I had commented a while back and mentioned again that in addition to the internet being a problem with Modern Golf, the lack of knowledge of kinesiology among the pundits, the former and current players was also a problem.

It’s a problem because in the old days, players were taught swings or taught themselves how to swing largely by “feel,” which is something particular to an individual.

Not to mention, they pull all sorts of things out of nowhere to explain something another swinger is doing because they have no knowledge of kinesiology whatsoever.

What makes a “feel” for me might not even “feel” the same way to another person, so teaching by “feel” is absolutely useless when used as an all-round teaching method.

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So, imagine my surprise when I saw an article this morning describing Rory McIlroy’s advice to amateurs on how to drive the ball longer with his “slingshot feel.”

Antony Martin from the Golfing Gazette brings us this item, and Rory actually starts out fine with some actual technical talk:

He said, “When I’m really trying to hit it hard, I think a lot of it starts in the setup.

“Like, building a really good base to then swing hard from there. So if I’m really going after one, I’ll, like, try to move it up in my stance a little bit.

“So I feel like it’s almost off my front foot. So, I’m already behind the ball anyway.

That’s where it goes off the rails.  He “feels” like it’s almost off his front foot, or is it exactly?  If it’s just a “feel,” what does that mean?

He then mentions taking a wider stance than usual, but how much wider?  What is his usual stance width for comparison?

Then it all turns into a Feel Fest:

“And then I feel like my left arm and the shaft sort of create, like this one straight line.

“And then from there, like, I’m really, I’m not trying to do a ton in the backswing differently. I mean, I’ve dabbled with trying to swing it back faster. If you swing it back faster, it should come down faster. So maybe just trying to feel like I’m a little quicker off the ball.

“And then from there, it’s like, when I load to the top, it’s really, like, I feel like I get into my left side, but then I really try to feel like I’m hitting the golf ball with my right hip. So I’m trying to actually clear.

“Basically just trying to get as open as possible at impact. So then your upper body acts like a slingshot and just..”

Absolute gobbledygook there, all feel and no technical explanation.  I mean, if you’re going to try to hit longer drives as amateur by recreating Rory’s “feels,” then good luck to you.

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Not to mention, Rory McIlroy may be a long driver but he’s currently ranked 162nd in driving accuracy off the tee, barely over half of fairways hit (53.61%).

If Rory himself can barely hit half of his fairways with his drives, how do you think the average amateur is going to fare trying to copy his “feels?”

I know for a fact that long and crooked is a terrible way to play the game – hence my swing research when I could already drive the ball well over 300 yards – in fact, I was so bad with the Driver that for most of my time playing golf pre-2005, I would tee off with a 3 metal – and still get over 300 yards off the tee.

And here’s a thought – perhaps the amateur in question should be taught something that is actually concrete?

• What kind of grip is the amateur using? Is it proper, or does it need fixing?
• What’s his setup overall like? Is he too much to his leading side with the weight?
• Where’s his optimal ball position?
• How is he swinging to begin with?  How’s the pivot?  Is he getting a full shoulder turn?
• What’s his head stability like? Is it all over the place or stable?
• Is he set up properly to the target line, or too closed or open?
• Is he getting to impact with a proper impact position?
• What’s his swing path and club face angle through the impact zone? Push, pull, slice or hook?

And on and on – I would bet you that what the average amateur needs is to be taught a proper setup and a proper pivot and down swing.

Because offering “tips” and advice to someone without even knowing how they swing is nonsensical.

I’m pretty sure that if you call emergency services for an unconscious person, the first question you will get is, “are they breathing?” before anything else.

Not, “tie a tourniquet around the left leg,” when the person is actually having a heart attack.  For a victim of a gardening accident where the person has gashed their left leg with the garden shears, sure, tie off the bleeding limb.

You have to know what’s wrong in order to know how to fix it.

This is why the game is in such dire straits today.  All of the available technology on hand and we’re still in the Stone Age with a Masters Champion telling amateurs to copy his “feels.”

And “feels” aren’t going to cut it.