Thoughts on swing thoughts?

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By Mike D., Titleist Staff

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  1. Team Titleist Staff

    I've bounced through a lot of swing thoughts and it is safe to say, way too many of them. I know the best swing thought is to not have a swing thought, but I have found visualizing the best shot I've ever hit with the club that I have in my hand just before taking the club back has yielded some solid results.

    So the question is, what is working for you right now or what has worked well for you in the past?

  2. Chris S

    Chris S
    Dubuque, IA

    Good question Mike.  I have found over the years that I am a very visual player so I visualize the ball landing in the fairways, landing on the green, going in the hole. All with flight or roll that I am looking for. My thoughts are... Nice and easy, right in the fairway. Right on the green and right in the hole. 

    I try to keep it simple or Nice and Easy and try not to over complicate anything on the golf course. 

     Chris S

  3. Mike C

    Mike C
    Dallas, TX

    As you state, the best thought is no thought at all, just do what comes natural.  This is all good and well in theory, but pretty difficult to do, especially for us amateur players and even harder where it is a pressure situation.

    What I try to do, especially in pressure situations, is to visualize a similar shot I have executed in a pressure situation.  Whether it was a critical time in a match, or a shot I need to make so card a certain score, I go back to these experiences to draw upon.  My brain thinks "I did it then and I can do it now" and I can relax and go into auto-pilot.  I also try to focus on a single dimple on the ball as I am addressing it and stay on that dimple until the ball is gone.  I have found this helps to block out other thoughts I could have that tend to sway my focus.

  4. Scott

    Scott
    San Antonio, TX

    Military
    Just focus on the target, you already know how to swing, just focus on the target, nothing else but the target.
  5. Tim Tiger

    Tim Tiger
    Tucson, AZ

    It's all in the hips, It's all in the hips.

    TT

  6. 19hole

    19hole
    Reading, MA

    Mike,

    You need to channel Roy McAvoy.....

    Romeo: Your brain is getting in the way..

    Roy: That's hardly ever been the case...

  7. Dylan B

    Dylan B
    Stanthorpe, 0

    I've never had any swing thoughts I know what I have to do and I do it. No visualizing or anything like that

  8. Doug E

    Doug E
    Urbana, MD

    I have three general thoughts (plus a million or so others that I try to save for the range). I am considering having my three thoughts printed on my new personalized PROv1x balls---the special, buy three dozen, get a 4th dozen free deal. They are, in order:

    Take Dead Aim

    Tempo Tempo Tempo

    Solid Finish 

  9. Take dead aim - kuddos to the late Harvey Penick! I have a great personal story about meeting him if anyone wants to hear it.

  10. nucjg695

    nucjg695
    Libertyville, IL

    For me, swing thoughts are exactly like my swing - nothing seems to last forever and seemingly changes by the day.  I just hope to figure something out by the 3rd hole and stick with it through the day.  A psychologist would have a field day with me.

    Charlie

  11. Ron M.

    Ron M.
    Ossining, NY

    Swing thoughts should be left at the range. The most important swing thought I have at the range is when my shoulder hits my chin its time to deliver. During a round I try only to swing through to a target...
  12. KL

    KL
    Columbus, GA

    I agree with keeping it simple! My focus, after checking stance, ball position and alignment, is: 1. Relax, especially arms and grip 2. Tempo; I swing to a phrase I repeat in my mind to maintain tempo and a pause at the top 3. For bunker shots, I visualize the slo-mo shot I see on TV with the pros.
  13. joe t

    joe t
    roseville, MI

    My best shots come when I'm "in the Zone". That is to say, not thinking about the swing mechanics, just what the shot will look like and what swing will produce that shot. Then get over the ball and swing. Easier said then done, and it only seems to happen when I'm in the zone, so to speak.
  14. Frank B

    Frank B
    Suwanee, GA

    It's odd but as a tall player, tempo is something I have to concentrate on. I have fought a quick takeaway my whole golfing life. I have tried to imitate Ernie's tempo since he became a mainstay on Tour. So, I actually in my head say his name to myself as I swing: "Errrrrrnnnniiiieeee ...!" Strange.....but it works for me. 

  15. Speedy

    Speedy
    Newmarket, NH

    Frank i have to agree with you, IMO Ernie has the smoothest swing on tour...  

  16. tdogg21

    tdogg21
    Chambersburg, PA

    I usually pick one or two things I'm working on and think about that during the swing.  I find it helps to have one thing to focus on.  It keeps my mind from wandering and thinking of other random swing thoughts.

  17. Lou G

    Lou G
    San Diego, CA

    Pretty simple.... rotate front arm through swing.  Quiet lower body on backswing and active on downswing, eye on the ball from takeaway through contact.  The things like wrist hinge and weight shift come with the package.

    The basic golf swing doesn't change, even with a pitch or chip.

  18. Carl T

    Carl T
    Little Rock, AR

    I have had several swing thoughts that have worked over the years but the one thought that has worked for me for the past year is to start my backswing with my shoulders and keep the club head outside of my hands. If I do that everything usually falls into place.

    Starting with my shoulders keeps my shoulders, arms and hands in a one piece take away and rotating keeping my body behind the ball and maintaining my address spine angle all take place without any further thought. Unfortunately when I get under some pressure I do not use my swing thought and get way to quick and bad results follow. I think this is why I have a teenage handicap.

    The start with the shoulder works for everything including putting except when chipping or in a greenside bunker. For those situations my swing thought is my first move is to hinge and hold (Phil's method for the short game.)

  19. Frank B

    Frank B
    Suwanee, GA

    Christopher H said:

    Frank i have to agree with you, IMO Ernie has the smoothest swing on tour...  

    I'm glad you knew who I was talking about. That should have read "Errrrnnnniiiieee ...!" , with the last name being the through swing...

  20. orson m

    orson m
    jacksonville, FL

    I have the same issue, working on swing changes, so i have struggled on the golf course, with over thinking. Got a great tip, Focus on a routine, mine is three steps to the ball two looks and swing the club. I tried it today and shot 80, I think i will  stick with it

  21. Nick P

    Nick P
    Lincoln, NE

    Once I know my yardage and get aligned, I can almost always tell if I'm going to hit a good shot by the time I get halfway back.  So for me, I focus on a smooth, SLOW takeaway.   I just visualize the club head and getting it on plane.  After that, fire away!

  22. james w

    james w
    jessup, PA

    I have been working on slow takeaway so not to move my head( I sway) and slow to hit the ball

    when you hit the ball solid it flies better, I am still going to try your though and see how it goes.

    James team titleist

  23. brandon b

    brandon b
    sorrento, FL

    My best pre shot routine starts with standing behind the ball and getting a line and finding a target. Than one practice swing I address the ball and take a deep breath just prior to taking the in back I release my breath slowly focusing on one spot on the ball. Kind of like pulling the trigger on a gun. Be smooth and let your body take over. Works for me great most of the time and the breath control relaxes me. I heard yesterday that one LPGA golfer is using hypnosis in her training. She could have something there

  24. Speedy

    Speedy
    Newmarket, NH

    I hear you Mike..  A buddy of mine down in FL is a certified PGA golf instructor and gave me some tips with my swing.  The 2 biggest tips for me was to relax and have fun, let the club do the rest....   We'll see how that goes this summer..

    Or else i'll be doing this (see below)

  25. AJAR

    AJAR
    Portland, OR

    This is such a great image! It could accurately represent 'the image' of what not to think about. I personally just visualize the ball leaving the turf and desired flight and landing the way I want it to. After that, grip and rip.
  26. Bill P

    Bill P
    Ludlow, MA

    Interesting topic.....I've discovered that I'm much better off when I can limit it to just two swing thoughts as I prepare for the shot.....my current ones are usually "head still" and "be aggressive"....

    It's also better when these don't creep in during the swing itself......think, think, think.....stop thinking...!!!

                                                                 B.P.

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