Should I Think Mechanically When On The Course??

Often players will struggle on the course particularly after a technical range session. This means they have spent a large part of their practice thinking mechanically instead of preparing what they would actually be doing on the course. Typically if you have too many swing thoughts on the course, you will struggle to find rhythm and timing. Now having one to two swing thoughts are okay but anymore usually proves detrimental to your game.

This best way to organise your practice before your game is to segment your practice into technical and pre-shot routine. If you do have a couple of chances to come to the Driving Range before your upcoming game, I would spend the first practice session on any technical aspects that you'd like to work on in your game. The second practice session should be all pre-shot routine and void of any swing thoughts.

You should accept that the first practice session, you will most likely not strike the ball that great as you're working on different drills. However you might hit the ball well but you want your emotions to stay quite neutral. When you do have that second practice session, you want to try and have no swing thoughts when over the ball. You want to practice exactly how you would be on the course which means making your pre-shot routine the same for each shot.

Now when practicing pre-shot routine, you want to be in reaction mode. This means once you take one look at the target, you should execute your swing without swing thoughts. When you practice this you will feel a great sense of confidence and even better, you will establish great rhythm and timing leading into your game the following days. Now during game day when you are just focusing on pre-shot routine, there may come a time that you utilise a swing thought. That's totally fine as long as it's one to two and no more. Also when having a swing thought try and use this while having a practice swing but when you're over the ball again, try and have no thoughts.

If you'd like any help with the mental side of golf just contact myself at David Waters Golf located at Emerald Lakes Golf Coaching Centre.