Swing changes - how long before it feels "normal"?

[Aztecs27]

So after the revelation last week at the TM fitting that I address the ball with VERY open shoulders, I'm working tirelessly to ensure my shoulders are square at address every time I go to hit a ball.

The trouble is, I'm having to think about it ALOT, to ensure I do it, that it's mentally draining and doesn't feel 100% "comfortable".

I was also told last week that I had a fairly big out to in swing plane, so this coupled with my open shoulders was all contributing to my push-fade/slice.

So along with the square shoulders, I'm also trying to take the club back a bit more square/inside to get a better swing plane, which makes it feel even more uncomfortable. I can see the results working well when they work (straight hits with my longer irons/woods and a slight draw with my shorter irons) but obviously the consistency isn't there yet.

Might be a "how long is a peice of string" question, but how long should I expect it to become my natural swing? I assume it varies for everyone, but I'm just interested to know what to expect?

 

[StrangelyBrown]

A couple of thousand balls a week for 6 months should do it

 

[Aztecs27]

Thought as much

 

[idTommo]

4 months on and im still not comfortable with my swing

although "turn dont sway" in the lower part of my body has ingrained itself to a point where i dont have to tell myself to plant my right foot on every shot, i was lifting it !

 

[Aztecs27]

4 months on and im still not comfortable with my swing

although "turn dont sway" in the lower part of my body has ingrained itself to a point where i dont have to tell myself to plant my right foot on every shot, i was lifting it !

Lifting your right foot? I hope you're left handed!

I was doing similar with my left. I seem to have stopped doing that now though!

 

[sawtooth]

I know this might sound odd but is your grip 100% correct?

Just a thought but if you are just about to step up practicing, hitting 000's of balls now is the time to get your grip right.

Furthermore, if you hold the club correctly and have a good arm set up at address it can cure other problems with the swing.

 

[Aztecs27]

I know this might sound odd but is your grip 100% correct?

Just a thought but if you are just about to step up practicing, hitting 000's of balls now is the time to get your grip right.

Furthermore, if you hold the club correctly and have a good arm set up at address it can cure other problems with the swing.

I think so, but will probably find out for proper next week when I have my first lesson.

 

[percy_layer]

Ask your pro during the lesson if he can give you a drill or pre shot routine to help you get used to it faster. I always try to give my students a routine or something to allow them to be able to play comfortably after the lesson rather than spend weeks hitting balls before managing to play better on the course.

 

[The_LHC]

How long before it feels normal?

Why, as soon as you start doing it wrong of course!

 

[Region3]

You might not have an out to in swing as well as having your shoulders pointing left at address, they might be the cause of it. Maybe.

I've found that any changes I try to make feel normal after a couple of hundred balls, but for it to be natural is a long time. I still have to think about the changes I tried to make even though they don't feel awkward any more.

 

[Bratty]

One question to ask yourself is, "how long have I been playing with this swing?".

Reason being, if it's two months, then it will take a lot less time than if it's 2 years!

I'm in the process of trying to change my 4 year-old swing, and I can record each swing at the place I go to.

Recording has shown me that on the practice swings, I'm getting closer to it, but then when it comes to hitting, I'm almost straight back to the old swing. It's muscle memory that needs changing and that takes time.

I have a feeling this will take months to achieve, and will be affected also by playing weekly, when I won't be thinking or practicing on the course.

 

[bozza]

I used to have a nasty slice (still do at times!) and the main problem was my grip was too weak, when my pro first changed my grip it felt completley wrong and i really struggled and had to really concentrate on getting it right before every shot. That was nealrly a year ago and only in the last few months it has felt normall. I still have to check my grip before i hit a shot as it can on times get a little weak but it's now part of my pre shot routine which helps alot.

 

[Mike_j_golf]

Hi,
Have gone thru a few swing changes and I think i'm a bit odd that in one range session after a lesson i can ingrain a small swing change bigger stuff a couple of sessions had 3 lessons last year 1 week apart as i found that worked best for me i was going to the range 3 times in between the lessons. Best peice of advice is forget compleatly about the swing changes when u step on to the first tee they are for the driving range.
Mike

 

[Aztecs27]

Well, I'm now booked to play 18 on Saturday, so I'll see how well the new swing changes fair out on the course.

I'm not going to hold my breath!

Cheers for the input though fellas.

 

[sev112]

they often say a thousand repetitions to become ingrained

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I would say that for a minor tweak a couple of range sessions should see it start to fall into place. For anything major I guess it depends on how much you work at the drills and then how regularly you play to let them become ingrained in a proper golfing environment. The thing to remember is to trust the swing and not stand there with thousands of swing thoughts. Been there and can categorically say it won't help one iota

 

[Smiffy]

4 months on and im still not comfortable with my swing

I've been playing for 25 years and I'm still not happy with mine so consider yourself lucky

 

[Alex1975]

One question to ask yourself is, "how long have I been playing with this swing?".

Reason being, if it's two months, then it will take a lot less time than if it's 2 years!

I'm in the process of trying to change my 4 year-old swing, and I can record each swing at the place I go to.

Recording has shown me that on the practice swings, I'm getting closer to it, but then when it comes to hitting, I'm almost straight back to the old swing. It's muscle memory that needs changing and that takes time.

I have a feeling this will take months to achieve, and will be affected also by playing weekly, when I won't be thinking or practicing on the course.

I was a little down this evening and my wife thought it was about my game, she said to me "baby, you have been playing with that swing for 13 years, its not going to change overnight". She is right so its back to the range tomorrow for more inside to out drills. Ill get there if it take the next 13 years... and it might