Why are some people consistent?

[bunkerputt]

What is the best way to develop a consistent motion through the golf ball? ...Even if that motion is complete crap and the results are always crappy. How do you get your body to repeat a motion without changing every other swing? It seems like there is a lot more going on than just swing mechanics. Do the thoughts going on in your head have a whole lot to do with it? Does it depend on how your body feels for the day? Is it just tempo and rhythm control?

[deronsizemore]

Comes down to tempo for me. If I get quick or if my swing gets long I'm doomed. I can still play but I likely won't hit the ball like I know I can or how I want too.

Some people are just gifted and are able to have a consistent motion. Others have to hit thousands upon thousand of balls to reach a consistent point. Others, never get there no matter what they do.

[Scott_K]

I'll try to make it a point to have 1 thought in my head at address. Lately with the Driver it's 1, 2, release. All of the pre-shot thoughts are sorted out before I address the ball. I might remind myself to release my arms, keep my head steady and behind the ball prior to stepping up the ball, but at address, I'm focusing on 1 thought. This doesn't always occur. When I lose focus, I might allow a thought to enter my skull at the top (i.e. stay behind the ball), and that's when I end up with a poor swing and try to steer my swing instead of just letting it release.

There was a thread a little while back about how hard do you hit the ball (or something like that) and it seemed like the consensus was to aim in the 80-90% range of your top speed. I consider that a path to consistent tempo. One of the big things I pulled from that thread was being able to hold your finish for 3+ seconds. I do this pretty well with my irons, but I do not do this well with my driver. Sometimes there's a little too much recoil followed by a little too much deep grass.

For me to maintain my tempo, I have to go to the range a couple of times a week. I played a couple of rounds the past few days after taking a month off with sparse range visits. I was all out of whack.

If my mind and body are tired, chances are my tempo will be off. Once in a while when I'm tired, I just walk up to the ball and use a "just don't care" swing and strike it well.

[bunkerputt]

I'll try to make it a point to have 1 thought in my head at address. Lately with the Driver it's 1, 2, release. All of the pre-shot thoughts are sorted out before I address the ball. I might remind myself to release my arms, keep my head steady and behind the ball prior to stepping up the ball, but at address, I'm focusing on 1 thought. This doesn't always occur. When I lose focus, I might allow a thought to enter my skull at the top (i.e. stay behind the ball), and that's when I end up with a poor swing and try to steer my swing instead of just letting it release.

I guess what I'm trying to get at is, regardless of how much you work on your swing or how great your swing is, it seems like there is always a sense of "being there" on every single swing. Maybe another way to say it is, you can have a perfect swing, but if you aren't engaging your hand-eye coordination and natural athleticism on every shot, you just aren't going to be consistent. I feel like I'm always working on something technical on pretty much every single swing I make. I have yet to get to the point where I can just swing free and stop trying to control things, since I'm pretty much always working on something or another. I've been told I have a natural swing, so I keep wondering why I'm not striking the ball naturally. My ball striking is definitely improving because I think my swing mechanics are getting better, but I still have yet to hit an entire bucket of balls (however small) straight and pure. Do you work concurrently on practicing and "being there" for the shot? When do you work on mechanics and when do you work on mental aspects of swinging?

[GamerJG]

I guess what I'm trying to get at is, regardless of how much you work on your swing or how great your swing is, it seems like there is always a sense of "being there" on every single swing. Maybe another way to say it is, you can have a perfect swing, but if you aren't engaging your hand-eye coordination and natural athleticism on every shot, you just aren't going to be consistent. I feel like I'm always working on something technical on pretty much every single swing I make. I have yet to get to the point where I can just swing free and stop trying to control things, since I'm pretty much always working on something or another. I've been told I have a natural swing, so I keep wondering why I'm not striking the ball naturally. My ball striking is definitely improving because I think my swing mechanics are getting better, but I still have yet to hit an entire bucket of balls (however small) straight and pure. Do you work concurrently on practicing and "being there" for the shot? When do you work on mechanics and when do you work on mental aspects of swinging?

there isn't a pro out there that hits the ball consistent every time out. it's a constant struggle to recognize what is working or isn't. look at some tour pros even the top ones that are always working on something with a swing coach or short game guru. i think the best thing is to know your swing and how it works. then when you make a bad swing, you know what you did and how to correct it during a round of play. it's like searching for the holy grail. i believe what separates the pros from the avg. player is the short game. watch a pga tour telecast. they almost always show the guys near the top of the leaderboard who are playing near perfect golf. even those guys are spraying shots here and there but they are so good around the greens that they make up for it with a great close chip or make that 10 footer to save par. have you ever watched tiger hit it all over the place but shoot 68? he can recover from anywhere and drain the big putt to save par. that's the difference to me. so i guess my point is get out there and focus on your short game lol.

[DaSportsGuy]

I've never really had much trouble with consistency. I'm not what I would consider a "good" golfer but I've been able to maintain consistency and improve my game.

[upah]

I would much rather be able to focus on each shot and "stay in it" than have a natural swing. The biggest x-factor of this game is blocking out external factors/bogus swing thoughts and trusting the swing you've created. My blow ups happen when I lose focus, not when my swing changes.

[Scott_K]

I don't think many people can hit a bucket of balls straight and pure. I certainly do not and I definitly don't hit every shot pure on the course.

When I work at the range, I make sure I have the endurance to remain focused. If I'm slightly tired, I won't go because I'd be more concerned with introducing a bad habit to my swing. One thing I learned from Jack is that when you go to practice, practice with a purpose. It's not the quantity of whatever club I hit, it's the quality of the swings/shots. I don't go there with a plan to hit 20 balls with a wedge, then 20 balls with a 5 iron. I'll go with a few things I want to work on, if I only work on one thing, then that's fine too, it's not the end of the world. Most of the time, I'm just working on fundementals and that can be as simple as working on "being there". I also think about the mental aspects while sitting in death by powerpoint meetings. I'm very selective with who I go with if I go with anyone at all which in itself can become a problem (all work and no play).

I have a fairly analytical approach to my game. I probably think of 10 factors while walking up to a shot, but again, once I'm there I just hit it. One of Tiger's best lessons from his father he comments on is the one when his father told him to just hit it. Prior to Vijay winning his first Masters, his son told him to "trust your swing dad". You've studied the game, you've practiced, etc. Your subconscious knows a lot. Let it do the swing thoughts "work" and work on allowing only 1 thought into your conscious mind.

If you're continually working on something technical, you should try to look at something at the opposite end of the spectrum. "Being there" or "living in the moment" is finding a middle ground between two extremes. Maybe look at some mental game books. I'm looking to pick up Tour Tempo in the off season.

[anthony]

I agree with the tempo comment a lot. If your tempo is consistent, tendencies are that your swing is sequencing from backswing to downswing consistantly.

Obviously, playing and practicing will make you more consistent. At the range, after I've warmed up with around 15-20 balls, I'll pick out a target for every shot. Other than my driver, which I just try to hit straight, I'll pick out somewhere to hit it to.

[Ben]

What is the best way to develop a consistent motion through the golf ball? ...Even if that motion is complete crap and the results are always crappy. How do you get your body to repeat a motion without changing every other swing? It seems like there is a lot more going on than just swing mechanics. Do the thoughts going on in your head have a whole lot to do with it? Does it depend on how your body feels for the day? Is it just tempo and rhythm control?

Constant practice. The idea is to not have those thoughts running through your head while you swing. Before you swing, or on the practice range, alright. While you swing, not so good. Anyway, back to the topic at hand. By practicing you build consistency within your swing. Prime example of your "even if that motion is complete crap" line, check out Jim Furyk. I don't mean that his motion is crap, more along the lines that's its certainly not conventional. But, I'm sure he's put hours and hours and more hours of time into that swing. To the point to where its the same practically every time.

[RC]

Practice is certainly a big part of it. Also, there are stages of comfort with shots. When I was a scratch, I did not think about the swing at all, only visualizing the shot shape and playing in the moment. But there are days when things are "different" and you don't quite have your game. At those times, it is critical that you have practiced enough to know what shot will have a high likelihood of working. As the round develops, you go through stages with your swing, and it is important to know where you are in this cycle. For example, if the wind is on your back (left to right,) and you normally play a draw, but today you are hanging a few shots right, go ahead and aim a little left, and let the wind take it. Hit the safe shot you know you can hit. Don't be stubborn and go against where you are in the moment.

Wait for the time when you get that confidence, then attack. I think all rounds have moments when you know or feel now is the time to hit it aggressively or now is the time to hit it safely. Practice and feel developed from practice is what will give you the consistency to know these moments. There are times to go for the pin and times to hit for the center of the green and only experience will get you to that stage.

The same thing is true of chipping and pitching. If you are a little shaky about a shot, hit a bump and run or even putt it if you can. Consistency comes from knowing your own game very well.

[mcman1]

For me consistency comes from playing alot and keeping a steady head throughout the swing...especially with the shorter irons.

[tm22721]

For me consistency means crisp contact and straight shots with my 7i so I can repeat my lowest score, a 41 on the back 9. Exhausting five year struggle down every blind alley you can imagine. I don't easily give up.

[mcman1]

Jack Grout, who was Jack Nicklaus's first golf instructor said that keeping a steady head was the secret to Jack's success. I have worked on this over the years and I think it makes a big difference. If you have trouble keeping a steady head, find a training aid that will help you with it. Good luck.

[ks8829]

My friend is very consistent because his backswing tempo is always the same speed and motion from the 1st hole to the 18 hole. pre-shot routine helps too.

[flopdarock]

i think it all has to do with trust and confidence...
when im playing well... ill fire at flags all day... all i have to do is trust my swing and have the confidence that i can execute the shot that ive probably hit a few hundred times before...
when my ball striking isnt going well for that day... i tend to break down my mechanics and that only leads to a downhill slide trying to fix things in the middle of a round... when i can get back into trusting my swing... i can usually recover my round which in turn builds my confidence back up...
so my consistency comes with knowing that ive done it a ton of times before and can do it a ton of times more if i have to...
that and alot of practice

[Leftygolfer]

Because they are good. I know good players have off day but if you are a sub zero player, you aren't going to shoot much more than a 75 on your bad day.

I would say a big thing is playing alot. If you aren't playing 36 a week or practicing alot you are going to have a hard time being a really good/consistant player. I think that is why most pros come from the year round golf states. That is a huge advantage because we (seasonal golfers) don't get to play a true round of golf from Oct 1 to the middle of april. The conditions aren't good, the greens are typically bumpy, and it just isn't the same when you can't predict that first bounce and the way the ball reacts when it hits the green. I think belonging to a club is huge in that regard. Playing on nice greens makes it alot easier to get up and down. Even the most consistant players miss typically 1/3 of their greens (excluding pga pros). And if a course is played heavily as most public courses are, the greens are not going to be perfect.

I don't think there is any magic formula to this game. Some can really play, others can play sometimes (me), and some hit a good shot occassionally. I think as I get older and get to play more and more, join a club, consistancy will come because I will be playing 5 days week (after work, weekends) with my son (hopefully). The club I will belong to isn't the greatest but it gets very little play and is 3 miles from my house. The greens are great and the condition are very good. It also has a pool and things that my wife can enjoy and games for me on the weekends. (I seriously doubt anyone cares but I can't wait)

One thing that I can do is align better and have consistant tempo. That has hurt my ability to play the way I want. That is something all good players have in common.

[retexan599]

I have the key elements of my swing process written down on one side of a sheet of paper. Before I go to the course I review what I have told myself how I want to set up & swing. Truthfully, I don't always execute properly, but I have that piece of paper with me on the course to help bring me back to my nominal plan when I get erratic. So I at least have a 'base point' to go back to. Consistency and tempo are my friends (per previous commenters) also.