HOW HARD CAN IT BE...?
Changing one's behavior is quite difficult and, if not done properly, can be frustrating, slow and can feel impossible. I have heard that in order to change a behavior it requires 1200 correct repetitions in a row. That is, if you want to change your signature, you would need 1200 new signatures in a row in order to make the change. If, at number 976, you revert to your old signature... return back to 1... 2... 3... Changing a signature is a piece of cake compared to your golf swing!! So it can be very difficult to make a swing change. But don't get too discouraged! There is help! It is called "P.M.P."
P.M.P.
P.M.P. is also known as POSITION, MOTION and PERFORMANCE. Following this process, committing to this process and repeating this process. The more times a student can go through the process the a) faster the change can be made, b) the more permanent the change will become and c) the faster the student will see results.
POSITION:
The first step is to understand the ideal or change in POSITION for the motion. Let's take impact position as an example. The student below is attempting to effect the change in his impact position of weight slightly left, hips slightly pressed to the left and opened and improved handle position forward of the golf ball.
For the player he is accomplishing quite a bit in just being in this position. He is feeling the proper impact position. The key is to understand the FEEL, the LOOK and be able to VERBALIZE this position. Remember the student in this example is attempting to accomplish 3 changes at once! Weight, hips and handle. That would over load a performer without using this method of learning.
MOTION:
Golf is, after all, a game of motion. Positions are important but only as checkpoints through motion! The next step is to have the player replicate the change through MOTION. This can be accomplished to a number of drills and exercises. Some of my favorites are:
1) Full Swing practice swing without a ball and with a divot.
2) Use of an impact bag.
3) Slow swing drills (swing at 1/4 normal speed) or take almost 5 seconds to complete the swing moving through the position focused on initially.
4) 100 practice swings per day.
5) Swinging in front of a mirror.
PERFORMANCE:
Simply put performance is attempting to replicate the first two areas with hitting a golf ball. The important aspect of performance is to not expect much initially. After all making a change creates doubt, anxiety and, worse of all, tension. Results will come by working the process.
WORK THE PROCESS:
Normally players will hit 4-5 golf shots in a row and them MAYBE, if I am lucky, do one drill or a practice swing. In order to make this process most effective it is important to make 2-3 positional drills followed by 2-3 motion drills and finally 1 or maybe 2 performance swings. Notice the ratio is greatly focused on the position and the motion drills. In fact 2-2-1 would be the minimum I would recommend of the process.
By working through this P.M.P. sequence a player has a fighting chance at making a significant swing change relatively quickly, permanently and effectively.
If you have any questions or comments please do not hesitate to contact me. I can be reached via email at john.grothe@gmail.com.
Your friend in golf.
John Grothe, PGA
