The sheer beauty of any movement, whether it be swinging a golf club, running, throwing or any other physical movement pattern, is that we can't see what we're doing or how we are doing it. If we did try and see what we were doing in our everyday movement you would see a lot of people walking down the street with their heads down bumping into people (that happens anyway when we are looking at our phones but that's a slightly different point).
We have been told numerous times that to hit the perfect golf shot we need to get into the perfect positions. The Golf Machine, the golf coaches 'bible', breaks the swing down into 10 different segments. Granted, these are important for a coach and player to know, but to be aware of them during the swing is an extremely difficult skill and almost impossible when we consider the speed from the start of the downswing to impact.
In my experience in the game of golf I have even seen players look at the top of the backswing during their full swinging motion to see where they are in regards to the right or wrong position! It doesn't come highly recommended but they could still strike the golf ball very well despite this slight idiosyncrasy.
To enable players, whatever level they may be, to learn about their own swing is crucial, and that's why in 99% of the lessons I do I use the GASP video analysis with a high speed Casio exilim camera from down the line and the front to gain access to all areas to see why bad shots are caused. and, importantly, help the golfer understand reasons for errant shots to help them self diagnose.
JB Holmes demonstrating the 'not-so straight' left arm.
But I do always ask the question to the golfer, especially if it's a player who has never seen their swing on video before, what good things do they see in their swing! This is an alien concept to a lot of people as golfers tend to have a perception that a coach will rip them apart and completely overhaul their swing which is absolutely not true........ and if it was you need to go and find yourself another coach!
Yes, there are always going to be elements of the swing that are going to need improving to help the player get better, but if you can hit the ball and not miss it there are always going to be some very good parts to the action.
My point of this article?
With a mountain of access to video recorders in this day and age, take the time when you're next on the driving range to film your swing. But here's the catch!!!!
You are only allowed to watch it back if you point out the GOOD things that occur in your swing and not the BAD things! It might be your set up you find good, take-away, grip, top of swing, follow through............ anything you can see that makes you say 'wow, I didn't know I did that'. You don't even need to know much about the swing itself, it is your perception and the purpose of this drill is to give you a more positive perception of your action.
The human mind is designed to think negatively, thus golfers when they are about to see their swing for the first time have an element of trepidation. They think it's going to be shocking with a mass of positions that are incorrect. In over 15 years of teaching I think I have heard five players say they don't like their own swing or can see a lot wrong when they do actually see it.
Take some time to focus on the good things and not the bad. Yes, we all want to improve but improvement in the game of golf is not going to take place if we are constantly FIXING every swing that we make. Trust me, there are going to be plenty of things to appreciate in your swing, make the time and effort to see these positives.