Abstract Golf – What the H*ck do I Mean?
Being too mechanical and overly internalized makes both the game and performance suffer. Most importantly, it takes you out of the moment and makes you less of a player. This is one of the reasons why I prefer to use my training to play abstract golf.
Abstract golf is about converting mechanical thoughts into much more simple concepts in your mind. Abstract Feels.
It works ROUGHLY like this:
- You figure out a system or some kind of advice that actually fits with your personality and swing (that’s often the hardest part)
- Practice with achievable mechanical thoughts without a ball. Do something like 1-2000 reps. Start building an abstract feel.
- Add the ball into the mix. In the beginning you will be mechanical but if you trust it, if you actually have the correct advice, and if you can make it into a feel you will slowly start replacing the mechanical thoughts with simpler abstract feels. This takes 1-2000 more reps and it’s quite a hurdle to overcome.
- Take it to the course and anticipate some more hurdles.
- Train some more and get back at it.
Abstract Golf – An Option if you perform a swing style that FITS YOU
In my experience I can never go abstract if the protocol I’m pursuing is mismatching my swing DNA. I’m a very hands oriented player so anything that involves deep technical body advice will never have the option of becoming abstract.
So study different methods and figure out what fits you.
The FMM swing is built around the swing arc and maintaining complete connection with the club. This allows you, through training, to leave technical thoughts where they belong—on the practice range. It’s the outcome of a 10 year long golf study I’ve performed to figure out the inner drivers of the old greats (Hogan, Snead, Nicklaus etc) and it’s highly applicable to modern golf.
Check out the Forgotten Master Moves homepage here.
The FMM Swing System – the swing style that I teach – has it’s overview page here.