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Newsflash - Golf should not be performed between the ears - Discuss


TakeItOnTheChin
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I am new to this site and this is my first thread and I hope my memory of something I read some time ago does the following subject justice.

I read a very interesting article about how sportsmen and athletes can reach the pinnacle of their sports and it claimed that the secret lies in how quickly they can redress the conscious and subconscious control percentages. It suggested that studies have shown that less successful sportsmen/athletes tend to have a conscious control percentage of greater than 20% and the more successful have lower percentages with the very best showing figures close to 1%.

For example...

It stated that all physical tasks would be performed better when these conditions are reached. In the simple act of walking, one is conscious that one is walking but how one performs the task is almost entirely subconscious. In reality, this is the same for almost every task and I can not think of many tasks that would contradict this.

However, I think most golfers struggle to achieve these percentages because of how they are introduced to and taught the game. I don't know a single golfer who could claim to have conscious control figures anywhere close to the desired levels but I hope some of you can correct me on this.

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(1.) You should link the article you reference in paragraph 1, first sentence.

(2.) I think it would be helpful if you defined what 'Conscious Control' is - and how you would actually calculate it or monitor it to turn it into a percentage (extremely odd - and difficult for me to understand how one could place a percentage on this)

(3.) I have read Dave Stockton's book on Unconscious Putting - and do believe that golfers are sometimes over analytical.  I suffer from this tendency from time to time, especially while I'm in an intense range session.  And find myself belaboring and worrying about too many of the specific geometries and alignments found within the swing.  And those worries - tend to create tension or concern within my swing - or lack of confidence that I can hit that movement in time - which prohibits a natural or unconscious swing to occur.

It is strange... I can take a bucket of say 60 balls.  And if I just go out and hit those 60 balls without worrying about my alignments - I can hit a lot of very good shots - and very few misses - maybe 1 or 2 out of the entire bucket.  Whereas, if I go into that bucket of 60 balls - and I'm focused on very specific alignments - say getting my clubface square at A4 (something I struggle with)... I will find myself starting to lose focus on the ball - and paying attention to my clubhead on the takeaway - and focus on feels... And unfortunately, I find that when I do this - I'll start hitting the ball thin - closer to the hosel.  And often times start shanking the ball.

If is frustrating... Because I only have so many shots I can afford to hit at the range in a day... So I don't like wasting my range sessions when I'm shanking shots.  So instead of really focusing on alignments - and nailing the proper alignments.  I find myself focusing on tempo and being comfortable in my own skin so that I can stripe shots again and again.  Ultimately, this is probably why I'm still a 4 handicap and not lower?  I dunno?

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Seems to make sense. All that is basically saying is that golfers are better once their swing becomes "natural" to them and they don't have to think about repeating it or remembering what the mechanics were. My best rounds are the ones where I just hit the ball without too much thought of what I'm doing, my worst are the ones that I spend thinking and analyzing every little thing that I do wrong.

Tristan Hilton

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This is the Shawn Clement school of thinking.  Your swing should be based on human anatomy and the way your body is designed so it is not restricted by your body.  The swing itself should be based on gravity and momentum, not a million swing thoughts about club manipulation.  Let gravity swing the club.  Your only thought during the swing should be about target focus, not about whether you've taken it back inside, whether your wrists are cocked or any other manipulation thought.  The laws of physics don't change.  Using those laws to your maximum advantage gives you the maximum chance to develop a repeatable swing.  Constantly changing your swing based on what you saw on the video-of-the-day of yourself does not.

None of that is to say that it's easy or you won't still hit bad shots.  But, I'm a firm believer that it's the right way to swing the golf club.

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Originally Posted by tristanhilton85

My best rounds are the ones where I just hit the ball without too much thought of what I'm doing, my worst are the ones that I spend thinking and analyzing every little thing that I do wrong.

This happens with me too, but I think the causation goes the other way.  When I hit the ball poorly I try to figure out what I'm doing wrong and get too analytical.   When I hit the ball well I don't ask why.

Dan

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The mind interferes with any athletic move.

Read any Rotella or mind guru books -

Ping G400 Max 9/TPT Shaft, TEE EX10 Beta 4, 5 wd, PXG 22 HY, Mizuno JPX919F 5-GW, TItleist SM7 Raw 55-09, 59-11, Bettinardi BB39

 

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There's an optimal area between over thinking and not paying attention that should be occupied. You can't micromanage your swing or you'll get all fouled up. The mind needs to instruct the body to a certain point, then let the body do its thing.

For most people, myself included, a good golf swing does not come naturally. Left to it's own devices, the body will get lazy and do whatever it feels like with predictable results. The mind has to keep it in line and make sure it's doing what it's supposed to be doing.

I think about one or two swing keys and let her rip. Nevertheless, I'm still fully conscious of what my body is doing.

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Originally Posted by Beachcomber

(1.) You should link the article you reference in paragraph 1, first sentence.

Unfortunately I'm not sure where I read the article.

(2.) I think it would be helpful if you defined what 'Conscious Control' is - and how you would actually calculate it or monitor it to turn it into a percentage (extremely odd - and difficult for me to understand how one could place a percentage on this)

As I said, I hope my memory and understanding of this does this subject justice. My basic interpretation of conscious versus subconscious control can be explained using this example. I am consciously aware during the act of tying my shoelaces that I am performing the deed but it is being carried out almost entirely in subconscious mode. Whether this is 1% or more of conscious control is irrelevent as everyone's opinion of this would tend to be different. The main point is, do golfers learn golf differently from every other physical skill?

(3.) I have read Dave Stockton's book on Unconscious Putting - and do believe that golfers are sometimes over analytical.  I suffer from this tendency from time to time, especially while I'm in an intense range session.  And find myself belaboring and worrying about too many of the specific geometries and alignments found within the swing.  And those worries - tend to create tension or concern within my swing - or lack of confidence that I can hit that movement in time - which prohibits a natural or unconscious swing to occur.

I believe golfers fail to automate a swing condition because they are always seeking a better way to perform it. With all the magical fixes and tips floating around out there, its no wonder. I rarely question my ability to tie my shoelaces because I have automated the skill using subconscious skills leading to intuitivity and instinct.

It is strange... I can take a bucket of say 60 balls.  And if I just go out and hit those 60 balls without worrying about my alignments - I can hit a lot of very good shots - and very few misses - maybe 1 or 2 out of the entire bucket.  Whereas, if I go into that bucket of 60 balls - and I'm focused on very specific alignments - say getting my clubface square at A4 (something I struggle with)... I will find myself starting to lose focus on the ball - and paying attention to my clubhead on the takeaway - and focus on feels... And unfortunately, I find that when I do this - I'll start hitting the ball thin - closer to the hosel.  And often times start shanking the ball.

I can drive my car (a subconscious skill) and answer questions to a quiz on the car radio (a conscious skill) but I can't fill in a crossword while I am driving. In other words, a conscious task must not interfere with a coinciding subconscious task. A golfer should only have one conscious intention and fixing your backswing during a stroke would therefore hamper performance.

If is frustrating... Because I only have so many shots I can afford to hit at the range in a day... So I don't like wasting my range sessions when I'm shanking shots.  So instead of really focusing on alignments - and nailing the proper alignments.  I find myself focusing on tempo and being comfortable in my own skin so that I can stripe shots again and again.  Ultimately, this is probably why I'm still a 4 handicap and not lower?  I dunno?

Some people would love to have a 4 handicap.

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Originally Posted by Mr. Desmond

The mind interferes with any athletic move.

But even more so in the game of golf. I believe this interference reaches ridiculous levels with most golfers and although Rotella offers pretty sound advice, golfers don't seem to be getting the message.

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Since I first started playing golf and taking lessons I always over think my swing while at address. A friend that I play with is a solid 1 to 3 hcp, and a couple months ago he told me, " you know how to hit the ball, quit thinking about it, and just hit it." He was right. Since then I've been hitting the ball much better and more consistent. I do agree with the original post. I played quarterback my whole life, and once you have the skill, the body reacts without thinking. But I do admit, the one thing that I've learned playing golf is that everyone has there own opinions. It's definitely the hardest sport I've ever played, but I LOVE it!!!!!!

Big Daddy Joe

 

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The mind interferes with any athletic move.

Well NOW I understand my overall lack of athleticism! :-D

In David's bag....

Driver: Titleist 910 D-3;  9.5* Diamana Kai'li
3-Wood: Titleist 910F;  15* Diamana Kai'li
Hybrids: Titleist 910H 19* and 21* Diamana Kai'li
Irons: Titleist 695cb 5-Pw

Wedges: Scratch 51-11 TNC grind, Vokey SM-5's;  56-14 F grind and 60-11 K grind
Putter: Scotty Cameron Kombi S
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Originally Posted by Strike One

There's an optimal area between over thinking and not paying attention that should be occupied. You can't micromanage your swing or you'll get all fouled up. The mind needs to instruct the body to a certain point, then let the body do its thing.

For most people, myself included, a good golf swing does not come naturally. Left to it's own devices, the body will get lazy and do whatever it feels like with predictable results. The mind has to keep it in line and make sure it's doing what it's supposed to be doing.

I think about one or two swing keys and let her rip. Nevertheless, I'm still fully conscious of what my body is doing.

Very few athletic skills come naturally. A fawn learns to run within hours of birth. Has its mind instructed its body or has it let the body do its own thing?

I suggest the conscious, calculating mind should be tactically averted during any physical learning process.

Finally, you are fully conscious of what your body is doing but probably not conscious of how it is doing it.

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Originally Posted by Big Daddy Joe

Since I first started playing golf and taking lessons I always over think my swing while at address. A friend that I play with is a solid 1 to 3 hcp, and a couple months ago he told me, " you know how to hit the ball, quit thinking about it, and just hit it." He was right. Since then I've been hitting the ball much better and more consistent. I do agree with the original post. I played quarterback my whole life, and once you have the skill, the body reacts without thinking. But I do admit, the one thing that I've learned playing golf is that everyone has there own opinions. It's definitely the hardest sport I've ever played, but I LOVE it!!!!!!

It would be a much easier sport if the mental interference could be reduced to levels experienced in most other sports, like football or soccer.

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It's the difference between practicing golf and playing golf - one is a physical activity designed to ingrain certain movements through the repetition of those movements.

The other is, simply, just swing.

My best rounds are when I am truly playing golf - when my mind is centered around conditions & data like distanace, wind, etc. But once that's all plugged in, just swing. If you need something for the mind to dwell on, picture the target.

The swing is, what about a second & a half long? It's amazing how much can jump into the brain in that 1.5 seconds.

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Originally Posted by TakeItOnTheChin

I suggest the conscious, calculating mind should be tactically averted during any physical learning process.

This makes no sense.  What are you learning if you are not using your conscious mind?  How do you take anything in unconsciously?

Now, once you have learned it, then yeah, I agree, its better to keep the conscious mind out of the way.  This is the same concept as Bob Rotella's training mode vs. trusting mode ... or whatever he called it.

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Originally Posted by zipazoid

It's the difference between practicing golf and playing golf - one is a physical activity designed to ingrain certain movements through the repetition of those movements.

The other is, simply, just swing.

My best rounds are when I am truly playing golf - when my mind is centered around conditions & data like distanace, wind, etc. But once that's all plugged in, just swing. If you need something for the mind to dwell on, picture the target.

The swing is, what about a second & a half long? It's amazing how much can jump into the brain in that 1.5 seconds.

Its mainly during the 10 seconds before the take-away that most conscious interference takes place.

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