It’s good to be back after a short spell. I’ve used the break to spend some time thinking about my game and what I’d like to achieve. The upshot of my thinking is that I’ve been working too many hours and not doing enough I’ve what I really enjoy doing.

And that is to get out and play golf. Hopefully I can live up to my conviction and play a little bit more and turn my computer off when it really doesn’t need to be on. Time will tell.

The last two weeks I’ve been playing a bit with the young guns around my club. They remind me a lot about how I used to be. Looking for the perfect shot, practising heaps and generally expecting to play well all of the time.

They’re also looking for the fancy tip or swing secret to find their best game. In fact, they’re always searching, not content to put up with what they’ve got and truly enjoy their game.

This got me thinking about my own game. If I’m truly honest my swing skills haven’t changed that much over the journey. The shots I can play today are exactly the same as I could play 10 years ago. There’s absolutely nothing I can do today that I couldn’t do last century.

The big difference today is I can more often than not hit the right shot at the right time. I have minimised the chances of stuffing up. I can play under pressure and don’t get distracted by all the noise.

Here’s the thing.

Great golf requires you to find your shot and keep doing it time after time. It’s almost boring because you’re no longer looking for the secret or magical swing tip. You turn up and play the shot (or shots) you know you can hit.

The young guns were almost surprised at how I play. They were expecting me to have some fancy way of approaching the game and seemed disappointed when I told them otherwise. Fancy fails. Learn to master your way first and then, and only then, should you look elsewhere.

After years of searching for “my way” I’ve still got lots to learn and I’m not about to change anytime soon.

My main point is this. If you’ve been playing for more than a few years the chances are it’s unlikely you’re going to suddenly start hitting the ball better than you do now. You’ve reached your potential, there’s no more magic to be found. Your real success is in learning how to find your real game and then bringing that game to the course. There’s nothing much else you can do.

Enjoy what you’ve got because it really isn’t that bad.

Dear Timbo,

I watched you play today. You may not have noticed but I was watching every move you made. I saw some things I liked and there were some things I didn’t like too much. I don’t want you to think I’m bashing you because I’m not.

You have all the skill and talent to be a great player. But you’re making some common mistakes that are holding you back and unless you become aware of them you’ll always struggle with your game.

At this point you’re in that nasty place where lots of players are – you have a nice swing, you can hit some good shots and you have potential oozing from your pores.

But you’re not really playing golf.

And you can’t play the golf of your dreams because you’re falling for the trap of trying to be “perfect” at all parts of your game.

Let me explain.

Western life drums into us that we need to practice hard and become good at everything. The thought of a well-rounded game makes most golfers get excited.

• Strong mental game
• Good lag putter
• Fantastic bunker player
• Crisp iron player
• Long and straight driver

You get the idea.

But I think trying to be all these things is not a good thing. Because you’re always thinking (and being distracted) on how to improve each area of your game.

“How do I hit a draw with my driver?”, “If I could only hit a lob shot like James”, “Why do I struggle with bunker shots?”

These thoughts take you away from the joy of playing golf. In fact, continual thoughts of improvement will consistently hold you back.

So what’s the solution?

You’ve got to break through the self-doubt and have the guts to play your way.

You need to find your mojo. Discover a way of playing that suits you perfectly. You must master your way first – then and only then should you start looking at doing something a little differently.

Stand up on the tee, get comfortable and make the best swing you can. You’re completely comfortable in the fact that your fade (or draw, hook or slice) is your shot and that’s the way it’s gunna be.

You aim your iron shot at the front of the green because the big bunker at the back right is protecting the pin. And you know deep down that your bunker play is no good so there’s no point in trying to hit a shot that gets close to the pin. There’s no point in risking exposing your weakness.

You feel good on the green so you hit your putts with confidence. You knock the shorts putts into the back of the cup and you’re not scared to give the long putts a go.

It doesn’t matter what your situation, you keep coming back to the shots that feel good to you. Nothing changes the way you approach the game. You keep doing the same things over and over. Boring? A little. Effective? Absolutely!

You can’t play remarkable golf unless you first master your own game. As much as it would be great to be an expert at all levels, it’s not realistic. Even the great players continually go on about how they have to keep working at their game and fixing their faults. Their continual effort doesn’t not seem to be helping – they’re never happy and always searching.

But the true masters? They’re unbeatable because they know what works for them and they wouldn’t change for anyone. They have the courage to play their shot each time they play, despite Pesky and tradition yelling at them to do something differently.

Timbo, find the shots you like and you know you can perform successfully. Then go to these shots each time you play. At all costs avoid hitting the shots you know deep down are not you.

The more simply you approach playing golf the better you’ll do.

Problems arise when you make a mistake and Pesky wants to assert his power. The normal thing (what you’re probably doing now) is to think and try and work out what you’re doing wrong. This is complicated. It takes effort and almost always leads to you jumping from thing to thing. It fails.

Automatic golf makes a complicated task as easy as it’s going to be. Each step is simple and easy to follow and maximises the chances of you achieving success.

And don’t confuse simple with ineffective. The automatic process works because it takes something detailed and gives you a method of executing successfully. Also, simple in this case is definitely not a quick fix or some kind of magic.

Here are the main steps:

Einsteining allows you to think, panic and worry without affecting the outcome – this is ideal for those technocrats that struggle to “stop thinking” and like to analyse every detail of each shot.

The walk to the ball ensures your remain in the zone and avoid distractions – this part of the swing I consider to be of most importance. Get the walk to the ball correct and you’re almost certain to avoid distractions (both internal and external) and make a good shot.

The Automatic Cue distracts you for the duration of the swing so self-doubt and fear have no way of interfering – this becomes your security blanket and “go to” guy on every shot you play.

None of these are hard to do. But because of their simplicity they’re easy to overlook and ignore. Golfers far and wide want to over think the game of golf and add unnecessary steps to the process. It’s these extra steps (and processes) that kill the simplicity of automatic golf.

My final point: If you’re ever in doubt take a simpler approach. Think less about what you’re doing. Take a deep breath, listen to your gut and walk up to the ball and hit it. I can almost guarantee you that all of the other garbage that you’ve been carrying around has been holding you back. Simple wins almost every time.

Dear Timbo,

If you want to be the best player you can be then you’ve got to play. There’s no point in hiding on the practice fairway or playing the same course over and over.

So get out there and play. Play as many different courses and events that you can. This will take you out of your comfort zone for a little while and increase anxiety levels – but there is a way to combat that.

Here’s how a Pioneer prepares for a round of golf:

In an ideal world you’ll treat every round as the same. This works in theory but it’s much harder in reality. Important rounds will always increase our desire to do well. This is a good thing because if you know how to control the nerves you can play even better.

The first step is to relax and avoid panicking. Lots of golfers (including me before I worked it out) will change their routine completely before the big game. They’ll practice more, they’ll get to the course too early and worry and stress about certain holes and upcoming shots. The short answer is don’t.

Stick to what you normally do and you’ll be in good shape.

Practice rounds: If you get the chance to see a new course then you’ve obviously got to take it. But don’t fall for the trap of trying to shoot record scores or even worrying about your score during practice. These rounds have one purpose. And that is to learn the course. Study the course, learn the bounces and how the ball rolls. Never get suckered into playing matches during practice rounds – they are for learning the course.

Another fantastic tip is to walk the course backwards. Start on the 18th green and make your way through the course back to the first tee. This gives you the best view of the course. You can learn about the best landing zones and see all potential trouble. I often think this exercise is better than playing the course.

Game plan: Your practice rounds will give you an idea how to play the course. I’d like you to stick to the shots you like best. Sometimes this means that you’ll hit irons when others are smashing the driver – don’t let this worry you – your plan is for YOU only.

Your game plan needs to be flexible. But don’t fall for the mistake of getting too aggressive. In most cases a flexible plan will mean you gear back. Taking less club and aiming away from the trouble will mean you’ll swing with more confidence.

Most of all you have to listen to your gut. The game plan is not set in stone – you’ve got to trust your instincts and learn to live with that.

Pre round: This is the time to warm up. You are not making swing changes or trying to find your swing. If you don’t panic your natural swing will present itself. It can be a good idea to avoid the practice fairway altogether – there’s too much distraction there. All the others tweaking, searching and disrupting you is not a good thing.

If the golf course has a practice net use that. Start slowly and gradually get your body moving. Remember, you are hitting balls to warm up. There is no need to tweak and alter your swing. An automatic golfer doesn’t judge and rate his practice performance – he is simply getting ready to play.

The same goes for the short game. Unless you think the greens have changed dramatically there’s probably not much need to speed time on the putting and chipping green. Automatic golfers don’t lose their skill – it’s there waiting for you. So use the short game areas if you feel the need – but don’t waste time and energy attempting every conceivable shot.

Opening tee shot: This is important Timbo. My advice here is to take the longest club you feel confident hitting. Then you’ve got to do your best to let go, relax and let the shot happen. If you can get good at this you’ll maximise your chances of hitting a great one.

Too often I see golfers get scared. They swing carefully and simply attempt to guide the ball. Don’t be shy. Learn to hit the ball with authority and without fear.

Here’s another point: Your opening tee shot is the best one to stuff up because you have the rest of the round to recover. So let rip – you don’t have anything to lose.

Random thoughts: Here’s a few more things that popped into my head.

• Think about playing the course not about your swing.
• You’ve got to like the golf course. Some holes won’t suit you but plenty will, so don’t let the course distract you.
• You don’t need motivation or to be pumped. Keep your mind calm and focus on what you want to achieve and you’ll be better off than most.
• Play your shot not the one the course designer wants you to play. This is something that took me a long time to figure out. You’ve gotta play your game.
• Short game is still important.
• You’ll beat most by staying in the moment, playing your shot and not worrying about the course or your swing.
• Let go and relax. Don’t think about golf golf golf all of the time. Give yourself time to enjoy other stuff. It’s a big bad world out there and it’s good to see it. You don’t lose your skill or your game.
• Have fun – this is a cliche’ but learn to enjoy playing. This is your chance to shine and experience the magic of playing golf.

That’s it for today Timbo. Next lesson we’ll talk about some on course strategies.

Timbo Letter #1

Timbo Letter #2

For some time now I’ve said that “the walk to the golf ball” is the most important part of the swing.

There’s good reason for this. If you can’t walk properly, then you’ll never be able to make good use of your skills. You’ll never be able to automate your golf swing and you’ll find consistent, reliable and predictable results impossible.

A key part of the approach to the ball is where your eyes look. It’s such a small part of the routine that it doesn’t get a run in any other golf instruction. But it’s important. Actually, where your eyes focus is a key fundamental of the routine.

Here’s why.

You don’t want to be visualising when you’re walking to the ball. Visualising is taking your mind into the future. Going into the future is no better than thinking about the past. If you don’t get this you’ll always struggle with your game. Automatic golf is all about getting your system in the present. You want to be in the moment – your thoughts in the “now”.

And one of the easiest ways to do this is to focus your eyes on the ball. When you’re walking to the ball your gaze is set on the ball or somewhere around it. You’re not looking at the target and therefore you’re not tempted to get ahead of yourself and start thinking about the future.

This little strategy allows you to get into your own cocoon or bubble. It’s like you’re shutting out the rest of the world when you’re ready to get down to business – hitting the ball/playing golf.

I have put some videos that talk about the walk to the ball and getting set in more detail. There’s even a case study or two. Best you check them out because they are really important:

http://www.cameronstrachan.com/members-only/are-you-making-this-mistake-with-your-set-up/

http://www.cameronstrachan.com/members-only/a-case-study-for-automatic-golfers/

http://www.cameronstrachan.com/members-only/a-very-important-automatic-golf-lesson/

Let me know your thoughts.

Dear Timbo,

I see that you’ve been helping others around the place. This is important and something that I encourage. It’s not something that is widely known but if you really want to learn something to the master level then the best way is to teach and help others.

It might seem a bit airy fairy but I encourage you to keep going with it. By explaining, teaching and thinking of others forces your brain to go deep. You’ve got to think outside the square, you’ve got to experiment and most importantly you get to make mistakes.

All this helps you learn and improve further. Making mistakes might seem like the wrong thing to do – but it actually fast tracks your progress. There’s nothing like working out what doesn’t work and then finding an alternative. The modern world is full of people that are stuck – too scared to move in any direction, fearful they might do something wrong.

So make mistakes and move on quickly. You’ll leapfrog all those statues who think mistakes are bad.

Automatic golf might be the single best discovery I’ve made with my golf game. But learning to share it with others has allowed me to apply it to my game and actually experience the magic of remarkable golf. It’s my little golfing secret that far too few people will ever experience.

If you ever feel you’re stuck and not moving forward, spend a few minutes with someone else. Help them with their chipping, talk to them about automatic golf, demonstrate your routine or write down your thoughts and share it with a golfing buddy. It will unlock the shackles and have you back on track.

Keep up the good work. There’s more to come.

Cameron

This is the second letter in the Timbo series. To gain access to them all you will need to become a member of The Golf Tribe

Timbo Letter #1

Stuffing up the last few holes seems to be a common problem. Just this week I received an email from Julie who managed to lose the last four holes in her match to finish square. This type of thing can be incredibly frustrating and unless you have a strategy, it can keep happening time and again.

In this lesson I’ll give you my ideas for combating choking. In fact, the golf lessons below will make you bullet-proof and enable you to finish off every golf game in style. Before I get going check out Julie’s email below:

Can you help me with a specific problem I have just developed? My last 9 rounds are in my “top ten” cards all within one or so of my handicap. This is not a good thing cos the more it has gone on, the more I have noticed how I tend to tighten up on the last couple of holes (trying to protect a good score). I was willing to try and work through this but today I played the first pennant match of the season. I was dormie 4 up and ended with a squared match. Good grief… Cam, I know the theory.. play automatically every hole..shut the door on the opposition.. play not to to protect a good position but go all out to see how low you can score etc….

Any thoughts on a method I can work on to overcome this reluctance to get out of the comfort zone and play freely?

Here’s my best thoughts on how to stop choking on the golf course:

Understand the difference between choking and panic

This one is important. Many get the two confused and if you don’t understand it you’ll repeatedly stuff up when the pressure is on. Here’s the Cameron version.

Choking is when you think too much and panicking is when you don’t think enough. This might sound confusing but it’s really simple. The process for learning and then implementing it is outlined in full here. (it’s premium content and requires full membership).

Next is a brief rundown.

Know when to think and when not to

Sometimes you need to think – water, wind, trouble, and what club to hit. The thinking is done before the act of hitting the ball. Automatic golf is not about NOT thinking all of the time. It’s about learning to know HOW to use your brain and subconscious mind together to give you the results you want.

When you’ve done all of the thinking this is the time to “turn off” and play golf. If you’d like more detail then check this out, otherwise get out there and play.

Relax

Stop your wheels spinning is a term I use to calm the mind. When the pressure is on it’s normal for your little brain motor to go into over drive. Boy is this hard work and tiring. Learn to relax, slow down and I promise you’ll play better and find extra energy and enthusiasm.

This little step goes against the norm. Society wants us to think, analyse and try and work out every detail. It’s normal but it’s not going to help you swing a long stick and hit a tiny ball sitting on the ground when your heart is racing and you’re having trouble breathing.

Give yourself a break. Take it easy and you’ll do just fine.

Deal with reality

Don’t make up stories. These are lies that you tell yourself to justify poor (or good) golf. Your mum told you that lies are a bad thing and they are. On the golf course these little lies keep you from the moment and hide exactly what is in front of you.

Want an example?

You miss a small putt on the 1st and second green. Walking to the third tee you’re telling yourself that you can’t putt and that you’re the worst putter in the world. This is a story. The truth (reality) is that you’ve missed two tricky putts and everyone misses these from time to time.

Did anyone see Phil Mickelson in the third round of the Masters?

Repeat

This might be the most important. I’m pretty sure that winners in all walks off life don’t let any situation change them. They keep doing the same thing over and over again. The less experienced let a big decision affect them. A nervous golfer will change their approach at the worst possible time.

Don’t!

Keep playing the same way. Trust that you’ve got to play the same way that put you in the pressure situation. Changing over the last few holes because you feel a little uncomfortable or nervous is going to destroy your round.

This is a Pesky thing. Keep him at bay and you’ll reap the rewards of all your hard work and earlier stellar play.

The adult mind likes to take control and feel a part of your success. It’ll start writing the victory speech and prepare you for how you’ll feel at the finish line. Unfortunately this needs to be ignored – despite this feeling comfortable and the right thing to do.

Stuffing up when you least want it comes from not understanding your system. In most cases you’ll destruct when you stop hitting the shots you know you can hit successfully. You overload your system with too much and forget about the best part of the game.

Playing

As always let me know your thoughts and feel free to share this post with anyone who you think would like it.

For a comprehensive approach to mastering your game and avoiding the nasty habit of choking, check out the premium content in The Golf Tribe

Looking for a golf tip that will help you in your next game?

If you know me you’ll know I’m not a fan of golf tips. But what I’m about to share with you is a strategy that can be used throughout your round to maximise your chances of playing your best golf. So it’s more than a golf tip – it really should become part of your golf routine.

So what’s the tip?

It’s to soften your mind.

All to often we let the pressure of the course, our score, playing partners or the situation get the better of us.

We over think and attempt to take in too much information. This might seem like the right thing to do but it rarely is.

Over thinking is a form of choking. Motor skills are performed best when we get out of our own way. They don’t require conscious input. So no matter how much you feel the need to think and analyse you need to let go – or soften your mind.

“Stop your wheels spinning” is a term I like to use. Relax, focus on what you want to do and hit the ball. It’s simple but there’s nothing else you can really do.

If you have trouble softening your mind you can listen to the birds, feel the wind in your face or smell the roses. This will do the trick.

Addition: I should have added that this approach of softening your mind will help in all areas of day to day living. Driving in peak hour traffic, dealing with a difficult person and even problem solving.

Download audio file (3waystounlockyourpotential.mp3)
Click to listen to audio version

Golf can be a shit of a sport.

We can get bogged down with how poorly we are playing. We get worried about what we’re doing wrong. There’s also panic about what others are thinking and the feeling of embarrassment can hit hard.

This is not a good time and golf can feel like the worst sport in the world. Working seems like a better option when you’re game is down in the dumps. Never a good thing.

I received an email today from a Golf Tribe Member who is thinking about switching sides. He has become frustrated enough with his golf that he is considering upsetting his natural game in the hope of finding something better.

I know how he feels. I’ve been there. About 10 years ago I contemplated switching to playing right handed. I became so frustrated with my coach that I seriously started hitting balls from the other side of the ball. But luckily commonsense prevailed and not long after I found a true path to golfing happiness.

Here’s the process I used to get my confidence back and find a game I’m now NOT going to change in a hurry.

Sack my golf coach. I really did become fed up with all the changes and inflexibility. He was trying to get me to do things that I simply couldn’t do. I spent hours trying to conform but I wasn’t able to. Each lesson was a drain and boring. It became a stalemate. I couldn’t do what he wanted and he didn’t (or couldn’t) change his teaching model.

When I stopped bogging myself down with inflexible rules I was able to reignite my natural game. It didn’t happen straight away but slowly and surely it came back. What a relief this was!

Controversial Sidebar: When I told my coach that I had had enough from his coaching ideas, that I hadn’t improved and I was struggling to do what he wanted he made a startling admission. He told me that what he was teaching me was unlikely to have a major impact on my game. That at the very most I would improve only a fraction of a stroke a round. What a waste of 18 months!

Played for fun. This was an important step. For the first time in a long time I realised that trying so hard and attempting to be perfect was not the right thing to do. This was a time when I let go and played golf like I was a young kid.

I stopped playing competition rounds and I left the practice fairway alone. The golf course became my friend. I played golf and attempted to hit the shots that most interested me. If I wanted to smash a 3 wood from the tee that is what I did. If I decided to swing super smoothly that was fine too. I removed the straitjacket and unlocked my inner flair and enjoyment.

And the following step was the most important. Because not long after implementing the above two steps something amazing happened.

I started playing better. Golf became easier and much more enjoyable. So what was the third step?

I played all rounds with this care free attitude. It didn’t matter if I was playing a social round or a competition game – I played with freedom and flair. I didn’t allow myself to get bogged down with technique, rules and self-doubt.

This was the first time I realised that to play great golf I needed a carefree attitude. In the past important rounds meant I would tighten up, try too hard and get in my own way. The realisation that remarkable golf was possible by trying less and mimicking less important rounds was a big one. At this point golf became a totally new sport for me.

It became fun. Gave me greater enjoyment and I started learning and growing with each game I played.

This might sound a bit airy fairy. This mindset is a departure from traditional golf instruction but for me it was profound. By learning to get out of my own way and swing the club naturally and instinctively reignited my passion for the game.

The other good news is that the above steps require little skill or talent. The most important ingredient is an open mind and a level of discipline. Mixed with commitment I believe you can transform your game – no matter how much of a rut you think you’re in. Go for it – what have you got to lose?

A golfing mate quizzed me tonight on how I would rebuild my golf game if I had to start from scratch. This is not the first time I’ve been asked this question, and it was a bit of fun thinking about it.

The last five or so golfing years have been great for me. I reckon I’ve learned a thing or two and can help you rebuild your game.

I’m also sure you’d like to know what and how I’d do it all again if for some stupid reason I lost my game overnight. Here’s a list I compiled in a few minutes.

How I would rebuild my golf game

Lighten Up- This one would be high up on the list. Golfers take things too seriously sometimes. Although we think our golf games are life and death, they rarely are that important. I remember when a family friend took me aside and told me to stop being so serious. She told me to relax and stop being so serious. It took a little while but it certainly helped. Not only has it helped my golf game, but it affected all parts of my life.

Ignore Most – I’m not saying ignore everyone. You always need mentors and people to guide you but I recommend you ignore most. Playing partners and swing gurus are best given a wide berth. Learn to trust your skill and game and you’ll be on the right track.

Break Some Rules – I wasted years during my golfing development trying to swing in a way that I thought was correct. This is getting back to “Ignoring Most”. I can honestly say that when I stopped trying to swing in a certain way and just swung, my golf swing found a freedom that unlocked some real magic. Another way of saying this is “be different”.

Play more than I practice – I learned golf in the “Faldo Age”. The myth here was that he spent years on the practice fairway, perfecting and honing his swing. Golf coaches and mentors pushed many to follow the same path. The truth is that although he spent too much time on the fairway he did play at least nine holes each day. And when he played golf that is what he did. He stopped thinking about his swing and played a variety of shots to get the job done. This I believe is what allowed him to become the best in the world and win 6 majors.

Get a good set of clubs – I went through a patch during the mid nineties where I thought my bad golf was due to poor clubs. I changed clubs a lot. My shaft flex was never correct, nor the lie angle. My mind was scattered and I always had an excuse for poor golf. When I realised I was telling stories and the clubs had little impact on my play I was able to get to the bottom of uncovering real golfing success. Get a good set of clubs and stick with them, there’s nothing wrong with them.

Use rock solid fundamentals – The temptation is always to try different things and improve technique. Even today my mind wanders around thinking about ways I can improve my golf swing. This is something that I try and avoid. Been there and done that kind of thing – and never really had much success with it. Instead I rely on “my” fundamentals, these include;

• A comfortable and natural grip and stance
• A free flowing and simple swing – I like to feel like I’m throwing the club
• Play “my” shot – a draw with the irons and a fade with the driver

These simple fundamentals are rock solid. If I ever get tempted to rebuild my golf swing I remind myself about the above three. They will almost always get me back on track.

Avoid Golf Magazines – Read them for the articles and golf results but I would never use them for a source of golf learning. I’m struggling to think of anything that I’ve learned of value in them. Sad but true.

Work the short game – In my early days I spent a lot of time around a chipping green. Without enough money to hit range balls I opted for the vacant short game area. I didn’t know it at the time but this time was well spent. A reliable short game is incredibly important – maybe the easiest way to rebuild your game.

Aim for confidence – Confidence doesn’t just happen. I don’t think you can wish for it and you certainly can’t pay for it. Confidence comes when you can swing the club without fear or self-doubt. Then you realise that all of the control, worry and energy is wasted – that your real game shines through and this is better than anything you thought possible.

This is a big step to take but it makes golf worthwhile. I would never want to waste another second looking for the secret or a miracle cure. Playing golf with confidence is the ultimate. It makes the game fun and gives me the best score possible each time I play. There is no comparison to confidence. Daylight is second. It’s hard to put into words the euphoria felt when you know deep down you have everything you need to play great golf. The searching is over and all you have to do is play.

Help others – This one is warm and fuzzy but I have received tremendous enjoyment by helping others. This is something I would recommend and the hidden benefit in giving is that you continue to learn and develop.

This is by no means a definitive list. I’ll probably add to it in time and I’d like to hear you thoughts. Leave your comments in the comments section below. And feel free to pass it on to any golfer you know that is having trouble with their game.

If you’d like to learn more about rebuilding your golf game then check out The Golf Tribe Membership