Keys to a consistent swing

[Lennac]

One of the many things people probably struggle with is consistency in their golf game.

 

I'm no different and have days where I hit every fairway, others where I can't seem to find my drive, and others where it suddenly takes a turn (for better or worse) after the 9th hole - or anywhere in between for that matter.

 

Obviously achieving perfect consistency is something we all strive for, and is one of things that makes golf so challenging and rewarding. Working towards consistency is talked about frequently, obviously playing more helps. But when I'm at the range for example, what exactly should I be looking at and focusing on?

 

More specifically, I would assume how I address the ball is important. Trying to make sure I lineup the same way every time is vital to achieving a consistent shot. My question would be, what other aspects of my swing should I be looking at to consciously focus on becoming consistent with. This may seem like a silly question I suppose, but I just want to be more productive at the range (and on the course) when I'm trying to find some consistency. I don't expect to hit the perfect shot every time, but I would like to stop my shot from disappearing from my control for an entire round for example.

[Petunia Sprinkle]

Consistency is just doing the same thing all the time. If you’re bad, you don’t want to be consistent. To be consistently good, you have to identify what is good, specifically, and then, go about repeating it all the time. In addition to not identifying what works well specifically enough to have repeatedly good results, being physically unsuitable to executing the required actions is going to make consistency harder to achieve.

[GungHoGolf]

Practice like you play.

 

It’s easy to be consistent hitting 50 7-irons in a row at the same target. But that never happens on the course.

 

So when you’re on the range, mix it up and pretend to play real holes. Hit driver once, then mid iron, then chip shot, then 3W, then wedge, etc. Use your full pre-shot routine and visualization for each shot. Hit low-high-fade-draw shots to mix it up more.

 

Drilling with a single club repeatedly is great when working on swing changes or feels, but can really give you a false sense of confidence when you have to hit ONE shot well under pressure.

[Nard_S]

Rhythm and tempo.

 

Thrown more rounds away from lack of it, all my best rounds had it. Spent the entire off season drilling it and can say it did help the 2 times out this year.

[Fade to Black]

Consistency....ugh.

 

Last Saturday at the range absolutely striping the ball with every club up and down the bag.

 

This Saturday at the range absolutely stinking it up with thins and blocks.

 

When you find the secret to consistency, please let me know!

[dg_1983]

Reduce the number of variables in your swing to a minimum

[davep043]

One key to consistency is proper mechanics. If you're doing the right things in the right order, you'll be more consistent. If you have a bunch of different compensations for things that you don't do properly, its really hard to be consistent. To make your range time more effective, get instruction from a good teacher, and follow the instruction he gives you.

[Club Guru]

1. Identify what you need to work on and only work on one goal at a time.

2. Work on the first swing issue you’ve identified or prioritized until it becomes ingrained into muscle memory.

3. A great way to accelerate ingraining into muscle memory is to find a drill or swing tool that helps and overuse it.

4. Repeat

5. If you can’t hit a whippy tempo master consistently (at a minimum) you know there is a lot more to work on.

[Middler]

I struggle with consistency, off the tee mostly. One day last week I hit 5 of 13 fairways and later the same week, same course I hit 11 of 13. @#&%^ golf...

 

Aside from all my swing faults, the key to consistency for me seems to be avoiding trying to kill the ball. A smooth 90%+ will go straighter and average longer distance for me than my 110% swing. When I try to kill it I will hit my driver 10-20 yards further some, but probably 4 out of 5 will be (much) shorter than my 90%+ swing average distance bringing my 110% swing average distance down. And where I normally miss right, when I swing 110% I can miss left or right, literally making hitting fairways twice as hard...

 

I have had to relearn the above lesson WAY too many times. Too soon old, too late smart.

[glk]

Own your pattern. Separate improvement practice and owning your pattern. When warming up to play get an idea of what you have that day and play with it. Do not reAct to poor shots by trying to fix your swing. That is for the range.

[WILDTHING]

Here's a nice video from Shawn Clements with a different perspective about developing consistency.

 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ls5_Sj6gXM4

[Hawkeye77]

Apparently OP, you need to practice in front of a skeleton - problem solved, lol.

 

Seriously, figure out or get some help figuring out the root cause of your inconsistency, go from there.

[joeunc]

make more putts is what i do, the big equalizer

[KCCO]

Make that pretty practice swing your game swing. I always see nice tempo and balance with no ball in front of some people, and everything changes once that little white ball is in the way of the face of your club. Driver, putter, irons.

[alfriday]

Read “Every Shot Must Have a Purpose,” by Nilson and Marriott.

 

Reread the book.

 

Implement the teachings.

[naval2006]

There are a few variables for consistency in golf. Consistent golfers mostly have simple and correct mechanics and appropriate rhythm and tempo. And they repeat the same motion over and over. Amateur swings as a rule lack the correct rhythm and tempo (too fast), especially because we have the urge to crush the ball with all the subsequent implications.

[unK]

I certainly play my most consistent golf when I focus exclusively on staying centered and in balance while accepting whatever swing I have on the day. Easier said than done.

[Harleyweedwhacks]

One of the many things people probably struggle with is consistency in their golf game.

 

I'm no different and have days where I hit every fairway, others where I can't seem to find my drive, and others where it suddenly takes a turn (for better or worse) after the 9th hole - or anywhere in between for that matter.

 

Obviously achieving perfect consistency is something we all strive for, and is one of things that makes golf so challenging and rewarding. Working towards consistency is talked about frequently, obviously playing more helps. But when I'm at the range for example, what exactly should I be looking at and focusing on?

 

More specifically, I would assume how I address the ball is important. Trying to make sure I lineup the same way every time is vital to achieving a consistent shot. My question would be, what other aspects of my swing should I be looking at to consciously focus on becoming consistent with. This may seem like a silly question I suppose, but I just want to be more productive at the range (and on the course) when I'm trying to find some consistency. I don't expect to hit the perfect shot every time, but I would like to stop my shot from disappearing from my control for an entire round for example.

 

Listen, I'm going to be honest with you. Golf is NEVER consistent. This is a myth. You will play well one day, terrible the next. That's golf.

 

People f*** up their games trying to become consistent. Consistency happens when you play the same way and stop changing, but the fact is that between your best and worst rounds is usually around 10-15 shots, and between your average rounds is normally around 5-6 shots.

 

Don't try for consistency. It's a myth.

 

A consistent swing is also a myth. Everyone mishits shots, including every professional at every level every single day on more than half their shots. No one hits the ball perfectly every time, or even half the time correctly. I find that I only hit one shot during each round that comes out somewhere near as I intended, the rest are in between. The pros might hit two shots that come off really well. Ben Hogan also said that he would only hit two shots exactly where he aimed them most of the time, and he was one of the better strikers of his time.

 

Don't go for consistency, just play the game, and whatever happens, happens. You really have almost no control over what you shoot, and even though you may strike it well, have a good short game, and good putting, you still may shoot a poor score. Learn to deal with reality, which is no matter what you do, you're never going to be absolutely consistent. You may play well one day, the next terrible. You may hit a drive down the middle, but miss the green way left on the approach. It's just not real to expect to be consistent on any level of the game, no matter how good you are.