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Avoiding Disasters

5:34 am June 3, 2009

Ken Venturi is a long-time golf analyst who worked for CBS & won the 1964 U.S. Open. He would often discuss the excitement of the
thrill of the last hole during a competition. His heart would be
beating out of his shirt knowing it was his last chance to win.

Talk about a guy that loved the game!

You too might feel like this on occasion. It seems to me that
moments like this always arise at some important numerical marker
in my life or game.

What if it looks like you are on your way to your best score ever?

Perhaps it’s your first opportunity to break 90.

Or, you might be golfing with your boss. A good impression on the
course could get you closer to an important raise. You’ve got to keep
your cool when under pressure.

Stress & nervousness are things that pros know how to keep a lid on.

But, they also realize, some factors are outside of their “sphere of
influence.”

A. “Outside” Variables

When it comes to putting, nothing creates more stress than worrying
about missing a shot. But, you have to realize that many factors are
completely out of your control. There are outside variables around
the green that may have a great deal of influence on your shot. Keep
this in mind whenever you miss a break & start becoming frustrated.

1. First and foremost, the green that you are walking on is literally a
living organism. Grass is constantly growing & terrain changes all
the time. The green can change whenever a group plays through
ahead of you. In fact, just one group of four players can take as
many as 200 steps on a green before finishing a hole.

Those are a lot of terrain variables!

So, if you’re playing on a busy Saturday or Sunday, 10 or 11
foursomes may have gone through the course ahead of you. We are
talking about over 2000 steps!

Golfers drag their feet can scruff up the grass. Pitch marks can be
found all over the place. This everyday wear and tear can ruin a shot.

2. Furthermore, small rocks & pebbles, sand, fertilizer, grass
clippings, mower lines, uneven grass, moisture, & (of course) divot
marks can also increase your odds of making mistakes on the green.

All of these can contribute to your ball being knocked off-course &
missing the hole.

C. Final Word

Due to it’s precision, there is a very small margin for error when
putting.

Unfortunately, you usually cannot lose your cool & get frustrated
without it affecting your score.

All you can do is assess the shot as carefully as possible. Focus on a
controlled & smooth stroke & give it your best roll.

If you miss, don’t worry. Sometimes it’s just not your fault

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Practicing The Right Way.

1:21 pm May 25, 2009

Even though many golfers are dedicated improving their game,
relatively few really understand how to practice properly.

If you have ever taken a look at golfers practicing their drives at the
range, more times than not, it looks like their intention is to get rid of
balls as fast as possible. And, use as much muscle and might in the
process.

Is this the right way? Do players actually get better from playing
“how many balls can I hit today?”

The reality is, probably not. But, it’s difficult to know exactly what
to practice because the swing is so complex. And where your swing
differs than most, might be unique to you.

Truly understanding your specific swing’s weakness or having
professional guidance can provide truly productive practice sessions.

A. Thought Vs. Practice

Although your eventual goal should be to develop a natural swing
that is not influenced by thinking, some thinking should go into your
practice sessions.

Visioning, thinking about why a ball didn’t go where it should have,
and a slow reflection & optimization of your weak points will help
you immensely.

In fact, you should bring a notebook with you to record your
thoughts. These notebooks can serve as a great way to increase your
progress by zeroing in on what you think is wrong and possible ideas
to fix the problems you are having.

Finally, when you have downtime (eg you are in an airport or
waiting for a meeting), you can practice thinking about your game
and your swing too.

Practice doesn’t have to always be done on the course or the driving
range!

B. Practice At Your Current Skill Level
A student golfer should practice swing specifics until the swing is
fundamentally sound. From there, he can advance & practice higher
level refinements.

The key is to take it from where you are in your game currently. A
countless number of items can be practiced, but specific procedures
must be followed in every practice session.

These may seem like common sense, but they are important enough
to list here:

1. Knowing what to practice should be the basis for your practice
session. It is essential to have a positive outlook and defined goal of
what you are trying to accomplish.

2. Begin your practice sessions by smoothing your swing with short,
soft iron shots, working your way up through the clubs until
reaching your driver. You should only use maximum power when
your swing has consistent smoothness and a fluid rhythm.

3. Rhythm should be an integral part of every practice session.
Proper rhythm promotes coordination and good timing. Get into the
groove!

4. The process of lining up a target is for more than just for
accuracy. It’s for self-confidence as well. Striving for distance and
not accuracy can give you a false sense of security that you are
progressing.

You’ve got to actually get the ball towards the green. Not sliced
beyond into the rough!

5. Distance and direction are always the primary goals of practice.
But, take the time to learn proper balance and a solid feeling in your
swing by testing different positions and adjustments. Get to where
YOU feel right before trying to knock it out of the park!