Don’t make this common mistake when practicing your golf swing

When golfers practice, most focus on hitting the ball. They may start out with the intention of working on swing changes, but as soon as the ball is placed in front of them, their attention shifts to connecting and producing a “good” shot.

The result is usually the same standard curve.

When you work on your mechanics, the goal should not be to hit the ball. Instead, the goal is to create a new swing and see how that movement affects the ball. The ball provides feedback, but should not control the movement.

Gameplay coach Iain Highfield explains the process well: “The mind moves the body, the body moves the club, and the club moves the ball.” You cannot skip a part.

The mind must first give the body a clear purpose. The body then has to learn to produce new movements. That movement affects how the club moves, and the club ultimately determines what happens on the ball.

Many golfers try to jump directly from the mind to the ball. They think about hitting it higher, straighter or wider without changing how their body and club move. Unfortunately, the ball cannot fix the swing. It can only react to what the club does in terms of impact.

As a coach, my job is to help the player change the movement first. We then look at how that change affects the club and the flight of the ball. From there, we can continue to adjust the movement until it produces the desired effect.

Here are a few ways to practice swing changes without worrying too much about hitting the ball.

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Make gradual changes

Practicing walking slowly is one of the best ways to learn new movements. Swing at about 30 to 50 percent of full speed while exaggerating the change you’re trying to make.

At this speed, you are more aware of what your body and your club are doing. You can feel the sequence of motion rather than the reaction to the ball.

The shot may not go very far, and the communication may not be good at first, but that’s okay. Judge the swing by whether you made the intended move – not by where the ball ended up. As the movement becomes more comfortable, gradually increase your speed.

Hit the net

Hitting the net reduces the temptation to quickly check the shot. You can’t watch the curve of the ball, chase the target or be distracted by how far it has gone.

Start by practicing a few times without the ball. Then place the ball in front of you and repeat the same movement. Try to let the ball get in the way of the club.

After each throw, the question should be, “Did I make the move I was making?” It shouldn’t be, “Was that a good shot?”

Video can make this exercise even more effective because what we hear and what we actually do are not always the same.

Practice, swing, review

Before each shot, repeat the movement you want to create two or three times. Your workout should be specific and very similar to the swing you intend to do. Get on the ball and do the exercises without adding extra thoughts. After that, plan the move before checking the flight of the ball.

The easiest way is: 1. Practice the movements. 2. Make a swing. 3. Measure the movement. 4. Watch the flight of the ball. 5. Prepare the next repetition.

This practice keeps the swing change during the practice session while allowing the ball to provide useful feedback.

Exaggerate the change

Most swing changes require some degree of exaggeration. If a golfer has repeated the same pattern for years, small adjustments may sound important but look almost unchanged on video.

Practice making new movements feel bigger than you believe they are. You can start without the ball, progress to slow swings and eventually add speed.

Exaggeration may produce a few odd shots at first, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the movement is wrong. It may mean that the club and flight of the ball need time to adjust to the new pattern.

Separate practice from practice

There is an important difference between practicing your swing and practicing your golf swing. During exercise, focus on movement. Slow down, exaggerate and give yourself permission to hit imperfect shots as you learn. During practice, focus your attention on the target, the flight of the ball and the shot you want to play.

Both types of practice are important, but trying to do them at the same time often prevents meaningful progress. When you make a swing change, let the mind move the body, the body move the club, and the club move the ball.