FIXING BOB'S BACK
My new student, Bob, was pretty typical. Pretty good player, big turn, sore back, gloomy outlook. He told me on the phone that he'd gone from a five to a 15 because of back problems.
'I get my shoulders back to 90 degrees, like they all tell you, but it hurts like h*ll. My chiropractor said I better think about giving up golf or see you,' he said.
Some of my best friends are chiropractors. We set up an appointment for the next day.
Bob showed up right on time. He said after his doc realigned his back he was feeling much better. Then he informed me he felt he could make the big turn in the backswing. 'A really big turn!' he emphasized.
I was a little taken aback. I asked him if he knew what I taught.
'The doc said something about a 'back friendly' swing, so I figured you're my guy,' Bob said, smiling.
When we got to the lesson tee he started to pull a club out of his bag.
'You won't need that right now,' I told him.
He was kind of shocked. 'Don't you want to see my swing?'
'Not yet. First we're going to fix your back,' I said.
'The doc already fixed my back,' Bob protested.
I asked him if he knew my nickname. Bob didn't know. 'They call me the Swing Surgeon, and I'm really going to fix your back.'
Bob winced slightly, but I assured him it wouldn't hurt.
'O.K. Now assume your address position. Let your arms hang down. Now, out there, along the aiming line, imagine there's an open window. Now, swing your right hand up, like in a backswing, as if you were going to toss a ball underhanded through the window. When your hand reaches the top of the backswing, stop and check its position,' I explained.
It was obvious that Bob was wondering if he had made a great error coming to my lesson tee. Somewhat sheepishly, he raised his right hand. When he got to the top I grabbed his hand and pointed out its position.
'Hold that position for just a few more seconds,' I said. Then I placed a club across his shoulders. 'How much did you turn?' I asked him.
'Hardly any,' he replied, still puzzled.
I gently turned his shoulder and the club to 90 degrees and asked, 'Why didn't you turn your back to the target, that open window, to throw the ball?'
'I can't see the window from here. I wouldn't throw a ball for here, it isn't natural. Well, I guess I could throw it from here, but I sure wouldn't be very accurate,' Bob replied.
'Correct-a-mundo, Bob! If you can't throw it accurately from back here, how can you expect to hit a golf ball accurately with a turn like that? You only need to turn 70 degrees. From your setup position, while holding your lower body stable, turn your shoulder until your left upper arm, shoulder to elbow, gets over your toe line. That's all the turn you need. From there you just lift your arms up with no more turn. That's it, 70 degrees. That's all the turn you need!' I explained.
Bob was speechless. I had him throw the 'ball' through the 'window' a few times, so he could get the feel of the limited backswing.
As he was throwing, he kept repeating to himself, 'This is amazing, this is amazing.'
Yes, Bob, it is.
The Surge!
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