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.
Many golfers spend so much time worrying about their golf swing technique that they have little or no chance of playing their best golf.
Traditional instruction focuses almost exclusively on golf mechanics so it really is not surprising that golfers place a high amount of emotional energy on their golf swing. They don’t know what else to do!
I have said that to play golf well you need to take counter intuitive steps – that is, you might need to do things that aren’t obvious or go against traditional concepts.
It might not seem obvious, but your routine is more important than your golf swing. Let me explain more…
A correct routine will enable you to work out what you need to do behind the ball (think) and then give you a process to walk to the ball and execute the shot automatically (and hopefully successfully).
Thinking about your golf swing while you are over the ball is NOT the right thing to do. This will almost always lead to failure.
It doesn’t matter how good your golf swing is – if you don’t get your routine right you will undo all of your hard work. If you can’t hit the ball instinctively and automatically you won’t enjoy the benefits of a good golf swing.
A good routine has two parts, the physical and mental. The physical part of your routine is less important. It allows some variance, for example you may choose to have a practice swing or you may not or you make take three waggles instead of four. It doesn’t really matter.
The mental part of your routine is less flexible. You MUST be consistent with your thinking on each shot. You will become a remarkable golfer when your mental routine becomes consistent over a long period of time. Here are the keys to a good mental routine.
- Work out what you want to do when you’re behind the ball. How far do you want to hit the ball? Where do you want to hit the ball? What club do I need to hit? These are questions that you need to ask each and every time. This process is done behind the ball before you start walking towards the ball. NEVER over the ball.
- Once you know what you want to do you must execute the shot automatically. Automatically should be interpreted as playing naturally or instinctively. This is allowing your subconscious to take control. Subconscious control leads to mastery and remarkable golf and is what I call golf’s vital skill.
Greg Norman was a master at the above steps. He spoke about Think, Choose and Do in one of his books from the 90′s. He thought about his options on each shot, he then chose one and then executed the shot without fuss or doubt. He then repeated the process over and over. I believe this allowed him to dominate golf for so long – not his golf swing.
If you want to be the best player you can be you must lose your attachment to your golf swing. Emotional attachment or believing your golf swing is a priority causes you to become tight and powerless. Your golf game won’t flow and you will be anything but remarkable. Over concern for golf technique and mechanics is the biggest fault in golf today. Let it go! It’s not that important!
A correctly performed routine will allow your game to improve naturally over time. You will continue to learn and make steps forward. You will get better with each round you play. By leaving your golf swing alone that too will get better. It’s like magic – it will improve without you knowing how. This is natural learning at its best and it certainly beats the alternative.
For more information about obtaining a better routine check out my book, Play Golf Your Way – I cover the steps above in greater detail.
“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
Dear golfer,
I’ve been asked quite a bit lately about Tiger Woods, and specifically why he is so good.
Not an easy question to answer. I would place him in the ‘freak’ or ‘one in a billion’ category. He is so good that he makes everyone else look like they’re second rate. Not many sports people have been able to do that. Calling him a ‘freak’ is probably a cop out on my part, but I’m not sure how else one could describe him.
I strongly believe that he plays the game entirely instinctively. Sure, he practices hard and spends time working on his swing etc, but when he plays golf he lets his subconscious take over for him. It also seems that the more pressure he is under the more he lets go and allows nature lead the way. With my understanding of learning and performing under pressure, this is the only way to explain his extraordinary ability to keep pulling out those big shots when he needs them most.
Tiger has incredible natural ability, he mixes this with a strong work ethic and ties it all together with a super human ability to play on auto pilot. Unlike many of his competitors, Tiger is able to get into auto mode more often than not and rarely plays a poor round (for Tiger a poor round would be something around par). This ability allows him to play remarkable golf. Remarkable golf for Tiger is something mere mortals can only dream of. Best just to enjoy “Tiger Remarkable” from the lounge room.
So can we learn anything from Tiger?
I wouldn’t try and copy his swing. To me copying anyone’s swing is a disaster waiting to happen, Tiger’s swing is mission impossible. I’m sure many golfers (PGA Tour stars) have tried to copy aspects but they’re not even getting close. I don’t think the average golfer stands a chance.
My opinion is to set yourself to play your own kind of remarkable golf. Learn to trust your swing and perform it on auto pilot under the pressure of competition. Remarkable golf takes more courage than you’d think. It can feel uncomfortable and even scary. When you break through the fear you can come out the other side a different player, a player with the ability to perform his best more of the time.
You might not be able to beat Tiger Woods, but you will become a better player and have the propensity for something special. This makes the game fun and opens a whole new world of possibility.
Y es, Tiger Woods is special, but we can all be special in our own unique way.
Go Tiger! And long live remarkable golf.
Good golfing,
Cameron
