Have you ever questioned how it is that during practice you can hit shots like a pro but struggle to break 90? Every golfer, regardless of skill level, has noticed the extreme difference between practice and actual play.
What happens to all the “good stuff” during the ten-minute walk from the practice range to the first tee?
The solution is straightforward: on the practice field, you’ve been attempting to correct effects (i.e. swing mechanics) without addressing the underlying cause(s).
Mechanics are effects, while feelings are causes.
If you can make accurate shots on the range, you have the capacity. The best feel must be reinforced if those shots are to be recreated.
There are three regular checkpoints or positions in every reliable swing.
The impact position serves as the first checkpoint. For a right-handed golfer, the left hand is opposite the inner left thigh at impact. The backswing ends at the second position. In a complete backswing, the player’s back is facing the target. The hands are roughly waist-high in the downswing when the final checkpoint comes into play. At this point, a line through the shaft of the club is pointing at the ball.
Are you familiar with the axiom “only perfect practice makes perfect?” The adage makes sense, but how do we perfect practice? You can achieve perfect practice if you regularly practice these three positions correctly.
By repeatedly recreating important positions and their corresponding feels, effective muscle memory can be developed. The key to continuously enhancing swing mechanics is your distinct feel.
It’s a common misconception to think that the quantity of time spent on the driving range is equivalent to the rate of improvement. Golfers frequently complain that their game got worse the more they practiced.
The three positions mentioned above might seem overly straightforward to a golfer who is knowledgeable about the subtleties of swing mechanics.
You can see these positions by looking at frame-by-frame photos of your favorite players. The peculiarities a player has developed to help recreate the three positions include variations in grip, stance, takeaway, and backswing length.
Off-season is the best time to develop new muscle memory.
Mind and muscles need time to accept fresh ideas and “forget” comfortable patterns. A full-length mirror will hasten your development because it will enable you to visualize the positions as you create a distinctive feel. Practice the three positions with your eyes closed as your comfort level rises.
The single most important factor influencing your ability to create effective muscle memory will be discussed in the following article.
Thanks for reading.