Comments on: If I had to rebuild my golf game

By: Cameron

Cameron — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 09:14:54 +0000

@Richard: I had a look at your website. There’s no doubt you’re setting your goals high – some would say very high. My thoughts if you’re interested;

1. Keep setting in between goals. Break 80, win club competition, shoot par for 9 holes etc.

2. Strive to find a free flowing swing. The swing I saw on your website looked tight and stiff.

3. Don’t get bogged down on mechanics. Play more that you practice – the game of golf is more about score than your swing.

4. Have fun and don’t put too much pressure on yourself. Golf becomes much easier when you stop trying so damn hard.

Thanks for posting and feel free to keep everyone updated here.

By: Richard Asher

Richard Asher — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 09:06:03 +0000

It’s a tricky business knowing what to ignore and what not to ignore. I’ve tried ‘just swinging’ all my life, but, not being a natural sportsman, I think it’s clear that I need some guidance if I want to stop shanking it, break 100 and get to play in the Masters. I’ve gone for getting a regular coach, one of the best in my country, and I think it’s the way to go if I’m going to be taking advice from anybody. The tricky part is being selective about who else to listen to – I’m getting lots of well-meaning advice on my blog, but that can create conflict. Such a difficult game…how many other sports require coaching on being coached?

By: Grayden Provis

Grayden Provis — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 23:30:28 +0000

Thanks folks. You always learn something from hearing how others go about their business.
Cameron said: “I’m not convinced your approach isn’t automatic”……its funny because after I posted the question I actually started to wonder that myself….ie maybe I’m actually doing this more automatically than I realize? And you’re probably right……I’m very focussed on the feel of the club going through the sand throughout the shot but on reflection I guess I’m not giving any thought at all to grip, length of backswing, stance etc……Hmmm, good comments. Cheers.

By: Cameron Strachan

Cameron Strachan — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 22:20:19 +0000

@Stuart: Thanks for posting and letting us know about your game. Real enjoyment is hard to measure but it certainly is worthwhile.

I have long since given up on thinking about my handicap. I reckon this is a great mindset to have – your handicap is just a stupid number. Don’t let it get in your way.

Thanks again,

Cameron

By: Cameron Strachan

Cameron Strachan — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 22:13:19 +0000

@Grayden: A while ago I realised that automatic play was the best thing to do. And it didn’t matter what kind of shot I was trying to hit and when I was trying to hit it. Any thought of HOW and conscious control leads to overload and choking.

But….

I’m not convinced your approach isn’t automatic. Having a “feeling” about the shot could work. If you’re feeling the shot but approaching the swing in a free flowing manner this is fine. You only get into trouble when your approach becomes stiff and controlling.

Sometimes you’ve got to do what works – automatic will give you the best results and maybe you’ve found a variation that can get the job done. You’ve just got to be careful that you don’t revert back to conscious control. This is when little Pesky get’s his own way – it makes him feel good but it won’t help your game.

Hope this helps,

Cameron

By: Steady

Steady — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 21:38:02 +0000

Gregor is correct. I actually forgot about presetting. A great tool to calm the nerves and play at your optimum.
Cheers Steady

By: Gregor

Gregor — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 17:24:19 +0000

Grayden,
I have had a similar experience with poor bunker shots. For a while (years) they were one of the best parts of my game. Then all of a sudden I kept hitting the ball before the sand. Bunker shots scared me daft.
Then I tried pre-setting as advised by Cameron. Walk into the bunker and place your feet in the sand where you want to play from. Then walk back out the bunker and take a look at your prints. In my case the ball is nearly always too far forward and my alignment to the right. So all I do is walk back in (using auto now) and place my feet in the correct position and swing. Not been a problem since. In fact I wish I could see my foot prints before every shot to check my ball position. It gives great confidence

By: Steady

Steady — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 16:44:00 +0000

Hi Tribers
in relation to Grayden’s question. I don’t see the sand any differently to any other shot on the course. Whether it be rough, bare lie, good lie or sand, my approach is as I get behind the ball check the lie pick the club I want to use check wind, distance or anything else . Stand 3 to 4 meteres behind balland start routine. In essence some lies absolutely scare golfers because they don’t know how to play that type of shot.Einstiening. That’s my 2 cents.
Cheers Steady

By: Grayden Provis

Grayden Provis — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 13:24:06 +0000

Question / comment: the ONLY part of my game that I’m still not comfortable with going fully auto on is bunker shots. I’ve tried it and had little success unlike all the other shots. Bunker play has been one of the strongest parts of my game for a while now and I do it by very clearly “feeling” the club going through the sand a fraction of second before I start the swing and holding onto that “feeling” all the way through the shot. THis is obviously completely opposite to going auto in which the LAST thing you want to be thinking about is the actual shot you’re making but if I go auto on bunker shots they go all over the place at the moment Not sure why this is because as I say auto is working very well with everything else from driver to putter. Anyway, the approach I’m taking for now is “if it ‘aint broke don’t fix it” – I get up and down a lot from the sand so will continue to play my bunker shots with very deliberate conscious control even though it obviously “breaks the rules”! Would be interested in your thoughts Cameron and also hearing about others’ experience in the sand. Thanks.

By: DANNY

DANNY — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 08:12:19 +0000

I am getting my game up and going again,due to a rise in confidence and thinking less,i still play pennants for my club,i am in my sixtys and keep up with most of my oponents.So the botton line is enjoy and a degree of fitness……Cheers