Staying Behind It

I'm always talking about Bobby Jones. Bobby said this, and Bobby said that. But the truth is he was probably the most intelligent golfer the game has ever known. He also used that great mind to produce writing and teaching on the subject of golf that never gets out of date.

Radar has been struggling with staying behind the ball lately. He has a bit of a lateral shift, which is fine, but lately his upper body and head are moving forward along with his lower body, causing him to hit low, smothered shots, hooks and pushes. It's been driving him crazy.

Today I mentioned what Bobby Jones advised to cure the problem. Bobby said you should never see less of the back of the ball than you do at address. He encouraged people with a tendency to move ahead of it to try to watch the back of the ball as it flies off, even trying to peer out underneath it. He said it was okay for your head to even move slightly back through impact, but never forward.

Radar tried it and was very pleased with the results. He hit some beauties, driving the ball higher and longer than he's done for ages. Radar said, "I'm not going to the John Haynes School of Golf. I'm going to the Bobby Jones school. Bobby Junior fixed me right up."

That Bobby Jones was one smart dude.