Swing thought

[UKWildcats]

Been trying to get one, consistent swing thought. I've tried everything from telling myself to see the ball being hit, right shoulder under chin, don't think about anything, etc.... I found one that works very well, and is amazingly simple.  I just tell myself to keep the shaft in between my arms throughout the entire swing.  When I do that, the club ends up in all the correct positions and I stay in balance.  What's your swing thought, if you have one?  I still can't believe I found one so simple after so much grinding!

[MrDC]

One? forget it, just like most I have many, but I suppose one gets more attention frequently, and for me I think relax the arms has been a big one, no tension.

[dfreuter415]

Been trying to get one, consistent swing thought. I've tried everything from telling myself to see the ball being hit, right shoulder under chin, don't think about anything, etc.... I found one that works very well, and is amazingly simple.  I just tell myself to keep the shaft in between my arms throughout the entire swing.  When I do that, the club ends up in all the correct positions and I stay in balance.  What's your swing thought, if you have one?  I still can't believe I found one so simple after so much grinding!

Over the last 50 years my swing thoughts have included:

• Posture at address: left elbow stiff, lower back in an athletic position & relaxed grip on club

• Extend the club straight back on the backswing

• Hit your left shoulder with your chin on the backswing

• Keep you left heel on the ground during the backswing

• Keep your head steady during the swing

• Extend the club down the line on the follow through

• Get you weight over to your left side on the follow through

But my daughter said it best a number of years ago when, after her golf lesson, I asked her what her prevalent swing thought was. "Dad," she said, "I've done enough drill and practice on the different parts of my swing, all I try to do is make my mind blank and hit the ball."

[UKWildcats]

That's interesting.  I've had issues with my entire left foot coming off the ground in the backswing and didn't even know it was happening.

[dfreuter415]

That's interesting.  I've had issues with my entire left foot coming off the ground in the backswing and didn't even know it was happening.

In Ben Hogan's Five Lessons , he said, "Let me caution you against lifting the left heel too high off the ground on the backswing. if the heel stays on the ground -  fine. If it comes up an inch off the ground - fine. No higher than that, though - it will only lead to faulty balance and other undesirable complications."

This was a fundamental for me.

But, you have to realize that there is another school of thought. If you look at Bobby Jones' swing, he was an advocate of lifting the left heel off of the ground. If you look at Bubba Watson, his left heel is lifted, as well.

This is one of those points that I am convinced will work either way, but you need to be consistent in your swing to get consistent results, so pick which one is best for you and go with it.

[mvmac]

Been trying to get one, consistent swing thought. I've tried everything from telling myself to see the ball being hit, right shoulder under chin, don't think about anything, etc.... I found one that works very well, and is amazingly simple.  I just tell myself to keep the shaft in between my arms throughout the entire swing.  When I do that, the club ends up in all the correct positions and I stay in balance.  What's your swing thought, if you have one?  I still can't believe I found one so simple after so much grinding!

If you get into the mode of "searching" again, just remember a swing thought should be connected/related to your your swing and your priority piece. For example, if moving my head back and forth during the swing is causing me problems, my swing thought probably won't be "don't move my head" or "still head". It needs to have something to do with moving my body or a part of my body in a way that allows me to keep my head steady.

[UKWildcats]

I try to stay away from telling a part of my body to do something.  I remember Jack Nicklaus saying never to do that.  Easier said then done, though.  It's amazing how hard it is to just clear your mind and focus your eyes on the task at hand.  As they say, "trust your hands, not your eyes".

[mvmac]

I try to stay away from telling a part of my body to do something.  I remember Jack Nicklaus saying never to do that.  Easier said then done, though.  It's amazing how hard it is to just clear your mind and focus your eyes on the task at hand.  As they say, "trust your hands, not your eyes".

Not sure where you heard that but Nicklaus had a few swing thoughts where he directed his body a certain way. Jack Grout would tell him to stretch his arms/hands to the sky and to roll his ankles to pivot back and through the shot. He has also a big steady head guy and would imagine a stake going through his head and out his back and he saw himself pivoting on that stake.

The swing thought of keeping the shaft in between your arms throughout the entire swing is telling your body to do something.

[bste]

My first thought is:

Bend at the hips, less knee bend.

Second:

Look at the ball, helps keep a steady head and everything rotates around it.

that's it for now anyway.

[dfreuter415]

Not sure where you heard that but Nicklaus had a few swing thoughts where he directed his body a certain way... He has also a big steady head guy and would imagine a stake going through his head and out his back and he saw himself pivoting on that stake.

Yep, that was a swing thought that I used years ago when I first got serious about the game we love.

[UKWildcats]

I did a poor job conveying what I was trying to say and what Nicklaus said. He was saying that you can't be telling a body part to do something DURING The swing.  We all think before taking the club away.  He was saying there's no time to do that stuff after you've taken the club away.

[rkim291968]

I usually start mine with a prayer.

[UKWildcats]

haha.  Me too.  Please don't hit it out of bounds, please stay out of that bunker, etc.  I can't turn my brain off.  Then again, 2 beers and I can't be stopped.  Play well this weekend if you play!

[skywaterbanjo]

I've posted this before but a lot of people seem to have benefited from it.  I didn't create it but I carry it with me every time I play.

[billchao]

I've posted this before but a lot of people seem to have benefited from it.  I didn't create it but I carry it with me every time I play.

That's pretty funny. Also, it gave me a headache

[eaglevision]

Been trying to get one, consistent swing thought. I've tried everything from telling myself to see the ball being hit, right shoulder under chin, don't think about anything, etc.... I found one that works very well, and is amazingly simple.  I just tell myself to keep the shaft in between my arms throughout the entire swing.  When I do that, the club ends up in all the correct positions and I stay in balance.  What's your swing thought, if you have one?  I still can't believe I found one so simple after so much grinding!

I don't believe a specific swing thought is right or wrong! Whatever works for YOU and helps YOU play consistant solid rounds. But I will say SIMPLER is probably better. [quote name="UKWildcats" url="/t/80638/swing-thought#post_1113779"] I try to stay away from telling a part of my body to do something.  I remember Jack Nicklaus saying never to do that.  Easier said then done, though.  It's amazing how hard it is to just clear your mind and focus your eyes on the task at hand.  As they say, "trust your hands, not your eyes". [/quote] Golf is a eye and hand coordination sport, so the "trust your hands, not your eyes" notion can be chucked out of the window. With that said, understanding the golfer's illusions are sort of key to help with eye and hand skills. Plus last time I checked if you are thinking about hands that is a part of the body. You have to have a swing thought. Listen to players on tour after a solid round, it seems common for them to have had a very simple swing thought (ex. Tempo, balance etc.) whatever you do don't have a downswing blackout!

[Hammer 4]

Right now, my main swing thought is...Drop my arms. Over the years, Ive had many,many swing thoughts, some even got me into trouble...

[Tgb02]

I didn't know people really thought about their swing. I usually take 1-2 practice swings and think about it but when I address the ball I usually sing a song in my head.