Trouble starting backswing/mental block HELP!!!!!

[smoothie4896]

Over the past few years I've had trouble starting my backswing off the ball (this was never a problem until about 5 years ago).  Its the worst with the driver and does effect the irons at times, not so much with wedges.  I do know this is a mental block and I've tried so many things to try and free this up.  It can get so bad that I almost jerk the driver away from the ball about a foot, then slight pause and then go.  Happens with the irons as well.

 

But when I'm hitting it well and have a few drinks in me, doesn't happen much or not as bad.  I know this is affecting my swing and timing and its really frustrating.  Anyone ever face this and fix it?  I know its a mental and totally lost on how to change it.  Im also not a terrible player, right now I'm a 4 handicap and that's the highest I've been in over 20 years, have always been around scratch.  

 

Would love to get some thoughts, I'll try anything at this point.

[me05501]

Maybe avoid letting the club stop moving in the first place? Try a sort of continuous waggle as you adjust into address.

 

A lot of great players step into the shot with the clubhead moving and only allow a very brief pause before the takeaway. 

[naval2006]

If you’ve been experimenting it for so long it’s hard to get rid of it easily but you can definitely make it. I had a pitch yip for like 9 years. Jim Waldron, a coach still on the forum, is a specialist on cases like yours. 

[smoothie4896]

11 minutes ago, me05501 said:

Maybe avoid letting the club stop moving in the first place? Try a sort of continuous waggle as you adjust into address.

 

A lot of great players step into the shot with the clubhead moving and only allow a very brief pause before the takeaway. 

 

I like this idea.  Thanks!  I'll give this a shot and see if I can implement something that works.

[Hawkeye77]

Second the notion of Jim Waldron.  Reportedly, Stan Utley cured Charles Barkley.

 

The motion idea, hovering the club sounds great and may work well!

 

But . . . if not, not sure chasing tips is worth it based on your history and recommend getting some help from someone who has worked successfully with people who have had similar issues. If this has been going on for years, I can't imagine you haven't tried everything already, but the alcohol part isn't the answer, lol.

[shoot4par]

You gotta have a trigger of some sort; waggle, grip - regrip. Pay attention to tension in your body. Just a thought can help, I prefer making sure the club head is outside the hands.  Hope it helps out.

Edited January 7, 2022 by shoot4par

[smoothie4896]

8 minutes ago, shoot4par said:

You gotta have a trigger of some sort; waggle, grip - regrip. Pay attention to tension in your body. Just a thought can help, I prefer making sure the club head is outside the hands.  Hope it helps out.

I've tried the trigger and it sometimes helps but not always.  I truly think I need to get all the thoughts out of my head.  Used to be a feel type player and over the years its morphed into technical thoughts constantly.  I can also feel the tension in my shoulders when its really bad.  I think I might go with shock therapy! 

[smoothie4896]

21 minutes ago, Hawkeye77 said:

Second the notion of Jim Waldron.  Reportedly, Stan Utley cured Charles Barkley.

 

The motion idea, hovering the club sounds great and may work well!

 

But . . . if not, not sure chasing tips is worth it based on your history and recommend getting some help from someone who has worked successfully with people who have had similar issues. If this has been going on for years, I can't imagine you haven't tried everything already, but the alcohol part isn't the answer, lol.

I'll check out Jim, see if maybe he does online lessons.  Always thought his work was outstanding.  Arm swing illusion was great stuff, smart guy.

[texcellence86]

It always helps me to pick my shot shape/swing prior to anything else. Once I know what I'm going to do I defer to my pre shot routine.

 

Example: Pick target behind the ball, address the ball, confirm target, set feet, waggle, check target, waggle, check, SWING.

 

IMO Pre shot routines have always kept my mind from going stagnant.

[jj9000]

I wish you the best of luck b/c it seems debilitating.

 

I hope you can take humor in this.

 

[smoothie4896]

26 minutes ago, jj9000 said:

I wish you the best of luck b/c it seems debilitating.

 

I hope you can take humor in this.

 

HAHAHAHA, yes, I never take myself too seriously.  I do feel like TinCup sometimes.   

[mgoblue83]

You are so locked up with swing thoughts that you have lost your ability to swing the club with natural athleticism.

 

Drill more partial swings and feet together swings. Think of nothing but turning back and through naturally - do not care where the ball goes. 

 

 

Get some athleticism back into your swing by doing the step swing drill. (Similar to throwing a ball.)

 

 

[naval2006]

56 minutes ago, smoothie4896 said:

I've tried the trigger and it sometimes helps but not always.  I truly think I need to get all the thoughts out of my head.  Used to be a feel type player and over the years its morphed into technical thoughts constantly.  I can also feel the tension in my shoulders when its really bad.  I think I might go with shock therapy! 

Fully agree on thoughts in your head. That won’t allow the club to flow through. Pretty common problem at club level. 

[Hawkeye77]

5 hours ago, smoothie4896 said:

I'll check out Jim, see if maybe he does online lessons.  Always thought his work was outstanding.  Arm swing illusion was great stuff, smart guy.

A few years ago I called to order one of his books, which was pretty interesting, I had to supply a credit card number by phone - next thing I knew I was talking to Jim and for quite awhile - super nice guy!

[MPStrat]

Tour tempo app or something similar is a fantastic tool for that problem. 

[Tax77]

Constant movement, I look at target and waggle waggle waggle, look down on ball, right thumb on off on off on SWING

[smoothie4896]

2 hours ago, MPStrat said:

Tour tempo app or something similar is a fantastic tool for that problem. 

I just checked this out, very cool. Heard of it before but never looked into it. This could work. Going to get app and give it a try. 

[MPStrat]

1 hour ago, smoothie4896 said:

I just checked this out, very cool. Heard of it before but never looked into it. This could work. Going to get app and give it a try. 

I took a lesson from a teacher who pointed out that I stood still over the ball for sometimes 5 seconds before pulling the trigger and I never even noticed I did it. Early on I was told that my backswing was too fast by everyone and so I actually tried to slow it down a little bit and I believe that’s where the problem started. My backswing eventually became way too slow and I was trying to mechanjcally piece it together. When I tried to stop I couldn’t get out of the habit. I stumbled upon the tour tempo app several years ago and it cured both issues.
 

The beeps got my mind in a different place where I was only focusing on the tempo  and almost immediately I could go rapid fire and my backswing was much faster which on its own makes the swing a lot easier. You also might be surprised how slow your backswing is compared to most tour players. That alone makes it worth the price.