The golfing wilderness is a lonely place for any golfer at any time.  More so when the player experiencing difficulties is a public figure.  Often the player faces the mental dilemma regarding their golf swing as to which coach to consult to change their fortunes.

This is a situation faced by all golfers at some point.

“I just want my old swing back!” is a cry which has been heard from lots of successful players whose fortunes have turned.  The assumption is that the player might return to their original coach (if they had changed coaches), reviewing video footage from a time when they were playing well or focus on swing thoughts that they had when they were playing well.  Simple solution, right?

Unfortunately it’s not so simple.  We have learned over the last 5-10 years that the brain has the amazing ability to very quickly form connections which help build new patterns of movement.  The term used when referring to this ability to change is called brain plasticity.  Our brains create connections which control our movement.  The more we rehearse these movements the stronger the connections become.

Interestingly these connections can begin to be formed just by imagining a movement pattern.  This is one reason why visualisation is such a powerful learning tool.

What this means is that when a change is made to a golf swing, new connections are created for that movement.  Over time these new connections become so well developed that the pattern for the original swing is no longer available.  So going back to an old swing is not such a simple thing to do.  What is actually created is a new swing which looks like the old one.

The message for all golfers is that improving a swing pattern and automating it takes time, practice and focus.  Making a swing change isn’t always easy, but the change process is hastened when you practice in a mindful way; do your best to create a quality movement with every practice swing, drill movement or shot you play.  This is the best way to translate the good information you receive from coaching into better performance.