Wanna Stay Out of These?
Stay Tuned
You're in the Right Part of Town
If you see it in green, he said it...
Yes the Golf Dr said it.
FUN
Have fun today!! Make this decision on your way to the course. No matter what happens you are going to enjoy it. Having this shift in mentality will help you stay more relaxed throughout the round. It's a game after all! Every round of golf is an opportunity to learn about your game and more importantly about yourself. If things aren’t going your way, and you pack it in for the day by the 8th hole, a very bad habit might start to form. One of the best golf tips ever is for you to make a commitment that no matter what, you will try to remain positive during your round, and not let your previous shots affect your current one. This is one of the hardest things to master, but it’s a stone-cold guarantee that you will improve as a golfer if you improve at this part of the mental game. So go have fun and learn things. Remember: By completing your round you may just hit some of the best shots of your life! When you hit a bad one LAUGH! That's what I do. You'll hit the next one better if you just learn to laugh I promise.
Intro to THE PSR
Part of being a better golfer is becoming more comfortable on the golf course. If you watch most great players, they have a very repeatable routine throughout the round. They walk at the same pace, do the same thing before each swing, and there is a timing and rhythm to it all. No two players have the same routine so find one that works for you! Don’t forget to write it down so you can see how it morphs thru time. Pre-shot routines are crucial (this is where errant shots are created 99% of the time). Prior to the shot choose a target and then visualize the ball flight you want to create. Make a practice swing or two feeling the movements of the swing that will create that specific shot. Once over the ball, clear the mind and focus your eyes on the back of the ball on the exact part you want your club to make contact! Now, SWING THE CLUB!!!
PSR – Pre-shot Routine ~ Check out the book by Nick O'Hearn on Tour Mentality
Range Rat vs THE PLAYER
Learn how to mentally separate the mechanics of practice on the range to the athleticism of playing a round of golf on the course. These are two entirely different beasts people! Ok, my wife asked me the difference, "after all aren't they all just another golf shot?" So I explained it to her like this: Look at a Range Rats clubs, each one of their faces probably has a worn spot no wider than a dime, however THE PLAYER's worn spots may be less if at all defined and most of that definition will come from practice. You see THE PLAYER creates shots from various lies and various angles spinning the ball off different parts of the clubface.
STRETCH
Stretching is an integral component to any sport. This is especially true in golf. It allows a player to make a full rotation on their takeaway and allows for a better weight transfer and rotation through the shot. Make stretching a part of your daily routine. You will feel better and may also be surprised with the added distance you get through the whole bag. To keep your rhythm going, you have to keep the tempo steady. When you get stressed, you start to speed things up. All that nervous energy makes you hurry and you end up making silly mistakes you wouldn't have made otherwise. I recommend a good pre-round warm-up that helps you get into a relaxed frame of mind. This will get you started on the right foot.
Rule #1
Many different tools have been created to repair ball marks, including single-pronged and fork-shaped tools. Almost any pointed tool, including a golf tee, can be used to effectively repair a ball mark. Using the proper technique is the key to success. Avoid using a lifting or twisting motion because this can damage turf roots. Once you have finished pulling turf inward toward the center, gently tamp the area down with your putter to create a smooth, firm surface.
Course care and etiquette are both an integral part of the playability and beauty of the places WE play. Please make sure to fix divots and pitch marks while on the course. Players should find and fix their own plus three more near that location if possible. Entering bunkers on the low side and properly raking them is not only essential to the condition of the course, but also respectful to your fellow players. Utilize the entry and exit gates as well as keeping the carts behind the designated cart signs is essential to certain courses maintaining their teeth.
At any Golf Dr Tour event this is not an option.
Rule #1: You WILL fix your damage!!!
“Golf… is the infallible test. The man who can go into a patch of rough alone, with the knowledge that only God is watching him, and play his ball where it lies, is the man who will serve you faithfully and well.”
Have trust in yourself, not in the self you want to be, but the one who you are!
Be yourself, all the other selfs are taken.
Otherwise, you have to be the ball DANNY!
The only thing that is real is the step you are taking right this moment. Mac O'Grady
Tension is who you want to be…
Relaxation is who you really are…
If you are depressed then you are living in the past…
If you are anxious then you are living in the future…
Ahhh, but if you are at peace, THEN you are living within the gift of the present…
The Yips as defined in my book are exactly that, an anxious fear of the future. If you are actually in the present then this is physically and physiologically impossible, especially when you have already stepped into The Swing Box where you are supposed to be dreaming not thinking. SWING THE CLUB!!!
You don’t always need to have a plan… sometimes you just need to breathe and trust and let things happen in THE ZONE! SWING THE CLUB!!!
The First Shot
The First Tee -
Compare Balls and markings with your competitors and distinguish who will be marking scores for whom.
? Where is the pin located on the green? Determines where you want your ball to land in the best position to get it close. (Remember the pin and flag are merely indicating the destination) The object of golf? Right... "to get your ball into the hole in as few shots as possible". As a rule of thumb if the pin is on the right hand side of the green then the approach angle would be the best from the left side. If the pin is on the left? Approach from the right side. Jack Nicklaus used this method. He also made more birdies from the rough than the fairway. Position over fairway, though, is not always the rule...
OK..., Pin L or R? Slope of the fairway and any power slots?
? What spot out there leaves me in the best position, let's say 150 yds. away from the middle of the green? Now, ? no2. How am I going to get there? DANGER!!! Examine your lie for your lie will determine what shot you CAN hit from there. Focus on that spot with your dominant eye only and picture the shot you would like to create; the flight path, landing spot and roll out. Now how are you going to create that shot and with what club? Are you sure that club is the right one for this moment? (The proper shot at the proper moment)
Then... CHOOSE THAT CLUB!
Now stand still and listen... The course will talk to you, and in many ways... Just calm yourself and listen. Let it talk to you.
Let Buford finish his scavenger hunt for all of the vital information that he will relay to Maynard. Be patient and give him all of the time and attention he needs and deserves. He has a lot to digest and convey to Maynard in a very short period of time. Let he and Maynard do their thing. They actually do not need you for this step. Just make sure it IS a step.
Maynard is to stay caged until Buford finishes the first step. LET BUFORD FINISH!
Only after Buford has finished may Maynard even begin to begin, Right?
They both work in unison during the alignment process including the grip, set-up, target line, type of shot.
After Buford finishes his part and shared said vital info with Maynard, stay loose on the way to your ball. Maynard SETTLE DOWN!!!
Breath... THE ZONE BREATHING techniques start here...
Take a deep breath Maynard will begin to relax...
Take another deep breath slowly... relaxing more
Now you may approach the ball as you slowly inhale again deeply and exhale completely, relaxing even more.
Stepping in from behind the ball the whole picture before you should come into crystal clear view. Remember to use your dominant eye.
Take one more DEEP breath as you settle into the Swing Box feeling like you are about to fall to sleep
Now... dream.
Yes, dream the shot!
When you awake you will have hit the perfect shot in that perfect moment in time. You see THE ZONE is actually the perfect way to accomplish the task of getting out of your own way.
If you can dream it then you can make it happen!
Are YOU a dreamer?
Make it Happen!
The Golf Dr's thoughts for today?
Trust
Rhythm & Tempo
and 1/2 wedges
That's it folks
'I'm so confused..." No wonder why, you buy the newest clubs on the market; never really getting to know your set at all. It's not the clubs! There is no magic golf club. I have never seen a golf club swing itself. Only hard work and practice will give you the confidence you need to pull off a nice variety of shots with the clubs in your bag. Notice I did not say anything about a matched set. Make your own set of your favorite clubs. Koepka and many more do it.
"What was I thinking?" At which point? I'm asking...
Hopefully it wasn't in the "Swing Box"!!!
Focus on the task not the fear of the task! In other words Focus on the target not the variety of obstacles the architect has placed within your field of vision. You should never see them if your focus is on the target!
Anyone who doesn't like to talk golf is focused on the fear of the task and also will never improve.
The Golf Dr says educate yourself (read) so that you have confidence in YOUR knowledge. Kind of like trusting YOUR SWING.
Record your swing (we have small stands for your cell phone in our pro shop). Then work on YOUR swing by yourself (another way to take ownership and create YOUR confidence.
PROBLEM! Today everybody is being taught the "cookie-cutter swing" and that is why you see the pros week in and week out falling out of sorts with their swings. Sorry thing is that the problem is not their swings, but rather that little box of wires located between those most dangerous parts of the human body! Spend all of your time on the swing and you have missed the real point of golf and that being, A GREAT WALK and THE biggest mental test of ANY sport!
"It is the successful negotiation of difficulties, or what appears to be such, which gives rise to pleasurable excitement and makes a hole interesting." Alistair Mackenzie
Focus on your potential and always move in that direction rather than focusing on your limitations.
You do not win by trying to win. The one thing that REALLY MATTERS? Your attitude! Your attitude can affect your efforts. I have especially noticed this this last year and I followed four tours religiously. The one thing that stood out to me is that the person with the best attitude won the tournament. The Golf Gods take notice for sure. How else can you explain Bryson Dechambeau getting such great lies out there in that wire grass? And of particular note the best player in the game, yes No.1. Scottie Scheffler fell victim to his own bad attitude and the Golf Gods rewarded him appropriately with the few losses he did have. It comes down to attitude and effort. The only two things that you can control in your whole life. How about a little more E on your A? You actually win by simply hitting better shots than your opponents and then at the higher levels of competition you will actually need 2-3 shots that your competitors simply do not have. Secret? Hardly... PRACTICE is the only way to have any sense of confidence.
Golf is not a game of perfect - Bob Rotella in The Golf Dr's library
Golf is a game of confidence - Bob Rotella in The Golf Dr's library
Ben Hogan said once, "practice like you've never won".
He also said to "play like you've never lost". CONFIDENCE & ATTITUDE
The quest(tournament) may come to a close, but the journey never ends and when you carry the belief that anything is possible, then you are on the pathway to unlimited growth in everything you do, with every step you take and with everything you do whether in sport, or life. This is something that nobody can take from you.
The Ironman Motto: "Anything is Possible".
The road of life is paved flat with squirrels who couldn't make a decision.
Be decisive... Right or Wrong, make a decision. and then own it. Really the only way to learn and improve. Remember as humans we tend to learn from mistakes and pain. Same way in golf.
THE QUANDRY -
The state of perplexity and uncertainty over what to do in a difficult situation. A practical dilemma.
Golf
(GAWF)
An endless string of tragedies obscured by the occasional miracle.
Here is something almost every touring pro has forgotten, or maybe not even been taught, but at the end of the day (every day!) it really makes the difference in making putts or not. It has to do with "The Crown." You see at the end of the day on almost every golf course there develops around the cup a crown from players bending to retrieve their ball from the cup. This is why Tiger always hit his short putts aggressively into the back of the cup. I believe this is the reason that Scottie Scheffler is missing those short ones. You are going to miss right or left with those putts especially if you try to die them into the hole. In my playing days my mantra was: "I would rather be 10 feet long than 2 feet short. This mental attitude allowed me to make A LOT of those putts from 10 feet in.
I also see a lot of amateurs go into gyrations and other detrimental activities following a missed shot/putt. If they would just expend that energy in a more positive way. Watch your shots until they come to a complete stop. Learn things that you would otherwise miss by doing your theatrics. So you missed a putt... What you do after can directly affect the next one just like the other shots. A more positive reaction would be to "Watch the putt come to a complete stop!" Now you have a pretty good idea what is coming with the next one. Also, if your next putt is uphill it should have less break if any at all. Gravity after all is why your putt ended up here.
The message here is "FOCUS!"
A few weeks ago an old friend from high school called me and was confused at what to do. He told me that he lined his putts up using the line on his ball, but that after he got above it his putter was aligned to the left. I told him that this could be due to several factors. I told him to check the putter to see if it wasn't bent or already misaligned in some way or another. He admitted that his putter now was some sort of mallet putter so I reminded him of how we were taught to use a forward press to get the stroke in motion and to check that as well. The next thing I recommended was that he find which of his eyes was dominant and to toy around with this on the practice green. He informed me that he fell and detached the retina in his left eye about 9 years ago. I told him to work with it and create his own confidence. Another thing would be to change the direction in which he approached his ball. Sometimes you just have to change it up!
If you want a different perspective and want to know just how important finding your dominant eyes is then stand on any Tee box right in the middle where you would never tee it. Now look down the fairway for about 15 seconds. Now close one eye for 15 seconds then switch. You'll see the difference immediately. Now you know... Work with this all by yourself.
Nobody wants to show you all of the hours and hours of becoming.
They would rather show you the highlight of what they have become...
Who said you can't? Introduce me to them!!!
ONLY surround yourself with good POSSITIVE people who are going to take you higher!
Everything has it's wonders even darkness and silence - Helen Keller
Choose a job you love and you will never work a day in your life - Confucius
Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work - Aristotle
The only way to do great work is to love what you do - Steve Jobs
The reward for a job well done is the opportunity to do more - Jonas Salk
Perfection is unattainable, but if we chase perfection we can achieve excellence - Vince Lombardi
You want to get better at golf? Get better at life!
In other words,
You want to be a better golfer? Be a better person! - Pia Nilsson and Lynn Marriott
The golfer attacks.
The designer defends.
Thus is the adversarial relationship that defines the creation of a GREAT golf course!
Success like happiness is a choice... CHOOSE RIGHT!
MINDFULLNESS
AWARENESS
RESTRAINT
Focus on your potential not your limitations.
Experience tells you what to do and confidence allows you to do it - Stan Smith
You've heard of the people who view the glass as half empty and those who view the glass as half full. My perspective is that glass needs more wine...
"A Kent’Annos" —May you live to 100! A toast from Sardegna as they lift Cannonau di Sardigna.
People there live to be 100 more than the rest of the world and they attribute it to lifting a toast of this twice daily. At $50 a bottle, damn I’m going to spend a small fortune to live to 100.
Caddy Shack
Some witty repartee between golfer and caddie. A Q&A if you will. Enjoy!
Golfer: “Do you think I can get to the green with a 5 iron?”
Caddy: “Eventually.”
Golfer: "I'd move heaven and earth to break 100 on this course."
Caddie: "Try heaven. You've already moved most of the earth."
Golfer: “Please stop checking your watch all the time. It’s too much of a distraction.”
Caddy: “It’s not a watch – it’s a compass.”
Se Yun Kim
You’re gonna feel nervous in sports and in life.
When pressure grows so does fear.
I grew up learning Tai Kwon Do from my father who is a Grand Master.
He taught me that fear is part of life.
When the moment gets big I remember his words.
I do my best to face fear and to always embrace the moment.
This is the real secret to life: to be completely engaged with what you are doing in the here and now.
And instead of calling it work, realize that it is actually play.
-Alan Watts
He who looks outward dreams. He who looks inward awakens…
Every test in our life makes us bitter or better, every problem comes to break us or make us.
The choice is ours whether we become VICTIM or VICTOR.
Destiny
Anyone can achieve their fullest potential.
Who we are might be pre-determined, but the path we follow is always of our own choosing.
We should never allow our fears or the expectation of others to set the frontiers of our destiny.
Your destiny can’t be changed, but it can be challenged. Every man is born as many men and dies as a single one.
There are 3 constants in Life: Change, Choices and Pricniples.
Stephen R. Covey
PEOPLE SKILLS – are usually just listening skills.
Try listening to understand rather than to reply.
“Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence.” - Helen Keller
Be a Voice,
Not an Echo...
You know an old pro once told me to look at the less kept courses like you would a links course… Maybe that’s why I never felt like spending THE BIG BUCKS to play a muni like St. Andrews. My handicap would surely increase with all of those unplayable lies (divots) I would be dropping from as unplayable… and THE COLD, WET, WINDY conditions?
A HARD PASS!
''I don't view him through the prism of choices that he's made. I view him through the heart and soul of the person that he really is.''
“If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.” Martin Luther King Jr.
“I don’t think being good at things is the point of doing them. I think you’ve got all these wonderful experiences with the different skills needed and that teaches you things and makes you an interesting person, no matter how well you do them.” Arnold Palmer
When playing a round of golf, allow each hole to be its own. Hole 2 is not a continuation of Hole 1, it is an opportunity to start fresh, make confident decisions, and great golf swings. Treat the round as 18 individual challenges, and 18 chances to improve as a player. This mindset will reflect lower scores, better shots, and most importantly, more enjoyment. Who cares about that bogey, birdie the next one!
“Success in this game depends less on strength of body than strength of mind and character.” -Arnold Palmer
“The more I work and practice, the luckier I seem to get.” -Gary Player
“Golf is the closest game to the game we call life. You get bad breaks from good shots; you get good breaks from bad shots–but you have to play the ball where it lies.” -Bobby Jones
Quote from the pro: "The whole secret to mastering the game of golf -- and this applies to the beginner as well as the pro -- is to cultivate a mental approach to the game that will enable you to shrug off the bad days, keep patient and know in your heart that sooner or later you will be back on top." – Arnold Palmer
Summer ought to get a speeding ticket!!!
Tip from the Pro: ELIMINATE EXPECTATIONS
Getting out of the perfection mindset can help you shave strokes.
Don't think like an amateur, think more like a professional. A pro would never take that chance.
Here are a few tips in eliminating expectations.
TIP ONE:
Try to take some focus off your handicap and stay in the present.
Go into the round free of expectations, you will notice yourself free of anxiety, and those expectations to shoot a certain score.
TIP TWO:
Focus on the fun of the game rather than the final outcome.
TIP THREE:
Expectations have ruined many fine days.
Just take a walk and listen to what surrounds you today...
Take it all in ALL DAY then YOU decide...
Another Tip from the Pro: “Great golf is all about repetition, and the tempo of your golf swing is at the heart of it. Working with beats can be an extremely effective way for all golfers to find a rhythm that works for them and allow them to repeat it from swing to swing.”
I observe amateur players who tend to get caught up in "other people's" golf games. Whether in a tournament or a casual round of golf, too often players let the performance of others affect how they play their own game. Your score will reflect how you perform against the golf course, not how you do compared to someone else. If one player hits a driver, wedge into a par 4 and you hit driver, 6 iron; and you both make par—who made the better par? Exactly. Good luck!
I remember a story about The Great Jack Nicklaus and Doug Sanders. Doug was far shorter off the tee than Jack. He would have 4 wood in and Jack an 8iron. Guess who was closer to the hole most of the time?
Remember!
Golf is not a game of making shots, but rather a game of saving shots, however Match Play is about making shots...
Ben Hogan once said that he judged a player by his misses
One more thing, Your mouth cannot swing a golf club so it will never beat me!
BROOKS
“I know it doesn't look like it,” Brooks said, acknowledging his reputation as an unthinking, unfeeling killer, “but my mind is turning the entire time I'm out there.” Processing all variables, tuning in to every other player on the course, a sponge for inputs. He hears everything you say about him on TV. He hears every little comment you make about his swing and his score and his body and his girlfriend when you're watching him live behind the ropes. He also seems to see every shot that any player within his vicinity hits, reading their reaction, squeezing what he can from their body language. “It's part of why I don't show emotion,” he said. “That gives the other guy an advantage.” And so there they were, Brooks on the 12th tee, Tiger on the 11th green. As Koepka stood over his ball, the wind swirling in the treetops, he backed off his shot once. Then he flared a little 9-iron up into the breeze and watched his ball drop sharply out of the sky like a shot bird, landing in the creek that guards the green. It was a shocking error, and yet in his body language, on his face, there was…nothing. With a single mistake, Koepka had effectively ended his bid for a first green jacket. But instead of grimacing, he handed his club back to his caddie and yanked his sleeve routinely, as though he'd done precisely what he'd intended to do.
“My theory is if you don't show them anything visually, they can only go off one of their senses: sound,” he explained. “How did the ball sound when it came off? They don't know if I hit it a hundred percent or 90 percent. And they've gotta judge it by the strike.” But if he starts cursing or sulking, Tiger will know it was the shot, not the tricky wind, that foiled him—and calibrate his own approach to No. 12 accordingly. “And so I didn't have any reaction. I just handed it right back to my caddie. And it might have confused him.”
All that work for a might've...
This was a single shot in a single tournament, but it illustrates the extent to which Brooks Koepka will go to turn golf into any other sport. His game of gestures with Woods is more like the one-on-ones you get when a pitcher faces a batter or there's a penalty shot in soccer. There's a psychological school of thought in golf that players should compete only against the course, rather than other players. You can't control what anyone else is doing, the thinking goes, so it's a mistake to focus on anyone but yourself. Not Koepka. His entire M.O. is transforming the game into mano e mano. “It's one of those things in golf—you can't be very vocal, and you don't taunt,” he said. “It's not football, where you make a great tackle and you get up and stand over the guy: How'd that feel? You got rocked, didn't you? Better enjoy being on the ground. You can't do that in golf. And so you just find different ways to make guys second-guess themselves.”
Before every shot, select a target
And decide what distance,
trajectory and ground reaction you
are expecting. Having a more
complete idea of every shot you hit
will keep you in the moment, not
wasting time and energy on what
might go wrong but focusing in on
the positive outcome a great shot
will produce!
7 HABITS OF GOLFERS WITH MENTAL TOUGHNESS
#1 They Act Like A Champion
#2 They Focus ONLY On What They Can Control
#3 They See the Past ONLY As Training For Future Success
#4 They NEVER Complain
#5 They Are Grateful And they are Optimistic
#6 They Focus Only on Impressing Themselves, NOT OTHERS
#7 They Are Constantly Learning and OPEN To Feedback
#8 THEY JOURNAL same as all successful people
Ancient Hawaiians believed there was a spirit world, and a physical world, and nature was our connection between the two worlds. By connecting with nature, I believe we can reconnect with what matters the most, and in turn, take better care of the Aina.
Malama Honu, Malama Honua - In taking care of the turtles, we take care of the world. And in taking care of the world, we take care ourselves, and each other.
Let the Earth heal you. It can and it will.
EARTHING - in The Golf Dr's Library
Arnold Palmer Quotes
Golf is deceptively simple and endlessly complicated.
You must play boldly to win.
Concentration comes out of a combination of confidence and hunger.
Success in golf depends less on strength of body than upon strength of mind and character.
What other people may find in poetry or art museums I find in the flight of a good drive.
The most rewarding things you do in life are often the ones that look like they cannot be done.
What do I mean by concentration? I mean focusing totally on the business at hand and commanding your body to do exactly what you want it to do.
I've always made a total effort, even when the odds seemed entirely against me. I never quit trying; I never felt that I didn't have a chance to win.
You know you're getting old when all the names in your black book have M.D. after them.
Putting is like wisdom - partly a natural gift and partly the accumulation of experience.
When facilitating your next shot, try managing your trajectory where needed. If there’s a pond, bunker or a stream, play with the next shot in mind so your ball is in a safer position, even if it means you having to make an extra shot. If you go for a more perfect shot, it may make your next shot even more difficult, or one with a few shots added on. Keeping yourself out of trouble is always the best way to play, and compounding mistakes on the golf course will usually lead to big numbers. Play well and have fun!
Oh yeah, and “Follow your dreams. They know the way.”
I was watching S Y Kim just now and watched as she lined up her shot from the fairway as usual. As she approached the ball, I wondered what she was thinking… and it prompted my brain to click on.
The Question: Yardage? Situation? FEEL?
Play the situation do not try to play against it! Just ride it…
What if you were to stop 30 yards behind your ball and assess the situation? You get a visual all the way to the hole and then plan on how you are going to conquer this unique situation(every situation in golf is a unique one...). As you walk towards your ball feel the bottoms of your feet all the while looking at the hole.
You examine the lie, knowing full well that the lie always determines the shot. Take the wind into account, walk back behind your ball 30 or so feet and then walk in along your intended line looking once again, with your dominant eye, at what is at hand. Keep from becoming static. Keep moving, waggling, or something.
You step into the ball. Keep moving something.
FOCUS!
You have heard of the use of visualization being one of the necessary tools of the game, right? Most teachers will tell you to see the shot shape, landing and roll out as a part of every PSR.
Now visualize a line on your ball on plane. Your swing plane. Set your dominant eye upon one single dimple on the back of the ball, or be more precise if you must. I like the dimple just on the other side of that line away from me for a fade and on the side closest to me the dimple just on the player's side of the line for a draw. Slice and Hook? One more dimple. Keep your eye on your dimple throughout the swing. Just let it happen is the best thought and be patient and do just that, not interrupting your swings rhythm or the smoothness. Your swing will be shorter.
KEEP YOUR FOCUS on that one dimple until the ball makes contact with the clubhead. Notice I said that kind of backwards, the ball makes contact with club head, but this simple focus thought will keep you down on the shot one micro-second longer and make solid contact more probable and easier to accomplish.
Once you do this successfully you will be able to play golf in a very special place. This, like all things in the game of golf, must be practiced repeatedly in order to be reliable during a round of 18 holes as with any other change(s) you make to anything. Don’t forget that there are more than these basic 5 contact points to choose from on the back of your ball. Sooo, practice these too.
That is what separates players from golfers. Players look to practice shots nobody else is...
It should look something like this, with this information in mind, you now proceed to select in your mind and actually visualize your intended way of getting to the dance floor and the destination (the cup is not necessarily the target; most times not).
Now armed with only YOUR swing, go conquer.
Please tell me you spent twice as much time practicing each aspect of your short-game… PLEASE!!!
As important as the physical side of the game is the mental side is even more paramount. Grab a good read on the mental approach to playing golf, or even one from The Golf Dr’s library. When it is raining outside, any other inclement weather, or even darkness. Give thought to your pre-shot routine, or how to best manage your game around a particular course, or how to better handle a heat of the battle moment better should it arise again.
Mental preparation and positive thinking will create better outcomes around the course.
Both take practice just like the physical aspects of the game and if it is lacking in your game it will show up again…
Remember to swing easy when playing in windy conditions. Often this will mean taking more club and making a slower, smoother swing to produce the result you are looking for. This will reduce spin on the golf ball allowing you to keep it low into the wind. Distance control becomes even more important downwind. You simply cannot just tee it high and let it fly. Not if you are a player anyway. Side influencing wind is not as much a guessing game as you may think, but rather a feel calculated by playing in it.
Arnold always said, “When it’s breezy, Swing Easy”.
One of the hardest things in golf is knowing when to cut your losses and back off. If you’re playing in the wind, you better learn this lesson or the wind will expose you. Don’t shy away from laying up on par 3’s and 4’s; often times you’ll have a better chance to get up and down than getting the ball on the green from far out. Don’t chase sucker pins or challenge fairway bunkers. Play for the fat part of the green and the widest part of the fairway, and just take your medicine and move on when you get in trouble.
Regrip your clubs every 6 months or so especially if you are playing Daily. It is imperative to have control of your club and clubface when enjoying a round of golf. New grips are key and are the only contact point we have with our clubs!
SANDPLAY
The key here is to hit the shot harder than you think. Most who struggle from sand do so because they do not carry enough speed through the downswing. If the club is moving too slowly, the sand will win. Make a full follow through so the club accelerates through impact. Be aggressive! From green side bunkers just throw sand where you want the ball to go.
As a side note here… I will hardly ever give a lesson on the course while playing, but I have got to share with you that the last two times I exhibited how to hit a green-side bunker shot I holed both of them! Unbelievable! Right? No, neither one has not gotten any better…
Distance control is imperative for all golf shots, but even more so on Putts. Before your round practice longer putts to get a feel for the speed of the greens. Putt uphill first and then downhill he longest putts you can find until you have those speeds then move onto the trickiest sidehill putt you can find. Always remember, Speed control is more important than line. Work on putting with good speed and watch the ball and your scores drop.
Tip from The Pro: When hitting longer putts, make sure to give yourself a larger target than the hole itself. In many ways, minimizing your target to the size of a golf hole can create pressure in your hands and putting stroke. From 20 feet, imagine a 3 foot circle around the hole, from 30 ft a 4 foot circle, and 40 feet and beyond a 5 foot circle. Chances are your speed will benefit the most from this approach and leave you with very easy two putts. Good luck!
The Golf Dr’s take on this you ask?
Pick out a spot a foot or so onto your line and roll your ball over it.
QUIT trying to make putts!!! That’s right! STOP IT!!!
Touring pros do not try to make putts they try to roll their ball over a specific spot and they know that with the proper speed it will have a very good chance of going in.
Just stand a little taller, relax and take a deep breath, exhale
and roll it over your spot. It might just go in.
Again…
Line it up, pick your spot, address your ball and say it out loud under your breath, “I’M GOING TO MAKE THIS”*, take a last look, take a deep breath, exhale, and then take it back.
WELL LOOKY THERE YOU MADE IT!!!
This is what Brandt Snedeker took away from a 1 ½ hour talk with Arnold. “I’m going to make this!” “I’m going to make that!”
Finally, “If you think you can’t you’re right! Ahhh, but if you think you can, you might…”Walden Schmidt
THE COMPASS DRILL
One way to practice shorter putts is by using the compass drill. Place four balls at four different spots around the hole North, South, East and West. Start with two footers. When you make all four move all balls back a foot to three feet. When you make all four, move back to 4 feet. It's a great way to practice from all angles and breaks for those pesky short ones that can really make a difference when trying to putt up a good score.
PRACTICE
The old saying "practice smarter, not harder," is the key to seeing improvement from your practice time. Quality practice means having a specific purpose to your practice. And that's only possible if you have a clear understanding and awareness of your strengths and limitations. That is why post-game de-briefing is so vital to improvement, but you must be brutally honest with yourself in this process, or like I like to say, "OWN IT". Do not show up at the driving range and just randomly knock balls around. Have a plan, pick targets, execute shots. This is for practicing. Play a few mock holes out there.
WARM-UP
Warm-up is completely different. With warm-up I grab 20 balls. With my driver the first swing I take is a mighty HACK in order to slice the ball as much as possible. The second swing I take should make the ball hook as much as possible. Your Mind now comes to recognize these two extremes as the “Outer Limits”.
ONLY 18 balls left... Relax that is plenty. The next 10 balls are ½ wedges. The next 3 are for BASHING THE DRIVER! With the last 5 you will hit ½ wedges to recover your swing.
The game really is just as Ben Doyle taught it! ½ wedges!!!
It is easy to understand why drawing a line on your ball and aiming it from behind can help your putting alignment. It’s easier to aim from behind the barrel than beside it. If you watch golf closely on television, you will notice that the majority of top PGA Tour players use a line on their golf ball for this purpose. Try this the next time you're out practicing some putts! I started doing this way back in the 70’s so not new to me. Oh, and I haven’t stopped either 50+ years later! Read my book to see how you can take this even further.
The Golf Dr recommends a ratio of 80% practice on your short game as there are many more facets and when you analyze your game you will realize that 80% of your shots are from within 60 yards and closer to the hole. Don't forget 2 hours a night in deep meditation over the mental aspects of the game and how to improve there as well.
The reason I recommend even more emphasis on the short game is because there are so many more facets to it and each has its own little quirkature, if you will. If you are lucky you have a true practice facility (you know one with GRASS!!!) including a bunker and a putting green and a place to pitch and chip. I am lucky I know of TWO such places in the whole LA basin and I drive an hour one way to go to each BECAUSE IT MATTERS!!!
"When hitting your approach shot understand the yardage you are trying to hit isn't always to the flag. Remember this! The Flag only indicates the destination and there are many available journeys to you in order to reach your destination. Figure out where the trouble is. If there is a bunker in front of the green take a little more club. If there is a run off behind the green take a little less club. Avoid bunkers in the fairways as well hitting to yardages that fly you over or keep you short. Remember, golf isn't about your good shots it's about how good your bad shots are!
PLAYING IN COLD WEATHER
Even if you wear several layers, you may still be cold if you don’t remember to cover up your head. Find a comfortable, warm hat that also covers your ears, or wear a muffler over your hat. You’ll be surprised how much warmer you can feel on the course when you have something covering up your head and ears.
Cold air is denser than warm air and creates additional drag on a ball. According to the people at Trackman, the difference is approximately one yard of carry for every 10-degree change in temperature. So theoretically, you’re looking at a loss of four yards if you’re playing in 40 degrees as opposed to 80 degrees. Other factors—such as how the body reacts to the cold—can further impact distance. The takeaway: When playing fall or winter golf plan for at least an extra half club, and if your swing is restricted by being fully bundled up, it might even be a full club, or more.
Windy days make it tough to play higher ball flights. When dealing with these conditions, hitting the ball lower can benefit a player by reducing the effect of the wind. And swing it smooth!
Remember to swing easy when playing in windy conditions. Often this will mean taking more club and making a slower, smoother swing and not releasing the hands past hip high to produce the result you are looking for. This will reduce spin on the golf ball allowing you to keep it low into the wind. Distance control becomes even more important downwind. You simply cannot just tee it high and let it fly. Not if you are a player anyway. Side influencing wind is not as much a guessing game as you may think, but rather a feel calculated by playing in it.
Arnold always said, “When it’s breezy Swing Easy”.
“Golf… is the infallible test. The man who can go into a patch of rough alone, with the knowledge that only God is watching him, and play his ball where it lies, is the man who will serve you faithfully and well.” -Pelham Grenville Wodehouse
Course care and etiquette are both an integral part of the playability and beauty of the places WE play. Please make sure to fix divots and pitch marks while on the course. Players should find and fix their own plus three more near that location if possible. Entering bunkers on the low side and properly raking them is not only essential to the condition of the course, but also respectful to your fellow players. Utilize the entry and exit gates as well as keeping the carts behind the designated cart signs is essential to certain courses maintaining their teeth. At any Golf Dr tours event this is not an option.
Rule #1: You WILL fix your damage!!!
Many different tools have been created to repair ball marks, including single-pronged and fork-shaped tools. Almost any pointed tool, including a golf tee, can be used to effectively repair a ball mark. Using the proper technique is the key to success. Avoid using a lifting or twisting motion because this can damage turf roots. Once you have finished pulling turf inward toward the center, gently tamp the area down with your putter to create a smooth, firm surface.
Learn how to mentally separate the mechanics of practice on the range to the athleticism of playing a round of golf on the course. Pre-shot routines are crucial (this is where most errant shots are created). Prior to the shot choose a target and then visualize the ball flight you want to create. Make a practice swing or two feeling the movements of the swing that will create that specific shot. Once over the ball, clear the mind and focus your eyes on the back of the ball on the exact part you want your club to make contact!
PSR – Pre-shot Routine ~ Check out the book by Nick O'Hearn on Tour Mentality
Part of being a better golfer is becoming more comfortable on the golf course. If you watch most great players, they have a very repeatable routine throughout the round. They walk at the same pace, do the same thing before each swing, and there is a timing and rhythm to it all. No two players have to have the same routine, but try and find one that works for you! Don’t forget to write it down so you can see how it morphs thru time.
There’s a phrase in Italian that we can all appreciate in this busy world: "Il dolce far niente," which means the sweetness of doing nothing.
“Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence.” - Helen Keller
If you short-side yourself in a greenside bunker, you want to pick a high-lofted wedge like a 60 degree lob wedge. The ball will not role out as much. If you have some green to work with, you want a lower lofted wedge, such as a sand wedge (56 degrees) or a gap wedge (around 52 degrees). This will promote a slightly longer ball flight out of the trap.
The rounded sole of a fairway metal is designed to bounce off the ground as it passes through impact. This is advantageous, but precious few golfers actually employ the sole of the club correctly. As you address the shot, remind yourself that the club is unlikely to dig into the ground and you can go ahead and strike the turf aggressively. Instead of hanging back, in order to lift the ball into the air, strike the ground (in fact try and make a small divot) and allow the loft to lift the ball.
Lay up to your favorite yardage, most golfers have comfortable approach distances for short shots. Subtract your desired distance from your total distance to help you choose the proper club to hit when playing short shots. This will help you decide what club to lay up with on a par 5 in planning for your 3rd shot.
Distance control is the big thing on long putts. If you judge the speed right, you'll almost always have a simple second putt. On long putts, I like the stroke to be a little longer and slower, so you can put some hit on the ball. I also stand a little taller to lengthen the stroke. When most golfers try to hit it harder, they get quick and jabby, which usually causes a mishit. You want the putter head to accelerate through the ball naturally on it's pendulum, so think long and smooth. Ease up on your grip so the putter can work.
"When you stand over the ball on the tee with your driver in hand, you are likely excited and anxious to blast one long down the fairway. You have to be careful with that excitement, however, as hitting a shot while excited can cause you to rush the golf swing. You need to take your time at the top of the swing if you are going to strike the ball properly at the bottom, so don't let your anxiousness get the best of you." Slow down Turbo And breath!!!
Players love to focus solely on their golf swing and very little about their target. This causes your brain to focus far more on making a nice golf swing and far less about where the swing will send the ball. Pick the top of a tree or small target in the distance to aim for. When hitting into the green pick a small target, like a discolored spot on the green and focus on making a great swing towards that point. This simple change in your thinking will lead to more accurate golf shots and far less stress when you are playing golf.
Getting to within striking distance of the green is only worth so much if you then spend the next four shots either crisscrossing the green with too much power, or flopping short with too little. The art and swing of chipping is very different to that of driving from the tee or with an iron from the fairway. Two big differences are that your club should never go above parallel with the ground on the backswing, and your hands should always stay ahead of the ball and club. These tips will help with a repetitive impact positions and consistent trajectory.
Distance control is imperative for all golf shots. Before your round practice longer putts to get a feel for the speed of the greens. Putt uphill first and then downhill until you have those speeds then move onto the trickiest sidehill putt you can find. Always remember, Speed control is more important than line. Work on putting with good speed and watch the ball and your scores drop.
The old saying "practice smarter, not harder," is the key to seeing improvement from your practice time. Quality practice means having a specific purpose to your practice routine. And that's only possible if you have a clear understanding and awareness of your strengths and limitations. Do not show up at the driving range and just randomly knock balls around. Have a plan, pick targets, execute shots. This is for practicing.
Warm-up is completely different. With warm-up you grab about 20 balls. The first swing should slice as much as you can. The second swing should hook as much as you can. Your Mind now comes to recognize the “Outer Limits”. ONLY 18 balls left!!! Relax that is plenty. The next 10 balls are ½ wedges. The next 3 are for BASHING THE DRIVER! With the last 5 you will hit ½ wedges to recover your swing. The game is just as Ben Doyle taught it! ½ wedges!!!
Every good golfer knows that power comes from the body, not the arms. To learn to power the club with your body instead of your arms and hands, put the club behind the ball at address, with your body in a dead-stop position. Without taking a backswing, try to drag the ball into the air. If you are a player who uses his or her hands to control the club, you’ll probably struggle at first. However, you will quickly find that once you start moving the club with your body you’ll begin to get the ball in the air more consistently. This helps you turn fully through the ball on the downswing.
It is easy to understand why drawing a line on your ball and aiming it from behind can help your putting alignment. It’s easier to aim from behind the barrel than beside it. If you watch golf closely on television, you will notice that the majority of top PGA Tour players use a line on their golf ball for this purpose. Try this the next time you're out practicing some putts! I started doing this way back in the 70’s so not new to me. Oh, and I haven’t stopped either 40+ years later! Read my book to see how you can take this even further.
Learn how to maintain width. Extend your arms into the ball and keep them extended after impact! Creating a larger circle with the arms will increase swing and ball speed!
While most our pro tips are related to the swing itself, other factors, like how you practice that swing, are equally as important. As you begin to hone your skills it’s important to maintain some kind of practice routine. Whether you practice once a month or three times a week, try to stick to a similar routine each time you practice on the driving range. While we know it’s tempting to grab the driver first, start by hitting some 1/2 wedges then move on to your short irons. After warming up and getting a feel for your golf swing again, then proceed to longer irons, woods, and finally the driver.
You want to be a better golfer? Then you need to become more comfortable and relaxed on the golf course. This will help you to perform at your peek. If you watch most great players, they have a very repeatable routine throughout their round. They walk at the same pace, do the same thing before each swing, and there is a timing and rhythm to it all. Watch them and learn. No two players have the same routine, yet each is the same every time. Start by talking to your pro, or me, but try and find one that works for you! Then WRITE IT DOWN! This is essential… because if you write it down then you have a base line in which to improve upon. As you and your game morph and improve so too will your PSR (Pre-Swing Routine). Moreover, in written form it can be set to memory much easier. This simple act works much like what I write about in my book in the section on goals and what to do with them. You should already carry a sort of golf journal in your bag to write down this STUFF and other STUFF that happens in this crazy game.
Be Good and Get Better
Limiting the height of the follow through of your swing will effectively reduce the height of your shots. The lower the hands, the lower the ball flight. Moving the ball back in your stance or choosing a stronger club and trying to swing easy are other ways to accomplish the same thing, but they're less reliable and more difficult to execute. Instead, keep your hands low in the finish and the trajectory of your shots will be lower.
When faced with a shot into a headwind a player would benefit from a shot with less spin. To do this, take a club longer, and try to hold off your finish through impact. By abbreviating the finish, the body is able to keep the hands from releasing aggressively through impact resulting in less spin. On the contrary, a full and high finish will usually produce more spin and provide a player with a higher ball flight.
Create a repetitive set up and a solid foundation! Your set up is the foundation of your golf swing. It will affect the shape of your swing and its ability to generate speed and power. So it only makes sense that if you start off correctly, you are likely to follow with a decent swing, leading to great results. Each link is only as good as the previous link. If you start with a poor grip or poor posture, the second, third, fourth link, and so on your swing will only be trying to compensate to get you back on track.
When hitting pitch shots you don't need weight transfer. Keep your weight in your lead leg and then rotate around that post. This will keep you more centered which will allow the club to bottom out at the center of the arc.
Swing your arms! Many amateur players have their torsos outrunning their arms. When transitioning into the ball from the top of the swing down let your arms fall prior to your torso rotating. This will reconnect your arms to your body and have them traveling in front of you not behind during the strike. Ok...now get out there and play!
Memorial Week
In honor of the Memorial Tournament, here is a swing tip relating to the great, Jack Nicklaus. It’s a common refrain in golf instruction: The body controls the arms. But Jack operated the other way around. He had a clear idea of where he wanted his arms to be, and he moved his body to accommodate those positions. For example, Nicklaus wanted to feel that he could swing his arms freely. To do that, he said, he needed to get his right hip out of the way, so on his backswing, he moved his right hip back, not in a lateral slide but a rotation, perpendicular to the target line. Turning his right hip out of the way allowed Nicklaus to bring his arms down unimpeded, exploding through impact with tremendous speed. It’ s not a bad move for you to work on, too.
Soften your hands for chip shots. One of the most common mistakes most novice golfers make is gripping the club too tightly! Sam Sneed once said that the grip on the putter should be much like holding a little bird. Just tight enough to hold it but not too much to crush it. And remember, you're putting with loft.
When practicing mix it up. Hit different shots to avoid repetitive practice. This translates to the course better than hitting the same shot with the same club over and over again like 60 times.
While repetition is key during practice, make sure you practice more than just straight line, 20 foot putts. This type of practice is good, but will not prepare you for putts or shots you may encounter in a real tournament. Try shooting from farther distances or out of uneven terrain. Explore challenging areas on the green complexes and master them!.
To hit high soft bunker shots don't be afraid to open up the clubface and position the ball more forward in your stance. And remember. In order to pop the ball up you must swing down. Don't try to help it up!
A side note here:
Almost every time I hear this one comment it sounds to me like a chalk board screeching...
DO NOT!!! Do not try to hit 2 inches behind the ball in a bunker! Everything you have done to this point has set you up to make that strike. You have dug your feet in which is already going to make that 2 inches happen. Inconsistent shots abound when this "hit 2 inches behind the ball" thought process shows up!
Just FOCUS on that particular spot and your swing will take care of the rest.
Ball position is key to the height of your shot when pitching and chipping. The weight should be forward for balance. With the ball forward, the shot will be higher and with the ball back the shot will be lower. Maintaining weight on your front side with both ball positions can create a repetitive routine for a player to hit consistent pitches and chips from any lie.
When chipping around the green do not think of the hole but rather a spot on the green you want to land the ball. Get the ball on the green as quickly as you can and let it run out like a putt. Once again, you're putting with loft.
In order to gain distance with the driver... JUST STOP IT RIGHT HERE. JUST STOP IT. Any player who has chased distance throughout the history of golf has suffered mightily. So just stop.
Davis Love II told Davis III that he was allowed to swing as hard as he wanted as long as he kept his balance.
GO SCOTTIE GO!!! Amazing as it is the guy never goes down...
Practice with purpose. At the end of each session play a hole or two that you are struggling with imagining the shots you need to hit while on the range. Go through pre-shot routines and pick the clubs for yardages you believe you will be hitting. The next time you play that hole remember your practice session and emulate all the good shots and visions that took place during your practice session on the range.
When handling pitches and chip shots, players tend to expand the window of error by aiming at the hole rather than a landing area. Next time you are out on the course try to find an area of the green that you can see the ball landing on and releasing toward the hole. This landing zone can be a larger target for a golfer to visualize and can help create better results.
When faced with a difficult shot, try to create the best opportunity to limit a higher number. Plan and play for your next shot. Oh, and don't forget... BREATHE!
When playing in a tournament or against friends in a friendly Nassau always commit to the shot you are about to hit. The best golfers have short term memories and besides the only thing that matters is the one shot that you are about to hit!
If you stare at the ball too long at address, it's easy to get brain-locked and hit a bad shot/putt. Get up and swing the club! You're not in the thinking box, you're in the swing box.
Alignment issues can cause swing flaws as well as difficulty on the course for most players. A great way to work on alignment would be to find an intermediate target that is on the same line as the ball and your target line. For example, stand behind your ball and run the shaft up through the ball to the flagstick. Along that same line you will see a divot, a leaf, or a lighter patch of grass you can align the body and club to that is much closer than the flag. Making sure your lines are correct to an intermediate target can create more confidence and comfort. Give it a try, and hopefully your accuracy will increase.
When practicing understand where your time should be spent. If you are missing fairways practice your drivers. If you are not getting up and down from the greenside practice chipping. Knowing where you are losing strokes plays an imperative role on how we should spend our time practicing. Spend very little time on this then move into your normal practice routine.
Far too often we see amateur and low handicap players pitch the ball with their sand wedge or lob wedge instead of chipping the ball low. If you have plenty of green to work with to let it roll out and there isn't some type of obstacle like a bunker, cart path, tree, etc. that forces us to hit it high, we always want to keep it low. Use a lower lofted iron like a 7 or 8 and let it roll out like a putt. The general rule is the ball will fly 1/3 and roll 2/3 of your total distance.
Staying connected through the swing helps you control it. That’s especially true when it comes to the backswing. Each of us has physical limits. We can only take the club back so far. Two things happen when you overswing: You bend your left elbow and you loosen your grip on the club. Both will cause bad results.
Swing your swing and enjoy the benefits!
In any good putting stroke, the hands, wrists and arms form a stable structure that stays intact during the entire motion. The putter head is put into motion by the movement of the shoulders and the structure created at address should remain throughout the stroke, otherwise the structure breaks down and inconsistencies in the stroke are sure to pop up. A simple alignment stick can help you to feel the proper structure as well as the proper movement of the shoulders in the putting stroke.
Each time you reach your ball, your objective is to get it into the hole from that position in as few shots as possible. Don’t think about what has gone before, or the worst-case scenario, just focus on how to get the ball in the cup in the most efficient way from where it lies. If you play a bad shot that ends in a difficult spot, try to think of it as a new challenge. Don’t just wallow in the predicament; start from scratch. Remember, your objective is to get the ball into the hole in as few shots as possible from the current situation, wherever that may be.
The difference between low and high handicappers is how they look at trouble on the course. The high handicapper will focus on the trouble and feel anxious about going into water, trees, or sand. The low handicapper will focus on the target and where he or she wants their ball to land. They are aware of the trouble and play away from it, but it is not their primary concern or something that they focus on while swinging. Find your target and play to that as if the trouble does not exist.
Playing a shot out of the rough can create a different outcome strictly based on the turf the player is dealing with. If the grass is growing towards you, it will have a tendency to grab the club. So, take more club than you normally would. If the grass is growing with you, then it might “fly”, and offer less resistance. Take less club, and prepare for the ball to run more. Next time you are in the rough, look at the direction the grass is growing and adjust the shot accordingly. Remember, lie dictates shot selection.
The running chip is a shot every golfer should have. When there's plenty of green to work with, it's the best percentage play to get the ball close. Gain confidence on these little shots by setting up with the shaft more upright, your wrists arched upward, so it feels like the toe of the clubhead is down. Keeping the toe down will allow you to swing on a straighter path and get the ball rolling more quickly. With your chips rolling out more consistently, you can start reading these shots like you would a putt to get the ball close, or INTO THE HOLE. Raymond calls it putting with loft.
PHILLIP THE CHUMP DOES NOT HAVE A SHORT GAME!!! He has a lob wedge!! Only one part of the short game and when that goes so goes Silly Philly!
One of the most important assets a player can have throughout the round is consistant grip pressure. Full swing, flighted shots, chips, pitches, and putts all require light grip pressure during the shot or stroke. When practicing, start to notice what kind of pressure the hands are building. Tension can travel from the hands to the forearms, then to the biceps and shoulders, and eventually the chest. When this happens, the body can lose mobility. A lot of the fluidity a player can create starts with a soft handle on the club.
If you leave yourself a lot of long putts, here’s a simple tip that will help prevent three-putts: Always take your practice strokes looking at the target. This gives your brain the information that links feel to force, so you can hit the ball the right distance.
NEVER NEVER NEVER use the term "lag" in front of Ian Poulter or myself. We both believe that the term Lag means that you have DRASTICALLY reduced your chances of making that putt. Proper speed and proper line and it goes in no matter how long your putt is. I believe you can become a good enough putter to make all of the putts you have. What is the longest putt that you have ever holed?
Very few players are still leaving the pin in the hole from shorter distances. The reason for this is if you leave the pin in, your mind is interpreting that the hole has been reduced in size and/or the pin is viewed in your mind as another obstacle. "Charlie take the pin out! You too Brooke!"
If you are hitting big hooks or slices it may be time to check the lie angles on your clubs. If your clubs are too flat for your swing the ball will slice. If your clubs are too upright for your swing the ball will hook. It's an easy 20-minute fix with your professional staff and a lie board.
Having the correct posture at address is a very important fundamental which a lot of golfers overlook. This helps dictate how the club swings around the body and helps the body turn correctly, and helps promotes good balance. Good posture, balance and rhythm is the key to a clean and more consistent golf swing. But like Arnold said, "Swing your own swing."
"Don’t stand at attention. The knees are flexed, and the arms are held naturally, neither reaching nor pulled back to the body. The left foot is pointed slightly out and weight evenly distributed between the feet. One thing applies to everybody. Be comfortable. If you have the feeling that you are standing in an awkward position, you’re licked before you start."- Arnold Palmer
Jack Nicklaus was a huge proponent of making sure he dialed in his feel on shorter shots before he moved into his full swings, and this is one of the greatest golf tips that has been making its way around for years. Establishing your feel on shots from 15-45 yards is a great way to warm up and get your swing in sync before you move on to your longer clubs. Try this in your next practice session, or before a round.
Like I have been saying… ½ wedges!!!
"The mark of a great player is in their ability to come back. The great champions have all come back from defeat," from the great Sam Snead.
It is easy to rush the golf swing. After all, you are probably trying to hit the ball a significant distance, especially if you are standing on the tee, so it is only natural to swing as hard and fast as possible. However, most of the time, that level of effort is going to do you more harm than good. The best golf swings tend to be those that allow speed to develop gradually, with the club accelerating all the way down until it arrives at impact. Hit it solid not hard!
Sir Nick Faldo asked Jack Nicklaus, the best golfer of all time besides The Count (another story), how many times he really went at it in a competitive round. Jack responded, “Only 2-3 times”. Scratching your head yet?
Good tempo is imperative for a smooth transition into the ball. Take the club away slower. This will help a player to have a full set at the top of the swing thus allowing better sequence into the ball. Keep in mind that you can take it away too slow thus building tension to the breaking point which can also break down the swing. Furthermore, the top of the swing varies with each individual and even within each individual it varies from day to day. So… The Golf Dr recommends getting a tune in your head to create pretty much the same tempo, or closer to it each time and each day. Do not change it unless you find it is too slow or fast.
Mine you ask? M.A.S.H. Musically Altered State of Happiness. That too, but the tune from the show MASH from the 70’s? Oh bouy…
Have you ever seen the lyrics?
You might not know it, but golf can create so much stress that it triggers the “fight or flight” response in your body. Your heart beats faster, your blood pressure increases, and your mind begins to race. These are all things that make it harder to focus and stay in the moment. Plenty of professional golfers do controlled breathing during their rounds because it actually works. Most golf tips don’t explore this part of the game, but it’s an essential tool to have on the course.
Just know this! Some gamer is going to ask you, “Do you inhale/exhale on your back/down swing? The answer is neither, but turn that question right back around to the knucklehead that asked it… “I’ve never thought of that, what do you do? That’ll fix him. Make sure you ask him next time you play again. LOL DO NOT let them beat you with their mouth!!!
You should inhale and exhale and take one last look and then take it back.
Always make sure to give yourself the best opportunity at a beneficial approach shot to the green.
Make sure that the club you are teeing off with will leave you with your desired yardage to the green (i.e. the prime of your bag). We don't always have to tee off with driver. For example, if the hole is 375 yards, and my desired yardage is 150, I would only need to hit a club 225 off of the tee.
This approach to the game becomes even more important if you find yourself in trouble off the tee. You know… Your favorite driver? Shoulda hit that 3 wood.
Try this out next time you are on the course. I’ll bet you play better!
Tips from the Pro:
When a player has the opportunity to assess their game following a round, more times than not the player will find that the large majority of their shots were hit inside of 10 yards from the green. This includes chipping and putting. 80% of the practice time should be dedicated to short game and the other 20% can be full swing and everything in between. Try to limit any weakness on the course and that starts with the proper practice regimen.
Putting with Garina Pillar
When I approach a putt, I like to look at it from all angles; whether it’s uphill, downhill, left to right, or right to left. From there I just focus on where I am going to start it, how I’m going to roll it and what speed is going to make it into the hole. I trust that I have looked at all the angles and taken everything into account.
This is good, but you can refine it a bit and make even more putts!
PSR
The Golf Dr’s take you ask? Well, while my approach is similar it should be noted that each of us has our own little quirks and idiosyncrasies so our PSR’s will vary from individual to individual. Some of these idiosyncrasies directly affect our PSR like biorhythms, and even something as simple as an addition or subtraction of a step in your PSR. This can affect EVERYTHING! You may have just tipped the scale…
Think of it like this. You have 7 items to check off on your PSR in order before you address your shots and you have been doing things this way for a while; now you go and add another. Your total is now a positive number 8 and not a negative number 7, but odd numbers play too… I call this the ole switcheroo. No trick or tweak works forever… You must keep moving forward and progressing along the way to improve/maintain YOUR golf game.
Be VERY CAREFUL not to upset this apple cart!!! Your PSR is a delicate tool and that box of wires between your ears is apt to see this as an additive to a recipe that has already been working. An alien outsider!
Be careful to prepare, but not over analyze. Remember the old-adage,
“Analysis can lead to paralysis.”
We need to remind ourselves from time to time that our games as a whole reflect our very traits and personalities. If you are basically an aggressive personality then you are going to have a hard time playing golf passively. You see it’s all about the details. That is why Pia Nilsson and Lynn Marriott advanced so many games with their collaborated book. Even if you just read the title, it could rock your world, but READ ON.
Oh, The Title you ask?
Every Shot Must Have a Purpose
I digress… Oh yeah, my putting PSR leads me to picking it out of the hole more times than not.
Goes like this…
As I am walking down the fairway, (notice I said walking!!!) I am feeling my surroundings and my very presence in this role that I selected today, I realize that everything that surrounds me is alive and breathing. Get in SYNC with this! It is why you are here really…
I take in the terrain, the breeze, the angles, and slopes of the green as it sits there majestically surrounded by its very own Royal Guard, be it bunkers, or water. I do not focus much on these as they are not my target, however THAT having been said, you should know that each one of these can affect a putt and should at some point be considered in this process. Course Architects make you think.
DO NOT wait until you have arrived at your ball on the green to start in with your PSR!!!
You see your PSR is much more amplified in the putting part of the game. Do you know your putting Pre-Shot Routine? It is by nature got to be much more exact than your long shots! After all, this is where scoring takes place! Remember “If you want to attain specific results then you need to aim at specific targets.
Sooo, I have begun to scope out the situation before me and now I am about 30 yards from the green where I really begin to hone in on this particular situation presented before me.
I recommend looking at ALL angles of the putt after you mark your ball and, also after you replace it.
Don't forget to repair the depression your ball is resting in!
At this time I would like to propose this question: Which is your dominant eye? Makes a difference! Find out! And then use it to your advantage! Make your own choice, but close one eye and then the other and see if things look just a little different with each…
Try it for ALL shots! You’ll see…
Ok so here we are on the green and we have looked this putt over extensively from every angle. Time to pick a spot out. Huh? Just pay attention! You want to pick a spot on the green about dime size to start (this should get smaller as you improve, but a good start here). This is the spot in the line of your putt about 1 to 2 feet in front of your ball on the intended path you have picked that you want your ball to follow right down into the hole.
The reason I choose a spot about 2 feet in front of my ball is simple. If you hit it near perfect and you chose the correct speed then it will fall right into the hole. Remember there are variances so it DOES NOT have to be a perfect putt to go in. Why do I use a spot at 3 feet? Well even you can make a 3 footer!!! And if you split that 3 feet you have 18 inches, which if a perfect putt goes by the hole 12-15 inches, then if you are anywhere near the proper speed and your putt doesn’t go in well you will be left with one you WILL MAKE!
That in and of itself should be enough to relax you. Whew…
Here’s one… PUTTERS – You know GOOD Players that can putt? They DO NOT TRY TO MAKE PUTTS!!! That creates too much tension and stress. Noooo… They pick out a spot on their intended line and THEY KNOW that if they hit that spot and their ball is travelling at the proper speed, that even if they miss their spot just a little, that putt will go in.
Ok now the moment of truth!!! Speed is the most important part of putting!!! Putting is the most important part of the game after mental. Good putters... Scottie Crameron. NOT. I'll putt you anytime. Because what you have, is not what the players on the PGA tour play. FACT! Scottie Crameron came from Bettinardy and once you know, you can thank me later. Because I called them on their plastic Chinese crap and told them if they wanted to start selling putters again for the player, they needed to mill metal again.
THE PROPER SHOT AT THE PROPER MOMENT
IS ALWAYS REWARDING!!!
Be GOOD and GET BETTER…
The Golf Dr
PS
Finding a putter that works for YOU is a task, especially with all of the thousands of designs, but once you find a good one (one that fits YOU, one you can look upon, and one that has a good pendulum action and balance (so important).
YOU MUST LOVE YOUR PUTTER!!!, because it must do the most important job for you and your game… IT MUST PUTT THE BALL INTO THE HOLE!!!
Once you have found your love, NEVER, NEVER, EVER switch that prized weapon again. I have played the same putter for 25 years now. Bettinardi BB7 Original Series 1999. I recently found one on eBay and bought it for $500, two and a half times more than what I paid originally. But well worth it considering it's worth $5,000.
BUT, if yours goes south and stays past winter, or frequently makes unannounced last-minute trips to the Bahamas, then by all means sell it to your best buddy. LOL
I remember I had a Tommy Armour Silver Scott that took flight into a jungle behind the 6th green at Tama Hills one day.
Somethings just can’t be helped. LOL
That’s when I learned to putt with a 2 iron. You have got to be creative in this game! Besides, It’s only a few degrees difference… LOL
Be Good and Get Better
The Golf Dr