[12 piece bucket]

The point was not about how close basketball is to golf in difficulty, but rather where my concentration is in executing the fundamentals of each "stroke." Golf is a more intricate set of movements with finer tolerances -- but then again, no one is looking to block your shot, either!

In basketball, I practiced at practice, but played in the game. I struggle to "play" golf, tending to stay in practice mode (thinking too much about how to swing) when on the course.

If you've ever heard of the Consciously/Unconsciously and Competent/Incompetent matrix, I'm Unconsciously Competent in basketball and with golf on a good day, I'm Consciously Competent -- still thinking myself through the swing.

My goal with golf, and esp. hitting, is to learn a set of fundamentals that takes advantage of my athletic ability, doesn't require the flexibility of my youth, and let's me be more consciously involved (versus all the "automatic" release stuff in swinging).

In golf, I take a last look at the target then look at the ball (or impact point, depending on what is working that day). I usually try to have just one swing thought like hands down the plane, or down and out, or something simple. Or, I'm concentrating on replicating a certain feeling that has worked or that I am working on from the range. Extensor action has been working pretty well as a feeling, esp. with longer clubs.

Ultimately, I do realize that I have to have good mechanics and then inculcate those feelings. I really like the idea of dowels and maybe impact bag at home, because I think you can be very close on mechanics but start compensating when there is a ball and a shot involved.

I absolutely agree about the different pills -- I tried a Haney book before finding this site and I could barely hit a ball! Like I said originally, when I first started playing at 20, I think I was a natural hitter. I'd play 3-wood off the ground as my tee shot and I can remember just beating down (and out I do believe) and hitting it pretty long. Then came the articles on sweeping your woods, etc. and here I am nearly 30 years later trying to re-learn what came kind of naturally...

In golf . . . you block your own shot