what you are describing is the exact extract from the book "The Inner game of Golf" by Tim Gallwey, if you buy get the 1980 version with the green cover only about £10.00.

Let me explain.

When you walk, run, step over a puddle etc do you think about where you put your feet? or do you just let your sub-concious mind do it for you, can you imagine the instruction book for walking down the stairs leg bent at 90 degrees with ankle at the same lowering the torso to negotiate the lower step etc etc etc it would be maddness.

For me all you should do is set up correctly with a good athletic posture, once everything is in the correct line let the body hit the ball. Although I believe you should have sound fundimentals that is where it must stop.

I think if you set up in one place on the fairway or driving range, pick out one target and hit one ball, you may miss the target, drop another and do exactly the same, you may get closer, without any interferance from your inner self drop another and another sooner or later your body will adapt itself to hitting the target, this is why many people feel they play well at the range.

What happens on the course is that little man inside says "only one chance here son better make it happen" in short only confidence keeps him quite or a quite controlled mind, sometimes when I play I concentrate on thinking about absolutley nothing when I address the ball, sometimes I may picture the flag I've just been looking at, you must experiment with what is best for you.

Looking at your thread you slipped into a classic case of 'someone elses game' in your case this was good because you were distracted by good players, if you continue to play with good players your eyes keep watching good shots and relax your body into playing similar shots or lifting your game for you, this however can have the reverse affect on a good player who plays with poor players, ever heard the frase 'we will soon bring you down to our level' unfortunatley this can be true.

Also in your case the "faffing" seems to be too many instructions at once, golf is a game you must play one round at a time, each round work on something different to engrain fundimentals, then every now and then play a few rounds without thought at all.

Good Luck with your game.


Ian.

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Once you learn the swing, your next step is mastering golf psychology................