Band-aid or tourniquet?

We assume that you are working on your golf swing. We assume that you want to get better this year. We want to make sure that you are doing something to stop the bleeding, but we want it to be part of a system.

Band – aids stop the bleeding from nicks (like bad ball position). Tourniquets stop the bleeding if you have a fatal wound (like no idea how to release the club). Surgery can be used to stop bleeding as well (like if your shoulder doesn’t move enough to bring the club on the proper plane). You need to have a good doctor (or golf pro) who can help you deal with your issue (or swing fault).

In medicine, you are given a choice based on your symptoms. “You could do this, or this, but I would recommend this.” We think this rule should apply to golf instruction as well.

Here is an example of how this medical example could work in the golf world.

Lets say that you are coming over the top. You could – close your stance or change your grip – that’s a band-aid. You could – do a drill with a training device like the inside approach to manufacture a way to not come over the top – that’s a tourniquet. Or you could – have a physical exam, work on exercises to improve your separation and shoulder mobility while doing a drill to challenge you to put the new skill into your game – that’s a surgery and the only long term solution.

Sometimes surgery is the fastest (and only method) to fix a problem. If you have been working on your game for years and improvement has plateaued – especially if that plateau is between a 7 and 15 handicap – then you might be a candidate for surgery.

Check out our downloads to learn more about long term solutions to real golf problems and leave the band-aids in the medicine cabinet…or for the day before a tournament.