April 2008

I’ve been receiving quite a bit of email about golfers struggling with their short game. I think it’s time to cover some of the basics. Before I do that, there is one key issue holding most golfers back…

They don’t practice!

If you are continually let down by poor chipping, bladed pitch shots and duffed bunker shots, then you need to spend some time (maybe ten minutes per week) practicing these shots. There are no miracle cures. If you aren’t prepared to practice then I don’t think you can be helped. I will cover some aspects of practice below.

Now that’s out of the way let’s get into the good stuff

To master the short game (to your own unique level) doesn’t require any special skills or talent. I have found most golfers who have been playing for any length of time have good skills around the green. They can chip and pitch the ball well - but struggle to be consistent on the golf course.

The short shots can seem easy (at least easier than the long game) and this is a problem. Golfers like to be careful and try hard with the short game - thinking that the easier the shot the more they can think about it. This is not good. You must let the short game flow and be natural. Trying hard fails. Being careful and safe is worse.

How would you throw a ball to someone? Would you think about how hard to throw or do you look and shoot? Most people can throw a ball well by looking and then throwing. There is no complication or over thinking. A complete emptiness of approach allows throwing to be a simple and easy task. If you want to be successful with your short game then you need to follow the same approach. There is no other way!

Thinking less can be uncomfortable, so you may need to put it into practice before taking it to the golf course. Here’s a little practice session that should work well for you.

Take a handful of balls to the local park or pitching green. I don’t like driving ranges with synthetic grass - best you find an area with real grass. It makes the experience more real.

Start with small chip shots. Get comfortable (most important) and feel like you’re moving the club gently through the ball. You don’t need much power at this stage. You’re only after a short shot. Your mind should be free of technical thought. Leave concepts like, wrist cock, weight shift, back swing length and follow through at home. Keep moving the club through the ball and see what happens.

After a few shots you can apply more power. Creep up on it…don’t go for full shots too early. Gradually pick up speed, just like you would if you had to throw a ball to someone who keeps moving further from you. Once the shot feels good you can apply more power. You should be able to feel more wrist cock and a bigger back swing - but don’t analyse. Keep the club moving through the ball and observing the distance each shot travels.

If your mind is clear and free of technical thought this should be easy for you. If you want to hit the chip or pitch further you apply a little more power and vice versa. There’s nothing too complicated. You’re simply chipping or pitching (throwing?) the ball different distances.

You can then step this up a little by experimenting with different ball and club face positions. What happens when you move the ball back in your stance and close the club face? You should get a low running shot. What about doing the opposite by moving the ball forward and opening the club face? You should now get a high and soft landing ball flight.

Keep experimenting and learning what you can and can’t do. It will also help to watch those better than yourself. See how they hit a high soft landing bunker shot. In your own time you can learn the same shot. The key is to keep the task simple. Try and relate your short game to throwing a ball. Keep away from technical thought and analysis. It will only slow you down.

The big trick is to take this natural and instinctive approach to the golf course. Let the short game flow. Look at the shot and pull the trigger. Your subconscious will work out all the minor details like direction and distance - like it does when you throw a ball. If you get stuck play conservatively. If you haven’t tried a super lob in practice then don’t try it on the golf course. Best you aim for the middle of the green with a shot you know you can play.

The short game should be fun - there are also no limits. You have fourteen clubs in the bag and you may use all of them for those little shots around the green. Tiger Woods is a master at using his three wood for chip and runs. Is this something you have tried? Or what about using your 9 iron to get out of a bunker?

A good short game will improve your score. If you keep the process simple and strive for automation you will get better. I guarantee it - but only if you practice!

Let me know how you get on.

Good golfing,

Cameron

With the Masters over for another year I thought it would be a good time to talk about playing golf under pressure. It doesn’t matter how good a golfer you are, you will experience pressure on certain shots, and if you don’t know how to cope with the pressure and nerves you’ll NEVER be able to play your best golf.

Experience tells me that most golfers play worse under pressure not better. This is unfortunate because if you can get a handle on the butterflies and nerves you should be able to play the best golf of you life. This allows golf to become truly enjoyable and exciting. Something worth striving for…

Strategy #1: Relax your face

I learned this from a scientist during some scientific testing I was involved with. The scientist told me that if your face is relaxed your entire body and mind will be too. If you are relaxed you will maximise the chances of playing good golf. Getting tense and tight is a sure swing and score destroyer.

The best way to relax your face is to first tighten the facial muscles and then let them go. You should feel a rush of blood and then a wave of relaxation enter the facial muscles. It doesn’t have to take much time and you can do this anytime you start to feel a build up of pressure.

Strategy #2: Focus on what you want to do:

It’s very normal to start thinking about what you don’t want under pressure. We can start thinking about water, mis-hits and other potential disasters when we get nervous. You have to force yourself to think about what you actually want - not what you don’t want.

I like to ask myself a simple question to get my mind back on track. “What do I want to do?” or “where do I want to hit the ball?” work well. I then have to think logically without worrying about anything else that won’t help me.

For example, I might want to hit the ball 125 metres or get the ball onto the front right of the green. This is a positive action - much better than thinking “don’t go long” or “keep the ball out of the bunker”.

When you’re under pressure think about what you want to do. Don’t waste time and energy thinking about the negative. The more you do this the better you will become at making the right choice under pressure.

Strategy #3: Stay in the present

When you’re in the present your mind and body will perform at its best. Sports psychologists have identified the importance of staying in the present. Here’s how to do it….

Before an important shot take a moment before walking to the ball to hear/feel/see your environment. You might listen to the birds, look at cloud formations or feel the wind on your back. It doesn’t matter what you choose, any of the three will get your mind where it needs to be.

Strategy #4: Play automatically

The above three strategies will help you deal with playing golf under pressure. Learning to play and swing automatically is the final piece in the puzzle. When you are playing golf automatically you are not concerned with your swing or technique. You are playing golf and allowing your subconscious to do what it does best.

This is golf’s most important skill and is the difference between being a good golfer and becoming remarkable.

If you’d like to learn more about these ideas and playing golf under pressure then check out my book, Play Golf Your Way.

Good golfing,

Cameron

Just received a text message from a client who read yesterday’s post.

“Just letting you know I’m having a ball down here fading and drawing the …. out of my five iron “

Two points:

1. It’s fun doing something different
2. When it’s fun you’ll learn. When you are learning you’re improving

Good golfing,

Cameron

If you’d like to experience something different with your golf game you might like to try some of the following;

• Hit a five iron like it’s your wedge ( high and soft landing shot that only flies about 110 metres or so)
• Hit the ball the maximum distance with each club. Can you hit you 9 iron as far as your 5 iron?
• Hit the ball low with each club. Can you hit the ball a few metres above the ground without thinning the shot?
• Take a full swing and attempt to hit the ball only a few metres. This one is difficult but possible
• Hit a huge hook shot with each club
• Hit a massive slice with each club (some golfers don’t have much trouble with this one )
• Hit shots with your opposite hand (play left handed if you’re right handed)
• Play a round of golf with one club only (a 6 iron?)

Learning to do this can only help your golf game. You’ll learn better club control and develop better shot making skills. This process should be a fun one and will allow you to break any bad habits and any limiting beliefs that you may have. Not a bad thing.

Good golfing,

Cameron