I have 2 swings.

[RGDave]

It's official. I have 2 swings. The practise swing = the swing I spend time and money trying to hone.

and then, the reality of it, a horrible real swing reminiscent of a baseball player practising in the loo on the 7.56 to Paddington.

Grim. Identical in almost every respect to the same swing I had 4 years ago at my first lesson after re-starting the game.

The only silver lining is Bob's chair drill has calmed down my swaying, hence my better strike and divots.

So, not necessarily for experts or beginners or even journeymen, any tips for a depressed RG?

 

[Imurg]

It's official. I have 2 swings. The practise swing = the swing I spend time and money trying to hone.

and then, the reality of it, a horrible real swing reminiscent of a baseball player practising in the loo on the 7.56 to Paddington.

Only 2?

Count yourself lucky.....

 

[Deke]

Your handicap is pretty tasty mate,I wouldn't worry too much!

 

[Threeoffthetee]

As one of my buddies helpfully points out after I've hit my provisional exactly where the first didn't go..."hit the first swing second". Having a similar problem to you...I've given up practice swings I quickly visualise the swing I want to make, relax and hit the ball. I've certainly got no worse and save time buggering and fiddling around and feel that I make a more committed swing.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Me too. I have the controlled and smooth practise swing which somehow morphs into a blur (I've slowed it down lately to just under the sound barrier) thats akin to wrestling an octopus in a tumble dryer.

 

[RGDave]

I fear it has something to do with my practise style.

I get set up, warm up, do some general drills/ex's, get settled, then attend to a specific for the session until the end when I just rattle off the last dozen or so.

My theory is that no matter how many balls I hit and fractionally change/improve my swing, it seems to find it's way home in a matter of minutes.

Like matches (proper comps), I step on the tee, swing the club, get off to a cracking start, then by the end of the game, any good features have vanished into thin air.. !?

I saw the grim reality on video yesterday. Even my pro said my practise swing looks sound and then the real shot has the age-old RG faults.

I need a new approach.

 

[muttleee]

I read an article in Golf Digest recently about a guy who decided to stop concentrating on the ball when he played a shot. For different types of shot he had different spots to concentrate on. His theory was that since the practice swing is so much better because there's no ball in the way to distract you, the real swing would be better if you could find a way to stop thinking about the ball too. His handicap plummeted when he did this.

 

[DaveM]

Yep same here. Have a nice smooth practise swing. Go over to the park and hit some balls still a nice smooth swing. Feel really good with it. Then get to the course and any of a dozen swings can happen.

 

[kid2]

The only problem with practice swings is that we Think that we are swinging the club properly and it probably feels like we are but in reality feel and real are completely different....

What we think is a nice smooth perfect practice swing is probably miles away from what we should be doing..
How many here can say that they take the exact same stance and posture angles as well as the proper grip when they make a practice swing and also take a divot...Most would probably answer that they dont...

So the only thing that we can say for sure is that the tempo they are swinging at and the rhythm is probably close to what they would like it to be...
But with no object in the way this is easy as the mind is only concentrating on swinging at fresh air and no resistance....
Put a ball there and then the mind has to focus on hitting the ball...
So for most its a practice Swing and then when the bread and butter comes and the ball is there its a Hit for most and this is where the nice flow is lost.

 

[sydney greenstreet]

I am/was/am/was the same 1 swing before i hit the ball and one during, then i found tour tempo and stuck with the tempo, before, during and after.
My tempo is
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBKftY9TJgw

 

[bobmac]

So, the practice swing is smooth, elegant and a thing of beauty
The actual hitting the little white thing is a horror?

Try this
Rip the hell out of the practice swing, as hard, fast and ugly as you can.
Then approach the ball in a more calm manner having got rid of the rubbish in the first 'swing'
The actual swing then has to be smoother.

 

[RGDave]

So, the practice swing is smooth, elegant and a thing of beauty
The actual hitting the little white thing is a horror?

Try this
Rip the hell out of the practice swing, as hard, fast and ugly as you can.
Then approach the ball in a more calm manner having got rid of the rubbish in the first 'swing'
The actual swing then has to be smoother.

Consider it tried.

I remember playing Llanymynech with my pro. He got so cross with my tinkering and practise swings, he banned me from doing any of it. I did OK that day.

b.t.w. it's not really practise swings on the course that are the issue, it's the swing on the practise ground/range.

I'll try to get some photos up sometime.

 

[USER1999]

Are we talking practice swings at the range, whilst practicing, or practice swings as part of a pre-shot routine.

My range swing is awesome.

My practice swing is rhythmical and tidy, but not as good as my range swing.

My real swing is nervy, and ugly. I think because there is an outcome to this swing, where for the range and pre shot, there isn't really. The knowledge that I will have to play a shot after this one messes with my head.