This is the final video in the USGA and NBC series. I saved this video for last because too many of my students focus so much of their energy on the long shots that they neglect the technique needed to get the ball on the green close to the hole. I have another group of students who can get the ball on the green only to see it roll away from the hole for a long putt or even roll off the green. These situations can be frustrating but with practice and dedication you can turn things around.
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If you really want to play golf you need to develop some mental toughness. When I play, I often talk to myself as I prepare to hit a shot and I can be really hard on myself when I shot does not go the way I visualized it in my head. You will not see me pound my club or throw a club in the water after a poor round. Throwing your clubs in the water or on ground is a bad judgment call because if those clubs are damaged or cannot be retrieved, they are no longer available to you during the round. Why would anyone deliberately handicap themselves? Unfortunately, a lack of mental toughness often leads to judgment calls that are emotionally led. I mentioned that I talk to myself when I play. This is not uncommon, PGA Tour players are often caught on the mic offering feedback to themselves after seeing the outcome of their swing. We make judgment calls when we choose the words that we use to critique ourselves. One player chose to use a word that was deemed offensive by his sponsor and he was dropped within twenty-four hours. That's a very costly judgment call. I say it in the golf swing but it applies to our decisions too. Every action has a reaction! We make thousands of decisions each day without really thinking about them but some decisions require more critical thought: In this article, you will get a glimpse into some of the decisons that LPGA players need to make: Decision: When to start a professional career? In golf and in life we have to make choices. When evaluating your choices, it is important to consider all of the possible outcomes of those choices. This is where judgment enters the picture. On the golf course, you have to make the call about club selection, target selection and tempo to name a few . The more you play the more you develop information about your abilities and how to approach the shot or putt at hand. While the goal is simple, get the ball in hole in the least amount of strokes, the strategy to accomplish that goal requires you to be clear of mind so you can apply judgment before making a decision. In order to choose the right club, you need to know your distances. The golf courses have been open for almost a month, the first live golf event was televised last weekend and the PGA South Florida Section Junior Golf recently announced that it will be resuming its tournament schedule next month. The golf world is doing what it can to help people start living life again. It's exciting to see. Two of my youngest students were back on the course this week as they are eager to compete in the Links Tour which kicks off on June 15, 2020 at the Country Club of Coral Springs. Sarah is playing really well and has even come close to beating her Dad. They are looking forward to playing in tournaments on both the east and west coast this summer. It's all about getting her experience and building her confidence. Mateo just received the Player of the Year Award for 2019 which was the final season for the Junior Golf Foundation America, Inc. He is looking forward to competing again and meeting other golfers. He made a new friend in a younger, talented golfer at the last tournament in March but has not been able to see him since. Mateo walked away with the win that day but admits that his new friend really pushed him.
Both of these junior golfers have aspirations of competing on the Prep tour when they are nine. For now, the Links Tour provides them with an opportunity to gain experience and get prepared for playing without a caddie. Most importantly, they are getting a chance to live out the core values on the golf course. I am looking forward to seeing their growth this year.
Buying golf clubs is an investment but unfortunately most golfers do not think of the purchase in those terms. In a previous post, I shared how buying clubs "off the shelf" is not the best approach. If you really want to have a fighting chance of playing good golf your golf clubs should reflect your physical ability not just your gender or height. The videos below provide a very general introduction into the technology that is involved in the creation of golf clubs. Keep in mind that technology continues to advance.
confidence: the feeling or belief that one can rely on someone or something; firm trust. When I teach beginner golf students, the most common feedback I hear is "this is harder than it looks." While this may be true, by the end of the first lesson, they leave with more confidence in their ability to learn and eventually play the game. I fully believe when you have experienced some level of success you will be motivated to get to the next level. It is my goal to help all of my students get to the next level and become more confident in their abilities. I also believe confidence is a state of mind. If you think you can, you will, if you think you can't, you won't. I ran a very successful contracting business in Chicago prior to moving to FL because I was confident in my abilities to deliver what my clients needed. When my kids graduated from high school, I decided to become a golf teaching pro because I was confident in my love for the game and I wanted to help develop that in others. Today, I am humbled by that confidence as I see my students progress. After some quiet years on the PGA Tour, Tony Finau is making some noise. He has never waivered in his confidence, he remained patient with his game and things are starting to come together for him.
I've always felt like I've been very mentally strong. Sometimes I feel like once my game matches up to my mental attitude, I feel like I can be a great player. I feel like I've been a good player, showed some brilliance in spurts, but being consistent, to be consistently great takes a full game both mental and physical, and I feel like, honestly, my physical game is starting to match up to my mental. I've always been tough, I've always been strong mentally. Having a game that matches that is, I think, a great combination and I'm starting to see that with myself. Confidence is developed through practice! Scottie Scheffler is a perfect example of what I meant when I originally posted about how to develop confidence. Last year, he was invited to player on the Ryder Cup team, a decision that was considered to be controversial since he had never won on the PGA Tour. Scheffler was a huge factor in Team USA's win over Europe 19-9. This year Scheffler has built on that momentum by winning four out of his last six tournaments including The Masters and he is ranked #1 in the world. He is grinding it out one round at a time and has remained extremely humble through the experience. Personally, I like that he is continuing to learn and improve his game every time he plays. He also has surrounded himself with a strong support system in his family and faith. |
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