Modeling Your Swing
by Antoine Nguyen

Do you watch Tiger Woods or Ernie Els on TV and wished you could swing like them? Why not try to imitate their swing? Modeling is one of the most powerful ways of learning. You may not end up swinging exactly like them, but you can learn a lot by modeling yourself on good players.

It's not unfamiliar to be playing better right after you've watched top players play on television. Humans are created with a very effective learning system that doesn't require any verbal instructions. Children use this learning method all the time. Just by observing the people around them, children learn quickly and effectively through modeling. As adults, we must remind ourselves to tap into this powerful learning system again. We are used to over-complicate things and have forgotten how simple and automatic learning can be. Remember, pictures are worth a thousand words.

To use modeling effectively, first pick a golfer who has mastered the swing basics you would like to learn. Watch this golfer either live or on television or video, and concentrate on one particular aspect of the swing you would like to imitate. Try to see your model from as many angles as possible. Your model doesn't have to have a perfect swing, but must only be effective in the swing aspect you want to emulate.

Observe closely as many times as possible, and try to picture yourself as your model when you are imitating the physical behaviors. If, for example, you want to emulate Tiger Woods' downswing, observe not only the position of his hands and body, but also his pace and flow. Internalize this picture in your mind so that every time you think of the downswing, this image pops up in your head. Replace your model's face with yours in the mental picture. See yourself doing this perfectly, just like your model. Finally, step into the picture and see it through your own eyes. Become your model every time you practice. Repeat these activities as many times as necessary so that they become automatic.

Once you've mastered these images mentally, start practicing the skill physically in front of a mirror. Every time you do this, accompany it with some role-playing. Become your model in mannerism and temperament. Children do this all the time, and it's fun because it's play. Use your imagination.

With modeling, you can take whatever you want from each model. You may have the uncoiling motion of Tiger and the finish of Els. When you have taken all that you can from each of your models, it's time to bring it all together into a fluid motion and state of mind. There should only be one model now, and this model is yourself. Picture yourself, using all your senses, in every aspect of the swing. Mentally rehearse these pictures until they become firmly anchored in your mind. In doing so, you create blueprints for success in memory. By learning in small successful steps like this, you'll soon find out how powerful modeling can be. Changes you bring to your swing with modeling are much quicker and long-lasting. The process is also more pleasurable. You'll find out that as you do this often, it will become automatic and effortless, just like it is for children. It becomes a way of thinking.