Let's refresh the train of thought for today's instruction by looking at a portion of Bill's comments and question, asking what to think about when he swings.
Bill Sikes says:
I've read all your postings, viewed your videos, and one thing I don't think you've completely addressed is what one should think about to initiate and complete the swing. I have used every conceivable swing 'mantra' (i.e. swing, set, through; 1,2,3; swing up, swing thru, etc, etc). One will work for a while and then it won't. It is impossible to think of everything you have taught related to making the PPGS. What should my MENTAL THOUGHT(S) be?
The Surge says:
Bill is100% correct that it is impossible to think of everything related to setup and swing and consistently make a good swing. The question at this time is, how much can we think about and successfully swing and hit a good shot? Not much. Maybe we can handle only one or two simple thoughts at most. I personally can handle two and I have found many of my students as well could do two. The key is that the two have to be on different ends of the swing. That is, one is a backswing thought and the other in the forward swing and likely closer to the finish. I am sure the split second in the transition allows the mind the time to transfer to the second thought.
To swing a club you have to have thoughts, as swinging a club is not an automatic system built into the body as is breathing and balance. The movement has to be triggered by the mind sending the impulses to the muscles to produce movement.
Regarding these thoughts, many players, from the PGA Tour to local amateurs, will tell you they play with one or two thoughts for every shot, every round. The key is these thoughts quite often change as their focus changes on what part of their swing needs work and attention. As we all know the swing is, as they say, fluid. Our golf swing and game are in a state of constant flux and change. Different things fall in and out of fine tuning and need attention and repair. The repair needed is the swing thought or two that we have chosen for that day which we should focus on in the swing.
Notice I did not mention setup thoughts as I do not consider them as swing thoughts. Once setup, you shut down those thoughts and switch to your swing thought. And, as such, they also can be more than two and as many as 4 or 5. The key to having as many as 4 or 5 is that you must be able to, as I like to call it, 'MELT' into your setup quickly but correctly. You cannot get hung up with your setup becoming a long and detailed sort of countdown of conscious movements on the course. Conscious countdown of setup positions is for the range only.
So now the question to ask is how can we transform active, mental swing thoughts into a smooth, flowing, efficient and consistent swing? By making 'Perfect Practice Swings.' We have all heard of the axiom 'perfect practice makes perfect.' I often get asked if one should make practice swings. My answer is yes, if you feel you need to. And I follow that up with a stern caveat that if they make practice swings they better be perfect in setup and the swing motion. I am relentless and allow no leeway on making 'Perfect Practice Swings (PPS.) Make a lousy, lazy or sloppy and lackadaisical practice swing and you just frosted my cake. You will get a stern reminder to pay attention to detail and make Perfect Practice Swings.
Perfect Practice Swings do not have to be at full power. In fact I recommend they not be. Why? First is for conserving energy. We have to finish the round and with energy to spare. Running or burning out is not an option. The second reason is that powered down swings, done with good muscle tone, raises and heightens the awareness of the brain. This raises way up the level to sense and feel all the movement of the muscles and the overall motion of the swing, especially relative to our swing thought or two.
Right now I am playing with two swing thoughts. The backswing one is that I am focusing on my right (back) hip turning to start the backswing as I had reached the point where it was not even moving. Coupled with the turn is I want to feel the right knee and leg receive the weight. This tells me I have turned the hips and the weight is definitely over and onto my right leg, ready to push off in the transition. My second thought is basically always the same'¦Swing up to my T = Finish and be in perfect balance. More than anything I always lock in the finish feeling. For me getting to a perfectly balanced T ' Finish is always priority #1.
I always focus in every Perfect Practice Swing on a balanced finish. If you get to a balanced finish it means you made a balanced swing. That means there were no big to major compensations/corrections made for bad movement or for saving balance. So, you just made a good balanced swing and hit a good shot.
How many Perfect Practice Swings do I make and recommend for every Shot? I like it to be only one or two. The key is since 'Perfect Practice makes Perfect' you must make a perfect practice swing before you can step up to hit the shot. If it takes more than two you have to keep swinging until you get the swing you know you want and thus feel the motion. The key is sensing and 'Feeling the Flow' of the exact swing motion you want in terms of tempo, timing and flow of the motion.
I call this Feeling the Flow… 'Earning Your Golf Ball.' As far as I am concerned, if you make a practice swing, you can NEVER hit a ball on the range, and especially on the course, until you Earn Your Golf Ball by 'Feeling the Flow.'
Why? Because, Feeling the Flow is the whole and sole purpose of making practice swings. Once you have the feel of the flow, then you step up and swing and hit your shot. Your entire mental activity is to reproduce the Feel of the Flow you just approved in your last Perfect Practice Swing. You are reproducing motion, not thoughts about mechanics. This is especially important when you are faced with having to hit off side or up hill lies. Knowing the feel of how and when the lie will affect your balance is critical to successfully swinging and being balanced to at least impact.
Life has been described as going smoother and easier if you don't buck the system and instead 'go with the flow.' Hitting good golf shots more often and more consistently starts with 'Earning Your Golf Ball' by making 'Perfect Practice Swings' to 'Feel the Flow.'
The Surge!