The golf swing relies upon core strength, endurance and proper engagement in seeking elements of stabilization, control and coordination. Core conditioning is very important for a golfer because all movements in your entire body stem from the strength in this area. Wherever you find a weak core, you find a major source of energy Continue Reading→

Fringe Putting

Putt to the fringe of the green from a variety of distances, getting the ball to rest gently against the cut of the fringe.  Stand in the middle of the putting surface or putt from side to side.  Instant feedback, it is either too hard or too soft.  We are not concerned about holing the putt just more concerned about training good speed.

Good contact

It is vital to hit the ball on the same spot on the Continue Reading→

If you are having troubles with some aspects of you swing, jump on a slope to help train the correction.  E.G If your path is too far out to in,try hitting some shots off a slope where the ball is above your feet.  You will naturally start to neutralize the path and shallow out the swing.  If your angle of attack is too steep try hitting some shots on an up slope, again this will change the angle of attack without you having to think too much about the technique.

Focus on what is essential

• Identify a set of skills and commit to it long term
• Recognize the two types of practice

Put in the work

•  Be a willing participant.  Focused deliberate practice always

Seek regular feedback

• Feedback that confirms that the intended movement of the body and or the ball flight did in fact happen
• Ensure that feedback is on-going throughout a practice period
• Testing and measuring
• Re-testing if necessary

Transfer your skills to the course

• Engaging targets
• Competitive practice
• Games

Source Complete Golf

Routine

Creating a reliable routine prior to any shot is vital.  It is one of the most important tools you can have.  It will help you remain calm and provide a comfortable and familiar environment under pressure.  Use it to fall back on when your anxiety levels and emotions are difficult to control.

When putting, it is important to focus on the process and not the outcome.   There are many variations Continue Reading→

If you missed out on January’s  Short Game Summer Series then you are in luck, two additional sessions in February, be quick.  New to coaching in February is my Supervised Practice Sessions.Make the most of your time on the range. To book call 37212122.

The  ability to perform under pressure to remain confident and resilient when competitive conditions get tough, the skill to be able to stay focused, calm when fatigue becomes a factor are all mental skills that need to be developed.

2 reasons why athletes under perform

• Pressure
• Fatigue

Developing real life strategies you can implement to overcome these problems are essential if you want to continue and develop your game.

As an individual you need to know

• When are you at your best
• What are the things you do best
• How do you know when your are at your best
• What is it that makes you feel exceptional
• What key strengths can you draw on now

You can teach mental toughness and train mental toughness in the right learning environment.

For me, the difference between chipping and pitching is more about loft you are delivering through impact and what part of the club hits the ground.

When you chip you are reducing the loft presented through impact and allowing the leading edge of the club to hit the ground after you hit the ball.  In the pitch shot, you are maintaining the loft on the club face and letting the bounce of the club hit the ground before you have hit the ball.

When you have a better understanding of the function of the club you are then able to make a more reliable shot choice on course.

Run a checklist before you make your decision:

1. What are the possibilities that the lie and the shot give me.
2. The lie doesn’t so much determine what shot you can play as it does what shots you can’t play.
3. Can I hit it high or low.
4. Do I have to carry some kind of trouble in front of me, or some kind of tier on the green.

Once you have an idea of options, pick the one that you think is the best choice for the situation, and feel comfortable with the choice you make.

Just because a situation dictates some kind of high flop shot, if you need to make a bogey to win your hole and you’re more comfortable hitting a lower-running chip you should be picking the shot that makes you comfortable.

Put the decision making process behind you, stop second guessing and feel confident about the shot you’re going to hit.

Walking up from the ball to the hole to get a sense for how the green breaks, helps in deciding where to aim.  Pay attention to where you want the shot to land.  Is the green soft or firm.  Will it kick left or right?  Am I chipping/pitching into the grain or down grain?  Try and find a spot to land the ball that is relatively flat and predictable.  Once you have your aim and distance, go into pre-shot routine mode.

Have your practice swings while visualizing the actual flight of the shot.  If it is a chip shot picture the ball hitting and rolling up to the hole.  If it’s a pitch shot visualize the flight onto the green and roll out.   Make your practice swings relevant to the shot to create a feel for how hard to swing on your shot.  Then implement a purposeful pre shot routine.

Source The Art of the Short Game Stan Utley