spindrift99
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- May 4, 2021
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I did some searching on these forums but didn't find much. I am a textbook 'victim' of what is described here:
When the ball is there, it's like I have yip....trying to hit the ball instead of swing though. I can 'feel' that my visual/mental fixation on the ball is taking all my attention/focus, causing a quicker backswing, way too fast of a transition (I actually start my downswing before finishing my backswing, which not only makes for bad consistency but is also terrible for my back!), and I don't follow through very well. Whereas when the ball is not there, I'm actually able to focus on even 2 things (GOOD things): slow/smooth back, and then whip the club through a section of grass towards the target. (During the swing through the grass, I'm strictly focusing on the TARGET and where the club should END UP...I'm not focusing on a ball because there is no ball...obvious, right?). BTW, I would note that I have people videotaping me showing the massive difference, and yes, the swing without the ball is going through the right spot, and the club is in a good position at top and a good arc through the place where the ball 'would' be, so my setup and swing without the ball is indeed 'quality'. (as evidenced by when I get through a bunch of balls on the range as mentioned below, I can eventually stripe my shots, and a 9 iron is 135yds and very high trajectory)
I have read various tips, the most common one being 'focus on a blade of grass in front of the fall'. Sounds easy, but it's not (because I KNOW the ball is there now). So, I'm curious if anybody has had this 'hit instinct yip' and found crafty/successful ways to conquer it. Any shortcuts or 'surefire ways' to get over this hit instinct?
I read some things about focusing more on the target (and swing the club towards the target) during the swing. Is that something I should try to mentally focus on the most, and see how it goes?
I will say that when on the range, after warming up and hitting maybe 20 balls, I can ALMOST forget that the ball is there and just swing through the ball (repeating my practice swing ease/feel/whip/lag, focusing on the target and the followthrough). So maybe it's just more practice, but I'd like to practice with a purpose.
Or, maybe I can design a pair of special high tech glasses that literally block the ball out of one's vision, and replaces it with grass (half serious, that would be an awesome invention, wouldn't it? It would probably be banned in tournament play...hahhh)
thx for any tips from experience!
The Practice Swing Phenomenon - Golf Instruction Article - PGAProfessional.com
Golf instruction article on practice swings versus swings with the ball from PGA Professional Mark Blakemore
www.pgaprofessional.com
When the ball is there, it's like I have yip....trying to hit the ball instead of swing though. I can 'feel' that my visual/mental fixation on the ball is taking all my attention/focus, causing a quicker backswing, way too fast of a transition (I actually start my downswing before finishing my backswing, which not only makes for bad consistency but is also terrible for my back!), and I don't follow through very well. Whereas when the ball is not there, I'm actually able to focus on even 2 things (GOOD things): slow/smooth back, and then whip the club through a section of grass towards the target. (During the swing through the grass, I'm strictly focusing on the TARGET and where the club should END UP...I'm not focusing on a ball because there is no ball...obvious, right?). BTW, I would note that I have people videotaping me showing the massive difference, and yes, the swing without the ball is going through the right spot, and the club is in a good position at top and a good arc through the place where the ball 'would' be, so my setup and swing without the ball is indeed 'quality'. (as evidenced by when I get through a bunch of balls on the range as mentioned below, I can eventually stripe my shots, and a 9 iron is 135yds and very high trajectory)
I have read various tips, the most common one being 'focus on a blade of grass in front of the fall'. Sounds easy, but it's not (because I KNOW the ball is there now). So, I'm curious if anybody has had this 'hit instinct yip' and found crafty/successful ways to conquer it. Any shortcuts or 'surefire ways' to get over this hit instinct?
I read some things about focusing more on the target (and swing the club towards the target) during the swing. Is that something I should try to mentally focus on the most, and see how it goes?
I will say that when on the range, after warming up and hitting maybe 20 balls, I can ALMOST forget that the ball is there and just swing through the ball (repeating my practice swing ease/feel/whip/lag, focusing on the target and the followthrough). So maybe it's just more practice, but I'd like to practice with a purpose.
Or, maybe I can design a pair of special high tech glasses that literally block the ball out of one's vision, and replaces it with grass (half serious, that would be an awesome invention, wouldn't it? It would probably be banned in tournament play...hahhh)
thx for any tips from experience!
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