Freezing

I assume you've tried various routines. In order to hasten my play, I take practice swings standing behind the ball to feel the shot I want to take, then take 3 steps and swing. I only think about the swing until I transition - my miss is starting with my arms and not transitioning weight. After that, it could just be cold beer at the 19th hole. That 1 key is down from about 9 that kept me stepping back and sequencing them in my mind again.

Easy fix would be a forward press...the quick band-aid of starting a swing. I'm sure you tried that though in your search. Best advise is see a sports psychologist...they have seen this and can help like they do with most on the tour. Best of luck, I'm routing for you to turn it around!

Mark,
I with Joshua on this one. A sports psychologist can help you get past this. Know that we are all rooting for you. You can do it!

Yeah, I've had that a while back after a year or so when I started golf and it lingered on for a big part of a summer. Bad enough to the point that people talk about how bad I was on the course. LOL :)

I've heard it all... "It's getting DARK!!" "While we're young!!" "Let the grass grow under your feet!!" ... it's laughable every time I look back, and at the same time feel sad for someone I see who couldn't pull the trigger over a ball and then not have fun during play.

But it was an easy fix with the pro- yepper- just a pre shot routine lesson. The point is to give every step a reason or a function from the beginning of your routine as to why you need to be behind the ball, stepping into the ball... You can even start from taking the club out of the bag. It's just a clockwork thing once you've decided on the shot you need.

In the beginning of the lesson, I've hit many shots that I'm not ready for, but as for practice, it was executed- the triggers were pulled in an acceptable time and it eliminated the freeze over a ball- no satisfaction there yet. But practicing it overtime, the routine gives you an activity... activity leads and enables execution.

Part II: knowing what to execute. If you know it, the routine will be a piece of cake and you'll be onto playing well again. If you don't, or if you're thinking of a bad outcome, it may be the reason for freezing. You may need to address that issue first before addressing the ball.

Work with a pro you like if you need to. It's all part of the game.

Have a little fun with that and hopefully we'll hear about how much better you are with it on your next post.

I know it's not the same, but I find myself uncomfortable over different shots during rounds. It may be a hole the doesn't fit my eye, a club I don't feel real confident with, or other silly things, but I try to visualize the shot I want that coincides with my shot shape and then try to make it happen. Good luck!

Have you tried hypnotism? I know it may sound crazy but when I was in college playing baseball I went to a sports psychologist to help with some mental issues at the plate. After a few sessions he did a couple hypnotism sessions and to this day even golfing I can use my trigger to help me relax in high stress situations.

You might try Jim Waldron of Balance Point Golf. I attended a clinic by him where he talked about a program directed to those with yips and freezes. It might be as simple as an online lesson and developing a protocol.

Thanks so much to you all who have offered your ideas. I have tried the forward press, hip thrust, knee kick, hovering the club, counting to 3 then going and lots of other triggers. They sometimes work for a few rounds and I start playing great again but then it catches up on me then get stuck again.
It is so mentaly draining,so frustrating n makes me want to scream. I will look down the route of maybe a sport phycologist or even hypnosis as cannot go on like this but thankyou all again.
MS.

Like Don, I would suggest doing your preparation for every swing from behind the ball - take your grip, take a look at your target while taking your practice swings , step up to the ball making sure of your posture and distance from the ball, take one look at your target (another if required), relax your arms (clubhead on the ground) and immediately start your swing i.e the arm relaxation is the trigger to start your swing. You could incorporate Ben Hogan's waggle (Ben Hogan's Five Lessons- Modern Fundamentals of Golf) either while behind the ball or while taking your stance and look at your target- get the feeling of being always in motion up until the arm relaxing trigger

You can practice this at home with or without a club- this routine can become automatic - don't skip the home practice. Best of luck.

Do you have a video of your swing? Hopefully its not like Charles Barkey's golf swing, look that up for a good laugh. Try the waggle like Ricky Fowler and Jason Day.

I've got to agree with Mark P about hovering at address. I think that may help greatly.
One other thing. Try not to take things too seriously. I've shot some of my best scores goofing around, and some of my worst trying to be a perfectionist. It's a game, and games, above all else, should be fun. I try to mix things up, try the crazy shots once in a while, and have the Arnold Palmer attitude where every setback is a challenge, and an opportunity. If you watch the tournaments, even the Pros have fun, and the pressure on them is almost incomprehensible.
Stick with it. Overcoming this will have benefits to your life which go far beyond the game.
Good luck!

Oh wow!! Just looked it up n watched on you tube!! No my swings not quite as bad as that. I do feel for him if he has the same freezing as me tho.
Its the most frustrating and angry feeling when just stood stuck over the ball.
M

LOL!!!!!!!!! I don't think anyone's swing is that bad!

I definitely agree with some of posts above. I would focus on developing a pre-shot routine and find what works for you. Try the forward press like Spieth, it tells your body and brain you are ready to go!

Mark
Did you find something that
Helped you?
Bo

All great ideas. I know you said you've tried counting......1-2-3 and pull the trigger, but it doesn't work all the time. What if you looked at the number on the ball as a visual, and count up to that number, and then let it go. Say you're playing a ProV1-4.....1-2-3-4-GO


Might want to replace the 1's and 2's with 3's and 4's.

Best of luck.

I’ve a friend with the same problem, he went to his pro who suggested that he should concentrate more on the target where he wants his ball to end up instead of thinking too much about hitting the ball. Because when he thinks about hitting the ball he gets all tense and stiff his muscles in his forearms tighten up and he’s unable to move. He’s trying it with the pro’s help and he’s become more relaxed and is a lot better.
Good luck

Hi all, thankyou all so much with your ideas. I have been trying pretty much all the ideas shared apart from hypnosis and a mental game coach. Some of the ideas worked for a couple of games then as usual my brain susses out my fix and over rides it again so back to square 1.
Il keep trying to find a solution but I'm not very confident.
Thanks all.
Mark.

Wow...thanks for replying back to a 2 year old thread. That's a long time to battle an issue and I wish you the best.

Easier said than done, but try not to take the game so seriously. I find my worst shots are when I over-think it. I take a practice swing or two behind the ball while looking down the fairway at the target. Then walk up, address the ball with a hovering club, waggle, and swing.

My swing thoughts are specific to me - "hips first, head down"

Watching the WGC Mexico this weekend and looking at the tee box lined with people... they would all be in danger. That pressure is crazy!