Trying to Improve at Golf? You Might Be Thinking About Too Much
A few days ago at the driving range, I couldn’t help but listen in on a familiar scene.
One golfer was hitting balls. Another stood just behind him, acting as a “coach.” Every swing was followed by a new diagnosis.
“You’re not turning enough.”
“No, it’s actually your swing plane.”
“Your weight isn’t transferring.”
“You’re sliding.”
“That one was better, but the clubface was shut.”
“Hold on… let’s check your grip.”
The advice came fast. Too fast.
To be clear, none of it was malicious. He genuinely wanted to help. But within minutes, his friend had been handed enough swing thoughts to last several weeks of lessons.
And that’s when it hit me.
Most of us do the exact same thing… just silently.
The Internal Coaching Chaos We All Create
It usually starts with one good intention.
Maybe you’re working on weight transfer. Then you notice a better shoulder turn. Now you’re thinking about staying on plane. Then you remember something about posture. The ball starts leaking right and suddenly your grip feels suspicious.
Without realizing it, you’ve stacked five swing thoughts into a single motion that happens in less than two seconds.
At that point, you’re no longer practicing golf.
You’re negotiating with your own brain mid-swing.
The Simple Reminder Most Golfers Need
Here’s the truth most amateurs don’t want to hear:
The fastest way to improve at golf is to work on one thing at a time.
Not two.
Not three.
One.
This isn’t just opinion. It’s supported by decades of motor learning research. One widely accepted framework explains that when you’re changing a movement, your brain is already under heavy load.
You’re trying to understand what to do and how to do it simultaneously. Add multiple swing thoughts, and the learning process breaks down.
Across sports, athletes improve faster when they prioritize one adjustment instead of juggling several.
Golf is no different.
How to Choose (and Stick With) Your One Focus
If simplifying your practice sounds easier than it feels, these strategies help.
1. Let a professional choose the focus
Friends mean well, but improvement rarely comes from crowd-sourced instruction. A qualified coach can identify the one change that actually matters most right now.
2. Stay with it longer than feels comfortable
One bad range session doesn’t mean the change is wrong. It usually means it’s new. Real improvement comes from repetition, not constant adjustment.
3. Write it down and keep it with your clubs
A simple handwritten note in your golf bag works better than a phone reminder. It’s visible, physical, and harder to ignore when it matters.
4. Quiet everything down before you swing
Before each shot:
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Take one breath
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Think about one intention
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Swing
The simpler the moment before the club moves, the more your practice actually shows up on the course.
The Bottom Line
Golf gets easier when you stop trying to fix everything at once.
Progress happens when you commit to fixing one thing — fully — before moving on to the next.
And if you happen to have a buddy who likes offering five swing tips at a time, maybe pass this article along. Or better yet, slip a short reminder into their golf bag.