The Fundamentals of Golf
Imagine you are a total beginner golfer, so naturally, you seek advice from friends, family and the internet, where there proves to be no shortage of advice. As a logical person, something named fundamentals sticks out to you as a great place to start. After all, it's in the name. You are taught the correct grip, set up, ball position and alignment. You are also given some tips that, when done correctly, will all but ensure a successful shot. Keeping your head down seems a particularly promising prospect, and keeping your lead arm straight is a close second. As the primary advice
you have received at this point, it sits at the forefront of your mind. When the associated results don't come, it could be a matter of more practice, but it also might have been doomed from the start.
Why is this not working for you? Well, these fundamentals and bonus tips weren't made for you. Traditional fundamentals originate from great golfers with status, expressing the importance of factors they believe are fundamental to their consistent performance. Of course, who wouldn't want to emulate the greatest players of all time? It makes sense to the average golfer to attempt to emulate what is fundamental to a great golfer's game and, therefore, a logical place to start.
One definition of fundamental is "a central or primary rule or principle on which something is based". To discover what this might be in golf is best done by searching for commonalities between great golfers. Feelings and intentions are very subjective, so an interview will be of little benefit in this area. It is more important to objectively observe movement skills. Grip, posture, ball positions, range of motion and tempo vary substantially among good players therefore such things clearly aren't inherently fundamental.
I divide fundamentals into two categories: traditional and movement. Traditional fundamentals refer to aspects such as grip, posture, ball position and alignment. Movement fundamentals include thoracic rotation, hip rotation, balance, sequencing and proprioception. Traditional golf fundamentals and movement fundamentals together make for a robust combination. When people are underperforming, it is likely because their movement fundamentals require attention. Sadly when traditional fundamentals are haphazardly applied, the golfer tends to fixate on these instructions and their bodies will create compensating actions by sacrificing their movement fundamentals to hit the desired shot.
People who get off to a poor start are often given traditional fundamentals or tips as a remedy. When it does not serve as one, it leads to thinking of themselves as lacking in natural talent, as their efforts to improve have not come with the proposed performance gains while sensing a void in their athletic development. Scores can still be improved with intensive practice routines and number crunching for those particularly motivated, yet their potential will still feel unrealised.
