February 2008

Dear Golfer,

I think improving at golf can be difficult because the path to do so is not always obvious. In fact, I believe if you want to reach a higher level of play you need to take counter intuitive steps. These steps are not obvious and actually go against traditional concepts. This approach can feel uncomfortable and requires a shift in mindset. Uncomfortable - yes. Beneficial - YES!

I have taken my golf game to new levels by stepping outside the square and thinking a little differently. Below are some of my key thoughts.

Work on Swing versus Leave Swing Alone

I made my biggest breakthrough when I stopped trying to fix my golf swing. Definitely not an obvious step but one that has allowed me to reinvent my golf game

Try Hard versus Trying Less

It sounds obvious to try hard and put in a huge effort. It seems like the right thing to do. By trying less I freed up my mind and my golf swing. Trying hard fails.

Focus On Target versus Focusing On Nothing

I stopped trying to visualise on the target. By not picking a target or reading greens precisely I have reduced tension and self-doubt. Instead I look at where I want to hit the ball and hit it there.

Build A Perfect Swing versus Near Enough Is Good Enough

I have long since given up on striving for the perfect golf swing. I now put up with what I’ve got. The funny thing is that I now swing the golf club better than ever. Funny game really.

Practice Hard versus Practicing Less

As hard as it may be to believe, I actually don’t practice anymore. Practicing too hard or too much leads to self-doubt and a desire to make unnecessary changes. By learning to automate your natural swing there is no need to practice that much. Save your energy for playing - it’s more fun!

Play With Your Head (think) versus Play With Your Heart (don’t think)

Adults like to think and over analyse. Again, this seems like the right thing to do. If you can think less and restore a sense of childlikeness you’ll play better. I guarantee it!

Quick Fixes versus Long Term Improvement

It’s very tempting to search for the quick fix and instant results. Golf magazines do very well by satisfying this urge. By forgetting about instant glorification and focusing on real results with a long term mindset I continue to get better with each game. I think golfers over estimate what they can do in the short term and drastically under estimate what they’re capable of long term.

Be Good At Everything versus Excel At One

Trying to perfect each part of your game seems like the right thing to do. Unfortunately I don’t think this is possible. I believe you’ll save yourself time and energy by working around your faults and weaknesses and playing to your strengths.

Shoot A good Score versus Learning From Each Round

We would all like to shoot a great round each time we play. This would be nice but it’s just not going to happen. If you strive to learn from each game you play you’ll maximise your chances of playing well today and into the future. This is the long-term thing again.

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I don’t expect all golfers to believe in this approach (I’m not aiming at all golfers) but if you’ve been struggling with your game and finding golf improvement difficult, then it could be something worth considering.

Good golfing,

Cameron Strachan

“You’re swinging too quickly!”. How often have you heard that?

If you’ve been playing golf for any length of time then I bet you’ve been told that many times. More than likely after a bad shot or two.

Many golfers like to help their playing partners by giving this type of advice. I don’t like it because I don’t think it helps.

I believe that a golfer offering this advice doesn’t really know what is wrong (or right) and they use the “your swinging too quickly” line because they can’t think of anything else. It seems they believe that giving this type advice will make a difference. “Swing too quickly” gets used so much that it seems some golfers think it could be the answer to everything.

But how slowly should you swing … a little or a lot? This is the problem with this type of instruction. You don’t know and it’s impossible to tell. It’s even harder for the player (the pupil) to understand.

Trying to swing correctly or with a slower tempo is the worst thing you can do. It interrupts your natural flow and style. Your golf swing becomes over controlled and messy. A bit like trying to tie your shoe laces or attempting to make a perfect signature. The harder you try the more difficult it becomes and the more energy you use. It just doesn’t work.

I believe golfers would play better if they stopped trying to swing perfectly or strive for the ultimate swing tempo. Hitting the ball should be the goal, not concerning yourself with how it looks or the speed of the swing.

When golfers let go of their vain attempts at appearance and start to swing the club more instinctively a wonderful thing happens.

Their golf swing resembles a dance. A dance naturally has rhythm, grace and flow. It’s easy to watch and more fun to do. You’re also less likely to cop interference from pesky playing partners that keep telling you to “swing more slowly”. They’ll be too busy trying to copy you!

Good golfing,

Cameron Strachan

I met an elite runner yesterday. He has ran the 100 metres in a tick over 10 seconds which is not too shabby. I love meeting other sports people and learning from them. They have plenty of stories to share and their experiences are invaluable.

We were halfway through our lesson when he stopped, looked at me and said my teaching reminded him of his running career.

He went on to say that he spent five years working on his running technique. A time that he found boring and led to some injuries. I asked him when he ran his best times. He replied without hesitation that this happened when he stopped thinking about HOW to run and he just did it. When he thought too much he was never at his best.

He mentioned a time when he was running against an Olympic Champion. The Olympian was quick (obviously) but also natural and graceful. My man said he was so concerned about his arms and motion that he finished “miles behind”. I’m not surprised.

In an age where we are obsessed with form it seems to me that many athletes are having their unique styles torn apart and replaced with something less effective. This approach is boring, tedious and potentially dangerous (injuries).

There is currently an epidemic of poor results in AFL goal kicking. In what should be an easy skill (kicking a ball between two posts) it has been over analysed and critiqued. The very best young footballers, who have to stand out from thousands of others to “make it”, are forced to change a style that got them to the top in the first place. It doesn’t make sense to me and the poor results don’t surprise me.

Would automatic and natural learning solve the problem for these other athletes? To me the answer is yes. It’s a no brainer - but I’m not sure if the establishment is ready to change. We shall see.

Good playing,

Cameron Strachan

Golf can be a shit of a sport. It makes us mad, angry and frustrated. I have walked off the course many times vowing never to return. I always come back though … happy to put myself through any self inflicted torture that I can

I have found that caring less about the HOW and more about playing has lessened the mental burden. I used to analyse each good and bad swing and make the necessary adjustments. This was tiring and left me exhausted by the end of the round. Now I don’t waste energy on thinking about swing thoughts or swing faults. I just play.

This has been a revelation for me. My golf has improved out of sight. I walk off the course feeling energised and alive (only when it’s not 30 degrees ). Shooting good scores is fun. But it’s not the best part…

The game is exciting again! This is the best part. Each round is full of new possibilities. Hardly a round goes by where I don’t hit a shot or do something remarkable. The possibility of remarkable is just around the corner and this makes the game exciting. Traditional thinking about swing plane, grip or greens in regulation don’t offer this possibility. It’s boring and to be honest it’s playing safe.

If you’re struggling with your game and not finding golf fun and exciting anymore then consider trying less and playing more. Remove the straight jacket that is invariably holding you back and get out there and play! You won’t regret it!

Good golfing,

Cameron Strachan