I used to think awareness was enough. That once we’re aware of the dumb things we do, well, it’s obvious that we’ll change. It makes no sense to do the same stupid nonsense over and over.
Almost every golfer I know swings with some kind of “swing thought,” such as “turn this” or “shift that.” While they swing, their heads are full of mental chatter. You cannot think your way through a golf swing. It’s a recipe for bad golf.
Most senior golfers don’t have the flexibility and hip rotation of players on the PGA Tour, yet 90% of golf instruction is trying to get them to swing that way.
“The quality of your golf—and your life—is determined by the quality of your attention.” I’m not sure who I first heard utter this nugget of wisdom, but I have heard myself saying it a lot lately to my coaching clients.
Martin Chuck from the Tour Striker Academy has some great advice about the waggle and how it’s a vital piece of your pre-shot routine.
Most golfers go through a round of golf without a clue what their minds are doing. It’s like we’re in a trance, carried unconsciously this way and that by our thoughts, feelings, beliefs and behaviours. This is no way to play golf or live your life.
Golfers think they need to spend hours on the green rolling putts but that’s not the case. The best putters you see all have ONE thing in common… It has to do with their grip.
If that’s how you play golf, the game is going to punch you in the nose. You’re going to be on your back so fast your head swims. It will be another round in which your great hopes were squashed yet again.
In coaching golf nerds in the mental game or on their golf swings, I find that almost all of them struggle because they hyper focus on technique.
