more frustration and injuries than the classic swing
Now that I've laid out a bit of my thoughts on the matter let's have a civilized discussion.
I am not singling out Foley for this although it appears an inordinate number of his stable have or will develop back problems. Look at what Tiger has gone through with Butch Harmon and Hank Haney. I think every coach that encourages and or teaches the modern swing is responsible for frustration of the average golfer and the physical problems of all golfers, especially the back injuries.
If you wish to point out how hard the modern golfer swings as the cause for back trouble let me refer to a golfer from way back that hit the ball just as far if not farther than today with the clubs of Mr. Palmer's day, Mike Austin. At the age of 65 he hit a 515 yd drive in a sanctioned tournament using a steel shafted wooden headed driver and a balata ball. That drive is not the point. The point is how he swung the club. Imagine being a long hitter for over 40 years like him. Using the old classic swing he had no back problems. The only physical problems he had came after he had a stroke. The golfers of today hit just as far as Austin did and few do not struggle with back problems.
Let's start with how many frustrated golfers there are in the world. Scoring for the non pro golfer is very high. According to "Golf Digest" handicapping consultant Dean Knuth says that "if we're talking about all golfers -- those with handicaps and those without -- the average score would be more than 100." If we look at officially handicapped golfers, you know who you aren't, the average score is 90. But, since most golfers don't have a handicap because they're so bad the average score is most likely over 100. It appears that only 26% of golfers in the world shoot under 90. Why?
Again, let's go back to modern instruction. What are we told? "The game of golf is the most difficult game in the world." I've been told that by a PGA instructor. What makes it difficult? Here's where it gets touchy. I think it's the instruction. I've played most sports and none of them have the overwhelming number of positions and thoughts that are supposed to make it possible to play the game at an enjoyable level. What's an enjoyable level? How about mid 80's with the occasional dip into the 70's. For those who have taken lessons as an adult, imagine applying what you've been told to make a "good" golf swing to any other sport that involves hitting something. Could you play baseball that way? How about tennis? The answer is no. So why do we think golf is any different? I don't think it is. I think from having been instructed in the modern swing and picking up the classic swing from 1950's and 60's golf books, magazines and TV and from YouTube instructors like Ron Sisson, Brian Sparks and Miguel de la Torre today, oh, and let's add Mike Austin too, that the modern swing is responsible for more frustration and injuries than the classic swing
Now that I've laid out a bit of my thoughts on the matter let's have a civilized discussion.