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A golf lesson that needs to be experienced to be appreciated

5 comments
Topics: Short Game

by Cameron

“Drive for show and putt for dough”

I‘m sure you’ve heard this one before. Let me tell you that I think this is perhaps the worst advice in golf. Firstly, driving the ball is important – try shooting a good score if your tee shots keep finishing in the trees. Secondly, putting is not that difficult and you shouldn’t need to speed that much time on it.

Let me explain myself.

Over the last 12 months or so I’ve been noticing a common theme with my clients in respect to their golf game. For the most part they have a good golf swing, they can hit the ball forwards and they enjoy some sort of consistency.

I should add here that most of my clients don’t believe their swings are that good. They seem to remember the bad stuff and have trouble accepting the odd poor shot or two. This is my opinion that their swings are good, not theirs.

Onward.

After some full swing training I almost always do some putting exercises. Again, I’m usually pleasantly surprised at the results. Their strokes are solid and they’re able to follow my advice and execute the challenges that I throw at them successfully. There’s potentially room for improvement but it’s rare to see mental (or technical) flaws that need urgent attention. My main point here? They are good putters.

The glaring golf problem that seems universal

Then the fun starts with the lesson. We move onto chipping.

I don’t know why it is but chipping proficiency is always way below that of their full swing and putting skills. And I don’t mean just a little bit – it’s usually a long way below.

I’ve had 15 handicappers come in complaining about their golf swing. This is funny because they don’t miss a shot for the first 30 minutes and perform exceptionally well. Ask them to chip a ball a few metres and they go to water. They miss the ball, hit 20 centimeters behind it or top the ball severely. I’ve had people miss the net which is only a few metres in front of them. If it wasn’t so serious it would be funny.

The end result is this poor chipping skill can’t allow you to play your best. What’s the answer?

I believe that the first step is NOT to start practicing. No! You need to actually experience this chipping problem to fully appreciate it. Reading about it or thinking about it is not enough – you need to fully experience it with your own body and feelings. Here’s how…

The one golf drill that every golfer must do!

Last weekend I wanted to test this universal chipping problem by using a novice golfer as my test subject. This Guinea pig wasn’t a complete beginner, had good hand and eye coordination and was skilled at other sports. He was the perfect subject.

We started on the practice fairway and hit a small bucket of balls. The results were OK – he didn’t set the world on fire but after twenty minutes was able to hit a series of good shots and was enjoying the experience. He definitely had enough swing skill to get his way around a golf course with some success.

Then to the putting green.

This was potentially an embarrassing moment for me. My test subject was leading our nine hole challenge match after the first four holes and was letting me know all about it. I chose some tricky closing putts and managed to win one up. The moral? A novice golfer can be competitive on the putting green with a scratch golfer. And don’t think my putting is awful – it’s probably the most consistent part of my game.

Thinking he was ready for the US Tour, my test subject was ready for the final test.

Chipping.

This was really funny. After nearly beating me on the putting green his confidence was quickly shattered when he duffed (read: didn’t get the ball onto the green) his first shot. His second shot was a classic overcompensation and it was bladed across the green and into thick ti-tree. To be honest he really struggled with the chipping – even his good shots ran way past the hole and rarely were in comfortable one-putt range.

For a laugh we tried some difficult shots. These included bunker shots, lob shots and pitches from tight lies. The results were more dramatic. While I was able to find a way to get the ball onto the green, and sometimes close, my mate couldn’t. If we were on the golf course or keeping score he would have many more shots than me. Over 18 holes of golf this could be a huge number.

The solution?

This chipping (short game) problem needs urgent action. I’ve been motivated enough to focus my attention on producing a short game manual. There is a definite lack of quality material available on the golf market in this area. Most golf instruction focuses on the full swing and this is a shame. If you want to shoot lower scores you must improve your chipping and other areas of your short game.

The first step is to actually experience how poor chipping affects your score. Find a good short game exponent and have a contest on the chipping green. Hopefully this will motivate you enough to start practising.

Better still, use your free time to work on your short game. Forget about your full swing and your putting, at least for a while, and see if your score improves. I know that the long game is more fun and sinking putts is probably a boost for your confidence, but if you really want to play better golf devote some time to your chipping. If you get really keen you could take this further by working on your bunker play and pitching.

I’m planning a short game book and hopefully it will be something of real quality. I’m planning on having it finished by the end of the year. If you have any suggestions about what you’d like to learn or be added to the manual, drop me a line in the comments section below.

Why playing more golf might not help your score

2 comments
Topics: Golf Instruction

by Cameron

How good could you become if you had all of the time in the world to play and practice? Think about it?

Imagine if you didn’t have to work and could devote yourself full-time to lowering your handicap. Wouldn’t this be every golfer’s dream? To play and practice on world class facilities with regular lessons from a local swing Guru. You would have no option but to get better.

Right?

You’d think so.

Now imagine a talented young golfer with the above option. A dedicated young man with unwavering commitment. How long would it take for him to become a household name? A year or two? You would think (and hope) that he would be on the PGA Tour within a short time.

Unfortunately, there is no guarantee.

Read More

Those little shots…

2 comments
Topics: Articles,Golf Instruction,Short Game

by Cameron

I’ve been receiving quite a bit of email about golfers struggling with their short game. I think it’s time to cover some of the basics. Before I do that, there is one key issue holding most golfers back…

They don’t practice!

If you are continually let down by poor chipping, bladed pitch shots and duffed bunker shots, then you need to spend some time (maybe ten minutes per week) practicing these shots. There are no miracle cures. If you aren’t prepared to practice then I don’t think you can be helped. I will cover some aspects of practice below.

Now that’s out of the way let’s get into the good stuff :)

To master the short game (to your own unique level) doesn’t require any special skills or talent. I have found most golfers who have been playing for any length of time have good skills around the green. They can chip and pitch the ball well – but struggle to be consistent on the golf course.

The short shots can seem easy (at least easier than the long game) and this is a problem. Golfers like to be careful and try hard with the short game – thinking that the easier the shot the more they can think about it. This is not good. You must let the short game flow and be natural. Trying hard fails. Being careful and safe is worse.

How would you throw a ball to someone? Would you think about how hard to throw or do you look and shoot? Most people can throw a ball well by looking and then throwing. There is no complication or over thinking. A complete emptiness of approach allows throwing to be a simple and easy task. If you want to be successful with your short game then you need to follow the same approach. There is no other way!

Thinking less can be uncomfortable, so you may need to put it into practice before taking it to the golf course. Here’s a little practice session that should work well for you.

Take a handful of balls to the local park or pitching green. I don’t like driving ranges with synthetic grass – best you find an area with real grass. It makes the experience more real.

Start with small chip shots. Get comfortable (most important) and feel like you’re moving the club gently through the ball. You don’t need much power at this stage. You’re only after a short shot. Your mind should be free of technical thought. Leave concepts like, wrist cock, weight shift, back swing length and follow through at home. Keep moving the club through the ball and see what happens.

After a few shots you can apply more power. Creep up on it…don’t go for full shots too early. Gradually pick up speed, just like you would if you had to throw a ball to someone who keeps moving further from you. Once the shot feels good you can apply more power. You should be able to feel more wrist cock and a bigger back swing – but don’t analyse. Keep the club moving through the ball and observing the distance each shot travels.

If your mind is clear and free of technical thought this should be easy for you. If you want to hit the chip or pitch further you apply a little more power and vice versa. There’s nothing too complicated. You’re simply chipping or pitching (throwing?) the ball different distances.

You can then step this up a little by experimenting with different ball and club face positions. What happens when you move the ball back in your stance and close the club face? You should get a low running shot. What about doing the opposite by moving the ball forward and opening the club face? You should now get a high and soft landing ball flight.

Keep experimenting and learning what you can and can’t do. It will also help to watch those better than yourself. See how they hit a high soft landing bunker shot. In your own time you can learn the same shot. The key is to keep the task simple. Try and relate your short game to throwing a ball. Keep away from technical thought and analysis. It will only slow you down.

The big trick is to take this natural and instinctive approach to the golf course. Let the short game flow. Look at the shot and pull the trigger. Your subconscious will work out all the minor details like direction and distance – like it does when you throw a ball. If you get stuck play conservatively. If you haven’t tried a super lob in practice then don’t try it on the golf course. Best you aim for the middle of the green with a shot you know you can play.

The short game should be fun – there are also no limits. You have fourteen clubs in the bag and you may use all of them for those little shots around the green. Tiger Woods is a master at using his three wood for chip and runs. Is this something you have tried? Or what about using your 9 iron to get out of a bunker?

A good short game will improve your score. If you keep the process simple and strive for automation you will get better. I guarantee it – but only if you practice!

Let me know how you get on.

Good golfing,

Cameron

Dealing with pressure

0 Comments
Topics: Articles,Golf Instruction

by Cameron

With the Masters over for another year I thought it would be a good time to talk about playing golf under pressure. It doesn’t matter how good a golfer you are, you will experience pressure on certain shots, and if you don’t know how to cope with the pressure and nerves you’ll NEVER be able to play your best golf.

Experience tells me that most golfers play worse under pressure not better. This is unfortunate because if you can get a handle on the butterflies and nerves you should be able to play the best golf of you life. This allows golf to become truly enjoyable and exciting. Something worth striving for…

Strategy #1: Relax your face

I learned this from a scientist during some scientific testing I was involved with. The scientist told me that if your face is relaxed your entire body and mind will be too. If you are relaxed you will maximise the chances of playing good golf. Getting tense and tight is a sure swing and score destroyer.

The best way to relax your face is to first tighten the facial muscles and then let them go. You should feel a rush of blood and then a wave of relaxation enter the facial muscles. It doesn’t have to take much time and you can do this anytime you start to feel a build up of pressure.

Strategy #2: Focus on what you want to do:

It’s very normal to start thinking about what you don’t want under pressure. We can start thinking about water, mis-hits and other potential disasters when we get nervous. You have to force yourself to think about what you actually want – not what you don’t want.

I like to ask myself a simple question to get my mind back on track. “What do I want to do?” or “where do I want to hit the ball?” work well. I then have to think logically without worrying about anything else that won’t help me.

For example, I might want to hit the ball 125 metres or get the ball onto the front right of the green. This is a positive action – much better than thinking “don’t go long” or “keep the ball out of the bunker”.

When you’re under pressure think about what you want to do. Don’t waste time and energy thinking about the negative. The more you do this the better you will become at making the right choice under pressure.

Strategy #3: Stay in the present

When you’re in the present your mind and body will perform at its best. Sports psychologists have identified the importance of staying in the present. Here’s how to do it….

Before an important shot take a moment before walking to the ball to hear/feel/see your environment. You might listen to the birds, look at cloud formations or feel the wind on your back. It doesn’t matter what you choose, any of the three will get your mind where it needs to be.

Strategy #4: Play automatically

The above three strategies will help you deal with playing golf under pressure. Learning to play and swing automatically is the final piece in the puzzle. When you are playing golf automatically you are not concerned with your swing or technique. You are playing golf and allowing your subconscious to do what it does best.

This is golf’s most important skill and is the difference between being a good golfer and becoming remarkable.

If you’d like to learn more about these ideas and playing golf under pressure then check out my book, Play Golf Your Way.

Good golfing,

Cameron

Having more fun and stepping out of your comfort zone

2 comments
Topics: Articles,Golf Instruction

by Cameron

If you’d like to experience something different with your golf game you might like to try some of the following;

  • Hit a five iron like it’s your wedge ( high and soft landing shot that only flies about 110 metres or so)
  • Hit the ball the maximum distance with each club. Can you hit you 9 iron as far as your 5 iron?
  • Hit the ball low with each club. Can you hit the ball a few metres above the ground without thinning the shot?
  • Take a full swing and attempt to hit the ball only a few metres. This one is difficult but possible
  • Hit a huge hook shot with each club
  • Hit a massive slice with each club (some golfers don’t have much trouble with this one :) )
  • Hit shots with your opposite hand (play left handed if you’re right handed)
  • Play a round of golf with one club only (a 6 iron?)

Learning to do this can only help your golf game. You’ll learn better club control and develop better shot making skills. This process should be a fun one and will allow you to break any bad habits and any limiting beliefs that you may have. Not a bad thing.

Good golfing,

Cameron

Automatic is not a quick fix

0 Comments
Topics: Golf Instruction

by Cameron

I hate quick fix lessons and promises of miracle cures. I don’t believe they exist or offer any long term results.

I received an email from someone who downloaded my putting book on Thursday and tried it out on Friday. He didn’t do so well and has decided to revert back to his old ways. No problem. But why would he be looking for something new if he wasn’t prepared to give it a go?

Never mind…automatic learning is not for everyone.

Automatic learning is a commitment. You need to decide (it takes discipline) to keep doing the same things over and over. You may not play your best golf each round but you’ll maximise your chances. Not a bad deal.

I’ve just finished playing today and had 33 putts. Not my best effort by a long shot. But there is no way in the world I’m about to make a change after one poor round. I’m sure tomorrow will be better.

Good golfing,

Cameron

3 things to play better golf right away

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Topics: Articles,Golf Instruction,Uncategorized

by Cameron

Dear golfer,

Here’s the top three things you can do to start playing better golf straight away.

  1. Stop fixing your golf swing: That’s right! Leave it alone and learn to play with what you’ve got. Continually fixing your golf swing leads to golfing misery. You will never find your real potential if you keep searching, tweaking and altering your golf swing. If you’ve been playing golf for more than a few years chances are you have a great golf swing inside you – it’s time to let it out!Here’s how to do it….With your favourite club in hand and a few balls, find a quiet place to practice. Hit the ball without thought of what to do. Just hit it. The goal is to let your subconscious take over and minimise the noise of your conscious mind. Keep the conscious quiet and you’ll unlock something special.
  2. Remove the straight jacket: If you want to experience something remarkable with your golf game then you need to do something different. On your next game strive to play with YOUR own swing. If you’re not thinking about your golf swing then this becomes easier. Removing the straight jacket is playing golf the way YOU really want to – not trying to conform to other’s rules and regulations.This step can be a difficult one. The extra pressure of the golf course, score card and playing partners can be enough to try and play safe and return to your boring golf game. Resist the urge, have fun and play your way.
  3. Repeat this for three rounds: This path is no quick fix. Sometimes miracles happen, but they are not likely. Plan to play this way for three rounds. This is the time it takes for you to become comfortable and to allow something remarkable to happen. When you experience the magic, and it will happen, you may transform you golf game forever.

Give it a go and let me know how you get on. I would love to hear from you.

Good golfing,

Cameron

Sublime St. Andrews

0 Comments
Topics: Articles,Golf Instruction

by Cameron

“Freezing, challenging and just totally sensational. I just didn’t want it to end”

Mark, from the Old Course, St. Andrews Scotland

G’day golfer,

This is my 100th blog post and I want to tell you about a success story.

Mark came to me in December frustrated with game. He had been playing for about five years and was not happy with his handicap or his level of play. He had tried everything to improve but nothing seemed to work.

Compounding Mark’s frustration was an upcoming game at St. Andrews in Scotland. They have a handicap limit of 22. Mark’s handicap varied between 26 and 27, so he needed some work if he was going to be able to play at the Old Course.

When I first saw Mark swing the club I was certain he needed NO major technical overhaul. His swing was sound – he needed to free up and stop playing safe.

Since late December Mark has had three lessons. Two in person and one via email. In that time he has scored 38 for nine holes, won a monthly medal and reduced his handicap below 22 (I think he is now at 21). He went off track for a little bit, which is quite normal, but has rediscovered his mojo.

I received an email from Mark yesterday. He had his round at St. Andrews and he had a great day. His email appears below.

Cameron,

I played St Andrews yesterday. Scored 35 stableford points with four wipes so I was really very happy with my game. I even had a birdie which is a pretty rare animal for me.

The course and the experience was totally sublime. It was everything that I had built it up to be and more. We had blue sky, we had wind, we had snow then more blue sky. At times when the wind was up at around 30 knots the temperature was down at around 5 below zero. Freezing, challenging and just totally sensational. I just didn’t want it to end.

Regards,

Mark

I was thrilled to receive his email. Firstly, it was sensational that he was able to play at St. Andrews. If he hadn’t lowered his handicap then that day never would have happened. The second is that he was able to play well on a tough day. The extra pressure of a Championship golf course mixed with poor weather would send many golfers over the edge.

Mark has found the magic of playing golf HIS way. He can follow the automatic process and is rewarded with a consistent and enjoyable golf game. He has opened up the possibility for remarkable golf – something that mainstream instruction makes difficult. Now he has a taste for it I’m sure he will progress further. His next game is at Royal County Down in Northern Ireland. Let’s wish him luck.

Good golfing,

Cameron

I made the mistake

March 23, 2008

Dear golfer, I had to apologise to a client during the week. It was my fault not his. After a lesson my client went away excited about playing golf more instinctively and automatically. Unfortunately he hadn’t quite grasped the concepts fully and didn’t make any progress. That’s my fault not his. We rectified the situation ... Read More

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