[Loonerisav]

This is so freaking annoying. I watched videos of my round yesterday and my practice swing was right where I wanted to be. Nice swing path and good finish. Then I tense up and get all stuck. I struggle with letting it go and just trying to hit the hell out of the ball.

[TessUnsonia]

I stopped taking practice swings for the main reason that they're always better then my actual swing. Damn head games!!!

[BlackBird]

great topic, my practive swing is smooth and takes a divot with irons
my real swing is fast, no tempo and sweeps ball

[Buyingtime]

Zen Golf is a good book, at least it was for me. Have you tried not taking a practice swing? I don't usually take them unless I have to stand around for a while, I just swing the club around to stay loose.

I'll check that book out. Thanks! I only take a practice swing about 25% of the time.

Quick question - how do you know that your practice swing is more powerful and on plane? I actually think that my practice swing feels better because I have no ball flight to reflect the flaws.

What usually helps me is creating a simple routine and sticking to it. Also, use about 40% of your total effort on your backswing and through swing. I struggle with the same stuff you are, for me it is all about slowing myself down.

I don't know that the practice swing is better, but I've seen it and it looks better. It certain feels better. The real swings I've had that felt the same as my practice swings have given my pretty fantastic results.

A pre-shot routine would probably help me a lot. The problem is that I play a lot with my dad and he is a mega-fast player and doesn't like waiting around on other people. My buddy takes about a jillion waggles and dad named him The Maestro...which is actually kinda funny.

[pkopwqzsdcvbn]

What's not flawless is your avatar.

That made me laugh out loud....!

[BlackBird]

How do people know if theit practice swing is perect...?

I never claimed perfect, but WAY better than my regular swing...video proof and the fact that everyone I ever play a round with says the same thing lol...ile im purposely trying to swing worse when it counts

[Buyingtime]

I guess that I'm asking for tips or books relating to the mental game.

My practice swings are effortless and yet powerful and on plane. My actual swing is still not bad, but it's tense and totally different. How do you turn your brain off to allow your practice swing to hit the ball?
I don't have launch monitor evidence to substantiate my theory, but I believe that my practice swing is at least 5mph higher than my actual swing. It feels faster and the "woosh" is louder.

[cholleyhomeob]

Quick question - how do you know that your practice swing is more powerful and on plane? I actually think that my practice swing feels better because I have no ball flight to reflect the flaws.

What usually helps me is creating a simple routine and sticking to it. Also, use about 40% of your total effort on your backswing and through swing. I struggle with the same stuff you are, for me it is all about slowing myself down.

[BlackBird]

I will try that. My instructor can get me there and I can swing at the range, but I get tense on the course alot of the time. I need some more time to work on it too. The changes are still fairly fresh. Thanks Freddie!




You know - every time I hit a good shot yesterday I don't even remember seeing the ball. Might as well haha!

or keep your left eye closed and right eye open, by the time the right eye gets to where you would see the ball, it should be long gone lol

[Arkadiyas]

Yea, he was ok

swinging with your eyes closed after you set up is a great drill. It take away any expectation you may have or the urge to watch the ball.

good call, he turned out decent

[BV6lwvXf]

I think many of us will be interested in this swing, no matter how hard I try to concentrate on taking a smooth swing, during the actual swing I will try to "hit" the ball fairly often instead of just siwnging the club and letting the ball get in the way.

[Loonerisav]

You want to fix that, pick a point in directly in front of your ball and try to hit that. Now you are swinging through the ball to get to another point. before long it becomes habit. Try is slow and then let it gradually pick up speed.

I will try that. My instructor can get me there and I can swing at the range, but I get tense on the course alot of the time. I need some more time to work on it too. The changes are still fairly fresh. Thanks Freddie!

maybe we should all close our eyes and hit???

You know - every time I hit a good shot yesterday I don't even remember seeing the ball. Might as well haha!

[Loonerisav]

Josh this is an issue for the majority of golfers. The reason is because it's a swing your actual move is a hit or a try to hit. You are try to hit the ball instead of swinging through the ball. Mentally it's a matter of training yourself to swing through the zone through repetitive action. This will release the tension you experience during your real time golf shot.
A good drill is to swing two clubs. Take them to the top of your swing and set everything. Then pull down and through the zone. Keep the hips still until the clubs pass by your legs. This prompts swinging through the zone And builds up those muscle and muscle memory.
The other drill is to turn a long iron around and swing while holding the club head. You are looking for the swoosh sound at the bottom of your swing. Not from the top down but literally from your right knee to your left knee.
These two drill will teach you to swing the club not hit the ball. You should see immediate results, longer distance with effortless power. Don't swing harder just swing.

This is my struggle. I swing in practice, in lessons, and before I take real shots. When it counts, I try to hit the ball. It's hard to let my mind free up my body for some reason.

[cholleyhomeob]

Same here. My practice swing is flawless....wish I could say the same for my normal swing!

What's not flawless is your avatar.

[Arkadiyas]

You want to fix that, pick a point in directly in front of your ball and try to hit that. Now you are swinging through the ball to get to another point. before long it becomes habit. Try is slow and then let it gradually pick up speed.

This is my struggle. I swing in practice, in lessons, and before I take real shots. When it counts, I try to hit the ball. It's hard to let my mind free up my body for some reason.

[BlackBird]

Yea, he was ok

swinging with your eyes closed after you set up is a great drill. It take away any expectation you may have or the urge to watch the ball.

I'll try anything, thanks for the tips

[Usendyduexy]

How do people know if theit practice swing is perect...?

[MegaJIT]

Same here. My practice swing is flawless....wish I could say the same for my normal swing!

[pkopwqzsdcvbn]

See Charles Barkley. Practice swing is smooth as silk. Put a ball down there and it gets pretty damn ugly...

[BlackBird]

This is my struggle. I swing in practice, in lessons, and before I take real shots. When it counts, I try to hit the ball. It's hard to let my mind free up my body for some reason.

maybe we should all close our eyes and hit???