Visualize Your Shot and Keep Your Pre-Swing & In-Swing Keys to a Minimum to Maximize your Game

Mark Oswald
General Manager
The Highlands at Dove Mountain in Marana, AZ.
Marana, AZ
oswaldpga@gmail.com

More Information

Picture the shot you desire. I want this short series of pictures to end with your finish. You are holding the finish of your swing with good balance, weight on your front foot and you are facing your target.  These simple keys will greatly improve your score on the course.

1). Picture the shot.  Imagine the ball flying from its position on the ground to where you want it to end. How high will it fly, what direction will it take and how much will it roll after landing. This kind of detail in your pictured flight is programming your brain for the shot you want and what it takes to make it happen.

2). Hold your finish.  Just like the picture in your mind before the shot, end the swing by holding your finish position. Can you hold this position until the ball stops? You should be able to. Look at those good shots when you can hold that pose. Why can you do it sometimes and not others? It takes focus and you have to have completed your weight shift, turn to the target and kept your balance to hold it.

3.) Good Balance.  You have to have good balance or you will not be able to hit the ball in the center of the clubface or hold your finish. Start with good balance and end with it. Find your balance point on your feet and practice hitting shots and maintaining this balance.

4.) Weight finishing on your front foot.  If you have properly shifted your weight during the swing you will finish with almost all of your weight on the front foot.

5.) Finish facing your target.  During the swing you will make a full shoulder turn, shift your weight forward and finish with your weight on the front foot and your body is now facing your target. Don’t stop short of the finish, turn until you’re completely turned, facing your target.

The key to achieving points 2-5 is consistently beginning with step 1, visualization. Practice visualizing the shot and the position you end in. Take practice swings with no ball and duplicate your visualized swing. 

On the course just visualize it and hold it!

For more help with your golf game, contact Mark Oswald at oswaldpga@msn.com.