Natural way of thinking about a swing

[Hannu]

I've looked at some of Shawn Clements youtube videos. Some ideas look similar that Truth about Golf by AJ - like "hitting a nail" with a hammer.

There is a lot I like about this site - and many things that I am not sure if it works. Has anyone else surfed this site - or know Shawn and his approach?

site is www.shawnclementgolf.com

[KrudlerAce]

Instructor

Yes I have watched a few of Shaun's videos and he's a very good teacher. I am also a big fan of Jeff Ritter and Terry Crick.

Cheers

[BrianW]

Re: Natural way of thinking about a swing

Shawns videos are very good and he has a lot of them on the golf swing. I also like jeff Ritter and would reccomend 'Mel Sole' who is a member of this site, he has some great golf tips and videos on his web site http://www.ritson-sole.com/golf-tips/

[Hannu]

Re: Natural way of thinking about a swing

So here is four guys teaching golf:
Shawn, Jeff, Terry and Mel.

What do you think is the difference in their point of view - philosophy or approach?

I'm looking for a guy that can give me examples from other dissiplines or parts of life and connect that experience to golf. (Or not teaching how the club or players hand should move - more in line of thinking - what are we trying to do.)

I think that counsious moving of hands and body is inefficient way to control our movement - our nerveous system is build for uncounsious control.

Who teaches this and how?

[BrianW]

Re: Natural way of thinking about a swing

So here is four guys teaching golf:
Shawn, Jeff, Terry and Mel.

What do you think is the difference in their point of view - philosophy or approach?

I'm looking for a guy that can give me examples from other disciplines or parts of life and connect that experience to golf. (Or not teaching how the club or players hand should move - more in line of thinking - what are we trying to do.)

I think that conscious moving of hands and body is inefficient way to control our movement - our nervous system is build for unconscious control.

Who teaches this and how?

Shawn Clements is very good at explaining how the body works and reacts in the golf swing and how our brains make subconscious decisions for us. I am not sure if you will get what you are looking for from a swing coach though, you have to understand why a golf ball reacts the way it does and what you do to make it react that way.

A different way of teaching golf is the '3 Skills' method which has been extensively discussed on this site in the past. It is a method designed by Joe Hagen and he has produced a book called 'Nail It' . His system works on the concept that you should have no conscious swing thoughts at all, you only need to understand three basic skills to be able to make great ball contact. If you have not already read the book I suggest that you check it out and maybe purchase a copy.

[Hannu]

Re: Natural way of thinking about a swing

Thanks Brian, I've looked at 3 skills. I should read it once more.

I'm not sure what I am looking for... just that I have not quite found it.
(Last season I just played and it was quite ok, but I think I can learn more and not go back to a too technical approach.)

Just a quick note.
I think that swing should not be consiously controlled during your swing. BUT you can have swing thoughts, if their not technical.

Very likely best situation would be that you do not think of anything, but it's not easy to control. It's easier to find a mental image or a feeling that enhances your movement...

I can't say what is a good mental image. Sometimes I just try to feel the impact - maybe antisipate the correct time - listen to the sound of impact. Maybe an image of hitting a nail might do it? - or it might be too handsy.

[BrianW]

Re: Natural way of thinking about a swing

Thanks Brian, I've looked at 3 skills. I should read it once more.

I'm not sure what I am looking for... just that I have not quite found it.
(Last season I just played and it was quite ok, but I think I can learn more and not go back to a too technical approach.)

Just a quick note.
I think that swing should not be consiously controlled during your swing. BUT you can have swing thoughts, if their not technical.

Very likely best situation would be that you do not think of anything, but it's not easy to control. It's easier to find a mental image or a feeling that enhances your movement...

I can't say what is a good mental image. Sometimes I just try to feel the impact - maybe antisipate the correct time - listen to the sound of impact. Maybe an image of hitting a nail might do it? - or it might be too handsy.

I think it is good to keep your focus on the target, this helps to stop the urge to hit at the ball. It is also good to have an image of the ball flight, if you want to draw or fade the shot an image of the ball flight will assist your brain to make the necessary adjustments subconsciously.

[Shankless]

Re: Natural way of thinking about a swing

Another book you might enjoy reading is The Natural Golf Swing by George Knudson. Don't let the title confuse you into thinking this book has anything to do with the Natural Golf Method bsed on Moe Norman's swing.

Having read way too many golf instruction books for my own good, I can tell you there are 2 basic schools of thought. One teaches to focus on the golf swing itself and the other teaches to focus on body positions and movements. You need to decide which makes more sense and works better for you. Enjoy the journey at least as much as the arrival.

[Hannu]

Re: Natural way of thinking about a swing

Having read way too many golf instruction books for my own good, I can tell you there are 2 basic schools of thought. One teaches to focus on the golf swing itself and the other teaches to focus on body positions and movements. You need to decide which makes more sense and works better for you. Enjoy the journey at least as much as the arrival.

I have to check the book. I'll google and see what I get :-)

About two focuses - swing vs body - there might be a third -> target like Brian succested. I think I started from body and then went to swing but ultimately target sounds good - like just having will power to imagine ball fight and where I will land my shot.

[kbp]

Re: Natural way of thinking about a swing

What the club is doing and what the body is doing are both necessary and complimentary elements. Both must be correct. Don’t sacrifice one for the other.

Making the club move in the right manner with incorrect body movements gives a weak, contrived, unreliable action. Using the body properly without the proper club direction and action is equally useless.

Learn to use the body properly to direct the club properly.

[Shankless]

Re: Natural way of thinking about a swing

What the club is doing and what the body is doing are both necessary and complimentary elements. Both must be correct. Don’t sacrifice one for the other.

Making the club move in the right manner with incorrect body movements gives a weak, contrived, unreliable action. Using the body properly without the proper club direction and action is equally useless.

Learn to use the body properly to direct the club properly.

The point I was trying to make was that you are only concentrating on one of these facets.

[Hannu]

Re: Natural way of thinking about a swing

The point I was trying to make was that you are only concentrating on one of these facets.

Yes - this is what makes golf so interesting. Natural thought would be that when you do not concentrate, it would result to poor execution. In golf it just might be the opposite... What you concentrate at, will be stiff or poorly coordinated:-)

[kbp]

Re: Natural way of thinking about a swing

The point I was trying to make was that you are only concentrating on one of these facets.

The point I was trying to make is that you shouldn't ignore one for the other for too long.

Maybe we're saying the same thing.

[BrianW]

Re: Natural way of thinking about a swing

I guess it comes down to what works best for you, although you may never know unless you try various methods. What is very clear though, if you keep doing the same thing you cannot expect anything to change.

I have dabbled with just about all of them as I am a bit of a golf swing junkie, I do find that I take away something useful from all the methods. If I was starting out new I would take a few beginner lessons to understand the basics of setup then use the '3 Skills' system, I am convinced that starting out by focusing on correct ball contact and leaving swing thoughts alone is the best way to get early results.

[Hannu]

Re: Natural way of thinking about a swing

Hi,
I've been watching Shawn Clements videos and at the moment his telling me what I want to hear:-)

I'm also waiting for Dave Pelz's new book "Dave Pelz's Golf Without Fear".

After Christmas I'll start working with my swing - now it's more stretching and building strength.