Golf Tips & Quips

I have a problem with too many swing thoughts in my head when I am practicing. The thoughts multiply when I am hitting the ball poorly. Once I get to this point, it is hard for me to calm down and get back into the groove.

Today I went into my practice session with only three thoughts.

1. Make a good full shoulder turn.
2. Swing through the ball.
3. Have fun.

I realized earlier this week that making a full shoulder turn adds distance to my shot. I had heard this before and I thought I had been making a good turn, but discovered that I was making more of a turn with my arms rather than with my shoulders.

The basketball drill helped me keep my hands away from my body as I made my my takeaway which gets my back facing the target at the top of my swing. It felt a little awkward at first but the results are great. I can feel that I have more power in my swing as I get to impact.

When I had my loop, I had to have perfect timing in order to get to the right position at impact to hit the ball straight. I actually got pretty good with the timing but I was losing out on distance, thus the need for the swing change. Now that I am making a better takeaway and shoulder turn, I am in the a good position at the top to let gravity do its job and simply swing through the ball.

I still have a lot of work to do. I have some pretty bad misses, but they are coming less frequently now. My main mishit is a hook to the left. I think it has to do with my address. I have to become better at making sure I have the proper alignment before hitting the shot.

It was fun out there today which is the last thing I wanted to focus on(this should be the first thing actually). Ever since I set my goals for 2010, I think I may have been putting too much pressure on myself. I want to break 80 so bad that it has almost become a job. 80 will come. I know it will. And when it does, it will be a celebration. Until then I have to remember to have fun along the way.

One of the analyst from NBC(I can't remember which one right now. Maybe Paul Azinger) made a comment that Colin Montgomerie and the European team were putting too much pressure on themselves during the opening stages of the Ryder Cup because they were so focused on the result. On winning. Corey Pavin and the American side had jumped out to an early lead after the lengthy rain delay leaving Monty a little bewildered.

The analyst said that in golf, you have to remember the steps it takes to win a team event of this magnitude. Looking past these steps makes you lose focus on the task at hand. Maybe Monty heard a replay of this statement and changed his game plan for the third stage as the host team held the lead in all six matches that were out on the course before play was called because of darkness.

I think I will heed the lesson as well. The results will come. The fun is in journey. Have a great round and always hit your target.

Image courtesy of Trading Phrases.



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