Have you ever bought a new club, or set of clubs, that work like magic for a while, and then before you know it the magic is gone and they don’t work any better than your old set?

About 6 months ago, after using the same driver for 8 years, I decided to upgrade to some new technology. I called my sales rep and told him a couple of specifications I wanted and had him pick the model he felt would be best for me.  

When it arrived, I took it straight to the first tee and played 18-holes with it. I couldn’t believe how easy it was to hit. Time after time I hit these hard solid drives with about 5 yards of draw, all going about 20 to 35 yards further than with my old driver. I hit all 14 fairways with it. Technology is a wonderful thing!! I’m starting to think about the Senior Tour!!

Well, the honeymoon lasted for about 2 rounds and then the magic left. I didn’t completely fall apart off the tee, I just didn’t hit the ball as well as I did when I first pulled the club out of the box. Why does this happen?

I think all of us probably do the same thing I did. I hit the ball so well, so easily. And when I stepped on the throttle to hit the ball a little further, it went further. Finally, I tried to hit it a little too hard and the magic was gone.  

New clubs and new technology are wonderful. We can hit the ball longer and straighter than ever before. Our bad shots no longer go into the bunkers around the green – they go a little left or right and just a few yards shorter than our good shots. We begin to feel like we couldn’t hit a bad shot if we tried to.  We begin swinging harder and we hit the ball further, until we swing a little too hard. Instead of making our normal swing, we get carried away with seeing how far our new can hit the ball and eventually our mechanics breakdown.  

Technology is a wonderful thing! It enables us to play better than we ever have and we get more enjoyment out the game. But technology can only do so much. It can take a marginal shot and make it very playable. But, if you want to hit the ball further see your PGA Professional for some lessons. A few lessons can do things for your game technology could never do.  

Imagine how good you could be if you combined technique with technology. You could probably hit the ball so hard ... Never mind!!

Kim Anders is Director of Golf at Estrella del Mar Golf & Beach Resort in Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico. You can reach Kim via email at Kanders@estrelladelmar.com or call 1.888.587.0609, Ext. 3010. Find out more about the golf resort by visiting www.estrelladelmar.com.