Barbara's Breakthrough Started with the Basics

I've been working with Barbara for almost a year now, and she's one of those students who absorbs information like a sponge. She knows her swing theory, understands course management, and can discuss the mechanics of the golf swing better than some teaching professionals. Yet despite all this knowledge, she was stuck in a frustrating cycle of inconsistent ball striking.

Last Friday's round finally showed me what was holding her back—and it wasn't what either of us expected.

The Disconnect Becomes Clear

Barbara started the round with her typical routine: a few practice swings, step up to hit, a quick glance at the target, and then she'd fire away . Her first drive was a decent shot that found the fairway, though it drifted right of her intended target.

"Not bad," I said as we walked down the first fairway.

"Could have been straighter," she replied. "I think I came over the top a bit."

By the 4th hole, I was seeing a pattern. Barbara would analyze every shot with technical insight—discussing swing plane, hip rotation, and weight transfer—but she was missing something fundamental. Her 7-iron approach shot from 130 yards flew thin and right of the pin.

"I didn't clear my hips properly," she said, already diagnosing the swing fault.

But as I watched her set up for the next shot, I noticed something else entirely. Her grip looked different from what we'd worked on in lessons, her posture was slouched, and she was standing aimed well right of her target.

I decided to stay quiet and observe for a few more holes.

The Real Culprit Emerges

On the 7th tee, after Barbara hit another shot that started right and stayed right, I finally spoke up.

"Barbara, before we talk about your swing, let me ask you something. Where were you aiming on that shot?"

She pointed toward the left side of the fairway. "Right there, to avoid that bunker on the right."

"Okay, now show me exactly how you were aligned."

She set up in her stance, and I walked behind her to check her alignment. She was aimed at least 20 yards right of where she thought she was pointing.

"Barbara, you're aimed directly at that bunker you're trying to avoid."

Her face showed genuine surprise. "No way. Really?"

"Really. And that's not all." I had her step back. "Show me your grip."

She held up the club, and I could see her left hand had shifted into a much weaker position than what we'd practiced. Her posture had also reverted to an old habit—too upright, with her weight back on her heels.

"When was the last time you actually checked these fundamentals on the course when your shots weren’t going in your intended direction?"

She thought for a moment. "Honestly? I don't remember. I've been so focused on working more on my swing mechanics."

Back to Basics

I called for a timeout. "Barbara, we need to have a conversation about something you know but haven't been practicing: the fundamentals."

We sat in the cart near the 8th tee, and I explained what I'd been observing.

"Your grip is your only connection to the club," I began. "Right now, your grip has gotten weak, which is setting up compensations throughout your entire swing. That's why you've been fighting that slice and struggling with thin contact."

I showed her how her grip had shifted and helped her get back to a position we'd worked on in lessons where I could see 2½ knuckles on her lead hand and 1½ knuckles on her trail hand.

"But Coach, this feels so strong now," she protested.

"That's because you've gotten used to the wrong feel. Trust me, this is your foundation for solid contact. If your hands aren't working together, the club can never deliver the face squarely to the ball."

Next, we worked on her posture. "You're standing too upright, with your weight back on your heels. Golf is an athletic motion—you need to be bent properly from the hips, balanced with weight under the bows of your shoelaces, and ready to turn."

I had her get into a proper setup position. "Feel how your arms hang naturally now? This allows your big muscles—your core and legs—to power the swing, not just your arms."

The Alignment Revelation

Finally, we addressed her alignment. "Barbara, you know your swing theory inside and out, but if you're aimed in the wrong direction, all that knowledge is working against you."

I had her use her club as an alignment aid, laying it down across her toes and then stepping back to see where it pointed.

"I can't believe I was that far off," she said, shaking her head.

"It happens to everyone. That's why the pros still check these basics constantly. It's not about being mechanical—it's about creating a repeatable, efficient starting point."

The Transformation

The change was immediate. On the 8th hole, with her fundamentals properly set, Barbara hit a beautiful drive down the left side of the fairway—exactly where she'd been aiming.

"Wow, that felt completely different," she said, beaming.

"Same swing, better setup," I replied.

Over the next several holes, I watched Barbara play some of the most consistent golf. Her ball striking was crisp, her shots were starting on target, and most importantly, she looked confident and athletic over the ball.

On the 15th tee, she turned to me and said, "I feel like I've been making this game so much harder than it needs to be. I've been so focused on perfecting my swing that I forgot about perfecting my setup. But if I'm not starting from the right position, what's the point of having a good swing?"

The Lesson for All Golfers

As we walked off the 18th green—after Barbara had shot one of her best back nine’s of the year—I shared something important with her.

"Barbara, what happened today is a perfect example of why fundamentals matter more than advanced swing theory. You've always had the knowledge and the ability. You just needed to get back to the basics that make everything else possible."

She nodded thoughtfully. "I think I got so caught up in the complicated stuff that I started neglecting the simple stuff."

"Exactly. And here's the thing—these fundamentals aren't suggestions or nice-to-haves. They're non-negotiables. Your grip, posture, alignment, and ball position are the foundation everything else is built on."

Why Fundamentals Get Forgotten

I see this pattern with many of my students. They master the basics in lessons, but then gradually drift away from them during actual play. They get caught up in swing thoughts and technical adjustments while the real issues are happening before they even start their swing.

The truth is, most inconsistent ball striking isn't caused by some complicated swing fault—it's caused by neglecting the absolute basics. When your fundamentals are sound, your swing doesn't have to work as hard to produce good shots.

Your Pre-Round Checklist

Before your next round, spend just five minutes checking these four fundamentals:

1. Grip: Are your hands in the position that promotes square contact?

2. Posture: Are you balanced and athletic, bent from the hips with natural arm hang?

3. Alignment: Are you actually aimed where you think you're aimed?

4. Ball Position: Is the ball positioned correctly for the club you're hitting?

This isn't about being mechanical or slow—it's about creating a consistent, repeatable foundation that lets your natural swing shine through.

The Real Game-Changer

Here's what Barbara discovered, and what I want you to understand: You can have all the swing knowledge in the world, but if your fundamentals are off, you're fighting an uphill battle on every shot.

The cause of frustration for most golfers isn't that they don't know enough about the swing—it's that they've stopped paying attention to the basics that make the swing work.

Take the extra five seconds to check your setup. Use alignment sticks on the range. Make sure your grip hasn't drifted. These small investments in your fundamentals will pay dividends in consistency and confidence.

Your swing might be complicated, but your setup doesn't have to be. Master the basics, and watch how much easier the game becomes.

Think About This

What if the secret to lower scores isn't found in the latest swing theory or equipment, but in simply returning to the fundamentals you learned when you first started playing?

Until next time, less swing thoughts, more great shots!

Owen.