Most Successful “Swing-Thought”

[Middler]

I’ve had various swing thoughts with varying levels of success over the years. But swing thoughts are totally dependent/tailored to each individual- so sharing what works for me (and doesn’t) would be of no use to another player more often than not.

[Haro]

Today I had “putting thought”   I “locked “ my knees so my knees are extended  throughout the stroke   This seem to keep my stroke a lot smother  and I made more long putts.  The con was my back hurted as it seem I locked my lower body and my motion was all upper body    Likely torque my back. I m not sure but I think my hips moved during my putting stroke and this “locking” keeps the lower body still 

[Tim McCarthy]

Back to the target... chest to the target.

[NC Golfer]

On 8/13/2021 at 10:29 AM, BenjaminButtonz said:

 

This is the purest form of the truth. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve over-thought a drive on the tee box and sent my ball into the woods. Only to follow it up with the “f&$@ this….. time to grip it and rip it I’m over this hole…” only to lookup after hitting the ball and watch it ride a rope all the way to the fairway. 
 

 

The (F) %!%# it swing is usually the best one. Maybe we need to do 18 of those off the tee,lol

 

[NC Golfer]

On 8/17/2021 at 10:23 AM, Tim McCarthy said:

Back to the target... chest to the target.

I like this, it ensures a full turn. Is a hip bump really needed in-between or can one play good golf without a lower body swing key on the downswing?

[CRW]

I usually find a thought or feeling on the range a few minutes before my round. 60% of the time, it works every time. 

[BenjaminButtonz]

On 8/13/2021 at 3:18 PM, RocasRocosas said:

For years I fought a slice until I started using this swing thought for the downswing; “backhand the first baseman. “ This help promote an in to out path and releasing the club. 

This one is Awesome! Love it. 

[BenjaminButtonz]

On 8/17/2021 at 9:23 AM, Tim McCarthy said:

Back to the target... chest to the target.

Another awesome reply! 

[BenjaminButtonz]

I completely understand that what works for one person, might have adverse or no effect for someone else. With that being said..

 

Thanks for all of the insight into all of your thoughts! All of it will help me hone my own collection of thoughts, feels, and visuals used on the course/during practice sessions.

 

Prior to this post, some of my successful thoughts and feels were:

- Pointing my lead shoulder down at the ball on back swing, the. Transitioning to pointing trail shoulder down at the ball through impact. Same motions/ideas as the drill holding an alignment stick across your shoulders with your arms crossed. Point the leading end down at the ball on your during down swing, then trailing end of stick at the ball through impact.
 

This helped ensure a good turn during the swing, and helps keep me from getting to “sloppy/shifty” .

 

- Keeping the driver head low/far away during the takeaway/backswing. Picture a ball behind your driver head, and someone standing behind you on the tee box. When you start to take the club back, feel like your trying to slowly push/roll the ball sitting behind the club straight back to the person behind you. 
 

this feel helps keep me from picking the club up/ getting to steep in the back swing. 
 

- “Laser Butt” 

I have to give credit for this one to the boys at MeandMyGolf. Picturing a laser coming straight out of the “butt-end” of your grip. (The small hole at the end) (if the golf club was a gun, the grip would be the end of the barrel) Now If I haven’t confused you yet, keep following. 
 

at the end/finish of your swing, finish the follow through pointing that laser at your target, and hold it there. This helps me make a full turn through the ball, when I’m getting “stuck” or not hitting my desired line with the ball flight. Also helps with releasing the club. This works well for every club in the bag except wedges. I’ve noticed it helps me more on iron shots personally. 

 

 

[THEZIPR23]

I am approaching my millionth swing thought . The one that I have had the best results with and is still currently employed is super simple.

 

Target

React

Notice there is no thoughts about the swing. 

[BenjaminButtonz]

I also apologize for the delay of posting in this thread. I’ve had a very sick two year old at Home to take care of. He’s finally feeling better, and right back to working on his swing. 
 

Here is a prime example of “Laser-Butt”.  

[BenjaminButtonz]

On 8/13/2021 at 4:33 PM, Riverboat said:

I check when setting up that my grip is light and that there is absolutely no tension in my arms. Then smooth tempo is the only thing I think about when actually swinging. Anything more leads to paralysis through analysis. I really wonder what horrible things people are doing to themselves and their game when they stand over the ball for more than a second or two before taking the club back. 

“Paralysis by Analysis” is currently my new favorite thing to say now. 

[bluesmandan76]

For a non-technical thought, I like Penick's "Take Dead Aim."

For a technical thought, at least for full swing, I like "Make the follow through twice as long as the backswing." Makes me really accelerate through the shot, and produces a reliable power fade for me.

[steve@kinca.de]

After taking a breath and when I am expelling it, i say to myself,.... Mary had a little lamb....  As soon as I say lamb that is my trigger to start my swing. Helps clear your head of swing thoughts so you can focus on hitting your target.

Really helps declutter your mind and to silence all the voices .......   Steve

Edited August 23, 2021 by steve@kinca.de

[OldGuyGolf]

On 8/12/2021 at 8:12 AM, russtopherb said:

So much this.

I always think about my target and ballflight in the swing. With my irons, if I've done everything correct in setup and takeaway, when I get to the top of the swing I get a feeling like I want to swing through the ball, smashing it with my right palm on the way through. It's not something I consciously think about, it's something my body feels in reaction to doing everything before the downswing correctly.

That is what I DO consciously think about after my left shoulder is behind the ball. Right palm going through ! That is my only thought in putting as well. Maybe it is consciously aware after my body feels in reaction to doing everything before correctly ? Very similar to you ! 

[Donn lost in San Diego]

A few years ago, in one of the monthly print magazines, a pro golfer said, you can boil it all down to 2 words:  rotate, and finish.  That's it.  Rotate around the spine (and thus maintain proper angles and geometries and all that stuff) and always remember to finish, meaning for me mostly to spin the right foot.  Rotate and finish. Ba-boom.

[Golfdad12]

Do yourself a favor and look at Stack and Tilt. Nick Taylor and/or Rob Cheney You Tube videos are a great place to go. I did and did a few practice sessions with the method and started flushing shots, picked up 20 yards off the tee and full club longer with every iron. Am so comfortable with it that all I have to remember now is to set up with my weight left and keep it there. Everything else now happens automatically. Shot 73 recently and am 81 years old. Check these guys out on You Tube. You’ll be glad you did. It will change your golfing life. 

[John Bachman]

The one I’m using now is make sure you take it back slow. I tend to get quick when I’m eithe trying to bust a drive or with chips around the green. 

[DavidLPS]

I have had just one swing thought for the past three or so years. Since I have a tendency to take the club outside, my swing thought is COLLAPSE RIGHT ELBOW, TURN. The collapsing of right elbow ensures my club takeaway is straight back and the “turn” reminder helps me complete my backswing and slows the transition. We all have some tendencies that hurt our game. So I believe the thought (and I believe in only one thought) should be to address those bad tendencies. I have also been putting my club against my hips prior to every shot to check my alignment as that has also been a bad tendency if mine. But that isn’t a swing thought, but rather a pre-swing practice. I’m a quick player but find these work for me. Good luck!

[BenjaminButtonz]

5 hours ago, Riverboat said:

I suggest you shorten it to "pta". All those syllables are holding up the group behind you. 

Precisely why I always shoot for the last tee time of the day my Friend. One less thing to think about.