I have been playing golf for more than half a century, and I have been mystified by the fact that one day I can play fairly well, and the next day it looks as if I am holding a golf club for the first time.

I have come to the conclusion that there are many effective ways to hit a golf ball, but some require more timing and coordination than others. Maddeningly some of the golf swings that produce the most spectacular results on one day will fall apart completely the next day. I think that is because these swings rely more on timing and coordination than on technique.

Trust me, if there is a way to hit a golf ball, I have tried it.

At my age the key to enjoyment in golf is not hitting the ball a mile or sticking that approach shot inches from the hole. It is simply not missing the ball so badly that I embarrass myself.

And after decades of trial and error (and error and error and error)I think I have finally found one method that almost guarantees a fairly solid hit every time. If your would like to try it, here it is:

Setup: I presume you already know how to grip the club. To have any chance of success you must have a reasonably orthodox grip - overlapping, interlocking or ten-finger. Before starting, get hold of any golf book and check your grip to make sure you are holding the club in such a way that you have a chance of hitting the ball on the club face. But the setup can vary a little more. Here is the one I favor. Take a fairly wide stance, square to the target line. Lean forward from the hips so that the back end of the club is about a hand's breadth from your body. Do not consciously straighten your left arm. Let both arms hang naturally, so that your right elbow is a little more bent than your left and a little closer to your body (almost touching your ribs). Your weight should be slightly toward your toes but not so much forward that you will lose your balance when you swing.

Back swing: Start by pushing (not swinging) the left arm (not hand) straight back (staying close to your chest) until you feel your left shoulder turn naturally under your chin. Let your shoulder turn as much as comfortable. Keep your head motionless. Do not force the shoulder turn. Do not sway backwards. Do not waggle the club before you start back or consciously shift your weight or do anything else during the back swing. Do not think about the club head. Do not think about your legs, hips or feet. Think about your left arm and shoulder turning past your head.

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