Riding a bicycle with square wheels

[Colcur]

I just started playing again in March after a 23 year layoff.  I am playing better for the most part than I hoped.  The swing seemed okay and scores were not terrible.  Handicap is at a 17. Last Tuesday I went to the range and was in the middle of hitting golf balls and it was like I forgot how to swing.  My swing went from riding a bicycle with regular wheels to trying to ride a bicycle with square wheels.  It was the oddest thing.  I could not hit the ball square to save my life. Then on Thursday I went and hit the ball as well as I had since starting.  On the weekend I played in my city's championship in the fourth flight.  I played well shooting a 86/85 for the two days.  I had a quadruple bogie and two triples the first day and three triples and three doubles the second day.  I am having issues with chipping and putting.  Several three putts and one four putt.  So I felt I was close to posting some really good scores.  The problem was during the round I started trying to move right hand in the middle of my back swing.  It felt comfortable at address but very uncomfortable once I got the club to the top and I felt myself rotating my right hand on the club.  It was very disconcerting to say the least. 

 

My questions are: First, is it regular for the feeling of your swing to disappear and reappear-especially in the beginning of learning golf. Second, why am I trying to move my hand in the middle of my swing?

[bens197]

1) absolutely yes.

2) golf is all about feel. What your mind is telling you while swinging can complicate you beyond belief. I like to use the phrase “unconscious competence”...without thinking, you can perform and rely upon what you've ingrained in your own swing.

 

Your subconscious should have developed some muscle memory to help you find your natural swing. Based upon your scores, you are a consistent golfer who lets the occasional bad swing/shot proliferate your score.

 

It's easier said than done but don't try to think so much. Just focus on one shot at a time and try to find your feel around the course.

 

Glad to hear it's coming back naturally for you

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using MyGolfSpy

[GolfSpy MPR]

I expect you'll get several replies letting you know that this is normal. And, unfortunately, I'm not convinced it's something only beginners experience.

 

I posted something about this last week: I was having exactly this kind of experience: suddenly, every shot was a shank or a top. On a short par 4, I hit two topped shots. And then from 140, I hit my third into the hole for a birdie.

 

Moral of the story: don't try to figure golf out

 

In all seriousness, when this happens during a round, as much as I can, I want to change my focus. Adam Young's book The Practice Manual talks about five different places your focus can be during a swing:

1. Internal: on the movement of a certain body part
2. Near external: where I'm hitting on the face, or where I'm striking the ground
3. Far external: on the target
4. Neutral: on my breathing, or counting or humming
5. "In the zone"

I think this is really helpful information. As an overly analytical player myself, I tend to fixate on number 1. And when things go bad, I fixate harder on number 1.

 

A better option for me, and one I'd recommend trying, is that when the wheels fall off (or feel square, in your analogy), change your focus to number 3. Try to think exclusively about the target, and just let your swing be what it is.

[Colcur]

Thank you! I will definitely try to get out of my own way and shift my focus to accomplish it.

[mooremikea]

This is normal for all levels of golf.  Last summer had a Friday range session and was hitting everything so far out in the toe the ball was not going anywhere.  Tried everything to fix it and nothing worked.  I was playing the next day and felt the round was going to go really badly.  Shot the best score of the year the next day with a great ball striking day.  Golf is a crazy game.  

[GregB135]

Had to read this thread just for the title. All good suggestions. I'm definitely going to try some of these myself. My trend is, when I attempt to focus on one mechanical thought or feel, is for that to be the only thing I think about. The result is, of course, I do everything else wrong. I definitely need to be more of a 'focus on the target' player. Some of my very best rounds have come when my brain was too preoccupied with something else to think about where my hand/head/chest/knee etc. might be during the swing.

[Har in the Hat]

It is really amazing how these "golf farts" occur and then dissappear on their own. Was at the driving range on Friday and that GF reared its ugly head and ended up not being able to hit a decent shot at all. Like I forgot how to golf.

[Gg Owen]

Don't try figuring this out on your own.Go find the best teaching pro you can and work your tail off.