Can't take a practice hack

Except for warm-up purposes on the first tee, I never take a practice swing prior to a full shot. I want to and I think my scores would improve if I did, but I cannot make myself do it. It's a psychological hangup. The few times I've forced myself to try, they've been half-hearted half-swings just to get them over with as quickly as possible.

For one thing, I'm worried about "wasting" a good swing without a ball. For another, I'm in a hurry to get to the "real deal" and just don't want to spend the time that a practice swing consumes.

Does anybody have any advice as to how to get over a mental block like this.

So 17,  you are gripping the clubhead and swinging the grip end?  Must be something going on 'down under' that could give any kind of positive feedback from that set-up.

the only time id ever take a practice swing is when its a very difficult shot like under a tree, around a tree etc... otherwise i get up to the ball and hit it. same as the OP, i dont wanna waste good swings.

so im interested in hearing others

Ya taking practice swings are very important. If I don't take a practice swing I feel uncomforable. Just watch the pros, every single one of them take practice swings. Although too many practice swings can be bad also.

I take at least one practice swing before every stroke.  If the practice swing doesn't go as planned I take another one.  I know it may annoy some that I play with, but it definitely improves my score. Many time the practice swing is bad and if I swung at the ball that way the outcome would not be good.

There are good players that take practice swings and there are good players who do not take practice swings.  Just do not turn into "that guy" who ends up taking half a dozen practice swings complete with Mike Weir-like partial backswings on the practice swings.  I played with a guy like that at an outing recently and it took him longer to tee off and on every full shot than the other three of us combined.  It was both painful to watch and irritating in the extreme.

Whatever helps you relax and focus on the shot...doesn't matter if it's a practice swing or jumping jacks.

It IS pretty badass when I see someone not take a practice swing and rip a good shot though lol.

I know someone who does that. People encourage him to drink so he speeds up. My favorite is taking so many (6 is his number) and then hits it 50 yards. Long day....

There is a woman in our local golf group who walks up like she's going to pick up the newspaper on the porch or something and BAM. No delay at all. I wish I could do that.

Just noticed this is bumping a year old thread.

My routine depends on the lie and stance required for the shot I'll visualized or try to execute.

If the ball is down, divot or ruff, or a tight lie, I'll make a couple of swings making sure I hit down and make the club bounce. I'll also pay attention to the position of the club striking the ground in relation to the stance.

On most standard fairway shots, my thoughts are making a good swing, tempo, contact and usually just a waggle to feel impact position will do. Seldom make a full swing unless I've waited a period of time for my turn to play, then it's just a relaxed 80% swing.

The times I'll struggle are usually when my cart partner is on the other side of the earth and I'll rush to make up time loss, or when I'll take 3 or 4 clubs to my ball and have the wrong weapons, then try to execute a dumb shot rather than get the right club.
Playing ready golf in a good flow helps most players play well. Guys with long pre-shot routines every single shot can really disrupt a groups pace.

Club Rat

Sometimes I do, and sometimes I don't. It just depends on the shot I have, or the lie of the ball. I think a lot of times I just do it with out thinking about it. 

For the OP I would recommend what ever feels right for you.  You are correct about practice swings sometimes being better than the real deal. That ball getting in the way can sometimes  make a good swing a bad swing. Lol.