A new beginning.

[Robert O' Keeffe]

Hi Guys,

i am sur e you have all read my posts of late, and the frustration I have had with this game. going from good to bad without explanation, shanking, topping, the whole nightmare. I have been down every road from lessons to the golf channell trying to find a cure for this problem. Well, tonight at the range I spoke with a 3 handicap about this and listened as he viewed my swing. The conclusion was that without even realising it, I am so full of tension that I could not possibly hit this ball. As suggested by this gentlemen I started a "rebuild" of my swing, but with one major change: a totally free swing from takeaway to follow through. I also disciplined myself to go through the set up from the start, i.e. grip, posture distance from the ball, and keeping the head down. I was totally amazed at the result. Great hits from the driver and irons that seemed to be coming from a different person. I am trying to stress that apart from technique, setup etc, the attitude to a totally tension free swing seems to be a highly important part of getting the results we crave. My main attitude from here on in is to instill the habit of telling myself that tension is not a part of this game, and I am convnced that this is the key to my problem. I hope this will help anybody who suffer the same syndrome as me and help to improve their overall game.

Regards,
Robert

[GregJWillis]

Re: A new beginning.

Outstanding...good work relaxing! What just about all of us have been saying.

[lgskywalker37]

Re: A new beginning.

i found that relaxing is very key too. then i read gregs right hand drill which i really love and it had given me so much better acuarcy and distance with my long irons, but it has also given me a bit more tensiom. is that just because it is new and i have to get used to it before i can relax. it seems whenever i focus on leaving my righ hand cupped i get soo much tension.

[shootin4par]

Re: A new beginning.

i found that relaxing is very key too. then i read gregs right hand drill which i really love and it had given me so much better acuarcy and distance with my long irons, but it has also given me a bit more tensiom. is that just because it is new and i have to get used to it before i can relax. it seems whenever i focus on leaving my righ hand cupped i get soo much tension.

If you try to leave it cupped, or keep it cupped, it will cause you to push it right because the left forearm will not rotate. That is why if you cup first in the back swing and then cock the wrist, biomechanically speaking you will have an easier time. In the golf swing thinking of "holding" any certain position will inhibit a tension free swing

[GregJWillis]

Re: A new beginning.

Rotating the hips and shoulders in the RHD method is what will square up the club. The tension is due to new feelings, yes. It will be allowed to stay in this position with more ease.

And there are many different ways to swing this club. This being one way. Pick the one that clicks with you and stick to it. This will make you a the better player.

[lgskywalker37]

Re: A new beginning.

Rotating the hips and shoulders in the RHD method is what will square up the club. The tension is due to new feelings, yes. It will be allowed to stay in this position with more ease.

And there are many different ways to swing this club. This being one way. Pick the one that clicks with you and stick to it. This will make you a the better player.

i have never had a straiter further iron swing then with your right hand cup method, so i will definatley keep it. i just have to relearn to stay loose again.

[pnearn]

Re: A new beginning.

Loose arms,wrists,hands and relaxation

THE number one KEY to the game of golf

Great stuff

[jman100]

Re: A new beginning.

Excellent stuff Robert. Good to hear that relaxing is working for you. You can learn a lot from good low handicap golfers. I had a problem for the last few months. Creaming balls on the range. Had guys asking me what I was playing off and when I told them I was just starting and hadn't a handicap but was playing of 23 when out in the course they wouldn't believe me! Prob was that out on the course I couldn't make the most basic shot. I didn't realise it but I was like a deer in headlights! Frozen! I was tensing up over every shot, and it got worse and worse the more bad shots I hit. Good golfer told me to go out by myself, empty my head, and something that I found really good for helping myself, take a deep breath in through the nose at set up, exhale while doing a waggle, then hit the shot. Great way to clear the head and relax everything prior to taking a shot. Has improved my game beyond belief. Shot 85 last time out

[Robert O' Keeffe]

Re: A new beginning.

Hi jman
Keep it up. If we could bottle relaxation and drink it before playing wouldnt we all be pros?

[msklar92]

Re: A new beginning.

One way to stay relaxed, is to have some movement before hitting the ball. Maybe a few small waggles to loosen the muscles.

[jman100]

Re: A new beginning.

Hey Robert, Relaxation in bottled, any doctor can prescribe a good relaxant, prozac or something like that!! LOL

msklar92, have tried the waggle etc and that does help with the arms and take away etc, but that doesn't stop your brain going a million miles an hour, or the voices telling you what to do. Those bloody voices!! LOL

[lgskywalker37]

Re: A new beginning.

Hi jman
Keep it up. If we could bottle relaxation and drink it before playing wouldnt we all be pros?

isn't relaxation in a bottle called beer?
anyways, just be patient when learning something new. i was always loose but then changed my swing and got realy tight, now after afew days am i able to swing loosly again. you gotta ingrain that muscle memory.

[jman100]

Re: A new beginning.

LoL Skywalker, now you said it. Last year I ended up playing golf after a particularly tough night out, was still a little drunk on the first tee box and played my best 9 holes of the season!!! Note I said 9 holes, I sobered up for the back nine and I think they turned out to be my worst 9 holes of the season!! But in my defence they were played with a killer hangover!!!