Almost everyone I see playing golf takes a practice swing or two (or three, or four) before stepping up to hit the ball. Lately, I’ve begun to question this practice. Why? First, let me define what I mean by “practice swing.” My definition of a practice swing is addressing an invisible ball and swinging as if to hit it. Swinging the club around to relieve tension with no swing thought of any kind is different. That is not a “practice swing” in this context. With that out of the way, let’s say to take a practice swing, and it feels smooth and flowing and gives you that added bit of confidence to replicate that swing with the ball in the way. Great! Please do it.
On the other hand, let’s say you take your practice swing, and something doesn’t feel right. You lose your balance, or the club hits the ground, whatever the case may be. You take another practice swing, trying to correct whatever it was that felt off in the last one. Um, better, but now something else seems amiss. Maybe a third practice swing will help? Doubtful. A forth? Uh, no!
Finally, one of your playing partners says, “While we’re young?!” So you step up to hit the ball. I’m not a psychologist, but I’m reasonably sure you are not in the right frame of mind to hit a golf shot. First, you still don’t feel right based on your practice swings, so multiple swing thoughts are running through your head. Second, you now have the added pressure of your playing partners being slightly perturbed at your slow play. The added pressure? You had better hit a good shot now after taking all those practice swings, or your playing partners will never let you hear the end of it! Any of that sound at least vaguely familiar?
Let’s be honest. If you take a beautiful, smooth, flowing practice swing, do you then hit the ball with that same motion? I don’t have a precise data-driven answer to that question. I do have an answer, though. My answer, based on over 50 years of observation, is NO. Virtually no one in amateur/recreational ranks swings the same once the ball becomes an issue.
Watch top-level amateurs and professionals on TV. Very few take practice swings before they fire away. They may swing the club in a leisurely way to relieve tension and stay loose. Rarely will they address an invisible ball and grind away on swing thoughts.
Just for fun, next time you play, do so with no practice swings. See the shot, address the ball, and make a smooth full swing. Just let the ball get in the way of the swing. You might be surprised at the results!
Whatever you do, have fun out there! Remember, it’s just a game.