To Play or not to Play when learning a new swing?

[VegasRenegade]

What do you think. I am not playing on the course until I at least have a handle on the new back swing. I Think I would get to frustrated and revert to my old swing even if I did not mean to.

[JetFan1983]

I wish you'd put another option up there, like "it depends," or something.

Tough question. I've had some of my most satisfying rounds immediately after making a change.

And I've had some of my most frustrating rounds immediately after making a change.

I think as long as you go into this round understanding and happily accepting that you may play terribly, then it's okay. Don't have expectations. Because it could get ugly out there. If you cannot accept this possibility, then wait a bit before you play. Keep practicing.

[tristanhilton85]

I think you need to do a lot of range work at first when working on a new swing but at some point you have to go test it on the course and see if you can play well without thinking about the mechanics of it too much. It really just depends on how far along you are in the change.

[RPMPIRE]

I think you should practice and get used to the changes before playing a round. I've been recommended swing changes by an instructor (mostly with driver) and I didn't play a round until I was used to the changes. I only had around 2 range sessions before I got used to it. The next round I played, I went from shooting 91 the previous round to an 82 the next, mostly because I was hitting more fairways with more distance and got better scoring opportunities.

Also, it does depend on what you're working on and what your goals are. My goal was to hit more fairways with driver and 3 wood.

[VegasRenegade]

I am doing a full swing rebuild from the ground up. I have no idea how I can even hit the ball with my over the top. Flip swing. Some how I get good distance but no idea from swing to swing where it may go. I have been able to save my scores with a better than average short game.

[GregZ]

Voted YES, Get out there on a non busy day, i would pick very early morning, and play some golf doing the things that you are learning to improve.  If I dont play and only focus on full swing, my putting and chipping goes to shit.

[rustyredcab]

My instructors swear that you will improve faster if you do not play for 60 days when making a major swing change -- just practice. I could not do it -- too many commitments.

When you play, you will revert or find other compensations to try and get the ball to go where you want it to go.

Good luck.

[vanpooten]

After a major change, I usually spend about 2 hours on the range working on the mechanics; each day that I can get out.

I follow that up with a 9 hole round just focusing on making good contact, and completely forgetting about the score.

I don't want to become just a range junkie, because then you forget how to actually play the game. I try to have a nice balance of each until I feel I'm ready. Then I go out and keep score for an 18 hole round.

[iacas]

I think "rebuilding your swing" is pointless and a terrible way to go about improving your golf swing.

All of my students play golf while they're working on their swing. Their scores may go up for awhile because sometimes they'll do a piece better and get a straight cut and other times they'll get a pull when they don't do it (for someone learning a cut), and they might neglect some short game or putting practice, but generally they score about as well or better.

Rebuilding your swing has always struck me as dumb. Why rebuild your swing? Just improve the top priority piece at every stage as you go along.

[dak4n6]

I agree with Erik. I don't really know what a 'new' or 'rebuilt' swing is. I am always tweaking on some part of my swing. 10 years ago I had an epiphany and totally changed my game by keeping my weight forward, but it wasn't a totally 'new' swing, as all the other parts stayed pretty much the same.

So, for me, I never 'rebuild'. It's a constant process of tweak/play/practice all the time.