The great Ely Callaway founder of Callaway Golf Equipment Company said to me "David, you and I are in the same business - we are in the business of selling hope! No matter whether it is buying a new driver, putter, type of ball or just taking a golf lesson, all golfers live in the hope that this could be the answer to hitting it farther, straighter, fewer putts, lowers scores, etc." And guess what? Their hopes and prayers are frequently answered - if only for a short while!

That's the hook (pardon the pun). It is why we keep persevering, practicing, reading magazines and books, watching videos being glued to the Golf Channel, investing in equipment and lessons, etc. etc. In reality it is just the nature of the game. The quest is what it's all about... because maybe just maybe we have found the "secret"!

Being a collector myself of vintage instruction books, written by players, teachers, philosophers, bricklayers, you name 'em - dating back to the 19th century. It is interesting to note that that a lot of things have not really changed. Sure the evolution of equipment going from hickory shafts to steel, from feathery golf balls to rubber, from wooden heads to metal etc. has seen changes and advances which have affected technique and style.

However, it is still basically a ball and stick game, whereby you have to control the ball through a proper sequence of motion with your body, arms, and hands. This motion results in the club face being influenced to produce a combination of power, accuracy and finesse. Some players certainly are more athletically gifted, have better hand-eye coordination, are better thinkers, have better temperaments, and are more coachable, etc.; but it still boils down to the fact that golf has and always will be a blend of art and science.

Probably today there is more emphasis placed on the analysis or the science of the game. With the benefit of video, computer analysis, biomechanical analysis, we are certainly able to dissect a golf swing to the nth degree, which is good to a point. Not all of it is good news though for the average golfer, as it tends to make them way too technical and thoughtful of every little move in the swing.

Trying to make the technique perfect, often results in over thinking - producing too much tension, lack of rhythm and timing and poor flow -- and all for something that takes only a second to complete. Now don't get me wrong, good technique is important but no two swings are exactly the same, as there are no two humans who are built or think exactly the same.

The laws of physics (such as leverage, etc) certainly have to be applied in order to strike a golf ball, but even basics like grip, posture, alignment and tempo can vary amongst the best players. There is still room for individuality - Jim Furyk and Raymond Floyd to site a couple of greats.

Throughout the years there have been countless theories, methodologies, and systems that have claimed to be the "holy grail" of technique prescribed by players, teachers, engineers and Uncle Tom Cobbley and all. From guarantees in full page ads in national newspapers to cut 20, 30, 40 shots off your score (Heaven's... I hope Tiger doesn't get hold of it!) to claims that the secret of the pros has been discovered.

There have been many methods and theories put forward. Some which certainly have more merit than others, but nevertheless, have added to the evolution of the game. Such as: Ernest Jones' Swing The Clubhead, Ben Hogan's Modern Fundamentals, Square to Square, The Golf Machine, Mac O'Grady's Morad Theory, Jimmy Ballard's Right Side Connection Method, Natural Golf, Gravity Golf, Today's One Plane Versus Two, Stack and Tilt and I'm sure many more to come in the future.

All this is very interesting and for a teacher who is open minded and inquisitive a great source of information, plus the great thing - it gets us thinking.

The thing to remember with the Tour players, is that as great as athletes as they are, they could make any method work - as long as they believed in it strongly enough. My thoughts as a general rule are that great teaching involves great communication - and teaching the individual rather than a strict method.

At our Golf Academies our major goal is to give each and every student a blue print for improvement - a clear picture of where they are now and where they need to get to and how to get to the next level - all in as simple a manner as possible.

All of us teachers may have certain preferences and we have to adhere to certain scientific principles. But flexibility and even at times experimentation is the key; depending on who we are working with in order to get the message across. Whether it is an athlete, a casual golfer, a tour player, a junior, a retiree, etc. - they all require something a little bit different.

As Gary Wiren, the well known golf historian, teacher, and educator stated so well - when referring to a certain method "It may be A method, but it is not THE method"... "We who dare to teach must never cease to learn" is a great motto in our profession. That's what's fun for me, continually learning and getting better.

So until next time... "Hit 'em well"

David L.