The golf swing is a complicated maneuver that incorporates many minor movements. When I first started playing, I tried to manage as many of positive swing factors as a could just prior to starting my swing. It is something that most, if not all, amateurs find overwhelming. The number of thoughts that would bounce around in my head during my entire swing process seemed uncountable. I fixed this common error after I talked to my mentor Bob Fortune, who explained that I needed to find a way to stop overthinking. Never accursed of thinking too much in the past 😉 I decided to take his advice to heart. Now, I have very little to no swing thoughts and it has helped my improve my ball striking and aim effectiveness. You can as well if you start to eliminate as many swing thoughts as you can prior to and during your golf swing.
Continue readingswing thoughts
How Many Swing Thoughts Are Too Many?
There are too many times points of view on the topic of swing thoughts when executing a golf shot. I mean, depending on who you talk too (professional or amateur) the number distinctly varies. Regardless of what type of shot we are making, the thought processes provide a ripe ground for multiple swing thoughts on many different levels. Is this a good thing? Or it does not matter at all? What is the real answer?
Continue readingSwing Thoughts To Help Your Game
The golf swing is a mix of many different movements. The slightest change to a smooth swing can result in a failed shot. For the longest time, I have espoused to limit our swing thoughts to none if possible. Unfortunately, to achieve this result I must be playing well enough to let things happen. I hit many good balls during a round, however when things go off the rails, my internal chatter and swing thoughts get ramped up. After watching a few videos, I realize that having one swing thought is not necessarily a bad thing. This one thought helps to centre the rest of my swing in order to produce the results I seek….or at least that is what the professionals do.
Continue readingWhat Do You Think About While Standing Over Your Golf Ball?
I read many articles that suggest having no thoughts in your mind while making a golf swing. For the most part I agree with this approach because I try to do all my thinking before committing to swinging a golf club. For the most part, this approach has served me well and my 75 yesterday was a good example of clearing my mind before starting any club in motion. I confident that some players rattle through a plethora of pre-shot routine activities, but I have decided to keep it simple and follow Greg Norman’s advice.
Continue readingThe Challenge Of Hitting A Shot When Needed
We have all played a round of golf where we shot ourselves into a situation that requires a needed shot. You know what I mean when I suggest that the pressure mounts after hitting a poor shot and a solid shot is required to recover from your poor performance. Or you are in a scramble and all of your team mates are out of play and they all look to you to save the hole. There are many situations where hitting a needed shot is critical to keep a good round going. I think I have the solution or at least on that works for me!
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The pressure shot I am suggesting does not have to be anything special. Sometimes we need to hit a great wedge from the middle of the fairway to set up par. Sometimes we have to manufacture something, but those shots are in a different category. I think the most common example would be putting a 3 footer for par on any hole. Making that putt more often than not is hitting a shot when needed to keep your score low. Lets go back to 150 yards and work on my solution from that distance.
The picture should give you part of my answer to success under pressure and producing that needed shot on demand.
Regardless of what situation we found ourselves in on the golf course, committing to whatever shot you selected is critical to lower golf shores. It is important to quiet the white noise and focus on success. Banishing the negative thoughts and self-doubt is all part of committing to your shot. When you take that positive step towards relieving the mounting pressure, the second part of my process kicks in.
Follow your routine as if there was no pressure on the shot. Yup, it is that simple. Follow the same pre-shot routine, shot execution and finishing your shot as per normal. Do not try to do anything different because when you do the results are not what you had intended. Play your normal game after committing to the shot. Focus on the results you want versus what you don’t want. This mental focus will allow you to hit any shot on demand during all situations.
Committing to your shot and following your routine are the two steps I use when hitting that pressure shot when needed. It might seem too simple, but I have notice over the years that most amateurs change their shot making routine because they believe they need to do something special. I would suggest that keeping things as simple as possible and relying on your skill (whatever level) to make the shot is the best path to success. Why change things and bring in an additional element of risk during a pressure shot.
So, the next time you need a specific shot; step back and take your time. Commit to your shot and execute it as per your normal game. You will find that you are far more successful and the results will be satisfying.
I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!
The Grateful Golfer 