swing thoughts are killing my game (Full Version)

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jreed3 -> swing thoughts are killing my game (06/12/12 7:39:21 AM)

I posted this on another site and got some very good answers and thought Id post it here as well. My main goal when I play, besides having fun, is to just strike the ball well no matter where it goes. Not too much to ask is it? LOL. So on to my post....

My iron game is in a state of disrepair right now. I was playing last night and couldnt hit a shot with my irons to save my life. When I say I couldnt hit a shot, my contact was terrible and rarely hit one clean. At one point I was getting frustrated so I decided to drop a ball where my playing partner was at; middle of an elevated fairway about 180 or so yards out. I pull my 7 iron out, walk up to the ball and hit it without practice swings or any thinking. I hit it pure, a nice high iron shot that dropped and stuck about 5 feet from the hole. Dropped another ball, did the same thing and the same result. Moving along to the next hole, 205 yd par 3, pin tucked into the right and a very narrow part of the green. Pull out my hybrid, no thinking, nice high shot that landed even with the pin, again about 5 feet.

However, I then move on to the next holes and these swing thoughts creep back into my head and I go back to my old self.

Does anyone have this kind of problem? it sounds kind of stupid but being an analytical type of person I want to be able play the game knowing my swing and knowing what Im doing wrong and be able to control it. however, I think I have turned into a headcase on the golf course.



kcee -> RE: swing thoughts are killing my game (06/12/12 7:45:27 AM)

Yes....that's why I do something else for a living [:(]

I tend to overthink many things as well. Maybe the result of having an engineering degree.



sdandrea1 -> RE: swing thoughts are killing my game (06/12/12 7:49:29 AM)

Don't think J, just swing - trust your ability. You know you have the ability to hit pure shots - if you MUST think, then replay those pure shots in your head before each swing.

[;)]



jreed3 -> RE: swing thoughts are killing my game (06/12/12 8:06:03 AM)

What happens when you start thinking about having no thoughts....then your thoughts turn back to swing thoughts? Oh, it's a viscous cycle.



sdandrea1 -> RE: swing thoughts are killing my game (06/12/12 8:16:15 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: jreed3

What happens when you start thinking about having no thoughts....then your thoughts turn back to swing thoughts? Oh, it's a viscous cycle.



You're scaring me now........you may need 'help'........

[;)]



stroh -> RE: swing thoughts are killing my game (06/12/12 8:40:48 AM)

The problem isn't swing thoughts.

The problem is you are "Ball Bound".

When you are ball bound you swing the club at the ball to hit it. Bad things happen.

When you are not ball bound you swing the club through the ball to advance it to your target. Good things happen.

When you threw the ball down in the fairway, it wasn't in play. You had total control. Almost giving yourself a perfect lie. Even if you weren't thinking that consciously. (My guess is after you threw it down, you hockey-sticked it a bit getting ready to hit it.) You weren't ball bound.

When the ball was on the tee with the hybrid, you gave yourself a perfect lie (by definition) and the ball was still not in play. Total control and you're free to swing through to your target. Again, not ball bound.

On your next hole, you find your tee shot in the fairway, in play, but now in your mind (again even if you aren't consciously thinking it) you see it glued to the turf. Back to being ball bound.

Next time you can play a practice round by your self or let the other guys know what you are doing so they don't think you're a schmuck. Step up to each approach shot or iron shot, and move the ball a bit.
You don't have to do a full lift clean and place, just hockey-stick a little bit to "Free it up from the turf". You'll feel more at ease to be able to swing through the ball as opposed to feeling like you have to strike at it.

Then you can get back to playing your normal game.

Good luck.



sdandrea1 -> RE: swing thoughts are killing my game (06/12/12 8:46:06 AM)

A lot of what stroh says above is covered (in another way) in a book called Conscious Golf by Gay Hendricks. It's a short read with HIGH value - http://www.amazon.com/Conscious-Golf-Secrets-Success-Business/dp/B005IZP1JC


I have a copy and re-read the 1st chapter from time to time - I suggest you have a look.

[;)]



stroh -> RE: swing thoughts are killing my game (06/12/12 8:54:25 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: sdandrea1

A lot of what stroh says above is covered (in another way) in a book called Conscious Golf by Gay Hendricks. It's a short read with HIGH value - http://www.amazon.com/Conscious-Golf-Secrets-Success-Business/dp/B005IZP1JC


I have a copy and re-read the 1st chapter from time to time - I suggest you have a look.

[;)]



Thanks for that. I'm going to pick this up for myself. [:D]



Release -> RE: swing thoughts are killing my game (06/12/12 9:03:58 AM)

I was told long time ago by my first instructor "Don the Magician Mandrake ", think of nothing but scoring on the golf course.

Think scoring means course management , means how to play the shot in front of you to the best ability you could that day.
No swing thoughts on the golf course, but if you must, have only one or two simple key swing thoughts. Like to finish the follow through, like to take the club back to parellel... but you should be only concentrate on scoring alone.



stroh -> RE: swing thoughts are killing my game (06/12/12 9:11:13 AM)

Just to clarify.

jreed,

I wasn't implying that you need a perfect lie to play good golf. If you are hitting a 7 iron: 180 to 5 feet, let alone just on the green you're an accomplished player and your mechanics are fine. You're not bothered with trying to help the ball or afraid to hit down through it, or any of that garbage.

I was simply speaking to more of a psychological phenomena of not having control. The ball is yours, it's in play. You must address it, stand over it and can easily become too focused on it.

When that happens your focus moves to hitting the ball as opposed to advancing it to your target. That's where you start having swing thoughts. I have to come from the inside, I have to release, I have to focus on hitting the inside quarter of the ball, etc.

So, yeah, you are being bothered by swing thoughts, but it comes from being ball bound.

"Free up" a couple of those lies in a practice round to a "perfect lie", and I bet you get back on track.



sdandrea1 -> RE: swing thoughts are killing my game (06/12/12 9:31:21 AM)

BTW, jreed, I have to hit my 4 hybrid for a 180 yard shot.......and I have to flush it. [sm=gerg.gif]



Bankshot -> RE: swing thoughts are killing my game (06/12/12 9:47:27 AM)

I have a mantra that i say to myself when im going badly "all the way back...allthe way through...don't rush it" Thats as much thought as i want to put into it.



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