Swing thoughts?

[Finn07]

I need some help on the mental side of the game with swing thoughts. Before I hit a shot I am making myself nuts with thoughts in my head and it is really holding me back from playing well. This is even happening on the range where I will stand over the ball for (which seems like an eternity.) I cant get these terrible swing thoughts out of my head. Any thoughts. I played today and ended up just standing over the ball and hitting without a practice swing and not getting too technical. Worked alright not great though.

[Double Bogey]

I used to do the same thing. As I have mentioned in the temperment post, the book Extraordinary Golf by Shoemaker changed my game. I think the book cost like 12 dollars. My handicap will be better at the end of the season.

[Dent]

I always have that, i read a golf digest article where negative thoughts turned into a high heart rate and high hear rate turned into a bad shot. Thinking positive reduces the heart rate and causes a better shot. Try not to think at all, sometimes there are points where i just dont want to hit the ball because im afraid of a bad shot. Just think positive and think of the good aspects of your game.

[Fourputt]

My swing thoughts are positive. I think, "Stay behind the ball and pull through with the left side.". That's really all I'm thinking of during the swing. If I've taken care of my grip and setup before the stroke, then I don't need to be thinking about them... When you try to think too much, you just get all bound up.

There are too many things happening in the golf swing to think about anything but one or two keys that sort of keep everything else moving in the right direction.

[marto97]

The best advise I can give is to be positive. Try thinking about what you want to happen not what you don't want to happen. A good pre-shot routine is the best way to combat this. Make it short but be consistent with it, do it exactly the same every time. It helps with the nerves, trust me on that. Just slow down and try to keep a smooth tempo.

[doublesuited77]

i think the other key several people have mentioned is to only have ONE swing thought in your head. for me, the focus is getting a good finish with my right should pointing to the target.

[JKilgore44]

Like he said, ONE dominant thought. For me it varies from round to round. One day, I may be getting my too quick, so I think TEMPO TEMPO TEMPO, and make a smooth swing. One day I may be hitting weak little fades, so I think LOADED LOADED LOADED, and I make a strong swing, get fully loaded, and hit a good shot.

Just focus on one aspect of the swing, clear your mind of all other thoughts, and make good contact.

Most importantly, visualize you shot before you hit. don't ever think about hitting a shank or a slice or anything like that. See yourself hitting a solid shot, drawing slightly as it approachs the green, etc etc. If you visualize a bad swing, you will most likely make a bad swing.

[Mikey]

I read a great book called everyshot must have a purpose and it is by the two instructors that work with Annika Sorenstam.

Basically the jist of it that you have line between you and the golf ball and behind the line you should think about the shot, how you should line up, the ball flight and probably everything you are think about right now while you are standing over the ball.

Once you cross that line your mind should go blank and you just swing the club. They also have practice routines that you can work on.

It really helped me out to get all of the swing thoughts out of my head.