How do you play while working on your swing?

[chspeed]

I've recently started taking lessons with Evolvr. I'm currently focusing on a shorter backswing and a stronger grip. My practice is, as recommended, slow, specific, etc. I'm trying to swing slowly, make good contact, launch the ball in the right direction, and slowly build up speed. It's tough going, and I expect it to take a long time before it sticks. I love practice so I don't mind.

However, I play once a week with buddies, and want to have some fun (and not lose any money!). I don't want to - and can't - simply forget about what I've been working on. However, trying to bring my new bacskwing to full speed while playing has some, let's just say, unpredictable results.

What do you all do when trying to play during swing changes?

[Shindig]

This won't solve your problem fully, but I plan my evolvr lessons around my playing schedule. I ask for a lesson when I'm going to have time to practice and don't intend to play for at least a week, starting when I'll be able to start applying the lesson. I also try to make sure the video I send in is recent at that point. For example: I'm playing this upcoming Saturday and Sunday. I'm comfortable enough with my current results to play, and I'll be taking and submitting video on Monday. There's a slight chance I'll play on Mothers' Day weekend; if I am going to play, I won't try to implement the lesson until the 11th. If I don't play, I'll go to the range and work on it then. As for you, you might want to plan your lessons to start implementing the lessons the day after the round, with the awareness that you might not do well after only six days of practice. But at least this maximizes your chance of playing decently well with your friends. But don't tell them you're taking lessons if you haven't already: you don't want them to badmouth the lessons based on only seeing how you do mid-change.

[No Mulligans]

I'm doing Evolvr also.

I do practice my priority while playing rounds.  But I try to limit it to one or two thoughts.  For example, steady head, weight forward on down swing.  One relaxed practice swing with those thoughts then I try to repeat it on my real swing.

[SavvySwede]

I'm pretty much always working on my swing to some extent and even when making seemingly drastic changes it doesn't hurt you as much as you think. It is all in the mental game. People tend to panic and think their swing is going to be useless. Stick with your current swing thoughts and just remember you are directing them at your target.

[Golfingdad]

What do you all do when trying to play during swing changes?

I had a lesson a couple of weeks ago on a Friday morning, and then played 18 on Friday afternoon.  I was joking with my friends that I was either going to shoot 74 or 94, depending on how the lesson went.  (actually shot an 81)

All I did was warm up and play like I normally would, but with a swing thought more in line with what I worked on in the lesson.  My swings were almost certainly EXACTLY the same as the were the previous day, but at least with the new swing thought I had confidence that I was heading in the right direction.

Along with my swing thought, I adjust my "waggle" to sort of match that thought.

Just don't be afraid of the changes.  Embrace them.

[Jakester23]

To the OP just have fun with your round but continue to work on your evolvr lesson. Unless you're in a tournament IMO it's all practice. So stick with your priority piece but don't think to much on the course.

[chspeed]

But don't tell them you're taking lessons if you haven't already: you don't want them to badmouth the lessons based on only seeing how you do mid-change.

Oh, my friends wont' badmouth my lessons, they'll just rip on me directly.

I do practice my priority while playing rounds.  But I try to limit it to one or two thoughts.  For example, steady head, weight forward on down swing.  One relaxed practice swing with those thoughts then I try to repeat it on my real swing.

Good Idea. Fewer thoughts is always better.

I'm pretty much always working on my swing to some extent and even when making seemingly drastic changes it doesn't hurt you as much as you think.

Thanks. I guess we're all working on our swings all the time - if we weren't we probably wouldn't be on this site!

Originally Posted by Golfingdad

My swings were almost certainly EXACTLY the same as the were the previous day, but at least with the new swing thought I had confidence that I was heading in the right direction.

So true. Unless the new move is REALLY ingrained, I bet most of us revert to what's comfortable when on the course.

[SoundandFury]

Going through the same thing.  Honestly, when I play, I'm much less aware of anything I'm working on.  Practice is slow, specific, etc., and focused on the change as opposed to the result.  When I play though, it's all about result.  I do my best to think about what I'm trying to change, but as a buddy said a week or so ago after a particularly good tee shot "that shit looks the same as it did last week and the week before."  The more I practice, the more my game swing is starting to reflect the changes, but when I'm playing golf (not golf swing or practice), I just want to score.

[iacas]

Going through the same thing.  Honestly, when I play, I'm much less aware of anything I'm working on.  Practice is slow, specific, etc., and focused on the change as opposed to the result.  When I play though, it's all about result.  I do my best to think about what I'm trying to change, but as a buddy said a week or so ago after a particularly good tee shot "that shit looks the same as it did last week and the week before."  The more I practice, the more my game swing is starting to reflect the changes, but when I'm playing golf (not golf swing or practice), I just want to score.

That's pretty much it.

Unless you play a good bit more than you practice, 30-35 full swings on the golf course are not going to set your practice back much at all.

Worst case, have one simple swing thought from your lessons and play with just that.

[chspeed]

Unless you play a good bit more than you practice, 30-35 full swings on the golf course are not going to set your practice back much at all.

Thanks - sounds like a plan. If it's only 30-35 full swings, I'll be very happy. :)

[mvmac]

What do you all do when trying to play during swing changes?

As others have said, take one simple swing thought, something connected to your lesson/priority piece, to the course.

[RFKFREAK]

I try and just keep one thought in my head (at the moment, for me it's keeping my weight forward) but otherwise, I just do my regular swing.

At some point, it'll get ingrained in me if I keep working at it the right way.

[saevel25]

As others have said, take one simple swing thought, something connected to your lesson/priority piece, to the course.

Pretty much this. ^^^

For me I just try to go out and swing. I might make a few practice backswing moves, but mostly I want to make a good turn.

I do recommend going to the driving range before a round to at least warm up to get a feel for contact and what type of flight the swing feel I want is producing. For me right now I am hitting a fade with the driver, which I am happy with. I hit a slight draw with the irons. Sometimes during a round I can start to get my old swing creeping back in. I know the tendencies of that ball flight and might be a bit more aware of it. Besides that I try to keep it simple and just play.

I've learned first hand trying to work on your swing during a round is not good.

[GolfLug]

Although not on purpose, I am hyper aware of my priority piece during my round. I have stopped other swing thoughts and whittled down to a single priority thought now and has made a huge difference in my ball striking and very noticeable in my scores. I find it helpful to do at least a mini drill in my mind before I hit a shot. Additionally, I do think 'stay soft' as an overall feeling during the round.

In absence of ANY conscious swing thought at all I simply de-rail and get completely lost in my round.