Josh’s Tips & Tricks: Finish like a PRO

Intro

Hello golfers, welcome to this weeks tips & tricks. This week I want to get you a feeling that you can easily rehearse of the driving range and then take onto the golf course. It’s coming to the end of the season and it’s starting to feel a lot more autumnal. This means that the club competitions are coming to an end and the hard work on the driving range begins. We’re going to look this week at how the finish position in the golf swing is so important and how it can make your overall game more complete.

Finish Position

I see lots of different golf swings and lots of different types of golfer day to day. Some are more physically able, some are limited. Some swing it fast, others slower. I coach low handicap golfers and complete beginners. One of the main things that is noticeably different in professionals or better players compared to beginners is their ability to hold a good finish position. I have lots of people ask me why this is important because the ball has already left the clubface and is on its way. The reason that it is important is that it tells a story about what has happened through impact. Here are a few examples:

Lack of weight transference

When people get stuck on their back foot its likely that the low point of the golf swing is before the ball. This will cause fat, thin and topped shots. Finishing with weight on the front foot means the momentum of the club is moving towards the target and the low point of the swing has shifted towards the target.

Lack of body rotation

A lack of body rotation means the hips, chest and knees don’t finish facing the target. It is likely that the arms have taken over in the swing causing problems with both direction and ball striking. Finishing with the hips and chest over the front foot and facing the target means you have cleared the body out of the way allowing the arms to swing through naturally.

Club not behind the head

Finishing with the hands in front of the body and not behind the head means there has been a lack of release of the clubhead. A release is the rotation of the clubface through impact and this allows the arms and hands to finish behind the body. I see lots of people who miss the ball right (right handed) or have a lack of speed finish with the hands in front of them and not completed behind the head.

Simple Swing Thought

Simply finishing off the golf swing can a great swing thought. Practice can become very technical. I see players working on key checkpoints in the swing and this is also crucial. Taking all of these checkpoints onto the golf course can be very detrimental. I have heard of people who have dozens of swing thoughts on the course and this is just a disaster waiting to happen. Your brain can only process one maybe two maximum while you’re stood over a shot. This means you need something simple and reliable.

The thought of simply “finish the swing” can help with this. If you have practiced well on the range of the the technical changes should have lead to improvements. Therefore when you get onto the course you don’t need to think about all of them. This swing thought will free up your golf swing and is very simple to trust and replicate. Not only will it get rid of excess thoughts but it will help with some technical aspects as previously discussed. It can also help to get rid of negative thoughts such as “don’t hit it in the water” or “don’t leave it short”. Thinking positive thoughts during you swing can almost guarantee you better shots on the course.

Next time you practice on the driving range try this routine:

• Warm up

• Short game

• Technical improvements

• Target practice with one swing thought “complete the swing, finish facing the target”

This can then be your one simple swing thought to take onto the course. You have learned to trust only that on the driving range so you can therefore trust it on the course.

Summary

One simple swing thought is plenty to take onto the course. There are lots of external factors to take into consideration on the course so keeping your mind clear over a shot it vital. This is only one example of a simple swing thought and there are lots of others that aren’t technical such as “tempo” or “timing” or “balance”. Give this one a go and let me know how you get on.

If you struggle with too many swing thoughts and would like some help with the Sport Psychology aspects of the game you know where I am. Also if any of the technical aspects sound familiar and you don’t finish you swing and can’t figure out why get yourself booked in for a lesson.

Happy golfing,

Josh