{"id":2157,"date":"2013-08-20T21:57:52","date_gmt":"2013-08-20T21:57:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.wedevelopyou.com\/?p=2157"},"modified":"2017-05-09T15:58:04","modified_gmt":"2017-05-09T15:58:04","slug":"swing-your-way","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wedevelopyou.com\/riggs\/2013\/08\/20\/swing-your-way\/","title":{"rendered":"Swing Your Way"},"content":{"rendered":"

Feature Article<\/strong><\/p>\n

Swing Your<\/em> Way<\/p>\n

Fundamental to quality play under pressure is the creation and use of, what ONE Way Golf calls, a Swing Way.<\/p>\n

Swing Ways are designed to keep you confident, focused and calm while swinging the club. Consider a Swing Way as a mental
\nmagnet \u2013 it attracts your focus during the swing. A Swing Way keeps you locked in to the right thing \u2013 the feel of the perfect swing that will produce the shot you have visualized in your mind\u2019s eye.<\/p>\n

The premise behind developing and maintaining a Swing Way throughout your swing is very simple; when you are standing over a \u201cmust hit shot\u201d you\u2019ll need something to keep your mind absorbed. If you don\u2019t have something prearranged to be aware of, the wrong kind of thought will fill your mind and may negatively affect your swing. These wrong kinds of thoughts are distractions that must be avoided. A Swing Way acts a lure — keeping your mind fully focused on the feel of the ideal swing that will produce an excellent shot.<\/p>\n

Having a Swing Way is designed to simplify the shot-making process so you can swing your club your best when it matters most. If you find after considerable practice your Way is \u201cnot right\u201d or \u201cgets into your head\u201d, you\u2019ll need to develop simpler Ways. Make sure your Swing Ways are about the \u201cfeel\u201d of the perfect swing \u2013 not about the mechanics of the perfect swing. No one ever played their best golf with armies of swing thoughts marching around in their head.<\/p>\n

When it comes to playing your best golf, what goes on inside your head often plays a crucial factor. Too often, it\u2019s easy to become distracted or overwhelmed by the task at hand.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s why it\u2019s key that your head is in the right place on the course and why swing thoughts are so important.<\/p>\n

Swing thoughts aren\u2019t necessarily always technical or mechanical; more often they pave the way to quieting your mind and freeing yourself from your inner demons so that you can perform to the best of your ability. It\u2019s about getting out of your own way and narrowing your focus to one or two key thoughts.<\/p>\n

We asked some local swing doctors to help unlock some mysteries of the mind and share some of their key swing thoughts. Whether it\u2019s an actual phrase that you repeat to yourself before each shot, a reliable pre-shot routine or the proper grip pressure, swing thoughts are an invaluable way of narrowing your focus.<\/p>\n

Here are some ways to accomplish this goal. And remember, the most important swing thought is the one that works best for you.<\/p>\n

SMOOTH SAILING: My number one swing thought is \u201csmooth takeaway and accelerate into the ball.\u201d This helps overcome any herky-jerky, anxiety-filled swings while assisting with light but consistent grip pressure. To be smooth, you must be relaxed. This is a great swing thought for those first-tee jitters and pressure-filled shots. By accelerating club head speed at impact, you are ensuring a solid, confident swing. It\u2019s perfect for solid short game, especially chipping, pitching, bunker play and the dough-maker putting. \u2013 Eric Lohman, PGA General Manager, Monarch Beach Golf Links<\/strong><\/p>\n

FEEL YOUR WAY: When you put the tee in the ground on the first hole, you can\u2019t bring a lot of mental baggage with you. Here are two simple thoughts for your next round: soft hands and feel the club head. You can\u2019t generate speed if your hands and wrists are tight, so soft hands are critical to speed and fluidity. Feeling the club head and where it is throughout your swing is a great place to direct your attention to quiet all the other rubbish that can enter your mind while playing. If you know where the club head is, your attention isn\u2019t being misdirected to things you can\u2019t control. \u2013 Martin Chuck, PGA, Tour Striker Golf Academy, Raven Golf Club \u2013 Phoenix<\/strong><\/p>\n

FIND YOUR RHYTHM: One of my former coaches used to tell me: \u201cDance with who you brought.\u201d Once you get to the golf course the time for swing changes and fixes is over, and you have to play with what you have that day. I prefer my students to commit to feelings and sensations rather than mechanics because it is tough to be athletic when you are thinking of a motor skill. It is important that you have a clear intention as to what you want the ball to do and what feeling produces that shot. Try to key into the rhythm of the swing that feels correct in the pre-shot routine, and then commit to the same rhythm through the ball. \u2013 Chris Mayson, Director of Instruction, Maderas Golf Academy<\/strong><\/p>\n

GET A GRIP: A great thought to have on the course is to be aware of your grip pressure. Focus on how tight your hands feel on the grip. The last three fingers of the left hand (for right-handed golfers) should feel tighter than the index finger and thumb. The right hand should be placed lightly on the grip with the right thumb resting on the top left side of grip and feeling a sensation of the two middle fingers hooked around the grip and slight pressure of right palm covering the left thumb. While hitting a shot, focus your attention on the feeling of the pressure points mentioned and be aware if the pressure tightens or remains the same. \u2013 Michelle Dub\u00e9, LPGA Master Teaching Professional, Tijeras Creek Golf Club<\/strong><\/p>\n

TRUST YOUR ROUTINE: I always encourage students to do their thinking on the practice range. Once on the course, I remind them to use their pre-shot routine and concentrate on rhythm. The pre-shot routine is a key element to consistently preparing for any shot. Most pre-shot routines have three elements \u2013 lining up from behind the ball, setting up to the ball and waggling to relax. Then, let it go! One way to learn rhythm is to have a song or tune in mind that has a constant beat that you can match to your swing. Some people use a count such as 1, 2, 3 on backswing and 1, 2, 3 on downswing to keep rhythm. Remember to leave the mechanics on the range and work on your pre-shot routine and rhythm on the course. \u2013 Willie Maples, PGA Director of Golf, Eagle Falls Golf Course<\/strong><\/p>\n

REPETITION IS KEY: Most people think about too many things during their swing. I believe it is important to keep the thinking to a minimum and not get technical with swing thoughts on the course. The two best swing thoughts I always teach my students are tempo and repetition. It is important for players to think about tempo so they don\u2019t over swing when they get on the course. I also believe it relaxes people. If you can think about repeating what you have been practicing on the lesson tee it will help keep the technical thoughts away. Both swing thoughts are designed to clear your mind and simplify the sequence of events prior to making a swing. \u2013 Kyle Oliver, Head Golf Professional, Rancho San Marcos<\/strong><\/p>\n

KEEP IT SIMPLE: There is a huge difference in practicing your swing and playing the game on the course. Before going out to the course, I coach my students to focus their attention on where they want the ball to go \u2013 fairway, green or hole. I also like them to incorporate a movement phrase of some kind like \u201cback and through\u201d that acts as a simple command they can respond to without much thought. My belief is that the swing is the hardware and it doesn\u2019t run properly without the right software. When you keep your attention on target while playing with a simple task like \u201cturn and go\u201d before hitting, you will have everything you need to operate your ball-striking machine (body and mind) and \u201cplay golf\u201d \u2013 not \u201cplay golf swing.\u201d \u2013 Kris Moe, Kris Moe Golf Schools, Napa<\/strong><\/p>\n

VISUALIZE AND FEEL: The golf course is a very different place than the practice facility. While it is important that you work on the mechanics of your swing on the range, it is just as important that on the course you are able to rid yourself of those mechanical thoughts and play golf. I like the words \u201cvisualize\u201d and \u201cfeel\u201d on the course. Stand behind the ball and visualize the shot that you want to hit. Then make practice swings that will produce that shot. Swing until you have accomplished the feeling for your specific shot. Then stand over the ball and recreate that feeling. \u2013 Jeff Fisher, Director of Instruction, OB Sports Golf Academy<\/strong><\/p>\n

S\u00b2 Tip\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

The most important swing thought is the one that works best for you.<\/p>\n

Success Story<\/strong><\/p>\n

Congratulations to Matthew Fitzpatrick who became the first Englishman since 1911 to win the US Amateur Championship. Matthew cruised to a 4 and 3 victory this past weekend with his little brother on the bag! Way to go Matthew, good luck at the Master’s!<\/p>\n

In Another\u2019s Words\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n

“One can choose to go back toward safety or forward toward growth. Growth must be chosen again and again; fear must be overcome again and again.”<\/p>\n

— Abraham Maslow, Psychologist<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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