Knew it, but can't do it.
 

Why do people have trouble to accomplish what they know and try to do or avoid, especially on the golf course?:eyes:

For example, delay the release, "sustain the lag", keep the left wrist flat and right wrist bent through impact, steady head, complete follow through, swing "inside-out"....., a long list of dos and don'ts.

Thanks for the attentiion.

Missing Links
 

Just because you understand something, does not guarantee you can execute it. Although understanding is the first step, the ability to remember, have the correct information and most importantly the ability to absorb and apply the first three are all part of the process. If the computer isn't properly programed the body (through feels) can not execute.

Subconscious Golf
 

Most poor performers -- in any physical activity -- have not translated Conscious Mechanics into Subconscious Feels. And the few that have do not trust their work. Instead, they continue to allow the conscious mind to interfere with subconscious performance.

The next time you tie your shoelaces, deliberately think about what you are doing. Start by simply thinking -- before you make a move -- about the process in detail. Which lace do you pick up first? Which one crosses over which? How do you make the 'bunny ear'? Exactly what does each hand do? Think about the entire, entangling process. Then, think your way through each step as you perform it mechanically.

:(

Next, forget all that and just tie your shoes.

:thumleft:

Question: Were you as effective when your conscious mind controlled the task (deliberately and laboriously) as when your subconscious did the job (automatically and effortlessly)?

My guess is that you were not. Does that mean that you never had to think about each step along the way? Of course not. There is no substitute for the learning process. But, effective learning and effective performing are two different things.

Golf is the same way.

Tickling the Ivory
 

I remember hearing a story (I believe from Lynn) about a concert pianist that didn’t practice for days before going to a recording session. When asked why he didn’t practice, he said the fingers have nothing to do with playing the piano.

Practice makes Perfect
 

Don't forget muscle "memory".
As another member posted recently, there is no such thing as muscle memory as muscles don't possess memory. It is the conditioning of the nervous system through repeated correct motions that builds and optimizes the nerve pathways to repeatable muscle actions.

So even though the concert pianist doesn't need to do physical practice in order to play on stage, its only because he has conditioned his arms, hands and fingers to respond to the notes and timing in his head...subconsciously.

As golfers, we need to practice doing the right movements over and over until the conditioning is automatic. Unfortuately, we can also program the wrong movements into our swing and overcoming those "engrained habits" with new habits takes a great deal of time and effort.

Programming the Music Box
 

The pianist was the brilliant Canadian performer, Glenn Gould (1932-1982) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glenn_Gould. In response to a reporter's question regarding his penchant for studying the musical score in lieu of extended practice sessions (with a mechanical focus on scales and etudes), Maestro Gould replied:

"The fingers have little to do with playing the piano."

Obviously, this an exaggeration and presumes the normal conservatory training and day-to-day practice routine of the world class concert pianist. However, his point was well made: Once the physical element is under control, it is the computer (the subconscious) that must be programmed -- and allowed -- to perform.

:)

Whilst reading this I was sure that I felt an ethereal breeze across the back of my neck and heard some ghostly whispering about "Educated Hands".:angel1:

Some things don't happen because they are not programmed to happen but other things happen because they cannot happen... The golf stroke is really a structure and a set of physical laws and alignments that surround its optimal use. You can only control what you can control and you can only control what your ready to control. People can spend countless hours wasting time trying to program themselves to do things which are impossible for them.

Doin' What Comes Naturally
 

If you can walk and swing your arms back and forth, you can walk and swing your arms from side to side. And if you can do that, you can learn to swing a golf club.

:)

That doesn't mean you should send in your app to Q-School. It does mean that, if you go about it in a sensible way, you can develop an efficient, effective swing within the constraints of your own talent.

As a guide, follow these directions:

http://www.lynnblakegolf.com/forum/s...ead.php?t=4435

:golfcart2:

I steal a story from one of the great teacher's book and change a lil' bit:

"When a professor first went to China, the traffic keeping to the right instead of to the left as it does in Hong Kong. Whenever he was going to step off the sidewalk I looked to the right instead of to the left as I should have done.

This got so dangerous that he had to take a dip into his brain-box to find a way of checking it. It wasn't any good just telling hmself to look left; He had done that and promptly looked right again! So, he decided that every time before stepping off a curb he would raise his left forearm and clench his fist. He reckoned it would draw his attention to the left as desired, and it did. In a few days he was cured"

BUT...the funny thing in China is that some cars will also come from the right :laughing9

Back to real golf, I think I can hit pure shots for most of the tee, but when the slope and special designs of the course are in play, it is so easy to miss a shot. I always want Yoda and LBG Pro to address "uneven lie" with TGM concepts.

Lynn here is what I said.

"People can spend countless hours wasting time trying to program themselves to do things which are impossible for them."

How does that translate into the golf stroke is impossible for them... or doing something in the golf stroke is impossible for them....

I was merely stating the most simple of simple logic about cause and effect. For example it does little good to tell someone to maintain a stationary head if it is incorrectly placed at address and no matter how many hours this person spends on the concept, it will still be impossible for them.

Whatever...

And even more to this point, the late great jazz icon Charlie Parker once said "Master the instrument, learn the changes, then forget all that @*$^ and just play!"

He was referring to improvising, which is different from Gould's genius, that being interpretation of Bach as evidenced through his performances, but the two are close enough.

I've been a professional musician for a few decades now, and absolutely feel improvisatory with my short game, but I just can't seem to get that intuitive flow through time with my long game.

I know the performance should start when you're standing behind the ball and end with your finish, but I'm not quite there yet...although, now that I think about it, just responding to this thread has provided some real insight for me. Perhaps, in the next round I play, I will attempt to be intuitive and simply "do", instead of focusing on swing keys and such. :think:

See It -- Hear It -- Play It!
 

I love this post. Thanks, Andy R!

Bird lives!

:)

Just Me I Guess
 

Mathew,

Since your full quote was:

. . . and since this is a golf-oriented site . . .

. . . perhaps you can forgive my ignorant assumption that you were referring to the golf stroke.

Sorry.

:(

You are too skilled at English to do two complete misrepresentations and thus I can only conclude your doing it deliberately.

Im not going to even bother arguing here (don't mistake that with I can't) - take down my animations and I am no longer posting here.

Jeez!

What is it with people on t'internet that they cannot say - "sorry, I accept your point of view"!

I have no problem with it and to prove it...I accept your point of view regarding the videos. :) If there was something I could do about it I would, but I don't work for Microsoft (thank goodness).

I think the jest of this thread is "practice can make perfect".
The problem us weekenders have is that we can make it happen on the range but the course is far more demanding. So when the wheels come off on a shot, we immediately go into mechanics mode to make the appropriate adustments and then move on to the next series of shots while still staying in a mechanical mindset. Rather than accepting the shot for what it is and staying in "player mode".

If a Concert Pianist went into mechanical mode when missing a note, the audience would recognize the change of pattern in a instant, but true appreciation comes when the Pianist misses a note and recovers brilliantly. I've seen Ice skaters and many other performance athletes do the same.

I was a pretty good pitcher when I was a young kid...one of the better ones in the league...I remember once getting pissy with the coach because he pulled me out of a game...I told him I was out of here...thinking he would change his mind ...but he didn't....I walked off the field and was heading up the dirt road home....didn't get very far though...went back apologized to the coach and told him I would never do that again...I guess I respected him for not letting me get away with it....and I loved playing baseball way too much to let my childish behavior deprive me of playing the game and missing my next start.:)

High Maintenance
 

Mathew,

For whatever the reason, you have been in a major self-destruct mode for some months now. Your arrogance, negativism and high-handed disregard for others have been the source of much divisiveness on the site, including this last sad episode. Until you resolve those issues, I not only accept your resignation from the site, I applaud it.

The request to remove 'your' animations -- how quickly we forget the inspiration and collaborative effort that was their origin -- was as predictable as it was petty. They now are down and will be replaced in time by other efforts less sensitive to personal whim.

You have both taken much and given much during your tenure on this site. I will miss your positive contributions, but not their price tag. You are welcome to return when you are able to check your hostilities at the door and conduct yourself in a civil, mature manner.

:salut:

Final
 

And don't forget to replace your divot. :laughing9 :laughing9

Machines have feelings too!
 

The problem us weekenders have is that we can make it happen on the range but the course is far more demanding. So when the wheels come off on a shot, we immediately go into mechanics mode to make the appropriate adustments and then move on to the next series of shots while still staying in a mechanical mindset. Rather than accepting the shot for what it is and staying in "player mode".

If I may add that what people fail to do is reconnect the proper mechanic with the corresponding "feel." My game went up a notch when I made last step in a "fix" is the indetifiable feel. These days I am completely reliant upon the feel of my right forearm flying wedge. Once I sense the angle that I need to take the right forearm up, back and in and down, out and forward...it is go time! I cannot pull the trigger until I feel/sense that plane of motion. Our feel system is our ultimate reality out there, the good news is that we can engineer it using proper mechanics FIRST.

Trust it or not.
 

Thanks for the input from everybody. Sorry about Mathew, who is a serious supporter and contributer to the site.

My point of view on this issue is that, like for other things, everybody has their own interpretation or idea about how to:
1. make a body movement,
2. move a club,
3. hit a golf ball or
4. send a golf ball to the target,
which are usually four independent things for (but not limit to) newcomers. For example, they tend to "cast" for 2., "hack" for 3. and "steer" for 4..

They, however, have no problem doing 1. after some training and knowing (or trusting) they can do it and are thinking about doing only 1.. But, trouble arises when they are thinking (or concernning) about 2., 3. or 4, or their combinations. Without the trust or belief that doing 1. (which is the ultimate "cause") can lead to other body movements and 2., which leads to 3., which finally leads to 4., they tend to accomplish 2., 3., or 4. by their own trusty ways (or habits) subconciously, back to casting, hacking and steering, for example, which are no longer doing 1. (despite they surely can accomplish). With the task on hand, it's extremely difficult for people to change to the ways they aren't familiar with and have no faith upon.

People, who do FLW and BRW through impact during a practicing swing, may still "steer" the real shots with "chicken wings", if that remains their "belief" for hitting a golf ball to the target. Until then, they will "scoop" or "lift" in front of the water or inside a bunker, and peek for a puttl, despite of knowing all the shoulds and shouldn'ts.

For better skill-developping people, training and practicing have proved to them and make them believe that doing 1. can lead to 2. or 3. or 4., so they have less concerns and gradually eliminate those "house-keeping skills". But things can come back if the situation is stressful enough to override the trust or confidence, like anxiety and pressure during competition.

For skill-highly-developed person, things just happen. They no longer think about it and have no idea how things are accomplished, regardless of the situation.