What is a Clear Key and What Does it Do?
A Clear Key, simply put, is a systematic thought process that matches the systematic nature of the game, to be applied and used during the execution of a golf shot. When a player is using swing key, that player is using a manual mental format for playing. When a player is using a Clear Key, the process is transformed to automatic. One cannot use swing keys and be on automatic, while Clear Keys guarantee that the player will be utilizing the automatic principle.
If you visit any of the golf forums, you will hear players talk about times they have whistled or hummed, or sung in an effort to keep themselves more at ease. They are definitely on the right track, though there is much more to it than that. But the idea is certainly to free the mind from mechanical thinking while being aware that human beings are just not able to "not think about anything." They are always thinking about something.
That latter remark is commonplace among coaches and players - "Just don't think about it." And that is almost correct. It just doesn't provide a complete picture. To complete it, one must add, "You have to think about something that is passive to action and gives no command to the human system."
The commands are given in pre-shot and then the automatic process is implemented through "clearing the mechanism," by using a Clear Key.
To illustrate how commonplace what we are describing really is, in 1968, even the great banjo artist, Earl Scruggs wrote in his book "The Five String Banjo:"
"The word "habit" can always be broken by patience and practice. Do not expect too much of yourself. At the same time, do not underestimate your ability. Take your time. Do these exercises over and over and over until after awhile, you will be doing them while thinking about something else."
It is the phrase "you will be doing them while thinking about something else," that needs your attention. That's how it works, whether you are playing a banjo, driving your car, brushing your teeth or making a golf shot.
Learn about Clear Keys and use them. They will elevate your game to the next level.