January 2008

I believe that many skills require some lateral thinking for you to be successful at them. Take writing for example. At one point I was scared about writing, I believed it to be difficult and that it required some super special talent. It does not.

A mentor of mine changed my thinking completely. He said writing is just communication, “If you can talk you can write…write like you talk. Stop trying to be so formal and doing it correctly….just write”. This was a revelation for me. Instead of thinking about sentence structure, paragraph forming and all the other rules and regulations I thought I needed to obey, I started writing.

A wonderful thing happened. My writing flowed and it was fun. Ideas came into my head and when I read other writing I could see, hear and feel their communication. No longer was writing a barrier for me. I’m not claiming to be the best writer, but it is now something I enjoy and continually get better at.

It is interesting to learn that my mentor (a journalist, writer and amazing thinker) disagrees with conventional writing teaching. “Too many rules and regulations”, he says. When he spoke to his son about writing with passion and finding his own unique voice, his son responded with, “But our teacher at school says we have to do it another way”. My mentor believes that we all have an inner talent to write, but if we focus on HOW to write we never can do it. Much better to break some rules and be you.

The belief that you must try hard and be perfect disrupts the learning process. Playing golf is no different than putting pen to paper. It requires you find your unique game first. After that it becomes easy to make changes and develop your skills. Doing it the other way around is messy, boring and rarely leads to success.

So be daring. Break some rules and go against convention. Open your stance if it feels good and swing quickly if that is your thing. And it really doesn’t matter if your grip is too strong. Play golf, have fun and write to me to tell me you experience. I would love to hear your story.

Good golfing,

Cameron Strachan

I was having a drink in the local pub last night and was chatting to a new friend about golf. My friend was interested about my ideas and also my experiences with conventional golf instruction.

I was reminded of a time when I used to have golf lessons at a leading golf facility here in Melbourne. At the time I was still formalising my concepts on natural learning, and many of my golfing mates were having lessons there so I thought it was a good idea for me to do the same. After all, I didn’t want to miss out on anything that could help my golf game.

I still remember walking into to the coaching centre and being surprised at many of the golfers performing the same practice drills. It seemed a bit strange, especially when the playing standards of the players varied from professional to beginner.

I had lessons there for a few months. The routine was pretty much the same. My swing was captured on video then we went out the back to watch it. The coach would draw lines on the screen, I would nod in understanding (although I was often confused) and then I would hit some balls or do drills to put the ideas into action.

The one thing that really annoyed me were the practice drills. The coaches used the same drills for everyone! Each month or so they would come up with a new drill. This became quite funny for me so I termed the phrase “drill of the month”.

Over time the golfers having lessons there (and there were many) all resembled each other. You could spot them from a mile away. Their routines were the same, each performing a drill that they had learned.

I soon became frustrated with this coaching method. My game was stagnant, despite performing the drills and practicing hard. The coaches were great guys but they had a lack of flexibility in their coaching style. They tried to force me to fit their coaching method, not adapt their style to fit me. I stopped having lessons after few months and continued on my own path of discovery.

Chatting about it last night it hit home why this traditional approach does not work for everyone.  It’s the ‘cookie cutter’ approach. Everyone is taught the same way. The coaching model is rigid…if you don’t fit in you have no chance to improve. This I believe is wrong.

If you’re currently having lessons ensure the coach can work with you and not against you. Push him or her, make them earn their money. If you don’t understand speak up. Don’t take everything they say as gospel. If you’re not improving leave, you’re the boss.

My other advice is don’t drink too much on a work night. It makes being productive difficult. Think I might head to the golf course.

Good golfing,

Cameron Strachan

Dear golfer,

I wrote yesterday about the problems with being safe while playing, explaining that golfers who try and be careful and dainty with their driver will never hit the ball as far as they like. I think it’s a big problem. As adults, many attempt to maneuver to club in what they think is correct. They are careful, making sure that they don’t break any rules and do everything correctly…this is playing safe and will ruin your score.

Playing safe does not mean that you can’t play conservatively. I’m not encouraging you to take driver on every hole and hit it as far as you can (although it would be fun, why not try it once?). A conservative approach does not mean you over think the situation and make a tight and ugly swing. You still must let it flow.

Many golfers would score far better if they did play a 5 iron from each tee and make the most free flowing, natural and fun swing they could. This is playing conservatively…but you’re not being safe! I have been guilty confusing a conservative strategy (which is fine) with being safe (which is not).

Playing safe is too left brained. You spend your time more worried about form and style. Right ‘brainers’, those that play the game, get on with things and will usually beat the socks off those that don’t. Better still, right ‘brainers’ have more fun, play more quickly, use less energy and are generally more fun to play with. No one really likes anyone that is slow, boring, doesn’t talk and spends too much time in the trees.

Being safe is the worst thing that you can do with your golf game. You inhibit the learning process. The other day I was teaching an analytical client. He was holding on for dear life a million technical ideas. His swing was tight and powerless. His game lacked flow and he resembled someone walking on egg shells. I spent an hour trying to break his habits and get him to stop being safe.

Then the magic happened…

He let go. His face relaxed, he started moving gracefully (I like to say he danced) and best of all his golf swing improved. Club head speed picked up and the sound of impact was a “crack”, rather than a dull thud. For a moment he was playing golf, he wasn’t being safe and he was learning.

This golfer had spent 20 years reading, studying and practicing the ‘perfect’ golf swing. I doubt that in that time he ever experienced a moment like it. And it only happened when he stopped trying, stopped being safe. So I encourage you to break free from playing safe. Forget about the rules and regulations that are holding you back and start learning, having fun and making monumental improvements.

Below I have listed a few ideas to get you started;

• play a round with only one club
• play cross country
• hit your driver the shortest possible distance while still making a full swing
• hit balls with your opposite hand
• stop caring and trying
• stop reading instructional tips and quick fixes
• learn to go automatic
• have a lesson with me

If you stop learning and having fun you’ll never get the most out of your golf game. Being safe is not playing golf. You don’t learn and you don’t improve. It’s the worst thing you can do.

Be daring, bite the bullet and let go. You’ll have fun and won’t be disappointed. I promise

Good golfing,

Cameron Strachan

G’day,

I gave a couple of lessons today and it really hit home on why some golfers struggle with distance.

Safe is powerless. Let me explain.

To hit the ball as far as you can you need to feel a little out of control. I don’t think there is any other way. This doesn’t mean you need to swing off your feet, but rather, you need to be prepared to pull the trigger and have no fear of the consequences. You can’t try and swing safely (to keep the ball in play) and still hit the ball a good length. Trying to do so results in poor distance and accuracy. Not a good thing.

My clients today claimed that length was their biggest wish. By the end of the lesson they had removed the shackles holding them back. Not only were their swings more free flowing, but they picked up some extra club head speed. Not bad for an hours work and all without making technical modifications.

If you’d like to pick up a bit more distance (and accuracy) then stop playing safe. Let go and have some fun. It will feel a little strange but the results will come your way. Safe is powerless and potentially dangerous.

Throw away the shackles.

Good golfing,

Cameron Strachan