Archive for June, 2009

Becoming a Scratch Golfer

June 25th, 2009
I continue my discussion on how to help good players break into the next level. I think in an effort to get to that next level, players seek out ways of improvement that others went through in hopes that if they follow the same path, they will get there. Very logical, right? The strange thing is, I have yet to find a source where someone says what allowed them to move to the next level was doing the same thing as someone else. Sure, people get credited for helping but show me someone that said,”I just did what he did”.
There’s where the logic falls apart.

Don’t get me wrong, reading about how others broke through may help give you some different avenues to travel down. However, it will not give you a roadmap. Stop looking for one. There is no magic bullet. Each person needs to first KNOW and UNDERSTAND there game and their SOUL.

I can honestly say I never had enough true belief in my ability to break through. I would hit too many wayward shots that I BELIEVED shouldn’t happen. Wrapping that anchor around my neck made it impossible for me to hold my head up high and know that my next shot would be ok. That’s me.

I’ve met some people that honestly believe wayward shots were the result of mud or bad golf ball manufacturing or something crazy like that. They refused to believe it could be their fault. I couldn’t do that.

When I took a good hard look at myself, my game and was truly honest enough with myself, an answer came forward. I will leave that answer for myself, but each of you need to do this. Afterward, you will know what to do and what SACRIFICES must take place if you determine that is what you truly want.

Time to get real folks. You’ll thank me later. By the way, this applies to life also.

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Posted in Mental Game, Practicing, Tournament Golf

Method Teaching for Golf

June 17th, 2009
A bunch of friends of mine either work for or teach a particular method. For a while, I could have been classified as a method teacher. My first year or so of teaching, I tried to make everyone swing the same way. I quickly discovered that this was not a very good way to help all people. It worked with a little more than half and worked very well for new golfers. The fact that it didn’t help everyone and actually hurt some led me to find new and better ways.

If you think about it, if someone teaches a method, the only thing that separates their students is their students athleticism. I would much rather work with a philosophy that provides help to all golfers. I admittedly still feel like I help new golfers the fastest. Helping someone that has done it the wrong way for a long time is a little trickier than teaching someone the right way first.

Be wary of the method teacher. Unless your swing type fits nicely into their method, you may find yourself worse off than how you started. Going for a golf lesson should be a good thing and you should walk away knowing that you hit some better shots at the lesson than when you arrived.

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Posted in Teaching Techniques

Green Mapping for Tournaments

June 15th, 2009
I’ve spent a bunch of time recently trying to improve my students ability to prepare for tournament golf. I purchased an exelys breakmaster, which is a green reading device, to help map out possible pin locations and spent more time examining the green during practice rounds.

My first practical situation was at the NJCAA National Tournament with MCC. Not everyone on the team wanted the information but the one player that used it religiously won the event in record breaking fashion. The main thing he said that helped was knowing exactly where the straight putts were. The first two days pin locations were painted on the green and I was able to map exact breaks from 5 feet in.

The benefit in preparing is obvious. If you can get a knowledgable caddy to map greens for you while you play a practice round, you will see a noticeable improvement in putts made. Get yourself a breakmaster and learn how to map a green. You’ll be amazed.

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Posted in AimPoint

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Speed First, Accuracy Second

June 11th, 2009
I get asked the question of “how do you start” quite often. The answer depends on a whole bunch of things. Assuming it is young player and a player that is serious about practicing to get better, my answer is always the same. First, I’m going to teach you to hit it far then I’m going to teach you to hit it straight.

Almost all of my junior golfers hit the ball a long way. I think it is critical for their future advancement to be able to do this. It also turns out that these players are accurate enough to compete at the highest levels of junior and college golf.

I teach speed first for a couple reasons. I like to see the club work in a particular way. I want to see the club move fast and free. I want the player to be able to feel everything from the speed to the shape of the swing.

The other thing that usually comes along with speed is freedom. I like the swing to look like very little work. I don’t like to see a lot of labor. Freedom also helps learn the feelings of the motion. Feedback is critical for a player to reach their potential. Speed and feedback usually go together. I continually question them about what they feel so they can own their swing and make correct adjustments when I’m not around.

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Posted in Practicing, Teaching Techniques

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