Swing thoughts

Gin77

Reading a book called 8 traits of champion golfers (working nightshift at the moment) Trying to prepare a mental routine like the book suggests. This part is interesting though "swing thoughts"
I've had a few lessons over the winter which helped me a lot technical but now I'm mentally fecked!
My swing thoughts now are,
Square club face, line it up to target, Stand tall, wide takeaway, weight on right side, left arm straight, left wrist flat, turn from shoulders, rotate hips, finish on left side.
The one feckin thing I left out was probably the most important "Hit the ball"

I'm going to condense it but it goes to show that too much information is dangerous.
My old swing thoughts were simple, pick a tiny dimple on the ball and try to hit it hard as I could.
That worked well my short to mid irons but not for my driver, woods or long irons.

belcampprisoner

champs hit balls for 6 hours a day,problem with Ireland not many driving ranges

cellosid

Gin77 wrote: »

Reading a book called 8 traits of champion golfers (working nightshift at the moment) Trying to prepare a mental routine like the book suggests. This part is interesting though "swing thoughts"
I've had a few lessons over the winter which helped me a lot technical but now I'm mentally fecked!
My swing thoughts now are,
Square club face, line it up to target, Stand tall, wide takeaway, weight on right side, left arm straight, left wrist flat, turn from shoulders, rotate hips, finish on left side.
The one feckin thing I left out was probably the most important "Hit the ball"

I'm going to condense it but it goes to show that too much information is dangerous.
My old swing thoughts were simple, pick a tiny dimple on the ball and try to hit it hard as I could.
That worked well my short to mid irons but not for my driver, woods or long irons.

With that 'Hit the Ball' mindset, your 'Transition' move is likely to be problematic ? The 'hit impulse' is a major psychological barrier to swinging the club.

Creasy_bear

Gin77 wrote: »

Reading a book called 8 traits of champion golfers (working nightshift at the moment) Trying to prepare a mental routine like the book suggests. This part is interesting though "swing thoughts"
I've had a few lessons over the winter which helped me a lot technical but now I'm mentally fecked!
My swing thoughts now are,
Square club face, line it up to target, Stand tall, wide takeaway, weight on right side, left arm straight, left wrist flat, turn from shoulders, rotate hips, finish on left side.
The one feckin thing I left out was probably the most important "Hit the ball"

I'm going to condense it but it goes to show that too much information is dangerous.
My old swing thoughts were simple, pick a tiny dimple on the ball and try to hit it hard as I could.
That worked well my short to mid irons but not for my driver, woods or long irons.

Two swing thoughts, that's the most you should have. You're never going to hit the ball well with that shopping list in your head.

LinksLad

On European Tour Weekly on Sky last year, one of the Spanish pros was asked what his swing thoughts were.
He said he condensed it into two words, then wrote them on a white glove.
Those words were then staring him in the face every time he set up his next shot.

Now all you need are Spanish lessons to understand what the hell it is written there. :rolleyes:

gorfield

My swing thoughts are listed below.....

Daithio12

Creasy_bear wrote: »

Two swing thoughts, that's the most you should have. You're never going to hit the ball well with that shopping list in your head.

That's two too many IMO.

Creasy_bear

Daithio12 wrote: »

That's two too many IMO.

And you're entitled to your opinion, young man. I on the other hand, will be siding with the coach of the world's newest major winner.

Daithio12

Creasy_bear wrote: »

And you're entitled to your opinion, young man. I on the other hand, will be siding with the coach of the world's newest major winner.

Lol you do that, and maybe you'll win a major next.

Quahog217

I only ever think of one thing when im swinging, sometimes none.

Too many thoughts bring tension and doubt with them I find.

Rikand

I have about 12 swing thoughts in my head at any one time. Ask MikeyStipey or PistolPetes who I was with today how I hit it ?

link_2007

"I hope I look like I know what I'm doing"

Benny Cake

gorfield wrote: »

My swing thoughts are listed below.....

Sure what would you know?

Gin77

I suppose my first set of swing thoughts are more key check points if Im having an off day. So I've decided after a few holes today I will just think "smooth and thru".
My mental routine worked well today 33pts over 14 holes. I used to get agitated over bad shots now I just focus on getting the little ball into the little hole no matter if it takes 3 shots or 10 shots.

John Divney

Swingthoughts naturally change as parts of the swing either become second nature, or problematic.

You have to know what you are doing poorly in the swing, then adress that pre shot routine.

But don't overthink the actual shot. The range is for thinking.

Legwinski

Surely you have to think something, no? Like visualising where you want the ball to go or something?

nujeebaby

Getting up on the first tee I've no swing thoughts, after a few shots I kinda figure out what to adjust and change throughout the round.
Had a few lessons around this time last year and found that once you space them out a month at a time they work much better. You gotta really work on 1 or 2 things at a time to improve in your swing, its much easier instead of standing over the ball with 10 different things in your head.

Wombatman

During you swing your don't have much time to think. Just be confident and commit to the shot. It's in the pre shot where you need a clear checklist and this I'm guessing is what the book is on about.

Right now my pre-shot for standard shots looks like this.

Driver: Tee it high. Stand behind the ball and align off reference point in line with target one or two feet ahead of the ball. Check grip. Keep right hand strong. Pull right leg back a bit. Try to hit up on the ball. Two practice swings seeing the club pass over the ground. Stay down on the shot and bring right shoulder down and around. Go.

3 Wood: Is lie OK? Do alignment thing above. Check grip. Very strong right hand. Two practice swings concentrating on not going outside. Stay down. Don't top it!!! Fat is better than thin. Go.

Hybrids and irons: Do alignment thing. Check grip. Keep wrists supple. Two practice swings not allowing club face to close in backswing. Hit ball at 4 o' clock position. Go.

Pitching: Which wedge? Depends on obstacles. Always a pitching wedge if no obstacles. Look for safe landing spot. Aim a little left of landing spot. Do alignment thing. Check grip. Open stance a little. Shorten backswing. Two practice swings. Hit down on the ball. Long is better than short. Go.

Chipping: Which wedge? Look at slope break and danger spots. Pick safe landing spot. Hands in front of ball. Open stance. Hit down with face of club. Don’t scoop. A few practice sweeps. Long better than short i general. Go

Putter: Think about slope, speed of greens and break putt while walking to the green. Walk around the putt to judge break and slope. Mark and clean ball. Tighter grip for very long putts. Open stance!!!!! Look at hole and do a few practice swings. Be clear on line. On very short putts with break be clear on doing a slow putt using break or a fast putt not using break. Address ball. Step up to ball with open stance. Take it back, pause a little. Bring in through following chosen line, having square face at impact.

Only takes seconds on the course. When I think of these things and not other random crap I play much better. Will change over time obv. Always leave room to adjust for the wind, general speed of greens and your tendencies on the day.

cellosid

One needs to make a clear distinction between the 'Pre-Swing' thought process and ones mindset throughout the 'Swing'

The complication arises for some when moving from the Range to the Golf Course with a Scorecard in the back pocket. One is a 'Training' environment and the other a 'Trusting' environment. This transition requires a set of 'Mental' skills that need to be practiced every bit as much as the technical skills. It is a huge area and is the key to maximizing performance at all levels of play. Perhaps this is a topic for another thread ?

Simply put, the Pre-swing is all about 'Target' engagement, visualizing a successful outcome...... 'going to the Movies' as Jack Nicklaus called it.

Now comes the 'Set-Up' which is all about geometry, posture and grip. As has already been mentioned, some employ positive affirmations or other mental prompts and swing rehearsals to help their cause. If this routine works at the Range, then it should be strictly adhered to on the Course ?

Now the action bit.......... making the Swing. Because Golf is a static ball sport, our instinctive reflexes are largely redundant. We now have to employ a trigger to get going. Some will employ instructions, thoughts and feelings........ but IMO, a better and more consistent outcome is likely, if one reacts of to a mental image of the successful delivery of the club through the 'Impact Zone' which has been carefully selected in the set-up stage. This is preferable than a load of 'do's' because it increases one's awareness of the club and the efficient rhythm necessary for optimal swinging !

My 2 cents !

spacecoyote

think unsexy thoughts...think unsexy thoughts

onlyfinewine

Joe Carr, probably Ireland's leading amateur of all time used to write three words on his golf glove,

they were,

TURN YOU BASTARD!

Seemed to work for him.