Not Another Practice Swing!

Do you ever take three, four, or five practice swings before attempting to hit a golf shot? Does this habit persist for the entire 9 or 18 holes you play? When you are on the golf course and your pre-shot routine for all shots consists of numerous practice swings, this can result in significant frustration. I am not referring to the growing impatience with your ritual experienced by those in the group behind you. That feeling is certainly real, though, and can only make for a less enjoyable golfing experience for all parties involved. But for now, I am specifically addressing you. Your chances of building confidence, making solid contact, and hitting a shot that you won’t require a search party to locate are not increased exponentially based on a higher number of practice swings. May I be so bold as to ask why do you feel the need to continue to include a five minute rehearsal when it has proven to be completely unsuccessful for you? There must come a point when you recognize the truth regarding your current approach. It just doesn’t help your cause. Your golf game will not improve with the quantity, and more importantly, the quality of the practice swings you are presently attempting. I’ve noticed a few problems that I’d be very happy to help you work through. Well, the truth is, I am one of those guys in the foursome waiting behind you and your buddies. I feel for your plight, and as I see it, there are only two possibilities for changing the status quo. You can permit me to provide you and your friends with some valuable advice or my group is going to ask to play through.

I am delighted that you are open to a bit of on-course instruction. It is by no means my favorite method, but since we find ourselves meeting at every tee box, I figure let’s have a go at it. So, the first thing that screams “help me” is your posture. Over the course of the first five holes, I have noticed that you are progressively increasing the space between your body and the golf ball. Unfortunately, this distance I am referring to occurs before you hit the ball. You current setup gives you virtually no chance to make the type of swing that I believe you are capable of producing. I must admit that it takes some kind of talent just to contact the ball in a relatively solid manner with the very minimal application of any pre-swing fundamentals. It is interesting, to say the least, to observe the different manner in which you and your three amigos address the golf ball. While your playing companions, to varying degrees, each stand too upright and crowd the ball, you chose to reach for it with a serious hunched over position. If the Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy were standing at the same angle you take at address, it would surely be referred to as the Tower formerly known as Leaning. It would not be much of an attraction completely crumbled to the ground. So, you can begin by imagining the hands on a clock. Your spine angle is reading between 2 O’ Clock and 2:30. I would suggest that you shift times zones to the west slightly and assume a 1 O’ Clock back position. Since each of the members of your courageous golfing fellowship is about the same stature and build, a change to a more appropriate set-up is going to present a pretty similar look and feel for all four of you.

Your newly acquired position over the ball allows for your arms to hang freely from your shoulders out over your toes. For the very first time, your arms will be able to swing a golf club completely unimpeded. Your stance will permit you to use the bigger muscles in your body in concert with the hands and arms. This will help your effort tremendously. You three, who were standing completely upright, were not even rotating your upper torsos. By turning your shoulders, you may eliminate the tendency to break down your lead arm. The common swing error you’ve all been making is overreaching with your arms. This is perfectly understandable when you don’t rotate the body. It seems reasonable to think that if you bend at the elbow and the shaft of the club drops past parallel that you might be able to generate more speed. However, the opposite is true. You will rejoice because soon your swing becomes more effortless and powerful at the same time. This is not a quick fix. Because of the fact that your new found stance is such a dramatic alteration, initially it is going to feel strange. This turning, instead of just going vertical with your hands and arms will feel a bit weird as well. However, with practice, you be ready and poised to begin to swing the club with greater confidence and authority. Allow me to take a few simple “before and after” pictures of you as well as some brief video. Your homework is to study both your posture and the body turn that you are now able to make as a result. I would like you to see the very contrasting images. I want you to feel the incredible difference. Can you visually lock onto the body changes as your stance is reconfigured? Can you physically sense a good type of tension created as you begin to rotate your upper body? When you are able to put together what you see with what you feel, I believe that you are at a crucial point. It’s called making progress. Something clicks in the brain and says, “I get it!”

I would suggest that you practice your posture in front of a mirror at home. Rehearse the torso rotations at home. You don’t need to hit golf balls to improve in the areas. Even just a couple minutes each day will make a world of difference. When it comes to a basic pre-swing fundamental like your posture, practice does make perfect. As it applies to an in-swing dynamic such as the turning of the shoulders, practice builds trust in your ability to perform.

So, now for the remainder of your round, go and do the things which I have shared with you. There is no need to take practice swings. ” A leading difficulty with the average player is that he totally misunderstands what is meant by concentration. He may think he is concentrating when he is merely worrying.”-Bobby Jones   I certainly don’t want you to worry. Save the thinking for your off-course practice time. Check your alignment, pick a target, and swing at it. You are either going to hit the ball well or you’re not! What do you have to lose? Well, maybe more golf balls. But, you have already become accustomed to that. Until you can take a practice swing with a defined purpose, do not bother with one, let alone five!  I know that you don’t enjoy playing poor golf. If you did, you probably have a copy of Leslie Nielson’s “Bad Golf Made Easier” in your bag. You are going to begin to have a lot more fun out here. Best wishes to each of you! Oh, and by the way, we are playing through now. I hope to see you on the course again soon.