I need help converting my practice swing to the real thing!

[jsw]

Hi,

 

I have a problem recreating my practice swing when I'm hitting the ball. I've been told by instructors and other golfers that I have a great practice swing (good form, tempo, finish, etc). But as soon as I have a ball in front of me, that all goes out the window.

 

Everything tightens up (especially my grip), I swing much faster and I usually don't get a complete follow through. I have this problem on the driving range and the course, although probably more so on the course.

 

I would appreciate any advice on how to solve this problem. I'm guessing it's a mental issue, but I don't know how to stop it. Any suggestions, drills (mental or physical) or any other advice would be great.

 

Thanks!

[mikpga]

Need a willingness to experiment a bit.

 

1. No practice swings. Set up to ball and swing.

2. Practice with your eyes closed.

 

Those are a couple of initial suggestions to try.

[thenewbie]

your not changing your swing because there's a ball in front of you, your changing your swing because when there's a ball there, there's a consequence. a bad practice swing does nothing, a bad swing with a ball makes the ball do things you don't want it to do.

 

so, you need to put the consequence out of your mind. try it on the range. take your practice swing, then step up to a ball and take the EXACT same swing. don't worry about where the ball goes, and don't react to where the ball ends up. blade it. top it. wiff it. whatever happens, don't worry or even think about it. just take your practice swing, and then take the same swing to hit a real ball.

 

for putting, we sometimes hear people say "you have to seperate the stroke from the result". in order to have a good putting stroke, you actually have to some-what forget about where your actually hitting the ball. if your just worried about where the ball will go, it will adversely affect your putting stroke. . .the same is true for your full swing, as you've found out from your personal experience.

 

as your learn to not think about where the ball goes when you hit it, you will develop trust in the fact that if you swing the club the way you know you need to, the ball will do what you want it to do.

[dchappy14]

I found that when performing a practice swing you do not concentrate on a specific point, as if there was a ball there. I began realizing this and when i got over the ball, especially on a drive, i would not pick out a specific dimple, as i once did. By simply mirroring my swing and trusting my alignment i was able to relax and swing on the same plane as my practice swings.

[ShivasIrons 983E]

That`s exactly what I was going to suggest.

[emc]

Why not try and practice swing like the swing you have? Fast, out of control. Then when you're over the ball you should be able to slow down and swing it nice and smooth. Practice swings don't have to be a mirror image of your swing, it just gives you a feel of what you want to do with it

[akanacl]

When you do occasionally hit the ball with a swing similar to your great practice swing, what are the results? If the results are good the problem is probably between your ears....some kind of performance anxiety we all have to some degree, at all levels. Maybe get rid of the whole concept of "practice swing" altogether. This great practice swing IS your swing..period. Sounds overly simple but who knows...

 

It seems like most pros take three or four continuous practice swings for tempo only. Absolutely nothing technical. At address they all seem to have a little waggle to get the tension out of the hands and arms.

 

But again maybe you just have to make your practice swing "your swing" ...period. Play a few rounds by yourself, with nobody watching, with practice swings for tempo without tension, and then step into the ball and fire...as Thenewbie suggests. I would think a teaching pro could tune you right up. If you can afford a playing lesson or two that might be great.

[RDTigger]

Try bringing the course to the range....

 

...As you warm up with the same club you adjust and to the right tempo to put the best swing on the ball.

 

1. Always have a target on the range- This adds pressure and makes you bear down, making you work. It's the best way to practice as there are no "free swings."

 

2. Play out a hole in your head- Work thru yournatural progression...Tee shot, long iron, approach... all with that target in mind...no mulligans.

 

These are 2 simple ways to make practice time more beneficial.