When are you too technical about your golf swing?

[Valleygolfer]

All I hear on golf channel is about how guys get too technical about the swing and think too much. Who isn't here that is not trying to get the technique right? Maybe it's just another way to call someone a headcase...

[iacas]

Never.

And the only time I'm ever really technical, at all, is when it's the appropriate time: when I'm analyzing things. Then when I go to work on them, it's right back to feeling things and changing the picture. Being my own stupid monkey.

[Harp stein]

I take that to mean thinking too much about the mechanics of the swing and placement of the club during the actual swing. I found myself in that situation for a while last fall, and it wrecked my swing for a period of time. I watched and read a bunch of stuff on the different "positions" within the swing and where the shaft/head should be in each, then started thinking about where my club was at each position during my swing. It was a mess, I completely lost control of my swing for about 2 months. My only 100+ round of the year was during that time!

Switching to just 2 feelings during the swing has helped me immensely. I want it to feel like I'm dragging the club head straight back from the ball and I want to feel like I'm stretching out my arms until the shaft is parallel to the ground. It was a miracle "fix," went back to shooting in the 80s!

[cedrictheo]

I believe there is a time to be technical and a time to grip it and rip it. You don't want to be trying to change the picture making uncomfortable swings during a tournament round. And you don't want to be practicing by hitting ball after ball with no goal in mind and your stock comfortable swing on the range. (Unless you are simulating the course and hitting to specific targets) Oh and I dont put any value in what the people on the golf channel say...

[oregongolfguy]

I am thinking about, working on swing parts etc when I am on the range.  I'm putting in the "work" on the range and at home.  Lots a slow swings, half swings, small moves etc.  But when I head to the course I turn it off.  I am there to enjoy the day, enjoy the course and see if my labors have improved anything.  I usually try to take one simple thought....Which often times is something for keeping head steady or getting my hips to slide.  And that's it.  I'm thinking about the shot, course strategy, smelling the grass.......enjoying the day.  I now take notes as I go to try to piece together things to work on next time I am practicing.  But I completely separate the two...or at least try to.

[Yukari]

This is exactly what causes my mid-season slumps.

At the beginning of the season, I usually don't think about mechanics and my scores are usually in the low 80's to mid 70's.  Then I start thinking about the mechanics around early June (I think it's because I try to correct any mistakes I've made during prior shot) and my score balloons to high 80's to low 90's.

Now that I've identified the cause for my slump, we'll see what happens this season.

[Valleygolfer]

I think a lot of us are here to be technical but trying to be natural on the golf course. I think this is part of why we pick up bad habits that we don't realize until we get technical about the golf swing again....

[MrDC]

Yeah I don't get this statement either, maybe they're talking about all the smash factor stuff, but otherwise golf is all about proper technique, without it a person simply cannot play golf, there is no "grip it and rip it", and those that do are simply using good technique without thinking too much, but no matter what- golf is a technical game, that's why it's so hard.

As for the Golf Channel, they spend all day and night talking about technical stuff, so a statement like that on the channel sounds really silly IMO.

[iacas]

I believe there is a time to be technical and a time to grip it and rip it. You don't want to be trying to change the picture making uncomfortable swings during a tournament round. And you don't want to be practicing by hitting ball after ball with no goal in mind and your stock comfortable swing on the range. (Unless you are simulating the course and hitting to specific targets)

Oh and I dont put any value in what the people on the golf channel say...

QFT. Especially the last part. :)