Practice backswing is good - actual not so much

[gregsandiego]

So I'm taking lessons now and I know what one of my problems is: my backswing isn't long enough. If I don't have to hit a ball I can do this great, but on a real shot I choke and start down way too early. It seems mental but I'm having a hard time forcing myself to do it. Any tips?

[saevel25]

So I'm taking lessons now and I know what one of my problems is: my backswing isn't long enough. If I don't have to hit a ball I can do this great, but on a real shot I choke and start down way too early. It seems mental but I'm having a hard time forcing myself to do it. Any tips?

It would be impossible to tell you what to fix with out seeing your swing. There are many causes to this issue.

You can post a video of your swing on the forum by creating a My Swing here,

http://thesandtrap.com/f/4180/member-swings

Here is a guide to help you out,

http://thesandtrap.com/t/38240/my-swing-video-threads-rules-please-read

[mvmac]

So I'm taking lessons now and I know what one of my problems is: my backswing isn't long enough. If I don't have to hit a ball I can do this great, but on a real shot I choke and start down way too early. It seems mental but I'm having a hard time forcing myself to do it. Any tips?

It's not mental, you just have to practice it properly.

[bankquant]

I remember this video from some time ago.. I personally have trouble with this as well and tense up too much in my actual swing vs practice swing. I think exhaling throughout the swing is a good drill

[gregsandiego]

I remember this video from some time ago.. I personally have trouble with this as well and tense up too much in my actual swing vs practice swing. I think exhaling throughout the swing is a good drill

Thank you for this. I have heard many people with the same complaint but this is the first time I've seen an instructor give some tips to fight it. I will try them.

[cedrictheo]

It's simple, if you have the discipline to change. Here's the real answer... Do the backswing at a slow enough speed that you know it's long, and then hit the ball (disregard how good or bad you struck it). Now do it again and again very slowly increasing the speed of the backswing but you must be 100% certain it is long enough. Continue to disregard how well you are hitting it. Use a mirror or camera as feedback. Repeat for 20 minutes a day for a couple weeks.

[mvmac]

It's simple, if you have the discipline to change. Here's the real answer... Do the backswing at a slow enough speed that you know it's long, and then hit the ball (disregard how good or bad you struck it). Now do it again and again very slowly increasing the speed of the backswing but you must be 100% certain it is long enough. Continue to disregard how well you are hitting it. Use a mirror or camera as feedback.

Repeat for 20 minutes a day for a couple weeks.

Good advice, @gregsandiego what are your thoughts? Think you can do this?

[gregsandiego]

Good advice, @gregsandiego what are your thoughts? Think you can do this?

I can. Though I'm not fond of drills that result in a mishit. If I can do the slow motion drill while hitting the ball that sounds good.

BTW mvmac, we're obviously both in San Diego. Where do you play?

[cedrictheo]

The more you can accept poor contact in drill swings the faster you'll change IMO

[SoundandFury]

The more you can accept poor contact in drill swings the faster you'll change IMO

This.  Took me a long time to finally accept this.  The problem with trying to change something major in your swing AND expect to hit decent shots is: (1) it's not going to happen for a while because you've become really comfortable with whatever your old swing is, and developed certain subconscious compensations that allow you to make good contact; and (2) because those compensations are subconscious, after a few "bad" shots with the new swing, you're going to revert back (without thinking about it) to the old to find your way to the ball.

Also, when I say "bad" shots, I don't just mean directionally...I mean mishits all over the place, shots more offline than you've seen in years, etc.  Practice in pieces at a slow pace.  Right now I'm hitting one full shot for every 15 I do at a slow speed, and even that might be getting ahead of myself.

[gregsandiego]

This.  Took me a long time to finally accept this.  The problem with trying to change something major in your swing AND expect to hit decent shots is: (1) it's not going to happen for a while because you've become really comfortable with whatever your old swing is, and developed certain subconscious compensations that allow you to make good contact; and (2) because those compensations are subconscious, after a few "bad" shots with the new swing, you're going to revert back (without thinking about it) to the old to find your way to the ball.

Also, when I say "bad" shots, I don't just mean directionally...I mean mishits all over the place, shots more offline than you've seen in years, etc.  Practice in pieces at a slow pace.  Right now I'm hitting one full shot for every 15 I do at a slow speed, and even that might be getting ahead of myself.

I think I understand it. I know that if you make a change everything goes wacky - I don't ex

This.  Took me a long time to finally accept this.  The problem with trying to change something major in your swing AND expect to hit decent shots is: (1) it's not going to happen for a while because you've become really comfortable with whatever your old swing is, and developed certain subconscious compensations that allow you to make good contact; and (2) because those compensations are subconscious, after a few "bad" shots with the new swing, you're going to revert back (without thinking about it) to the old to find your way to the ball.

Also, when I say "bad" shots, I don't just mean directionally...I mean mishits all over the place, shots more offline than you've seen in years, etc.  Practice in pieces at a slow pace.  Right now I'm hitting one full shot for every 15 I do at a slow speed, and even that might be getting ahead of myself.

Not sure I want to accept that. I'm not a PGA pro I just want to play reasonable golf. So can't I tweak something a bit at a time?

[mvmac]

BTW mvmac, we're obviously both in San Diego. Where do you play?

Bernardo Heights CC

Not sure I want to accept that. I'm not a PGA pro I just want to play reasonable golf. So can't I tweak something a bit at a time?

Even a tweak will require you to practice properly. To change something an inch, it will have to feel like a foot.

[gregsandiego]

Bernardo Heights CC

Even a tweak will require you to practice properly. To change something an inch, it will have to feel like a foot.

Looks like a nice place @mvmac. I hope a round the public courses all over the county. Mission Trails is my "home course" if any.

[The Recreational Golfer]

It might be that your backswing is too long. That's OK when you are just swinging the club, but when there's a ball in front of you, you are aware at an unconscious level that you're not sure you can find the ball accurately with the clubhead again.

Think of driving a nail with a hammer. You'll take the hammer back only so far that you are sure you can hit the little nail head with the not much bigger hammer head.

With a golf club, there's a limit to how far back you can take the club and have the same feeling of connection between the ball and the clubface. Try taking very short backswings, gradually lengthening them until you find that limit. You'll be in a feeling of control at all times, which might make the need to rush your downswing go away.

[gregsandiego]

It might be that your backswing is too long. That's OK when you are just swinging the club, but when there's a ball in front of you, you are aware at an unconscious level that you're not sure you can find the ball accurately with the clubhead again.

Think of driving a nail with a hammer. You'll take the hammer back only so far that you are sure you can hit the little nail head with the not much bigger hammer head.

With a golf club, there's a limit to how far back you can take the club and have the same feeling of connection between the ball and the clubface. Try taking very short backswings, gradually lengthening them until you find that limit. You'll be in a feeling of control at all times, which might make the need to rush your downswing go away.

This sounds like a good drill but one of my instructors said I definitely don't need to worry about "being too long".