Downswing thoughts

[tm22721]

Turn shoulders, aim the blade, stay horizontalized.

[brgolf]

If I've just hit a big hook, I want to be thinking about something on my downswing rather than just letting a repeat happen.

Some of the generic advice around here is stifling.

[Paradox]

If I've just hit a big hook, I want to be thinking about something on my downswing rather than just letting a repeat happen.

Shouldn't you be thinking about what to do correctly during your PRACTICE swings? During the actual swing is no time for thinking about what to do because then your body stops reacting athletically and starts becoming mechanical.

[brgolf]

Shouldn't you be thinking about what to do correctly during your PRACTICE swings? During the actual swing is no time for thinking about what to do because then your body stops reacting athletically and starts becoming mechanical.

I respect you are providing that information in good faith but it relies on some very trite and meaningless distinctions imo.

For example if I was to literally have no swing thoughts then there wouldn't be a swing. Taking it to a more sensible level I'm obviously going to think to start my backswing, loose the tension in my limbs and most importantly try to accomplish the swing change that I did on my practise swing. Surely you are referring to the extreme of trying to implement too many changes at once- in which case I would understand your advice!

[Paradox]

I respect you are providing that information in good faith but it relies on some very trite and meaningless distinctions imo.

I don't think the distinctions are trite or meaningless. Its the same concept in any other sports. Hitting a baseball is a perfect example. If you are at the plate and are thinking about stepping forward, shifting your weight, where your back elbow is, when you need to stride, where your hand path should be, if you're making contact out in front of the plate...I guarantee you'll be a pretty bad hitter. When you let your body react to the pitch and trust in your body, you'll have more success. Its not to say that not thinking will make you a perfect hitter, just that you'll make better contact. You work on things in a batting cage during practice using a tee or the like, not during a game. Golf is the same thing. You work on what you want to do with your swing during the practice swing. You then trust in your body during the actual swing.

You know what I meant though about swing thoughts..but its easy to argue semantics for the sake of arguing.

[brgolf]

Surely you are referring to the extreme of trying to implement too many changes at once- in which case I would understand your advice!

I don't think the distinctions are trite or meaningless.

Well if you feel this is semantics for the sake of arguing then there is not much more to say. I read most of your post and wondered how you ended up disagreeing at all. But never mind.

[melchior]

Yank my left hip.

It helps me slide my hips so my weight comes forward and gets into a good impact position. If I pull the ball I know that I wasn't thinking about it (which is a common mishit for me).

Course, I also use the Stack and Tilt method, not sure if this works with a conventional swing too...

[Zeph]

Course, I also use the Stack and Tilt method, not sure if this works with a conventional swing too...

S&T is as conventional as you get it, at least the hips forward part.

[Jay-Bird]

"my target is ..."

What....?

That's all I'm thinking.

After I've gone thru preshot routine, I am only thinking of the target.

[DavidFehertysBike]

That's all I'm thinking.

Same with me. Im only thinking about where i want the ball to go. If anything, ill use my left shoulder as a visual reference of when ive made a full turn away.

[$2 Nassau]

I don't think of anything on the downswing, maybe that's my problem.

[Pworld]

At top of swing i briefly remind myself to "hold the wrist hinge, and bring her down crashing." oh and "get that left hip out the way!"

[Kieran123]

I don't think I think of anything....before I swing I think of good contact and hitting the green. But nothing during my actual swing - that I am aware of

[right handed phil mickelson]

I think about starting my downswing by whipping my hips, and the rest just follows.

Or I think "This is gonna go in the ho-".. water hazard..."