Weight Loss Tips From Golf Pros

While golf is one of the most mentally challenging sports, you don’t have to be in peak condition to play. In fact, top golfers (see below) have been famous for being out of shape and overweight. This is because, despite the many health benefits of golf, studies show that tennis players burn an average of 663 calories per hour, which is more than double the calories burned by golfers. Golf is also a much less intense sport with the activity spread over several hours compared to higher-intensity sports. If you are a golfer and are looking to lose weight, there are tips you can follow. And who better to guide you than some of the world’s best players.

Rory McIlroy – Embrace the Gym and a High Protein Diet

Golf is a sport that can be played by anyone, from juniors to seniors. Yet, most of the top pros are in great shape, not just because they play golf but because they understand the importance of exercise and diet. McIlroy is known as one of the fittest golfers on tour and told Coach Mag that he had “learned to love the gym”.

While McIlroy works on strength-building exercises such as pull-ups, deadlifts, and jump squats, he also puts a lot of emphasis on his mobility. “You always see training images of Rory when he posts a big deadlift but the mobility exercises he does at the start of the session are equally important,” explained McIlroy’s coach Steve McGregor. McIlroy also makes sure he keeps his diet in check, telling Golf.com that he now follows a high-protein diet to maximize his gains in the gym and keep the fat levels down.

While you don’t have to be as dedicated as McIlroy, combining golf with other physical exercises and a good diet will make your favorite hobby a very healthy pastime.

Jack Nicklaus - Follow a Weight Loss Program

If you are serious about losing weight, then golf alone may not be enough, and you should consider following a dedicated weight loss program. This is exactly what Jack Nicklaus did when he signed up for WeightWatchers. He revealed that he turned to the weight loss program after playing in the 1969 Ryder Cup. Even though Nicklaus was, and still is, considered golfing royalty, at the time he was also known as “Fat Jack” in the golfing community.

The 18-time major champion came to realize the importance of maintaining his health and wellness after getting tired while playing the tournament’s 36 holes. Nicklaus weighed 210 pounds at the time and decided to lose weight on the plane home. According to Nicklaus, “a friend of mine had just used the WeightWatchers diet. I said, ‘Let me try your diet.” The diet clearly worked as Nicklaus said, “I lost 15 pounds in two weeks”. For golfers looking to lose weight today, the good news is that WeightWatchers is much more wide-reaching.

They recognize that losing weight isn’t a one size fits all journey and provide medical weight loss strategies for those who may need prescription medication, especially those with chronic weight-management issues. By following this program alongside golfing, like Nicklaus, you will be able to lose weight effectively and safely.

Rafael Campos – Be Inspired to Lose Weight

Rafael Campos is known as one of golf’s unlucky pros after being hit by injuries that resulted in him losing his PGA Tour card. One reason Campos gives for this run of injuries was his weight gain which he battled with for the last four years. This led Campos to completely change his outlook on fitness, and one golfer he turned to for inspiration was Rory McIlroy. “I remember Rory [McIlroy], an interview he had. Rory was never fat like me, but he was chubbier and I do remember [the] interview, I still go back to it,” explained Campos. In the interview, McIlroy said, “Man, my lower back was really bothering me and if I want to play golf until I'm 60 or something like that, I have to get in shape.'

This hit a note with Campos who was inspired to follow in McIlroy’s footsteps and dedicate himself to getting into shape. In five months he lost 40 - 45 pounds. We often look to pro golfers to inspire us to swing our irons and drivers better, but their influence shouldn’t just be on the greens. Follow their lead when it comes to keeping yourself in shape so you too can play better and for longer. If you are hoping to lose weight, we hope you are inspired, like Campos, by the above pros.

Florida Golf Schools: the best starting point to learn how to play golf

The best way to start learning how to play golf is by taking lessons. Golf classes are essential to better connect with this sport and achieve a solid and consistent swing, whether individually or in a group. And we believe that if you take your classes at a golf academy, the results are much better.

The rise of golf academies began in the 70s. Since then, they have multiplied throughout the states, especially in Florida. There are plenty of Florida Golf Schools with well-trained instructors, always ready to take your golf to another level. Of course, But be aware: it is essential to distinguish between a proficient golf academy and a poor one.

We will use the example of Bird Golf, one of the best academies today, present in 11 states. And nowhere else better than Florida, where Bird Golf serves Palm Coast at Hammock Beach Golf Resort & Spa, Orlando at Mission Inn Golf & Tennis Resort, South Florida at The Club at Boca Pointe, Southwest Florida at Old Corkscrew Golf Club, and Jacksonville Golf School.

Here are some considerations to ponder when choosing a golf academy in Florida for your golf lessons.

1. Licensed professionals ensure excellent teaching

A common denominator of good golf academies is the hierarchy of their teaching staff. Make no mistakes. In your search for a place to start taking golf lessons, make sure your academy offers full-time PGA-endorsed instructors all year round. Bird Golf is an excellent example of this in its different locations, offering trained and dedicated instructors with extensive experience.

2. Competitive Rates and Multiple Packages

We know that learning to play golf is not a cheap hobby. When looking for the best options, keep in mind that there is intense competition. It is vital to compare prices and packages to land a good final decision.

3. The importance of multiple locations

Good golf academies often have multiple locations. In the case of Bird Golf, its presence in 11 states expands its reach. This favors its clients in many ways: easy access and standardized services no matter which branch you pick. And it is not just about good golf courses. With Bird Golf, you will have the opportunity to stay in luxury resorts in various locations, including different packages. An excellent option for those who are not from the area and want to enjoy accommodation at the highest level.

4. Specific groups by age, gender, and abilities

The best golf schools cater to golfers of all ages, genders, and levels. Bird Golf Academy has super-attractive packages for all family members, with trusty and experienced instructors according to each player or group. One of our recommendations is to define your objective before choosing a package in advance. Even if it is holidays or days off from the office.

5. The importance of mental focus

Nowadays, it has become essential to have the proper mental approach to playing golf. In this sense, the academies that focus their teaching without neglecting the mental aspect stand out from the rest. This is the case with Bird Golf, which works on golf psychology with a very professional approach. Thanks to the mentorship of Carey Mumford, the psychologists of this academy have developed different techniques and teaching mechanisms that allow solid, reliable, and straightforward objectives. All in all, these concepts will allow you to card better and better rounds of golf while at the same time enjoying your game entertainingly.

REVIEW: Tathata Golf Training Program

The Tathata Golf Training Program gets you moving right away.

The Tathata Golf training program is a 60-day journey designed to bring you to a deeper level of understanding about the golf swing in a truly unique way. Borrowing from swing tendencies of the game's greatest players, mindfulness techniques and martial art discipline, Tathata Golf is a golf program unlike anything you've tried.

The theme of Tathata Golf

Tathata Golf is a lineage of unwavering care and love, with the utmost responsibility to authenticity. With truth comes a safe opening for everyone to come together for the betterment of all. From its inception, Tathata Golf has been built as a gift of love to all who visit.

The above passage appears on the About page of Tathata Golf, specifically written by Bryan Hepler, founder and instructor of the program. If the phrasing and content feel a bit heavy and philosophical, you'd be correct. Hepler stays in this lane throughout the program, reminding you to search for "actual truths," "inner strength" and "learning into your own being."

How does this make you a better golfer? Through his teachings, Hepler argues mastery and success can only be achieved after first understanding one's true self.

It's a bit New Age, to say the least.

Tathata Golf is a 60-Day Program

Yes, that's right. This program spans a full 60 days of training. Sixty. Days.

You'll be introduced to a series of step-by-step body movements and golf swing positions in a repetitive manner that build on one another. You'll also be lead through a series of mental exercises to help you establish a mindset for success by way of mindfulness and meditation.

I'm willing to go out on a limb and assume most golfers don't have the time -- and energy -- to complete 60 straight days of anything, let alone multiple 45-minute-long videos. Throw in the fact that you do not hit a golf ball once in the program and you've got an approach that will immediately turn off a large segment of golfers.

You are able to complete the program at your own pace if you wish to break up the 60 days into smaller chunks. This will increase your time commitment, of course, but is a good option for most golfers.

However, if you are willing to put in the time and effort into staying fully committed to the program, you will receive a master class in golf swing fundamentals proven to be effective.

But that's a huge "if."

I did not finish Tathata Golf

There, I said it. I did not finish the program because I simply did not have the time.

Granted, I would probably be more inclined to go through this program during the winter. The exercises presented in the program are detailed yet simple and Hepler does a fine job walking you through each exercise with precision. The video demonstrations are easy to follow and feel like they are beneficial.

Plus, you can do the entire program in any room of your house as your time actually swinging a golf club are controlled and limited. The mobility of Tathata Golf is a huge plus and cannot be overstated.

The in-program dashboard is also great. You can re-watch any lesson, jump ahead to others, and review in-depth lesson notes and tips to supplement your learning. I've never seen a more detailed and robust golf training program in my life.

My only concern is how digestible the content will be for golfers across the spectrum.

Who would benefit most from Tathata Golf?

While the program is designed for players of all levels, I believe Tathata Golf is best for beginners looking for a solid set of swing fundamentals for roughly $170.

More advanced players will also benefit to a degree, especially if you've struggled with specific swing concepts in your playing career or need a refresher. The end-game golf swing Tathata Golf teaches is solid and a model you'd be smart to emulate.

For more information on Tathata Golf, visit their website at www.TathataGolf.com.

Are Golf Lessons Worth It?

Improving your golf game can seem like a daunting task when you’re not sure where to begin. If you’re a beginner golfer, simply learning the fundamentals is an important step toward enjoying the game. The best way to accomplish either of these goals is to get golf lessons from a certified teaching professional.

Costs associated with golf lessons can be steep, leaving players with the question: are golf lessons worth it? This article will examine a few options for golfers of any skill level, as well as what you can expect in terms of improvement.

Golf lessons are everywhere

In today’s social media society, chances are you can find golf lessons in every corner of the internet. Teaching pros – and others who want you to believe they’re pros – on YouTube are aplenty and only a few mouse clicks away. Social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and TikTok feature additional videos of swing fixes or short game tips.

While many of these videos can be helpful for your game, there’s no real replacement for one-on-one golf lessons with a certified professional. Depending on the skill level of the “pro” on social media, you run the risk of hurting your golf swing more than helping. This is due to the general advice nature of the tips these videos provide, as the creator is hoping to reach as many golfers as possible in one video or social media post.

Improving your game is best achieved from a personalized golf lesson with a certified teaching professional who knows what they’re talking about.

Benefits of a Golf Lesson

Working directly with a certified teaching professional has many benefits. First and foremost, they will take a detailed look at your golf swing at the first lesson. This will allow them to diagnose any swing flaws or improper tendencies in your current golf swing. Doing so will prompt them to offer advice on how to fix your specific swing flaws as opposed to offering general advice that might apply to every golfer.

A certified teaching professional has been trained for years on not only how to diagnose a swing flaw, but to recommend drills and tips to address any specific flaw. They will also be able to provide evidence from other players who move their body in such a way to prevent the swing flaw from occurring, and relate it to your specific swing characteristics.

While there are certainly fundamentals every golfer should know – such as how to grip the club or address the golf ball – the number of intricacies in a golf swing are immense and tailored to the player. No two players swing a golf club the same way due to physical differences in body type or flexibility, to name a few. It’s always best to inform your golf professional of any flexibility limitations prior to a lesson.

A certified teaching professional will not only identify these differences in swing capability, but also recommend the best possible swing type for the golfer. It’s almost impossible to diagnose and recommend fixes to a swing flaw without first seeing a golfer’s swing, and this is best done in-person.

It should be noted that some online golf schools offer video lessons, which seek to offer a lesson experience like what you’d expect in-person. These could be a success “Plan B” if in-person lessons are not possible or available in your area.

Golf lessons can be pricey

It is true that golf lessons can be expensive, but this isn’t always the case across the board. It all depends on where you go and the length of the lesson.

Most golf teaching professionals charge by the hour and are affiliated with a golf course or country club. These pros are either paid by the course as salaried employee, work as independent contractors who charge students directly, or a combination of both. These professionals usually set their standard lesson rate – which can be as high as $100 per hour or more – and receive gratuity in some instances. It’s always best to call ahead to ask about the pro’s pricing structure before your lesson.

Other golf professionals work out of a large golf retailer and offer lessons indoors and on a golf simulator. These lessons are most often available in a package or membership of some sort, offering multiple lessons for a lump fee. This option can be as effective as seeing a golf professional at a course, however may only offer a limited number of time slots to the student for a lesson. A benefit of this golf lesson type is that discounted packages are sometimes available, especially around the holidays or early golf season months.

Do golf lessons really help?

There’s no question that a golfer will learn something to help their game from taking a golf lesson. The magnitude of improvement, however, usually depends on the golfer’s current skill level, number of lessons purchased, and practice time following a lesson.

Every golf lesson will give a player “homework” to practice following the lesson. This is independent time a player must spend at a driving range, practice green or on the golf course working on the tips from a previous lesson. Since golf lessons are usually one hour long (or less), a limited amount of information is provided to the golfer. They must continue to practice after the lesson to reap the benefits of what they’ve learned.

With time and practice, and perhaps a few follow-up lessons, a golfer can expect to improve their golf handicap. The rate of improvement will differ from one player to the next, but beginner golfers have the most chance to improve as their learning curve is steepest. Better players can also improve, but perhaps only by a few strokes in a round while the newer, less-skilled player can see changes that are much more dramatic.

Regardless of your skill level, it’s best to maintain realistic expectations on how much you’ll improve following a lesson. You might not become a golf pro overnight, but you’ll definitely learn ways to score better and enjoy the game more.

Can Golf Cause Tennis Elbow?

Are you experiencing pain around your elbow after a busy stretch of playing golf? Chances are this overuse has caused a very common ailment, but by a name you might not realize. Let’s take a look at if golf can cause tennis elbow.

What is Tennis Elbow?

According to the Mayo Clinic, “tennis elbow” is a term applied to lateral epicondylitis, a painful condition that includes inflammation in the tendons around your elbow. A common cause of this condition — which usually occurs on the lateral (or outside) portion of your elbow — is through repeated overuse.

It’s referred to as “tennis elbow” due to a common motion found in that sport: the backhand volley. While there are many potential movements that can lead to this condition, tennis players often suffer from the ailment. However, inflammation around the elbow can also occur on the medial — or “inside” — portion of the joint.

What is Golfer’s Elbow?

Similar to tennis elbow, “golfer’s elbow” describes the pain felt from inflammation on the opposite side of your elbow. Having experienced this ailment myself, I can confirm it is quite painful and can sometimes lead to numbness in the joint. Not fun.

When swinging a golf club more often than usual, and especially when making hard contact with the ground, golfers may overuse their arm joints. This can result in the aforementioned inflammation in your elbow, followed by pain and discomfort.

What is the treatment?

While I am not a medical professional and this is not to be perceived as medical advice, I do know what was recommended to me by my doctor.

My doctor recommended ice for the pain at first, as a means to lower the inflammation. I also supplemented this simple treatment with aspirin to help with pain relief. In addition, a few simple exercises was recommended to me to help strengthen the muscles around my elbow. These included squeezing a tennis ball (how ironic), using light weights to do wrist curls, and other similar movements.

A Golf Swing Breakthrough?

A could weeks ago I provided an update on my golf game, which at the time resembled something closer to a train wreck. Since then I’ve spent a great time of time and energy on fighting what ailed me, guided by the memory of decent play from my past and a library of YouTube tips.

I’m happy to report my most recent round showed promise, and it all stems from one simple swing adjustment… and a tomato stick.

A Quick Note on Swing Plane

For years I’ve struggled with a flat backswing. I used to attribute this to my baseball playing days as a child, but having played golf for over 25 years now, that excuse is running out of fuel.

For whatever reason, the feeling of a right elbow tucked against my side seemed like the best thing to do. Ben Hogan had a flat swing, for crying out loud! Surely if he — and countless other, less-successful pros — could make a flat swing plane work, I could figure out a way, too.

Over the years I began to convince myself that a single-plane swing was just a fancier way of referring to what you see in the video above, and I stuck to my guns. Unfortunately, my focus on that feeling in my right elbow became an obsession, and over time other aspects of the backswing fell apart. Loose wrists at the top became an exaggerated re-gripping of the club just before transition, which was evident on the wear patterns in my golf glove.

I recall a former playing partner suggesting that this little move — which included a sound that again confirmed I was re-gripping the club at the top — was a modern marvel of hand-eye coordination and timing. But not in a good way.

Perhaps the worst part of my swing was that it actually produced good rounds of golf from time to time. My lowest handicap ever was achieved last summer (6). It’s been a slow, painful climb back up toward double-digits ever since. Yes, it is true that it’s possible to have too much of a good thing.

I knew I needed to adjust something, and the only thing that sprang into mind was the plane of my backswing.

A YouTube Video Tip That Actually Works

Contrary to the advice I have given multiple people myself… I searched YouTube for about an hour on tips to steepen my swing. Despite the best efforts of friends and golf pros alike, I’ve never been able to adequately “feel” what a steeper backswing should be.

Until now.

The above video, filmed in 2016 by a pro I’ve never heard of, was just short enough to provide me the information I needed without being “too short.” It also seemed to make enough sense and was explained in such away that the message resonated. Plus, all it required was a purchase of a $2 tomato stick from my local hardware store to get started.

Working through the drill described in the video was odd at first, but I’d be damned if it didn’t work as advertised. Two range sessions with my newfound tomato stick resulted in what “felt” like a steeper swing, but more importantly, produced crisp contact.

While the results are still early and more testing is needed, we might be onto something here. Stay tuned for more updates as I have them.

My Golf Game is in Shambles

They say the first step toward making an improvement is to admit you have a problem. As it comes to my golf game so far in 2021, rest assured that we have a freakin’ problem, folks.

Working from home for the better part of 14 months paved the way for me to play more golf over that period than I had in years. Late afternoon tee times were abundant last summer, sneaking out to Cog Hill for a quick round or range session the norm. A brief “membership” at the nearby Ruffled Feathers served as a catalyst to even more swings well into the autumn, leaving my golf clubs tired yet satiated.

A very cold and snowy winter soon followed as COVID-19 spiked throughout the United States, prompting me to remain indoors and handcuffed to my laptop researching indoor golf solutions to tide me over.

In retrospect, I think this moment was the beginning of my downfall.

Living in a nearly 100-year-old home has its challenges. Walking three feet in any direction presents another part of the home that needs to be repaired, updated, or torn out. My basement, while large, consists of a damp cinderblock foundation surrounding a crumbling cement floor that can best be described as “lumpy.” It is also the one section of my home that provided enough space to swing a golf club. Sort of.

While I had more than enough horizontal space for a hitting net and driving range mat, my basement ceiling presented a vertical problem. At a tad over 8 feet, the ceiling quickly became my obsession as I pondered whether or not a 7-iron would rattle the exposed pipes as I chased dreams of B-Flight trophies. Luckily for me, I had spent over 25 years honing a flat backswing that provided just enough clearance to take a swipe at some old Titleist Pro-V’s I found in an egg carton.

What followed next is a routine of which I assume millions of golfers partake every day: watching hours of golf swing tips on YouTube. WARNING: this is an extremely slippery slope that I do not recommend as the risk of tumbling down a rabbit hole is very real.

After spending months making what seemed like progress in my makeshift basement driving range, I ventured on golf courses with a renewed sense of confidence. My membership — and sponsorship — of the Chicago Golf Tour heightened my excitement as I felt, for once, I could compete among peers and not make a damn fool out of myself.

At the time of this writing, four events on the Tour have come and gone. To place a grade on my game right now would be a travesty, as I’ve managed to break 90 one time in that short stretch. While Midwest weather patterns have been less-than-ideal this spring, I can hardly blame the flurry of blocks, hooks, three-putts, chili-dips and (dare I say) shanks that have plagued me thus far.

There’s something about golf that hits you dead in the heart when things go poorly. I don’t play more than once a week (at most), and the anticipation leading up to every round borders on unbridled chaotic excitement by the time I’m on the first tee. To play poorly, then, is a travesty that resembles a loss of a loved one, or a broken heart that can only be felt at an abandoned wedding alter.

A recent visit to the driving range (yes, following yet another YouTube frenzy) has left me with some hope of having figured things out, but I know only time will tell. These are dark times, indeed, however hope springs eternal.

Until the next first tee.

How to Find the Problem in Your Golf Game

Do you know how to clearly define the problem in your golf game? Understanding where you struggle the most is imperative to improving your scores, and the first step is to clearly identify which part — or parts — of your game need the most work. Thankfully, this is easily done.

Golf Plays with Our Emotions

When our golf game struggles, most golfers sit back and reflect on how their game makes them feel.

“I was really looking forward to playing today, and now I feel like it was a waste of time!”

If you’ve felt this way before, you are not alone. Most of us can only get out to the course once in awhile, so we have to make the best of our experience on the course. If our game isn’t cooperating, our enjoyment takes a nose dive. Unfortunately, the answer as to why we played poorly that day isn’t always evident.

This feeling of helplessness severely impacts not only our enjoyment of the game, but lowers the likelihood that we will ever improve. In fact, things will only get worse!

Map Out Your Game

In part one of this series we talked about the importance of being honest with yourself when evaluating your game. Do you miss too many fairways and greens? How many short putts do you miss? How often are you in bunkers?

Think about your last golf round. Picture every shot (that you can remember) in your mind, starting from the teebox on the first hole.

• Where did your tee ball land?

• Did you hit the green in regulation?

• Did you have any penalty shots?

• How many putts did it take to finish the hole?

Once you have a good picture of how you played the first hole in your most recent round, write each shot down on a piece of paper, index card or post-it note. You should have one note — or “process step” — for each shot on the hole. Be as specific as possible for each shot, and include the result.

In the map above, you’ll see we included the club that was used for the shot, along with any descriptors that could help with our practice plan (“7-iron;” “5-foot putt”, etc.).

Complete this same exercise for three or four more golf holes from your recent round. The goal is to create a process map that will help you identify trends in your game based on the results of your choices.

What’s the Next Step?

Once you’ve got a few holes mapped out, you’ve set yourself up for the next step: identifying trends in your game.

In the next installment of this series we will discuss how to use that data to your advantage, how to expand it into measurable metrics, and ultimately use it to improve your game. Stay tuned!

Do You Know The Problem in Your Golf Game?

Everyone who plays golf hopes to improve their game. Whether you are a 30-handicapper looking to break 100 or the scratch player hoping to break par more often, improvement is always top of mind.

But are you able to point out the problem in your game?

Identifying Your Problem

The first step in making any improvement is to understand whether or not you have a problem. That may sound a little heavy, but it’s the truth:

If you don’t think your game has a problem, then you will not be able to improve.

Think about the last round of golf you played. Could you have scored better? Most of us will say “Yes”… but do you know why?

Begin by asking yourself a few questions, and be as specific as possible:

• How many fairways did I hit?

• How many greens did I hit?

• How many putts did I miss inside five feet?

• How many shots did I hit thin or fat?

• How many bunkers was I in?

Asking these questions isn’t meant to remind you of how bad you are. Instead, it’s to ensure you have a good understanding of your biggest opportunities to improve. It’s important to not worry about “why” these common golf struggles are happening. It’s all about understanding the current state of your game.

Once you have an understanding of how many times you missed a fairway, green, or putt, you’ll have a measurable, easily-identifiable metric on which to improve.

Be Honest with Yourself

As in business and in life, taking an honest, hard look at one’s self can be uncomfortable. Nobody likes to look in the mirror and see those extra pounds we put on from the weekend. We’d very much like to blame something — or someone — else for our poor results.

But to really improve, we have to be willing to understand that there is something we can do better.

It will be difficult to remind yourself of all those bunkers you were in, or how many greens you missed. Nobody wants to think about that five-foot birdie putt we missed. We’d love to forget all those chunked wedges or topped hybrids.

As golfers, we are prone to ego. We prefer to tell stories of “the one that got away” rather than how we failed! This is natural, but it’s also a defense mechanism all people have to make themselves feel better.

In order to improve, however, you have to feel the pain. Otherwise, what’s the point of improving if not to alleviate that pain?

Next Steps

I will cover more ways to think about improvement in this series, but it all begins here: understanding that there is a problem in your golf game.

Notice that I didn’t type “understand WHY the problem exists.” That comes later; instead, focus on understanding IF a problem exists without jumping ahead to WHY… and certainly not to HOW WILL I FIX IT.

Stay tuned for more installments very soon.

VIDEO: GOLFTEC Putting Lesson with BioMech

Matt and Adam recently visited GOLFTEC - Naperville to learn about BioMech, a new putting lesson technology. By measuring a golfer’s biomechanics through the putting stroke, GOLFTEC’s certified instructors can help with face angle, stroke tendencies, and alignment on putts of any length.

Watch the video below to see a summary of our visit, then go to GOLFTEC.com to learn more.

How to Generate Power Like Rory McIlroy

I have a love/hate relationship with Rory McIlroy’s golf swing.

Essentially, there are two main reasons people hit a golf ball a far: clubhead speed, and quality of contact. That being said, there are two ways to generate the clubhead speed:

1. The arc of your swing, and/or…

2. Having your body work as one well oiled machine. 

Occasionally (read: constantly), it drives me crazy to watch Rory hit tee shot after tee shot that FLIES 320 yards.

Not because I dislike Rory; I actually really like the guy. It just seems so unfair that THAT distance can come from a man of his stature. I know the guy is in fantastic shape, and I know he’s a strong guy. But doesn’t it just seem impossible that a guy who’s listed at 5’9” can carry the ball 320? You’ve probably thought this before yourself.

I’m between 6’0” and 6’4” (depending on which convenient store I’m leaving), about 200 lbs, a single digit handicap despite what Adam Fonseca and Matt Hackett will tell you, (Editor’s note: on the PLUS side), I played college golf, have given hundreds of lessons and can hit it what I consider to be far. My ball speed is anywhere from 167-171, and I fly it in the 270-280 range, and rolls out to roughly 300, depending on the conditions. I consider that perfectly fine. 

But how the hell can it be, that a guy like Rory who seemingly could fit in his own damn golf bag, can FLY IT 50 YARDS PAST ME?

Actually, I can explain.

Swing Arc

The first critical element to generating speed is something you may already know: the bigger the arc you can have in your swing (really, the taller you are) the further the distance the clubhead will travel, and usually the faster the club will travel. 

Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying the only reason tall guys hit it far is because of their height, and fully know that the talent of all these players is off the charts whether they are tall or short. Nor am I saying that all tall people should hit it far.

I’m just saying there are two ways to create clubhead speed, with arc being the first. Think of holding a length of string between your thumb and forefinger with a weight attached to it.  Now think about swinging it around in a circle.  What is traveling faster, the part of the string near your hand, or the weight?

As Ben Hogan described in his 5 Lessons, the weight is the right answer. It has to travel the same distance as you travel in the same amount of time, and thus is traveling faster. This is the type of distance I attribute to guys like DJ, Bubba, Phil, Finau and any other of the taller guys on tour. It’s just basic physics. Combined with their incredible talent, of course.

Rory is shorter than all of those guys, but can fly it past them. Let’s dig deeper.

Timing and Technique

The second way to create the clubhead speed is timing and technique. The best way I can describe how Rory gets the distance he gets is to twist a rubber band up 4 or 5 times, and let it go. 

What happened? You’ll see the rubber band quickly untwisted back to its original shape, right? Rory’s coiling motion in his back swing and follow-through is similar. This motion requires an incredible amount of timing to execute perfectly, which Rory does.

Take a look at the side by side picture below. Focus an on a few different aspects of this picture. 

Rory McIlroy at the 2019 BMW Championship.

First, the picture on the right is Rory a millisecond before impact on a tee-shot he hit at the BMW Championship that he ABSOLUTELY massacred (I can honestly say I’ve never seen a ball stay I the air that long). He is moving off his right side through impact, and his left side is so perfectly straight you could level a pool table with it. 

Now look at Rory’s left shoulder. It went from coiled under him to uncoiled (pretty much straight up at least six inches) in an absolute split second…or from halfway down his swing to impact. 

Finally, look at the extension after impact in the photo below. Rory went from perfectly coiled up, to fully extended, in a split second. His technique of driving up and through the golf ball, getting to your left side, extending through the ball, and keeping your left side that straight is pretty much perfection. Timing this perfectly so it all happens that quickly like a rubber band is just amazing.

What Can We Learn?

First, if you can, work on widening the arc of your swing. This is different than taking a longer backswing. Instead, don’t be afraid to get your arms extended a bit on the takeaway, and create a little more distance for the club head to travel from the top of the backswing to impact. You can still do this move and remain short of parallel at the top.

Second, how many times have you heard someone say, “swing easy” or “I know I hit it better when I take a nice smooth swing?'“ More than you can count, correct? When someone tells you to “swing easy” they are trying to tell you to time your swing better, much like we see in Rory’s swing.

Swinging slower doesn’t actually make a golf ball go farther, physics don’t work that way. What swinging slower does is helps you time your golf swing better, and helps all the parts in your body that are working together stay connected to actually make the club head travel faster. This also helps get contact a little more in the center of the club face, thus increasing ball speed and distance.

Use this tip to get a little more distance out of a driver: slow it down a bit, work on getting through the ball, and time your swing right. You might not hit it as far as Rory, but that extra 10 yards you’ve been looking for are definitely already in your body.

(Adam Tatro is a former collegiate golfer and club professional.)

Why your putting sucks… and how to fix it

Do you struggle with your putting game? Here are three sure-fire ways to fix your putting in time for your next round. I’m a Marketing Professional addicted to golf. This gives me a unique perspective on the golf industry and instructions that are spewed from “golf experts”.

I don’t think I need to explain to you the importance of putting, the direct correlation between lower golf scores and a better short game. I mean the fact that PGA Professionals spend 80% of their time working on their short game speaks for itself, right?

The question then becomes: Why do you see massive amounts of articles about how to hit longer drives and so little about putting drills? Simple, LONG DRIVES SELL. Some of the top marketing professionals in the world have dove into the golf industry and realized when they tell you there’s a quick tool that can add 30 yards to your drive, you pull your wallet out and hand it to them.

So why does your putting suck? Probably because you never think about it, and like everything in life, the first step in solving a problem is realizing that there is one.

How to fix your putting:

1) Be honest with yourself

Do you think you’re a good putter? A bad one? Why? If you’re serious about improving your putting the first step is taking an objective look at your putting. No “feeling” involved. You may “feel” like you’re a good putter, but do your statistics back it up? What’s your average putts-per-round? Taking an honest look at your putting is the first step in identifying how it can be improved. Spoiler alert: No matter how good you think your putting is, it can be improved.

Takeaway: Start keeping track of your putts-per-round.

2) Practice putting - Seriously

“OH WOW NICE TIP DUDE, DUH!” Yea I said it, practice your putting, actually practice your putting. How many hours do you spend at the putting green? I guarantee not enough. How many times have you gone to your local range, planning on going to the putting green, but then seen that new driver staring at you waiting to be smashed? Or had an hour at the range and decided to spend just 15 minutes hitting balls, then chipping/putting for 45 minutes… which turns into you hitting balls for 50 minutes and quickly swiping a few putts for the last 10.

Takeaway: Get serious about practicing your putting. Go to the range with just your putter. Take the temptations away and focus on the flat stick.

3) Stop Thinking

We play in a golf industry strangled by the over production of technical content that pollutes the minds of weekend golfers. The last thing your should be doing while trying to make that 5 footer for birdie is thinking about whether or not your keeping your elbows together during your putting stroke. NEVER think about technique on the golf course. Look at the target, focus on it, roll the ball to it. A trust filled stroke will always outperform an unconfident, technically perfect stroke. If you do want to improve your technique, work your putting drills at the practice green. Even there, don’t overdue it. A natural, confident stroke will always be your best.

Takeaway: Stop taking putting so seriously (on the course). Just relax and roll the ball into the hole.

Bio: August Noble is the founder of the Golf Workout Program. An average golfer that was able to actually improve his game by ignoring what 99% of the information from “golf experts”.

REVIEW UPDATE: GolfTEC Improvement Center Golf Lessons

I've never written a second review on the same product or service in the 10+ years I've maintained a golf blog. After my third lesson this evening at my local GolfTEC Improvement Center, I knew I had to break that trend and write a quick update on my progress. As I mentioned in my first review of GolfTEC, there are over 200 of their golf improvement centers in four nations, including all major U.S. cities. My local GolfTEC location -- Naperville, IL. -- features the outstanding golf instructor Ian Hughes, who I have worked with all three times.

Readers of this site may remember that my biggest swing flaw has been "casting" the club from the top, commonly referred to as an early release. This puts pressure on my game due to a loss in distance and consistency, which becomes incredibly frustrating throughout the year. After today's lesson with Ian, however, this flaw might be gone for good.

Today's 'Before' Swing

[video width="800" height="356" mp4="http://golfunfiltered.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/before.mp4"][/video]

You'll notice in this swing that my hands are way behind my belt buckle (right camera angle), which is common in golfers who cast the club. This contributes to my loss in power, consistency, and to overall suckage in my game.

After making a few changes under Ian's instruction -- which included the swing thought of keeping my right arm across my chest while keeping my right wrist flexed -- I began to notice a difference in my swing.

My After Swing

[video width="800" height="356" mp4="http://golfunfiltered.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/after.mp4"][/video]

It might be hard to see at full speed, but my hands are much more in front of the ball at impact in my after swing. Here's a more detailed video of what my posture looked like after working with Ian for less than 30 minutes:

[video width="752" height="556" mp4="http://golfunfiltered.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/movie3.mp4"][/video]

That's me on the left and Jim Furyk on the right. If I can match the impact position of one of the game's best ball strikers of all time, I consider that a win.

Overall Impression

I continue to be impressed with the service and quality of the golf lessons I receive at GolfTEC Improvement Centers. Ian Hughes is a fantastic golf swing coach, and I have no doubt that with more work, he'll help me achieve my goal of becoming a scratch golfer.

For more information on GolfTEC Improvement Centers, visit www.golftec.com.

REVIEW: GolfTEC Improvement Center Golf Lessons

Since 1995, GolfTEC has been a leader in mainstream golf instruction that has spread throughout the nation -- and globe -- for the last 20 years. With over 600 Certified Personal Coaches -- many of whom are PGA Teaching Professionals -- GolfTEC has reached a staggering number of lessons that equates to roughly 1 in 4 of all lessons held throughout the year, anywhere. Today there are nearly 200 GolfTEC Centers in four countries, including more than 80 inside Golfsmith Stores. In addition to almost all major U.S. cities, GolfTEC has Improvement Centers in Canada, Japan and Korea.

My Instructor

I had the good fortune of being invited to my local GolfTEC location to work with instructor Ian Hughes in Naperville, IL. What followed was quite simply the best golf lesson I've had in years.

Hughes is the Director of Instructor at the Naperville location and has a teaching resume that is impressive by any means. A Certified PGA Teaching Professional, he is a three-time IPGA Teach of the Year nominee and four-time Golf Digest Best-in-State nominee. Even before I walked into the door I knew I was in good hands.

Pre-Lesson

Prior to my visit, GolfTEC sent me a brief questionnaire to access my current golf handicap, game preferences and tendencies, as well as what I am currently struggling with in my game. While it is true that other teaching pros or golf centers follow a similar method, I was impressed by the level of questions I was being asked from square one.

Follow-up and lesson confirmation was immediate, which included an email with my lesson date, time, location and instructor name. Very thorough and very appreciated.

During the Lesson

GolfTEC Centers are fully equipped with patented golf instruction equipment that ranges everywhere from video cameras, ball launch monitors (GC2-HMT), motion sensors and the K-Vest, which we have discussed on this site in the past.

During my 60-minute lesson, Ian and I covered a number of items that a golfer of my skill level (9 handicap) should focus on when practicing, playing, and self-diagnosing my swing when stuff gets out of whack. Ian's knowledge of the golf swing is immense, including his ability to explain the biomechanics of any swing change he recommended during our session.

In fact, after two golf swings Ian accurately predicted where my trouble areas are on the course. I was shocked.

While I won't bore you with what Ian and I talked about for my game, I was also impressed (yeah, I've been using that word a lot) by the thoroughness of the lesson follow-up to help me sustain the gains from what I just learned.

Here are two samples of the technology used and content of my lesson, provided to me direct from my instructor via the GolfTEC members website.

Overall Impression

To put things simply, I was incredibly impressed by my first GolfTEC Improvement Center experience. Not only was my instructor, Ian Hughes, highly informative, helpful and obviously talented at his craft, but I saw improvement in my ballstriking within minutes of making a swing adjustment.

The results and opinions from other GolfTEC students speak for themselves. For example, the GolfTEC Naperville location welcomed students to send the location golf balls every time they won a tournament, hit a hole-in-one, or shot a career-low round.

They ran out of wall space.

We have reviewed many golf instructors and golf training programs on this site. Why it has taken me this long to visit a GolfTEC Improvement Center is embarrassing, as this may have been the best initial golf lesson experience I've ever had. It is evident that if you want to improve your golf game, GolfTEC and their team of talented instructors can be an immediate answer to your swing ailments.

Of course, this is not to suggest that all of your golf swing issues will be solved in one session. Luckily GolfTEC offers multiple lesson packages to fit your needs, with individual lessons starting at $95/half hour (session discounts on packages also apply).

I cannot recommend GolfTEC Improvement Centers highly enough. I will absolutely use their services again in the future. I suggest you do the same.

To learn more about GolfTEC Improvement Centers visit www.golftec.com.

Golf Mindset: 5 Mental Tricks to Instantly Improve Your Game

Any golfing enthusiast will tell you - golf is a mental game. Physical strength counts for something – but it’s just one factor that goes into a solid game of golf. To succeed at golf, you also need focus, cool nerves, and sharp concentration.

The best golfers have a mastery of the mental game, which helps them sink a hole when it counts. But how can you attain that fortitude and mental stamina? When you want to improve your physical fitness, the solution is simple – do physical exercise. Improving your mental fitness can be a bit trickier.

Are you ready to hone your mental game? If you want to flex your grey matter on the green, try these five mental hacks.

1. No self doubt

If you want to win, first you must believe you can win. It’s healthy to admire elite golfers, but don’t hold them in such awe that you doubt your own ability to perform.

You may not win every time, but never lose faith in yourself. Self-doubt is self-defeating. The minute that you stop believing you can win, you’ve sealed your own fate – you won’t win.

Ever seen a golfer with a case of the yips? Pessimism and bad nerves can be very counterproductive on the green. Don’t let self-doubt cramp your style. Reassure yourself with affirmations before every game. Tell yourself: I can do this.

2. Hone your pre-shot routine

It’s common for nerves to set in between the time you select your club and start to swing. If you don’t have a consistent pre-shot routine, this is when your mind can wander, distracting your focus from the shot at hand.

Fend off nerves by concentrating on the present moment, thinking only about what you’re about to do. There’s no one-size-fits-all routine – you have to develop a process that works best for you. And hone your routine every time you’re on the golf course – whether it’s practice or play.

Once you have perfected a pre-shot routine for every shot, you will operate on autopilot. If you watch the best pro-golfers, you’ll see that their routines never change. It’s the same every time - right down to the number of seconds it takes.

3. Don't forget to breathe

When you’re staring down the fairway and the pressure is on, your breathing pattern can make or break. Improved breathing techniques help to counteract the nervousness and loss of fine motor skills that occur in stressful situations.

Proper breathing has a calming effect, which reduces the mental and physical impacts of stress. On the golf course, a deep breath can eliminate nerves and tension, enabling you to concentrate and perform. It also reduces muscle tension, which improves your range of motion and muscle function.

Simple breathing exercises can help you clear your mind and recover from a bad hole. Take five deep and steady breaths: inhale slowly, count to three, and then gently exhale. This delivers oxygen to your brain, which improves your focus.

4. Practice under pressure

Your practice shouldn’t just prepare you for the physical challenges of the game. During a tournament, you have to perform under mental pressure - so you should introduce similar pressures to your practice.

Instead of repeatedly hitting for the same target, simulate golf course conditions. Set yourself score targets, to recreate the pressure of competition. Or do a quick burst of cardio exercises, to boost your heart rate and replicate the pressure you feel on the course.

In a tournament, you don’t have the luxury of putting away, without consequence – every shot counts. Approach your practice with the same discipline and focus that you will need on the green.

5. Keep calm and play on

It’s important to manage your emotions on the golf course. Disappointment and anger are natural reactions to a bad shot, but you must let go of those negative feelings. If

you carry them from one shot to the next, your whole game will suffer.

Find ways to resolve negative emotions. You might focus on your breathing; or try visualising another, more impressive shot that you have made; or choose a positive thing, place or person to think about, to shift your mindset – it may have nothing to do with golf.

And remember: patience is a virtue that can help you win. If your impulse is to make an aggressive play, opt for a more conservative shot. When you compete, the greens are faster and the rough is thicker. If you grow impatient, you will flounder.

Author Bio:

Kurt Linde is General Manager at Pacific Dunes Golf Club, Port Stephens. Kurt is a PGA professional and former touring professional, having golfed on the Australasian, South Pacific and Canadian tours alongside some of the most talented golfers in the world. 

VIDEO: Jordan Spieth's pre-round warm-up routine

PGA Tour media has been killing it lately with a wide range of YouTube videos focusing on players' pre-round warm-up routines. Not only do the videos provide a behind-the-scenes look at some of the biggest names on Tour, they also serve as a helpful reminder that practice makes perfect, even for the world's best. Jordan Spieth's pre-round warm-up isn't anything out of the ordinary, but very systematic and consistent from one tournament to the next.

In fact, you might say it's downright robotic. But that doesn't mean it isn't effective.

Pay close attention to the percentage of shots under 100 yards he hits in his warm-up.

GOLF TIP: Golf Backswing Drill

The backswing might be the one part of the golf swing that amateur players obsess about the most. Swaying back away from the ball during this critical moment of the swing is one of the worst -- and most common -- swing flaws in the game. Today's golf tip video from PGA teaching professional and YouTube golf instructor Chris Ryan offers a simple drill you can use on the driving range to correct this flaw. All you need is a range basket and a golf club of alignment stick.

What are some of your favorite backswing tips? Share them down in the comments below!

The Wide-Narrow-Wide Golf Swing Drill

Like most amateur golfers, I struggle with finding distance in my irons. This is can be the result of a poor strike, but more often this is due to an improper swing sequence through impact. To get the most distance out of every swing, you should incorporate a "wide-narrow-wide" sequence. As the name of the sequence implies, your goal should be to start your takeaway in a wide arc away from your body by keeping your arms straight. The "narrow" portion occurs during your downswing as your swing arc moves closer to your body as your right arm reattaches to your torso. Finally, the last "wide" step focuses on driving through the ball and finishing with outstretched arms once again.

To illustrate what I mean by wide-narrow-wide, YouTube golf instructor Chris Ryan has a great golf swing drill for you to practice on the range. This is what I will be working the most on in my own golf swing for the next few weeks.

The Best Golf Pre-Shot Routine Tips Ever

Hitting great golf shots is next to impossible unless you have an elaborate pre-shot routine. This is basically science and should not be disputed. Unfortunately, not everyone is able to grasp this concept despite seeing concrete proof from golfing savants like Keegan Bradley (h/t Adam Sarson):

That man has a major. He also has horrific nervous tendencies, but OCD really means Officially a Cool Dancer.

Luckily for us, Twitter was invented for the sole purpose of providing helpful hints on how to play golf like a pro. And for sharing pictures of cats playing the piano. But moreso for golf instruction (which is why Twitter's icon is a birdie).

So for the low price of absolutely free, here is a list of the three best pre-shot routine tips from the greatest minds in the Twitterverse. Think well of me when you win your major.

Calm your nerves by any means necessary

@AdamJFonseca Start with a shot of Jameson's. #BreakfastOfChampions

— John Lahtinen (@JohnLahtinen) March 14, 2015

Not only is this suggestion completely inappropriate to good health, it's also important to playing great golf. Alcohol has been as big a part of the game as mashies, sand bunkers and smearing deer urine on your hands.

In addition to starting your day off with a substantial pull from your family's bottle of Jameson Whiskey, be sure to always carry a minimum of one gallon of the beverage in your golf bag at all times. Any proper pre-shot routine includes swallowing an ounce of the Irish nectar prior to every swing. Following this method is guaranteed to lower your scores dramatically as you are forced to minimize your strokes lest you experience instantaneous liver failure.

Daydream like a crazy person

@AdamJFonseca Visualize your shot. — Steinthor Sigurdsson (@SteinthorSig) March 14, 2015

If I've said it once then I've said in a thousand times: take every opportunity to escape from reality while playing golf.

One such way is by staring off into another dimension for the purpose of accidentally noticing a premonition on how the future will unfold. Experts in this technique include those of incredible mental prowess, including:

• Tiger Woods (before 2009)
• Jack Nicklaus
• Miss Cleo

Visualizing your shot is imperative to proper course management and instilling within yourself an extreme level of confidence. Take a few moments to will your next shot to its target by way of subjectively wishing yourself to death.

Placate yourself like you were your own mother-in-law

@AdamJFonseca only positive thinking: brain doesn't understand negation

— Dante Isingrini (@EasyCicero) March 14, 2015

The power of positive thinking cannot be overlooked. It's very much like the power of the positive leads on a car battery: placing your tongue on its surface may seem like a bad idea, but you'll be shocked at the results.

The greatest golfers in the world never allow negative thoughts to enter their minds. This is likely accomplished by years of brutal self-discipline, monk-style flogging and repeated viewings of Johnny Miller shooting 63 at Oakmont. In time, the very notion of a negative thought is instead met with an avalanche of positivity and an immediate release of the bowels.

Focusing on nothing but positive encouragement prior to every shot is, arguably, the most important element of a pre-shot routine.

The 80/20 Principle of Golf

If you want to challenge your creativity, to go outside of your comfort zone and get better quicker then read on, this article is for you.

PARETO’S PRINCIPLE

You have maybe heard of the 80/20 rule (also known as Pareto’s Principle). Its a general rule that states that 80% off the outcomes can be attributed to 20% of the causes. Don’t spend countless hours working on things that will impact your score very little. Read on as we discuss how to get the most from your practice, how to shortcut the drudgery and engage your brain in a new way.

GOLF IS JUST A GAME

When your wage is on the line, a tournament becomes a very serious week and perhaps thats the mistake a mini-tour player might make. We watch Bubba curve it round the trees, Rickie and Rory joke and laugh in the final pairing of The Open Championship and marvel - how can they be so relaxed? The cliche does hold true, it is just a game. They play for victory. Games by nature have a degree of randomness and reward aggression.

GETTING OUT OF YOUR OWN WAY

Personally I look back at my own golf and think when did I most outperform my technical ability? How did I achieve my best scores when I wasn’t able to practice much, my golf consisting of 9 holes in the summer evenings with friends.

I believe that the way we played was instrumental in developing my attitude to the game. (How could I ever turn away from a game that has shown me such fun?) I see many low handicappers and professional friends lose interest in the game. They aren’t quitters, they aren’t soft and they have definitely given it their full attention over years of dedication.

But the exactness and loneliness of the pursuit of ‘better’ combined with the wrong perspective on improvement has defeated them.

Did they not have what it takes or did they chase performance in the wrong areas?

THE PURPOSE OF FUN

On those summer evenings we never kept score. There was no winner, just memorable shots. There were no rules. Hit when you want, change your lie, play another ball, don’t bother with a marker. Absolutely any form of mental intimidation was acceptable. We played from the wrong tees, sometimes making up a par 6.

We were challenging our creativity, we were testing our mental strength, our resilience and we were having fun. It forced us to acknowledge that it was a game and that being out of your comfort zone could be a positive thing.

MUSCLE MEMORY

Varied training prevents it becoming drudgery or becoming an isolated skill that will not transfer under pressure. Rather than feeling good about hitting 500 hundred balls you will learn to judge your practice by its quality. Habit formation improves greatly in all fields when challenges are present and emotion is created. More emotion equals more memory - the brain is engaged.

If that brilliant four iron you hit on the range is one of five hundred shots that day how will you ever remember that? What if after those five hundred balls you went on the course and hit a brilliant four iron 220 yards over water to ten feet? You would remember that! We know that muscles have no memory, your brain is responsible for movement. Without this positive emotion and powerful memory recall, little is gained.

THE 'TRY HARDER' FALLACY

Many think that better means repetitive grinding, going through the motions of appearing dedicated, showing to all how serious we are about getting better. Revelling in the glory of ‘digging it from the dirt’, measuring achievement in time spent or number of balls hit.

Why not judge yourself by your creativity and mental freedom? Is that not what peak performance is all about? Getting out of your own way, eliminating excess thought, playing on instinct and joy are all features of ‘the zone’. Why not search for these in your practice in training? Or is that elbow position really going to make a difference?

• Why are drills so effective at creating big changes? They enforce a feeling without conscious thought. It’s hard to practice the instinct to balance unless you challenge yourself by hitting balls with only one leg in position for instance.

• Try some ‘Happy Gilmore’ shots or perhaps a mild version by stepping on and off the ball. Notice how hard it is to create change or think too much when a swing at the ball starts from a very dynamic position.

• Practice your short game with only one club like Seve - try and hit every trajectory with one loft. Make it harder by using less loft. Seve became a master with a long iron only!

• Play most of your practice rounds with a half set. This makes you versatile and adaptable. Never again will you feel uncomfortable between clubs.

• Next time you are on the course with a friend choose each others shot requirements and only as you settle over the ball, so like a footballer you will have little time to process and create the shot.

GOLF IS JUST A SPORT, TREAT IT LIKE ONE

We tend to think our sport is special. We think it is more difficult than others and has its own set of rules for success. It isn’t. Success under pressure means embracing your creativity and reactions and your unconscious ability.

Make each session on the course or range as unique as possible. Make performance gains quicker than ever before.

(Malcolm Isaacs is a fellow golf blogger who maintains MeandMiBlog.com. He can be reached via email at malcolmisaacsgolf@gmail.com.)