Working on too many things looking for direction

[AppState09]

Hello,

 

I have been working on too many things at once. I feel like Sergio at the US Open at Bethpage, it takes far too long to pull the trigger way too many thoughts in my head.

 

I have been working pretty hard on a Snead/Gankas squat and getting my hands closer to my right thigh just before impact. Especially with driver my hand are way high of my beginning hand position.

 

Misses are thin weak push fades and straight pulls. I have worked hard for years on keeping my wrists out of impact. My shoulders seem to be on line to closed despite trying to have them a touch open at impact. I also feel that I am way too arm-sy just before and after impact.

 

I am a tinkerer and I can't turn it off on the course. As soon as I hit a bad shot, drills and positions fill my head. My focus becomes my swing and not the course or hole I am play. Does anyone have any pointers on turning the range brain off on the course?

 

Any criticism of the swing is welcome as well. If you had my swing what would YOU be working/focusing on?

 

DTL:

 

Latest F/O:

 

Thanks!

[MonteScheinblum]

Not anything terrible. Not enough weight left at address.

 

Not extending torso/spine enough in backswing.

 

Right knee firing early.

[AppState09]

Not anything terrible. Not enough weight left at address.

 

Not extending torso/spine enough in backswing.

 

Right knee firing early.

 

Thanks for looking. I have a problem with shifting too much to the left at impact, so I could be over compensating.

 

Could you describe how you feel your torso/spine extending? That is a new one on me.

 

I assume the right knee is going left too early

 

Thanks

[MonteScheinblum]

[sethdavidsdad]

Arm swing looks great

upper body over the right too much at top, like Monte said extending some would fix.

Then because of that you move too far towards the target, little too much of a slide look. The hips don't work under you in the follow through. The left leg straightens and the left side extends while the right side stays in flexion.

Not bad for a App State guy, Go Red Wolves!

[Petunia Sprinkle]

Doing something well, consistently, involves both a method that works and skill at executing that method. So, anytime you hit a bad shot, it might be your method is flawed, your skill level with a good method is poor, or you suck at using a bad method. As there is no one method for swinging a golf club, you have to give yourself long enough at a chosen method to develop some skill with it before you can decide if that method is going to work for you, or not. So, my suggestion is, the next time you hit a bad shot, forget about it and just try to execute the same ideas (same method, same cues, etc.) on the next shot. It's the only way I can think of to both develop a skill with a method and to give that method enough of a chance to work for you, if it's ever going to.

 

 

Note: One day, I'll actually do this myself.

[AppState09]

Arm swing looks great

upper body over the right too much at top, like Monte said extending some would fix.

Then because of that you move too far towards the target, little too much of a slide look. The hips don't work under you in the follow through. The left leg straightens and the left side extends while the right side stays in flexion.

Not bad for a App State guy, Go Red Wolves!

 

Just making sure, my spine should be more like the green line, NOT towards the target but more towards my 180?

 

It doesn't hurt my feelings we aren't playing y'all. Can't believe we are missing out on Troy and USA too. I'll be pulling for y'all against Nebraska and hope you play better than we did against Miami!

 

[AppState09]

Doing something well, consistently, involves both a method that works and skill at executing that method. So, anytime you hit a bad shot, it might be your method is flawed, your skill level with a good method is poor, or you suck at using a bad method. As there is no one method for swinging a golf club, you have to give yourself long enough at a chosen method to develop some skill with it before you can decide if that method is going to work for you, or not. So, my suggestion is, the next time you hit a bad shot, forget about it and just try to execute the same ideas (same method, same cues, etc.) on the next shot. It's the only way I can think of to both develop a skill with a method and to give that method enough of a chance to work for you, if it's ever going to.

 

 

Note: One day, I'll actually do this myself.

Thanks for your advice! That is definitely something to strive for. My step 1 is to stay off GolfWRX instruction while on the course haha.

[sethdavidsdad]

Arm swing looks great

upper body over the right too much at top, like Monte said extending some would fix.

Then because of that you move too far towards the target, little too much of a slide look. The hips don't work under you in the follow through. The left leg straightens and the left side extends while the right side stays in flexion.

Not bad for a App State guy, Go Red Wolves!

 

Just making sure, my spine should be more like the green line, NOT towards the target but more towards my 180?

 

It doesn't hurt my feelings we aren't playing y'all. Can't believe we are missing out on Troy and USA too. I'll be pulling for y'all against Nebraska and hope you play better than we did against Miami!

 

It's easier to see in the face on swing. The extending is not much of a change but will get the upper body more over the hips at the top.

 

 

I know guess the realignment will be a good thing once we have a championship game. Maybe having Miami at home will give us a chance, don't think we have much of one against Nebraska.

 

[AppState09]

Arm swing looks great

upper body over the right too much at top, like Monte said extending some would fix.

Then because of that you move too far towards the target, little too much of a slide look. The hips don't work under you in the follow through. The left leg straightens and the left side extends while the right side stays in flexion.

Not bad for a App State guy, Go Red Wolves!

 

Just making sure, my spine should be more like the green line, NOT towards the target but more towards my 180?

 

It doesn't hurt my feelings we aren't playing y'all. Can't believe we are missing out on Troy and USA too. I'll be pulling for y'all against Nebraska and hope you play better than we did against Miami!

It's easier to see in the face on swing. The extending is not much of a change but will get the upper body more over the hips at the top.

 

 

I know guess the realignment will be a good thing once we have a championship game. Maybe having Miami at home will give us a chance, don't think we have much of one against Nebraska.

That's what they said when we played Michigan back in 2007. :rofl:

[sethdavidsdad]

Arm swing looks great

upper body over the right too much at top, like Monte said extending some would fix.

Then because of that you move too far towards the target, little too much of a slide look. The hips don't work under you in the follow through. The left leg straightens and the left side extends while the right side stays in flexion.

Not bad for a App State guy, Go Red Wolves!

 

Just making sure, my spine should be more like the green line, NOT towards the target but more towards my 180?

 

It doesn't hurt my feelings we aren't playing y'all. Can't believe we are missing out on Troy and USA too. I'll be pulling for y'all against Nebraska and hope you play better than we did against Miami!

It's easier to see in the face on swing. The extending is not much of a change but will get the upper body more over the hips at the top.

 

 

I know guess the realignment will be a good thing once we have a championship game. Maybe having Miami at home will give us a chance, don't think we have much of one against Nebraska.

That's what they said when we played Michigan back in 2007. :rofl:

No, the green line you drew would be losing left side bend. You need to lose a little forward bend at the top.

 

They still talk about that win anytime we go for one of those payday games. Awesome

[AppState09]

Arm swing looks great

upper body over the right too much at top, like Monte said extending some would fix.

Then because of that you move too far towards the target, little too much of a slide look. The hips don't work under you in the follow through. The left leg straightens and the left side extends while the right side stays in flexion.

Not bad for a App State guy, Go Red Wolves!

 

Just making sure, my spine should be more like the green line, NOT towards the target but more towards my 180?

 

It doesn't hurt my feelings we aren't playing y'all. Can't believe we are missing out on Troy and USA too. I'll be pulling for y'all against Nebraska and hope you play better than we did against Miami!

It's easier to see in the face on swing. The extending is not much of a change but will get the upper body more over the hips at the top.

 

 

I know guess the realignment will be a good thing once we have a championship game. Maybe having Miami at home will give us a chance, don't think we have much of one against Nebraska.

That's what they said when we played Michigan back in 2007. :rofl:

No, the green line you drew would be losing left side bend. You need to lose a little forward bend at the top.

 

They still talk about that win anytime we go for one of those payday games. Awesome

So we talking 6 o'clock (losing bend at the waist) or towards 7-8 o'clock.

 

[sethdavidsdad]

They just mentioned the Michgan game on the radio again. haha Good luck in Athens

 

Yes, but not by raising left shoulder. More of a standing taller feel. Your back will get more towards the target but maintain shoulder tilt.

Look at the adam scott photo. Your shoulder tilt is almost the same. The difference is the head and chest. His is almost centered over his hips yours is over the left foot. Keep the arm swing the same.

[wmblake2000]

Hello,

 

 

 

I am a tinkerer and I can't turn it off on the course. As soon as I hit a bad shot, drills and positions fill my head. My focus becomes my swing and not the course or hole I am play. Does anyone have any pointers on turning the range brain off on the course?

 

 

 

Thanks!

 

Most of us want your swing. What you describe isn't a swing issue but a perfectionist issue.

 

What I do to battle range brain (like that term!) is before the round I decide on a core feel or feels that I believe in. This sets some boundaries that things like fatigue will challenge as the round progresses.

 

The point of this is to focus on what I believe works - a positive frame - vs trying to fix something that doesn't work. I rate my round based on how settled in I get on this and how clear and centered I am over each shot.

 

If things really go south on me, meaning a pattern of bad swings and not just the random weird swing, then I may try to fix it.

 

But what I read you saying isn't that (fixing a pattern of swings) but accepting that misses happen and tolerating frustration and/or lack of control. You're just going to have a distribution of swings - some good, some not so good. This is the way golf is. It isn't something you can fix in a round but only over time via range and repetition.

 

Learning to do this is one of the great learnings in golf. It frees you to enjoy and perform. But it may be as challenging as a swing overhaul. It requires that you really admit to the futility of and exhaustion with 'range brain.' But it can be done! If I can do it, anyone can... I have had about as bad a case of range brain as anyone but it's improved a lot and is still improving.

[AppState09]

They just mentioned the Michgan game on the radio again. haha Good luck in Athens

 

Yes, but not by raising left shoulder. More of a standing taller feel. Your back will get more towards the target but maintain shoulder tilt.

Look at the adam scott photo. Your shoulder tilt is almost the same. The difference is the head and chest. His is almost centered over his hips yours is over the left foot. Keep the arm swing the same.

That's finally got through my thick skull! Thanks!

[AppState09]

Hello,

 

 

 

I am a tinkerer and I can't turn it off on the course. As soon as I hit a bad shot, drills and positions fill my head. My focus becomes my swing and not the course or hole I am play. Does anyone have any pointers on turning the range brain off on the course?

 

 

 

Thanks!

 

Most of us want your swing. What you describe isn't a swing issue but a perfectionist issue.

 

What I do to battle range brain (like that term!) is before the round I decide on a core feel or feels that I believe in. This sets some boundaries that things like fatigue will challenge as the round progresses.

 

The point of this is to focus on what I believe works - a positive frame - vs trying to fix something that doesn't work. I rate my round based on how settled in I get on this and how clear and centered I am over each shot.

 

If things really go south on me, meaning a pattern of bad swings and not just the random weird swing, then I may try to fix it.

 

But what I read you saying isn't that (fixing a pattern of swings) but accepting that misses happen and tolerating frustration and/or lack of control. You're just going to have a distribution of swings - some good, some not so good. This is the way golf is. It isn't something you can fix in a round but only over time via range and repetition.

 

Learning to do this is one of the great learnings in golf. It frees you to enjoy and perform. But it may be as challenging as a swing overhaul. It requires that you really admit to the futility of and exhaustion with 'range brain.' But it can be done! If I can do it, anyone can... I have had about as bad a case of range brain as anyone but it's improved a lot and is still improving.

When I was learning golf I spent more time hitting balls than playing. I really like hitting range balls even now. I would be a much better player if I spent time on course management and the mental part of the game. I never played tournaments other than my high school matches. All my teammates played in tourneys over the summers, I just hit balls. I had 5 teammates play in college some D1.

 

Thanks for the encouragement! The mental game is so important, learning to leave your mistakes behind. So listen up kids, go play and don't focus on mechanics so much!

[starsail85]

I don't see this as an extension issue in the backswing , to me it looks like you have too much right side bend at address , right shoulder is too low

 

Your head doesn't move any further to the right viewed face on in the backswing which is what happens if you don't extend at the same time as you left tilt

 

. Position would work with a driver and a wider stance but looks too much for an iron

 

It's a great looking swing to me , if I was to comment one thing, it would be to get the chest more open by impact

 

 

[AppState09]

I don't see this as an extension issue in the backswing , to me it looks like you have too much right side bend at address , right shoulder is too low

 

Your head doesn't move any further to the right viewed face on in the backswing which is what happens if you don't extend at the same time as you left tilt

 

. Position would work with a driver and a wider stance but looks too much for an iron

 

It's a great looking swing to me , if I was to comment one thing, it would be to get the chest more open by impact

I have been working on getting my chest open. Obviously I don't want to start unwinding from the top but do I just need to start earlier?

[starsail85]

I don't see this as an extension issue in the backswing , to me it looks like you have too much right side bend at address , right shoulder is too low

 

Your head doesn't move any further to the right viewed face on in the backswing which is what happens if you don't extend at the same time as you left tilt

 

. Position would work with a driver and a wider stance but looks too much for an iron

 

It's a great looking swing to me , if I was to comment one thing, it would be to get the chest more open by impact

I have been working on getting my chest open. Obviously I don't want to start unwinding from the top but do I just need to start earlier?

 

My personal opinion is that it is hard to get the body open when you have so much right tilt at address.

 

Definitely a good golf swing , so you would probably get much more benefit from sorting out your mental processes rather than any major mechanical changes

 

One thing that helped me get my chest more open was to allow my head to start turning in the downswing . You will need to really exaggerate it to make much of a change , try and feel like you are facing way left at impact , may be a mental hurdle there as it feels like you are gonna pull it 100 yards left!!

[AppState09]

I don't see this as an extension issue in the backswing , to me it looks like you have too much right side bend at address , right shoulder is too low

 

Your head doesn't move any further to the right viewed face on in the backswing which is what happens if you don't extend at the same time as you left tilt

 

. Position would work with a driver and a wider stance but looks too much for an iron

 

It's a great looking swing to me , if I was to comment one thing, it would be to get the chest more open by impact

I have been working on getting my chest open. Obviously I don't want to start unwinding from the top but do I just need to start earlier?

 

My personal opinion is that it is hard to get the body open when you have so much right tilt at address.

 

Definitely a good golf swing , so you would probably get much more benefit from sorting out your mental processes rather than any major mechanical changes

 

One thing that helped me get my chest more open was to allow my head to start turning in the downswing . You will need to really exaggerate it to make much of a change , try and feel like you are facing way left at impact , may be a mental hurdle there as it feels like you are gonna pull it 100 yards left!!

I will try to be more up and down during my next range session. Thanks for the pointers!

[RobertBaron]

Arm swing looks great

upper body over the right too much at top, like Monte said extending some would fix.

Then because of that you move too far towards the target, little too much of a slide look. The hips don't work under you in the follow through. The left leg straightens and the left side extends while the right side stays in flexion.

Not bad for a App State guy, Go Red Wolves!

 

Just making sure, my spine should be more like the green line, NOT towards the target but more towards my 180?

 

It doesn't hurt my feelings we aren't playing y'all. Can't believe we are missing out on Troy and USA too. I'll be pulling for y'all against Nebraska and hope you play better than we did against Miami!

 

My .02 is that if you feel like you're thinking about too many things and are too in your head, then drawing lines and numbers all over videos of your swing isn't going to help. Your just going to be in your head trying to hit those positions.

 

Maybe you need to make more mental changes than swing changes. (I'm no pro but I think your swing looks pretty good)

[AppState09]

Arm swing looks great

upper body over the right too much at top, like Monte said extending some would fix.

Then because of that you move too far towards the target, little too much of a slide look. The hips don't work under you in the follow through. The left leg straightens and the left side extends while the right side stays in flexion.

Not bad for a App State guy, Go Red Wolves!

 

Just making sure, my spine should be more like the green line, NOT towards the target but more towards my 180?

 

It doesn't hurt my feelings we aren't playing y'all. Can't believe we are missing out on Troy and USA too. I'll be pulling for y'all against Nebraska and hope you play better than we did against Miami!

 

My .02 is that if you feel like you're thinking about too many things and are too in your head, then drawing lines and numbers all over videos of your swing isn't going to help. Your just going to be in your head trying to hit those positions.

 

Maybe you need to make more mental changes than swing changes. (I'm no pro but I think your swing looks pretty good)

Thanks! You are right, the mental game needs sharpening!

 

A few years ago it wouldn't be uncommon for me to have a few too many on the course and my swing was on autopilot. Played down to a 1 like that, but marriage cut the drinking and handicap back.

 

It is just much more fun working on the swing than the mental game!