What’s the most important part of any golf swing?
Grip? Stance? Backswing?
Nope. At least not if you ask me.
I believe the critical aspect of any golf shot you play is the walk to the ball. Sound a bit strange? Let me explain myself.
The walk to the ball is critical because it is the time you need to get your head in the right place and automate your swing. If you’re walking to the ball thinking about your swing, the target or your score then you’re in big trouble. This has to be done behind the ball.
You need to have a clear head space by the time you reach the ball. You mind needs to be in the present – allowing you to feel relaxed and confident.
I’m aware that walking to the ball is not all that sexy – that most golfers would rather work on swing mechanics or hitting the ball a long way. It’s for this reason that it gets ignored by most golf instruction outlets. If you want to ensure your golf swing becomes automatic and more importantly stays automatic for the duration of the stroke, then you need to pay attention to the few steps you take before getting to the ball. Here’s some key points for your consideration;
- Do all your thinking behind the golf ball. This includes picking a target and choosing a club.
- Focus your gaze on the golf ball, not the target when you’re ready to go. This helps keep your mind in the correct place.
- Play quickly. Although it’s not necessary to play quickly, I have found that golfers can benefit from speeding up their play. You can take your time behind the ball, but once you’ve decided on the shot get on with it. The less you fluff about the better you’ll play.
- If you find your mind getting too distracted you should stop and start over.
- By the time you get to the ball your focus and concentration should be pointed. You should feel relaxed and in your own little bubble. This is the perfect mindset to play remarkable golf.
I can’t expect golfers to get too excited about working on this part of their game but it’s well worth the effort. When you can walk up to the ball with a consistent thought pattern and step into the ball automatically the game almost magically becomes easier. Something worth exploring.
I’ll talk to you soon.
Good golfing,
Cameron
So you’ve given automatic playing a go but you’re not getting the results you were looking for. Below I’ve listed the three most common mistakes that will likely be holding you back.
Not giving automatic a fair go. My strong recommendation is to attempt to play automatically and naturally for at least three rounds. My belief is that you’ll experience something “remarkable” in this time. Hopefully this will be enough to convince you that you possess enough talent to play golf your way, rather than relying on golf industry methods and standards.
The big but is that you’ve got to step up to the plate and give it a go. If you’re going to quit after one bad shot or not prepared to stick it out for three rounds you’re unlikely to see “remarkable”. The three round challenge takes discipline, courage and a level of trust. Ultimately it takes a serious commitment so your system can adjust and then revel in the freedom that automation allows.
Expecting miracles. Automatic playing is not a miracle cure. It will maximise your chances of playing your best golf but it cannot give you a game that you don’t already own. For example, if you’ve always played with a big slice and you’ve never hit a draw shot (even in practice) you will not start hitting the ball with a draw. It’s just not going to happen.
If you can hit the ball well on the practice tee but you choke and stuff up under pressure, then automation is your salvation. It will give you a strategy for dealing with the nerves, pressure and fear. It’s this strategy that can make the game fun again. After all, learning to play well when it really matters is what separates winners from everyone else.
But you’ll need a healthy dose of self-honesty to see the full benefits of automatic learning. If you keep attempting shots that Tiger wouldn’t try or ignore your physical limitations then you’ll always be disappointed. Trying to fool your subconscious is a long road to nowhere. It can’t be done, no matter how long you persist.
Holding on to what’s comfortable. Automatic playing can feel uncomfortable. To make significant improvement you need to change your attitude and your belief of what’s possible. This can feel weired and the temptation is to stay safe. But you can’t keep playing the same way over and over and expect a different result. To do so is madness. The ultimate goal of natural and automatic learning is to get golfers to remove the straight jacket and explore what lies beyond conscious control.
The common place I see golfers “play safe” is on the first tee. They swing carefully and steer the ball down the fairway. They repeat this process for the entire eighteen holes and wonder why the game is so difficult. To me this is not playing golf. A real golfer, a golfer that is prepared for remarkable, will pull out all stops and swing without fear from the first attempt. Thoughts of missing fairways or losing golf balls is replaced with an enthusiasm for what’s possible.
The possible lies outside of conscious thought. You also won’t find it in golf magazines or on the practice tee. Your real potential can only be discovered when you decide to stop thinking and play golf from the first tee shot.
Playing your best golf doesn’t happen because of long drives, holes-in-one and sinking long putts. You’ll discover your best golf when you can get the ball in play from the tee, hit your iron shots somewhere near the green and learning not to three putt. Your own “remarkable” level of golf is a lot easier than you’d ever expect. The remarkable part of it happens when you can do it repeatedly. You don’t need a skill transplant, new clubs or a different swing. Your best bet is to give automatic a go for a minimum of three rounds, understand your limitations and open your mind to a different possibility.
Good golfing,
Cameron
After Tiger won this year’s US Open I wrote about why I think he’s so dominant. Briefly, I believe that he is the most automated and natural athlete in the world. It seems he never plays safe. He lets go, and hits every shot like it’s his last. There appears to be little self-doubt, confusion or worry. He decides what he wants to do and then executes the shot to his best ability.
This process sounds easy to do but it is deceptively difficult. This is one reason I believe that Tiger his head and shoulders above the rest, and why you may not be playing your best golf. I challenged you to take this approach for three rounds of golf. I believe this exercise will teach you more about your golf then any other lesson will. Below are my results of taking the challenge…
Round #1: I made an effort to trust my swing and let go. I realised early on that I had a tendency to think too much about the score and the results. My process for staying automatic helped the cause. I had two putts on 17 to get to five under (my best score in a while). I did everything correctly (I think) and hit the best putt I could. It narrowly missed the hole and traveled 1.5 metres past the hole. Again, I cleared my mind as best as I could and let the putt go. It missed but I felt that I didn’t flinch or steer the putt in any way.
The last hole was a similar story. I three putted after playing two good shots into the green. If I’m honest, I hit the wrong club into the green and let the previous miss (on 17) distract me. The end result was my second putt on 18 was a poor one. I was disappointed but manged to shoot 69 (3 under). It was a good score but it could have been better.
Round #2: This game was played under appalling conditions. It was tough going but I refused to change my approach. I didn’t worry about the wind, my swing or the score. This potentially was one of the best rounds I’ve played. My ball striking was good and I was able to negotiate the tough holes quite well. The last two holes were straight into the wind – I hit two low boring approach shots that finished on the green and was able to make par. It was fantastic to finish the round off so well. Score: 70
Round #3: This game was also the second and final round of my Club’s Winter Trophy. I hadn’t won this event before, and after my first good round (69 – see above) I was in contention and keen to do well. The temptation was to think about my score and worry about what everyone else was doing. I resisted the urge and focussed on playing golf.
The round started well but I couldn’t find a birdie over the first four holes . On the 5th (a par 5) I played a nice second shot and had two putts for birdie. I made a tricky two metre putt for birdie on the 6th and when I birdied the 7th my round was alight!
For some reason I started feeling tight on the 10th tee. I backed off the tee shot and recommitted to the job at hand. I completely let go and had no thought of concern. My three wood found the middle of the fairway and the approach was a good one. By this time the nerves had settled and I was feeling good. The putt for birdie was struck without a worry in the world and found the middle of the hole.
The 10th hole was a revelation for me. I realised that previously I had played too cautiously and safe when having a good round- that I would play to protect my score rather than continuing to shoot the best score possible.
I birdied the 15th hole to get to five under and when I hit my second into the 17th (a par 5) to three metres (my best shot of the day) I was on track for my best score in a long time. Determined to keep the process going I refused to play safe on the last. A good tee shot left me a six iron to a back pin position. The easy shot was to aim for the front tier and leave a difficult putt. I opted for the harder shot and play for the back tier and give myself a shot at a closing birdie. Playing on autopilot I hit a low iron shot that had eyes for the flag. The ball landed past the pin, leaving a quick downhill putt. The putt for a sixty-five narrowly missed and I tapped in for a six under score.
I was thrilled with the round and pleased how I was able to play the last few holes. I didn’t choke or play safe. I had chances to shoot a better score and it was fun to play great shots under pressure.
The three-round challenge was the best thing I’ve done in golf for some time and I’m glad I gave it another go. Here’s what I learned;
- I’m prone to playing too carefully when on track for a good score
- I think too much of the outcome – worried about score and the consequences of hitting a poor shot
- If I let go and not think too much I play better. At first this was uncomfortable but it became easier to do
- Good rounds become great rounds and the possibility for remarkable play is increased
- Much more fun
- Golf is such a silly game and we ALL worry too much
- The difference from average golf to great golf is a fine line. The difference is in attitude rather than skill level
Despite having a good understanding of the learning process and automatic golf I still have plenty to learn. Playing without fear and approaching each shot automatically is easy to talk about but not easy to do. It takes a level of courage and discipline that can’t be bought or borrowed – and one reason why technology will never be the determining factor in golf.
If you want to have a breakthrough in your golf game then I strongly urge you to take the three-round challenge. It is a small commitment but can completely revolutionise your golf game and open your eyes to what’s possible. If you have given it a go I would love to hear about it.
Good golfing,
Cameron
P.S. I managed to win the Winter Trophy which was a nice bonus 
Playing your best golf doesn’t depend on how expensive your golf clubs, what course you play or how lucky you get. These are “one percenters” that have little or no effect on your score…
You will play your best golf if you learn to manage your nerves and anxiety and play without fear or consequences. The best golfers hit the ball first and worry about the result second.
This is not a quick fix or magic tip. It’s a long term commitment that leads to what I call “remarkable golf”. Remarkable golf is worth talking about. The latest quick fix tip in Golf Digest is not.
Think less and play more. You won’t be disappointed.
I’ve been receiving emails this week asking if natural and automatic learning can work for the respective senders.
Here’s my short answer;
YES!
A more detailed response is;
If you struggle to play consistently then natural learning can help you.
If you yip and stuff up those easy putts and chips then automatic playing can restore your confidence.
If you feel you have more talent and ability but can’t yet show it out on the course (when it really matters) then this is for you.
If you’ve had more lessons then you care to remember but still lack confidence or don’t now what you’re doing then you should take a look.
If you get so nervous on the first tee that you choke and hit terrible shots that destroy your confidence and ruin your round then you MUST learn to automate your game.
If you are continually let down by self-doubt, anxiety and fear then this is for you!
If you want to play better and don’t know how to go about it then this is definitely for you.
If the thought of playing poorly in front of your boss (or someone else) scares you to death then I’ll show you a strategy for overcoming the fear and playing better than you’d think possible.
If you want to naturally and easily hit the ball YOUR maximum distance then you’ll learn to do that too. There’s no gimmicks or special tricks.
If you suffer from aches and pains and what to minimise the stress and strain then automatic learning can assist here too.
If you’re thinking of quitting golf then take a look at automatic learning – it might just get you back on track before the real rot sets in.
If learning to transform your practice swing into your real swing is something you think would help then don’t be shy.
If you play 15 good holes but almost always blow up on the last three holes then the automatic strategy will help you remain confident, relaxed and masterful right to the end.
If you’re sick of quick-tips, miracle cures and all the other BS then I can show you something much more reliable and solid. It really does work!
If you’d like to beat your golfing mate just once! You know? The guy you know you can beat but for some reason you can’t get over the line.
If you’d like to experience something new. If your golf is boring and stagnant then natural learning might give you a spark.
If the thought of playing remarkable shots and golf excites you then you should take a look. Remarkable golf is so much better than good golf. To discover the difference you’ll have to take a peek 
If you simply want to start playing better and leave your inconsistent, confusing and frustrating game behind then you really should start learning how to playing naturally and automatically – you won’t be disappointed.
If you think that automatic learning can help your golf game then please take a look at my book, Play Golf Your Way It will set you on a path of discovery, fulfillment and enjoyment.
One final word. This process is not magic and a quick fix. It’s far from it. It’s based on real world experience and learning strategies that have been shown to work time after time. It’s not magic but it might just be the next best thing for playing your best golf.
Good golfing,
Cameron
G’day there,
I’m back after a short break.
A question that I keep getting asked is, “I’ve tried automating my swing but I’m still hitting poor shots”.
The first thing is that golf really is a difficult game and no matter how much you practise, how good your technique and whether you learn to automate your game or not, you will still hit poor shots. Sometimes they will come at the worst time. The goal of learning automation is to maximise your chances of playing your best golf.
The second point is automatic golf gives you a process to deal with poor shots. I sometimes think that playing good golf is not about hitting great shots – it’s about dealing with indifferent play and learning to minimise the damage.
Let me explain more …
One of the hardest things about playing automatic and instinctive golf is to keep the process going after a bad shot or two.
The temptation to make changes to your technique is strong when things go awry. But you must resist this change if you’re going to be the best you can be.
Yesterday, playing in a big club event, I hit one the worst tee shots in a long time. Using a three wood, I skied the ball off the toe of the club. The ball went straight left (I’m left handed) and into big trouble. Luckily for me the event was foursomes and my partner played two miraculous shots and got us out of big trouble.
The temptation was there to analyse what I did wrong and play safe. I did neither. Standing on the third tee I recommitted myself to letting go and trusting my subconscious to get the job done. Using my three-wood I pulled the trigger and nailed the shot down the middle of the fairway.
Instantly my confidence returned and I was able to perform well for the rest of the day. This is the magic of trusting the natural learning process and not getting bogged down on technical thoughts. I’m sure if I’d tried to work out what I did wrong with the first shot, I would have spent the rest of the day fidgeting and worrying about my swing.
This appears to be the right thing to do. Unfortunately I don’t think it works. For me, the most courageous and beneficial thing you can do after a bad shot or two is to think less and play more. Yes it can feel uneasy but you’ll maximise your chances of playing better and getting your round back on track. And it sure beats a long and boring round of working on your golf swing and chipping out of the trees.
Good golfing,
Cameron
Do you want to play better golf? Most golfers that write to me do but the vast majority don’t know how to do it.
First of all let’s define what better golf is.
My simple version is being able to play good golf out on the golf course. For most golfers this will be hitting shots and scoring as well as you do in practice and in non competitive rounds. If you hit the ball well on the practice tee but lose the plot once you step onto the first tee, you haven’t learned how to play the game yet.
If this sounds like you the game will become frustrating (if it isn’t already) and you will feel like you’re not maximising your potential.
What’s the best way to start playing better golf?
Traditional instruction likes to focus solely on the golf swing and in particular golf swing mechanics. Thinking about your swing (especially while you play) is one of the worst things that you can do. Here’s why;
You become attached to your golf swing. You can’t hit a shot without analysing what went right or wrong. Hit a good shot and you’ll try and replicate it. Hit a bad shot and you’ll try and find a remedy. I call this emotional attachment and it doesn’t allow you to play your best golf. It’s also hard and tiring work!
When I ask golfers to describe to me the best shot or round they’ve played invariably they can’t remember HOW they did it. These situations are like magic and only result when you can let go of your attachment to to golf swing. Letting go enables your instinctive learning machine to take over and perform the skill the way nature intended.
Consciously controlling your swing, worrying about what others think, playing safe and thinking too much about mechanics is a form of emotional attachment.
A friend of mine helps men meet and attract women. It’s not as seedy as it sounds. It’s a reputable business that teaches non confident men how to find a partner in a natural and real way. He is a real world version of Hitch and in a silly kind of way golfers face similar problems.
My friend went on to tell me that guys that struggle with dating think too much and over analyse. They will walk up to a lady worried about what everyone is thinking and usually try a cheesy pick up line, thinking that is the right thing to do. It isn’t.
The golf equivalent is thinking that you’re no good and relying on some quick fix tip to help execute the shot. This rarely works either.
Over thinking and emotional attachment seems like the right thing to do but it is holding you back – no matter what you’re trying to achieve.
The solution? I’m not going to offer you dating advice here, but if you want to improve your golf game then I suggest you take my three round challenge.
For the next three games you play allow yourself to swing with freedom and enthusiasm. Hit the ball in a way that feels good to you. Clear you head of technical thoughts and worry. Let go and stop thinking “how do I do it?”. Tee the ball up and hit the stupid ball!
You’ll have to put thoughts of score and results out of your mind. It’s the only way to make a breakthrough but is well worth the effort. I have found that keeping track of your “free” swings is better than keeping score. See if you can make a natural and free swing at least 75% of the time. This is a good aiming point.
Learning to let go of emotional attachment is not a comfortable thing to do. It will feel weired and even a little scary. But it is something that you have to do if you want to experience better golf. Better golf is just the beginning – after ‘better’ comes remarkable and this is something worth aiming for.
Good golfing,
Cameron
Here’s a list of things that make playing golf more automatically and natural worthwhile;
- Driving to the course knowing you’re going to play well
- Focusing on playing golf rather than on golf tips or other gimmicks
- Playing to your handicap (or better) more of the time
- Having a strategy to successfully negotiate first tee nerves
- Playing better under pressure than you do normally
- Hit the ball further without trying harder
- Less likely to get injured
- Hitting shots that you never thought possible
- Practice less but perform better
- Improve after each game that you play
- Breakthrough the confusion and frustration of traditional instruction
- Make the right decision more of the time
- Play to your full potential
- Beat players who have more talent than you
- People will call you talented or a “natural”
- People will think you’ve got some special gift or god given talent
- Golf becomes easier and less of a mystery
- Open up the possibility for remarkable play or something magical to happen
- Play with inner confidence and enthusiasm
- Have more fun
If you haven’t experienced automatic learning and playing then you’re missing out. It’s well worth the effort and taking the time to find out more.
Good golfing,
Cameron
