Finally tried just 1 swing thought instead of 5!

[nikeblades00]

I've been playing golf for 30 yrs, but as a student of the game for 15 yrs. I shoot mostly in the 70s. Have broken par before. When things are good I feel golf is easy and of course when things are bad I realize I don't really know s*** about this game. 

But the reason for this post is for as long as I can remember I have always had multiple swing thoughts. I've played golf literally thinking of my backswing. Actually before that I think of my left shoulder and core starting my backswing. I literally go over all my check points! I make sure hips rotate properly. Make sure I feel like im keep my back to the target to start downswing. I also make sure to feel my hands get to the ball before the club head! LOL! I s*** you not I think about all this in the 1 second swing. I'm a mess! 

Scarey part is I've played some really golf the last few years. I'm pretty consistent. I'm really good at self diagnosing during a round and usually after I can figure I why I sucked.

 

Ive always heard good players and pros say you should only have 1 swing thought. Well finally tried it last round. I only had 1 downswing thought! In my rehearsal I did a backswing rehearsal but to pull the trigger only thing I thought about was a downswing shallowing feel. And after a couple holes It really felt good. A few times I went back to my multiple thoughts but tried to clear my head and go back to just 1 thought. I also noticed I'm much faster to pull the trigger.  Again now I get it and I will try to really ingrain this. I've been playing long enough and am a good enough player that my body has a lot of good moves instilled and don't need to think about it during a swing.

Here's the kicker and what I'm probably most happy about. Yesterday I got my PRGR out to do some driver swing speed work and I hit a PR by 2 MPH! I swing 109 MPH on multiple swings and Ive truly rarely broke 106 in the last 6 months! I think just having a downswing thought for example is freeing me up. I really hope this was a 'light bulb' moment for me and maybe even others!

 

 

 

[jdl]

Congrats! Now the real test, will it last more than a round or two? 😃

[nikeblades00]

26 minutes ago, jdl said:

Congrats! Now the real test, will it last more than a round or two? 😃

Absolutely! Old habits are hard to break. My mind is just use to over thinking. Not just in golf. But it felt really good. Not saying every shot was perfect but just felt really focused on the shot. It was different.

[tthomasgolfer605]

Now try with no thoughts. You may surprise yourself.

 

[nikeblades00]

4 hours ago, tthomasgolfer605 said:

Now try with no thoughts. You may surprise yourself.

 

Wow never thought of that! See I'm always thinking!

 

But that does make sense. I don't think of throwing a ball or skipping a stone. 

[parmark]

Best advice I have learned was from attending one of @MonteScheinblum traveling circus:  ONE swing thought back; ONE swing thought down.

 

Cleared up a whole bunch of mumbo jumbo. And saved a lot of aspirin from when I was done playing and head hurt from overthinking it all.

 

Funny now - at one of the courses we play, you can sit on the balcony of the 19th hole that overlooks 18 green.  And how so many guys walking off that green look like they just went 15 rounds didn't come out on top, just beat up mentally.  Not a whole lot of smiles and happy faces.  And they paid for that suffering!

[nikeblades00]

I like that idea as well. Monte knows a thing or 2! 

Lol I can't believe all the s*** I'm thinking about! On top of every detail I'm even thinking about my family, or my work! 🤣🤣. 

 

But agree golf be can be a mental 15 round battle for sure!