Help! Mental Block.

[markpomc]

Hi Guys and Gals!

 

1st time poster, and I have a problem. I have been playing golf for many years and just in the last few months started taking lessons from a local Pro. Enter my issue...I have worked out what amounts to a pretty good swing. The one issue left is my inability to "let it go" as my pro says. It's almost as if I am holding myself back as I move from the top of my backswing through the ball. This is a major mental block for me, as making a perfect practice swing, "letting it go" is no problem. How do I get over this mental hump that presents itself when the ball enters the picture (I Know, I know, standard issue for an amateur)?

 

Thanks for any help!

[larrybud]

Hi Guys and Gals!

 

1st time poster, and I have a problem. I have been playing golf for many years and just in the last few months started taking lessons from a local Pro. Enter my issue...I have worked out what amounts to a pretty good swing. The one issue left is my inability to "let it go" as my pro says. It's almost as if I am holding myself back as I move from the top of my backswing through the ball. This is a major mental block for me, as making a perfect practice swing, "letting it go" is no problem. How do I get over this mental hump that presents itself when the ball enters the picture (I Know, I know, standard issue for an amateur)?

 

Thanks for any help!

Don't feel too bad, you're in good company. That's what Tiger was talking about when he was revamping his swing and just learning to "trust it" on the course.

 

Everyone makes a perfect practice swing. There's no timing involed, and you don't have to square the clubface. As far as how to fix it. IMO, it's just a matter of repetitions. I would ask your pro for one swing thought to help you get through the ball. Something really simple. For example I want to work on shoulder turn (which is pretty much always) I will think "left shoulder behind ball", or "back to the target". I'll even do it on the course, since it's so simple. Sometimes one swing thought works one day, and the other works another day.

 

So for getting through the ball, maybe think "hit it high left", or "point right shoulder at target at finish".

Or think of an exes face on the ball!

[TRAV1]

Why not take a sticker of a golf ball and stick it to the ground? You get the same practice swing with the visual of the golf ball (but w/o the ball).

 

Also, practice your breath control with your swing practice. A good way to "let go" is to out-breath on the backswing. Maybe not the best thing for your actual swing, but may get you over the hump.

[TRAV1]

 

the problem with the sticker is subconsciencly or conscienly you are still aware that the is no ball. so you will still take a practice swing. closing your eyes so that you never know if a ball is there or not helps you relax and convert your practice swing to a productive swing.

 

Yes, but at some point you have to chain the behaviors, so you simulate the actual experience as close as possible before actually hitting the ball. Both of our ideas are doing this, just a different direction.

 

Also, we can only speculate what will actually work for him (I can't provide a plan without a more thorough assessment), so it's all simply advice to try out through trial and error.

[ryanpgm]

Not to bash, so please don't take this negatively, but do you think that "breathing out during the backswing" is a little much to think about. When someone has to concentrate on breathing, bad things could occur in my opinion.

[TRAV1]

Good point, and you're right. It's why I suggested to just get over this hump. Out-breath has been shown to be the point at which a person is most calm and muscles are most relaxed... since this is the point at which he tenses up the most :( , the breathing out would help to counter-act that... but only temporarily as making that a habit with your regular swing could create some funky moves.

[markpomc]

Sorry for not chiming in...Sometimes work gets in the way of life. Thanks for all the great ideas, definitely going to give them a try! I think, though, a lot of my problem is I have over-complicated the golf swing and think about it way to much. So, definitely going to simplify my swing thoughts. We'll see...I have a 36 hole, all day golf affair coming up Wednesday...need to get to the range at least once before then...