Ingraining a Swing Change

[Foot Wedge]

Last week I started taking lessons and the instructor focused on setting the club properly at the top of my backswing instead of over my shoulders and to the right of my target as I had gotten used to, which has been causing hooks.  (I've attached a picture of before/after, ordered a tripod to start using video with my net at home so I may post a member video)  

This change brought immediate results during the lesson, but I tried to play a few holes this weekend while focusing on the proper backswing and the results were disastrous.  I understand that a lesson isn't magic and a swing change is gradual, so I was wondering if y'all might have any tips for going about ingraining a swing change.  I may have been a bit too aggressive in hitting a few balls at home then going straight to playing instead of starting with short irons, 3/4 swings etc. at the driving range.  Thanks in advance!

Before

After

[mvmac]

19 minutes ago, Foot Wedge said:

so I was wondering if y'all might have any tips for going about ingraining a swing change.

Nice work!

Here's some good threads to check out.

[Wanzo]

Mike gave you the good stuff, my only thought to add is to be patient. Keep doing what you need to in practice and when you play, just play.  Think big picture. 

[RandallT]

Yep- a topic near and dear to my heart. Agree with everything so far, obviously.

I've had slow success doing the same thing over and over and over every day. Just a 5 - 10mins. Much of my work has been backswing related, so that I'm in position for a decent downswing.

Just dedicate the time to focus on a very small number of things, and do it repetitively.

When you're ready to move that piece, whatever it is, to a swing at the range, don't just pound balls to see if you've got it. Make swings at fairly slow speeds as you hit a ball (maybe even just 50yds or less) and validate that you're doing that thing you're working on. DON'T move on until you get it, or until a new priority is identified. Speed up til you've got it at full speeds and it's "unconscious."

In fact, the thread below on conscious/unconscious competence is exactly what you're asking (ingraining = unconscious), so check it out:

It's ok if it takes a while.  Read that thread above and think about/be honest with yourself if your new backswing is "unconscious."  It's all too easy to have it slip back into your "before" pic.

And yes, when you play, just play. Find a swing that works when you warm up, and play naturally. Just trust that it is bleeding over (it might, or it might not).

[JonMA1]

4 hours ago, Foot Wedge said:

 I understand that a lesson isn't magic and a swing change is gradual

The fact that you understand this should go a long way towards bringing realistic expectations. It's gotten to the point for me where overnight success brings more apprehension than confidence... I've seen too many instances where the success just doesn't stick. 

I posted a similar question recently and most of the replies indicated it takes a great deal of repetition and time to really change. It's so easy to slip back into bad habits.

[Buckeyebowman]

Making a swing change is a lot easier on the range when you're practicing than when you're on the course trying to score. This is just as true for pros as it is for amateurs. I took none other than Tiger Woods a full 2 years to fully incorporate a swing change.

I don't say this to discourage you, just to remind you to stay patient and keep working at it. You'll get there, it just probably won't be tomorrow.

[Foot Wedge]

15 hours ago, mvmac said:

Nice work!

Here's some good threads to check out.

Thanks a lot for the info, this is really interesting stuff.  I guess I got tied up in thinking 'practice how you play' by going straight to playing.  I'm glad I have a net at home, by not seeing the ball flight after contact I can forget about it and focus on those slow repetitive swings. 

@RandallT thanks for the input from your experience.  My focus is the backswing as well, so it helps to have a strategy for making this change since I had never taken lessons before last week.  Thanks everyone else, patience will have to be a virtue.