Playing while learning

[ainley87simon]

So I had my first lesson of a batch on Tuesday, and we made a start on tweaking my swing (keeping my left arm straighter, and my right elbow in towards my hit plus loading my weight correctly. Now currently it is a huge mental fight for me to make this new swing it feels very odd at the moment, but when I have swung correctly the ball flight and direction have been massively improved. However with the new swing I am hitting some awful shots also, truly embarrassing shots, lets say there are 3 or 4 great swings in 10 at the moment.

It's captains day on Saturday and then on Sunday a rabbits competition, what it going to hinder my progress more? Using the new swing in competitive golf straight away, I am not overly bother about getting the .1 back while I work on my fundamentals, but what I don't want is to slow my group down with not know where 6 or 7 out of 10 swings will go.

So persevere with the new swing in all forms of golf? Or save it for the range and practice rounds, and just use old technique until new swing is comfortable?

 

[patricks148]

yes i think you have to, chopping and changing is not going to help.

Ive just spent the last 4 months changing my swing, the first month was a struggle, but was worth it in the long run.

 

[North Mimms]

Currently completely reforming my swing so know what you are going through.

4 / 10 shots working is a bit tight, but the only way to get the new changes bedded in is to stick with them.
When I was at the really difficult bit of transition between the old and the new a few weeks ago, I had no choice but to play in a couple of competitive games that I was committed to- knockouts etc.
I decided that as long as it was only my own game at stake, I would play, but avoided any team or pairs games where I could be messing someone else's game up!

The Pro has been teaching me the various elements using a 7 iron, which is easier than driver and woods at this stage.
I am not a long hitter, so rarely reach greens in regulation which is ok for my handicap. In comps, rather than "slice driver off tee, chunk a wood then try to sramble a chip onto the green" I found it much easier just to take 3 shots with an iron that I felt more comfortable with.

My old swing tries to reappear but it is getting rarer, and now feels wrong rather than comfortable as before which hurts but is good

 

[CMAC]

So I had my first lesson of a batch on Tuesday, and we made a start on tweaking my swing (keeping my left arm straighter, and my right elbow in towards my hit plus loading my weight correctly. Now currently it is a huge mental fight for me to make this new swing it feels very odd at the moment, but when I have swung correctly the ball flight and direction have been massively improved. However with the new swing I am hitting some awful shots also, truly embarrassing shots, lets say there are 3 or 4 great swings in 10 at the moment.

It's captains day on Saturday and then on Sunday a rabbits competition, what it going to hinder my progress more? Using the new swing in competitive golf straight away, I am not overly bother about getting the .1 back while I work on my fundamentals, but what I don't want is to slow my group down with not know where 6 or 7 out of 10 swings will go.

So persevere with the new swing in all forms of golf? Or save it for the range and practice rounds, and just use old technique until new swing is comfortable?

if you dont want to get better stick with your old swing!

 

[ainley87simon]

if you dont want to get better stick with your old swing!

Of course I want to get better, what I don't want it to hinder the other 2 golfers in my 3 as I don't think that is fair, it can get tedious if a PP is fatting, thinning, shanking their way round 18.

 

[ainley87simon]

Currently completely reforming my swing so know what you are going through.

4 / 10 shots working is a bit tight, but the only way to get the new changes bedded in is to stick with them.
When I was at the really difficult bit of transition between the old and the new a few weeks ago, I had no choice but to play in a couple of competitive games that I was committed to- knockouts etc.
I decided that as long as it was only my own game at stake, I would play, but avoided any team or pairs games where I could be messing someone else's game up!

The Pro has been teaching me the various elements using a 7 iron, which is easier than driver and woods at this stage.
I am not a long hitter, so rarely reach greens in regulation which is ok for my handicap. In comps, rather than "slice driver off tee, chunk a wood then try to sramble a chip onto the green" I found it much easier just to take 3 shots with an iron that I felt more comfortable with.

My old swing tries to reappear but it is getting rarer, and now feels wrong rather than comfortable as before which hurts but is good

My pro has also started the changes using a 7 iron. I could take that off the tee, and not put it away until I reach the green I guess, a pure strike with my seven is 163 yards, which if I could string 3 or 4 good swings together would be get on all our par 4's in 3 and par 5's in 4 leaving 2 putts to play bogey golf - but it is not overly interesting golf.

Maybe I play my normal game with the new swing and accept that balls and shots will go missing?

 

[CMAC]

Of course I want to get better, what I don't want it to hinder the other 2 golfers in my 3 as I don't think that is fair, it can get tedious if a PP is fatting, thinning, shanking their way round 18.

then stick with the new progress swing. Or are you saying your old swing was so good you never thinned or fatted with it?

 

[ainley87simon]

then stick with the new progress swing. Or are you saying your old swing was so good you never thinned or fatted with it?

No not all - of course I thinned and fatted it, I am after all a high handicap golfer, what I am saying is that the new swing is more inconsistent (obviously because it is new). My aim is to get better other wise I would not be parting with my hard earned money to pay for lessons. My main concern at the moment is annoying my playing partners with what will be alot on poor striking (more so than the old the swing).

I fully understand that the new swing will make me a better player in the long run.

 

[North Mimms]

My pro has also started the changes using a 7 iron. I could take that off the tee, and not put it away until I reach the green I guess, a pure strike with my seven is 163 yards, which if I could string 3 or 4 good swings together would be get on all our par 4's in 3 and par 5's in 4 leaving 2 putts to play bogey golf - but it is not overly interesting golf.

Maybe I play my normal game with the new swing and accept that balls and shots will go missing?

The "nothing but a 7i route" might not be interesting, but I didn't want the interest that comes from stuffing balls in the clag, especially the way our rough has been for the last 2 months!

It was actually really satisfying- as a female golfer, i tend to rely heavily on the big sticks to get me round the course, so using irons much more than usual was interesting for me.
I'm sure it helped me get though the awful old swing / new swing phase (which has been easier than I could have dared hope)

 

[ainley87simon]

I think this is the way I am going to go - it does make our 18th and slighty uphill par 3 (158 yards) with a ravine to carry at around 120 yards normally into the wind a little scary though!

 

[chellie]

Stick with your new swing but try not to think about it too much. when you're standing over the ball would be my advise. Easier said than done I know and I'm always prepared for really crap golf the first time I go out after a lesson

 

[North Mimms]

I think this is the way I am going to go - it does make our 18th and slighty uphill par 3 (158 yards) with a ravine to carry at around 120 yards normally into the wind a little scary though!

As long as you start on the first, by the 18th you'll either be ok, or beyond caring!

 

[Conman85]

Do you really need to play at the weekend? Personally I would remove myself from competitive golf for at least a month and work on the changes, it's the only way you are truly going to get better........Give yourself the target of winning the event next year since you missed it this one!

 

[patricks148]

Do you really need to play at the weekend? Personally I would remove myself from competitive golf for at least a month and work on the changes, it's the only way you are truly going to get better........Give yourself the target of winning the event next year since you missed it this one!

Rubbish, I went to Woodhall spa 2 weeks into my swing change,played crap but still enjoyed it and hit the odd good shot in the process.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

If it was me, I'd play in Captain's Day as that's always a good date in the diary and important to support him. I'd probably duck the Sunday round and hit the practice ground if you have one as its always better hitting off grass. If not then the range.

Again, in my own humble opinion, you have to forget the score on Saturday and accept it will be what it will be but stick religiously to the changes you've made. Hope it goes well for you

 

[Airlie_Andy]

Personally I would just swing without thinking about it too much in competition and focus on swing thoughts on the range. Eventually the range swing will just become the norm anyway and you will start doing it on the course without even thinking. Although I'm no expert so take that advice with that in mind.

 

[Conman85]

Rubbish, I went to Woodhall spa 2 weeks into my swing change,played crap but still enjoyed it and hit the odd good shot in the process.

Lol so really you re-inforced my point of it not being rubbish "Played crap"

By all means go if you want to enjoy the day, but you will only get better by practicing the changes and I can guarantee when it starts going bad in competition it will be very easy for you to slip into your old swing.

 

[patricks148]

Lol so really you re-inforced my point of it not being rubbish "Played crap"

By all means go if you want to enjoy the day, but you will only get better by practicing the changes and I can guarantee when it starts going bad in competition it will be very easy for you to slip into your old swing.

its not a comp, so why not play, you should be showing signs of improv even at the start as i was.

Playing golf is what its all about for me

 

[ainley87simon]

its not a comp, so why not play, you should be showing signs of improv even at the start as i was.

Playing golf is what its all about for me

Oh yeah there are definate signs of improvement, the good swings are a massive difference from old swing, ball striking is better, ball flight is better, and shape is controlled, it is have moved from a slicey fade to a genuine fade, the only problem is that the swing is 2 days old, so invariably there are some terrible attempts to go with the successful attempts.

 

[Deleted member 1147]

My advice would be:
stick to your new/improved swing.
Use the clubs you would usually hit (not 7 iron off the tee on all holes).
Concentrate on technique on the practice swing.
Don't think too much about technique whilst over the ball, just try to feel the same as you did on the practice swing.
Enjoy the round.