how to breathe at top of backswing and downswing

[hack2scratch]

As i am practicing my hip turn and posting left leg to start the downswing, i started noticing that i will hold my breathe really hard and wont release until after the completion of the swing.

During a regular swing, i dont really notice as it will be over.

During practice and drills, where i pass on top of backswing, hip slide and turn, swing, i have a good 10 seconds of holding it in, i get light headed and dizzy and many even sometimes sick in the stomach. I can't seem to breathe and just stop breathing when i am focusing on all the steps.

Any drills to breathe?

[iacas]

Just breathe?

Why hold it for 10 seconds?

There are times when I'm practicing when I'll get out of breath a little bit. Not dizzy, but out of breath, because I'm concentrating and not breathing very much.

[roamin]

I've noticed myself breathing hard after a 10 minute slow-mo session and have always wondered why until I read your reply, @iacas. Hack's question makes me curious though...

For a normal swing, I try to take a medium-deep breath with nice, even exhale just before I start my backswing, but I think I hold it from there... not entirely sure.

What are your thoughts on breathing during the swing (while playing)? What do you do during the swing, re: breathing? (or have you ever even thought about it )

Edit: Nevermind, was just outside practicing and noticed I don't hold my breath. I start inhaling again as the backswing starts. Not sure where the exhale starts, once I started paying attention to it, I couldn't tell what was natural.

[Buckeyebowman]

Are you trying to be funny, hack2? That's one of the oldest skull jobs in golf! Asking your playing competitor if they inhale or exhale on their backswing!

Seriously though, I have a DVD of a concert by Bela Fleck and the Flecktones. During the presentation every member of the band gets their own segment. The bass player goes back to his music school for a tutorial for students studying the bass. During this he tells them, "When I'm soloing, I really have to remember to breathe!" This is so he doesn't get too tense.

As for my golf swing, I'll try to breathe normally during address, take a fair sized inhale, and then a good exhale just before pulling the trigger. Heck, it works for rifle and bow shooting, both of which I do. Slows the heart and relaxes the muscles.

[hack2scratch]

no no, legit question! I seem to not be able to breathe when i'm working on positions and swing things.

If i try to breathe, i lose all my form. Not sure if why.