Unf#ck Your Golf Swing Book

[slash25rc]

Has anyone ever read the book, Unf#ck Your Golf Swing by Cameron Strachan? I will start by recognizing most of these books or self-teaching guides are 95% gimmicky, and that nothing supersedes traditional lessons and coaching, but I am curious about the content in regards to swing thoughts and the mental side of playing the game. I tend to get super technical and end up screwing up my swing more than helping, so I didn't know if anyone has been exposed to this book yet or not. For $27 for an online copy, there's not much risk compared to these $100+ online guides that I always get ads for. There's a couple Reddit threads saying the concept of "throwing the club" towards a target and hitting a ball in the middle of it makes sense (gives me Marooch vibes). Just curious if anyone has read it, or have any advice on apps or podcasts similar that has helped their mental game and practice? Thanks!

https://www.autogolfshop.com/unfck-your-golf-swing/

 

[tony@CIC]

I've given up on books and most youtube 'lessons' and prefer to spend my $$ with an instructor. But I'm a visual learner so it's important for me to see what I'm doing wrong and my instructor's fix. It's money well spent as my package lessons come out to only $60 (times 5 for the lesson package). My instructor who is a PGA Master instructor and a TPI certified guy uses both Mevo and video. Much better than trying to guess what's wrong and potentially fixing the 'thing' you were doing right. 

[Hacker60521]

I’m a bit like @tony@CIC.  I enjoy reading certain golf books, and have read maybe 12 or so. I tend to avoid videos, as they are trying to solve an issue, such as slicing, by assuming certain swing errors. But my slice might be caused something else.

This season I’ve taken a few lessons which have helped me much more than a book or video.

[slash25rc]

@tony@CIC @Hacker60521

Oh yes, I agree 100%--lessons have helped big time but with my work schedule now and have an 18 month old, it's hard to take advantage of them as often as I should. It's definitely the best thing for one's swing, but wanted to try and give my brain a lesson or two as well 

 

[cnosil]

I haven’t read the book, but I do believe that books and videos can help aspects of your game.  The Dan Grieve book and his videos have done wonders for my short game.   As for the book referenced, never heard of it and when i went to the site, the presentation reminded me of those snake oil sales pitches thati I would typically avoid.   If it is only $27 I don’t see the harm as long as you are committed to implementing the presented swing system.   

[cksurfdude]

4 hours ago, slash25rc said:

Has anyone ever read the book, Unf#ck Your Golf Swing by Cameron Strachan?

No but have seen the ads for it on Insta.

Suggest taking a look at another very popular - and extremely useful imo - book by Jon Sherman of Practical Golf, titled "The Four Foundations of Golf".

Almost nothing about swing technique but almost everything helpful about actually playing the game of golf ...

[slash25rc]

@cnosil @cksurfdude

Thank you both for the recommendations! I'll look into both suggestions as well!

[Shankster]

The title demands respect, I will say that.  Like @tony@CIC I learn by seeing things. I should probably go see his coach.

[tony@CIC]

20 hours ago, tony@CIC said:

I've given up on books and most youtube 'lessons' and prefer to spend my $$ with an instructor. But I'm a visual learner so it's important for me to see what I'm doing wrong and my instructor's fix. It's money well spent as my package lessons come out to only $60 (times 5 for the lesson package). My instructor who is a PGA Master instructor and a TPI certified guy uses both Mevo and video. Much better than trying to guess what's wrong and potentially fixing the 'thing' you were doing right. 

I neglected to mention/admit that is a genre of golf books that I read and will continue to do so - it's about the mental side of the game. Something I need to focus on and much cheaper than a golf therapist. 

[Mark Reinthaler]

I have read a similar book were it focused on taking your natural swing. Back n through without thinking of anything but your target. I’m curious to see how this book compares but I will wait for the price to fall

he gist of it is to forget about all of the form and movements we’re being taught and to instead start with a natural swing feeling and then adjust that based on contact and ball flight.
 
He suggests throwing a ball toward a point on the ground that is approximately where the golf ball might be at address.  Practicing this throwing motion helps to create good pressure shift, loading of the right arm, hip rotation, etc.  But, don’t think about those things, just throw the ball and try to hit the target on the ground.
 
Next, he suggests throwing golf clubs towards a target.  Same idea here.  Forget about swing form and just try to chuck the clubs towards a target.  To improve at these throws, your movements should naturally adapt toward traditional golf swing forms.
 
Finally, hit golf balls.  As you are hitting, just imagine you are throwing the club toward the target, and just let the ball get in the way.  Don’t worry about form.  But, pay attention to your contact and ball flight.  As you make adjustments, your form will naturally improve.  Swing the club fast, and that effort will help to create good form.
 
This method worked well for me initially.  In particular, throwing the clubs really helped me to develop some feels I have struggled with in the past (later release, in-to-out swing path, keeping my arms in front of my torso, and rotating toward the target).  And, I was able to add in swing movements as my throws became more accurate and consistent (pressure shift, knee flex, sidearm throw feeling).  The book didn’t tell me some things about HOW to throw the clubs that might have helped me, but I think that is the point.  I had to figure those things out myself.
 
On the course, I began reaching the upper ends of my distance ranges.  I also developed a nice push draw.  Accuracy was an issue, but for a short time I had a one-way miss and hit some really good shots.  However, I also hit some real stinkers.  Big hooks out of bounds, fat shots off the tee that didn’t make it to the forward tees, etc.  I made far more birdies than usual, but took too many double bogies and my scores actually got worse.
 
At first, the motions were very easy on my back.  But, over the course of a few weeks, my back pain and fatigue returned.
 
I think the book had some benefit in unlocking some feels I was previously having a hard time finding.  I will probably continue throwing golf clubs when I can to work on my game.  But, for me, this doesn’t seem to be THE WAY of learning to swing a golf club.  Instead, it provides another tool I may be able to use to help me learn more quickly.

Edited Friday at 03:38 PM by Mark Reinthaler

[cksurfdude]

Thinking a bit more on this... I realized I had some parallels with the book's author - early on I attended a 3 day immersive school of a then big name teaching pro. Continued to practice and play, and take an occasional clinic and lesson, and improved _some_ but not a lot. 

Fast forward a few years and, through a forum member, learned about Monte Scheinblum. What I saw made good sense to me. So went to one of his 2 ½ day clinics (the first of four; one each year in a row) and literal light bulb going on brain exploding eureka moment for me. 

What was a foundational movement from that big name instructor .. and was deeply embedded in my golf consciousness from too many reps .. turned out to be (yes, according to Monte's teachings but which I believe are well credited by his peers) the exact total f*@#in diametrically opposed opposite oppositional countering destructive movement vs what Monte was trying to get me to do....

Live and learn, I guess!

 

Edited Sunday at 06:26 PM by cksurfdude
.. yeah typo

[cnosil]

17 minutes ago, cksurfdude said:

literal light bulb going on brain exploding eureka moment for me. 

It is all about how you relate to what the coach/instructor is teaching.  Lots of ways to teach and communicate information even though some of the forum think newer instructors are "faking it" and aren't good at their jobs.  What works for one may not work for someone else.

[cksurfdude]

1 hour ago, cnosil said:

It is all about how you relate to what the coach/instructor is teaching.

Absolutely! I know similar things have been discussed in other threads, but agree that good communication is based on a clear two-way street.

In my case during a lesson I try to ask questions, ask for clarification, ask for a demonstration .. gotta try to make sure I get the correct picture into my thick skull!