Played a round yesterday, and I still struggle with hitting AT the ball. Anyone else? What has helped you get past this? SO frustrating.
Some backstory: Started studying Tom's online school and SNT, 10 months ago (a lot of You Tube videos of Tom won me over). Total time with SNT is about two years.
Before the round, on the range, I did not miss a shot: zero chunks, zero thins, absolute KFC ball-striking, on grass, hitting targets. On the course, my practice swings are pure. But many times, when it comes to making my "REAL" swing, I have lots of breakdowns : fast hands, chunks, thins, casting, pushed shots, you name it. I have difficulty making my swing, consistently, and fixate on hitting at the ball.
Anyone else? While SNT has me all-in, I cannot get my head right on the course.
I can smoothly hit a 5-iron 190-200 yards, on one shot, and chunk the next. Every drill has me in whack-a-mole mode. I can fix anything. and then something else crashes.
Is this just a matter of time, SNT burning in with more reps, or do I need to see a head doctor, or hypnotist? I'm kidding, but not kidding, you know?
Feel like I'm in the desert. The disparity between pure strikes and misses is just enormous.
Any suggestions or help is appreciated!
@Tim Rogers - Ah yes - the age-old question of how to transport "Ranger Rick" to the golf course. Most golfers experience that to varying degrees, and for a majority of amateurs that "hit" instinct is a stubborn one to suppress. All I can tell you is that this is part of the process, and as your practice performance becomes more and more consistent - which it appears to be - then it's just a function of time in terms of when/how that will translate itself to the pressures and challenges of actual play. As confidence in your swing grows you should find more and more that you are playing "golf" instead of "golf swing" on the course, at which point your mechanical thoughts - which if that is your actual list are far too many - will be reduced to one or two at the most, and you will be nearly entirely focused on your target and not your swing. An excellent book that may help you with this is "Fearless Golf: Conquering the Mental Game" by Dr. Gio Valiante. Another book that I like is "Play Your Best Golf Now" by Lynn Marriott & Pia Nilsson.