cocking wrist

Question
I never took the club back far enough to cock my wrist. I have had a dozen
lesson from a pro who keeps having me take it back a little farther.  After the
less I stop part way back and it jams up in front of me.  Is there a mental
thing to think and not stop the back swing.  Age 67, golf forever, was 8
without the backswing hitting a little face and using fairway woods a lot,
good with wedge, good putter.  Now I am 13.9 trying to swing right.  In
lessons I am very good.  Thanks, Gene

Answer
Hello Gene

If someone does great in practice but not under pressure than it's a problems with the mental game.  But there can be another aspect as well - habit.  You've played for years without taking your club back and it kind of sounds like you were reasonably happy with the results? Now you are learning a new way of doing something, it's not as effective as your old way and I'm guessing your mind/body connection might be fighting you about it (maybe not during lessons but on the course).

For the mental aspect, I probably suggest you hold something that is NOT a golf club (like a spatula, a wooden spoon, something) and find out if you can swing that the way you want.  If building a new habit is what you want, programming the gesture in without the pre-formed habit (holding a golf club) might be just the thing.

Good luck and let me know how it goes.

David

David Kenward - The Mental Coach
Sacramento, California
http://www.thementalcoach.com
Win the Mental Game: Overcome mental blocks and improve performance
Private sessions ?Seminars/Workshops