Golf notes: Swing thoughts
Swing thoughts. A swing thought in golf tries to focus the mind and body on one aspect of the golf swing. Keep your left arm straight or don’t sway, and many, many more. It is recommended in golf to try and have no more than one swing thought per swing. It is also recommended to have no swing thoughts. Just give the swing over to your body’s natural intuition. For example, last Friday, February 4th, Butch Carlstadt, 89 years of age, shot an 87 two strokes under his age. Butch was asked what his swing thoughts were. “None. I don’t have swing thoughts. I just step up and hit the ball.” Congratulations, Butch, nice round. Tim Mclaughlin, having a good round, was asked the same question. “My thought is to keep my eye on the ball and tell myself not to sway.”
In that same round, Tim using his driver, punched the ball from underneath “that tree” on the right of number eight fairway. Local golfers know what is meant by “that tree.” Tim punched the ball onto the eighth green and made par. “What was your swing thought on that shot, Tim?” “John Johansen,” Tim replied. “John was always a good fairway driver puncher.” Well done, Tim. Good thought. Bill Speake responding to the swing thought question had a simple response. “Simple. Smooth. I try and keep my swing smooth.”
Cindy Ellis also had a one-point thought. “I tell myself to keep my head over the ball.” Barbara Corsar, Cindy’s playing partner’s thought was, “Don’t rise up with the head and body.” Scott
Deitz, amidst doing another Full Deitz, replied that his swing thought is to break his wrists. Jim Ehlers thought was “Do better. Just do better.” Dave Minor playing golf with his wife Wendy, was asked last Friday what his swing thought was. “Oh my. Too many my mind is full of swing thoughts.” Course Supervisor Terry Stratton’s thought is to maintain a slow, smooth takeaway. Phil Dunn, current Men’s Club Champion, said, “Mmm.” responding to the swing thought question, “Let me think about this. I don’t have a swing thought. I address the ball, do a forward press and try and swing in rhythm.” My wife, Jan, who is not a golfer, said her swing thought would be, “I hope I don’t hit anybody with the ball.” My swing thought last Friday was, “#*!! this game.” I did not have a good round.