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Among the hardest things for players in any sport usually are to take what they're told about ways to accomplish something and transfer it to that which we label "feel". We're conditioned to engage in a series of moves to perfect a golf swing sequence, and then when we learn that swing we think our way through it. The game of golf could be more challenging in this regard than, for instance a shooter in basketball who's provided no time to reflect. I sometimes wonder if golfers might fare better if they had a minimal time restriction on their shots. Most of us who've played golf for a while have experienced that sensation of feeling their shot. It normally occurs when we start playing well and evaluate the golf course and permit the golf swing manage itself. This is when we get into the "zone" and knock their ball better than ever. Then invariably a minor thing goes awry then we start analyzing our swing action again. The question then: can there be an approach we can get in that zone more frequently and stay there? The initial thing to do will be to have a change in mentality. Try not to become too analytic on the golf course in terms of your swing action. Use evaluation for golf course management whenever you play, because when you think about navigating the golf course effectively there really is enough to help you stay busy. Don't think about the golf swing when playing a golf course; keep your swing assessment to your practice spot. I have found a couple of approaches when on the golf course looking to get one to feel the swing. Most people exercise it when addressing the ball. Subsequent to lining up their shot from behind the ball step up to about one foot farther away from the ball and take the entire practice swing. All of the concentration must be only on one thing: producing solid golf ball contact. After that is carried out step up to the golf ball and replicate that same swing action, adding or taking away nothing and thinking about nothing but solid shot contact. I use a somewhat different technique which doesn't involve the practice swing. When lining up the golf shot from behind the ball I visualize only making solid contact on the ball. I leave the rest of the stuff such as take away, back swing, hip action as well as follow-through for muscle memory. A lot of us have swung a golf club thousands of times so why might it be needed to give it one more reminder? It will merely get in the way of what the body in fact knows how to do the natural way. I am not saying this will always work, but it keeps us heading back out there to strive. If you are into golf like we are, we invite you to check out our website http://golfshortgames.com, as well as an article on tips on drawing a ball with your driver. Jim O'Connell is an avid golfer and writer living in Chicago.
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