Do
you dream of consistent laser-guided precision in your drives? We'll
believe it or not, you don't need any fancy technology.
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You can develop pin-point, repeatable accuracy with
your own in-built laser guidance system. "My own in built laser?"
you
might ask. Yes, my friend, it's called the power of focus and with a
little practice you can easily acquire this skill that will make you
the envy of the fairway. You'll enjoy the pleasure of seeing those
balls smack your targets just like a laser-guided bomb.
Precision Strokes on The
Fairway – Have you ever consistently hit great long range precision
shots at the driving range only to find yourself disappointed with lack
luster performance on the fairway?
Your fall–off in performance is most
likely to do with your mental game. With the much less structured
environment of the fairway, your brain has many more distractions to
contend with.
In much the same way as a race car driver recovers from a
skid, it is crucial that you withdraw your focus from where you do not
want the ball to go, like bunkers and such and focus instead on where
you want it to go.
Focus, Focus, Focus - Your
brain works to render the dominant image that you hold in your head. I
f
your image is one of not “hitting the bunker”, the bunker is the most
likely outcome you will create. Instead, concentrate on where you
intend the ball to go at the exclusion of all else. Choose a narrow
feature of your target area like a tree branch or a distinctive patch
of grass.
Visualize the ball landing exactly where you want it. With
intent focus and only thoughts of where you want the ball to go, you
will produce your desired result. Focus, focus, focus is your key to
ensuring the ball goes precisely according to your intention. With this
crucial mental factor addressed, let’s take a look in the technique
department.
The Chill Factor – You know,
if there’s a common ingredient to superior performance in all sports,
it’s the relaxation or “chill” factor. Paradoxically relaxation often
overcomes brute force.
It’s a key a principal underlying martial arts
like Aikido and it’s the essence of what football great and recent
winner of ‘Dancing with the Stars’, Emmitt Smith calls being in the
“zone”. If you’re flexible and you have “give” in you body, you can
more easily take effective, clear-headed, responsive action in any
given situation.
The same holds true for your golf. Cultivate the
intention of relaxation over power in your game and focus on striking
the golf ball in a relaxed, easy manner. You’ll exert less effort in
your swing and you’ll be surprised when the ball travels an equal if
not greater distance, then when your intent is on power driving. So
chill and enjoy.
Cultivate Your Swing Plane –
To achieve repeatable accuracy, you must ensure that your club-head
follows a consistent path in the same “swing plane” every time. Think
of your swing plane as an inclined disc that envelops the trajectory of
your club. Swing planes are as unique as thumb prints.
So you’ll need
to experiment with your arm positioning to discover the right swing
plane that works for you. Move slowly through your downswing and notice
how individual adjustments of the different joint angles lead to
consistency and comfort. Again, comfort is your key indicator. Remember
if it’s not comfortable it’s not right for you.
Align Your Clubface – It
might seem obvious but the alignment of your clubface directly dictates
the trajectory of your ball. You can maximize control over of your
clubface angles by ensuring that your leading wrist is flat with
respect to your forearm through your downswing to impact.
Don’t be
tempted to snap your wrists at the bottom of your swing. It’s a common
misconception amongst amateur gofers that the “wrist snap” gives more
power. It doesn’t. According to Theodore Jorensen, expert on the
physics of golf, this action reduces club head speed. What’s more it
screws up your club head alignment. So keep those wrists flat and
you’ll enjoy a great foundation for whacking the ball at the proper
angle every time.
Laser Guided Precision – Yes,
practice these simple strategies and enjoy a wonderful improvement in
your accuracy and your scoring. Remember to think David over Goliath
and cultivate accuracy over power. Chill out, get in your “zone” and be
relaxed in your swing action. Cultivate you unique swing plane for
repeatability.
Keep your wrist flat for refined control over your
clubface alignment. And finally, whack those balls with laser-guided
precision when you tie it all together with the simple mental strategy
of “Focus, Focus, Focus”.
As the new golf season rolls
around, you may find yourself saying the words, "I think I've got
it". Why? Because for most of us, the beginning of the
season brings us some surprisingly good rounds of golf.
It's
funny how you haven't played golf seriously in about 4-6 months, yet
right out of the gate, you end up playing some of the best golf of the
year. This, of course, leaves you scratching your head because
you remember how last year wasn't so great. So what happened over
the course of the winter that is allowing you to play so well now?
Maybe your new found skill
occurs because you took a break over the winter months? Maybe
it's the new clubs you received for Christmas? Maybe you read a
tip in a golf magazine? Or maybe you are taking the game less
seriously? To be honest with you, it's a little bit of all of these
things. Here's what I mean ...
Taking a Break
When you take a break for a
few months over the winter you seem to forget what you were working on
at the end of last year. The things that were important to you
then, aren't so important anymore. This not only eases your mind
but it also allows you to lighten up a little and stop you worrying
about your swing. Because of this, you may play a little better
at the start of the year.
Excuses ... Excuses
Starting a new season gives
you a great excuse if you play poorly. What is it? Simple
... it's the beginning of the season! Typically, the beginning of
the season allows you to be a little more care free. This care
free attitude allows you to have more fun and minimize your
expectations. If your expectations are low you may be pleasantly
surprised at how well you play.
Golf Tips
How does a golf tip make you
play better golf at the beginning of the year? The obvious reason
is that it may actually help to improve your swing. Secondly, it
gets you thinking of 1 swing thought instead of 10. This
concentration on only one thing allows you to remain focused instead of
confused. This kind of clarity can help you play quite well at
the beginning of the season as well.
New Equipment
When you try a new driver or
putter it feels different versus your old club. Because of this,
you're thinking so much about the new feel of the new club that you
forget about your swing. When you don't think about your swing,
you usually hit the ball quite well. So this too can add to some
great rounds at the beginning of the season.
Summing It All Up
To sum it all up, all of
these things I mentioned stop you from thinking too much about the
mechanics of your swing when you go to play. If you aren't
thinking about the mechanics of your swing, you can think about getting
the ball in the hole which is what you should be always thinking about
every time you play, not just at the beginning of the season.
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