Actually it is a series of posts I wrote. They’re from when I spent some time with Matt, a young player from my club.
The lessons below are a great way to improve your golf and start playing better. They are not about rebuilding your golf swing or getting tied down with endless golf technique. The golf lessons with Matt are all about making the most of your natural ability and learning to play your best golf.
Here they are. Five lessons that will transform your golf game.
Lesson #1
Lesson #2
Lesson #3
Lesson #4
Lesson #5
If you’re keen to start 2010 off on the right foot then these lessons are a great start. Let me know how you get on.
2010
I ended 2008 with the goal of losing some weight and improving my wedge game. I’ve got to be honest that I dropped the ball here. I didn’t apply myself enough and got distracted somewhat. The plan now is to make good on my commitment in 2010.
What goals do you want to achieve? I have found making a public commitment does help (unless you get distracted). Let me know your thoughts below.
I’d like to wish everyone all the best for 2010.
Good golfing,
Cameron.
Golf delivers many distractions.
- Other players
- Your score
- Possibilities – like, “If I make this putt I’ll be on track for my best score”
- Hazards and other trouble
- Your mind
There’s more but that’s a good start.
I played nine holes this morning. A great way to walk off Christmas dinner and get some fresh air. I was joined by a golfing friend that was easily distracted.
He was worried about how far he was hitting. He was concerned with my score and how I was playing. He was trying to win. He was thinking about everything except for the most important thing.
Playing golf
Despite previous lessons he was distracted from the task at hand. Playing his game. Choosing the right shot at the right time. I’ve written about this before. It’s a an important lesson and something when mastered allows you to play your best golf.
The more I play the better I get at doing my thing. I’m not concerned about what the course designer has in mind, playing partners or what that little pestering voice in my head has to say. I avoid all distractions (most of the time anyway) and choose the shot that I know I can hit successfully.
The I repeat until I putt out on the 18th.
Not the most exciting instruction and far removed from ego. But it will allow you to improve your game without swing instruction or new clubs. It’s a simple step but a vitally important one.
I’d like to thank everyone who reads this blog and especially to those that contribute to the content.
I’d like to wish everyone a safe and happy Christmas and all the best for 2010. Let’s hope we can all improve our golf, have more fun and shoot some great scores.
There’s some new things on the horizon for 2010. Here’s a brief rundown;
- The first live Automatic Golf seminar/workshop
- New and improved training aids
- More videos and information about playing better golf
I’ll also be continuing to write on the blog and expanding on my ideas further.
If there’s something you’d like to learn then here’s your chance. Post your thoughts/ideas/wishes below.
All the best,
Cameron
Some golfers get nervous when they start playing well. They make up stories and try and work out why they’re playing so well. Hitting better shots, seeing improved performance can take some adjusting. It’s nerve racking.
This is a problem but it’s the lessor of two evils because many golfers are scared to death of playing poorly.
The thought of making a mistake or hitting a poor shot has them petrified. These golfers close up, get tight and cannot swing freely because of the fear.
And here’s the main problem;
You can’t hit great shots unless you’re prepared to make a bad shot or two.
The paradox here is when you can fight through the fear you’ll hit less bad shots and more great ones. Trying to avoid mistakes is a certain recipe for disaster.
Heading to the golf course with the mindset of, “avoiding all mistakes” is wrong. Don’t let the odd poor shot rock your confidence. Make a few mistakes but keep on trucking. Golf is not a game of perfect. It’s about overcoming obstacles (like getting out of the trees) and keeping on making the best swings you can.
Fear of mistakes has no place on the golf course.
Cameron Strachan is a self confessed golf nut. He has transformed his game by thinking less and playing more. His golf blog and website tells the complete story and can help you play golf with more confidence and consistency.
I was listening to a business expert talk the other day. He made an interesting observation about being successful in business. His message definitely relates to learning golf and touches on a human trait that stagnates performance. Here’s what he said.
When you find something that works in your business keep doing it. I have found though that humans let ego and self-doubt get in the way. Just when they have an opportunity to take a giant step – they change. They stop doing what works or credit the success to something else. This is crazy and makes no sense.
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Here’s an analogy:
A good karate chop is one technique done 1000 times. Not 1000 different chops done once.
The golf swing is the same – you want to find your golf swing and then keep doing it over and over.
Why?
Because when a karate person gets attacked in the street they want to be able to hit the attacker with their best shot – the technique they’ve mastered. This is not the time to try some fancy new technique that hasn’t been learned and perfected.
The same goes for the golfer. When the pressure is on you want to useyour golf swing. You can’t be searching for some new swing. Better you bring the one you have used thousands of times and the one you know works.
(you’ll need to watch the video to get the full story)
Let me set the scene.
Evan, the golf geek, has just hit a great drive on the toughest hole. He has about 170 metres to the centre of the green, back pin, deep bunker to carry and into the wind. He wants to hit the wood. I advise him against this and give a different option.
The result surprises Evan. Great golf is about hitting the shots you know you can hit. Watch the golf video to get the full story.
Choosing the correct club makes golf easier. Your system is placed under less stress and you’ll instantly have more confidence. Do this for the duration of your round and the score will start to go in your favour. If you have the discipline to do this each time you play then you will shoot better scores.
For more golf videos and real case studies on specific golf problems, please check out Remarkable Golf
Swinging with confidence
Your golf swing was consistent?
You knew the next shot was going to find its target?
You had confidence surging through your body?
You felt invincible and poor shots were NOT a possibility?
The fairway seemed massive and the rough small?
The only other question I have is this;
Why aren’t you swinging like this now?
