The Haney Project: Can Haney Fix Barkley’s Swing?

[Matt P]

Well from the TNT video posted a little earlier, it looks like his swing does improve. The teaser at the end of the show seemed to indicate that he went to the course in the middle of the reconstruction effort and blew up everything he earned. I could not imagine going through whatever he went through and having it prevent me from playing golf.

I hope he does get his swing fixed...after all the humor in his swing is long over, at least for me, it is now just painful to watch.

[HytrewQasdfg]

The problem won't be fixing his swing, it will be getting whatever he is thinking out of his head. It's obvious (to me anyway) that he is thinking by the numbers, which is ruining his tempo.

This is why golf is so hard. Hitting a moving target is easier, because you don't think about it, you just do it. When you are staring down at that stationary ball, your instincts/reflexes go out the window.

IMHO, he is one of those people that can't afford to have any swing thoughts. He should substitute it with some type of song.

1 2 buckle my shoe
3 4 shut the door

Something (anything) that makes him concentrate on temp and forget about what he is supposed to be doing.

[kfowler]

Hitting a moving target is easier, because you don't think about it, you just do it.

There are many baseball players who were victims of curve balls that will disagree with this statement.

[Andrew Rice]

Absolutely no chance! Barkley has spent over $100k on a psych and it has done nothing. It's the same as sending someone with the YIPS for a putting lesson. It is way too far beyond poor technique and is now a neurological hitch/twitch.
My two cents.....

[golf_junkie27]

It's all mental with Charles. I've seen three videos, now, where he swings a golf club, nicely. There is no hitch/pause/dipping that you see, now. He's actually really fluid with a nice finish.

I hope he can fix his swing problems. I don't think its funny or amusing for someone to struggle like he does, especially if he's going to continue to play on TV. He should not become a sideshow.

[iacas]

Absolutely no chance! Barkley has spent over $100k on a psych and it has done nothing. It's the same as sending someone with the YIPS for a putting lesson. It is way too far beyond poor technique and is now a neurological hitch/twitch.

I think Hank Haney cured himself of driving yips, so while I get what you're saying, I also think that Hank isn't going at this purely from a technical point of view.

[maycam10]

i really hope he can get a real swing. He has a great mentality and has the attitude to be good at golf. Haney CAN do it, now will he? that a better question

[DiverDown]

Just watched the first episode... Very entertaining... The practice facility where they filmed this show is about 10 minutes from my house... The crazy thing about that practice range is that there is a pond in front of the tee... The practice balls are "floaters"... The first time I practiced there I couldn't believe it.

I like to play the par 3 they have behind it. As far as executive course go it's not easy.

[Quinn07]

I think he will be able to fix his swing...and man I hope he does. I couldn't believe having a swing like that and not being able to play because of it. I was hoping they would show the Nike fitting he went through. It would be interesting to see how you fit someone with a swing like that.

[apex53]

I like to play the par 3 they have behind it. As far as executive course go it's not easy.

Sounds crazy but I've never played it... I need to get out there soon

I heard that GC ordered 10 episodes... Does anyone know if Barkley's DUI interfered with the filming of the show?

[Zeph]

I don't understand how he managed to get that swing, if you can call it a swing. It's more like lashing at the ball. I've seen the swing he had before, not bad at all. I can't believe someone would lose that swing all of a sudden, has he got some sort of mental disability?

[colin007]

i feel bad for him (not for the DUI, thats unforgivable) because i would hate for that to happen to me or one of my buddies. imagine if that happened to you?

[flopdarock]

I don't understand how he managed to get that swing, if you can call it a swing. It's more like lashing at the ball. I've seen the swing he had before, not bad at all. I can't believe someone would lose that swing all of a sudden, has he got some sort of mental disability?

i dont know if its mental or not but since he retired from the nba hes had several back surgeries... if that has anything to do with it

[mountaineer08]

After the first show, I think his swing already looks better. I think Haney is gonna have his work cut out for him, but Barkely should be back in the 80's by the end.

[PEZGolf]

The Golf Channel will air this debacle come 2 March 2009.

He has the worst swing that I have ever seen. Haney will have to work a "true miracle" to get him to hit the golf ball decently. I am not watching the show because I do not want to have an image of THAT swing in my brain.

[Young Golf Prodigy]

Yes he can! I have the faith!

[LottaBalata]

I think its mainly a mental thing. He's obviously a very capable athlete. He's simply going to have to get his confidence back in front of crowds. Or stop playing the pro/ams and just relax on the home course.

I think Haney can easily fix Barkley's swing. Its his mental state that will need the most adjustment.

[worst_shot_ever]

I find it intriguing that some people conclude the swing is a put on, a gimmick, some form of conspiracy. The claimed motive is notoriety for Sir Charles. I don't see how that makes sense. Who wants that sort of notoriety? Why would Barks, a proud and accomplished athlete, want it? How would that further his interests? He couldn't have known it would result in becoming the guinea pig in HH's latest cult of personality reality show. It seems the costs so far outweigh the perceived benefits that it cannot possibly be a fake. Anyway, I voted "yes" -- it's not like CB has some sort of physical deformity that causes a seizure mid swing, so necessarily it must be curable with enough work and confidence.