[BerntR]

Bad imagery of how leading to bad mechanics.

I couldn't agree more.

There will always be good days and bad days. On the good days there isn't much need for swing thinking; Address the ball. Everything looks and feels OK. Do the motion. It is on the other days that our image of the swing mechanics makes the biggest difference. What we try to do when something in the stroke is broke is depending of our understanding of the mechanics involved.

With an inadequate understanding things tend to get worse the harder we try to fix it. Typical examples are the slicers who produces their biggest slice when they absolutely can't affort a leak towards right field. And the hooker(*cough*) who snaps the drive when they absolutely can't afford a curved ball off the Tee. And the typical trap that most golfers with a history has been in several times: The more we try to fix the swing on the course the worse it gets.

With an adequate understanding there is a better chance that we get back on track, or at least keep the problems under control and save the score until the stroke returns. And I also believe playing and practicing with an adequate understanding of cause and effect gives promise of long term improvement.

Most people will experience improvement if they take a few lessons and practice a lot. Or simply play and practice a lot. Very often their best doesn't get any better though. They're still the same golfer with the same swing and the same limitations. But they're in good form. That's all.

I've come to believe that fundamental long term improvement goes hand in hand with a better understanding of causes and effects in the golf stroke. Knowing what you're doing can make a big difference.