I've got a great swing....

[gooch43]

Right up until you put a ball in front of me. Top, fat, chunck, shank....

I can't figure it out. I can be on the tee box and hit every broken tee I swing at. Put a golf ball in front of me and my whole setup changes, my hands change and everything else. I get to the point where I have to change my grip to so drastically to hit the ball I have no chance of making a good swing.

I know it is in my head because I make great warm up swings. In fact if I'm hitting off mats I'm fine but as soon as I'm hitting of grass then it all changes.

I took some lessons about a week ago and it totally screwed me up. I played a few days later and shot a 99 which is at least 10 strokes higher than I normally shoot.

Any ideas?

[bkoguy07]

Don't try to hit it, just swing...


http://www.videojug.com/film/golf-swing-instead-of-hit


I can say sometimes I suffer the same problems as you do, but for the most part when I try to stop "hitting" the ball and just swing normally I do better.

I try to not think about my swing and just focus on the ball.

Oh yeah, and I definitely do not play on matts, that just messes me all up.

[Hoselrockets]

I would try to find a practice facility where you can hit off of real grass. I went through the same thing a couple years ago and now only practice on real turf. Good luck!

[muggs]

You have to get over the mental block...those Video Jug videos are great. Very straight-forward and simple. Watch that and try your best to put it to work. When it's all said and done, you're just going to have to practice and think positively enough until you get over it.

I played hockey all my life and have been golfing the last 4 years. When I started I had the same problem, I was used to whacking at pucks. Just think of the ball as an object in the path of your swing, not a target you're trying to hit.

[kfowler]

Wow, that's a really good video. The breath and mouth thoughts are something I haven't heard before. Makes a lot of sense.

Something has really helped my that I've read on here was the 4" focus drill. This is where you focus not on the ball but 4" in front of it.

I have the same mental problems as you. When I video myself without a club, my head stays still and I have tremendous lag. Add a ball and my head moves forward and I start casting. Mind is a powerful thing.

[B-Con]

Remember, you just swing the golf handle, what's attached to the club handle takes care of the rest.

I've had plenty of on/off/on/off periods where I could/couldn't connect my clubhead with the ball. One or two trips to the range wherein I ONLY hit 1/2 or 3/4 swings usually helps me get back into a rhythm.

[Shanks A Million]

Right up until you put a ball in front of me. Top, fat, chunck, shank....

Any fool can make a beautiful practice swing, but only a special fool can hit a golf ball with that swing. The practice swing and the full swing are totally different animals. When you're actually swinging at a ball, with a target in mind, and knowing you're going to feel impact, it's totally different.

Here's another example. Put a long 2x4 on the ground, and walk along it like a balance beam. Now, take that same 2x4 and put it between two buildings 200 feet off the ground, and try it again. Will it be the same?

[motteler621]

Any fool can make a beautiful practice swing, but only a special fool can hit a golf ball with that swing. The practice swing and the full swing are totally different animals. When you're actually swinging at a ball, with a target in mind, and knowing you're going to feel impact, it's totally different.

I think also with the practice swing you not actually hitting anything so its going to look good not matter what but when you swing at a ball your iron could be too high on the ball (thin shot) before brushing the ground etc that wouldnt be noticable in the practice swing

[Weezy]

Don't stop moving! After you setup to the ball waggle to get loose but don't put the club behind the ball and settle yourself as i am sure you do. Its tough to start the swing the same every time from a dead stop

[gooch43]

Well I went to the range yesterday. I started out hitting horribly but then I took a step back and started thinking about some of the advice on here. I think I just calmed down and started taking nice easy swings.

When I make good contact I normally have a draw but after taking these easy swings it was a nice baby fade.

It worked on the range....now let's see about the course.