What r good swing thoughts? I play golf swing instead of golf!!!!!!

[laquintaboy82]

Anybody have this problem? I play better under pressure because im thinking of my goal and not my swing also after about 6 budlights lol somebody help!!!!

[RIduffer]

Yeah, I think everybody suffers from paralysis by analysis to some degree (except Mini Moe). Do you have a pre-shot routine? I know some people have a very specific waggle, or tap there club a certain number of times before every shot. I guess the idea is that if you do things the same way every time it becomes automatic, and the swing thoughts will not be your focus.

You mentioned you perform better with a "goal" so maybe you could pick a very specific target before every shot. Even if you're on a wide open fairway, pick out a tree in the distance or whatever and hit it there. I think this explains why guys like Seve Ballesteros and Phil Mickelson could miss a 50 yard wide fairway, but then hit an amazing recovery shot through a 3 foot gap between trees. The specific target focuses their mind.

Of course, the all important swing oil (budlight in your case) is always effective!

[Joeyvee]

I play like CRAP after eating a lot too. I keep the turn snacks down to half a sandwich and as many beers as I can swig. I went to the range immediately after a Burger King feast one day and I damn near cried and gave up the game. Till i realized the crap ass food was ruining it for me.

[laquintaboy82]

thanx for the advise bro its sounds pretty sound to me and no i dont have a pre shot routine but i will develop one and yes budlights are always good!!!!

[steve8820]

Give Tour Tempo a try. It will get the mechanical swing thoughts out of your head while you play. Makes the game more reactionary, like other sports. It will with no doubt improve your game.

[Leftygolfer]

My biggest swing thought is I try to hit the ball hard. I take a very athletic attitude towards golf now. I worry about my swing and alignment but when it is time I just pretty much think, "hit it hard".

[Elvisliveson]

My biggest swing thought is I try to hit the ball hard. I take a very athletic attitude towards golf now. I worry about my swing and alignment but when it is time I just pretty much think, "hit it hard".

Yeah, me too, as I replied in another thread asking how hard people swing. I have an original copy of Arnold Palmer's 1961 golf book "Hit It Hard" and regard it as something of a bible. Arnie was told by his father that as long as a golfer's grip was sound and his head remained steady, he could swing as hard as he wanted.

[Yukari]

You should always have a preshot routine to ease any tension. As for swing thoughts, mine changes depending on how I hit the ball on the range just before teeing off. For example, if I find that my shots are "slightly off" on the range, I try to see what works. Some days it's full turn of the shoulder, other days it might be a balanced finish, and still other days it might be my address posture. Depending on what works, I take that swing thought to the course.

For those that do not warm up on the range before hand, I used to be the same until last year when I found that a little warm up and knowing what kind of swing I had that day helped me tremendously.

[steve8820]

My biggest swing thought is I try to hit the ball hard. I take a very athletic attitude towards golf now. I worry about my swing and alignment but when it is time I just pretty much think, "hit it hard".

I am starting to take this approach as well. When I just swing to a tempo and "let it go" the result is far better. I played baseball all my life and cannot think of one instance where I was concentrating on mechanical issues during the swing. Yet, I do it everytime over the golf ball.

[Parker0065]

RIduffer,
Pre-shot routine is excellent advice in preparing to hit a shot on the golf course! Pro's don't do it because it makes them look cool,,lol,,they do it to ease tension, and focus on the shot at hand.

One thing I do to groove my pre-shot routine is when I practice at the range I go through my pre-shot routine with every ball(excluding the ones hit doing a specific drill). It usually takes me about a hour to hit a regular sized range bucket. When I practice I usually hit two buckets so I'm there for at least 2 hours. You may not have time to do this every time you go to the practice range, but it would be a good idea to at least hit a few with your pre-shot routine.

As far as thought process on the course my goal is my final score. The tasks that get me to that goal are each individual shot I face. We all think differently but for me I have to focus on one shot at a time, if I think about my goal(final score) at all I lose focus on the current shot I face.

As far as individual swing thoughts on the course for each shot, I've used hundreds of them. For me the use of a swing thought is really for one purpose, and that is to just relax and allow myself to swing freely through the ball. I've used everything from "Slow and Go" to "Let Go and Let God". It really doesn't matter what I use just as long as it's not overly mechanical and I'm relaxed over the ball.

As for your snake-oil (budlight), I can't help you there,,I don't drink but I guess it helped Lee Trevino once in a while back in the day,,lol!

Good Luck!

[Scott_K]

Give Tour Tempo a try. It will get the mechanical swing thoughts out of your head while you play. Makes the game more reactionary, like other sports. It will with no doubt improve your game.

I'm totally diggin' Tour Tempo right now. It's showing me how my irons are pretty solid, but my driver backswing is too slow. Never thought I'd work on a faster backswing.

[MiniMoe]

Thanks for the love RIDUFFER

Yeah, I think everybody suffers from paralysis by analysis to some degree (except Mini Moe). Do you have a pre-shot routine? I know some people have a very specific waggle, or tap there club a certain number of times before every shot. I guess the idea is that if you do things the same way every time it becomes automatic, and the swing thoughts will not be your focus. You mentioned you perform better with a "goal" so maybe you could pick a very specific target before every shot. Even if you're on a wide open fairway, pick out a tree in the distance or whatever and hit it there. I think this explains why guys like Seve Ballesteros and Phil Mickelson could miss a 50 yard wide fairway, but then hit an amazing recovery shot through a 3 foot gap between trees. The specific target focuses their mind. Of course, the all important swing oil (budlight in your case) is always effective!

I agree 100 % . A good swing lube is never a bad idea, and a preshot routine is always a good idea. I have always believed "aim small, miss small". I find that if I am focusing on a very small specific target, I can't be thinking about my swing, or the dreaded "what ifs", or anything but my target. When I am under a little extra pressure because of a big bet, or in a big-ish tournament with a difficult shot, I always try to remember to hum before my shot if I find my mind wondering. I know that I can't think of two things at the same time, so if I'm humming a song, I know I can't thing negative thoughts. Not only that, but my swing becomes very fluid and smooth.

The key, however, is to have a good preshot routine and stick to it no matter what. When the pressure is on, you fall back on the routine and you don't think about anything but the execution of a golf shot... results are irrelevant..... one shot at a time...