Simple Swing Thoughts

[ajschn06]

One thing I always have trouble with is consistency. I usually find something with my swing that works, so I concentrated on that for a while and it works, but I eventually end up overcompensating it and have to find a new thing to concentrate on. However, I feel like I have made a breakthrough. Lately, I have been thinking about 2 things:
1) Visualizing a line on the ball(much like putting) so I can stay square with my body and make square contact with the club.
2) It may sound painfully obvious, but I have also focused on hitting the ball in the center of the clubface.

I always considered my ball striking pretty good, I'm confident that my long game handicap is in the single digits while my short game hc hovers around 20. However, since I have been focusing on these two swing thoughts only, I have been hitting some of the purest shots of my life. It almost seems like I never even knew what a "pure" golf shot felt like. Anyways, I hope these swing thoughts keep working for me. I just thought I may post it because it seems to keep me from thinking about my takeaway, where the club is at the top of the backswing, etc. Every once in a while I don't get completely squared up and the shot ends up quite right, but still feels better than the shots I used to hit straight as an arrow...any thoughts?

[sean_miller]

1.) Line up the clubface to the target.
2.) Turn
3.) Return

[delav]

2) It may sound painfully obvious, but I have also focused on hitting the ball in the center of the clubface.

I think this is great, it can be overlooked far too often and makes a big different in distance and accuracy.

I always think about completing my shoulder turn. For me, this helps on several levels.

[verderaul]

I say to myself that i am swinging a 9 iron. This helps me swing exactly the same (and easy) for each club..and with good results. I also concentrate on having a relaxed backswing.

[ks8829]

tempo and visualize my ball flight

[nuck81]

When I get to address the only thing I allow myself to think is "stay loose"

[SpringBokVol]

My two biggest swing thoughts:
Takeaway: flex my right knee and turn around it
Downswing: start from the ground up and kick out the left knee

[CalBoomer]

Obviously everybody has different swing thoughts appropriate to their game. I have found that whereas I can have multiple thoughts at address, I can only have one swing thought while swinging. Any more than that screws up my tempo or fluidity. One thought! Period!

[imtomtomim]

all I try to think is hit the ball this way

I mean, you'd figure if I hit the ball in this direction, it's gonna end up over there right?

leave the crazy thoughts to the range mirror and when you swing, just hit the ball

[Arrogant_Kid]

I have one swing thought. And it depends on what I'm hitting.

Putter- don't move the head
chipping- don't move the head
Irons and driver- turn turn.(Meaning, turn my shoulders completely and fire my hips. Turn turn is just a faster way of saying it)
Fairway bunkers- Release a fraction early(Or cast, if you prefer)
Normal bunkers- early wrist hinge
While walking along the fairway- DO NOT THINK. (Oxymoron. I know.)

[Felenah]

Hmm I usually have a ton going through my head right before I take the club back then its:

3/4s back
let the club do the work
dont kill the ball
hold the finish

I may not hit it like a pro but Ill look darn good trying.

[Arrogant_Kid]

Hmm I usually have a ton going through my head right before I take the club back then its:

If I tried to have that many at one time I'd forget I was swinging. o.o How do you have that many in your head and still hit the ball? No offense intended. I'm seriously wondering how you can do that

[Felenah]

If I tried to have that many at one time I'd forget I was swinging. o.o How do you have that many in your head and still hit the ball? No offense intended. I'm seriously wondering how you can do that

Lol I dunno but it seems to work. lol at least I'm not thinking of work or my calculous equations. Acutally lately I've added: "Open the club face going back" and "close it going through" to my thoughts. Lol I've got a ton of useless info floating in my head.

[anthony]

This year, a goal of mine has been to eliminate my swing thoughts as I had millions last year and the year before. Currently my only swing thought is to keep looking at the ball (or spot where it was) during the entire swing. The rest are gone and I'm just feeling it. Which, is something I didn't think I could do and it's improved my ball striking greatly. I do have a set of pre-shot thoughts while I'm setting up. A checklist of sorts.