Re: Golf instruction in the future is going to be non-physical don't you think?

I putt that way, I measure the putting swing in relation to my feet width.

Regarding the mental side of the game, I was taught to line up my target not with a point on the fairway or the pin but to pick out a point high up in the distance, the top of a tree, a building, the gap between two trees etc. This stops me looking at hazards like bunkers, water or trees so that I hit through the shot with conviction. The problem with picking targets where hazards are visible is that it makes you steer the club which results in poor direction.

Re: Golf instruction in the future is going to be non-physical don't you think?

like computer games i set up my putting that way.. except i aim at a spot left or right of a hole where i think the right line will be.. i don't use the | on the ball i like to see nothing.

however the speed of my putting is purely a feel thing. i don't measure out anythingg i just know how hard i have to hit the ball for it go to the distance i need.. the old rule "aim to get the ball close within 3 foot". if i'm a long way back i make this "aim to get the ball within 1 foot", . as much as we would love the all to go in from 50ft away it's not always possible. if i aim for a length that brings me to within 1ft and i end up 3ft away it's still a good putt.

in my whole game i like to keep everything as simple as possible... feet square to target for putting, chipping, driving and every other shot inbetween. my drives go about 250m (280yards) on a good day consistently which normally leaves me within a 9i from most Par4 greens. i hit my 9i close to 140m (155yards)

Re: Golf instruction in the future is going to be non-physical don't you think?

I agree, as well having certain "feelings" during the swing, relative to hand pressure and weight distribution. Not quantifying your swing does a lot to simplify things, and make it more, not less, repeatable. I like your thoughts.

Re: Golf instruction in the future is going to be non-physical don't you think?

nice trick, will take note of that one.

This is an area that interests me greatly. I think you have to balance both the technical and mental aspects, both the analytical and creative nature in someone, and both the use of the conscious and subconscious.

the paradox is in order to change how we hit the ball we must consciously try (not always the case) to change our technique. However in order to play our best we must not think of technique.

The best players in the world are able to work on technique away from playing, and then play subconsciously during a real game. Bad players are usually over analytical, overly conscious of what they do and overly technique oriented.

Mariner, i like what you do regarding full shots - very instinctive. With putting, what do you do when you have a downhiller, or two tiered putt, or the greens have sped up for the day, or its a little into grain etc?

its a good idea, and up to a certain level would be fine (diff pace = diff length swing). A professional will need a heightened sense of the mix between line and pace, so will usually have more of a target focus, with little technique thoughts (literally like they are rolling it with their hand). For a pro, to think about technique or length of stroke would take away the subconscious manipulations that are GOOD in putting (you read that right).

What do ya think?

Re: Golf instruction in the future is going to be non-physical don't you think?

I think for swing instruction, you still need to use a physical model. I'm a firm believer in the Rotary Swing Tour model which teaches you which muscles to focus on to create club movement (versus conventional methods which teach you to place the club into positions) - but you still need to learn to manipulate the club by some method.

I think for game instruction it's completely mental.

Now, that all said, I'm aware of a study done with 30 basketball players (varsity and practice squad, mixed up and placed into 3 equal groups). They shot many free throws to get a baseline percentage. One group shot free throws for an hour a day. One group visualised shooting free throws - and making them - for an hour a day. The third group did nothing. At the end of the testing period (a week or two, IIRC); the group that did nothing had lost skill. The group that physically shot the ball improved some - but the group that visualised make after make after make with good form improved the most. Maybe there's something to it - kids don't learn a golf swing from a technical standpoint. They learn it (for better or worse) by watching mom or dad. Hmmm...




Like AGB, when I place my ball down to putt, I place it so that I've got nothing but dimples looking back at me - no lines, no marks that could influence my stroke. I'm getting more and more used to seeing putts drop "that would leave 30 feet coming back if it didn't hit the hole!". I commit to a general line and let my brain figure out the pace. What I'm learning is that I usually take a pretty aggressive line

rogue makes the ideal point - you'd work mechanics on the practice range (not the warmup range!) and when you play, you use the warmup range to see how you're hitting it today - and play with that - I've had more success playing a 30 yard slice with the driver than I ever did trying to figure it out. And sometimes (here's the mental part) you just have to leave the driver in the bag and play for a lucky par/sure bogey. Not that I'm a master at it, but it's certainly on my radar now!

Re: Golf instruction in the future is going to be non-physical don't you think?

good addition - couldnt agree more, and in my experience as a good player, and coaching great players, is we all do this. amateurs fight it, pros play it.

not too sure about using certain muscles to move the club - sounds overly complex to me (reminds me of my younger days) but each to their own. I prefer to think of the swing as simple as throwing a ball, we wouldnt worry about where the ball is at any point or how our body is moving to do it, we would just have the end result in mind and our body takes over from there. i think with good understanding of why the ball flies like it does, most people can improve their mechanics in this way without ever realising they are changing their swing - although it requires a good coach to guide them through the process

Re: Golf instruction in the future is going to be non-physical don't you think?

Another approach that has been very helpful, and I apologize if I'm repeating it, is distance control feel. Many with great success use the length of their back swing for distance control in chipping and putting. What's work for me best is taking practice swings I "know" will be too long and too short by feel. Then taking a stroke I feel is between the two and use it for my actual stroke over the ball. I'm amazed at how easy good distance control has become with this simple mind game.
The other helpful hint given me long ago was to think of the driver more as a distance control club, like your wedges, which many of you good players already do, instead of maxing every swing off the tee. Trying to hit the driver to spots, does wonders for your control.