How To Make Swing Thoughts Hold Up Under Pressure And For The Long Term?

[jbw749]

I'm asking the question. I'm talking about trying to hit positions and mentally taking to body parts while hitting a ball with a good result expected. Looking for some instructor and low handicap feedback. I think it would help everyone understand. The answers given here could make this the best thread and certainly the most viewed in Wrx history. This is the question I personally need answered. Thank You

[dap]

I think swing thoughts are fine as long as they are uncomplicated and are limited to one or two at the most. Can't remember who said it but a major winner once said swing thoughts actually helped him under pressure as it kept his thoughts in the process and not on the pressure situation. A bit like a pre shot routine but during the shot. I think it was Faldo who was a renowned pressure player.

[juststeve]

Swing thoughts will not hold up overtime. They should change as you change. The great Bobby Jones was asked what swing thoughts he employed. His response was "the last one that worked".

 

The real key is how the club moves, not what you are thinking. From time to time you will find that you need different thoughts to make the club move properly.

 

Steve

[jekato]

Overall awareness, no separate baggage.

[airjammer]

Swing thoughts will not hold up overtime. They should change as you change. The great Bobby Jones was asked what swing thoughts he employed. His response was "the last one that worked".

 

The real key is how the club moves, not what you are thinking. From time to time you will find that you need different thoughts to make the club move properly.

 

Steve

 

Absolutely correct, nobody’s swing will ever be maintenance free. Things will creep into your swing from time to time that require some detailed focus to eliminate and as soon as you don’t have to think about it something else will pop up. Kinda like the saying “if you aren’t not trying to improve you are regressing”

[Chowdah86]

I have studied the swing extensively. Read many books and watched many videos, mostly by the greats of the game, not so many by the guys trying to make a buck. I also spent hours and hours of practice on the course and at the range learning my own swing's idiosyncrasies. I dont really have swing thoughts now, I have a memory bank of solutions to apply to problems that arise while Im playing. This is how the pro's did it. In fact, this approach is taken straight from Jack Nicklaus. Catching it thin that day? I have an idea how I can work it out. Pushing it to the right, I think I can sort that out in a couple of swings. I think this is a much better way to play.

 

 

 

 

 

Another thing on the subject: Generally, over time, most of my solutions are based on the laws of impact: Specifically angle of attack, strike, path, speed etc. I usually start there and work back. Thinking about what the clubhead just did through impact is an external thought process rather than a thought process based on the action of your body parts.

 

Typically, externally based swing thoughts/ideas are more effective than body focused ones. They tend to stick longer and are more effective when you come back to them. You cant talk your body through the swing. Furthermore, the ball really does not know, nor care, what your body is doing. You cant do some perfect interperative dance over the ball that results in a perfect shot. The task is so difficult and complicated that you must rely on your incredibly adept central nervous system / subconsious / athletic ability. Therefore, you need to feed your brain helpful information, relative to the task at hand, not some BS about your elbow.

 

For example: Swing throughts to help swing from inside and calm a slice:

Body focused thought: Drop right elbow to side, bump left hip

External thoughts: Point the face at the ground, roll it past your hands and Swing on a line from 7:00 to 1:00 through the ball

 

Thats my view on swing thoughts and how they stick/work.

[Zuzert]

I have studied the swing extensively. Read many books and watched many videos, mostly by the greats of the game, not so many by the guys trying to make a buck. I also spent hours and hours of practice on the course and at the range learning my own swing's idiosyncrasies. I dont really have swing thoughts now, I have a memory bank of solutions to apply to problems that arise while Im playing. This is how the pro's did it. In fact, this approach is taken straight from Jack Nicklaus. Catching it thin that day? I have an idea how I can work it out. Pushing it to the right, I think I can sort that out in a couple of swings. I think this is a much better way to play.

 

 

 

 

 

Another thing on the subject: Generally, over time, most of my solutions are based on the laws of impact: Specifically angle of attack, strike, path, speed etc. I usually start there and work back. Thinking about what the clubhead just did through impact is an external thought process rather than a thought process based on the action of your body parts.

 

Typically, externally based swing thoughts/ideas are more effective than body focused ones. They tend to stick longer and are more effective when you come back to them. You cant talk your body through the swing. Furthermore, the ball really does not know, nor care, what your body is doing. You cant do some perfect interperative dance over the ball that results in a perfect shot. The task is so difficult and complicated that you must rely on your incredibly adept central nervous system / subconsious / athletic ability. Therefore, you need to feed your brain helpful information, relative to the task at hand, not some BS about your elbow.

 

For example: Swing throughts to help swing from inside and calm a slice:

Body focused thought: Drop right elbow to side, bump left hip

External thoughts: Point the face at the ground, roll it past your hands and Swing on a line from 7:00 to 1:00 through the ball

 

Thats my view on swing thoughts and how they stick/work.

 

This is such a good, well-thought out post. I really appreciate the different viewpoint regarding the "external" thought as opposed to one that's linked to the body itself. Some feels come and go, but if you can figure out solutions on how to stop common problems, that's when you can draw from your experience and understand how to appropriately deal with a swing fault you're currently experiencing.

[Kuuuch]

I think swing thoughts are fine as long as they are uncomplicated and are limited to one or two at the most. Can't remember who said it but a major winner once said swing thoughts actually helped him under pressure as it kept his thoughts in the process and not on the pressure situation. A bit like a pre shot routine but during the shot. I think it was Faldo who was a renowned pressure player.

 

This. I was struggling 3 days out from a tourney that I was the defending champ. My ballstriking was far from ideal and I went to Dan for advice - he advised my hands needed to work more left, I was trying to draw it by throwing hands to the right. I got a feel for it and a rehearsal that I put into my pre shot routine and I went on to shoot 68 72 for the weekend and win by 1 on the very last hole.

 

If something positively affects your ball flight I don't see why it would hinder your results. I've played numerous great rounds with 1-2 swing thoughts.

[RichieHunt]

A swing thought has a limit on how long it will work. So, it's better to understand mechanics if you want to have something that will last more permanently.

 

Swing thoughts are useful at first, particularly when you're in the 'massing' stage as Dr. Fran Pirozzolo would say.

 

But anything permanent needs to eventually have those swing thoughts disintegrate.

 

 

 

 

 

 

RH

[MadGolfer76]

The body doesn't move without thought, so have at it.

[buckeyefl]

The body doesn't move without thought, so have at it.

 

What thought does your body need when someone throws an angry chupacabra at our head?

 

The body most certainly moves without "thought".

[Green Lit]

Whenever I'm playing well, my swing "thoughts" naturally morph into swing "triggers". Like a quick reminder of a simple move I want to make to start the process (backswing or downswing). Because when I've got it going fairly well, most of my thoughts are preshot centric: ball flight, target, or reminding myself to continue to "feeling" the swing.

Ideally when playing, you want your thoughts to serve more as passengers that guide while your muscle memory takes over vs. mechanical do's/don'ts (best suited for the range).

[MK7Golf21]

it's really not that difficult, depending on where your game is at, it's best to work with an instructor in person who is good and practice alot/ play alot. There is natural athletic ability required but that's really all it is. The swing thoughts become more second nature and are easy to perform when you are practicing all the time.

[Swingman420]

Conscious energy used applying swing thoughts is like being distracted in a sense.

In Zen they might have said when asked about enlightenment “NOT TWO”

Does this mean something?

Where am I?

This is not my beautiful house! This is not my beautiful wife!

[Go Horns!]

Your mind can control your body in the backswing, but once the transition starts, everything is moving too fast for your mind to control your body. Focus on your setup, have a picture of what you want to do, and then just swing trusting that your prep has gotten you ready.

[Noodler]

How to make swing thoughts work when you play a round? Train to Trust. That's what I live by for all of my competitive sports. Use all the physical swing thoughts you like only while practicing. Practice slowly and really take note of which thoughts provide which results, but note that swing thoughts one week won't always have the same results the next. That's why you must "train to trust" to have the confidence in what you can do with your swing. With that trust in hand, use external cues and intent as your focus when playing.

 

The power of "intent" is a strong mobilizer. Have a target, visualize the ball flight, and make that your intention (and your only thought) when swinging. It's amazing how your body will respond with that in mind (if you've put in the work in your practice sessions). I don't find specific body position or other typical swing thoughts to be very productive when on-course.