“I’ve Lost My Golf Swing”

This is a phrase that we’ve all uttered. On the days when you don’t feel quite right, hitting a golf ball can seem like the hardest thing. It certainly does feel like we lose our ability to make contact with the ball.

But can you actually lose your golf swing?

I’ve been giving this some thought this week. Played with a golf pro on Tuesday and he wasn’t happy with his game. He was rusty and poorly prepared to play. And sure, he made some bad swings and wasn’t setting the  golf course alight. He kept saying he had lost his swing or he “didn’t have it” today.

I don’t think you lose your golf swing. It goes missing when you let interference get in the way. The most common distractions are self-inflicted. Ego, worry, nerves and fear.

When you swing freely, no matter how you feel, you maximise the chances of playing better golf. It’s never easy (because it’s normal for golfers to think and worry) but this is the best way of finding your swing and getting the most out of your game.

The golf pro was a different animal on the back nine. He stopped analysing and started playing. He got into the game and focused on what it was he was trying to do. This involved some important questions:

  • how far is the shot?
  • where is the target?
  • what club do I need to hit?

There was no worry or interference. He decided what he wanted to do and went for it.

He birdied 10, 14 and 18. It was great to watch and when he stopped looking he found what he wanted all along. His golf swing returned.

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9 Comments

  • Grayden Provis

    Reply Reply April 1, 2011

    “I don’t think you lose your golf swing. It goes missing when you let interference get in the way….”

    Very good point. And it applies to most things. The quality is underneath, we just cover it up with noise. Reminds me of the guy commenting on all those dumb exercise gizmos that supposedly give you better abs: “Just lose weight!” he said, “the abs are already underneath, you’ve just gotta let them show!”

    Congratulations on your previous post too Cameron…..that would have given a lot of heart to a lot of weekend warriors. Thats why this site is so good: its real.

  • Cameron

    Reply Reply April 1, 2011

    Hi Grayden, great to hear from you. Hope you’re playing well.

  • Grayden Provis

    Reply Reply April 15, 2011

    Nuclear powerplant meltdown. Thats a problem.
    Tsunamis. They’re a problem.
    Earthquakes, civil war, famine, floods and Ebola virus. They’re definitely problems.
    16 shots on a golf hole? Meh. We can live with it.

    • Cameron

      Reply Reply April 18, 2011

      Agree – sometimes we take our golf a little bit too seriously. I’m more than guilty of this. Thanks for some perspective.

  • Gregor

    Reply Reply April 15, 2011

    Cameron,
    it’s amazing that even top pro’s can make such a mess of a hole. I suppose after a bad shot some form of panic sets in when the reality of a big number is faced.
    I remember what you told me when we played about altering your game plan so you don’t get into more and more trouble. I suppose you have to stand back, think about what a good score might now be for the hole and then play out in the safest way to achieve that score. Even if the best you think you can do is now double bogey. At least you have re-set your expectations.
    Gregor
    ps I like your post about practising in the house. I think I need that.

    • Cameron

      Reply Reply April 18, 2011

      Hi Gregor, thanks for posting. Looks like I’ll be coming back later in the year.

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