Judging a good swing in practice?

[Jericho]

How do YOU judge a good swing versus a bad swing when you're practicing at home?

 

I have always been a flipper so I always judge my swing by the location of my divot. If it's in the middle of my stance then I chunked it. If I trim the grass with no divot then I hit it thin. If the divot is in the right spot in the right direction then I know it was a good swing.

 

I ask what you guys do because last night I had a swing epiphany. The next thing I know, my backyard is covered in divots. Obviously this is not something that can continue, so what are other ways to tell a good swing from a bad swing?

 

Thanks

[HitEmTrue]

Are you hitting a golf ball while doing this? 'Cuz if not, I don't think any real judgement can be made.

[Jericho]

[quote name='HitEmTrue' timestamp='1346338450' post='5560339']
Are you hitting a golf ball while doing this? 'Cuz if not, I don't think any real judgement can be made.
[/quote]

I had some soft balls that I hit against the house. They are heavy enough to show spin and direction but not enough to break a window.

So you think practice must involve hitting a ball?

[tembolo1284]

[quote name='Jericho' timestamp='1346339062' post='5560399']
[quote name='HitEmTrue' timestamp='1346338450' post='5560339']
Are you hitting a golf ball while doing this? 'Cuz if not, I don't think any real judgement can be made.
[/quote]

I had some soft balls that I hit against the house. They are heavy enough to show spin and direction but not enough to break a window.

So you think practice must involve hitting a ball?
[/quote]

I think a large part of practice, esp at first is done without a golf ball. But it's hard to judge how good a swing is while you are praticing if you aren't
making contact with a ball. Otherwise all you can really judge is...I kept my grip firm, I shifted my weight nicely, I rotated well thru the shot whatever it may be...but in the end the ball contact is what you are going for.

[HitEmTrue]

[quote name='Jericho' timestamp='1346339062' post='5560399']
So you think practice must involve hitting a ball?
[/quote]

No, that is not what I said...swings with or without a ball can be different, so you need a ball to judge results.

[bmellisen]

Good example of why golfwrx is a good site. I practice at home by working on setup and chip a little in my garage...you're hitting soft balls at the side of your house. My wife thinks I am crazy when i go chip for an hour, I can tell her at least I am not hitting into the house.

[CourtJester]

Did the ball do what I wanted it to do?

If so, it was a good swing, if not, it was a bad swing.

[tembolo1284]

[quote name='CourtJester' timestamp='1346357304' post='5562103']
Did the ball do what I wanted it to do?

If so, it was a good swing, if not, it was a bad swing.
[/quote]

But but but...what if your aim was bad?

[crapula]

[quote name='Jericho' timestamp='1346337726' post='5560299']
How do YOU judge a good swing versus a bad swing when you're practicing at home?
Thanks
[/quote]

I don't. Without a ball no way to tell. It's like practicing air guitar, can't really tell if the riff in my head is good until I put an actual guitar in front of me. Sometimes it doesn't even translate to the guitar, other times, it's perfect. Just like practicing golf without a ball, sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

But, practicing without a ball can speed up the muscle memory process, so it is not time wasted, even if the new move/ thought does not work out.

If someone could practice without a ball and just know that what they are doing will work that would be amazing, truly talented person.

Even if the at home practice translates to the range, the range still has to go out on the course and last 4+ hours. That is the true place to judge results.

[596]

I have no clue how you can tell if the swing was bad or not, or is something you need to repeat or not. I've never, ever taken a practice swing at home. I'm not sure I could and not screw up my swing. The only way I can tell if the swing was right or not is the flight of the ball. Even at the range,,,,there is no such thing as a practice swing......or on the course, either.

Now this is not for everyone, everyone is different and for me it coud very well be all a mental thing. I'm not gonna stand at home and swing at air. I'd have no idea if it works or not. My swing is a feel thing, not mechanical, I MUST see the results to judge each swing.