How to free your mind for a better golf swing

One thing is sure: Your body doesn’t understand any commands – especially nothing negative!

This is a scientifically proven fact.

Every command has to be translated into a feeling to be saved in your cerebellum – the part of your brain that is responsible for your eye-hand coordination and movements.[clearboth]

During his years a golfer collects a lot of information about his swing in form of commands.

But usually he’s not able to automate these commands and translate them into a known repeatable feeling.

As a result the commands gain the upper hand.

You sabotage your own swing every time you are giving yourself commands during a swing.

But there are alternatives like exercises that focus on visualization, feeling or sound. Things that respond to your senses.

These exercises have several advantages: You are giving your body exact information.

Your body can implement this information better because your mind isn’t occupied with negative thoughts about your past or future.

So let’s take a look how you can transform a negative command into a positive command and into one of those exercises.

Observation (maybe from a flight partner)

“During your downswing you get up with your upper body and your head.”
“You are fishing with your club!”
These can easily lead to ….

Negative Commands

“I MUSTN’T stand up when I hit the ball!”
“Don’t hit the ball from above.”
The subconscious doesn’t care about limitations like NOT or STOP. That’s why your body focuses on the opposite of your command. So start thinking about what you really want to do.

Positive Commands

“I want to keep my head and shoulder down during impact.”
“I want to relax my hands. My rotation shall bring the club to the ball.”
These Commands are better than the negative ones but but still difficult to follow for your body. Transform these into something more effective.

Images, Feeling, Sound

What does the tee or the grass do right after I’ve hit the ball properly?

As soon as I’ve seen my tee my task is complete.

Try visualizing your golf-club without a club-head or with a different weight and see what happens.

Focus on the sound of a ball that was hit great or the swoosh of your swing.

Whenever you have a command in your head try to think about an image a feeling or a sound that could help you accomplish that and you will play better and most of all free.