Committing to a Swing Change

Alex Elias

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Every golfer has periods where their swing feels off. For me, it is coming over the top in the downswing – something that many golfers can relate to. Although many golfers may be aware of their over-the-top move, Matt Benton, Head Golf Professional at Old Marsh Golf Club, said, "You can’t just know that you’re coming over the top. You have to understand what you’re doing that is causing it."
 
Once the identification is addressed, then the swing change can begin, but not without the understanding that change doesn’t happen overnight. Benton said, "The speed at which golfers abandon change is crazy. In order to make a change, you have to understand the feel." 

To best understand the feel, "The swing must be exaggerated," said Benton. "Swing changes are often minimal but feel drastic. As a result, in order to achieve your goal at full swing speed, you need to repeatedly exaggerate the new feeling in slow motion first." 

Even if rehearsed and practiced properly, many golfers are guilty of abandoning change. Often, it occurs during the transition from the range to the course. Benton said, "If you’re making a swing change, and you’re doing it well on the range, that doesn’t guarantee you’re going to do it well on the course. In fact, chances are it won’t go well on the course, but that doesn’t mean you need to start diagnosing something else."

"You have to stick with the change and understand when a shot is the result of the implemented swing change vs. when it’s the result of an old habit sneaking back. That’s how you’re going to successfully make the change and eventually see positive results," said Benton.