SWING-BUILDING can be a painful experience . . . especially when you decide to play in the Sunday morning roll-up.

It’s one thing practising your technique by hitting 100 balls on the driving range but it’s a different ball game putting it to use out on the battlefield.

I should have steered clear of the golf course at this early stage in my education - in fact Richard and I agreed I would - but the temptation on a cold but gloriously sunny winter’s morning was just too much.

In the last month I have learned a new set-up and stance. I understand now how important it is to keep my left arm straight on the backswing and the follow-through to create a 180-degree arc.
I’ve spent several hours practising this and I have to admit it is starting to happen without me having to think about it too much.

The next step is proving much harder though.

I know I have to hit the ground in front of or after I have hit the ball. I have to have my wrists ahead of the ball at impact and play the follow-through like a forward defensive cricket shot.

It was with all these thoughts swimming around in my head that I approached the first tee at Swinton Park. I managed to get a decent drive away but on the fairways my mind was telling me one thing and my body was trying to do another. It wasn’t a pretty sight.

I scrambled round without too much abuse from my partner but it’s clear I shouldn’t play on the course until I have fully learnt the left wrist pull through.
So for now it’s back to the driving range to focus on building my new improved swing.

Richard's aims and objectives

It’s got to stop. Chris is still hitting the ground behind the ball and this takes away a vast amount of the power generated in a golf swing because the ground not the ball absorbs the power.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: to create a perfect strike in a golf shot you should aim to hit the ground 1 to 3 cm in front of the ball after the club has made impact with the ball.

This is achieved by leading the downward swing with a dominant left hand. This helps create a pulling action of the grip, followed by the shaft and then the head of the club is finally delivered to the ball last in this sequence.

Chris has to focus on gripping the club firmer in the left hand than in the right hand, by doing this we almost suggested the left hand would lead the swing into the impact area creating the perfect strike.
In practise he has to focus on making an exaggerated pulling action with his left hand ending up in a forward defensive cricket type shot. He might regress a little bit but he will be in a very positive, powerful position at impact.

When this position is achieved the ball will travel further and greater level of consistency shall be seen similar to the top tour professionals.