No brainer

I waxed lyrical about the value of 'connection' in my previous post, but I need to add a disclaimer, as follows.

It's all very well to work on a method or technique or even a swing thought prior to playing a round of golf, but the focus must be different in a competition round or any serious round.

When scoring, the target (whatever it is: position on the fairway, middle of the green, flag, etc.) must be the only conscious thought, not the swing. Fine to set up and aim using a method or swing thought, but that should not be the focus as the swing starts - that must be the target.

Connection is thus a swing technique and thought that must be trained and ingrained in one's swing during practice. In the early stages of training, connection can be practiced in one's practice swing during a round. That is, you can actually connect triceps and chest during your practice swing.

The important thing is to then change focus from technique to the target, to consciously ignore the technique, and rely on the unconscious mind to closely replicate the connection that you have practiced and hopefully committed to so called 'muscle memory', which is in fact your unconscious.

I came across this method of learning and playing from looking at Padraig Harrington's golf tips. Paddy is a highly technical and deep thinking golfer. He uses this commitment to the unconscious in controlling the swing when, in particular, he wants to draw or fade a shot. Paddy uses a couple of practice swings to set up the swing path he wants to encourage when playing his shot. It works well without any other manipulations of grip, clubface or swing path.

I'm still working on it, but I think this method of programming my connection technique (whatever you call it) will be very helpful. I need to avoid having swing thoughts, keys and other preoccupations interfere with my actual swing and my focus on the target or desired outcome of a shot.

We know that the unconscious is a very powerful thing and it is no less so in golf than in any other aspect of life. If, for example, while playing a shot your conscious mind is saying do x, but you unconscious mind is saying 'I don't agree' or 'that's wrong' this can lead to confusion and a poor swing. It is very difficult to go against what the unconscious thinks is right - because it is often right.

I'm not sure, you might not agree, but it could be said that trusting the unconscious should be considered a real no brainer.