Why your golf swing isn't the same as the practice swing...

Your golf swing doesn't feel right and the next shot is a must-make... or you've vowed to throw the golf clubs in the lake, leave the golf course and NEVER play again. Anyone want to give me odds against the shot?

The frustration comes from the fact that the practice swing feels great... So why can't the real golf swing work like that? It's the stupid golf ball! The ball has got your mind locked in one of those golf ball-vulcan-mind-meld things...

Well, kind of... It is the presence of the golf ball that changes things. It changes your focus from swinging the golf club to hitting the ball... and getting it to its next destination. Mostly it's the second part that screws up your mind. In other words it comes down to focus. here's what you need to remember...

The difference between a practice swing and a golf shot is that the golf shot is the plan plus the swing. When your mind has to make the plan, it's hard to get away from the plan so you can just make another practice swing... There's so much at stake! And the more you worry about it (losing golf balls) the more golf balls you'll lose. Golf is just like life that way. The more you worry about your problems, the worse they get... I know, there's a second part to the saying that nobody every mentions and it applies in both cases.

The second part of the life lesson is that instead of worrying about the problem, create a plan and focus on the ACTION you take to solve it. The plan is no good if the action is half-fast (say it quicker for the desired effect).

Focus takes your life down one step deeper than you are used to going. That's why it takes time to develop. There's the problem, the plan and then, the action. Most people focus on the plan, but the trick is to commit to the plan and focus on getting the action right. MOST PEOPLE NEVER TAKE ACTION and most of the rest make a weak attempt to get the action right.

In golf, you have to decide that your plan will work, or commit to it. If you can't commit, put the club back in the bag and make a new plan. Once you commit, translate the plan to a picture of the action that will make the shot happen as you see it. That happens at impact where the club and ball meet. To focus on impact, you have to know how the club and ball interact to make the ball fly properly. If you can picture it, your body will move heaven and earth to make it happen. It's not the golf swing, it's the FOCUS during the golf swing...

Ckick here for more on focus and the golf swing.

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