Mental problem

I can make a perfect practice swing. I can hit balls well in my yard and
at the driving range.

The problem comes when I stand over the ball on the course. All
my bad habits come back. I take a fast short back swing and then
wack at the ball.

I know it is mental but does anyone know any way I can over
come this?

Tricky one this.

The only thing different between hitting balls on a range and playing on the course is margin for error.

On the range, one can happily swing away and it doesn't matter if you hit a bad one cos you can just rake another one into place and hit that. You don't get two bites at the cherry on the course.

The secret's in your practice. If you feel you have to work on something specific in practice, then that's fine. What I would say is that you spend at least 50% of your practice time being target orientated. Hitting balls into an open field is easy. Doesn't matter where it goes. Put that practice on the course and all of a sudden you've got to hit it THERE. If you haven't practiced hitting to a target, you'll get tense and will feel like you don't know what you're doing.

Pick specific targets in practice. It will take a while, but eventually your brain will remember on course what it's like to focus on a target and your swing will gradually mirror itself from the range.

N18

Its an age old problem

I would suggest a few things

1. When you practice set aside every other session to work only on a pre shot routine and rythmn/timing. This should include grip, posture, alignment etc. Make a routine of it and walk away between shots. Make it 'part' of your swing

2. Before you hit the shot, look at the target more than down at the ball. Waggle the club in your fingers, look at the target. Keep 'moving' by bouncing or waggling. The swing is an athletic motion and not easy to do if you have been stationary for 5 seconds

3. Now look down at the ball and swing back immediately. DO NOT under any circumstances 'stare' at the ball and freeze. This is a death move yet you see people on the course and the range do this all the time. They just stare down at the ball consumed by negative thoughts. You'll never swing well from there

If you actually practice this then make sure you do it when you play, even after youve hit a bad shot (thats the key). Make the set up routine part of your swing

HTH

Thanks HTH and N18 for the replies. I will give those suggestion a try.

Doug

You answered the question yourself mate. The "problem starts when I stand over the ball". Thats why practice swings are always perfect, nothing in the way, no ball, no bad thoughts. Swing through, not at the ball. It is a game, relax and enjoy it!

Shadowjack,

Swing through - sounds like very good advice, rather than trying to rip the little white pill.

Its helping me. I'm trying to get from "see ball, kill ball", to "see ball. hit ball". LONG ways to go, but something clicked a couple days ago, everything came together and I hit 8I 160yds+-. Only happened once, but it'll keep me going after that perfect swing!

The pre-shot routine is very good advice. As though you're recreating a situation on the range that mimics the course situation.

Take it a couple of steps further. Make the practice shots count! Keep score. Hit the first shot to a target with a driver. Then a fairway shot with a 5 wood or 3 iron. Then shoot an approach shot with a 9 iron. Then a wedge shot. But if you miss your target, adjust your next club selection. Just like a real round.

Then mix it up again. Play a round in your mind. Never play more than a couple of shots with the same club.

Step away from the hitting mat each time and go through your routine. Your bucket of balls will last a long long time too!

On the range it's too easy to get into a groove. You'll never have a chance to get into a groove on the course.

IOP
I used to do the same thing. How did I fix it. Was'nt easy took time but now no problems.
Method:
1.No technical swing thoughts
2.Be patient on back swing and wait for clubhead to complete backswing.
3.Feel the weight of the clubhead all the way to the top and feel weight of club head cocking wrists at top.
Simple.
Worked for me.. Now 6hc.and dropping quick
Jimw
Aus.

I went to the range today. I am getting better at slowing down.

But I just cannot look at the ball and imediatly pull the trigger.
When I try to look at the target, look at the ball and swing. I
feel hurried and take the club back fast.

IOP,

You need to find a key that works for you when addressing the ball. I'm going to give Shadowjack's suggestion a try, ie, just before I pull the trigger I'm going to say "swing through". That's all I'm going to think about. I like the sound of this prompt - it should clear my mind.

Try different words when standing over it. I wouldn't be thinking of a swing key. This should be done in your pre shot routine.

IOP, perhaps 'easy does it', 'swing easy', or 'no pressure' etc etc

ps what does IOP stand for?

Cheers Nicole

__________________
VP

you are right nicole keys do work i had a bad habit of picking hands up too quickly and too fast a backswing now before i pull trigger i think low and slow and it has been working great!

Just plucked up the enthusiasm to post on here again after the weekend. I have a similar but perhaps slightly more difficult problem.

* Rewind 1 month. First time out this year with regular golfing buddy after some work over the winter. Didn't take all the game from range to course but despite 4 blow ups (2*8 2*7) and a different 3 putt still posted a genuine no mulligan, no silly gimme 94. Which for me is very encouraging. Perhaps this year sees me in the 80s

* Rewind to Sunday. Joined by a pretty good golfer but still a friendly Sunday morning 3 ball - played with him before, easy going and patient guy. Began (on a new course) with an attack of first tee nerves in front of the starter and then went totally to pieces trying to keep up with a stronger longer player. And I mean totally to pieces. Air shots and hacks.

Intellectually I understand the tips above about routine, single swing thought etc. but how the *%4*do I stop myself trying so damned hard and "make" myself relax.

You need to play your own game. Don't worry about your playing partner has done. If you are playing with a bigger hitter, you are going to have realise this and try not to out do yourself. This is what the handicap is for.

Play own game. Dont' give a *&^!!!! toss about what others around you are doing.

Perhaps your key for the moment when addressing the ball is 'play my own game'

Well,

Used Shadowjack's 'swing through' key yesterday. I'd say I applied this to 80 percent of the round. Had a lesson the day previous so I didn't want to implement swing change without being able to practice it before hand on the course.

The round went well considering. I had 37 stableford points. There was only a handful of shots that I wasn't impressed with. What killed me is I had 7 x 3 putts.

'Swing through' took the pressure off my mechanics.