What to watch for on TV
By all means, enjoy the physical beauty of golf on television. But pay attention to the players, too. You can learn a lot from watching not only their swings but also their whole demeanor on the course. Listen to the language, the jargon, the parlance being used. If you read this book — or any golf book — I'm sure that you'll notice the complexity of the game's terms. There's a lot of room for confusion. Watching the game on TV can help. This is especially true when a commentator analyzes a player's swing: He'll use terminology that you need to understand to become part of the golfing world. (See Appendix A for more help with golf terminology.)
Watch the players carefully. Pay attention to the rhythm of their swings. Pay attention to their mannerisms — the way they waggle the club, the triggers that set their swings in motion, the way they putt, the way they set their feet in the sand before they play from bunkers, the way they stand on uphill and downhill lies. In other words, watch everything! Soak it all in. Immerse yourself in the atmosphere and ambience of golf. You'll soon be walking the walk and talking the talk.
That's the big picture. That's what everyone should watch. But what about you specifically?
Watching Ernie Els or Annika Sorenstam on television is a good idea for everyone. But there's a limit to what most people can learn from most players. Pay particular attention to someone like Ernie if you happen to be tall and slim. But if you happen to be shorter and more heavyset, you need to look elsewhere. Make Lee Trevino, Craig Stadler, or Karrie Webb your role model. In other words, find someone whose body type approximates your own.
Then watch how that person stands to the ball at address. See how his arms hang. See how much she flexes her knees. Golfers who are taller have much more flex in their knees than their shorter counterparts.
Watch how "your pro" swings the club. Do his arms move away from his body as the club moves back? How much does she turn her shoulders? How good is his balance? Does she have a lot of wrist action in her swing? Or does he use his arms to create width? Watch the pros every chance you get. Emulating their swings and the way they conduct themselves will help your game.
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