Taking it to the course

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JHodge

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Gents & Ladies(are there any ladies here?),

Struggling a bit.....

1) Any strategies for taking swing changes to the golf course?

2) How do you get to that point where there are ZERO swing thoughts on course? Is anybody at that point?

I am messing around with practicing where I hit a shot with a single mechanical swing thought and then hit a shot with no mechanical swing thought whatsoever. If I get a single mechanical thought over that second ball, I step away.
I think this may be a start to getting to that point.

Any thoughts? I don't want to be Tin Cup!

Jeremy
 
K

Kevin Shields

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I cant even conceive of playing golf without at least one thought of mechanics. How would you even move? It doesnt have to make you freeze. Just one thought that gives you a good mental idea of what you're trying to do.
 
Richie3Jack

Richie3Jack

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I don't think anybody gets zero swing thoughts out of their head. I think it can break down to having a feel you want to achieve vs. an actual detailed thought. For instance, I like to get into pitch elbow with my swing. When I stop doing that, I really have to think about getting into pitch elbow, establish that, feel that and then execute in my swing. When it's going good I more or less just feel it and tell myself that this is the feel I'm looking for.

I get asked this all of the time, particularly people wanting to know how to take a good range time out to the course. One thing I suggest is that you aim at different targets on each shot. I'll aim to the furthest left flag on the range, and then the next shot aim for one spot maybe 100 yards right of where I aimed my last shot. Then aim at a different spot on the next one.

Most of the golfers I've come across with this problem may hit 100 balls or so, but they'll aim every single shot at that same target. That does have it's place in it can build a good rhythm. Moe Norman could do that all day long, 1 look, a couple of waggles and he's ripping shots at the target, one after another. And he had beautiful rhythm. But, with mere mortals like ourselves, I think we need to try and 'rattle our cage' a bit on the range so we can eventually get comfortable with our mechanics instead of getting comfortable with a target out on a driving range.

I also do this stuff all of the time, particularly before tournaments or a good money match. I'll force myself to play the course without using a tee or play 2-ball worst ball. For instance, today I played 9-holes with my persimmon driver. Stuff like that really gets me playing golf instead of playing golf swing (and also sharpens my swing) and helps prepare me for the worst and experience a bunch of shots I may not normally get.





3JACK
 
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birly-shirly

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Well, there is much better golf than mine being played on this thread with more swing thoughts than I use - so feel free to take this with a pinch of salt...

If you want to try and play without conscious thoughts, then I think it helps to focus your mind on something positive, other than your swing.

So, visualising your target, thinking about your shot trajectory, "feeling" your impact or just staring at your ball (like, 1 particular dimple or a logo) are all ways to take your mind off your swing.

FWIW - I think the worst swing thoughts are verbalised ones. Rehearsing the feel of a particular move is probably much better than telling yourself "Straight back".

I also believe that better players who talk about verbal swing thoughts probably have such an ingrained, physical, pavlovian response to certain key phrases that it works from them. In other words, it might be impossible for a good player who has worked on the range to think "Flat left wrist at the top" without simultaneously feeling the move quite vividly. But a verbal instruction that works for one guy maybe isn't going to work for you unless you put the same amount of work into internalising the feel of it.
 
mjstrong

mjstrong

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Justin:

There are some good points above.

I think that people separate the golf course from the driving range too often, and don't make them similar enough. Especially for the 2nd half of a practice or warm up session, your shots should be much more random, and much less repeat-repeat-repeat.

Like Richie3Jack says, mix up your clubs and target on every single shot, going through your entire pre-shot routine each time. You're not going to hit the same 7 iron 10 times in a row on the golf course; why wouldn't you want the range time to be as similar to the golf course as possible? Take your time, visualize the shot, and then go.
 
Richie3Jack

Richie3Jack

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One of the things I also do a bit before a round is try to 'mock' my round on the range. For instance, the 1st hole on my course may be a driver aimed to the left a bit and then a 8-iron aimed to the right a bit. So, I'll take my pre-shot routine on the range with a driver and then hit the driver down the left side on the range. Then I pull up with a 8-iron, do the pre-shot routine and hit the 8-iron. Then the next hole is a par-5, usually a driver, 3-wood and SW, so I'll do my pre-shot routine with the driver and hit it, then move onto the 3-wood and SW. Then go to the next hole, a par-3 and usually a 5-iron off the tee.

If I hit a bad shot on the range in my 'mock round', I'll re-hit it again and focus. But, very important not only to change clubs, but to also change targets and really visualize what the shot would look like. If I feel I hit a shot that would've missed the green, I flop a wedge or punch out of some trees.

I got this idea from watching Olympic bobsledders train themselves before their runs. They'll usually sit somewhere in the same position they would be in their bobsled and then they mentally visualize the turns they are going to have to make and when they will make them.

This really works.





3JACK
 
D

DeepRedCee

New
Chip Putterman said:
Once I am set up and then waggle, my only swing thought is to get my left shoulder under my chin and behind the ball. That's it.
Click to expand...

Absolutely amazing yet simple swing thought!

I have always struggled for consistent contact rather than direction and that seemed to be a product of not turning properly and then hitting AT it at 5000 mph.

I played sub 90s golf most of the time but something about Chips comment resonated for me and I took this key to the course and I can honestly say I have NEVER hit the ball so well, my scores have plummeted over the last few months and my last three rounds I have been 6, 8 and 5 over and people think I am receiving tuition or practicing non stop:)

So thank you Chip, I'll never be a great player but your tip has made this wonderful game more fun and rewarding than I ever thought possible.

So fellow hackers give it a try, you just might discover it helps you too
 
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