Were you born with a swing?

[Sluggo42]

I've watched a lot of people play this game, and have concluded that some people were born with a God-given swing.

And unfortunately, some were not.

 

Those with, are usually decent strikers, those without, just can't seem to consistently hit the ball.

 

Those with- who work at it diligently, are the singles

Those without - rarely break 90

Those without, but with a burning desire, get into the 80's, by having a short game, putting, and a brain in use.

 

Those with- can play once a month and shoot 80's.

 

Those with- have had a swing their entire lives, be it baseball, hockey, whatever...

 

If you have "it" be thankful.

Those who don't, but still devote to the game- I salute you.

 

It's an odd thing, who got the "swing" and who didn't...

[The Dansome]

Well not to brag, but...

 

This is what I started with year one at 8 years old no lessons.

 

[Sluggo42]

Oh, and now, the ultimate equalizer working its way in. Father Time

Really apparent now watching the kids rock it 300+

I wonder how far I would have hit it with these new clubs, when I had a 115+ swing speed.

Now, 100 is a great swing. *sigh*

[Sluggo42]

Well not to brag, but...

 

This is what I started with year one at 8 years old no lessons.

 

danswing-1982 copy.jpg

Yup... that's what I mean

[Shifty]

Well I could hit it just as far when I was a kid as I can now and those were old, old clubs.  I actually had a pretty good swing when I was a kid, then I turned 14 and discovered booze, and women....  Never really played again until I was 28, and baseball and slow pitch ruined my swing completely.  Now I'm 42 and starting to be a little  happy with some of my rounds.  Not where I want to be, but getting there.

[Shankster]

Never took lessons started playing when I was 13-14. Made the HS golf team for a week Shoot in the 70's-80's. Does that count?

 

My swing is ugly, but it works & it's ever changing as my flexibility is diminishing. But I think I swing more effectively and powerful at 34 than I ever did when I was 17-25. I swung out of my shoes 10-15 years ago and my accuracy was terrible.

 

I'm on a mission to break 70 before I'm 40. 6 years of practice with a purpose I think I can do it.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using MyGolfSpy

[jayjay0808]

I would like to think I was born with some time of swing. When I picked up a golf club I could hit the ball decent. But then I got on video and I could hardly watch. I think everyone is born with some time of movement that is their swing, are some prettier than others? Heck yes! But there are ugly swings on tour that would lap me everyday of the week and twice on Sunday 

[Shankster]

Well not to brag, but...

 

This is what I started with year one at 8 years old no lessons.

 

danswing-1982 copy.jpg

Very Jack/Arnie esk!

 

 

- Alan

[dadivots]

Well not to brag, but...

 

This is what I started with year one at 8 years old no lessons.

 

danswing-1982 copy.jpg

Go ahead and brag.

With a turn like that and a left arm there, at 8, no lessons? Im calling NATCH!

Only thing I had in common with that when I was 8 the LA hat and maybe some groovy socks too.

 

Good stuff MPB.

[The Dansome]

Go ahead and brag.

With a turn like that and a left arm there, at 8, no lessons? Im calling NATCH!

Only thing I had in common with that when I was 8 the LA hat and maybe some groovy socks too.

 

Good stuff MPB.

 

If only it still looked like this...

[Big money]

I was given sight-hearing-motor movements- and a natural vicious slice from our one true maker.I love Jesus and all he gives us every second of our lives.But i could've done without the vicious slice.Cant win them all

[tommc23]

I've watched a lot of people play this game, and have concluded that some people were born with a God-given swing.

And unfortunately, some were not.

 

Those with, are usually decent strikers, those without, just can't seem to consistently hit the ball.

 

Those with- who work at it diligently, are the singles

Those without - rarely break 90

Those without, but with a burning desire, get into the 80's, by having a short game, putting, and a brain in use.

 

Those with- can play once a month and shoot 80's.

 

Those with- have had a swing their entire lives, be it baseball, hockey, whatever...

 

If you have "it" be thankful.

Those who don't, but still devote to the game- I salute you.

 

It's an odd thing, who got the "swing" and who didn't...

Unfortunately hockey has given me habits I'm having trouble vreaking. I'm only golfing for a little under 2 years and played hockey for 20 so I catch myself not watching the ball at impact and moving my head because of hockey I just looked at the net. The turn and power are there from hockey but the feel is different and I feel like I fight habits constantly on the course. I've dropped 30 shots a round since I started and would love to drop 20 more a round to be a par golfer if only I could make more one putts than 3 putts.

 

Sent from my LG-H820 using MyGolfSpy mobile app

[ole gray]

About the only thing I'm a natural at is drinking cold beer.  My golf swing is pretty much hacker city however I mostly move it around in the low 80's.  I've shot many rounds in the 70's over the years but not to my liking. I'd rather do it every day.    

[silver & black]

I played tennis for 30+ years and didn't take up golf until I was 40. I have been told I have a nice swing.... like it matters. I have no idea if swinging a tennis racket all those years has anything to do with it or not. I have very good hand/eye coordination. All I know is I play the game because I love it.

[robertson153]

I was born with God given baseball talent. Which everyone knows makes a terrible golf swing. I've had to retrain my brain to shift my weight forward instead of keeping it on my back foot. Wish I would've started younger but I just turned 30 so I've still got time to learn. Only been playing for a little over a year. What I've learned is that you have to play A LOT to get better.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using MyGolfSpy

[Jmikecpa]

For me I guess it is a yes. I started playing at age 2 and was scratch by my mid teens. I hit a lot of balls growing up because I enjoyed it and for really no other reason. I was in the pre Tiger era when golf was not the cool sport to play.

 

My son has ability but has to work on his swing whereas my middle child is just a natural. She picked up a club and immediately knew what to do with it. Same for her with softball, basketball, soccer and dance.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using MyGolfSpy

[mrsmith123]

I love threads like this because there is a big variety of players out there. I hope lots of guys chime in. Here's my take:

 

The "technical" aspects of a golf "swinging motion" to do it correctly and efficiently are always the same. The club head has to arrive at the ball in the same position it started for the ball to travel straight. Naturally we don't ever do that but once in a great while because our body gets in the way. I am a person that enjoys letting my body tell me what works best. Some days it is a draw, some days it is a fade that is dominant. Some days it is higher, some days it is a lower ball flight.

 

I notice that the higher a person's handicap the more they interfere with the actual "swing motion" needed to generate power and accuracy. I always think of a pendulum, in that it is most efficient when nothing gets in the way.

 

I literally hate to practice and maintain a sub 4 handicap. I think I'm allergic to practice lol. I am blessed with awesome hand eye coordination and "golf strength".

 

If I could pass advice on to anyone, it would be to watch an instructional video by Manuel de la Torre or Arnie Frankel. It would do wonders for most people. If you have 45 minutes, watch this video, incredible how simple it really is.

 

https://youtu.be/KXJQGLHRXIE

 

Sent from my Sprint LG G5 mobile device

[dang3rtown]

I coach athletes, it's how I make my money. From what I've seen, about 10% of the population is naturally "athletic" as in, they lean motor skills rapidly, are coordinated, strong, look good moving, etc. Now, of that 10%, very few can just "do" a skill well out of the air. What they are able to do is learn the skill very quickly and continually improve on it. They require less work to be good at physical tasks. If they want to be great, they still gotta practice a lot but probably not as much as you or I do. 

[Sluggo42]

I would like to think I was born with some time of swing. When I picked up a golf club I could hit the ball decent. But then I got on video and I could hardly watch. I think everyone is born with some time of movement that is their swing, are some prettier than others? Heck yes! But there are ugly swings on tour that would lap me everyday of the week and twice on Sunday

 

Ugly? Perhaps...

Efficient and connected? You bet.

[Sluggo42]

About the only thing I'm a natural at is drinking cold beer.  My golf swing is pretty much hacker city however I mostly move it around in the low 80's.  I've shot many rounds in the 70's over the years but not to my liking. I'd rather do it every day.  

 

You can't be a hack, and shoot in the 70's. me thinks you're being a bit hard on yourself

[Sluggo42]

For me I guess it is a yes. I started playing at age 2 and was scratch by my mid teens. I hit a lot of balls growing up because I enjoyed it and for really no other reason. I was in the pre Tiger era when golf was not the cool sport to play.

My son has ability but has to work on his swing whereas my middle child is just a natural. She picked up a club and immediately knew what to do with it. Same for her with softball, basketball, soccer and dance.

Sent from my iPhone using MyGolfSpy

This is what I mean- it's in your family's blood.

[EthanSterlingPrice]

I don't know that I had more of a knack for golf than other people as much as I've put in a ton of reps and had lessons from the start. I was a pretty crappy high school golfer and my first year of college wasn't much better when the pressure was on but mental game finally matured to where I could put together a complete round of golf at around a 19 or 20 and trust that my game was good enough. Still a good ways to go though.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using MyGolfSpy

[jayjay0808]

Ugly? Perhaps...

Efficient and connected? You bet.

Exactly. I was just pulling a hyperbole to make my point. But yes, efficiency and consistency are the key

[Big money]

I love threads like this because there is a big variety of players out there. I hope lots of guys chime in. Here's my take:

The "technical" aspects of a golf "swinging motion" to do it correctly and efficiently are always the same. The club head has to arrive at the ball in the same position it started for the ball to travel straight. Naturally we don't ever do that but once in a great while because our body gets in the way. I am a person that enjoys letting my body tell me what works best. Some days it is a draw, some days it is a fade that is dominant. Some days it is higher, some days it is a lower ball flight.

I notice that the higher a person's handicap the more they interfere with the actual "swing motion" needed to generate power and accuracy. I always think of a pendulum, in that it is most efficient when nothing gets in the way.

I literally hate to practice and maintain a sub 4 handicap. I think I'm allergic to practice lol. I am blessed with awesome hand eye coordination and "golf strength".

If I could pass advice on to anyone, it would be to watch an instructional video by Manuel de la Torre or Arnie Frankel. It would do wonders for most people. If you have 45 minutes, watch this video, incredible how simple it really is.https://youtu.be/KXJQGLHRXIE

Sent from my Sprint LG G5 mobile device

I've been playing for almost 30 plus years.Taken lessons from everyone local and many out.Some top teachers-others club pro.Would hit balls and play until my blisters that form would pop.Im not sure what to do next.But I just can't seem to get this game.Nothing ever lasts and nothing seems like it will.Basically at the point now where I've given up on score.Ive been gifted with stronger muscle than most but slower or more uncoordinated.When one who is opposite of you worked at it all and is getting worse what alternative is there?Every teacher points out same fault(s) which is almost my entire motion.I will drill and drill to no avail.Wish many of us had more ability like better golfer on here.Not angry,just disappointed I never seem to improve.Or follow up a good day with decent day versus down right awful.My confidence with golf is almost depleted.And I do get slightly jealous of better golfer😔.What do they have that many of us don't ?

[Peaksy68]

I wouldn't say I was born with a golf swing, but I'm lucky to have reasonable hand eye coordination. I didn't really start playing golf seriously until my mid 20's.

 

I've played a lot of different sports, and been at least ok at most.

 

I've had about 6 lessons in the last 25 or so years, and they usually focus on my set up and alignment, except for my last on that was dealing with an ugly OTT move that decided to visit, and liked my swing so much it moved in. Despite divots aiming 30 degrees left, I was somehow managing to keep the ball in play.

 

I've only ever seen a couple of true "born with it" golfers. One was a school teacher of mine who had a beautiful swing. He shot 5 over with borrowed blades the first time he played. He was also a great point guard and seriously good "local" tennis player.

 

I think the naturally coordinated have a real advantage when their swing is a bit off, and manage to score, whilst the less coordinated can totally fall apart if their swing goes a bit off.

[milesej05]

I wouldn't say that I was born with a swing, but my parents first started me out when I was around 2 or 3 with those plastic clubs most people get their kids.  I got my first set of clubs when I was 6.  Started hitting the ball right handed and used the back of the club to hit left handed.  Did that for about 2 years when I decided I wanted to play golf left handed as I did not want hand me downs from my dad.  finally got my first set of LH clubs when I was 8.  We had a membership at a local golf course and my dad, brother, and myself would go out 4-5 times a week in the summers (my dad was a teacher) and play 6 holes then go swim til my dad finished up on 18 then head home.  Did this for about a year or two then started playing 9 holes and sometimes 18 holes 3-4 times a week in the summer.  The last 5 or 6 years I can honestly say that I have played a total of 50 rounds of golf (not including tournaments) and still hold a 4.1 handicap. I have played an 18 hole round and a 9 hole round this year...shot a 72 (+1) and a 35 (-1).

 

I have never taken lessons, just read golf digest growing up and hitting balls into our backyard (we had 5 acres of land growing up) almost daily.  

 

Golf is not an easy sport, it takes a lot of time and practice...as I have found out from getting my wife involved.  She had never played golf in her entire life until 4 years ago.  We went out last year and played at a tough local course that she worked at and shot a legit 101...with probably seven 3 putts.

 

As I said before, it takes time and practice to get good.  I have also been told by friends and my dads friends that I have a gift.  not quite sure what that means though.

[Kenny B]

No, I wasn't.  I didn't start playing until i was 45. I've worked very hard to swing like I do, which is why I have good days and poor days.  If I knew 60 years ago that I would be playing golf at my age, I would have spent time learning the swing when I had a little more talent than I do at my age now.

[yungkory]

I was one of the lucky ones who was blessed with a "nice" swing. At least people said that growing up. Most recently, my coworker (hawaii state champ back in high school) said it and that really made me feel good since he is way out of my league. Maybe one day I'll work up the confidence to post it in that other thread. That said, I still make mistakes - i think more so because I don't have much formal coaching (I took lessons once when I was 11). Every once in a while I'll get lazy halfway through a shot and shank it. My goal since returning to golf is to finally break 80. Personal best currently is 83, hoping to best it within the year!

 

My other sport growing up was basketball. I grew up in the Jordan era and watching him was like watching someone with cheat codes play a video game.

 

Baseball gave me bad habits, but mom wanted me to play and I was decent enough to be moved up to play with older kids than myself, but I hated it because I was scared of getting beaned. I was a pretty badass 2nd base and right field.

[MattF]

I think everyone was born with "a" swing. Whether or not it's suitable to play the best golf is another matter.

 

Some people are a natural and the rest of us have to work hard. I raced cars back home for years (road courses) and the first time out, I was 10ths of a second off my Uncle, who had been racing for years and he was in second place. It just came naturally, other guys were taking courses and practicing but I was just able to flat out drive and control a car at high speed.

 

So, natural talent is inherent in some people for all sorts of things, the rest.... 

[cksurfdude]

 

 

I've watched a lot of people play this game, and have concluded that some people were born with a God-given swing.

And unfortunately, some were not.

 

Those with, are usually decent strikers, those without, just can't seem to consistently hit the ball.

 

Those with- who work at it diligently, are the singles

Those without - rarely break 90

Those without, but with a burning desire, get into the 80's, by having a short game, putting, and a brain in use.

 

Those with- can play once a month and shoot 80's.

 

Those with- have had a swing their entire lives, be it baseball, hockey, whatever...

 

If you have "it" be thankful.

Those who don't, but still devote to the game- I salute you.

 

It's an odd thing, who got the "swing" and who didn't...

I'm a "without"

 

But very much working hard to be this guy:

"Those without, but with a burning desire, get into the 80's, by having a short game, putting, and a brain in use."

(Great description, Sluggo!)

 

Didn't start golfing until halfway thru my 53rd year. And lost big parts of a few of the first few golfing seasons to work, life, family and health issues. Trying to play catch up now by practicing fairly regularly.

 

Didn't play any ball sports growing up, other than some backyard run around and get dirty football. Just wasn't coordinated enough (or big and strong enough)....

 

My sports growing up were small boat racing in the summers and skiing in the winters. Got good at both as I'd started each young, and did each every year. But later had to give up skiing after the knees wore out, and switched from sailing to windsurfing after a friend introduced me to it. I got reasonably good at that as the sailing experience crossed over. Then I got into wave surfing and eventually got ok at that as the skiing balance crossed over to help me there.

 

But golf....

 

Feels .. still .. so UN-natural to me.

 

Peaksy had a great comment about 'if you're uncoordinated you can fall apart easily and not be able to get it back'. So also working hard on the mental side of the game, eg. each shot is a new shot, stay calm and focus, ........

 

But I love the challenge of the game! I actually enjoy working on trying to improve. It's a great outdoor activity and it's more "accessible" than windsurfing or surfing - the conditions don't have to be 'just right' or you don't go - and it's also an activity my wife and I can enjoy together (yeah yeah amongst other things!).

 

And I've kind of gotten into the whole equipment / gearhead end of it. May not seem like it but all the other things I've done - sailing, skiing, windsurfing (especially!), surfing - are each very equipment-oriented and gear-dependent .. eg. you'll do better if you 'know' your equipment, have the right stuff for _you_ and have it set up right.

 

Actually a lot of parallels between skiis and golf shafts - the materials, construction method, flex and flex points, tip vs tail (butt) flex and overall bend profile, rebound characteristics, etc.

 

Anyway, back to working hard to overcome a lack of natural talent .. .. game on!