Greetings Golfers,

Here’s one of my classic conflicts … I love these two opposite sayings:

1.) “If it’s not broken – don’t fix it.”

2.) “The most damaging phrase in history is: It’s always been done that way.”

See what I mean? I like to be practical – but I don’t want to be stuck. And, I like to be innovative – but I don’t like change just for the sake of change.

What I like about each saying is the freedom to do something, and the freedom not to do something.

Let’s take that to the golf swing.  If I’m your instructor, and your golf swing works … I’ll leave it alone. You might want it to look like Rory McElroy’s swing, but I’ll tell you to keep your swing and work on your short game. That’s my “If it’s not broken don’t fix it.”

But, if you come to me with a “normal swing” and it doesn’t work … then, let’s start trying stuff – and I mean maybe crazy stuff. We have a guy at DRGC who chips with his right hand only – and he can really chip the ball. The conventional way didn’t work for him – so we found something that works. Obviously that’s an example of the second saying.

So, I guess they aren’t really in conflict. There is room for both. Combined, they’re probably what we know as common sense – when to change and when not to change.

That should be my new saying: “Common sense is knowing when to change and when not to change.”

Cheers,

Tom Abts
GM and Head Golf Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com