Have you ever played with someone who has a beautiful, rhythmic practice swing but the complete opposite type of swing when hitting a shot? What happens to someone when a ball is placed in front of them? In many of us there is a measurable change in the tension of the hands, arms and shoulders once a player prepares to hit a shot. Some sort of primal urge takes over and the only goal for many of us is to destroy the little white ball. If you can identify with this dilemma, then try the following:

1- Take practice swings and sense the complete lack of tension that is generally present in not just your hands, but your arms and shoulders as well. Then, try to replicate that feeling for real with a ball. Really try and sense softness in your arms and shoulders as you do this. The brain will fight you on this and tell you that you aren’t gripping, or swinging “hard” enough to hit your clubs their proper distance. So initially take an extra club on the course to help with this, but don’t be surprised to eventually see the ball go too far.

2- Prior to your swing, tense up your arms and shoulders and then exhale and completely relax. At that point, begin to swing. The challenge in this split second is to NOT increase tension in any part of your body or try and whip the club off the ball. Stay smooth and swing at a 75% speed. You will probably find that your practice swing looks and feels eerily similar to this if you can do it properly. Don’t be obsessed with distance right away, just try and strike the ball solidly and swing in balance.

© Golf In The Now, Jim Williams. All rights reserved.