One –stop Fidding by trying to add new things to your swing … you already have enough to think about. Everybody’s going to hit bad shots – hopefully not often, but it’ll happen.
This is where a Player has properly prepared by having a “go to drill” they use to regain the feel they have temporarily lost. This drill will help them to find their swing within two or three shots.
However, the Golfer without the “go to drill” … will be stuck in “Fiddling Mode” until they find something that works.
Unfortunately, many Golfers are often stuck in “Fiddling Mode” for 8 or 9 holes. While others seem to be perpetually stuck trying to find anything that works every round they play.
What’s your “go to drill”?
Two – stay calm even when you know the group behind you is waiting.
Unfortunately, many people don’t realize how much this extra anxiety affects your golf swing. They think of it as an annoyance … but don’t realize how this negatively changes their ability to hit a good shot.
Because when you know that group is behind you – you’re not making as thorough a PLAN before each shot, your Rehearsal Swing becomes nothing more than you just swinging without a ball, and you don’t set-up making sure you’re properly balanced. In-other-words … your hurried golf swing resembles all of the above.
Oh, I apologize – so you usually don’t have a PLAN before each shot? Your Practice Swing is always just like a regular swing without a golf ball? And you’re rarely focused on your balance at set-up?
And you wonder why it’s difficult to find a consistent swing while on the course.
Three – have a PLAN on each shot that’s based on your strengths, weaknesses, and tendencies. You should never hit a golf shot without observing what the golf course presents you for your next shot and how the strengths, weaknesses and tendencies of your game relate to this.
While 90% of Golfers never use a PLAN … that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t PLAN. Because those 90% are what we call “Strugglers” as they’re always having difficulty with finding a consistent swing.
If you want to struggle with inconsistency … continue without a PLAN. But if you want to join the 10% that are more consistent … you need to learn how to create a PLAN based on your golf game.
Four – why do you have a Practice Swing? Are you just doing it because everyone else is?
Most inconsistent Golfers answer with: “I use it to loosen up” or “I use it to get ready” or “It’s just what I do”.
On-the-other-hand, the Player uses their Rehearsal Swing as a tool to get the most out of their swing. They’re feeling and exaggerating the movements they’ve been working on. It’s not just a swing without a golf ball. It’s far more important than that.
As you look at the Player making their Rehearsal Swing … it may appear as if they’re just swinging. But they’re focused on something that’s much more important than just swinging at an invisible golf ball.
By using the 4 points above – you’re giving yourself more opportunity to make a consistent golf swing. You can practice, practice, practice … but never improve on the golf course even though you’ve hit a million golf balls on the range.
The Player is a Player because he/she is working on their swing mechanics in conjunction with the above points. Thus, they are better prepared to adapt to different situations on the golf course. Whereas the regular Golfer can go on a good streak of shots for a few holes … but just as quickly lose it and go into a funk for 5 or 6 holes.
In other words – there’s a reason why the Player enjoys consistency … while the Monkey continues to fiddle.
The Monkey looks at these 4 ideas on improving their game and goes back to doing what they’ve been doing
The Player will reinforce their “go to drill”, work on their PLAN and focus on their Rehearsal Swing
Go ahead, Be a Player!
Regards,
Marc Solomon – Your Instructor For Life