Is your golf game painful in more ways than one? C.J. Goecks may have the answer

If you’re in lousy shape or inflexible, swinging a golf club can be difficult. To get better, you really have two choices: improve your physical fitness or find a golf swing that’s easier on the body.

As we age, the latter might be the more attractive option, especially if you don’t have the time or commitment to get in better shape.

Lately, I’ve been intrigued with an instructional program devised by Dallas area instructor C.J. Goecks, who teaches at the TPC at Craig Ranch. Goecks conducted an extensive bio physical study of the golf swing to come up with the “Perfect Connection Golf Swing.” This method ties the arms in with the body and promotes an easier limited turn. The Perfect Connection doesn’t require a 90-degree shoulder turn, big separation of hips and shoulders in the backswing and downswing, and he promises (for most players) gains in distance in accuracy.

Goecks is also very much tuned into the 21st century. His course is available online as well as DVDs, and he supports it with emails full of all kinds of tips, faults and fixes, and general help in your golf swing as well course strategy and short game.

It’s quite comprehensive and best of all, easy to understand. He even uses a model who looks like many of us golfers ? aging and overweight ? in some of his videos, which gives anybody confidence they can have success with this method.

Goecks coaches Australian Nathan Green, who broke through in 2009 with his first PGA Tour victory. He says Perfect Connection really benefits the average player, but good players can get a lot out of it as well.

And in case you’re wondering, Perfect Connection isn’t anything radical. It’s based on a number of sound fundamentals, although there are obviously some significant differences between traditional teaching and Perfect Connection. For example, the club is more vertical in the Perfect Connection backswing, making it lighter and easier for golfers to get the club to the top, putting less stress on their bodies and joints.

If you’ve been struggling, you might want to check this out. You can find more information on Goeck’s Perfect Connection here. Of course, it wouldn’t hurt to be in better shape no matter what method you choose.