I have said before that the objective of golf is not about trying to hit the ball.  The best golfers have said that they try to focus on making their best swing and “the ball just gets in the way” of the swing.  In order to embrace the concept of “the ball just gets in the way” you must focus your mind on something other than the ball.  If you do not change your focus from the ball to the swing, you will always try to either hit or help the ball.  Whenever you try to hit or help the ball, you will be using a very inefficient and very inconsistent swing.

The best way to change your focus from the ball is to focus on using your right upper arm to create a motion that snaps the club towards the target.  An analogy is what happens when you snap your fingers; you are aware of the thumb and finger pressing together at the beginning of the snap and you are aware that the fingers have executed the snap.  You do not think of what happens during the snap.  If you could visualize that you had a tiny ball between the tip of the finger and the palm when you snap your fingers, you will know what it means to have “the ball just gets in the way” of the snap.  Another way to view the ball is to think of the ball as collateral damage caused by the club snapping towards the target.  By focusing on the snap, the tendency to hit or help the ball is minimized.

As I mention in my blog, “How to Feel Rhythm,” it is important to remember that a rhythmic swing is the first objective of the golf swing.  You must focus on snaps during a rhythmic swing.

In my blog, “Focus in the Down Swing,” I describe the importance of snapping the club down in the down swing.  I will now tell you how to get your mind to focus on the snaps.  Focusing on the snaps is not easy.  If it were easy, every golfer would have an efficient and consistent swing.  Focusing on the snaps is also not taught.  If it were part of every golf instruction, then every golfer would have an efficient and consistent swing.

The Secret of How to Focus on the Snaps

In order to snap the club down, you must have patience to focus on feeling the rhythmic buildup and release of energy by using snapping motions.

What snapping motions do you need to feel?  In my blog, “Feel an Efficient Swing,” I describe that during the down swing, feel the lower body snap up and feel the right upper arm snap down.  The snap down of the right upper arm automatically causes the club to snap down and towards the target while “the ball just gets in the way.”

There is a fine line between a snap versus a jerk.  The snap is efficient and quick while the jerk is inefficient and violent.  The best way to see an efficient and forceful snap of the golf club is to watch the LPGA player Lydia Ko:

There is no violence in Lydia’s swing; just an efficient and quick motion. The amount of force used to create the snaps must be commensurate with the energy created in the back swing.

You must develop the attitude of good golfers that a rhythmic snapping motion should be the focus and not to focus on hitting the ball.

It’s a Secret  

People watching you swing or you watching a video of your swing will not be able to see the snaps.  Now you know the secret of an efficient and consistent golf swing.  Use  snapping motions and don’t tell anyone what you are doing.