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2014-2015 Golf Swing &

Performance

Manual…after the golf swing

there shall be golf!

James E. “Coach” Robertson SAU Head College Golf Coach

PGA Tour Instructor

Golf Performance Author

$40 USA

Golf Team Performance Manual – after the swing there shall be golf!

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© Copyright United States of America. March 13, 2011. TXu 1-745-398 James E. Robertson, [email protected]. Current Revision Date: 4/11/2014.

This special edition covers high school, international club, college

golfers, along with aspiring professional golfers. Please excuse the typos, mistakes,

misspellings, and omissions in this manual.

The manual is still under development, is

evolving, and will continually be under

revision. This edition has not undergone

final editing. All photos and artwork are for

illustration purposes only. Final artwork,

photos, etc. will be added prior to printing

and publication.

Thanks, Coach Robertson

mailto:[email protected]

After the Swing there Shall be GOLF!

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Words to learn the game of GOLF by….

“The game of golf does not judge you, it only provides you

with feedback in the form of consequences, lessons, and

opportunities to learn and balance your performance and

yourself through the Law of Cause-and-Effect.”

Author unknown

Welcome to a compilation of work, learning,

teaching, writing, playing, and coaching that spans over fifty years. Learning the game of golf started for me with carrying a golf bag up and down the slopes of Hillcrest Country Club in KC Missouri at the age of twelve. Caddying taught me a lot about golf, golfers, and human nature. And here I am, fifty years later and still carrying a bag over my shoulder, walking up and down the hills, and continuing to learn.

Between my first caddying job and now, golf has allowed me to work with many of the game‘s great competitors, teachers, coaches, and innovators, along with some of the great characters of the game. Tour Player Peter Jacobsen comes to mind because he was our first professional golf client while I was president of Sports Enhancement Associates (S.E.A.), a professional sport training firm. Peter is truly one of the more gifted and humorous golfers of our times. Chuck Hogan (author, teacher, and S.E.A. Founder) was way…way…ahead of his time in thinking through how to learn and play the game of golf. I was fortunate to be able to work with Chuck on our S.E.A. book, “Five Days to Golfing Excellence,” which is still recommend reading for all golfers. During the early S.E.A. years, IMG/S.E.A. client Johnny Miller introduced us to Dr. Stephen Covey in the middle of a hardware store in Salt Lake City, UT. At the time, Stephen had neither published his now national best seller “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People,” nor gained fame as one of the top performance trainers and speakers in the world. However, those of us at S.E.A. quickly realized the potential of the principles he was working on for golf. I eventually became a facilitator for Dr. Covey‘s 7 Habits program and give him credit for helping to lay the foundation of success for our professional golf development programs and now on the collegiate level. Without understanding, internalizing, and habituating Dr. Covey‘s 7 Habits, it is virtually impossible for golfers to succeed at the top levels of the game, or more importantly in life. Thanks Stephen!

Doc Suttie (golf author, PGA and Tour Instructor, and international acclaimed golf instructor) has been in the front of my mind ever since our first meeting years ago. I have worked with Doc on several projects, including his book “Your Perfect Swing”. Much of what I came to understand and coach about the biomechanics and techniques of the game, including LAWS™, came from Doc. Doc co-wrote The LAWS of the Golf Swing, which is required reading for all golf coaches.


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Working around Dave Pelz and his professional clients had the most impact on how I think, play, and teach my way through the putting and scoring game. At S.E.A., we had the opportunity of working with several of Dave‘s clients and saw firsthand the success they experienced. Watching Dave and his clients grow through the years has been a Ph.D. in the finesse scoring game. Dave came all the way from being a NASA scientist to a true guru of the short game. His impact on all of us has been immense. As a side note, we first met Barney Adams, founder and Chairman of the Board of Adams Golf, while he was associated with Dave Pelz in Dallas, Texas. Barney, and Adams Golf, certainly went on to achieve great success.

For my adventure into the mind‘s side of golf, I own deep appreciation to Dr. Wes Sime, PGA Tour Instructor and former Sport Psychologist with The University of Nebraska. Wes and I have worked with many a Tour professional together. We have also worked with some of the great college athletes and coaches of our time, but that is another story. Over the years, we have arrived at the conclusion that golf tournaments are won or lost in the conditioning/strength training room as much as on the golf course. More and more, we are finding that top performing golfers at all levels of the game invest about half of their development time in conditioning, strength training, neuro-motor transfer drills, and flexibility training. Ralph Simpson, former PGA Tour Fitness Trainer and co-author of “Complete Conditioning for GOLF”, helped us realize that physical training is much about mental skills training and self-management through dedicated hard work as it was physical conditioning. For this insight we are grateful to Ralph. His book is a must “do” for all golfers. Thanks to all the individuals we have met and learned from along the way. Check the section in your manual entitled Your Book Shelf – References for the books and materials associated with the individuals mentioned above. They are all a must do resources for your success.

See you on the green. Coach Robertson

“The kind and level of success we seek as a team

must be available to every individual on the team

or we will never reach our goals and objectives.” Coach Robertson


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It is impractical to maintain all of the additions, changes, deletions and support documents for your various golf performance manuals. Therefore, additional support information and changes have been posted in article form on the internet. You can obtain copies of these articles and support documents by contacting coach at [email protected]

NCAA Compliance Issues For NCAA college golf programs and golfers, please note that there are no stated or implied time schedules for when any of the activities, study, or mastery of the information contained in this manual must be completed. If you think that such time schedule/completion statements or inferences have been made by the coaching staff, please check with them immediately to ensure a clear understanding of NCAA compliance guidelines for hours of practice. --Coach Robertson



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TABLE OF CONTENTS Table of Contents 7

Getting Started on Your Journey 13

Journalizing: Get started now

Keys to Successful 17

Life Skills and the Game of GOLF: a personal development process 19

Our Development Process

Bands of Steel: Habits

Understanding Expectations

Decision Making in the Gap

Relationship Building

The Gap

Life Skills

Code of Conduct

Be Careful Keeping Score

Circle of Control – a possible starting point

Self-Management versus Course Management

Work Through Things Our Way 1st

Dealing With Adversity

Decision Making & Goal Accomplishment 35

Decision Making & Problem Solving

Goal Achievement

Goals, Objectives, Action Plans

Goal Assessment and Achievement Worksheet Example

Player Performance Evaluation

Defining the Game of Golf

Defining Success vs. Allowing it to Define You

Your Definitions of Winning and Losing

Team Building Note

The Bucket!

Tools of Your Trade 57

Determine the specifics of your equipment and ensuring that it fits you

Care of Equipment

Good Carpenters Know Their Tools

Bounce and Swing Weight Defined

Center of Percussion and Scoring

Golf Ball Selection

The Learning Process 67

A Learning Process

Learn the Laws 1st

The Law of Process

Swing Concepts versus Swing Mechanics

Rules and Etiquette 81

Etiquette

USGA Rules of the Game

Care of the Golf Course

Slow Play

Conditioning, Flexibility, and Strength Training (in that order) 89

Dynamic Warm Up Drills

The Swing Slot

Code of Conduct

Golf Conditioning is Specific

2HD/5DW/NE Conditioning Program

Abdominal Bracing (Cutters, a Punch to the Gut, and Tightest Jeans)

Additional Exercises for Postural Conditioning


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Sensory Integration and Biofeedback Training

Fueling and Hydrating 115

Hydrating

Ranking Energy Fruit

Nutrition Drinks

New findings on caffeine and athletic performance

Performance Psychology for Golf 125

The Mind ↔ Body Connection

Developing and Restoring Self-Confidence

Player‘s Self-Management Handout

Start with Routines

The Hourglass Peak Performance™ and the 6-Step Peak Performance Routine™

Self-Control – Getting Started

Emotional Control and EQ

Motivation

Risk Management: Can I Make a Miracle Shot?

Learning Strategies Reviewed

Course Strategy Worksheet

Psychological ↔ Physical Link

Visualization and Sport Performance

Deliberate Preparation & Practice 141

Deliberate Preparation & Practice Defined

Effective Use of Drills

Rotate vs. Coil Drill

Preview of the Rotating Finesse Swing

Swing Principle and the BRAIN

Efficient Footwork =‘s an Efficient Golf Swing

Footwork Drills

Intensifying Drills

Slow Motion Drill – Slow is Golden

Pete Re-Pete Drill

Tee-to-Tee Drill

Incorporating Drills into Playing Situations

PW Mastery Birdie Ball Drill

Reading Divots and the Bottom of the Swing Arc

Strength & Weaknesses Practice Card

Accuracy Performance Ratio – Start with Putting

Organizing Your Own Out of Season Practice

Perfect Practice (Rehearsal)

A Learning Process

Our Philosophy on Swing Changes

Keeping Fun in Perspective

Rehearse Your Performance Routines

Warm Up Routine; Pre-Tournament Routines; The Hourglass of Peak Performance™; The

6-Step Peak Performance Routine™; and Post-Practice and Post-Competition Routines.

Data Collection Scorecard

1-9-1 Practice Routine

Saves Assessment & Practice Drill

Saves Scorecard

Fairway and Greens Drill

Golfer‘s Set Practice Routines

Magnolia CC #1 and #2; Mystic Creek #1 and #2; General Practice Sequence

Transition from Practice to Play


Are You Learning


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Abbreviated Practice Shot Routine

Warm Up for Practice Sessions |

Practice Journal Page – Master Copy

Lady‘s Swing Modifications 183 Lady‘s LAWS™ Training

General Swing Modifications

Resources

Habituating Routines 197 Performance Routines

Progress to the Full Swing

6-Step Peak Performance GOLF Routine™

Step 1. Breathing Response

Step 2. Immediate Poise Response

Step 3. Target Response

Step 4. Success Response

Step 5. Trigger the Blueprint

Step 6. Feedback & Learning Response

Pre-Tournament Routine

Post-Competition Practice and Routine

3 X 5 Strength & Weakness Cards

The Hourglass of Peak GOLF Performance™

Between Shots

Setup and Takeaway: foundations of the golf swing 225 Standard Setup in the Full Swing

Gathering Motions - Forward Press and Waggle

Adjustments

1-1-1 Putting Flow Drill

Takeaway

Forward Press – part of a larger picture

Learning and Habituating in the Game of Golf 237

A. General Information on the Golf Swing

Basic Golf Strokes & Swings Covered

Definition of a Technically Sound Swing

One of our performance objectives

Learning LAWS First – Work on the 80%

Common to all Efficient Swings

Develop Timing

Gathering Motion – the forward press

Remove Distress

Customize Swing Instructions

LAWS™ Model

Alignment – Alignment – Alignment

Clarity of Intent – Purpose – Ball-on-a-String

Club Release

B. Reading Greens (this was originally Section 4. Now it is Section 2. 251

Rolling Golf Balls

Diagramming Greens

Drill: Reading Greens with your Feet

Worksheet for Diagramming Greens

Learning Levels

C. Putting 261

Five Laws

Timing Training

Setup and Takeaway – 90% of Success

Stroke Model Review


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Additional Stroke Preferences

Optimum Rolling Speed

Additional Putting Drills

The Texas Wedge

3 X 5 Putting Card

D. Performance Routines 273

Ball Striking Practice Routine

Practice Stroke Routine

Incorporate Key Mental Skills into Your Routine

3 x 5 Review Cards

E. Putt-Chip Stroke and Lag Putting 277

Strategy and Stroke Objectives; including Lag Putting

Stroke Preferences

F. Greenside Chipping Stroke 285

Strategy and Stroke Objectives

Stroke Preferences

Distance Control

Chipping/Pitching Data Collection Card

3 X 5 Chipping Card

G. Pitching Stroke 293


Stroke Preferences

Removing Distress – A Key Competitive Element

Avoiding Distress begins with the Grip/Hold

5, 15, 15, 25 Yard Pitching Drill

3 X 5 Card

H. Rotating Finesse Swings – Working the Clock 301


Full Swing Principle

Swing Preferences

Working the Clock

7:30; 9:00; and 10:30 swing positions

3 X 5 Rotating Finesse Swing Card

Right and Left Hand Swing Drill

Drag Versus Toss Drill

Tee-to-Tee Drill and Connection Drill

Marker Practice

I. Med-Iron Swing 315

Developing the Full Swing

Playing Swing Development Drill

Mid-Iron Foundations - Preferences

3 X 5 Swing Card

J. Long Irons and Fairway Woods 321

Basic Swing Preferences

3 X 5 Swing Card

K. Getting Off the 1st Tee and In the Fairway 327

Strategy

5-Iron Off the Tee Drill

Playing the Big Dog – the ‗playing club‘

Grip/Hold, Posture, Stance, etc.

2-Tee Driving Practice Drill

The ‗Playing Club‘ into the Wind

3 X 5 Tee Shot Card

L. Draw or Fade 335

Determining Ball Flight

Taking Half the Fairway out of Play


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Consider the Strategy of Playing Long and to the Left

4-Swing Practice and Rehearsal Swings

Bucket of Water Drill

M. Uneven Lies 343

Strategy

Lie Principles

3 x 5 Card

N. At Play in the Sand 349

No Blast Shot

Master the basics of the rotating finesse swing first

Cut-and-Spin Shot

Picking the Ball from the Sand

Difficult Lies in the Sand

Additional Sand Play Drills

Push Sand Shot

Long Bunker Shots

O. Getting Out of Jail – the Rough 361

Strategies by Level of Golfers

Stroke Preferences

Club Selection

Playing from Short Rough

Tangles Lies: the Bird‘s Nest

Blast, Cut, or Chop from Deep Grass

P. Punch & Knockdown Shots 367

Swing Preferences

Distance Drill

Getting Started

Knockdown Shot

Q. Additional Specialty Golf Shots 373

Playing Out of Divot

Playing Competitive Golf 377

Principles for Competitive Golf

Study Where You Take the Test (Tournament Preparation)

Develop Your Plan; Work Your Plan

When You Lose Your ‗A‘ Game

Self-Management Between Shots/Holes

Mood Meter – Emotional Control

Dealing With Adversity

Attachments 389

Player Development Binder - Tabs

Accuracy Performance Ratio & Worksheet

Putting Accuracy Assessment

Putting Accuracy Assessment Worksheet

Putting Stroke Evaluation Worksheet

Chipping Assessment

Chipping Assessment Worksheet

Pitching Assessment Worksheet

Full Swing Assessment Worksheet

Self-Management and Data Collection

Some Tour Statistics

Data Collection Scorecard

Rotating Finesse Swing Data Collection Form

Summary Data Sheet for Tournament Play


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Extra Goal Setting Worksheet

Articles 427

Decision Making in the Gap

Language of Control

Bands of Steel

Using Statistics

Tournament Travel List

Timing, Tempo, Rhythm, Balance through motion, and Concentration

IM Assessment Form

TourTempo Assessment Sheet

Rate Yourself as a Learner

John Wooden‘s Pyramid of Success

What Every Golfer Needs to Know About Vision and Their Visual System

Qualifying Your Clubs

Your Book Shelf - References 465

Definition of Terms 469


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Getting Started on Your Journey

Question: How do you eat an elephant? Answer: One bite at a time.

Question: How do you become one of the game‘s most

successful golfers? Answer: One bite at a time; you do not want to bite off more than you can chew, digest, and

implement.

We recommend that all golfers work through our performance manual

with their coach or swing instructor. We do believe this needs to become

your #1 Swing Manual and that you have to make it your own.

Your first 1st tee shot in route to becoming a

successful golfer is defining success. We

recommend turning to the Decision Making

and Goal Setting section, reading through that

material briefly, and writing your initial definition of

success. Once you complete that activity, return here.

Return here once you have

defined success….

Gateway to the Game of GOLF To become a truly successful golfer, additional

breadth and depth is required in your skills and

knowledge than we have space to present in this

manual. Much of that additional knowledge is located

in other resources we list for you, as well as within

our companion book, Gateway to the Game of

Golf; the mind/body connection. We recommend

you obtain a copy to be used in tandem with this manual.

Your 1ST

tee shot is

Defining Success


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Your Most Important Asset Be certain to protect and develop one of your most important assets, you; your mind, body,

emotions, and spirit. When you take good care of, and continually improve, yourself, you

are of added value to your team and others, and to yourself as well.

How is your conditioning program coming along?

How is your wellness program working for you?

How well do you fuel and hydrate on a regular basis?

How comprehensive is your personal development program?

Do you take sufficient time to rest and recover?

Is your life truly balanced?

How comprehensive is your spiritual development program?

How effective are you as a learner; as a life-long learner?

Do you have a development process for all areas of your game that includes:

assessment, goal and objective setting, action planning, implementation, re-

assessment, and revised goals, objections, and action plans?

Reference Suggestion: In Dr. Covey‘s landmark 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

performance book, he describes taking care of this very important asset, which is you, as

Sharpening the Saw. We highly recommend that you secure a 7 Habits book and DO the

Sharpening the Saw section along with working through our materials. His son, Stephen,

wrote the companion book 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens, which is an outstanding

resource as well.

Start Your Own Binder Today There are complete books on most of the topics we

present in your manual. Our purpose is not to

replace those reference books and materials.

Our purpose is to bring you some of the best

practices we have either experienced or learned from successful players and coaches at all

levels of the game.

Your first binder, and set of tabs, is the Player Development Binder. Suggestions for

those tabs appear in the Attachment Section. Start making the materials in this manual

yours right now. Personalize them to fit you and your game.

Journalizing – plus we use a pad of 3 X 5 index

cards. We are including this special note on journalizing as it is a primary vehicle for you taking

our words, thoughts, and examples and turning them into your own. Plus, journalizing your

own thoughts and emotions is one of your most powerful developmental techniques. Make

the Golf Team Swing Manuals your own by journalizing your thoughts, emotions, and

new strategies and techniques.

Start Journalizing NOW!

Start your own binder

today! Start making these

materials yours right now.


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Drills Coaches and players frequently ask us for additional drills. They cannot seem to get enough

of them. We are continually adding drills to our information and we trust the additional

information helps. There is, however, no single section in your manual for drills. Drills

have been included in appropriate sections throughout the materials.

All Levels of the Game We have done our best to include information for all level of golfer, from beginning to

advanced. Most of the drills provide information for all levels as well.

Rate Yourself as a LEARNER

How effective are you as a learner? Are you a life-

long learner? On a practical level, your ability to

learn (skills, knowledge, and desire) and

incorporate what you are learning into competitive

performance, is more critical to your success in golf

than are our abilities to instruct and coach you.

Take a short break, turn to the ―Rate Myself as a

Learner‖ article in the Attachments Section, complete the article, and then return to this

spot.

Coaching Statement The longer I stay in coaching, the more it confirms to me that a key to competitive golf is

the formation of effective habits and that the challenge of forming those habits rests squarely

on the shoulders of you, the golfer. Remember that habits are formed at the intersection of:

skills; knowledge, desire; and implementation. As coaches, we can provide the skills

instruction and point you toward other resources and the opportunity to learn, as well as with

the opportunity to compete and continually improve. But it is strictly your responsibility to

form effective habits one embrace the continuous improvement process.

On a practical level, your ability

to learn and implement what

you are learning (skills,

knowledge, and desire) is more

critical to your success in golf

than are our abilities to instruct

and coach you!


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KEYS TO SUCCESS

The Secret of Success in golf, as well as in life, is not within the confines of this manual.

The Secret is within you. This manual is merely one pathway to your success. At one point

in history, it was said that all roads lead to Rome. It is not true, however, that all roads lead

to success in life and golf. Which road are you on?

How do you achieve success? Your 1st step rests with defining your own success. [Go to

the next section of your manual and read through it briefly. Re-read the success information

and write out your definition of success.]

You do NOT have to be an expert in all areas and aspects of golf. You do, however, need to

have your own golf development system. Do you have one?

Your abilities as an effective learner will, in large measure, determine your success in this

game. Your ability to learn skills, knowledge, and attitudes, and incorporate them into

competitive performance, is more critical to your success in golf than are the skills and

abilities of your instructors. You are responsible for your own learning!

You must organize and execute around priorities on a daily basis. Time Management is an

imprecise use of terms. Self-management is more precise.

Write out and live your principles and philosophy for golf. Keep your philosophy basic, and

most importantly, LIVE it. Follow a Code of Conduct.

Work toward maintaining a balanced life style, including golf. There must be balance in all

things, including your golf swing.

Work with your coach and team in developing key team goals and related individual goals.

Ensure that your individual goals tie into teams goals.

Once you have formulated team and individual performance goals, write out specific

strategies and Action Plans for reaching them.

Know the rules and etiquette of golf; follow them and help all of your team members play

within them.

Care about yourself and your teammates. Care about developing good citizenship and care

about the history and tradition of the game of golf.

Take good care of yourself and remember to Sharpen the Saw on a regular basis. Read,

study, and implement Dr. Stephen R. Covey‘s 7 Habits of Highly Effective Golfers.

Actually, the title is highly effective People, but the title could have included golfers.

Sharpen the Saw is in Stephen‘s book.


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Have you ever read Coach John Wooden‘s Pyramid of Success? If not, it is well worth your

time to read it, learn it, and follow it. John‘s Pyramid is in your Attachments Section.

When it comes to learning the golf swing and its various strokes, the key process is learning

each one, habituate it, and then allow yourself to graduate. Most players make some major

mistakes:

1. they play ―score‖ versus playing ―the game of golf‖.

2. The typical golfer focuses on attempting to learn the ―elements‖ of the golf swing versus

understanding and learning to simply swing. [Think of this statement ―the positions of the

body through the golf swing are the effort of an effective swing, not the cause.‖]

3. They do not work long or hard enough to habituate a specific stoke and shot models; and

4. once they have habituated a swing/stroke, they fail to graduate and ―allow‖ the swing or

stroke to flow on auto pilot during competition.

5. They invest too little time on assessing and developing timing, tempo, rhythm, balance

through motion, and concentration – and spend too much time focused on swing mechanics

and techniques.


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LIFE SKILLS AND THE GAME OF

GOLF: a personal development

process.

Expected Learning Outcomes Learning Outcomes for this section include:

Increasing your awareness and understanding of the importance of Life Skills as a

foundational element of competitive golf. ―You are not one person off the golf

course and another person on it.‖

Helping you along the path of developing highly effective life skill habit patterns and

routines.

Reemphasizing in your own mind the importance of being a role model for others.

Taking responsibility for your own intra-personal leadership development.

You will increase your awareness of additional training and resources within this

area of your life.

We have placed Life Skills first in your manual because it permeates all other skills

and functions, can set the tone for your life and golf game, and has the most far

reaching impact on your life.

Key concepts to understand and master in this section. The Development Process & Intra-Personal Development

Bands of Steel – Habits

How paradigms drive behaviors and attitudes

Making decisions in the GAP; Self-Management vs. Course Management

The importance of developing Life Skills

Circles of Control

Understanding and dealing with expectations

Mental toughness; dealing with adversity

*Be certain to work closely with your coach until you understand each of the previous

concepts and can begin developing them in your life and golf game.


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Our Development Process We view being a student athlete as a principle centered, character and competency based,

inside-out, development and learning process. The levels of development are: INTRA-

Personal; INTER-Personal; Team Development; and finally Team Leadership.

As an example, we find golfers working

on their skills, knowledge, and paradigms as

players and team leaders when they cannot even

lead themselves. Please think about that

concept for a minute as you answer the question

of “how can we lead others if we cannot

lead ourselves 1st?” Just as our strategy in

developing the golf game is from

green-to-tee, our strategy for developing and

maintaining our own abilities is from inside-to-

outside and principle driven as well.

INTRA-Personal Development You must first learn to take personal

responsibility for their own thoughts, emotions,

and actions. Without taking that level of

responsibility, we do not think you have

much to build your golf game on. However,

we must first BE responsible and model responsibility in order to develop that trait within

ourselves. So, your first efforts need to focus on your own internal development.

INTER-Personal Development (1-on-1 Relationship Building)

Some sport performance studies point to an effective coach-athlete and athlete-to-athlete

relationships as the major contributing factor to your success. We view the development

and maintenance of effective, healthy, relationships as the foundational intra-personal skill

of all coaches and players.

INTER-Personal Development (Team Dynamics)

If you want to start a debate among coaches and players, ask them if golf (at the college, HS,

and club levels) is really a team sport. Our position is that golf is not a team sport in many

of the same respects as other organized ball sports are. However, team dynamics certainly

come into play during practice, team support, fund raising, recruiting, competitive rehearsal,

and the pleasure and fun of belonging to a group. Therefore, team development intra-

personal skills, knowledge, and paradigms are certainly a priority.

For our Golf Team

The previous information is from the Dr. Stephen R. Covey 7-Habits of Highly Effective

People book. Please be certain to continue your work with the Covey materials.

INTRA-Personal

(Inside-out Development)

Coaching Development Levels

(Skills - Knowledge- Attitudes)

INTER-Personal

(Indiv.-to-Indiv.

Relationship Building)

INTER-Personal

(Team Dynamics and

Development)

Team Coaching and

Leadership


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Team Leadership Leading by example is important for every coach and team captain or leader. You do not

have to be an appointed team captain to be an effective team leader or influencer. Our

perception is that effective leaders operate in the four dimensions of vision/principles, reality

and competency, ethical behavior/character, and courage. We also see leadership occurring

at the 4th

skill level: 1. INTRA-Personal Skills; 2. INTER-Personal Skills, 3. Team-Building

Skills, and finally 4. Leadership Skills.

First, Be a Role Model

“Others (team member, fans, parents, etc.) watch what we do

more than they listen to what we say.”

Bands of Steel: Habits The development of highly effective habit patterns

and routines is key to your success in life as well as in

golf.

TO DO: To get started in the right direction, please

turn to the Bands of Steel article in the Attachment Section and begin using the information

in the article immediately. As a reminder from the article, the bands of steel are created at

the intersection of: skill, knowledge, paradigms, and execution. Paradigms guide or

control attitudes and behavior. Be certain to review the definition for paradigms in the

Attachments Section if you are not perfectly clear on them. You can also refer to the Inside-

Out Section of Dr. Covey‘s 7 Habits Text for additional clarification.

Understanding and Dealing With Expectations Understanding your expectations, and the expectations of others, is a very important

relationship building and golf performance skill.

Learning to understanding expectations is a foundational Life Skill. Read on and

you will discover what we mean.

Through the years, we have found that a root cause of many relationship problems between

players and coaches, as well as between individual golfers, are unclear and mismatched

expectations.

What are your expectations of your golf coach? _________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________.

What are your expectations of the golf program you are in? ________________________

_______________________________________________________________________.

Correct habit formation is one

of the most important elements

of your competitive

development.


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What are your expectations of your college in relation to your being a scholar athlete?

_______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________.

What are your expectations of your teammates? _________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________.

As coaches, we view our 1st activity in building relationships with players as clarifying

mutual expectations as quickly as possible. Clarifying expectations is one reason the

description of our own College Golfer‘s Development Program is quite lengthy. We work

to begin clarifying expectations before you enter our program and start with our initial

contact with you.

The Gap If you were to ask us what one of the more

important foundational element of golf and

human performance was, our response

would be our potential to choose; to utilize our

freewill for effective decision making; to play

the game of golf from the gap.

You are about to discover that ―the

history of free man is never written by chance

but by choice—their choice.‖ Source: Dwight

D. Eisenhower, President of the United States

and military general.

What is the Gap? Between a stimulus received by the human brain, and the brain‘s

response, there is a space in time for human decision making, a gap. Within that gap lies the

freedom to choose; free will.

Please refer to our article on the gap in the Attachments Section.

Stimulus Your Freedom

to ChooseResponse

“If you were to ask us what the

most important foundational

element of golf and human

performance was, our response

our human power to choose; to

make decisions in the „gap‟ and

not be a victim of

circumstance.” Coach R.


23

LIFE SKILLS - On and Off the

Golf Course One thing we learned early in coaching golfers

at all levels of the game was the powerfully potential,

and potentially destructive nature, of their time away

from the golf course.

“Now I dinna‟ have to tell ye that the body and the mind are both parts o‟

the character, so when a man swings he tells us all about himself.

Ye see, the basis for a change in the way a person plays the

game of golf must be laid in his entire life.” Source: Golf in the Kingdom, Michael Murphy, p. 157.

If you have not read Michael Murphy‘s

Golf in the Kingdom, do yourself a favor, get a

copy and read it. The previous quote from

Michael Murphy is absolutely correct. The

basis for change in your golf game is laid in

your entire life. As a player, you do not have

time to learn, reinforce, and habituate all that

needs to be accomplished during competition

or practice. Therefore, it is imperative to your success that you plan ways of using off-

course time to reinforce and develop important golf performance habits and routines. ADDITIONALLY, even momentary inconsistent thoughts, words, emotions, and actions off

the course can wipe out entire blocks of learning that you have invested countless practice

time in.

Example: It typically takes 20-30 days of contiguous training and reinforcement to create a

new habit pattern, such as a new grip (hold) position, 6-Step Performance Routine, swing

position, etc.

You invest time and effort into learning a new performance routine.

You work on the new routine in practice for the entire week.

THEN, you go out on the weekend, practice on your own WITHOUT using the new

routine, go back to old habits, and almost 100% of the previous week‘s investment is

down the drain.

The key to developing habits is 20-30 days of contiguous training and reinforcement.

hold/connection. For a variety of reasons, we prefer to use the terms hold or connection

when referring to how players connect their hands to the golf club in order to allow energy

to flow through the hands efficiently. In most swings/strokes, the hands are not power

generators and when players attempt to use them as such, they can actually decrease power,

consistency, and accuracy. There are, however, definitely some very effective Hands Style

Players out among you.

It is imperative to your success

that you plan ways of using off-

course time to reinforce and

develop important on-course

habits and routines.

Events occurring off the course

are as, if not more, important

as those occurring on the

course.


24

Another Off Course Example - Breath Control Breath control may appear to be a minor example of off-course development, but it

reinforces a very important process. Breathe control with diaphragmatic breathing is a life

and golf skill. Diaphragmatic Breathing is the foundation of the mind ↔ body connection

within the game of golf. Very few athletes breathe effectively and efficiently. For most

golfers, their breathing is shallow, weak, not necessarily timed to anything except their

bodies demand for air, and non-supportive of the golf swing or of an athletic move through

the ball. One of our program objectives is incorporating diaphragmatic breathing into your

golf performance. But our major point right now is that you cannot merely use correct

breathing on the golf course and not practice it away from the course. The basis for a

change in the way you play the game of golf must be laid in your entire life. It still takes

20-30 days of contiguous training and reinforcement to develop a habit.

Conditioning, Flexibility, Strength

Remaining in condition, flexible, and strong are Life Skills. Start the habit of health now.

Yes, there is such a thing as sport-specific conditioning, flexibility, and strength, but learn to

maintain a proper balance of these three factors throughout your life.


25

Code of Conduct [One example…develop your own Code.] Please read, sign, and return the Code of Conduct to your coach, then go about the important

job of living it.

Golf Team Code of Conduct – Example Only

2013-2014 Golf Season

I _________________________, hereby pledge to honor and support _________ and our Golf Team by promoting, supporting, and adhering to our team‘s Code of Conduct as stated below. In accepting this code, I take personal responsibility for my language and actions both on and off the golf course during the entire year. I am responsible and acknowledge my ability to control my thoughts, emotions, language, and behavior. I also understand and acknowledge that my failure to live up to this code will carry consequences with it. I will be respectful of myself and others by using appropriate language and behavior at all times on and off the golf course, and by displaying acceptable behavior. I will treat others fairly and with respect, regardless of age, gender, ethnic origin, race, religion, or sexual orientation. I will place the achievement of academic performance ahead of sport performance and the achievement of team goals ahead of personal goals. I will not provide, use, or condone the use of tobacco products, alcoholic beverages, or any other banned substances. Even if 21 or older, I will not use any of the previously mentioned substances on school property, at any golf related activity, or 48 hours before any golf related activity. I will arrive on time and ready to participate in all practices, meetings, and matches. I know that only emergencies and illnesses are acceptable reasons for tardiness or absence, and will notify the coaching staff prior to any absence. I will participate in mind, body, and spirit. I will avoid any inappropriate physical contact or actions in public and around others with members of the same or opposite sex. I will work to become the best scholar athlete I can be by practicing appropriately, following the directives of the coaching staff, and working toward continuous improvement. I will play and compete by the USGA Rules of Golf, the institution, our golf course practice facility, and the NAIA, while demonstrating and encouraging good sportsmanship both in victory and defeat. I will carry a current USGA Rule Book in my golf bag and refer to it when necessary. I understand that if I choose to use my own automobile at any time, such as to attend practice or tournaments, I am fully responsible and liable for any accidents, incidents, or actions and will hold both the college and the coaching staff blameless. I will never cheat, lie, or steal. I will learn from experiences rather than complaining or attempting to justify failure. I will practice and play safely at all times so as never to jeopardize my personal safety or the safety of others. I will dress appropriately (neat, clean, and by the rules) when practicing, competing, traveling, when recruits are on campus, and while representing the college or the golf team. I will protect the integrity of the game, the team, and the College by not discussing team issues with individuals outside of the team. When I have a problem or issue with an individual, including the coaching staff, I will take the issue to them and discuss it in an appropriate manner. The #1 rule is ―do not surprise Coach, or allow Coach to be surprised by any of my activities or behaviors.‖


26

I will encourage and assist my teammates in becoming better scholar athletes and human beings. Living up to this Code is a major element in my definition of team and individual success. I further give the golf coaching staff permission to contact my parents in matters concerning grades and other matters pertaining to my performance and conduct. I have read and understand the above Code and agree to accept the personal responsibility of conducting myself in a manner consistent with all statements. I realize the positive results associated with living up to these standards. I also understand that there are natural and departmental consequences of not living up to any of the provisions, including being ineligible for tournaments or being dismissed from the program. Signature of athlete _________________________________ Date ________________

TEAM SUPPORT

Our team knows from experience that few things tear a team apart, and destroy

relationships, more than talking about others behind their backs or posting negative remarks

on social networking sites. Here is our #2 Team Support Rule. Do not say anything about

another individual that you would not say if they were standing right beside you. Team

Support Rule #3 is If you have a problem or issue with an individual, take the problem to

them and do not talk about it behind their back. Rule #1 is still Never Surprise Coach.

Talking about others behind their backs is the fastest way to tear a team apart and create

drama. Do not do it! If you have a problem or issue with another player, take the problem

issue to that person. If that individual refuses to work with you in resolving the conflict or

issue amicably, you and that individual bring the problem to your coach. If the individual

refuses to join you, come alone, but take the issue to your coach.

THIS WE SHALL LEARN AND DO

If you have a problem with a coach, take the problem to that coach.

Players are not to bypass the coach with team or related problems by going directly to the

Athletic Director or others.

If players have a sensitive issue they do not think the coach can address, those issues may be

taken to the Athletic Director.

If a problem between a player and coach cannot be resolved amicably, both parties will take

it to the Athletic Director or to a third party.

It requires teamwork and personal responsibility to make our system work.

There will be consequences for players posting negative team related information online in

any form of social media.


27

Be Careful Keeping Score In life, as well as in golf, be very careful of keeping score and comparing yourself to others.

In golf, there will always be better players. Even on the professional golf Tour, on their best

day, any given player can surpass the performance of the field. There will always be the

player who can drive the ball farther, get the ball closer to the pin, and make more putts than

others.

The individual you need to compete with is yourself. Always striving to improve;

always work to get better. One goal of our program is continuous improvement. We have

an article you can obtain on what it takes to play golf professionally. But we can tell you

that one personality trait of highly successful players is that they are never completely

satisfied with their current levels of performance. Do not misinterpret our point. Yes these

players are pleased when they compete well. Yes they are pleased when they create and

execute outstanding shots. The key is that they do not rest on past successes. They enjoy

the success of the moment, use those moments to reinforce key behaviors and information,

and then move forward.

Circle of Control – a possible starting point Here is a possible starting point for learning Life Skills. Consider starting your Life Skills

efforts with something as short as an article. Take a few minutes, read the Circle of Control

article in the Attachments Section of your manual, and determine if that might be a starting

point for you.

What do you think the importance of learning Life Skills is to your competitive golf

performance?

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________.

What do you think of the ―Circles of Control article?‖

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________.


28

Circle of Control Example Circle: Area of Consideration:

Circle of Control: Controlling one‘s thoughts, emotions, and actions.

*Learn these skills because they are within your Circle of Control.

Circle of Influence: Influencing score.

*Learn tactical skills such as decision making strategies and tactics, shot and club selection,

etc. because they definitely influence scoring, however, they do not control it. Players

cannot control outcomes, but you can control processes. Therefore, focus more on processes

than on outcomes.

Circle of No Control: Controlling weather, course conditions, the competition, rub of the

green, and the list goes on and on. *Learn how to keep these uncontrollable factors in proper perspective and from influencing

you negatively in the first place, but you also need to learn how to cope with uncontrollable

elements when you start to allow them to impact performance.

Self-Management versus Course-

Management. You can control your thoughts,

emotions, and behavior.

Carefully consider the terms you use. For example,

we think that course management is more about

self-management, self-control, and decision making

than about managing the course. Course

Superintendents manage the course. Golfers match their skills against its demands. We

think this is more than a play on words.

As an important golf and Life Skill, begin managing and controlling your thoughts,

emotions, language, and actions. On the golf course is the place to begin learning and

habituating self-management and control.

The starting point to scoring well (what you may have been calling Course Management) is

learning the process of matching your skills against the demands of the course. Golfers need

to assess the strengths and weaknesses of their games, understand the types of shots the golf

course and particular situations on the course call for, and then based on their abilities, learn

to create and execute the best shot for each situation.

Under this topic, learning to organize and execute around priorities on a daily basis is one of

the most effective self-management processes you can develop as a life and golf

performance skill. We start by developing your own organizational skill. The process of

organizing and executing around priorities is straight out of Stephen Covey‘s 7-Habits book.

We think he is one of the best resources on this skill.

Covey‘s list of 7-Habits is on the following page for you to study and refer to.

On the golf course is the place

to begin learning and

habituating self-management

and control.


29

1. BE PROACTIVE

2. BEGIN WITH

THE END IN MIND

3. PUT 1ST THINGS 1ST

4. THINK WIN/WIN

5. SEEK 1ST TO

UNDERSTAND

6. SYNERGIZE

7. SHARPEN THE

SAW

II. PRIVATE VICTORIES - Habits

II. PUBLIC VICTORIES -

Habits

III. HABIT OF RENEWAL

I. A principle-centered, character-based, inside-out, approach to personal and interpersonal effectiveness and

continuous renewal. A paradigm of being Response Able while developing intra-personal, interpersonal, and

organizational (team, family, etc.) relationships.

The habit of CHOICE. Underlying Principle: We are free to choose and are

responsible for my choices.

8th Habit: Discover Your Voice.

The habit of VISION. Underlying Principle: Mental creation precedes physical

creation.

8th Habit: Express Your Voice; vision; discipline, passion, and conscience.

The habit of INTEGRITY and EXECUTION. Underlying Principle:

Effectiveness requires the integrity to act on our principles.

Paradigms of Interdependence

The habit of MUTUAL BENEFIT. Underlying Principle: Effective, long-term,

relationships require mutual respect and mutual benefit.

Compromise is lose-lose.

The habit of MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING. Underlying Principle: to communicate

effectively, we must first understand each other.

The habit of CREATIVE COOPERATION. Underlying Principle: the whole is greater

than the sum of its parts.

The habit of RENEWAL. Underlying Principle: balanced self-renewal is what

expands all of the other habits and makes them possible.

The 8th habit is to evolve to the next level of effectiveness; find your voice and help

others find theirs. The four roles: Modeling, Path Finding, Aligning, and Empowering.

The 7 Habits are character principles that shape who and what we are; they help form and sustain the Modeling

Role within the other leadership roles. The 4 leadership roles are what we do to exert leadership influence in an

organization.

8th Habit


30

Work Through Things Our Way 1st

Certain aspects of our golf program are not negotiable and others are. We want you to begin

thinking about this concept. Having coached the game of golf at every level for over thirty

years, we ask golfers to work through certain elements of the game our way 1st, see what

they think of the process, then based on that experience, talk with us if they want to change

the way we teach, coach, and do things.

Example: Our 6-Step Routine™. We know that routines are foundational for successful

golf. We also know that our routine is well researched, documented, and effective.

Therefore, we ask (actually we insist) you to learn the 6-Step Routine as we present it, and

practice and use it every day for two weeks. Then, if you want to modify the routine, come

talk with us about possible modifications. When golfers modify the routine, we have them

take one more important step. We ask you to document the modifications in your swing

manual in order to preserve a history of the changes made.

Example

Item: Negotiable Non-Negotiable *Our Way 1st

1. 6-Step Performance Routine™ ______ ______ ___X___

2. The Hourglass Routine™ ______ ______ ___X___

3. Pre-Tournament Warm Up Routine______ ______ ___X___

(You already get the picture, we ask player to work with our routines 1st and then ask about

modifications.)

4. Rotating Finesse Swing ______ ______ ___X___

5. Grip in the Rotating Finesse Swing______ ______ ___X___

(We are firm with players about working through the Rotating Finesse Swing as well.)

6. Grip in the Full Swing ___X__ ______ ________

7. Swing style (LAWS) ___X__ ______ ________

(Grip, posture, stance, etc. are all preferences versus laws, and are therefore negotiable.)

8. Code of Conduct _______ ___X___ ________

9. Assigned Study hall _______ ___X___ ________

10. 100% Class Attendance _______ ___X___ ________

You get the idea. The important thing is to get a start on the list and keep developing, refining, and

clarifying it.


31

Life Skills Reference Books You already know that our recommendation for your first resource in the area of Life Skills

is one of the Covey books. The Covey books supports, but does not replace, The Captain‘s

Leadership Manual in your work with developing team captains. Sean is the son of world

renowned Life Skills instructor and author Stephen R. Covey, author of ―The 7 Habits of

Highly Effective People.‖ In both of their books, Stephen and Sean offer readers a

principle-centered, character-based, inside-out, approach to personal, interpersonal,

and athletic effectiveness. While we use Dr. Covey‘s 7 Habits book with Tour

professionals, Sean‘s Highly Effective Teens book is ideal for college and high school

students. We consider this book a must read for all players at all levels of the game.

→Refer to the next page for a review of the 7 Habits. These habits are among the

most important life skills you will develop.

The Mirror of Erised – from Harry Potter

According to Albus Dumbledore, the happiest person on earth

would look into the Mirror of Erised and see themselves

exactly as they are. The mirror shows you nothing more or

less than the deepest, most desperate, desire of your spirit.

As you look into the Mirror of Erised, what do you see?

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________.

Cover the development of life skills as an area of further expansion and development with

your coach.


32

Dealing with Adversity Mental Toughness. Successful golfers know the

value of mental toughness in preparing for

tournaments and have developed that characteristic

either by chance or by plan. Through the years,

athletes across all sports have demonstrated that

mental toughness is a learned state, versus an

inherited trait that cannot be changed. Mental toughness is, however, a mental state than

comes and goes. In their Traits of Champion Golfers book, authors Dr. Deborah Graham

and Jon Stabler provide a useful examination of the eight personality traits separating

amateur from professional golfers, and champion golfers versus other professionals. Mental

Toughness is one of their eight traits. Focus, abstract thinking, emotional stability,

dominance, confidence, self-sufficiency, and optimal arousal are the other mental toughness

traits listed by Graham and Stabler.

Dealing with adversity. We mention dealing with adversity (we refer to it as the

Monkeys always come – from the Wizard of Oz) because we just back from working with

several professionals at PGA Tour pre- and qualifying rounds and it is fresh on our minds.

In the movie the Wizard of Oz, the monkeys always came to spoil the moment, and always

at the most inopportune times. The same is true with life and golf, there will always be

adversity, and it often comes at the most inopportune times. The question is not one of ―if‖,

but one of ―when‖, and ―how players cope with adversity‖. In Coach Wooden‘s book on

Leadership, page 228 to be exact, he wrote, ―Prepare to the utmost of your ability: teach

your team to do the same. Ignore the fates (his term for the monkeys) with the sure

knowledge that adversity will only make you and your team stronger if you resist self-pity.

How you handle bad luck, setbacks, and the vagaries of the competitive environment is one

of the major differences between champions and the also-ran. Be a realistic optimist and

remind yourself that things turn out best for those who make the best of the way things turn

out.‖

The way professional golfers prepare for the monkeys is to organize and execute

around their priorities on a daily basis, leave no small things to chance because there are no

small things in peak performance, and then refuse to allow the things that are out of their

control to distract or disrupt them.

Additional information on dealing effectively with adversity appears in the Playing

Competitive Golf Section of your manual.

A Closing Thought

“The game of golf does not judge me, it only provides me


opportunities to learn and balance my performance and

myself through the Law of Cause-and-Effect.”

In golf, Mental Toughness is

defined more in terms of an intra-

personal state versus ―beating‖ or

outlasting the field.


33

Journalizing [Note: you can make copies of these journal pages and create your own Journal Manual.]

My Life Skills Journal Page

Date Comments

_______ _____________________________________________________

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_______ _____________________________________________________

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_______ _____________________________________________________

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_______ _____________________________________________________

_______ _____________________________________________________

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_______ _____________________________________________________

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34

[Open page for additions.]


35

DECISION MAKING AND GOAL

SETTING


Understanding the importance of decision making in competitive performance and

begin developing a decision making process. Every competitive golf shot is a

decision!

Understanding the importance of setting and working toward correct goals,

objectives, and action plans, as well as understanding the differences between the

three terms.

Understanding the importance of how you define key terms, such as success and

failure, and implementing that understanding into your golf performance.

Understanding how important defining key terms can be to golf performance and

begin to examine our definitions of terms as well as the images they create.

You will increase your awareness of additional training and resources within the goal

accomplishment and decision making arena of your life.

As you set your golf performance goals, ask yourself the question of ―will I be an

asset or a liability to the golf program?‖ You cannot be neutral, you are one or the

other. If you are an asset to the program, ask yourself the next question ―what are

the greatest contributions I can make to the program?‖

Key concepts to understand and master in this section. The decision making process.

The goal achievement process.

The importance of purpose.

Performance goals, objectives, and action plans.

Success and Failure.

Winning and Losing.

Is golf really a team sport?




36

Decision Making/Problem Solving – an

Introduction.

You make thousands of decisions a day, along with decisions

with every shot and stroke on the golf course. Do you have a specific model for how you make decisions?

Yes____ No_____

IF so, what is your model for decision making/problem solving? _______________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________.

Here is one decision making/problem solving process from Contemporary Sport

Management, p. 106. See what you think of it.

Defining or framing the problem. Golf: during the Hourglass, observe and factor

in the conditions of the shot at hand; the lie, wind, your intensity level, etc.

Identifying criteria for decision. Golf: Landing in the center of the green, laying

up for your next shot, ―playing one hole at a time, one shot at a time, and working

backwards from the target,‖ etc.

Developing and evaluating alternatives. Golf: Shot selection, as in whether to

run the ball up to the pin from off the green or fly it in. Go for the center of the green

or go ―pin hunting.‖

Selecting an alternative. Golf: make a decision and create a specific

blueprint of the shot at hand.

Implementing the alternative. Golf: commit 100% to the blueprint of the shot

at hand and then complete the blueprint on auto pilot within your routine.

Evaluating the effectiveness of the decision. Golf: ALWAYS assess (not necessarily

evaluate) the process and/or outcome of the shot and learn from the experience; Step

6 in our performance routine.

One of the primary mental shortcomings of a majority of the golfers we work with is their

inability to make and carry out effective decisions during competition. Decision making is a

skill that can, and must, be developed, just like your ability to read greens.

Refer to the Playing Competitive Golf Section of your manual for additional information on

decision making and problem solving.


37

Goal Achievement Every player can benefit from

utilizing a Goal Setting &

Achievement System - with a heavy

emphasis on achievement. Goals

without objectives and Action Plans,

implementation, and feedback, are

merely day dreams!

Additional Goal Achievement Resource: ―Applying Sport Psychology‖, Chapter 7 on Goal

Setting.

Goal Setting and Achievement are two of

your most important mental performance

skills. Everything, including goals, is created

twice. The 1st creation is mental and the

second creation is physical.

Goals: a destination, final outcome, as in attaining a specific level of

proficiency on a task within a specific time frame. A team goal could

be going to state or nationals. Note: You can NOT do a goal. You

must accomplish the appropriate objectives and actions that lead toward

your goals.

Objectives: signposts along the way to attaining a goal, success with

specific areas of performance that lead to goal achievement. Objectives

let you know when you are on track in reaching your goal. You can

NOT do an objective either, you work on appropriate tasks and actions

to accomplish your objectives, which lead you to goal achievement.

One objective could be achieving a 73 stroke scoring average for your

tournament play.

Action Plans: the how of achieving your objectives. Your planning

must include specific activities you will accomplish. Example: Develop

and execute an Action Plan for accumulating the accuracy and

Performance Ratio information on all of your clubs under competitive

conditions. Then develop another set of Action Plans for increasing the

accuracy and consistency of your ―scoring game‖ during competition.


38

Goals, Objectives, Action Plans

Principles for Practice and Drills

Principle: Goals regulate a golfer‘s performance by providing an internal standard by which

the golfer can compare and evaluate their performance. Goals can influence how players

think and act, as well as help them judge how well they are doing as they strive for

predetermined levels of performance.

With the previous principle in mind, here is our Target Goal for a Technically Sound Golf

Swing or Stroke:

“to mentally create an appropriate blueprint for the shot at hand, physically execute the

blueprint as precisely as possible, and learn from the experience.

[Please read our target goal for a technically sound golf swing one more time, we will be

using it again on the next page.]

Example: Goal setting in the Scoring Game. The Goal: Qualify for 1

st Team All-Conference.

*Reminder: we do not ―do‖ a goal. We must work toward accomplishing

objectives by implementing Action Plans that move us closer to our goal.

Objective: A. Improve my competitive performance in the scoring game. My scoring

average is now _____, by the date of _____, I plan on it being ______. Last

season, the scoring average for the 1st place conference team was _____.

B. Increase the Accuracy Performance Ratio of my Scoring Game Clubs

from _____ to _____ (insert ratios) by __________ (fill in a specific time.)

Use our Date Collection Card and your computer to record and track your

progress.

C. Give all practice & preparation sessions 100% attention and intent.

D. Focus on eliminating my weaknesses in the scoring game and building

upon my strengths.

Action Plans: A. Practice, drill, and rehearse each of the shots in my scoring game play for

one (1) hour a day, four days a week.

B. Use our Abbreviated Practice Routine and 6-Step Performance Routine in

Technically Sound Swing Model—Doc Suttie‘s Definition…

A technically sound golf swing (and putting stroke) delivers the clubface through

the ball perfectly square to the target line, perfectly vertical, so that only the loft of

the club affects the trajectory of the shot, on the correct path, with maximum

velocity at the bottom of the swing arc every single time.

Trust us…you will understand this definition and be working toward a

technically sound swing or stroke before long!


39

all practice sessions.

C. Use our Saves Assessment and Practice Drill once a week.

D. Record and track my Accuracy Performance Ratios during competitive

performance.

E. Here is a list of the weaknesses in my scoring game that I am working to

eliminate: ____________________. Here is the list of my strengths that I

am working to maintain.

Goal Assessment and Achievement Worksheet Example

There is a master Worksheet in the Attachments Section. Be certain to copy it

prior to using it.

Goal: Improve my overall competitive performance as measured by my scoring average,

although I realize ―score‖ is not the overall performance measure.

Objective: Get into the best physical, mental, and emotional shape possible in order to play

each tournament at my best (18-hole practice round; 36-hole tournament day; and 18-hole

tournament day.).

Action Plans: (stairway to reaching my objectives)

Physical Conditioning 1. Complete my physical/conditioning assessment at the first of the term.

2. Isolate conditioning gaps and develop them during the semester.

3. Use our 2HD/3DW/NE Minimum Conditioning Program.

4. Attend all conditioning sessions or complete them on my own, three times a week.

5. Develop my mental and emotional skills within our 6-Step Performance Routine.

6. Additional conditioning to get me into shape include: ____________________________

_________________________________________________________________________.

Milestones:

1. Did I stick to my Action Plans the 1st week? ____________

2. Did I stick with my Action Plans for 30 days? ____________

3. Re-do the physical/conditioning assessment at the end of 30 days? How were the results?

__________________________________________________________________________

[Re-do the Scoring Game Objective on the previous page for your own game.]

Goal: Improve my overall competitive performance.

Objectives: Improve my competitive performance in the scoring game. Refer to our Data

Collection Scorecard for areas of improvement: FWH, GIR, Saves, etc.

__________________________________________________________________________


40

Action Plans for improving: (stairway to reaching my goals)

GIR: ___________________________________________________________

FWH: ___________________________________________________________

LFP: ___________________________________________________________

Etc. ___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

Milestones:

PURPOSE

―Every great thing that has advanced humanity has come from a sense of purpose. It takes

knowledge and skill to change the world, but it takes a sense of responsibility to want to, a

sense of purpose for direction. Every year our institution hands graduates a piece of paper

that claims they are ready to go out into the world. What they take with them is not a degree

but a challenge to remember that in life, you never stop being a student. That is the power

of purpose.‖

---Author Unknown


41

We do not have sufficient space in your manual to

do the topic of goal planning and achievement

justice. There is additional goal achievement

information located throughout various sections

throughout the manual. Our recommendation is that

you secure a copy of Dr. Stephen R. Covey‘s 7

Habits book and utilize it as your primary reference

in goal achievement. Dr. Covey‘s 2nd

habit of

highly effective people is Begin With the End in Mind; a habit of vision, which is goal

setting. Most ineffective golfers live their lives, and play golf, by default. Successful

golfers live their lives, and play golf, by design.

The main principle behind goal setting is that everything, including the golf swing, is

created twice. The 1st creation is mental and the second creation is physical. Mental

creation always precedes physical creation. Therefore, it is critical to this principle to

―Begin With the End in Mind.‖

START With Your Definition of Success Go to the Defining Success Section of this chapter, work through that material, and return to

the section below on Team Goals.

Team Goals Here is a starting point for goal setting and achievement. Write out a few specific Team

Goals. In formulating team goals, keep them as simple and measurable as possible. You

may want to start with only two or three goals.

Goal achievement in our program can help us:

continually improve our competitive performance;

enjoy competing with and against others;

develop a sense of being response able;

develop a sense of self-esteem; and

remain eligible in academic studies (grades and class attendance), sports

performance (tournament scores and participation), and social responsibility

(behavior and staying out of trouble).

Our Team Goal s:

1. _____________________________________________________

2. _____________________________________________________

3. _____________________________________________________

Or recommendation is that you

work through Dr. Covey‘s goal

planning and achievement

materials in your copy of his 7-

Habits book. If you do not have

one, get one now.


42

My Individual Goals that tie directly into our team goals:

1. _____________________________________________________

2. _____________________________________________________

3. _____________________________________________________

Three Circles of Control - Reminder Circle of NO Control The largest circle; winning; course conditions; competitors;

coaches, etc.

Circle of Influence You can ―influence‖ teammates, score; etc.

Circle of Control Your own thoughts, emotions, behaviors, shot selection,

decision making process, etc.

Help teammates set, track, and accomplish goals which are within the Circle of Control or

their Circle of Influence.

Maintain BALANCE in your skill development.

Goal setting and skill development In the area of skill development, be certain to set goals

in ALL of the major classifications of skills. Be

certain to define each skill area very carefully.

-Technical skills or techniques: swing

techniques; setup and alignment; etc.

-Tactical skills or tactics: competitive strategies

and tactics; playing each hole from

green-to-tee; etc.

-Mind ↔ Body skills: psychological; skills such

as diaphragmatic breathing that support both mental and physical intensity levels and

thus BOTH technical and tactical skills.

-Mechanics: bio-mechanical laws and principles such as how power is produced in the golf

swing; coil and rotation; etc.

-Life Skills: stress Life Lessons that can be learned on the golf course such as etiquette and

ethical behavior; honesty; cooperation; responsibility, etc.


43

Monthly Golfer Evaluation

[An example…develop your own.] Golfer___________________________ Coach__________________________________

Period of Evaluation September _________________________________

Rating Scale 4 - Meets requirements & expectations. *All absences must be

3 - Missed a requirement. cleared with captain

2 - Needs more improvement. or the coaching staff

1 - Unsatisfactory performance. BEFORE you miss.

Golfer‘s Responsibilities 4

3

2

1

100% class attendance. (minus 1 point for each un-excused

absence)

100% practice, or make up session, attendance. (minus 1 point

for each un-excused miss when not made up)

100% of conditioning, strength, and flexibility sessions. (minus

1 point for each un-excused miss when not made up)

Courteous and friendly to coaches, players, and recruits.

Exhibits a willing attitude to performed assigned tasks, is

coachable, and gets requests for information in on time.

Follows instructions and asks questions appropriately.

100% completion of volunteer work (on campus, in community,

and at both country clubs)

Uses practice, preparation, and tournament time productively;

works hard; remains focused and pays attention.

Dresses appropriately in practice and competition.

Active participation in fund raising/volunteer activities.

Ratings will be done at the end of each month. Golfers falling below a 3.5 monthly rating

will NOT be eligible to practice at Mystic Creek Golf Club, nor will they be eligible to

compete in tournaments, until their rating gets to 3.5 or above.

I have read and understand the above evaluation and comments.

________________________________________ ______________________________

Golfer Date

_________________________________ ______________________________

Coach Date


44

Define the Game of GOLF, rather than allowing it to

define you. Please take a few minutes to complete a brief definition of how you

view the game of golf as a competitive golfer. You may find that your definition changes

over time. Keep your definition as a work-in-progress and refer back to this section from

time to time.

Date: ________ I define the game of competitive golf as: ___________________

_______________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________.

Date: ________ My coach defines the game of competitive golf as: ____________

_______________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________.

Revisions……………………

Date: ________ I define the game of competitive golf as: ___________________

_______________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________.

Date: ________ My coach defines the game of competitive golf as: ____________

_______________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________.

In the process of working on your definition of the game of golf, be certain to add Michael

Murphy‘s Golf in the Kingdom to your golf resource library.


45

Your Definition of Success – Rather than allowing

success to define you. Please complete the following. There are no right

or wrong responses.

My definition of golf success in the upcoming season is ____________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________.

My definition for success in my own life is_______________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________.

→Coach‘s Definition of Success

Our coach defines golf success for each golfer and the team as______________________

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________.

Our coach defines success in the LIFE as_______________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________.

What defines me as a human being is___________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________.

“The kind and level of success we seek as a team

must be available to every individual on the team

or we will never reach our goals and objectives.”

Coach Robertson

Read on……


46

Success is not to be based on the number of matches won or lost, but rather

on the basis of how each individual performs in comparison with his or her

abilities. True success comes only to the individual through the self-

satisfaction of knowing they are giving everything to become the very best

they are capable of being. In the final analysis, only the individual can

correctly determine their success. You may fool others with outward signs of

success, but do not fool yourself. Ask yourself the question “Am I giving my

all to causes that are greater than myself?”

Fear of Success

Author Steven Covey (7-Habits of Highly Effective Individuals) writes at length about the

human gifts we are all endowed with. Dr. Covey uses a quote from Marianne Williamson

book, Return to Love, when he talks about how we are often awed, even fearful, of

exercising our natural endowments. Dr. Covey thinks we are often fearful of success

because of a sense of personal responsibility that it lays on us.

―Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful

beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves,

Who am I to be brilliant, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a

child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened

about shrinking so that other people won‘t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to

shine, as children do. We are born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It‘s

not just in some of us; it‘s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously

give other people permission to do the same. As we‘re liberated from our own fear, our

presence automatically liberates others.‖ Source: Return to Love, p. 190-191.

An Objective of Continuous Improvement.

We include continuous improvement as a major

element of defining success and in our goal

achievement program, which makes it

imperative that we have an effective assessment and

tracking program for you. We think it important that

we accept each player as you are, as golfers and as

individuals, and then help you experience success on

and off the golf course. We think it important to help you track continuous improvement in

not only your golf game, but academically, conditioning, emotionally, and in all walks of

life.

Continuous Personal

Improvement and Continual

Process Improvement within

your golf game are two of our

foundational goals.


47

Balance. Additionally, we tie our definition of success into developing a balanced lifestyle

on and off the golf course by including the following elements:

Academic Achievement;

Citizenship;

Sportsmanship and Team Support; and

Athletic Performance.

Defining Winning and Losing - Be certain to define winning and

losing very precisely.

Your Definition of Winnings (part of your

philosophy) Please complete the following…go ahead, there is no right or wrong response.

My definition of winning at the game of golf is ___________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________.

Our Team Definition of Winning and Losing Winning is the total release of all that you are in giving everything to a cause greater than your own self and through becoming the very best you are capable of being. Losing is missing the mark in giving everything to a cause greater than your own self and falling short of becoming the very best you are capable of being. Failure is giving up. Failure is quitting. Failure is not losing. Failure is not picking yourself up once you have fallen short of the mark, learning from the experience, and moving forward. What a difference this revised definition of winning can make in creating a paradigm shift within yourself and athletes. This revised definition takes winning and losing out of the Circle of No Control and moves it smack into the middle of the Circle of Control.

paradigm. A perception, assumption, theory, frame of reference or lens through which we view the world. Paradigms both explain and guide our toughts (including attitudes), emotions, and behaviors.


48

Circles of Control – additional information We help players experience success by working with

them on setting, tracking, and accomplishing specific

goals and objectives within their Circle of Control

and their Circle of Influence. As you read through the following points, as well as the

Language of Control article in the Attachments Section, be certain that you are setting your

players up for success versus failure. For example, when players establish goals in areas

outside of their Circle of Control, such as winning, then define success using those goals as

measuring rods, they are setting themselves up for disappointment and failure.

Circle of NO Control The largest circle; winning; course conditions; competitors;

coaches, etc.

Circle of Influence Players can ―influence‖ teammates, score; etc.

Circle of Control Players can control their own thoughts, emotions, behaviors,

shot selection, decision making process, etc.

*With your revised definition of winning, and the resulting paradigm shift, winning can be

moved precisely into the middle of your Circle of Control.

3 X 5 Reminder Card.

True success comes only to the individual through

the self-satisfaction of knowing they are giving

everything to become the very best they are capable

of.

Circle of No Control: winning, score, weather, the

competition, course conditions, etc.

Circle of Influence: teammates, coaches, swing

through impact, etc.

Circle of Control: my thoughts, emotions,

behaviors, 6-Step Routine™, The Hourglass™,

setup and takeaway, etc.

Are you setting players

up for FAILURE?


49

Team Building Note

Is GOLF really a team sport?

Is golf at the interscholastic and intercollegiate level the same type of team sport as

volleyball, basketball, or football? Certainly not.

Is golf the same type of team sport as track and field, long distance swimming and

many swimming events? Definitely yes.

Our philosophy is that golf is a team sport and definitely a foundational life experience.

Therefore, in our program we teach team building skills in golf and as life skills.

The Bucket We work diligently with our golfers to understand the ―bucket‖ effect on team scoring. We

take five golfers to a match and four of their scores count toward the teams total for the day.

Every stroke a player makes goes into the team bucket. Therefore, it is imperative that every

player score as well as possible and avoid throwing stroke after stroke into the bucket when

they get discouraged. There are times when we have to coach players on ―stopping the

bleeding.‖ Avoid high numbers! We firmly believe that players cannot control score and it

is a mistake to focus on score. However, when playing poorly, players must develop the

ability to play with their B or C games and keep the ball in play with the best club and shot

selection.

The Bucket can be a confusing topic, but one you need to cover in detail with your

players. Most golfers start throwing excess strokes into the bucket when they are not

playing well, become discouraged, and do not follow a pre-thought plan for conserving

strokes. As the coach, you must help golfers get their heads back into the game, execute

their stroke conservation plan, perhaps play more conservatively, and continue competing

for the team.

As you have thoughts on this concept we would enjoy hearing from you.

What is your player‘s Stroke Conservation Plan?


50

Selecting Team Building Goals Many programs get team building training out of order. Here is how individuals typically

mature and develop in this area:

dependent;

can revert to negative dependence, which is co-dependence;

independent; and finally to

interdependent and team building.

One of your team building goals is helping you

mature toward interdependence. One of our players

gave us a good working definition of inter-

dependence.

―We can all walk down the tracks my ourselves,

which is independence. Balancing on the tracks is

hard work. Some of us will fall repeatedly.

Walking along can be hard work and lonely, but we can do it. We must learn to walk along

before learning to walk with others. Some among us would not dare walk down the tracks

alone, they must have the help and support of others, which is dependent. The problem with

being dependent is that one never learns to become independent. Once we have learned

independence we can begin learning interdependence, which is our goal. We know we can

walk down the tracks along, but with the help and support of a teammate the task is easier,

we do not fall as often, and it‘s a lot more fun. Learning to become interdependent is key

to effective teamwork.‖

Too many team building programs begin with actual team building skills, knowledge, and

attitudes. The problem is that team building skills are on the third level of development,

not the first. Consider the following four levels of skill development:

Intra-personal Skills (fix yourself 1st);

Inter-personal Skills;

Team Building Skills; and finally

Leadership Skill Development.

First, you must learn to live within your own skin, which ties in with moving from being

independent to being interdependent. Think of the golfers you know who cannot even

control or manage themselves. How are they going to control their thoughts, emotions, and

behaviors with others? They are not!

Resources: Our 1st teambuilding book is the same resource we use for developing team

captains, The Team Captain‘s Leadership Manual by Jeff Janssen.

Check the goal setting and achievement as an area of further expansion and development

with your coach.


51

Journalizing

My Success Skills Journal Page.

Date Comments

I define success in life as:

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

I define success in golf as:

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

I define success in college as:

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

Notes and Comments

_______ _____________________________________________________

_______ _____________________________________________________

_______ _____________________________________________________

_______ _____________________________________________________

_______ _____________________________________________________

_______ _____________________________________________________

_______ _____________________________________________________

_______ _____________________________________________________

_______ _____________________________________________________

_______ _____________________________________________________

_______ _____________________________________________________

_______ _____________________________________________________

_______ _____________________________________________________

_______ _____________________________________________________

_______ _____________________________________________________

_______ _____________________________________________________

_______ _____________________________________________________


52

Journalizing

My Goal Setting and Achievement Journal Page.

Date Comments

_______ _____________________________________________________

_______ _____________________________________________________

_______ _____________________________________________________

_______ _____________________________________________________

_______ _____________________________________________________

_______ _____________________________________________________

_______ _____________________________________________________

_______ _____________________________________________________

_______ _____________________________________________________

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_______ _____________________________________________________

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_______ _____________________________________________________

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_______ _____________________________________________________

_______ _____________________________________________________

_______ _____________________________________________________

_______ _____________________________________________________

_______ _____________________________________________________

_______ _____________________________________________________

_______ _____________________________________________________


53

Journalizing

My STROKE CONSERVATION PLAN and Journal

Date Comments

_______ _____________________________________________________

_______ _____________________________________________________

_______ _____________________________________________________

_______ _____________________________________________________

_______ _____________________________________________________

_______ _____________________________________________________

_______ _____________________________________________________

_______ _____________________________________________________

_______ _____________________________________________________

_______ _____________________________________________________

_______ _____________________________________________________


54

Journalizing

My Goal Setting and Achievement Journal Page.

Date Comments

_______ _____________________________________________________

_______ _____________________________________________________

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55

Goal Setting Work Space

-

_________________________________________________

_________________________________________________

_________________________________________________

_________________________________________________

_________________________________________________

_________________________________________________

_________________________________________________

_________________________________________________

_______________________________________________


56

_________________________________________________

_________________________________________________

_________________________________________________

_________________________________________________

_________________________________________________


57

TOOLS OF YOUR TRADE


Determining the specifics of your equipment and ensuring it fits you.

Understanding the importance of taking proper care of your golf equipment at all

times.

Understanding Center of Percussion and its importance to scoring.

Being aware of golf ball compression and how it impacts your game. Including

selecting the golf ball(s) that best fit your game.

Key concepts to understand and master in this section. Bounce in club design; with all clubs, but especially with wedges.

Center of Percussion.

Golf ball compression factors.




58

Determine the specifics of your equipment and ensure that it fits you!

Equipment Rule #1

Use equipment that fits you and your game. Do NOT adjust your game or swing to fit your

equipment. Fit your putter 1st!

Equipment Rule #2

Your equipment needs to match the shot you are working to create and the conditions you

are paying under. This means you must understand the design function of each piece of

equipment, along with the type and shape of shot it is designed to produce. Example: When

examining the functions of a PW, SW, LW, and XW, you will find they are each designed to

function most effectively under certain conditions. Do you know what those conditions are?

IF not, find out!

Care of Equipment The general procedure for every type of

composite grip is periodic cleaning with liquid

detergent and water, rinse thoroughly, and

towel dry. Cleaning will remove any dust, dirt, sun screen, sweat or hand oil which

accumulates on the grips from normal play and practice. For very dirty grips that have been

left unatended, a cleaning agent such as Ajax or Comet may need to be used. It is smart to

clean composite grips every five rounds or less.

Do not expose clubs to high temperatures for prolonged periods of time, such as in

the trunk of a car, furnace room of a house, etc.

Do not expose clubs and golf baggs to direct sunlight for prolonged periods of time.

Carry a towel at all times to help keep clubs and grips clean and dry.

Never put clubs or head covers away wet.

Clean your club faces and golf spikes after every practice session and golf round.

Clean composite grips every five

rounds or less. Clean club faces,

and groves, after every round.


59

Good Carpenters Know their Tools “Good carpenters never blame poor work

on their equipment”.

An important step toward success in golf includes understanding the design function of the

―tools‖ in your bag and the types of shots those tools were designed to produce.

Putters TO DO: Have putters fitted to your game.

Select one Stroke: Use either a Pendulum

Stroke or a Gate Stroke. Choose one!

For equipment: Consider using a center

shafted putter with a Pendulum Stroke…

and consider using heel shafted putter

with a Gate Stroke.

Remember that most putters come from the factory with 5° loft, which allows putters

to be used for a variety of shots around greens as well as on the green.

*When we do club fitting, our order is: putters, drivers, wedges, then the remainder of the

set.

Chipping Clubs Consider a chipping club.

A cross between a wedge and a putter.

Specifications are similar to a putter.

Their 37° loft (about a 7-iron) allows the ball

to get up and into the air quickly.

The ‗Playing Club‘ The following information on the driving club is from Michael Murphy‘s Golf in the

Kingdom, page 16 to be exact. You may experience some difficulty reading the character‘s

Scottish idiom, but stay with it, it is worth the understanding. After their brief meditation

they started taking their practice swings. MacIver took his with a long iron. ―Nae. Use yer

playing club noo.‖ said the professional, pointing to the pupil‘s driver. As I would learn

eventually, he believed that driving was a term that by its very connotation threw some

golfers off their swing. He preferred to say that he was playing the ball on a driver, and

called a driver a playing club, as golfers had done in centuries past.‖

From time to time throughout our materials, we replace the term driver with playing

club.


60

Wedges

Wedge play can make or break a your scoring game. Studying and understanding the design

function of wedges pays dividends on the golf course. We help you get out and test

different wedges in order to determine which equipment works best for your game, swing,

and under the conditions you compete in. It is important to track which wedges perform

better in various areas of your game.

Wedges fall into five basic categories: pitching wedge; gap wedge; sand wedge; 60º lob

wedge; and the very high loft XX lob wedges. The following information covers some

wedge facts, descriptions, and preferences on which wedges to carry and the specifications

you need to be aware of.

Pitching Wedges are typically included with iron sets. This needs to be the pitching wedge

you play IF your irons are fitted to you and your game. The PW is designed as an extension

of a 9-iron in shape and incremental performance. The two variables are 1º to 4º more

bounce angle (see bounce definition below) added to the sole and a 2-3 swing weight (see

swingweight definition below) increase. Club lengths vary, but the pitching wedge is

typically one half inch shorter than a 9-iron in a set.

The golf industry created some gaps within wedges by reducing the lofts of irons (making

them ―stronger‖) over the years in order to sell more clubs by making golfers think they

were hitting clubs further. Gap Wedges exist because pitching wedge lofts today can be

around 46º - 47º, sometimes even stronger. Sand wedges usually average 55º - 56º, so a gap

of about 9º - 10º exists between the two clubs. Usually, lofts in a set of irons are set on 3º -

5º between each iron. To sell more clubs, and satisfy the needs of some golfers,

manufacturers created the Gap Wedge which is typically 50º - 52º loft.

Most golfers do fine with a 46° - 47° PW, a 55° - 56° SW, do not need a GW, and certainly

do not need a 60° wedge.


61

Check out Club Specs - Example Here is an example of a men‘s set of Mizuno clubs. Be certain to look up the specifications

for your own equipment.

Set Club Loft Lie Length Bounce

MP-62 9-iron 43 62.5 35.75 5°

PW 47 63 35.50 6°

GW 52 63 35.25 7°

SW 56 63 35.25 13°

LW 60 63 35 8°

My equipment specifications

9-iron loft _____ º

PW loft _____ º GW loft _____ º SW loft _____ º

We prefer a sand wedge with at least 56º loft.

The maximum loft is 58º on most sand wedges.

We do not recommend carrying just a 60º sand wedge

unless you are an accomplished golfer. There is

simply too much loft on a 60º sand wedge to be the

only wedge you carry.

60º wedges can be miracle clubs for some players and

create disaster for others. A 60º wedge requires a

higher skill level and a large amount of practice

time to master. These wedges differ dramatically in design specifications so it is important

to pick one with specifications for your intended use. The main differences are in the sole

design.

Bounce angles can go as high as 14º (on a sand wedge), but more realistically come in the 6º

- 8º range for other wedges. Lower bounce angles can work well from sand but require

more skill than a normal sand wedge. Wide sole clubs: There are very wide sole wedges

available from several manufacturers that help eliminate fat shots. There are also a number

of sole widths that are easier for the average golfer to play.

Bounce. The angle of the sole of the club as measured from the leading edge to the trailing

edge. Bounce that is positive has the leading edge higher than the trailing edge. Bounce

that is negative (also called "dig") is when the leading edge is lower than the trailing edge.

Average golfers need to void “dig” in their wedges. Wedges have the most bounce angle

in a set of clubs. Bounce helps clubs penetrate through sand and high grass easily by

helping to prevent the sole from digging into the ground ("fat" shots). Effective Bounce. In

addressing the ball, rolling the club face open increases its bounce angle.

We do not have a concern with

our golfers using a 3-wedge

system, many of our

professional clients us a 4-

wedge system. Just remember

that you must qualify to carry

a wedge with more loft than a

PW.

http://www.ralphmaltby.com/glossary#bounce


62

Center of Percussion

and Scoring The Center of Percussion of a club is sometimes

referred to as the Sweet Spot. The Center of

Percussion, which is the ideal, and most

balanced spot on the club‘s face to strike the ball.

Striking the golf ball on the Center of

the clubface transfers the greatest amount of

available energy from the club to the ball and

starts the ball on an appropriate line.

In the drawing above, illustration 1 is where the Center of Percussion of the putter

face strikes the back-center of the ball, transfers full force, and moves the ball straight down

the target line.

Consistent and precise contact with the Center of Percussion with ALL of your clubs

is critical to consistent ball striking. Consistent ball striking is critical to consistent

SCORING and consistently improving scoring is one of our foundational objectives.

Even with the larger centers of percussion, and thus more forgiveness, of modern

clubs, striking the ball on the Center remains a critical factor.

Equipment Note: The typical golfer‘s scoring can be improved with more forgiving centers

of percussion, as in Adam‘s Hybrids. Most of the HS and college golfers we encounter

using blade irons would improve their scoring with the more forgiving hybrid equipment.

Check equipment and club fitting as an area of further expansion and development with

your coach.

swingweight. In general terms, swingweight is a measure of how the weight of the club feels when a player swings it. When a set of clubs is not matched in swingweight, each clubs weight can feel different through the swing. Swingweight is a balance measurement and is the degree to which the club balances toward the head. If club #1 has a balance point closer to the club head than club #2, then Club #1 will feel heavier through the swing to the golfer. Swingweight, and the weight of the club, are not the same thing. Club weight is expressed in grams. Swingweight is expressed on a scale from A0 to G10, with G10 being the heaviest. Imagine adding a piece of led tape to your 7-iron. No matter where on the club you place the weight, its total weight remains the same. Now imagine placing that added weight on the back of the clubface. Swing the club. Move the weight to the very top of the shaft and swing the club again. The weight, or swingweight, will feel quite different. Men‘s standards are D0 or D1 (heavy) and women‘s standards are C5 to C7 (lighter).

Target Line

1. 3.2.

Pu

tter F

ac

e

Pu

tter F

ac

e

Pu

tter F

ac

e


63

Golf Ball Selection The following material is meant to be beginning of your golf ball knowledge. It is not

meant to be complete and you will want to add to your golf ball knowledge as you learn

more about your game, your equipment, and the game of golf. Many players fail to realize

the importance of golf balls in their competitive performance, and most beginning golfers

give the subject too much consideration. Keep in mind that much of what you read and hear

about golf balls is marketing driven. Golf ball advertising catches more golfers than it does

birdies! In helping you understanding a little more on selecting a golf ball, we examine

some of the advantage and disadvantage of several ball types. We do not get into brands in

this article.

Your golf ball is probably the only piece of equipment you use on every shot during every

round. Knowing the characteristics of golf balls can help you understand how they benefit

your game. Golf ball compression is an often misunderstood concept, but knowing its

nuances can help you strike the ball with more confidence.

Definition The definition of compression for golf balls is widely published. According to Golf Digest,

a ball's compression is its relative hardness and resistance to being deformed at impact. In

the past, golf balls were assigned a compression number usually ranging from 80 and below

to 100 and higher. Higher numbers meant harder balls. This system has largely been

stopped because there are no consistent standards for testing or quantifying

compression. Now, compression characteristics are usually described on the ball's

packaging so you need to read up on the balls you are selecting.

The purpose of compression is to absorb energy into the ball from the club face and

provide the best combination of distance and feel to the golf shot. The force from the club

face upon impact causes the ball to compress and even deform slightly, like a flattened egg.

A softer ball, one with a lower compression rating, will compress more easily than a harder

ball with a higher compression rating. Years ago, the logic was that the more a golf ball was

compressed at impact, the greater energy it absorbed and flew farther, but that is not the

case. Slower swing speeds need a ball that can absorb as much energy as possible, but if a

player with a high swing speed hits the same low-compression ball, then too much energy

would be spent compressing the ball and energy available for ball flight would be wasted.

In order to utilize as much energy from the club face as possible, balls with high

compression ratings (those with ratings of around 80 and higher) are designed to absorb the

higher amounts of energy from higher swing speeds. Are we making any sense yet? Stay

with it.

[A little more advanced information.]

COR, or Coefficient of Restitution, is a measurement of the clubface's ability to rebound the

ball, expressed as a percentage that is determined by a ball's speed off the club head divided

by the speed at which it struck the club head. The term came into the popular use as ultra-

thin-faced drivers began to populate the market. An effect of the thin faces is known as the

trampoline effect. With a trampoline effect, the face of the driver depresses as the ball is

struck, then rebounds and thus provides a little extra energy to the ball. A driver that exhibits

this property will have a very high COR.

http://www.ehow.com/facts_5653182_golf-ball-compression_.html?ref=Track2&utm_source=ask


64

Back to golf balls. Generally, golf balls have 1-, 2-, or 3-piece cores. Multi-core centers

produce more backspin, which gives better golfers more control over ball flight. Some

multi-core balls achieve greater distance because of the club head speed of better golfers.

Solid or 1-piece balls spin less but tend to fly a bit farther. When it comes to covers, balls

come in the soft and hard variety. It has been our experience that only better players can

detect this characteristic with golf balls.

The Speed Limit

A speed limit on golf clubs was a recent action from the USGA (see December 1999), limits

on golf-ball performance have existed since the USGA set a distance standard in 1976-280

yards plus a 6-percent tolerance. For additional information on this factor please consult the

USGA‘s website.

Beginning and less experienced golfers. Save your money, purchase a good brand of ball,

but look for solid-center balls with durable covers. They are less expensive, last longer, go

farther, and spin less.

Our #1 Performance Factor

What factors are you after for in a golf ball? Are you after control, distance, spin, feel,

durability, or mostly the name that is printed on the ball? After all, you have to use what

the pros are using, right!!! The preference of our coaching staff is control over distance for

our golfers, but that is just us.

Here is the reality of the situation. Check your ball flight distance with your current

golf ball. Select a test club. Most players use their driver when testing for overall distance.

Determine your average distance now and make note of your typical ball flight (draw/hook,

fade/slice, straight, low, high, etc.). Next, determine your club head speed. Club head

speed is critical in selecting the better performing ball for your game, so you may need to

locate a club fitter or golf professional to help you determine this. Here are some averages

to consider. For golfers averaging 200-220 yards with their drivers, they are creating about

80-85 miles per hour of club head speed at impact. For consistent distance control, it is

important to select a ball that is about 10 compressions less than your average club head

speed. Here are some guidelines.

80: The lowest compression ball and designed mainly for ladies, juniors, and older (slower

swinging) golfers. The softer core of most low compression balls allows for creating more

spin off the club face, which increasing distance, but sacrifices a little bit of control.

90: The compression needed by most golfers.

100: This is a harder, tighter core golf ball, who‘s benefits can only be realized by golfers

swing speeds over 100 miles per hour.

Cold Weather Yes, cold weather definitely influences the ―hardness‖ of feel of a golf ball. Cold weather

golf ball performance is typically better with lower compression, softer, golf balls.


65

Dimples When you study launch conditions for a golf ball, you will find that impact typically lasts

only 1/2000 of a second, but it creates the ball's velocity, launch angle, and spin rate. After

this brief impact the ball's trajectory is controlled entirely by gravity and aerodynamics, no

matter how much you talk to the golf ball. As a result, aerodynamic optimization, which is

achieved through dimple pattern design, is a critical performance factor. Consider the fact

that a smooth golf ball hit by a professional golfer would travel only about half as far as a

golf ball with dimples does. Most golf balls have between 300 and 500 dimples, which have

an average depth of about 0.010 inch. The lift and drag forces on a golf ball are very

sensitive to dimple depth: a depth change of 0.001 inch can produce a radical change to the

ball's trajectory and the overall distance it can fly. The dimples on your golf ball create a

thin turbulent boundary layer of air that clings to the ball's surface. This allows the smoothly

flowing air to follow the ball's surface a little farther around the back side of the ball,

thereby decreasing the size of the ball‘s wake. A dimpled ball thus has about half the drag of

a smooth ball. Dimples also affect lift. A smooth ball with backspin creates lift by warping

the airflow such that the ball acts like an airplane's wing. The spinning action makes the air

pressure on the bottom of the ball higher than the air pressure on the top; this imbalance

creates an upward force on the ball. Ball spin contributes about one half of a golf ball's lift.

The other half is provided by the dimples, which allow for optimization of the lift force.

Practically Speaking

Use trial and success with several golf balls and determine the ball that best fits your

needs and wants. Be certain to give your choices a realistic test. A coach recently took

ten of his players to a professional club fitter who also measured the various elements of ball

flight in order to help each golfer determine the best ball for their game. Several weeks

later, the coach reported that not a single golfer was playing the ball recommended by the

data. Some thought the selected ball was too hard, others thought the ball selected for them

was too soft, some did not prefer that particular brand. Go figure!


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Journalizing

My Equipment Journal Page including Golf Ball Information.

Date Comments

Fit your driver to your game 1st.

Club Fitting Information:

_______ _____________________________________________________

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Other Equipment Information:

_______ _____________________________________________________

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THE LEARNING PROCESS


Understanding the learning process players need to utilize in our Competitive Golf

Performance Program and adapting to it.

Understanding the learning order we present skills, knowledge, and paradigms in

and utilize that process within your own lifetime learning.

Learning why each principle and technique in your game works, not merely how they

work.

Learning how the Newtonian Laws of Physics impact the transfer energy from the

club face to the golf ball.

Understanding that no learning takes place until the neurological (synaptical)

structure of the brain changes, which is the true definition of learning. This fact links

directly to the principle that in golf, swing changes need to be understood as the

gradual evolution of encoded patterns in the brain. If you do not fully understand

this principle, please have Coach explain it to you.

Key concepts to understand and master in this section. Learning Order.

The Newtonian Laws of Physics.

The LAW of Process.




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Introduction Our coaching objectives include assisting you to becoming better learners of the game,

lifelong learners, as well as in becoming your own best coach. Before you can improve

your scoring, you must figure out WHAT you need to know (1. skills, 2. knowledge, 3.

paradigms), WHY you need to know it, HOW to learn what you need to know, and how to

INCORPORATE those elements into competitive golf performance.

A Learning Process The following describes the process we employ in helping you learn and develop your

golf game.

WHAT TO DO HOW TO DO IT

1. Provide written information. We use our Team Swing Manual, select articles and

books to support the learning process.

2. Video tape and review swings. Help you understand your swing and golf

game by teaching you how to review and assess your

own swing along with the swings of model players.

3. Provide instruction and feedback. Use a sequence of short instructional clinics

throughout the season to help you learn how to

move information (skills, knowledge, and attitudes)

from the cognitive (thinking) level of learning to the

association level, and to where you can begin using it

competitively.

4. Perfect practice. Help you learn how to learn from appropriate

feedback and to maintain the same intensity level as

you plan to compete on. Also help you learn why the

principles and techniques you are developing work, not

merely how to do them.

5. Assessment and Data Collection. Teach you the types of data you need to

accumulate in order to understand where your level of

competitive performance is and how to realistically

assess your strengths and weaknesses.

6. Refine preparation. Teach you how to refine every element of your

preparation process for competitive performance.

7. Coach during competition. As coaches, we look for ―coachable moments‖ that

help define each player‘s competitive performance and

help you learn from those moments; good and bad.

8. Continue to revise the process. Our coaching motto is continuous process

improvement in all we are doing.


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Learning and Reinforcing the Golf Swing with Conditioning Years ago we made the discovery that certain conditioning programs were

counterproductive to teaching and developing a player‘s golf swing. In the first NCAA

Division I program we assessed, the ladies team was actually losing club head speed and

accuracy as a result of their conditioning program. Once a new program was installed, club

head speed and accuracy began to return. Those results have been verified in further studies

at all level of the game, including on Tour. The outline of our conditioning program is

presented in the Conditioning Section.

Within your own conditioning program, please consider that:

In learning the various swings/strokes, you need to begin with learning the correct

neuromuscular blueprints, which are all in your manual.

Learning those blueprints through slow motion drills, and reinforcing them in our

conditioning programs, is key to the learning process as well as to performance.

Example: within our Pre-Practice Warm Up Routine are specific drills for

reinforcing and warming up the putting stroke, full swing, and the rotating finesse

swing.

Think about time. We do not have an excess of time to develop our golf swings.

Incorporating neuromuscular blueprinting and swing execution drills during

conditioning adds significantly to that learning time.


70

What do you think of this learning order? In learning the golf swing/stroke in the scoring game, consider the following order and

record your thoughts and comments.

Ball Flight – What major paths does the golf ball take through the air (hook, draw,

straight, etc.) on route to a specific target? We know, trajectory is important, but

let‘s stay with path for a minute.

Reaction to the Green - How does the ball react to the target, the green, and why?

Club Face – What five primary physical laws dictate the transfer of energy from the

face of the club to the ball, and thus determine ball flight (path)? Why does the ball

react to the face of the club as it does?

Equipment Features and Functions – What is the design function of each club; what

is the role of loft, lie, etc., and how does it impact ball flight? Now only how, but

why does your equipment function as it does.

Centripetal Force – What is the role of centripetal force in the golf swing.

Neuromuscular Blueprint of the Swing – How are mental blueprints (the mental

model for the swing you are about to execute) created and how do they direct motor

movement?

Executing the Blueprint – How do you prepare your body to execute the blueprint of

the swing as effectively as possible?

6-Step Performance Routine – You MUST lean how to create and execute blueprints

for the shot at hand within your 6-Step Routine.

Ground Reaction Sport and Major Power Sources – How does the fact that golf is a

ground reaction sport impact the golf swing? How do the major power sources

(hands, upper body, lower body, etc.) impact the swing? YOU PLAN GOLF

FROM THE GROUND UP; WITH YOUR FEET.

Your thoughts on how to improve on the previous teaching order. ____________________

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________.

Swing Concepts versus Swing Mechanics 1

st learn what the clubface does as it transfers energy from the face of the club into the golf

ball and then learn what the body needs to do in order to help the club conform to the laws

of physics. In creating and executing each golf swing, concepts form blueprints (another

word for swing model) and blueprints call up motor responses. Therefore, it is critical that

you identify and understand the concepts that make up your mental swing (putting, chipping

pitching, rotating, etc.) models. Also, do not confuse techniques and mechanics with swing

models and concepts.


71

Example: In the LAWS model, there are three primary profiles, each can help you form the

basis for your swing concepts.

Overall Look:Dimension: Body Type: Swing Motion:

Leverage whirling depth mesomorph rotational

Arc slinging height ectomorph figure-8 inside drop

Width punching width endomorph pushing

[Go to section _____ of your manual to further your work with developing your swing

concepts.]

LAWS™ (Leverage-Arc-Width Swing Styles) Add notes on the LAWS Swing Styles™ here as you need them.

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

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72

Learn the Newtonian Laws of Physics 1st In learning ball flight and roll, begin with the Newtonian Laws of Physics. These are

foundational laws that govern the transfer of energy from the face of the club to the ball,

and apply to ALL strokes and swings. Through impact, the primary determinants of a golf

ball‘s flight and roll pattern are:

Center of Percussion;

Path;

Face Angle;

Angle of Attack; and

Kinetic Energy or Force.

Reminder: these laws apply to ALL putting styles and golf swings.

Laws and Principles – Start with the putting stroke

Start with understanding the five laws as they apply to the putting stroke, and then advance

to full golf swings. Through impact, the primary determinants of a golf ball‘s initial

direction and speed are the putter faces: Sweet Spot or Center of Percussion; Path; Face

Angle; Angle of Attack; and Kinetic Energy.

Center of Percussion(COP) The Sweet Spot of a club is actually

its Center of Percussion, which is the

ideal and most balanced spot on the

clubface to strike the ball on.

Striking the golf ball on the

COP transfers the greatest amount

of available energy from the face to

the ball and starts the ball on a line

perpendicular to the club face.

Remember that all putts begin as

straight putts.

In the drawing above, illustration 1 is where the center of percussion of the putter

face strikes the back-center of the ball, transfers full force, and moves the ball straight down

the target line.

In illustration 2, the putter face strikes the back of the ball out toward the toe of the

putter face, transferring less energy to the ball. In this example, the putter face has a

tendency to rotate open in reference to the target line and propels the ball to the right of the

line.

In illustration 3, the putter face strikes the back of the ball toward the heel of the

putter, transferring less energy to the ball, and the putter face has a tendency to rotate closed

in reference to the target line and send the ball off line to the left.

Striking the golf ball on the center of percussion of the putter face is a top priority.

Striking the golf ball exactly on the COP impacts both the amount of energy transferred to

the ball and the ball‘s direction, making this a double opportunity for performance.

Target Line

1. 3.2.

Pu

tter F

ac

e

Pu

tter F

ac

e

Pu

tter F

ac

e


73

Face Angle – the next LAW The angle of the putter‘s face in relation

to the target line, as it transfers energy to

the golf ball, is key in determining about

85% of the ball‘s direction.

Because all putts start out as

straight putts, the ideal face angle at

impact is square with the target line,

which is shown as 1 above. Being

square means that the putter face forms

a 90 degree angle with the target line.

90 degrees is the same as perpendicular.

An important objective for your putting

stroke is having the putter face perpendicular with the target line through impact, however,

some very good professional golfers express varying preferences on this topic.

Illustration 2. is Open; the face of the putter is open (at more than a 90 degree angle

with the target line) at impact, the golf ball is propelled to the right of the target line with

some energy loss. That is the law.

When the face angle of the putter is closed (at less than 90 degrees) at impact such as

in Illustration 3., the golf ball is propelled to the left of the target line with some energy loss.

Path We are referencing the path of

the putter‘s face as it passes

through the ball at impact. This

is another major determinant of

the ball‘s path in relation to the

target line, plus its speed.

Your posture, the

connection of your hands with the

club, stance, and alignment all

influence the path created with

the putter‘s face through

impact. There is more information on these techniques later.

In the first example above, when the path of the putter face is parallel with, or

traveling along, the target line through impact, the golf ball is propelled straight down the

target line, which is our preference. An important consideration in the putting stroke is

having the putter face travel straight along the target line a few inches prior to, through, and

a few inches past, impact.

In example 2, when the path of the putter face travels from outside the target line,

through the ball, and to the inside on the follow through, the golf ball is propelled to the left

of the target line. There is typically, however, no loss of energy transfer.

In example 3, when the path of the putter face is traveling from inside the target line,

through the ball, and to the outside on the follow through, the golf ball is propelled to the

right of the target line. There is typically no loss of energy transfer.

Target Line

1. Square 3. Closed2. OpenP

utte

r F

ac

e

Pu

tter F

ace

Pu

tter F

ace

Target Line

1. 3.2.

Pu

tte

r F

ac

e

Pu

tter F

ace

Pu

tter F

ace


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Loft Review: one of or objectives

in a technically sound stroke

is returning the putter‘s shaft to

its original setup position. Our

original position is perpendicular

to the green, or forming a 90

degree angle; such as in the first

Illustration to the right.

The perpendicular

position of the shaft, and thus

the putter face, in example 1, is

particularly influential in the

putting stroke because the

typical putter is manufactured with only 4 — 5 degrees loft, which is not very much.

Therefore, even minor position differences in relation to the putter‘s face angle, or loft, with

the putting surface can make large differences in results. The objective is to position the

putter shaft perpendicular with the green in your setup and return it to that exact position at

the moment of impact.

In the second example, the putter shaft, and thus the putter face and loft, is more

lofted (more than a 90 degree angle with the green). With more loft, there is actually less

energy being transferred from the putter face to the golf ball. With additional loft comes

additional back spin, which is exactly opposite of what we want in the putting stroke. In

putting, we want the ball over spinning as quickly as possible, which helps the ball remain

on line. Loft is typically added to the putter‘s face when the golfer‘s hands are behind or

late in the stroke.

In example number 3, the putter shaft, and thus the putter face are de-lofted (less than

90 degrees). In this position, the golf ball not only receives less energy from the putter face,

but is more apt to be pinched between the putter face and the green, and thus jump off line.

Loft is typically reduced in the putter‘s face when the golfer‘s hands are ahead or early in

the stroke.

Many golfers associate the concept of loft with woods

and irons but not with putters. The typical putter has

4 — 5 degrees of loft. If the putter face had 0 degrees

loft, what would happen upon impact with the golf ball?

Think about your playing club (driver) for just a second.

With 0 degrees loft, the clubface could not depart any backspin to the ball, which is what

keeps the ball airborne. The same laws of energy transfer apply to your putter. Without

loft, or with negative loft, the putter face could pinch the golf ball between the ground and

the face, the all would pop up or sideways slightly, and roll off path.

Do you know what

degree loft your

putter has?

Pu

tter S

ha

rt

Putting Surface

90 Degrees

Putte

r Shart

Putte

r Shart

LESS than

90 Degrees

MORE than

90 Degrees

1 2 3


75

Lie Angle Do you understand the

following technical definition

of lie angle? ―The angle of the

horizontal centerline of the shaft

with the ground line, tangent to

the sole at the centerline of the

face.‖

In the drawing above, 1. illustrates the preferred lie angle, where the bottom of the putter

face is parallel with the putting surface. Certain putters have unique shaped to their bottom

lines, but having the bottom of the putter parallel with the putting surface is our preference.

We recommend lie angle # 1.

Proper lie angle is important in your putting game and CRITICAL in your full swing.

One of our objectives is helping you learn important laws, principles, and preferences of

putting and then transfer that knowledge and skill into your full swing.

Angle of Attack Definition: The angle of attack

is the vertical movement of the

putter face through the forward

stroke in relation to the golf

ball and putting surface.

Gate Stroke.

Relative to other strokes, there

is less angle of attack with a

gate stroke (the bottom

example) because there is very

little elevation off the putting

surface through the stroke. The arc of the gate stroke is typically very flat, thus having little,

if any, angle of attack. In general, there is less elevation in all putting strokes because they

are a one-lever mechanic. One-lever means there are no angles, or wrist cock, created in the

stroke.

A Pendulum Stroke (top example) has slightly more elevation in its vertical arc than

with other putting strokes, and thus its angle of attack is greater. It is important to work on a

consistent angle of attack with both stroke strokes. Information on the value of striking the

ball with a slightly ascending (moving up) path at impact is covered later.

Putting Surface

Putter facePutter facePutter face

1 2 3

Putting

Surface

Angle of

Pendulum

Stroke

Golf Ball

Putting

Surface

Angle of Gate

Stroke

Golf Ball


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Kinetic Energy or Force The velocity (speed) and mass (weight) of the putter

face are the primary determinants of the amount of

energy transferred to the golf ball. With the putter,

mass is the quality of matter as determined from its

weight and the distribution of that weight. All things

being equal, a heavier putter (more mass) will propel a

golf ball further than a lighter putter (less mass). We

find some players converting to heaver putters in

order to gain a greater sense of touch. Rather than constantly adjust their strokes to the

speeds of different golf courses, grasses, and areas of the country, some professional golfers

utilize putters of the exact same specifications, with the exception of more mass for slower

greens. We have more information on touch for you later on.

Energy, a quick lesson

When an object is in motion, such as a putter head or a golf ball, it is said to have kinetic

energy. For an object that is moving, kinetic energy equals one half times the mass of the

object, times the square of the velocity of the object. The formula is EK = (1/2)mv2

Notice in the formula that mass, which is the weight of the putter head, is divided by

two, and its velocity, which is the speed it is traveling, is squared. If you are going to add

mass to the putter, or increase velocity, which has the greatest impact on the total amount of

energy created? RIGHT, velocity, or putter head speed has more impact because it is

squared. Keep this information in mind because we will be referring back to it in the full

swing.

Reality Check In the real world of playing golf, here is how the forces of path, club face, and center of

percussion all come together in the game.

In the illustration to the right, when

a golfer‘s swing path is straight down the

line, i.e. following the swing path shown

in the illustration, and the ball is struck

on the club‘s center of percussion, but the

clubface is open at impact, i.e. aimed to

the right of the swing path, the ball will

travel to the right of the swing path, and

to the right of where the clubface is

aimed.

Swing Path

Clubface Aim

Ball Flight Path


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In the illustration to the right, when

A golfer‘s swing path is down the

line, i.e. following the swing path shown

in the illustration, and the ball is struck

on the club‘s center of percussion, but the

clubface is closed at impact, i.e. aimed to

the left of the swing path, the ball will

travel to the left of the swing path, and

to the left of where the clubface is

aimed.

You MUST understand the ball flight principle just explained. If you do not understand it,

review it with your coach, have them demonstrate it to you, then you demonstrate it to them

with a 7-iron.

Full Swing Note ―The horizontal (right to left) launch angle (of the ball) is determined by only two

parameters, the club path and the face angle. As a rule of thumb, the horizontal launch angle

is 15% determined by the club path and 85% determined by the face angle. For example,

assume a club path of +6.7º (6.7º inside-out for a right-handed player) and a face angle of -1º

(1º closed for a right-handed player). This would result in a horizontal (right to left) launch

angle of 0º degrees (ball starting at the target line). Source: Trackman News, January 2009,

page 3, www.TrackManGolf.com.

Check becoming a life-long learner as an area of further expansion and development with

your coach.

The LAW of Process. “Process transforms any journey into a series of small steps, taken 1 by 1, to reach any goal or objectives. Process transcends time, teaches patience, rests on a solid foundation of careful preparation, and embodies trust in our unfolding potential. Source: To read more about this law, refer to The Laws of Spirit by Dan Millman. This is Dan‘s 3rd Law, The Law of Process, p. 25.

Swing Path

Clubface AimBall Flight Path

http://www.trackmangolf.com/


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Competetive Corrections It is very important to learn why your mental blueprinting, and physical execution, skills and

techniques work as they do in order to be able to make the necessary adjustments during

competition when either you do not have your ―A‖ game, or your swing is not performing as

you need it to. Work with your coach to thoroughly understand both the how and why of the

way your game comes together as it does, how you can fine tune it, and what the simplest

adjusts are to make in your game. ALSO, and this is key, work with your coach on learning

non-mechanical adjustments to make in your swing during competition.

Example:

-How does changing alignment change your ball flight? Experiment with various

alignments and use trial-and-success to figure this out.

-How does changing ball position change ball flight?

-How does the angle of attack change the trajectory of your shots? Remember one of

Tiger‘s catch phrases: control distance through trajectory.

Develop these, and more, principles for making adjustments to your competitive golf game

to keep you from getting caught up in techniques and mechanics.


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Journal Notes and comments on this section of your manual.

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81

RULES AND ETIQUETTE


Players understand and follow the etiquette of the game at all times.

Players understand and follow the Rules of Golf and have their Rule Book in their

golf bags to refer to all times.

Take an active position in speeding up the play of the game.

Key concepts to understand and master in this section. The Etiquette of Golf.

What conference rules do we play under that differ from, or amend, USGA Rules?




82

Etiquette There is a short etiquette section in the preface of the

USGA‘s The Rules of Golf. This is the minimum

amount of etiquette information you need to know and do. Be certain to obtain, and know,

all etiquette information about the golf courses or country club where we practice and play.

WE INSIST ON ETIQUETTE on the golf course at all times, strictly enforce it, and

consequences are in place for players not following it. We stand firm on etiquette and the

rules of the game.

TO DO: Cover the etiquette information in the front of your USGA The Rules of Golf and

begin living up to them.

USGA RULES OF THE GAME

Log onto www.USGA.org and order a copy of

the USGA The Rules of Golf if you do not already

have one. Consider purchasing a copy

of the larger rule book ―USGA Decisions on The

Rules of Golf.‖

YOU, the golfer, are 100% responsible for

knowing and following the rules of the game. No exceptions.

Also, always check on additional rules established by the golf course or country clubs where

we practice and compete. This is especially important for tournaments. YOU are

responsible for knowing and abiding by all local rules.

Care of the Golf Course We insist that golfers….

repair all of your ball marks on greens PLUS

one more mark than we make. Typically

our golf team will get blamed for all of the

marks anyway, so we might as well fix one

more;

replace all divots;

throw away all trash.

Always leave the golf course in a little

better shape than you found it!

Rule #1. Get the pocket edition

of the USGA Rules of Golf,

carry it with you at all times,

and refer to it when needed. It

is $2.

There is no excuse for

unacceptable etiquette.

We insist that YOU always leave

the golf course or practice area

in a little better shape than you

find it.

http://www.usga.org/


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Slow Play

The pace of play is slowing down to an unacceptable level on all levels of the game. None

of the following suggestions have anything to do with rushing your actual golf shot shots.

This information is about getting you to keep up, and help accelerate, the pace of play.

Circle of Control As a golfer, your pace of play is within your control. You cannot control the group you are

paired with, but you can keep your pace of play up and perhaps influence others a little bit.

Golf Rule Reminder: Remember that when a group is told they are being put on the clock

for slow play, in actuality the rules officials must select the slow player(s) and place them on

the clock. Therefore, make sure you are not the one on the clock, and ensure that you keep

your pace of play up, after the 1st notice. Pace of play is timed from the second you are up

to your ball to the time you hit the ball. The rule on how many seconds are allow varies

with most tournaments, so be sure to ask the rules official how much time is allowed, and

then stick with it.

Recommendations

Coach John Wooden‘s rule in basketball was never rush your shot, but play quickly.

The same applies to golf. Never rush your golf show, but prepare quickly for your

shot.

The #1 time waster we see in tournaments is players NOT getting up to their

balls and prepared to execute their shot when it is their turn to play. Get to your

ball and be totally prepared to play. When practicing and playing preparation

rounds, play ready golf.

Action Plan. Using our Hourglass Routine™, which involves starting to prepare for

each shot when you are about thirty yards from the ball, will definitely help you keep

up your pace of play. Within the Hourglass, you start the process of club selection,

distance calculations, and shot selection as you approach the ball from a distance.

Do not wait until you are up to your ball to initiate the preparation process. Be up

behind the ball, prepared for the shot, and be ready to play when it is your turn.

Use our 6-Step Routine™, which is actually part of The Hourglass. Test after test

has demonstrated that our 6-Step Routine actually helps speed up play. You learn

execute your shots at an acceptable pace, but you do not get quick.

Use The Hourglass as you approach greens. On the green, continue reading the

green and preparing to putt as other members of the group are putting. Be behind the

ball and ready to putt when it is your turn.

If you think your ball could be OB or lost, play a provisional ball. It will save a

trip back and conserve both time and energy.

In practice and preparation rounds, stay up with the group in front of you, even if

you have to pick up your ball from time to time.

Play ready golf in practice. More and more committees are having golfers play

ready golf in competitive events as well. Be safe, but the first person ready to play

plays. Stop waiting around.


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Check learning and playing by the rules of the game as an area of further expansion and

development with your coach.

The Rule If a rules official approaches your group and informs you that the group is ―on the clock,‖ do

not panic.

A. You have one warning and have time to make the time up.

B. They are not typically putting the entire group on the clock, just one or two individuals.

When you are ―on the clock‖, each group has a specific time to play each hole, if you do not

know that time, feel free to ask the rules official.

[We add a new short rules test to your manual each year.]

Name___________________________ Date__________ Pass/Fail__________ Rules Test #1. This test MUST be passed WITHOUT use of your rules book. 100% is required to pass. You will NOT be allowed to participate in a tournament until you have passed this test. Also, you will NOT be given information on which questions you missed. You are required to know all of these rules prior to competing for the university. Source: Rules of Golf: 2012 – 2015. In answering questions, use the back of each page if you need additional space to respond. 1. A player is deemed to have addressed the ball when (complete the sentence): Definitions___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________. 2. Golfer A is searching for her ball in a hazard. A. Can she move loose impediments in searching for her ball, and B. are there any consequences if she moves her ball in the process? _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________. 3. Golfer A‘s ball is in a hazard, she may play it as it lies or, under penalty of 1 stroke, what are her options? _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________. 4. Lateral water hazards are market by _________ (what color) stakes and/or lines. Water hazards are marked by ______ (what color) stakes and/or lines. Out of bounds are marked by ______ (what color) stakes and/or lines. Environmental hazards are marked by ______ (what color) stakes and/or lines. 5. When both stakes and lines are present, which defines the hazard and which


85

marks it? __________________________________________________________________. 6. A ball is in a water hazard when (complete the sentence; the ans. has two parts) _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________. 7. A ball is out of bounds when (complete the sentence; the ans. has two parts)_______________________________________________________________________________. 8. A. To be an embedded ball, the ball must be in what area of the golf course? ___________________________________________________. 8-B. To be ruled embedded, the ball must be: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________. 8-C. Relief from an embedded ball is: __________________________________________________________________________________________________. 9. A loose impediment is defined as: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________. 10. An obstruction is defined as: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________. 11. The line of flight of player A‘s ball is blocked by a phone utility box. Neither his swing nor his stance is interfered with by the utility box. Is he granted relief? If yes, what relief is he allowed? ____________________________________. 12. Through the Green is defined as: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________. 13. Player A‘s ball comes to rest on a cart path. What are her two primary options? _____________________________________________________________________. 13-A. If Player A takes relief, how does she determine the nearest point of relief? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________. 14. An actual occurrence with our team. Player A‘s ball was on the putting surface. His path to the hole was interfered with by a drain. What were his options? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________.


86

14-A. Player A‘s ball was on the putting surface. His path to the hole was interfered with by casual water. What were his options? ______________________________________________. 15. Does Player A get relief from dew or frost any place on the course? ______________________________________________. 16. Actual occurrence with our team. Andrew his ball far left on hole #1. Thinking it might be OB, he hit a provisional. Andrew found his ball, but ruled it unplayable. Having already hit a provisional ball, he returned to that ball and played it out. What was the ruling? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________. 17. Generally, when a player received a drop from a penalty condition (ball in hazard, unplayable ball, etc.), they are allowed to drop within ____ club length(s). When they get relief from a condition that is not a penalty (casual water, ground under repair, etc.), they are allow to drop within ____ club length(s). __________________________________________________________________________. 18. Casual water is defined as:_________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________. 19. What relief does a player receive from casual water? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________. 20. True or False. At any time, the player may smooth sand or soil in a hazard provided this is for the sole purpose of caring for the course and nothing is done to breach rule 13-2 with respect to his next stroke. __________. 21. You only have ____ minutes to locate a lost ball and the time begins the second you begin searching for it. 22. Rule 8 reads that it is a 2 stroke penalty to ask for, or to give, advise from anyone but your coach. Is asking about the distance of a shot, or information about a rule, illegal advice? _______________________________________________________________. 23. Under Rule 8, can Player A ask Player B, a competitor, questions such as the position of hazards or the flagstick on the putting green? _________________________________________________________________. 24. The __________ is the organization in the US that is solely responsible for determining the rules of golf. Note: The committee running a local tournament can make decisions concerning rules, however, even those decisions are governed by the main US governing body.


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Rules Notes

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Notes and comments on this section.

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89

CONDITIONING, FLEXIBILITY,

AND STRENGTH TRAINING


Players understand the importance of an effective conditioning program to their

competitive performance, especially since getting into, and staying, in shape for golf

is within a player‘s Circle of Control!

Players understand the importance of linking their conditioning program to the

continuous improvement of their individual golf swing.

Players understand the importance of injury prevention in their game and follow the

team guidelines in that area.

Players begin habituating the slot, cutters, tightest jeans, poised hands, and a sock in

the gut into their 6-Step Golf Performance Routine™.

Players understand the importance of timing, tempo, rhythm, balance through

motion, and concentration to their golf performance and initiate the Interactive

Metronome Training (IM).

Key concepts to understand and master in this section. The slot.

Cutters, tightest jeans, and sock in the gut.

Proprioception.




90

When fatigue begins setting in, you fall into poor techniques, as well as poor mind/body

control. One objective of our training is helping you train to a level of mental, physical, and

emotional conditioning where you have more stamina to execute consistently and with good

technique. This is especially true when our own teams play 36 tournament holes in one day.

In playing 36 holes, and even with playing 18-hole tournaments, one key to success is

conditioning that helps you avoid mental fatigue, which is just as real and as devastating to

your game as is physical fatigue.

Within your own conditioning program, please consider that:

In learning the various swings/strokes, you need to begin with learning the correct

neuromuscular blueprints, which are all in your manual.

Learning those blueprints through slow motion drills, and reinforcing them in our

conditioning programs, is key to the learning process as well as to performance.

Example: within our Pre-Practice Warm Up Routine are specific drills for

reinforcing and warming up the putting stroke, full swing, and the rotating finesse

swing.

Think about time. We do not have an excess of time to develop our golf swings.

Incorporating neuromuscular blueprinting and swing execution drills during

conditioning adds significantly to that learning time.

Program Elements

We do not have space in our manual present our complete conditioning program. Please

consult your copy of Complete Conditioning for GOLF by Ralph Simpson for that

information. but here are the major elements.

1. Assessment. We begin each season with a golf fitness test, which serves several

purposes, but does NOT replace a medical exam. The assessment gives us a good idea of

each player‘s overall fitness and condition level. We also use the assessment to help design

individual conditioning and strength programs for golfers. In observing their slow motion

conditioning drills for putting, the full swing, and the rotating finesse swing, we gain

additional insights into their understanding of those swings/strokes.

We include the LAWS™ assessment in our testing. This assessment helps to

confirm each player‘s individual swing style, power source, etc.

Our initial assessment includes testing timing, tempo, rhythm, balance through

motion, and concentration with the Interactive Metronome™.

2. Flexibility. Flexibility is large segment of our conditioning and maintenance program.

3. Pre-round Warm Up. Our warm up routine has been included within this section of the

Encyclopedia. We do an extensive amount of skill training and habituation within our

routine.

4. Timing Training. Each golfer goes through ten sessions of IM™ training to increase

timing, tempo, rhythm, balance through motion, and concentration, which are essential to

any golf swing/stroke.

5. Strength Training. We use strength training in and out of season to facilitate the

maximization of distance in each player‘s game.

6. Core Conditioning & Training. Core training is used to increase postural stability and the

transfer


91

of energy from the lower body to the upper body. We strive to make core conditioning and

correct posture a life skill.

*Refer to the Core Conditioning for Golf article on the University/Golf Website.

7. Neuromuscular Blueprint Training and Development. Athletic movement such as the

golf swing require precise timing and sequencing from various parts and systems of the

body. Blueprinting and executing the golf swing requires effective sensory integration and

balance as well. This unit teaches the blueprinting process and helps golfers develop their

neuromuscular patterns.

8. Fueling and Hydration for Performance. Fuel and hydrate for success!

Dynamic Warm Up Routine (Revised (8/15/2014)

Our Dynamic Warm Up Routine will represent a

new level of detail and specificity for most golfers.

This routine is at the very center of very nature

of our Competitive Development Program and of

peak performance. There are no small details in

playing in the flow of the game or in peak

performance. There can be no small details in

your personal pursuit of continuous

improvement. There are no small details in any

element of your competitive development.

Throughout our program, you will be working

toward the same level of detail and intensity as

you have in these warm up drills.

Medicine Ball This season, our conditioning will stress the

use of medicine balls much more. Each golfer

will have one to use in this warm up, in their

conditioning, and to use on their own during off days. You will also receive the workout

CD that comes with the balls. We will be using several elements of that routine as well

during conditioning.

Introduction As you tire, mentally or physically, you tend to

fall into poor swing and performance patterns,

and timing (timing, tempo, rhythm, balance through motion, and concentration) suffers as

well as poor mind/body control.

- One objective of our competitive program is helping you train to a level of mental,

physical,

and emotional conditioning where you have sufficient stamina to execute consistently, retain

the timing in your swing, and with appropriate mechanics, throughout a tournament. This is

Our Dynamic Warm Up Drills are one

element of our total conditioning

program, other elements include:

Flexibility;

Strength training for maximum

distance;

Core training for postural

stability;

Motor control training for skill

execution;

Hydration and fueling for

performance;

Timing, tempo, rhythm, balance

through motion, and

concentration.


92

especially true when our teams play 36 tournament holes in one day. In playing 36 holes,

and even with 18-hole events, one key to success is a high level of conditioning that helps

players avoid mental fatigue, which is just as real and as devastating to their game as is

physical fatigue. Our Complete Warm Up Routine is just one element of the more extensive

Practice and Tournament Warm Up Routine and of our conditioning program.

- A second, and equally important element of conditioning is training and reinforcing the

golf swing; preparing your game for competitive performance.

- Conditioning is also mental training. Last but not least, the self-discipline and mental

performance skills you apply within your conditioning program are keys to any competitive

success you come to enjoy.

Use in Swing Development

Step 1 is determining your basic swing style; your mental model: Leverage ―L‖; Arc ―A‖;

or Width ―W‖; your primary power sources; along with your basic body type. In a majority

of our conditioning and strength drills, players are divided into one of the three LAWs

groups for specialized work.

In developing a player‘s swing, or re-training swings, there is NOT sufficient time

and reinforcement to turn those changes into habits on the golf course, there must be

contiguous follow up. When done on a daily basis, elements of our Warm Up Routine

provide the vital reinforcement and training required to help develop a player‘s swing, and

to habituate key elements of the swing.

Mind/Body Conditioning. The following may be the most important paragraph in

this section. Read it thoroughly! Ensure that you engage your mind and emotions, as well as your body, as you develop and

execute your Dynamic Warm Up Routine. Use the mental skills of focus, attention,

concentration, and remaining in the moment as well as the physical skills of balance and

timing through motion, body position, etc. You MUST learn to isolate and reduce excess

muscle tension throughout the body as you work through this routine.

Synergy; the total is greater than the sum of the parts. Our swing development program has several essential elements that work in unison to create a sum

that is greater than each part:

Conditioning that emphasizes motor planning and execution.

Interactive Metronome™ and TourTempo assessment and training that improves

timing/sequencing, tempo, rhythm, balance through motion, and concentration.

Our 6-Step Peak Performance GOLF Routine™ that enhances performance and promotes

learning from feedback during competition; PLUS The Hourglass™.

Perfect Practice that includes associative learning through feedback.

Synergy; the synergy that develops in the golf swing through the confluence of motor

planning, timing training, and perfect practice.

[Do not start any conditioning, flexibility, or strength program without consulting your

physician.]


93

Prior to practice or competition, we use a 10-minute version of the following warm up

routine.

For Strength Training: Prior to strength and conditioning sessions, we use a 20-minute

version of the warm up routine by doubling certain drills and adding hand weights; two 5-lb

for men, two 2- or 3-lb for ladies.

Elements we are coaching and reinforcing in our warm up include: warming up, not static

stretching; reinforcing individual golf swings; timing & sequencing, tempo, rhythm,

balance, and concentration; along with intent, attention (narrow focus), and mental

discipline. An effective warm up routine incorporates mental, as well as physical,

preparation for play, practice, and competition. What follows is a warm up and muscle

tension release routine, not a stretching routine. For years it was believed that static

stretches before practice and competition improved range of motion and performance.

According to Ralph Simpson (PGA Tour Strength & Conditioning Trainer and author), the

latest research demonstrates that the wrong type of stretching prior to a golf round hinders

rather than enhances a player‘s ability to perform. With traditional static stretching, muscles

become too limber to fire properly when called upon and proprioception is reduced.

Within our routine, all drills use dynamic movement. Dynamic movement, which

can also be called stretching, is a way of turning muscle function on for performance while

creating mobility. Dynamic movement uses one muscle group to warm up another.

Example: twisting the torso to the right warms up all of the muscle groups used to twist the

torso to the left and turns on the right rotators. Smooth, controlled, repetitive movement that

progressively warms up muscles is foundational to dynamic movement. Results are better

as athletes use movements similar to those required by the sport itself.

Long-hold static stretching is still the best way to improve range of motion, however,

AVOID static stretches several hours before golf. Use static stretching on days you are not

playing golf, after golf, and on days where muscles have the night to recover. Please note

that we use a slightly different warm up routine prior to our strength and conditioning

training.

How long to warm up? Use this routine prior to executing any golf swings or doing any

form of stretching. This is Warming Up. 10-13 minutes seems to be the magic number for

the routine. Warm up periods shorter than 10 minutes are not quite enough and longer than

13 minutes does not seem to have a positive impact on injury prevention or on enhancing

performance.

Creating Mental, Physical, and Emotional

Poise/Intensity Levels Creating and maintaining an Ideal Individual Intensity

Level (IIIL) for the creation and execution of each

golf blueprint is a critical peak performance factor.

In addition to diaphragmatic breathing, there are

several techniques that are foundational to establishing

your IIIL. They include: cutters, tightest jeans, punch

in the gut, shoulders in the slot, and poised hands.

When the intensity level of the

skills you are developing and

practicing are not at the same

level as when you execute them

competitively, you are losing the

training effect, and in some

respects not only wasting your

time, but handicapping your golf

game.


94

These techniques need to be habituated and used during our 6-Step Peak Performance

Routine™.

When the intensity level of the skills you are developing and practicing are not at the

same level as when you are executing them competitively, you are losing the training effect,

and in some respects not only wasting your time, but handicapping your golf game.

Skill Development Within each of the following drills, and within our 6-Step Peak Performance Routine™,

when you read the words ―Engage Diaphragmatic Breathing Sequence‖ train yourself to

breath diaphragmatically as you implement cutters, tightest jeans, punch in the gut,

shoulders in the slot, and poised hands. [All of these techniques are covered in our Golf

Team Swing and Performance Manual.]

START HERE

Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate: start hydrating a week prior to beginning strenuous exercise

then, continue hydrating before, during, and after conditioning. If you do not know the

specifics of hydrating and fueling, ask your coaching staff.

Breathing: close your eyes and take 5 deep, long, belly breathes (6 seconds in, 6 seconds

out). Focus entirely on your breathing.

Release: Release all unproductive thoughts and emotions by replacing them with positive

images and emotions. Implant positive images and emotions that serve you well at the

moment.

As you continue breathing, and with your eyes closed, envision yourself playing golf with a

new sense of energy, strength, and enjoyment. You feel stronger, your swing is more

connected, you feel a sense of accomplishment in your improvement.

Affirmations: For times between shots, it helps to have three or four positive affirmations to

keep you playing and ready to move back into the ―zone‖ with The Hourglass™. Keep your

affirmations in the moment, with elements of the game you can control, and related to your

goals for the event you are in.

―I am playing golf to learn and I enjoy the learning process.‖

―The game of golf does not judge me, it only provides me with feedback in the form of

consequences, lessons, and opportunities to learn and balance my performance and myself

through the Law of Cause-and-Effect.‖

―My primary goal for the day is to learn and improve.‖

Goal Directed: For practice sessions, it is best to isolate the #1 weakness you are working

to eliminate, or strength you are going to develop, and mentally and physically focus on that

one thing. During preparation rounds, your goal is learning the golf course, looking for shot

you do not have normally and executing them, learning to read the greens. Keep learning

the golf course as your #1 goal. In competition, your #1 objective is remaining in the

moment as you create and execute appropriate golf shots within your 6-Step Routine and be

learning constantly.


95

Visualization: While visualizing, you automatically turn off the self-talk area of the

brain. Effective golfers visualize themselves creating and executing effective shots. As

you move into The Hourglass™, your focus becomes wide and external. You become target

focused and begin taking in large amounts of information about the target and all of the

conditions. Involve all of your senses as you transition into the top of The Hourglass™.

Physically, and at about 30-40 yards from the ball, you begin aligning yourself behind the

ball and in line with your target.

Reset Button: Every golfer needs a reset button, word, or key thought. One of our players

had a rubber band on his wrist. When he was in The Hourglass™ or 6-Step Routine™, and

would start to lose focus, he would snap the rubber band, take a deep breath, and was able to

learn to move back into the ―zone.‖ Read our articles on the ―Red Dot‖ and ―The Golden

Bubble‖, develop your own reset button or reset word, and start habituating it.

START. Start with 3 - 5 minutes of brisk movement, jumping jacks, skipping, jogging up

and down steps. You need to get your heart pumping.

Breathing Control & Diaphragmatic Breathing

initiates the entire performance routine;

helps develop poise by reducing excess

and residual stress and tension;

helps move shoulders into the slot (see information of the slot below);

helps move players mentally into the here-and-know.

Breathing and breath control is your first drill, as

well as the first step in your 6-Step Performance

Routine™.

Move into your golf stance, ensure your stance is

precise, and always be conscious of alignment. Alignment, alignment, alignment. Take

several deep breaths. Allow all excess muscular tightness, mental and emotional distress, to

drain away with each breath. Decompress your shoulders (actually your shoulders, arms,

wrists, and hands) by inhaling as your shoulders and head are drawn up toward the sky.

Tighten your shoulders, arms, and hands as they are drawn up toward the sky. Hold the

tightened position momentarily,

exhale as you allow the shoulders to drop, and then to drop down into the slot. You must be

able to sense when your shoulders and upper body are in

the slot. Your shoulders are poised, ready, and able to

move freely as they help the body transfer force.

A ―punch in the gut‖ is where you exert a slight

tightening pressure in your lower abdominals and rib

cage opening in order to engage your core for the golf

swing.

As you continue your deep breathing, develop a sense that strings are pulling your

head and shoulders up toward the sky. Avoid pushing your shoulders up. Develop a sense

that they are being pulled up. As you inhale, allow your shoulders to be pulled up gently

Your Breathing Response is

the 1st step in the 6-Step

Performance Routine.

Develop and follow an

effective fueling and hydration

program. ―You are what you

ingest.‖


96

toward the sky. As you exhale, relax and allow the shoulders to drop into the swing slot.

NEVER push your head or shoulders up. Develop the sense that they being pulled

up toward the sky by invisible strings. Take another deep breath then allow your head to

remain in a poised position as you drop your shoulders into the slot. NOW, make a

complete exhale by blowing all of the air from your lungs and out through your nose. That

is correct; exhale all of the air out of your lungs by blowing out through your nose. You will

learn more about why to use this technique later.

Once you have cleared all of the air from your lungs, begin filling your lungs from

the bottom to the top by inhaling through your nose. Fill your lungs from the bottom up by

breathing air in through your nose. This is diaphragmatic breathing.

You are gaining poise. Notice the calming effect of exhaling and inhaling a deep

breath on both your mind and body.

Next, exhale again through your nose. Exhale completely and remove all of the air

from your lungs.

Now inhale through your nose and fill your lungs from bottom to top.

You are gaining poise. Notice the gathering effect that deep breathing has on your mind and

body. You are calm, gathered, and poised. Proper diaphragmatic breathing is one of your

most effective mental and physical gathering and mental performance techniques. Practice

and use it often throughout preparation and competition.

Optimum breathing can provide the cue for initiating your entire performance

routine, aids in establishing an ideal level of performance intensity, and helps you perform

in the here-and-now. You have probably been physically tight and mentally distressed most

of the day. It is time to get rid of that excess distress. After all, you are playing a game.

Focus on your breathing throughout all of these drills. Once you are poised, engage cutters

and tightest jeans.

1. Cutters and Tightest Jeans.

When we first learned about cutters and tightest jeans from Ralph Simpson, we immediately

started incorporating them into our setup routine. We were immediately impressed with

how these two techniques helped stabilize our core through the golf swing and produced a

more consistent and powerful swing. Start developing them into a habit today! Tightest Jeans. Pull in your lower abdomen vigorously toward your spine, as if squeezing on a pair

of tightest jeans. Tighten those muscles to about 20%.

Cutters. Pull in the pelvic floor muscles, or engage cutters. The pelvic floor muscles are the same

muscles one would engage if they were to cut off the flow while urinating. We refer to them

as ―cutters.‖ Tighten those muscles to about 20%.

The slot is a position in your set

up where your shoulders are

poised, ready to support the

swing/stroke, and with no excess

tension stored in the surrounding

muscles.


97

2. Rotor Cuff Activator Drill Work to stand as tall as possible. Keep your head directly over your shoulders and your chin pulled in. Stand tall. Sense the sky pulling the top of your head and shoulders up toward it. Isolate and relieve any excess tension from your shoulders. Continue breathing in and out in a rhythmic

pattern. ―Engage Diaphragmatic Breathing

Sequence‖ (which means diaphragmatic breathing,

cutters, tightest jeans, punch in the gut, shoulders in the slot, and poised hands.) Process:

Hold a golf club with both hands, arms against your sides, palms facing up.

Engage Diaphragmatic Breathing Sequence.

With one smooth motion, work to pull your hands apart while gripping the club tightly. Hold for 2 – 3 seconds then release.

Next, with one smooth motion, work to push your hands together while gripping the club tightly. Hold for 2 – 3 seconds then release.

Repeat 10 times, alternating between pulling and pushing.

Isolate and reduce any excess muscular tension. Breathe into tight muscle areas. 3. Wrist Twirls and Lifts. Move into your golf stance, place a club in each hand, stretch your arms out in front of your body, and twirl the clubs back and forth several times to warm up your writs, forearms, and hands. If you want more of a warm up, use more than one club. Next, hold a club in your right hand, with your arm down at your side, and with the club head on the ground. Hinge your wrist up, lifting the club as far off the ground as you can, now down, now up again. Repeat the drill with your other hand. 4. Reach and Tilt Drill Stand tall. Exert a tightening pressure in your

lower abdominals and rib cage opening. Engage

Diaphragmatic Breathing Sequence. Warm up the

muscles under your arms and along your trunk. Keep the space between your arms and head equal on each side and focus on your middle back. Keep your hips completely stable and still through the drill. Continue your breathing pattern as you isolate and reduce any excess tension.

Balance your weight equally over both feet. While gripping a club, extend both hands straight up to the sky. No shoulder pain is acceptable; if pain is experienced, do not raise the arms to the point of pain.

Tilt to one side and then to the other; keeping the hips stable.


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Pull in your lower abdomen vigorously toward your spine, as if squeezing on a pair of tightest jeans – to about 20%. Squeeze the pelvic floor muscles to about 20%; engage cutters. Keep the pelvic still and move only the upper torso.

Keep the chin pulled in toward the throat and the head straight above the shoulders.

Always reach upward and maintain a rhythm through all movement and focus on separating your upper body from your lower body, which is important in the golf swing.

Repeat 15 times to the left and then 15 times to the right, with a rhythm of 1 second to fully tilt to one side and 1 second to return to the starting position.

When executing cutters and tight jeans, engage these muscles gently and contract them to what feels like a maximum hold of 20%. 5. Back Reaches - Windmills Stand tall. Extend one arm up into the air over your head, extend the other arm down to your side. Move each arm fully backward and sense the tension between the shoulder blades. Keep the head over the shoulders with the chin pulled in. Squeeze rather than throw the arms back. No shoulder pain is acceptable; if experiencing shoulder pain, do not squeeze back as far.

Stand tall and Engage Diaphragmatic

Breathing Sequence.

Continue a rhythmic breathing pattern.

Pull in the lower abdomen vigorously toward the spine and hold throughout the drill.

Using a smooth motion, reach one arm up and back while simultaneously reaching down and back with the opposite arm.

Hold each position for 2 seconds and repeat the other way.

Repeat 15 times on each side. 6. Upper Torso Rotation Drill Control the motion of the upper torso over a fixed pelvis, with a fixed head position looking straight ahead. Keep your pelvis and navel facing forward during the entire task, with absolutely no movement of either area. Use smooth, controlled, continuous movement to barrier (as far as you can move) during each repetition. If you sense a stretch in the lower back, you are twisting too far and not controlling the motion of the pelvis. STOP. For motor swing training, envision your move through your golf swing as you execute this drill. In mastering the full golf swing, it is important that you develop the ability to separate the movement of your upper body from your lower body and sense that separation precisely.


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Stand with feet shoulder width apart and a long club over the shoulders. If experiencing shoulder pain, hold the club on the front of the chest and pull the

elbows back. Engage Diaphragmatic Breathing Sequence

Pull in the lower abdomen vigorously toward the spine and hold throughout the drill.

Keep your position, and with a smooth motion, turn only the shoulders completely to the right, back to center, and then completely to the left.

If one side of your body feels stiffer than the other, hold the position for 2 seconds on the stiffer side.

Repeat 20 sets. A set includes rotating completely to one side, back to center, rotating completely to the other side, and back to center.

Focus on your breathing and imagery throughout all of these drills. Process all information through your senses. Continue using tightest jeans and cutters. 7. Lower Pelvis Rotation Drill Use a controlled, smooth movement of the pelvis and hips beneath a fixed torso and head. Use smooth, controlled, continuous movement to the barrier (as far as you can stretch) during each repetition. If sensing lower-back pain, you are moving too far; use less motion. Keep the shoulders and head perfectly still. STOP. In mastering the golf swing, it is important that you develop the ability to separate the movement of your lower body from your upper body and sense their separation precisely. For motor swing training, envision your move through your golf swing as you execute this drill. Think in terms of your Leverage, Arc, or Width Swing Style, as well as the Rotating Finesse Swing.

Stand tall with the feet shoulder width apart.

Pull in your lower abdomen vigorously toward your spine and hold throughout the

drill. Engage Diaphragmatic Breathing Sequence

Hold a club over the shoulders, or to the chest if experiencing shoulder pain.

Rotate only the pelvis to the left, back to center, and to the right. If one side of your body feels stiffer than the other, hold the position for 2 seconds on the stiffer side.

Repeat 10 sets for your full swing. Repeat 10 sets for your rotating finesse swing. A set includes rotation to one side, back to center, rotation to the other side, and back to center.


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8. Standing Knee Pull & Static Balance Drill Balance on one leg while stretching the glute of the up leg (the leg being pulled up) activating the glute of the down leg. Keep the spine as straight and tall as possible throughout the entire drill. Use smooth, controlled lifts.

Stand tall with feet close together.

Pull in the lower abdomen vigorously toward the spine and hold throughout the

drill. Engage Diaphragmatic Breathing

Sequence

Lift left knee as high as you can, then grab the leg with your hands and continue lifting the knee and shin bone toward the opposite shoulder. As you lift, shift your weight onto the right foot. *This drill is excellent reinforcement for getting your weight onto your right side and than back onto your left side.

Remain balanced and hold the position for 1 second as you squeeze the gluteal muscle of your weight-bearing leg, then lower the leg.

Lift the right knee and repeat the move, shifting your weight onto the left foot as you move through the drill.

Complete 10 sets; a set including a leg lift on each side. 9. Standing Double-Hamstring Release Drill Engage the backs of both legs while maintaining a motionless torso. Keep the tailbone up and the back flat. Pull in the lower abdomen vigorously toward the spine and maintain throughout the drill. Do not slump; bend at the hips. If experiencing shoulder pain, bend the elbows. No back pain is acceptable.

Place the feet in a driver stance while balancing your stacked hands on the end of a long iron or driver.

Engage Diaphragmatic Breathing Sequence.

Bend the knees 3 or 4 inches more than in your regular stance.

With the knees bent, bend forward at the hips so that the torso is nearly horizontal to the ground with the arms outstretched and reaching to the top of the golf club. Stack your hands on top of the club.

Use your thighs to straighten the knees, gently straighten the legs to the point of hamstring tension.

Hold for 2 seconds, relax, and repeat 15 times.


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OPTIONS – Each of the following are excellent drills to repeat AFTER your golf round. A. Front-back-bends. From your golf stance, bend forward with arms extending toward the ground. This is NOT stretching, so do not over extend or hold. Bend forward with arms extended, come back up, then bend back. Again, do not bend back to excess, this is not stretching. Repeat ten times. B. Hamstring Warm Ups. Stand erect, cross your R. leg in front of your L. leg. Relax your front leg, straighten your back leg. Bend forward with arms extended until you sense the pressure in your front hamstring, then come back up. This is a dynamic warm up, not a stretch. ALSO: A ―back drop‖ can be added to warm up the lower back, but do NOT use it for stretching. Repeat five times. Cross your L. leg in front of your R. leg and repeat five times. C. Back Tilt Ups. Lie flat on the floor. Get into position to do a push up. Keeping your hips flat on the floor, raise your head and shoulders up and warm up your lower back. Do not hold any of these positions, move into and out of them as you warm up. Repeat five times. D. Back Lifts. Lie flat on the floor. Get into position to do a push up. Keeping your hips flat on the floor, raise your feet and head up toward the sky simultaneously. Repeat five times. Focus on your breathing and imagery throughout all of these drills. Process all information through your senses. 10. Lunge Drill Activate the glute of the lead leg while engaging the rear leg. Maintain a stagger step only wide enough to allow the rear knee to stay below the shoulders. If experiencing back pain, you are not keeping the right knee below the shoulder. If experiencing knee pain, do not drop as deeply into the lunge.

Stand with one leg forward; about 2 feet from the tip of the back toe to the heel of the front foot. Use a short club for balance on the same side as the lead leg.

Engage Diaphragmatic Breathing

Sequence.

Bend the lead leg until its shin is vertical; simultaneously rolling up onto the rear toe. Drive the rear knee forward to make a straight line from the rear knee to the shoulder above.

Reach your hand and arm on the rear side straight up toward the sky as you drop into the lunge for 1 – 2 seconds.

Push back to the starting position.

Repeat lunging forward with the other leg.

Repeat 5 times on one side and then move to the other side.


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11. Toe Touches Warm up the hips, hamstrings, and hips. Start from your normal golf stance. As you lift your left foot off the ground about 3 inches, transfer all of your weight onto your right foot. Bend forward and touch your right toe with your left hand; allow your left foot to move back as you touch your toe. While maintaining your weight on your right foot, raise up to your full height. Repeat 5 times on your right and then 5 times on your left. IF you lose your balance, and the opposite foot touches the ground, begin again at 1. 12. All Your Weight R./All Your Weight L. Stand in an upright position with an exercise ball or hand weights. Swing the medicine ball/weights slowly to the R. and transfer 80% of your weight to that side. *Keep the weight on the inside center of your R. foot; avoid allowing your weight to shift over the R. foot. Swing the medicine ball/weights slowly back to the L. and transfer 80% of your weight to that side. *Keep the weight on the inside center of the L. foot; avoid allowing your weight to shift over the L. foot. Here is the important element of the drill. As you move your weight to one side, avoid leaving it there, develop a sense that you are suspending in space for a fraction of a second. When moving back to the other side, repeat the ―suspending in space‖ sensation. 12.A. Add a Golf Ball. Once you have completed your Warm Up Routine, you can add a golf ball to this drill and actually warm up your sense of transferring weight through the golf swing correctly. Take your normal stance, transfer your weight, and start with a 7-iron. 13. Forward-Back Leg Swing Drill It is key to a successful golf swing that you learn to sense and control the movement of your hips. Slowly and rhythmically swing your right leg from front to back, gradually increasing the length of each swing. Stand tall and work at keeping your torso still while swinging the leg. Do 10 reps with each leg. Begin by using a golf club in the opposite hand to retain balance through motion, but work at maintaining balance through the drill without the support of a club. Remember to isolate and remove excess tension in your mind and body as you

work through these drills and Engage Diaphragmatic Breathing Sequence. 14. Side-to-Side Leg Swing Drill It is key to a successful golf swing that you learn to sense and control the movement of your hips. Slowly and rhythmically swing your right leg from side to side in front of the body with your toe point up and away from you, gradually increasing the length of each leg swing. Go from short leg swings to maximum with only 5 repetitions with each leg. Begin with using a golf club to help retain balance through motion, but work at maintaining balance through the

drill without the support of the club. Engage Diaphragmatic Breathing Sequence.


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15. Side Leg Lift Drill.

Stand erect with your feet close together as you Engage Diaphragmatic Breathing

Sequence. Slowly and rhythmically, and without straining, lift your right leg as far out to the

right, and up, as you can. Repeat this 5 times. Slowly and rhythmically, and without straining, lift your left leg as far out to the left, and up, as you can. Repeat this move 5 times. 16. Toe-Hip Rotation – slow motion. One objective is warming up the weight bearing leg. Another objective is to reinforce the movement of the hips and knees through the golf swing. Keep your hips levels through this drill. If experiencing lower-back pain, you are not keeping the shoulders and the navel moving together, you have rotated the shoulders too far, or are not keeping the pelvis level. STOP. For motor swing training, envision your move through your golf swing as you execute this drill.

Place your hands on the hips. Engage

Diaphragmatic Breathing Sequence. Raise

the right heel so that your toes touch the ground opposite the left heel at pelvic width.

Continue your breathing pattern.

Keep the left foot planted firmly on the ground and rotate your body to the left (as in your golf swing), keeping the shoulders, right knee, and hips moving in unison. The right knee will move toward the left knee, just as it does in the full golf swing. Anyone standing to your side can see the cleats of your left shoe as you rotate.

Keep the torso vertical over a fixed left leg and keep the pelvis level. Sense pressure and movement of the hips and swing into the front side. There is not to be any pain in the groin area. Rotate, shift about 80% of your weight onto the left side, and hold for 2 seconds.

Turn the pelvis back to the starting position by pushing off from the planted foot. (The back foot, with the raised heel, is used primarily to maintain balance.) Pivot again to the right and swing into that that side, as in the golf swing.

Repeat 15 times. After completing the repetitions to the left, repeat to the right.

Complete 15 repetitions.


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16.A. Toe-Hip Rotation – swing speed. Once you are warmed up, and to simulate the full golf swing, repeat Drill 13A, only this time, fire the right knee toward the left knee as you would in a full swing. Repeat 15 times. Now repeat the drill at full speed to the other side. When done correctly, there is not to be any back pain. 17. Address Position Bow & Rotation Drill

Stand tall and breathe.

Check on alignment to a specific target. Alignment, alignment, alignment.

Fold your arms across your chest. Engage

Diaphragmatic Breathing Sequence

Bend forward at the hip joints (Make sure to bend at the hip joints and keep your back

straight; do not let your lower back bend or round forward) and into your typical address position.

Hold that position for 2 seconds then rock the shoulders back and forth, left and right, WITHOUT moving at the hips; as in a pendulum putting stroke. Straighten up and repeat 10 times. Be certain to keep your head still through the rotation and the shoulders in the swing slot.

A common error at address is placing too much weight toward the toes. Use this drill to maintain the weight toward the balls of both feet during the entire drill. Focus on the movement of your weight through the entire drill.

Isolate and remove any excess tension in the lower back and simulate the pendulum putting stroke.

[Use the following drills in your practice sessions as well.] 18. Everything-back, Everything-through Drill. STOP. For motor swing training, envision your move through your golf swing as you execute this drill. You MUST be able to do this drill effectively in order to execute your Rotating Finesse Swing.

Setup as if you were going to make a rotating finesse swing. Flare the forward foot open about 20% and the back foot open only about 10%. See photos below.

Engage cutters and tightest jeans, sock in the stomach, drop the shoulders in the slot, and poised the hands.

Place both hands on your hips with your thumbs forward and then tuck your elbows as far behind your body as you can so that the shoulders and hips can operate as one unit.

From a stable position, imagine yourself making a finesse backswing as you rotate the hips and shoulders together, over stable legs, and as far back as you can. Keep the shoulders in synch with the hips, keep the head still, and turn as far back as you can without stretching or exerting excess pressure. For most of you, this will be your 10:30 swing position, but each golfer will be unique due to their flexibility. The through is ―everything back.‖

Upon rotating as far back as you can without stretching, return to the address position, hands still on the hips and shoulders pinched behind you.


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From there, rotate the hips and shoulders together, over stable legs, and turn as far forward as you can without stretching or using excess pressure. 80-to 90% of your weight will be on your front foot.

Once comfortable with the everything-back-everything-through rotation, complete 10 full rotations with timing, tempo, rhythm, and while maintaining balance through motion.

19. Additional ROTATING Swings – with two clubs or medicine ball. Use two clubs, a weighted club, or a weight with this drill. Use smooth, full-body movement, rotating around the center of the body. Keep all movement smooth and nonstop and avoid sliding the hips. Turn the hips, do not slide them. Keep the arms as poised as possible, sensing the momentum of the swing.

Move into your regular rotating swing stance.

Engage Diaphragmatic Breathing Sequence

With two clubs, swing around the body as described above. Then, start moving the swing plane down toward the ground. As the swing moves down, the body goes around and the arms go up and down. Move to a position where you can sense the body going around and the arms going up and down.

Key Point: As you move into the transition from the backswing to the forward swing, sense the swing being started by the inside of the back foot—not the two clubs or the hands. Thus, there is a slight degree of lag as the hands/arms are going back and the lower body is rotating around to the left. If you do not understand, or cannot sense, this key point, talk with Coach immediately and develop that understanding.

Next, and still with two clubs, begin a 1-piece takeaway with the entire body; everything back – everything through. Rotate through the swing to a 7:30 position. Repeat to your 9:00 position, then to 10:30.

Repeat the sequence with only one club 10-15 times with a right-handed swing and 10-15 times with a left-handed swing.


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20. Full Body COILING Swings (according to your individual LAWS Swing Model). STOP. Make these warm up swings specific to your individual style. Think in terms of your Leverage, Arc, or Width Swing Style.

Move into your regular coil swing stance.

Remember to Engage Diaphragmatic Breathing Sequence.

Always align to a specific target. Alignment, alignment, alignment.

With two clubs, swing around the body, but coil according to your LAWS Style. Then, start moving the swing plane down toward the ground. As the swing moves down, the body goes around and the arms go up and down. Move to a position where you can sense the body going around and the arms going up and down. – still coiling.

Key Point: As you move into the transition from the backswing to the forward swing, sense the swing being started by your lower body, and according to your LAWS Style—not by the two clubs or the hands. Thus, there is a slight degree of lag as the hands/arms are going back and the lower body is initiating the forward swing. If you do not understand, or cannot sense, this key point, talk with Coach immediately and develop that understanding.

Repeat the sequence with only one (1) club 10-15 times with a right-handed swing and 10-15 times with a left-handed swing.

21. Wrist and Forearm Warm Up With 5-lb hand weights in each hand, gripping them at one end of each weight, stand erect, arms down to your sides, and raise and lower the weights with only your wrist movement. Repeat at least 10 times. With 5-lb hand weights in each hand, gripping them in the middle of each weight, stand erect, with arms stretched straight out in front of you, and rotate the weights clockwise then counter clockwise. Relax those shoulders and poise those hands!!! Important Note: it is critical for golfers to incorporate the specific moves of their individual golf swings into all of these drills. Here is a review of just the takeaways of the various full swing styles. Read through them, locate your style, and focus on incorporating your individualized takeaway into Drill 17.


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To avoid bourdon and to increase attention, add new drills to your Dynamic Routine

from time to time.

LAWS™; the Takeaway (in full coil swings, not rotating finesse swings)

Leverage Style Swing

A sequenced (versus 1-piece) backswing. Two things must occur simultaneously in the

backswing of the Leverage Player. The L arm must swing across the chest as the R. hip

begins to turn over the R. heel. The club swings back along the toe line until the L hand is

an inch or so past the right foot. At that point, the L arm is fully extended; a point signaling

the end of the takeaway or the ―running out of the left arm.‖ The L arm swings to a

45ºangle for maximum power, because during the downswing the L arm stays melded to the

chest so the full force of the body is behind the club. On the takeaway, neither the chest nor

shoulders turn until they are pulled around by the L. arm as it swings away from the ball.

The sequence is arms/right hip →then shoulders and chest. The sequence of motion, led by

the L. arm, keeps a stretch on the muscles of the left side of the body, especially the triceps.

This move is the beginning of coiling. To maximize coil, keep your shirt buttons even with

the ball (no swaying) until the pull of the L. arm becomes irresistible.

Arc Style Swing During the backswing, the club moves away, up, and over the body at the top of the swing,

and out from under it through impact. In the takeaway for the full swing, everything must

move slowly and in harmony to set the club in the proper path and keep it under control.

Manipulating or jerking the club away from the ball is a course for disaster. A good, 1-

piece, takeaway, similar to Payne Stewart‘s, looks peaceful because everything moves

together. Everything in the upper body (hands, arms, shoulders, and chest), including the

club, moves away from the ball in harmony. Think ―everything back‖. The chest is the

master mover. Arc swings look smooth because our perfectly synchronize turning motion is

keyed by the upper body. When the chest turns, our arms, hands, and club move with it

naturally unless we do something to prevent it.

Width Style Swing Begin the takeaway by turning the L shoulder behind the ball. When the hands reach a point

above the R knee, the heel pad of the L hand pushes down on the club handle to cock the

wrists (refer to the specific grip for the Width Style). The R elbow stays straight until it

bends to elevate the club. Get a sense of this description before going on. In conjunction

with the L hand action, the R. hand pushes down on the knuckle of your L thumb to extend

your arms away from your body. This is another way of creating the necessary width in

your swing. Work to get a sense of this more now. Set your wrists as your arms swing

away from the ball. This is an important move. This takeaway sets the club shaft on a

slightly more upright angle than standard, just above your R shoulder. A key move in the

backswing is allowing the upper spine to float slightly toward the R foot as you set the club

in position.

Focus on your breathing and imagery throughout all of these drills. Process all information through your senses.


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3 X 5 Card

SLIGHT STRETCHES

Once you are warmed up, you can do some light stretches, especially on areas of your body

you know to be tighter than desirable.

- Select appropriate stretches from the drills provided in your Golf Team Swing Manual.

- Only hold each stretch for 5 – 10 seconds, no longer. Do two short term stretches, 5

seconds, versus one long term one, 10 seconds.

- You can even repeat select warm up drills from your routine, only this time through, hold

the positions and create a 5 – 10 second stretch.

- ONLY DO LONG HOLD (20 – 30 second) STATIC STRETCHING FOLLOWING

YOUR GOLF ROUND, but do stretch out following every practice session and tournament

round.

Breath Control 1. Cutters/Tightest Jeans/Shoulders in the Slot, etc.

2. Rotor Cuff Activator 3. Wrist Twirls and Lifts

4. Reach and Tilt 5. Windmills

6. Upper Torso Rotation 7. Lower Pelvis Rotation

8. Standing Knee Pull 9. Double Hamstring Release

10. Lunges 11. Toe Touches

12. All Your Weight R./L. 12.A. Swing Practice for later

13.Forward/Back Leg Swing 14. Side-to-Side Leg Swing

15. Leg Lift-side of the body 16. Toe-Hip Rotation

16.A. Toe-Hip; swing speed 17 Address position bow and rotation

18. Everything-back/through 19. Additional Rotating Swings—with weight

20. Full Body Coiling Swings 21. Writs and Forearm Warm Up


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Code of Conduct No talking. You cannot be

visualizing and attending to your

breath control 100% while

verbalizing (talking).

Never, Never, Never, Give Up.

Remain in the Here-and-Now.

Give your full Intent to the drill you are engaged in; remain fully engaged.

Consequences Any golfer not following the Rules of Conduct will be asked to leave the session. ALL workout

sessions must be made up with a 2 mile walk/run.

Resources We take specific exercises from:

―A Golfer‘s Workout‖ by Jamie Bermel and Jeff Reinardy, Championship Productions.

―Complete Conditioning for GOLF‖ by Pete Draovitch and Ralph Simpson, Human

Kinetics.

Stretch then Cool Down Do your prescribed cool down and stretching drills for a minimum of ten (10) minutes.

Record your pulse; it is ______bpm.

Warning Label: No Talking

Allowed. Survivors will be

penalized.


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Golf Conditioning is Specific Golf conditioning is specific, not general. You can be in running shape, volleyball shape,

etc., and still not be in Golf Shape. Our guiding principles for golf conditioning include:

Invest an equal amount of time in golf-specific conditioning, flexibility, and strength

training as you do in your golf swing. Combine practice with conditioning. Use a 1-

hour sequence of: Dynamic Pre-Warm Up Drill; 15 minutes of full swing practice

(from green to tee); 15 minutes of scoring game practice; 20 minutes of stretching.

Never, ever, make a golf swing without working through our Dynamic Pre-Warm Up

Drill.

Conditioning is not designed to be painful. If what you are doing hurts, STOP doing

it. Many golf injuries start with strained tendons or ligaments, so avoid playing

through the pain, practice will only inflame the injury.

Consult with the school‘s trainer on ALL sport injuries.

Do one form of mental conditioning and one form of physical conditioning EVERY

DAY, even if only for 15 minutes.

No excuses. It is time to commit and make the investment in yourself and your golf

game. Commit right now to two hours a day, three days a week.

Order of importance. Our preference is to emphasize conditioning, injury prevention,

flexibility, and strength training, and in that order. Be certain to establish your own

priorities and make them very clear to players. Within our program, we work diligently on

developing timing (timing, tempo, rhythm, balance, and concentration) in all of our

activities, which are major elements of injury prevention.

Players fall into poor technical execution, as well as poor mind/body control, when

fatigue starts to set in. One objective of our program is helping athletes train to a level of

conditioning where they have more stamina to execute consistently and with efficient

techniques, along with knowing how to continue executing effective as fatigue sets in.. The

fatigue factor is especially important when multiple matches are being played in the same

day during tournament conditions. In playing multiple matches, one key to success is

training that helps players avoid mental fatigue, which is just as real and devastating to

performance as is physical fatigue. It is paramount that as the coach you design a

conditioning program that helps meet all of your player‘s performance objectives.

POST-Performance Practice. Training players to deal effectively with the fatigue factor is

one reason why post-tournament or preparation match practice is a must and can be some of

the most effective practice time players can invest in. More on this effect in the section on

your Post-Match Routine.


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2HD/4DW/NE - A Minimum Conditioning Program - 2 Hours a Day (in and out of season)

- 4 Days a week out of season, 2 or 3 DAW in

season/3 days a week is optimum.

- No Excuses

This is your minimum conditioning program.

IN season, use the 2HD/2DW program except

the immediate day prior to competitive play. 3 days a week in season is preferred. OUT of

season, players can work out four to five days a week. Every other day is the minimum for

maintenance.

Equipment: 5 lb hand weights for men; 2 or 3 lb hand weights for ladies.

A jump rope.

Target Heart Rate: Maximum heart rate = 220 – your age.

Thus, for a 20 year old, the maximum heart rate is 220 – 20 = 200.

Your target heart rate is 65% to 85% of your maximum heart rate.

Thus, for a 20 year old, the THR is between 65% - 85% of 200,

OR 130 bpm to 170 bpm.

Example: to get the most cardiovascular benefit out of physical activity, a 20 yr. old must

maintain a heart rate between 130 beats per minute (bpm) to 170 bpm.

*Your body does not care what form of exercise you do for cardio exercise. All you need to

do is get your pulse above your maximum heart rate for twenty minutes and keep it there.

OPTION 1.

Your heart rate is _____ bpm.

10 minutes Work through our regular Dynamic Pre-Warm Up Drill with hand weights.

40 minutes of Cardio Exercise – must be at or above your THR (target heart

rate). Walk/Jog/Jump, whatever it takes to sustain your THR.

Jog as much as you can, then walk briskly with hand weights or while

carrying your golf bag.

15 minutes in our Core Strengthening Routine.

40 minutes Walk with hand weights.

With your hand weights, do three (3) sets of ten (10) repetitions of each of

the following:

Half Side Windmills-palms up; Half Side Windmills-palms down;

Alternating Half Windmills Front/Back-palms up;

Alternating Half Windmills Front/Back-palms down;

Alternating Curls-palms up; Alternating Curls-palms down;

Arm Curls-palms up; Arm Curls-palms down;

Cross Body Curls-palms down;

Wrist curls; curl forward; curl back; and

Wrist sets. Walking pushups.

Do not begin any conditioning,

flexibility, or strength program

without consulting your

physician.


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15 minutes Use our Stretching Routine to cool down.

Additional options will be provided. Develop your own options to keep the time interesting.

ALTERNATE CONDITIONING

PROGRAM Empowerment has become one of our official

sponsors and their products are available to

us at a discount. Contact Coach Robertson for

the process in obtaining your own Power Ball

and conditioning CD.

Flexibility Training Log onto the SAU Mulerider/Athletic/Golf Website, download the latest flexibility training

article, and insert it into your golf manual.

Cutters, a Punch in the Gut, and Tightest Jeans – Reminder Goal: Strengthen abdominal muscles, stabilize the trunk, stabilize your setup through the full golf

swing.

Squeeze the muscles deep in your pelvis. Use cutters, the same muscles you would engage if were to cut off the flow while urinating. These are the pelvic floor muscles and essential to setting the foundation for postural change and powerful movements.

Simultaneously, pull the lower abdominals inward. Use tightest jeans, the same muscles you would use if you were pulling in your belly while putting on jeans that were too small.

Only use about 20% of your maximum effort with cutters, a punch in the gut, and tightest jeans. These muscles are postural and are meant to function at low levels all day long and throughout your golf game.

Drop your shoulders into the slot.

Tighten your solar plexus muscles about 20%, as if you were preparing to receive a punch in the gut.

For success in habituating this position, practice using this drill throughout the day and as you walk the golf course.


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Sensory Integration and Biofeedback Training

Ask Yourself These Questions

#1. How long does a golf ball remain on the face of the club

through impact?

Answer: About 1/10,000th

of a second.

#2. How long does the face of a driver remain square

(perpendicular) to the target line through impact?

Answer: About the same 1/10,000th

of a second.

#3. How many athletes do you know who could improve

their on course performance with improved timing, tempo, rhythm, balance through motion,

and concentration in the golf swing.

Answer: Test data shows that ALL golfers can improve on-course performance with

improved timing.

Many PGA Tour professionals assess and re-establish their timing in the PGA and

Champions Conditioning Trailers on a regular basis. The sensory integration biofeedback

equipment they use is the Interactive Metronome™ or IM for short.

Here are the program goals for the IM training we use with golfers. improve golf swing timing, which includes eye-hand coordination;

enhance golf swing rhythm;

balance golf swing tempo;

increase balance through the motion in the golf swing;

eliminate all self-talk during the swing;

develop a golf swing founded on automaticity;

learn to perform in the here-and-now; and

expand attention and concentration.

IM Resource Information: Go to the IM Website at www.interactivemetronome.com.

You will also find several timing drills in the Practice Section of this manual.

http://www.interactivemetronome.com/


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Journalizing

My Conditioning Journal Page.

Date Comments

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FUELING AND HYDRATING


Increasing your awareness and understanding of the importance of hydration and

fueling in competitive golf performance, as well as in academic performance.

Reinforcing the extreme importance of keeping yourself hydrated prior to, during,

and following all golf activities, including competition.

Provide you with specific information to help get you started in the right direction

with a hydration and fueling program.

You will increase your awareness of additional resources within this critical

performance area.

Key concepts to understand and master in this section. The effects of caffeine on sport performance.

Fueling and hydrating versus dieting.




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Hydration

Make hydrating a life skill! In the area of fueling and hydrating for success, as a minimum, you are responsible for

hydrating prior to, during, and following all golf events. Dehydration causes health as well

as performance problems. Does this sound like another Life Skill as well? It is.

Water remains the #1 choice for hydrating. Avoid using bottled water, and stay

―Green‖ as much as possible by avoiding disposable plastic bottles. As practice,

conditioning, or play has the potential of depleting your carbohydrates or electrolytes,

consider sport drinks before, during, and following training or competition. Most sport

drinks contain about 50-80 calories from carbohydrates per 8 ounces and a small amount of

electrolytes, usually in the form of sodium and potassium, to replace what is lost in sweat.

As a general rule, avoid soft drinks prior to, and during any form of training or performance.

1 Gallon a Day

During the summer golf season, especially during 36-hole events, the average daily water

intake demands per golfer can be as high as one gallon of water.

Most Gatorade type drinks contain excess sodium and calories from high fructose corn

syrup. Compare the following two 20 oz. of fluid intake.

Gatorade (20 oz.) Emergen-C added to 20 oz. of water

130 calories 20 calories

Sodium 270 mg Sodium 60 mg

Potassium 75 mg Potassium 200 mg

Carbohydrates 5 g

+Vit. B6, Magnesium, Niccin, and more!

Here are some general guidelines for fueling.

Energy Bars are expensive, marginally effective, yet easy to transport, and

convenient. Look into finding local merchants to donate snacks such as energy and

bars for your golf team.

For pre-, competition, and post-competition snacking, consider bananas, apples,

dried fruit, raisins and trail mixes, cereal bars, and granola bars.


117

Rule #1. Start hydrating right now. Make regular

hydration a habit. If you wait to the morning prior to

competition or conditioning, you have waited too long.

For normal, non-practice/competition/condition days,

the normal advice of "drink eight 8-ounce glasses

of water a day" is fairly accurate. That is about 1.9 liters, which is not that different from

the Institute of Medicine‘s recommendations. Although the "8 by 8" rule is not supported by

hard evidence, it remains popular because it is easy to

remember. Keep in mind, however, that the rule

can be reframed as: "on non-workout out days, drink

at least eight 8-ounce glasses of fluid a day," because

all fluids count toward the daily total.

Rule #2.

You must drink about 20 ounces of fluid one hour

before practice or competition.

*Our green Gatorade bottles hold about 30 – 32 ounces.

Rule #3.

Drink 14 to 40 ounces of fluid per hour of exercise

depending on your sweat rate.

Fosfree Performance Supplement

We recommend taking two tablets one hour prior to

initial competition and we have them for you. You

can check them out on the internet if you want to know

more about their contents.

Rule #4.

After exercise, players must drink 24 ounces of fluid for every pound they lose during

exercise.

Fill your Gatorade bottle about

¾ full prior to conditioning,

playing, etc. and drink it

BEFORE you start any

physical activity.

Refill your Gatorade bottle

when you start playing (it

contains about 30 ozs.) with ½

Gatorade and 12/ water. Fill

the Gatorade bottle with ½

water and put it in the golf cart

of your bag. Sip on it during

every hole, and you will

probably go through two (2) 30

oz. bottles.

On non-athletic days, drink 60

– 64 oz. of fluid every day.

Start now making it a habit.

*8 to 12 oz. of coffee is fine.


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Ranking Energy Fruit Fruit is vitamin packed, health protective, and a good sports snack. You might be surprised

how certain fruits rank according to their content of essential vitamins and fiber. The higher

the following score, the more nutrient dense the fruit is.

Score:

Watermelon (2 cups) 310

Cantaloupe (1/4 ave. size) 200

Orange (1 average size) 186

Strawberries (1 cup) 173

Raspberries (1 cup) 106 *Could not find Oregon Blackberries, but they are great!

Apricot (2) 78

Banana (1) 54

Apple 43

Raisins (1/4 cup) 24

IF you must use a product similar to 5-hour energy, go online and check out

www.btotalenergy.com and investigate their B Total Sublingual vitamin

supplement.

http://www.btotalenergy.com/


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Nutrition Drinks

Make effective fueling a life skill! When it comes to nutritional drinks, quick and easy is not always bad. Rather than buy one

of the expensive sport shakes, we tested Kroger‘s nutrition drink and found that it worked

quite well and was far less expensive. Take a look at a few of its contents and for only 170

calories.

Kroger‘s nutritional drink Myoplex nutritional shake

--Potassium, 660 mg --Potassium, 440 mg

--Sodium, 210 mg --Sodium, 280 mg

--Magnesium, 35% of mdr --Magnesium, not listed

--Vitamin C, 100% of mdr --Vitamin C, 100% of mdr

--Vitamin D, 35% of mdr --Vitamin D, 30% of mdr

--Protein, --Protein, 25 g, 50% mdr

--Check out the price, about ½ of others

Successful Coaching by Rainer Martens has a fairly complete introduction to nutrition and

hydration.

New findings on caffeine and

athletic performance The following information was taken from

Nancy Clark‘s Sports Nutrition Guidebook, which

we use in our golf programs. Please refer to Nancy‘s Guidebook for additional sports

nutrition information.

Studies show that ingesting 1.5 to 4 mg of caffeine per pound of body weight enhances

performance; that's about 225 to 600 mg for a 150-pound person.

Many athletes enjoy a caffeine lift either as a morning eye-opener, during daily coffee

breaks, before training and during competitions. Questions arise about caffeine:

uch caffeine is in Red Bull?

The purpose of this article is to examine caffeine (most commonly consumed as coffee) as a

part of a sports diet and help you determine whether you want to take it or leave it.

Caffeine and hydration

We've all heard the warning: Coffee has a diuretic effect, is dehydrating, and doesn't count

as a fluid replacer. While once deemed true, we now know differently.

The truth is that a moderate intake of coffee, cola and other caffeinated beverages does

count towards fluid needs, particularly if you're accustomed to consuming caffeine on a


120

daily basis. (Don't we all know someone who drinks only coffee -- no water -- and is fully

functional?)

Given that about 80% of Americans drink coffee (55 percent daily, 25 percent

occasionally), and the average intake is about 200 mg caffeine/day (3 mg/kg), most athletes

are familiar with caffeine's benefits of heightened alertness and performance.

The U.S. military is intensely interested in the physiological effects of caffeine on hydration.

With soldiers enduring the heat of Iraq, the military needed to know how to optimize

hydration. Hence, they researched the effects of moderate and high doses of caffeine (3 and

6 mg/kg body weight) on hydration.

Using subjects who habitually consumed a relatively low amount of caffeine -

equivalent to one, six-ounce cup of brewed coffee (100 mg/day; about 1.3 mg caffeine/kg),

they found no detrimental effects of caffeine on 24-hour urine volume. (Armstrong, In't J

Sports Nutr, June 2005) By day's end, the urine losses were similar whether the person

consumed no caffeine or a high dose.

How did the "coffee is dehydrating" myth start? The initial studies looked at urine

collection just two to four hours after caffeine consumption (not the 24-hour picture), did not

compare coffee to water, or used very high doses of caffeine. We now know people have

similar urine volume whether they consume caffeinated (<3 mg caffeine/kg) or plain water.

Caffeine and performance

Caffeine is one of the best-tested ergogenic aids (substances, devices, or practices that

enhance an individual's energy use, production, or recovery) and is known to help athletes

train harder and longer. Caffeine stimulates the brain and contributes to clearer thinking and

greater concentration.

There are more than 74 documented studies on the use of caffeine for both endurance

exercise and short-term, higher intensity exercise. The vast majority of the studies conclude

that caffeine does indeed enhance performance and makes the effort seem easier (by about

six percent).

The average improvement in performance is about 12%, with more benefits noticed

during endurance exercise than with shorter exercise (eight to 20 minutes) and a negligible

amount for sprinters. More benefits are also noticed in athletes who rarely drink coffee,

hence are not tolerant to its stimulant effect.

Because each person responds differently to caffeine, don't assume you'll perform

better with a caffeine-boost. You might just end up nauseated, coping with a "coffee

stomach," or suffering from caffeine jitters at a time when you're already nervous and

anxious. And be forewarned: While a morning cup of coffee can assist with a desirable

bowel movement, a pre-competition cup might lead to transit troubles! Experiment during

training to determine if a caffeinated beverage or plain water is your best bet.

Caffeine and sports beverages, sports supplements


121

A moderate caffeine intake is considered to be 250 mg/day. In research studies, the amount

of caffeine that enhances performance ranges from 1.5 to 4 mg/lb body weight (3 to 9

mg/kg) taken one hour before exercise. For a 150 lb person, this comes to about 225 to 600

mg. More doesn't seem to be better.

Most athletes get caffeine by drinking coffee; others consume caffeinated gels, chug

Red Bull, or pop NoDoz pills. Because the amount of caffeine in coffee is so variable, some

athletes prefer products with specified doses.

Caffeine and calories

If Starbucks or Dunkin' Donuts are your preferred sources for caffeine, be forewarned: Their

specialty coffees are filled with calories. While black coffee has no calories, a "coffee

regular" with two creamers and two sugars has 80 calories. A 16-ounce Starbucks Vanilla

Frapuccino perks you up with 470 calories of sugar and fat; a Dunkin' Donuts Coffee

Coolatta is 350 calories. These are not "diet beverages." Hopefully, they'll energize you

enough to burn off those calories during a killer workout!

Caffeine and common sense

(However, there is no such thing as common sense. If sense was common, we would all

have it.)

Athletes vary in their response to caffeine; some are very sensitive and prefer to

abstain rather than get over stimulated. Others thrive on a jumbo cup of brew. Clearly, you

have to learn through trial and error the amount of caffeine that works best for your body --

if any at all. Perhaps more sleep could be the better energizer for some low-energy athletes.

Nutrition is one area of our program where we need to improve. We will

be working on improving this area in the coming seasons.


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Journalizing

My Hydrating and Fueling Journal Page.

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125

PERFORMANCE PSYCHOLOGY

AND GOLF


Increasing your awareness and understanding of the importance of

mind ↔ body skills in practice and competition.

Reinforcing the fact that there is no such thing as muscle memory and the

importance of developing mental performance skills.

Understanding how physical performance, especially proprioception, impacts mental

and emotional performance.

Understanding the importance of injury prevention to your competitive success and

following the conditioning guidelines of our program.

Understanding our Course Strategy Process and begin using it in tournament

preparation.


performance area.

Key concepts to understand and master in this section. The Gap.

The mind-body connection.

Self-confidence within your 6-Step Peak Performance Routine.

Motivation.

Risk Management; probability vs possibility.

Preparation vs. practice rounds.

Efficacy.




126

Our best recommendation is that if you

have not taken a course in Applied Sport

Psychology, take one. If you do not think

you will be able to take the course, purchase

the text book and begin working your way

through it. The text we teach from

is Applying Sport Psychology: four perspectives by Jim Taylor and Gregory Wilson. It is a

Human Kinetics text that was published in 2005.

One section of Applying Sport Psychology covers motivation and self-management.

Throughout our golf program, we use the term Self-Management along with Course

Management. Players do not manage the golf course; you manage yourself while on the

course. In the area of performance psychology, we help you focus on elements that are

within your Circle of Control, or at least within your Circle of Influence. Think about it for

just a minute. If you cannot control your own thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, what

chance do you have at controlling your competitive performance? Not much! Perhaps

you can see why we place self-management and self-control high in the area of performance

psychology.

Performance and Sport Psychology is an

important topic and the primary subject of

Gateway to the Game of GOLF: the mind

↔ body connection.


127

The Mind↔ Body Connection As an example of the mind ↔ body connection, along with performance psychology,

consider the following logic path and decide what you think.

Example #1. Mental Models and Mechanics

In creating and executing each golf swing, concepts form blueprints (another word for swing

models) and blueprints call up habituated motor responses. There is the mind ↔ body

connection. It is critical to identify and understand the concepts that make up mental swing

(putting, chipping pitching, rotating, etc.) models, which are separate from mechanics or

techniques.

Example: In the LAWS model, think of the conceptual difference there is between the three

swing models.

Overall Look: Dimension: Body Type: Swing Motion:

Leverage whirling depth mesomorph rotational

Arc slinging height ectomorph figure-8 inside drop

Width punching width endomorph pushing

Example #2: Distress

Fact: One of the primary causes of poor or missed

golf shots, especially within the scoring game, is excess

tension in the hands and arms caused by the self-induced

distress of competitive performance, or performance under

self-induced pressure.

Therefore, we coach you on using very light grip

pressure on all shots, especially in the scoring game, and to

execute the golf stroke by synchronizing and employing the

larger muscles of the body. One of our preference strategies is ―the closer to the hole, the

lighter the grip.‖ Two additional strategies include helping you learn and habituate the use

of body synchronization through the swing, especially in the scoring game, and utilizing the

Swing Slot.

You can practice the scoring game well, score well in practice, but still execute

poorly during competition. Does this ever happen with you? _________

What are your thoughts on habituating a light grip, a synchronized swing (everything back-

everything through), and the swing slot in the scoring game, and thus avoiding competitive

breakdowns?

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________


128

Avoiding Distress

For competitive excellence, one of our strategies is training you to avoid distress in the first

place, while also habituating specific mind ↔ body skills to avoid the stress response if you

should allow distress to enter your game. This strategy, along with associated techniques, is

covered extensively in The Hourglass Routine, the 6-Step Performance Routine, which are

both in your manual.

Decision Making in the Gap – a Reminder If you were to ask us what one of the more


human performance was, our response

would be our potential to choose; to utilize our

freewill for effective decision making; to play

the game of golf from the gap.

You are about to discover that ―the

history of free man is never written by chance

but by choice—their choice.‖ Source: Dwight

D. Eisenhower, President of the United States

and military general.

What is the Gap? Between a stimulus received by the human brain, and the brain‘s

response, there is a space in time for human decision making, a gap. Within that gap lies the

freedom to choose; free will.

Please refer to our article on the gap in the Attachments Section.


to ChooseResponse







not be a victim of



129

Developing and Restoring Self-Confidence

An example of practical performance psychology is with developing and restoring self-

confidence. A short time ago, several of my players challenged me to a chipping contest.

Even though I had not practiced or played for several months, I realized this would be a

good test for developing and restoring confidence. Here was my warm up for the challenge.

I worked through our Dynamic Pre-Warm Up Drill.

I reviewed our 6-Step Performance Routine by executing it with a few putts and chip

shots. My focus was on warming up my routine and restoring my sense of timing,

tempo, and rhythm.

*Our 6-Step Performance Routine is within my Circle of Control, is habit with me,

and have 100% confidence in executing it effectively. All of my distress avoidance

strategies and techniques are present within our 6-Step Performance Routine, I have

habituated them, and have 100% confidence in them as well.

Next, I reviewed our chipping stroke model (our blueprint). All strokes are

executed twice; first mentally then physically, so I wanted to ensure that my

chipping stroke model was fresh in my mind. I executed several chipping strokes

from a variety of positions and conditions, focusing totally on warming up my

mental model (blueprint). My focus was totally on our chipping model.

*Executing our chipping stroke model is within my Circle of Control. It is stored in

long term memory with a retrieval key and I have 100% confidence in our model.

I know the design features and function of my wedges. I know what they are

designed to do and the types of shots they produce.

*I have 100% confidence in that knowledge. Yes, there are always things we can

learn about equipment and the game, but I have confidence in my current knowledge.

In the scoring game, how the ball reacts to the green, plus where it lands and stops, is

critical to success. Therefore, I quickly reviewed my scoring strategy for chipping,

which is get the ball onto the green and rolling as a putt as quickly as possible. I

then used my routine to select a few ideal landing spots and worked on landing balls

on those spots.

*While always learning, I had 100% confidence in my scoring strategy.

As the contest started, my focus was 100% on the controllable elements of my game:

my routine; chipping model; equipment knowledge; and the conditions of the green.

I only processed the results of each stroke in order to improve my performance,

which is adaptive learning. I became a learner, not a critical judge. All information

was processed through my senses and I was able to avoid self-talk completely. Well,

almost completely.


130

Summary: most confidence is misplaced.

Winning the chipping contest was in my Circle of No Control. Did I want to win?

Certainly! Could I control winning? Certainly not, so I gave winning no intent or

attention.

Did I learn from the results of my chipping

attempts and adjust my stroke accordingly?

Certainly, but result were not where my

confidence was. My confidence was invested

in the elements of the game that were within

my Circles of Control and Influence.

What was the outcome? Ask my players and they will tell you that my scoring game

got better as the contest progressed. I did not muff a single shot and represented

myself quite well.

I also restored my confidence in the controllable elements of the game and in

focusing on processes over results.

efficacy. Efficacy in golf is different from self-confidence. Efficacy is a noun that refers to

the capacity something, such as the golf swing, has for producing a desired outcome or

effect; effectiveness. What is the efficacy of your golf swing? Said another way, what is

the effectiveness of your golfer swing? This is different from believing in yourself to

execute your golf swing, this is belief in the swing itself.

*You will be reading more about efficacy throughout your manual.

Playing Competitive Golf

The previous information on developing and restoring confidence if important for playing

competitive golf. When covering that section of your manual, keep this information in

mind. Remember that during competition, executing your routines is certainly within your

Circle of Control.

Results were NOT where I

placed my confidence.

Confidence placed in winning

and on outcomes is misplaced.


131

Players Self-Management Handout While the following handout seems to focus on course management, it supports your ability

to learn the game, learn about yourself, and manage both of those elements on the golf

course, especially under competitive conditions. So, let‘s get started.

Know the distances and accuracy (dispersion) of every club in your bag, and

under a variety of conditions. Include your % Error Rate. Include data on your PW Rotating

Finesse Swings. Compute your Accuracy Performance Ratios.

Know the distance of your shots on the golf course. You do not have to have a Range

Finder to accomplish this, but it certainly helps.

Know the conditions you are executing shots from and to. In the scoring game, the

conditions you are executing shots into is just as important, if not more so, than the

conditions you are hitting from.

Know the probability of completing each shot successfully and play accordingly. We cover

this topic in Risk Assessment in a few minutes. One rule of thumb in this area is to only

attempt shots in competition that you have practiced and have 60%-70% probability of

completing successfully.

Exceptions to every rule. Let‘s say that 60% of your drives land in the fairways,

which is fairly good for most teams. That does not mean that you never use your playing

club (driver) off the tee. It means that you factor that percentage into your shot selection

and decision making process. Play Smart!

Let‘s say you 50% of your shots are on the greens in regulation. Again, that

obviously does not mean you never go for the green. It merely means that you factor that %

into your decision making process. Play Smart!

Start with Routines Routines are an ideal starting point for

improving your competitive excellence. For

competitive play, self-management, and decision

making, start with The Hourglass and the 6-Step

Routine. We want you working with these

routines until they becomes habit with all of your shots in tournament play. You will come

to understand that these two routines are among the most powerful mind/body, competitive,

and self-management techniques you can learn. This is a critical point. Ensure that you

use these routines consistently during both practice and competition.

The Hourglass and the 6-Step

Routine are two of the most

powerful competitive, self-

management techniques you

can learn and habituate.


132

SELF-CONTROL – Getting Started Similar to how golfers are athletes who must be physically fit, you must be mentally and

emotionally fit as well. Mental and emotional skills support peak levels of performance,

playing with self-confidence, efficacy, focus and concentration, motivation, self-control

(thoughts, emotions, and behaviors), and being mentally tough. You do not make effective

decisions when playing under emotional and physical distress or when lacking self-

confidence and concentration. You must learn to control each of these factors.

As part of the college recruiting process, we go to state HS golf tournaments quite

often. Among the faults we find with the typical HS player include a general lack of self-

control; primarily emotional control. They must have a low emotional IQ, or EQ! Please

keep in mind that self-control is a learnable skill and can be continuously improve.

You CAN control your thoughts, language, emotions, and behavior; and

you CAN learn to use the 6-Step Performance Routine to help control emotions and

thoughts, and thus behavior.

Implementation Process 1

st. Read the copy of the ―Language of Control‖ article very carefully. A copy appears in

the Attachments Section.

2nd

. Cover the Control article with your coach.

3rd

. Get a copy of Gateway to the Game of GOLF and begin mastering the self-management

and decision making tools and techniques it presents.

Keep in mind that lack of control, and other inappropriate

behavior, after a golf shot or stroke is not acceptable because:

When you are talking (even talking to yourself),

complaining, or emoting, you are not learning and

continuous learning is one of our primary goals.

Most forms of talking are counter productive and lead to even more poorer shot

making. You must learn to play one golf shot at a time.

INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR AND LANGUAGE IS NOT ALLOWED and

consequences follow within our golf program.

Emotional Control We are in the process of adding additional information on teaching and coaching

emotional control and on a golfer‘s emotional IQ, or EQ.

Read, study, understand

and live this paragraph.

It is vital to your

competitive success.


133

Question: Coach Robertson, How can I focus and pay better attention during my shots in

tournaments?

Response: Learn to process information through visualization and imagery; through

your senses. Learning to use imagery is among the first things we teach in both our Warm

Up Routine and in our 6-Step Performance Routine. Once the section of your brain

controlling visualization, imagery, and the senses is engaged, the section of your brain

controlling talking is disengaged. We are not kidding. So learn to use imagery to reduce

self-talk. Learning to attend to the task at hand, remain in the moment, and utilize imagery is

a matter of self-control and discipline. We also know that maintaining emotional balance is

a greater indicator of competitive success than levels of arousal.

Motivation Question: Coach Robertson, How can I

motivate my players? Response: According to Coach John

Wooden, the short answer is, ―we cannot

motivate players.‖ According to Coach,

true motivation is internal, not external.

Coach tells us that we can encourage,

support, and facilitate players, but as

coaches, our role is to create an

environment where motivated athletes can thrive.

Start with your definition of motivation A major element of Coach Wooden‘s definition is that motivation is an internal desire to

fulfill an unmet need or want. You can be equally motivated to achieve internal desires or

avoid pain, conflict, failure, etc. With avoidance, the fear of loss is greater than the

anticipation of gain.

Your Definition of Motivation (write in your definition here)

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

Your Passion in playing the game of golf is:

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________.


134

Risk Management: Can I Make a Miracle Shot? Part of practical performance psychology is helping you understand risk-reward assessment

and ―probabilities‖ versus ―possibilities.‖ Risk-reward assessment ties in directly with self-

control and effective decision making. You must learn how to make critical risk-reward

decisions under competitive conditions. This is a learned skill, you were not born with it.

We work hard at helping you become a strong on-course competitor, if you are not already

one. During competition, our sage advice is for you to only attempt shots you have

practiced and have confidence in completing successfully, especially when the probably

risks outweigh the possible rewards. By confidence, we mean you can realistically envision

yourself creating and executing the shot successfully.

Success Rule The Risk Management Rule is where

you ask yourself if you have successfully executed the

upcoming shot in practice or competition and can

visualize yourself executing it successfully again.

What is the probability of making the shot? What does

your data tell you? What is your Accuracy

Performance Ratio with this shot? Anything is possible, especially in the mind of an

optimist, so in your mind the possibility of executing the shot correctly may be very high.

But STOP thinking about possibilities, get back to reality and probability, and make an

educated decision based on data versus emotion.

This includes getting off the tee successfully, trouble shots, uneven lies, etc. IF not, you are

to re-consider the shot you are about to play.

*You may or may not agree with our philosophy, which is fine. But whatever your decision,

formulate your own philosophy and stick with it.

Example: A player is playing into a green with a 3-iron or 3Hybrid. Their average

dispersion with that club is 35 yards. (Dispersion is the average distance a shot misses the

target by from any direction and is computed with the Accuracy Performance Ratio.) The

green is 35 yards wide, trapped on the right with sand, and water on the left. What is the

high percentage shot; the probability? The possibility is holing out the shot from there! In

your dreams. The probability is that you cannot land the ball on the green and hole it

consistently. So what is the better strategic decision? Lay up short and chip or pitch on.

Example: A player is about to use driver from the tee on a 485 yard, par 4, hole. Their

average distance with a driver is 241 yards and the dispersion is 45 yards. The fairway is 38

yards wide and they have not learned to take half the fairway out of play. The fairway is

trapped on the right with sand, with a lateral water hazard running down the entire left side.

What is the high percentage shot; the probability? The possibility is a great drive to the

middle of the fairway. Wishful thinking. The probability is that you cannot land the ball in

the fairway consistently. So what is the strategic decision? When thinking strategically, the

player will use a 3W if it meets the requirements of the shot. If not, they will keep going

down in their clubs until they come to one that has the highest percentage of keeping the ball

in play.

Possibilities are typically based

on your emotions, optimism,

etc. Probabilities are based on

data, your Accuracy

Performance Ratio, etc.


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As you move into and through your 6-Step Shot Routines, you must have confidence in the

blueprint you have created for the shot and in your ability to execute the shot. Doubt ruins

a lot of golf shots! We continually see golfers at all levels of the game attempting shots that

are risky at best, some are downright foolish, and they are based on possibility versus

probability thinking. Some players never learn that even the best shot makers in the game

create and execute bad shots from time to time. There is a huge difference between the

Miracle shot a player might pull off and a high probably of success shot.

Underline the following: do not even think of attempting shots from poor lies, at high-risk

targets such as water, OB, and traps, that you have not practice and have a high

probability of executing successfully. For shots you are not extremely confident in, your

strategy becomes:

keeping the ball in play;

getting out of jail if you are in trouble;

playing for position with your next shot; and

executing all shots from the sensory areas of the brain, not cognitive areas.

Know your game, know your strengths and weaknesses, and play from your strengths.

―We consider performance and shot making along a continuum.

Along that continuum, it is fair to say that every golfer

has some situations they can be successful in and

other situations where they are apt to fail.

The key for us has more to do with players‘ recognizing their

own strengths and weaknesses, playing accordingly, and \

basing shot selection on probabilities versus possibilities.‖

Source: Coach

Playing Safe

Personally, we prefer not to use the term playing safe. Playing a shot safe is going to

engage a lot of negative self-talk much of the time and then you really are in trouble.

Determine the most appropriate shot for the situation at hand,

as well as for the conditions at hand,

remain in the moment,

base your decision on probabilities versus pulling off the Miracle Shot,

blueprint the exact shot you will execute,

commit to the shot 100%, and then

use your 6-Step Performance for success.


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Learning Strategies Reviewed The following are the major learning strategies we follow throughout our golf program.

Learn from Green-to-Tee versus from Tee-to-Green.

Learn Laws, then Principles, and then Preferences. Never substitute preferences for laws

and principles.

Keep the golf game and the golf swing dynamic.

Create and follow a Learning Order

Ball Flight – What major paths does the golf ball take through the air (hook, draw,





face of the club to the ball, and thus determine ball flight (path)?


is the role of loft, lie, etc., and how does it impact ball flight?




movement?





(hands, upper body, lower body, etc.) impact the swing?

Small Bites

Learn only one new motor skill at a time.

Golf Skill Development Sequence. Order is important in development and our basis

sequence is:

assessment;

identification of strengths and weaknesses;

goal setting for improvement performance;

Action Plans for improving strengths and eliminating weaknesses;

implementation;

re-assessment; and then work back through the process.


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Course Strategy Worksheet Here is a Course Strategy for Meadow Lakes G.C. in Oregon. Use this example and

develop a similar course strategy for our home course and for one of the courses you play

during the summer. When we travel to tournaments and play our Preparation Round, we

will be using a similar format. Keep your notes and update them each time you play the

same course.

Preparation vs. Practice.

Terms are important and ―preparation round― is a key term to understand and utilize. When

we travel to new courses, we are definitely not practicing our golf games, it is far too late for

practice. We are preparing ourselves and our golf games for the upcoming event. We are

working to determine how our game matches up with the course, shot selection, how we will

play each hole, etc. We may practice following the preparation round, but not during it.

Meadow Lakes G.C. #1. Dogleg right; par five. OB running down the entire L. side just

over the mounds. From the white tees (insert the tees you are playing), some of dogleg can

be cut off…put know your distances and the conditions at hand. In playing from the black

tees, consider following the shape of the fairway. Note the pond on the R of the fairway that

comes into play on 2nd

and 3rd

shots, but remember, you cannot ―block out‖ hazards. ―Don‘t

Think of a Pink Elephant!‖

Does this hole fit my game ____. Does it present a birdie opportunity___.

#2. Par 4; #1 handicap hole. Longer can factor in carrying the fairway bunkers, but most

players need to consider using a fairway wood or a long iron and playing to the middle of

the fairway. Note to self: the landing area narrows as I approach the green; approach shots

R of the green usually end up in the nearby pond.


#3. Slight dogleg left; par five. Tee shot is fairly wide open, however, there is OB left and

fairway bunkers right. As with #2, the entrance to the green narrows significantly, with the

pond on the right and mounds on the left. An ideal 2nd

shot is on the L side of the fairway,

being careful to avoid going left of the mounds.


#4. Par 3; #17 handicap hole. Note the extremely long green (60 yds. from front to back).

Due to this length, pay very close attention to pin placement when making your club

selection…as with all other holes.


#5. Straight forward par 4 with water on both sides off the tee. Note to self: pay attention

to the fact that the landing area angles the ball toward the ponds on either side. Therefore,

my priority is on accuracy over distance.



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#6. Short but tricky par 4; #7 handicap; water lining the entire R side all the way up to the

green. The pond angles as you get closer to the green, which makes getting close to this

green from off the tee questionable. Consider leaving the ball short of the green about 120

yards left, making your approach into a challenging 3-tired green.


#7. Tough 2-tired green. Pars from off the green are few and far between.


#8. Par 4 with a lateral hazard defining the R hand boundary and a pond protecting the R

side of the green. There is plenty of room L of the tee when I avoid the fairway bunkers.

No room to miss the approach R, however, shots that end up L of the green will leave a trick

up and down.


#9. Par 5 with the ideal spot off the tee about 150 yards to the green. If my gall goes too

much further, it will end up in the Crooked River…wet! From the white tees, it is about 270

carry over the river, so plan my strategy accordingly.


YOU GET THE IDEA? Use the form in the Attachment Section to plan your strategy for

each course you play.


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Psychological ↔ Physical Link One of the critical physical links between the mind

and the body during golf performance is

proprioception. When proprioception is off in the

golf swing or putting stroke, even at the millisecond

level, the brain computes the variance and does its

best to correct it, but is not always successful.

An effective method of assessing and

correcting this important psychological ↔ physical

performance link is with the Interactive

Metronome™.

Does precise timing, tempo, rhythm,

balance through motion, and concentration have an

important psychological impact on the golf swing?

Certainly!

Here is a review of the goals for our IM training program.

improve golf swing timing, which includes eye-hand coordination;



increase balance through motion in the golf swing;






Source: Pierce Howard‘s ―The Owner‘s Manual for the Brain‖, Topic 21.10, Visualization,

p. 499.

―When you‘re preparing for an event, remember the

importance and effectiveness of visual and mental

rehearsal in combination with physical rehearsal and

practice. Visualization, also referred to as mental

practice, has been shown to be effective in improving

motor skills, although there is no evidence that it

improves cognitive and behavioral skills. University of Chicago neurologist John Milton has

used EEG measures to study the effectiveness of visualization techniques on athletic

performance. While helping golfers improve their swing technique, he observed that

subjects showed the more active beta waves on the left (more analytical) side of their brain

while mentally rehearsing a shot, and calmer alpha waves on the right side of the brain

while actually executing the shot just visualized. He refers to this shift from beta to alpha

as going from active concentration into a kind of ―zone‖ associated with peak performance.

Milton found that the golfer‘s accuracy increased after these visual rehearsals.‖

propriocepion. The sense of where

your body is in time and space.

Close your eyes and clap your

hands. Your ability to sense where

your hands are with your eyes

closed and clap is proprioception at

work. Set a golf ball on a tee and

get your 7-iron. Move into your

stance, close your eyes, and execute

a swing through the ball. Your

ability to swing through the ball

precisely is proprioception at work.

Milton found that the

golfer‟s accuracy increased

after these visual

rehearsals.


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Journalizing

My Mental Skills Journal Page.

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DELIBERATE PREPARATION &

PRACTICE

“Learning to compete in the game of golf incorporates, but is unique from,

practice, rehearsal, and preparation.” Coach.


Increasing your awareness and understanding of the importance of organizing,

executing, and improving your organized practice sessions.

Equip you to organize and execute all practice and preparation sessions around

priorities.

Increasing your awareness and understanding of laws, principles, strategies, and

tactics for participating in highly effective practice sessions.

Increasing your understanding of the importance of timing in the golf swing and

presenting a method for assessing and developing it.

Learning the importance of graduating from swing mechanics and techniques and

how to accomplish it.

Learning that the practice priority is removing the weaknesses in your game first and

them utilizing the remaining time to maintaining the strength of your game.

Ensuring you understand the definition and true meaning of deliberate practice.

Making practice more effective versus simply efficient.

You will receive specific drills and training techniques for practice sessions.

You will increase your awareness of additional training and resource materials

within this area of your performance.

Key concepts to understand and master in this section. Deliberate practice and rehearsal.

Principle: eliminating weaknesses vs. developing strengths.

The mind-body connection.

Self-confidence within our 6-Step Performance Routine™.

Paradigms and enthusiastic hard work.

Preparation vs. practice rounds.

Effectiveness versus efficiency.

Practice goal: improving competitive performance.




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“Learning to organize and execute

on a daily basis around priorities may be the most

critical organizational skill of golfers.” Coach Robertson

Deliberate Preparation &

Practice Defined We invest time defining the following

terms with players because we want

to ensure that you are investing your

time and energy correctly in the various

phases of your competitive game, and

within the learning process. To start

out, ―Practice makes permanent.

Only deliberate preparation &

practice leads toward mastery.‖

We do not use the term perfect in our

definition of practice.

Preparation involves developing very

specific technical, tactical, or mental

skills; working on one specific skill at

a time.

Example. Our putting practice is

divided into separate sessions on: path

and alignment, face angle and alignment, center of percussion, angle of attack, force,

reading greens, and our 6-Step Performance Routine™. Make a note that ―preparing‖ for

putting in competitive play is NOT practice. Practice is development, preparing is your

dress rehearsal.

Strategy. Two primary strategies for deliberate practice and preparation are:

-―eliminate your weaknesses and build on your strengths‖ and

-improve your scoring ability from green to tee, versus from tee to green.

We use the term deliberate preparation (which some coaches refer to as perfect practice) to

describe our regularly scheduled activities in the development of competitive golf.

Developing and reinforcing effective habits, the elimination of ineffective habits, and

focusing on eliminating weaknesses and maintaining strengths, are key elements of

deliberate preparation.

Are you implementing the information from the Bands of Steel article? If not, please

turn to the article in the Attachment Section, read through it carefully, and begin

implementing its contents. We know that deliberate preparation will NOT be effective

deliberate preparation. Enthusiastic work that includes: 1. Practice of a well-defined task that is challenging to the golfer; 2. relevant and immediate feedback; 3. full attention (in-the-moment) and intent; 4. the opportunity for repetition, learning from feedback, and error correction (which includes Step 6 of our Performance Routine), 5. enthusiastic hard work, 6. organization and execution around priorities on a regular basis, and 7. Stretching yourself beyond what you can currently do – continuous improvement. The components of deliberate preparation include the total number of hours invested in preparing correctly, with the correct process, the presence of effort, determination, and concentration (attention and intent). Up to 10 years of deliberate preparation can be required for an individual to achieve mastery in a specific area or sport.


143

unless supported and complemented 100% by: a. conditioning, strength, and motor

training; b. timing training; and c. life skills.

Example: Our players practice and develop their putting strokes in compliance with natural

laws and then switch to rehearsing and preparing the putting stroke for competition.

During practice, we typically us our Abbreviated Performance Routine. The blueprint for the

element in your game you are working to develop may or may not be executed on auto pilot.

HOWEVER, during rehearsal/preparation, every putting stroke is created within The

Hourglass™ and executed within the 6-Step Performance Routine™, which means that the

blueprint for the stroke is executed on auto pilot.

Preparation Reminder Preparation includes activities that are related specifically to preparing for competitive

performance.

Example. We do not refer to our pre-tournament golf rounds as practice, but rather as

preparation rounds. We are preparing to compete on that particular golf course, not

practicing our games. We are learning the course, preparing our game plans, etc.

Rehearsal

Have you ever done a final rehearsal

for a play? If so, you know that you work to

produce a performance that is precisely like

opening night. You are rehearsing success.

We are the same way with golf. When rehearsing,

we are preparing precisely as if we were performing within competitive conditions. Our

intensity level must be the same as during competition. Our intent and attention must be just

as focused. We are in the moment, we are competing, we are there! To rehearse in the flow

of the event; to reach peak levels of performance as if real.

Especially within the 6-Step Routine™, you must rehearse competitive success. Said one or

our Tour professional golfer, ―at our level of the game, I very seldom think in terms of

practice. Most of the time I am focused on rehearsing my on-course performance.‖ At a

corporate golf outing, basketball legend Michael Jordan expressed his thought that, ―at our

level of the game there is no such thing as practice, it‘s all competition. It‘s all about

competing at the level we need to. For example, I never take a shot in practice….woops!

there is that word…without visualizing the best defender in the league in my face.

Competitive golf is actually harder for me than basketball because in basketball, the

competition forces me to compete at a higher level. In golf, it‘s all up to me and I let down

too often.‖

To rehearse is to conduct as

if real.


144

Graduation In our 5-Days to Golfing Excellence book, we

emphasized several important points about learning the

golf swing and taking your game to the golf course. Our

first point was, and still is, that most golfers do not invest

sufficient learning and practice time in truly understanding

and habituating each golf swing and shot (putting, chipping,

pitching, rotating finesse swing, etc.) until it becomes

second nature to them. They underestimate the investment

required to really make each golf shot theirs. Our second

point was that once they have habituated each shot or stroke

to a satisfactory level, they fail to graduate from learning

and changing their mechanics and move onto the real game of golf. We are not saying to

stop practicing each shot, we are saying leave the base mechanics of the shot alone once you

own it. The process is:

Learn a new skill.

Habituate it.

Graduate back to the real game of competitive golf.

A Priority & Strategy One of our priorities is organize practice sessions around the elimination of each golfer‘s

weaknesses as we build upon their strengths. As that objective is accomplished, you can

help them work on maintaining the strength of their games. Ask yourself and each player

the following question prior to each practice session, “what specific weaknesses am I

working on eliminating today, how will I accomplish that, and how will I know when I

have accomplished that objective.”


145

Effective Use of Drills

Principles Principle: Establishing realistic goals for drills and practice sessions is critical. Goals

regulate a golfer‟s performance by providing an internal standard by which they can

compare and evaluate their performances. Goals influence how players behave, and help

them judge how well they are doing as they strive for predetermined levels of

performance.

With that principle in mind, here is our Target Goal for a Technically Sound Golf Swing or

Stroke:

“to mentally create an appropriate blueprint for the shot at hand, physically execute the

blueprint as precisely as possible, and learn from the experience.

[Please re-read the target goal for a technically sound golf

swing one more time, we will be using it again on the next page.]

Principle: Competitive skills are best learned and habituated at the intensity level they

will be mentally created and physically executed on during competitive play. In other

words, practice as you intent on competing and compete as you have practiced.

It is far too easy to over emphasize the practice of technical golf skills in drills at the

expense of other critical skill areas. Be certain to cover all skill areas in your drills. ALSO,

work to raise the intensity level of your drills and practice sessions to the same level as

competition, if not more intense.

Golf Skill Categories

In the area of skill development, be certain to set goals and use drills in all of the major

performance skill areas. We define each skill area very carefully with players.

Techniques or technical skills: swing techniques; setup and alignment; etc.

Tactics or tactical skills: competitive strategies and tactics; tactically playing each hole from

green-to-tee; etc.

Mind↔Body skills: psychological; skills such as diaphragmatic breathing that support both

mental and physical intensity levels and thus both technical and tactical skills.

Mechanics: bio-mechanical laws and principles; the physics of golf; such as how energy is

produced and transferred in the golf swing; coil and rotation; etc.

Life Skills: lessons that can be learned on the golf course and utilized off the course as well:

control of thoughts/emotions/behavior; attention/concentration; objective setting and

accomplishment; coachability; personal responsibility, etc.


146

Principle: Learn, and drill for skill, one element

(technical, mental, or tactical skill) at a time and

end each session with a complete stroke or swing.

With the final stroke/swing, keep your

Target Goal for a Technically Sound Swing firmly in

mind: to mentally create an appropriate blueprint for the shot at hand, physically execute

the blueprint as precisely as possible, and learn from the experience.

Reminder: It takes 20-30 days of contiguous to build, or re-tool, a neuro-muscular golf skill

or technique.

3 X 5 Reminder Card. *We highly recommend you make up your own Reminder

Card from the following suggestions.

End practice sessions and

drills with a complete

swing or stroke.

Technically Sound Swing Model—Doc Suttie‘s Definition…

A technically sound golf swing (and putting stroke) delivers the clubface through

the ball perfectly square to the target line, perfectly vertical, so that only the loft of

the club affects the trajectory of the shot, on the correct path, with maximum

velocity at the bottom of the swing arc every single time.

Trust us…you will understand this definition and be working toward a

technically sound swing or stroke before long!

Technically Sound Swing Model—Doc Suttie‘s

Definition… A technically sound golf swing and

stroke delivers the clubface through the ball perfectly

square to the target line, perfectly vertical, so that

only the loft of the club affects the trajectory of the

shot, on the correct path, with maximum velocity at

the bottom of the swing arc every single time.

Goal for a Technically Sound Golf Swing or

Stroke: “to mentally create an appropriate

blueprint for the shot at hand, physically execute

the blueprint as precisely as possible, and learn

from the experience.


147

Example:

Goal: to develop a neutral hand position on the club in the Rotating Finesse Swing.

--Work only on positioning your hands on the club correctly and drill for skill.

--End the session by making a rotating swing within the 6-Step Routine and on auto pilot.

--Make this final swing with our Target Swing Goal firmly in mind: to mentally create an

appropriate blueprint for the shot at hand, physically execute the blueprint as precisely as

possible, and learn from the experience.

Example:

Goal: to developing a pendulum putting stroke with a straight path through the ball at

impact.

--Work only on creating a straight path through impact. The principle is: all putts start out

as straight putts. Drill for skill.

--End the session by making putting strokes within the 6-Step Routine, on auto pilot, and

with our target goal for a technically sound putting stroke firmly in mind.

*Remember that it takes from 21-30 days of contiguous and perfect practice to develop a

new habit, so plan your practice accordingly.

Principle: The mind can only learn, create, and store in long term memory one new

technical skill at a time. (for verification of this principle, refer to the mental skills section

of your Coaching manual)

Remember our practice strategy of isolating and practicing one skill (technical, mental, or

tactical skill) at a time and then reinserting that skill back into the entire swing, shot, or

game. Refer to the example given above.

Principle: Focus on the process or outcome being

taught by the drill and not on the drill itself. Just as there are range players (individuals who

can make great swings on the range, but cannot take

their games to the course), there are also drill junkies

(golfers who can do certain drills correctly all day long, but have not transferred the skills or

knowledge from the drill over into their golf games).

Positive Example: We use a Medicus practice club with select golfers when teaching or

training an on-plane swing and making solid contact with the ball through impact. Here is

how we typically use the Medicus Drill.

After warming up, make a few swings through the ball with a Medicus 7-iron just to get use

to the club.

Next, while still on the practice tee, make one 9:00 Swing through a ball with a

Medicus and make the next swing with your regular 7-iron. With beginning golfers,

use a tee.

Continue this sequence for about ten (10) total swings OR until you gain a feel for

the Medicus and for the objective of the drill: making an on plane swing and solid

contact. Do not forget the objective of the drill!

Focus on the process or

outcome being taught by the

drill.


148

Medicus on Course Drill. Play 9 or 18 holes. When you are out from the green the

typical distance of your 9:00 7-iron swing, make two swings: one swing with the

Medicus; and one with your regular 7-iron. Learn from each swing and work to

transfer the feel from swinging the Medicus to your regular 7-iron.

For more advanced players add the 7:30 and 10:30 swing to this rotation. You can

also add the Medicus Driver and Medicus Wedge to the rotation.

Principle: Invest technique practice time at a similar % to shots taken during competition. Nearly all of the golfers we work with, from beginner to touring professional, have the same

golf shot mix for the scores they produce.

Example:

Pro Shots par 72 Amateur Shots 100

Putts per round 31 or 43% 43

Short game (chipping/pitching) 13 or 18% 18

Full shots 28 or 39% 39

The scoring game (putting, chipping, pitching and other wedge play) account for 61% of the

typical player‘s score, while full shots only account for 39%. So, where does your practice

emphasis need to be? Right, on the scoring game.

ALSO, the scoring game, regardless of athletic ability, can be improved upon by all golfers.

ALSO, you can use the short game to practice and habituate The Hourglass, the 6-Step

Routine, imagery, and a host of additional mental and technique skills. Remember to always

practice each scoring game shot with full attention and intent.


149

Rotate vs. Coil Drill

It is imperative for golfers to mentally understand, and

physically sense, the difference between rotating and

coiling golf swings. Our golfers typically employ

both during the normal course of play and we stress

the differences in our drills, practice sessions, and

within our Dynamic Pre-Warm Up Drill.

Rotating Rotating produces a more controlled, accurate, consistent, and on-plane golf swing. We

teach a rotating style swing in our player‘s chipping, pitching, and Rotating Finesse Swings.

Our golfers switch to a coil style swing with full shots.

There are specific mechanical distinctions between rotating and coiling. For

example, when teaching rotating, we do not refer to weight shift, because there is none, at

least as defined within coiling for Arc and Width Styles. With coil, as the body rotates,

weight transfers toward the right side on the backswing and then rotates/transfers over to the

left side on the downswing.

Distance Example: a player may produce a 105 yd. shot with a 9:30 rotating finesse swing,

yet produce a 120 yd. shot with a coil style swing. They find, however, that the coil shot is

generally less accurate and consistent.

Coil Coiling produces a more powerful golf swing than does rotating. Coiling is designed to

produce additional distance by creating torque and force. Some teachers refer to this

technique as loading. “Make a note that coiling is primarily an optional swing technique

for accumulating power for the downswing”. Source: Your Perfect Swing by Doc Suttie,

p. 93.

The is drill does not attempt to explain all of the mechanical and technical differences

between coiling and rotating styles. Please consult your coach or swing instructor for those

details. This drill is designed to help you sense the differences in timing, tempo, rhythm,

balance through motion, positions, and power between the two swing styles. In the drill, use

two wedges, or a weighted club, for an increases sense of weight out on the end of the club.

Rotating Finesse Swing

Move into the stance you would use with a short iron, but remain upright; feet about

shoulder width apart and a square stance.

In a poised manner, begin swinging the club back and forth, level to the ground, in

front of your body and in a semi-circular pattern. Everything goes around!

Use the swing thought of ―everything-back, everything-through‖. Meaning that the

backswing and start of the downswing (or swinging around the body in this case) are

both 1-piece moves.

Keep both knees flexed slightly through the entire drill.

Early in your practice, make

the rotate versus coil distinction

in the swing clear in your own

mind. Reminder: rotating vs.

coiling is a preference, not a

law.


150

Continue swinging in a poised manner until you develop an even sense of timing,

tempo, rhythm, and balance through the swing.

Next, pay attention to how smooth the swing feels. Notice how consistent the swing

becomes. ―Everything back-everything through.‖ This is your rotating finesse

swing.

Pay attention to the role the feet play in the golf swing. Golf is played with the feet,

it is a ground reaction sport. You must learn to sense the golf swing through your

feet. (To develop an increased sense of the role the feet play in the golf swing,

practice barefooted occasionally.) With ―everything back‖, you sense your weight

rotating onto and around the inside middle of your back foot. At impact, you need to

sense your weight evenly distributed between both feet. With ―everything through‖

you sense your weight rotating onto and around the inside middle of your front foot

on your down swing and follow through.

Keep the swing path on plane through the entire swing. Your Medicus training club

can help with this.

Continue to pay attention to how consistent and repeatable your sense of the club,

and the stroke, are. Remember: ―everything back, everything through‖ and in the

actual swing ―the arms go up and down and the body goes around.‖

Since golf is a ground reaction sport, you already know to pay specific attention to

sensing the transfer of weight through your feet.

Remember that with a rotating swing, primary control factors include: a. keeping the

swing on plane for accuracy and consistency; b. gauging the length of the backswing

and follow through for distance control; and c. the body goes around and the arms go

up and down.

When you have bent forward enough to be in your regular stance, only swing back to

a 9:00 position and forward to a 3:00 position. And remember to bend forward from

the hip joints, not your stomach.

Review the ROTATING FINESSE SWING…7:30; 9:00 (there are two

9:00 swings); 10:30. Strategy: Developing accuracy and consistency in the scoring game with an on-plane swing

that controls the distance of shots by the length of the backswing and follow through. Think

of these four positions as full swings.

Scoring Strategy: Utilize this rotating stroke with shots into the green where you:

have a distance into the green that is within your Rotating Finesse Swing range

(further than a pitching stroke yet shorter than a full coiling swing with a PW);

have a reasonably good lie (you want the clubface to contact the ball without any

grass between them);

plan to land or stop the ball on the putting surface;

have an acceptable area of green to work with; or

need to carry obstacles (traps, etc.) between you and the green.

Distance Example: One of our players swings their PW 105 yards with a 10:30 Rotating

Finesse Swing. The same player swings their PW 124 yards with a coiling full swing. Be

certain to assess the difference in distance between rotating and coiling in your game.

Club: Learn this stroke with a PW and then advance to a SW.


151

Swing Principle and the BRAIN

The brain takes words, converts them to images, and

processes images. The brain has difficulty creating

sufficient specificity with terms such as ―swing

easier or slower‖ or ―swing faster or harder‖. Slower and faster are mere words with a

multitude of interpretations within the brain. For distance and accuracy control, the

Rotating Finesse Swing is more effective than ―feel‖ because it utilizes positions of the

body in the backswing and follow through, coupled with an on plane swing, versus self-

talk or ―feel‖. ―Feel‖ is not real!

Question: Does the previous principle help clarify that for most golfers scoring game

strokes, such as putting, chipping, and pitching, are more difficult to execute consistently

and accuracy, and require a great deal of practice?

Response: _________________________________________________________________

Think of the four Finesse Swing positions (7:30, 9:00, 10:30) as full swings.

Efficient Footwork =‘s an Efficient Golf Swing

Our #1 Footwork Drill Use this drill with both rotating and coiling swing styles.

Objectives: Promote timing, tempo, rhythm, and balance

through motion in the swing. Another objective is making solid,

consistent contact, contact with the ball; without focusing on

distance.

Address the golf ball for a full coiling or rotating finesse swing

with the ball in the middle of the stance and the feet together. Begin with a 7-iron. Less

skilled and beginning golfers can begin with a PW.

Once in your stance, make few 9:00 – 3:00 swings with a golf ball that is on a tee. Only

swing as fast as you can retain balance through the swing. The more comfortable you

become swinging with the feet together while maintaining balance, the larger your swing

can become.

Once comfortable and efficient with making good swings off a tee, advance to making

swings through the ball on the turf, with the feet still together.

This drill tests and promotes good balance and pace during your golf swing.

During Competition & Practice. When you are not making solid contact with the ball

during competition or practice, use this drill with your rehearsal swings to help restore your

timing and tempo.

Slice or Push Correction. If the golf ball consistently travels to the right (for a right handed

golfer), keep both feet together but drop the right foot straight back until the right toe is

aligned with the left heel and make some practice and then 9:00-3:00 swings. This stance

Think of the four Rotating

Finesse Swings as full swings.


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can promote the club face releasing faster. Work from this position until the ball starts

drawing (versus slicing or fading).

Your comments on this drill: __________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________.

Tiger Woods Footwork Drill

Here is a drill you can observe Tiger using from time to time during his warm up and

practice sessions to re-balance his footwork.

Tiger stands with both feet together with the ball in the center of his stance.

He then moves his right foot about 18 inches straight back (not to the side, but back) from

his left heel, with only the toe of his shoe touching ground.

He swings from 9:00 to 3:00 as efficiently as he can while retaining balance through

motion.

When you use this drill, avoid thinking ―swing easy.‖ The brain does not comprehend that

image. The key is to swing as efficiently as you can while retaining balance through

motion.

Once you have gained efficiency with your swing, advance to a 9:00 to Full Finish Swing,

then advance to 10:30 to a Full Finish Swing.

Work on making solid contact with the ball while retaining balance through motion.

Next, Tiger alternates with the opposite foot.

From time to time, you may also observe him using the drill with his feet crossed; once with

the left foot in front and a second time with the right foot in front.

Your comments on this drill: __________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________.

Intensifying Drills There are a variety of methods for intensifying drills

and creating a more competitive environment during

practice.

Change the rules. Golfers play by the rules, so change the rules.

Rotating Finesse Swing. If you have been practicing rotating swings, the next time

you play a practice round, take a mulligan on every Rotating Finesse Swing, but you

must play the worst ball. Post your scores and track improvement.

Change the 14-club rule to the 3-club rule. The next time you play a practice round,

only carry a putter, PW, and 7-iron. Post scores and track improvement.

From a full PW distance (about 120 yds for men and 100 yds for ladies) and into the

green, make every shot into the green OB if the ball does not remain on the putting

surface. Post scores and track improvement.

Make every shot that misses the fairway OB. Make every shot from within 100

yards of the green that misses the green OB. For more on this drill, refer to the

Fairway and Greens Drill in your manual.

Practice on the intensity level

you plan on competing and

compete at the intensity level

you have practiced on.


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Slow Motion Drills – Slow is Golden Develop Slow Motion Practice Drills for every swing and stroke category (putting,

chipping, pitching, etc.).

Work Slow Motion Practice Drills into your Dynamic Pre-Warm Up Drill. Slow is golden! Incorporate slow motion drills into practice and rehearsal sessions from

time to time. The slower you make your slow motion practice swing, the more you learn.

We typically have players make the first few slow motion swings with three clubs in order

to get them truly sensing the weight out on the club head. Players make the next slow

motion swings with two clubs, then with one club, then with a shaft without a head (or

merely turn one club over). In our warm up drills, we use hand weights; 5 pounds per hand

for men and 2-3 pounds per hand for ladies. The slower these swings, the better! When

you think you are going slow, slow down. Throughout a week of practice, work through

slow motion drills with putting, chipping, pitching, finesse rotating swings, medium irons,

long irons and fairway woods, and the your playing club.

Pete Re-Pete Drill Objectives: (this drill can be used in assessment as

well as development)

Develops timing, tempo, rhythm, balance

through motion, and concentration.

Helps rehearse chipping and pitching strokes.

It is a good warm up drill for practice and

competition.

Helps eliminate the tendency to freeze

over the ball in the setup.

Helps develop and refine your sense of

distance control.

Develops confidence in the scoring game.

Consider making the drill part of your Pre-Practice and Pre-Competition Routines. Warm

up prior to starting this drill.

Equipment: 7-iron; PW; 55°-56° Wedge. 5 golf

balls. 3 and 5-ft. target circles, or something similar.

Stage 1.

Set chipping/pitching practice area up so that balls are landing on the putting surface.

Set 5 balls away from the practice green and in a straight line perpendicular to the

target line as in the example above. Set the balls 5 to 6 inches apart.

(Target)

(Target Spot)

Ensure that you are adequately

warmed up prior to starting any

drills.


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Using a PW with a chipping stroke, line up the closets ball with the target line, go

through the 6-Step Routine, and start with the closest ball.

Chip the first ball toward the target. Without looking up at the target again, and with

a consistent pace and rhythm, stroke the remaining balls toward the target. Do not

freeze over each stoke. Create a consistent rhythm with, and between, each stroke.

Only assess direction during Stage 1 of the drill.

Repeat the chipping drill with a 7-iron.

Repeat the chipping drill with a 55°-56° wedge.

Assess results and coach for skill as necessary.

Pitching

Repeat the previous drill with a pitching stroke and a PW, followed by a 55°-56° wedge.

High Handicap Golfers

For high handicap golfers or beginners, stay with the Pete Re-Pete Drill using only a PW

until you have developed sufficient competency to move to the next level.

Stage 2. Performance Control.

Set the practice area up so that balls land on the putting surface.

Set 5 balls away from the practice green and in a straight line perpendicular to the

target line. Set the balls 5-6 inches apart.

Set up a target 18 yards from the ball position players will be swinging from.

Using a PW with a chipping stroke, line up the closest ball with the target line, go

through the 6-Step Routine, and start with that ball.

Chip the first ball toward the target. Without looking up at the target again, and with

a consistent pace and rhythm, stroke the remaining balls toward the target. Do not

freeze over each stoke. Create a consistent rhythm with, and between, each stroke.

Calculate the average distance the strokes misses the target. Later on, use the

Accuracy Ratio and record all results.

Repeat the chipping drill with a 7-iron.

Repeat the chipping drill with a 55°-56° wedge.

Pitching

Repeat the drill with a pitching stroke and a PW, followed by a 55°-56° wedge.

Change the Target Distances

Adjust target distances to fit the needs and demands of your practice sessions.


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Tee-to-Tee Drill

Objective: Help you develop a better sense of setting and

releasing the wrists completely by exaggerating the writ set.

Place a long tee in the butt end of the grip of a wedge.

Use a regular setup to execute a 7:30 Rotating Finesse

Swing.

1st, swing the club to the 7:30 position in the backswing

and STOP.

Work with this move until, in the 7:30 position, the

tee is pointing directly down at the ball on the ground.

*It is difficult to see a tee in the end of the wedge, so

in the photo in the top right we used an alignment

stick to illustrate the correct position.

Swing through the ball and to a 2:30 finish

position (where the arm is point toward 2:30 on a clock

face). Work with this move until the tee is pointing

directly down at the ball on the ground.

*Again, we have used an alignment stick in the photo

to the right to illustrate the correct position.

Incorporating Drills into Playing Situations For an example of this strategy please refer to the Saves Drill in this section. Rather than

reprint the entire drill here, we have merely listed the drill‘s objectives for you.

Saves Drill Objectives Raise the intensity level of short-game practice.

Help you better understand the critical importance of the scoring game.

clockAssess your ability to get up-and-down (saves) from around the green, sand,

and short rough.

Train you to focus on the exact position where the ball must land and stop around the

green, versus merely swinging away at greens and flag sticks.

Teach you to recognize and read conditions surrounding greens (traps, rough, etc.)

more carefully and precisely.

Provide an ongoing assessment and measurement drill you can use to track

improvement in the scoring games and saves.

Improve your ability to control ball flight into specific spots around the green.

Coach you to play one hole at a time, one shot at a time, and play in-the- moment.


156

And finally, offer an efficient short game practice drill away from the practice range.

We want to be on the golf course where you only execute one shot at a time, thus

increasing the importance of each shot.

PW Mastery Birdie Ball Drill --Check out 6 birdie balls from coach. You may or may not want to come by the office and

use the birdie ball matt. ALWAYS USE ALIGNMENT STICKS WHEN YOU

PREACTICE.

--Do this drill every day until you have mastered it and then do it two days a week,

every week. Once you think you have mastered this drill, set up a time to see coach

and demonstrate your mastery.

--Use only your PW to start with. You can advance to other clubs once you have mastered

your PW, but you will still use your PW, then add your additional wedges. One of your

objectives is to advance to using all three of your wedges with this drill.

--You MUST have a partner to help check out your swing positions on this drill.

--Focus on cutters, tightest jeans, sock in the gut, and dropping the shoulders in the slot.

--Using your Modified 6-Step Routine, execute 3 of the following swings, giving full

attention and intent to cutters, tightest, jeans, etc. and especially to specific swing positions,

back swing and follow through for: 7:30; 9:00; 10:30; and coil.

Timing in the Golf Swing - Preview

Critical performance links in practicing and developing the golf swing and putting stroke

include timing, tempo, rhythm, balance through motion, and concentration. When any of

those factors are out of sink, even at the millisecond level, the brain computes and variance

and does its best to correct it, but is not always successful. An effective method of assessing

and correcting these important performance links is with the Interactive Metronome™.

Here is a review of the goals for our team‘s IM training.

improve golf swing timing, which includes eye-hand coordination;



increase balance through motion in the golf swing;





Additional information on this topic appears in the Attachment Section.


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Reading Divots & the Bottom of the Swing/Stroke Arc

Every swing and stoke has a natural bottom to its swing arc, even putting and chipping

strokes. Locating that bottom, and swinging through it consistently, is imperative to

developing your understanding of the stroke and or swing.

Bottom of the Swing Arc

Question: With the proper angle of attack and swing path, where does the bottom of your

swing arc need to be with mid- and short irons?

Response: Place a ball precisely between two tees. As shown in Illustration A, allow

sufficient room for the clubface of an iron to strike the ball without striking the tees. Then,

make your swing.

Illustrations B & C show the typical divot for a digger. The divot begins slightly in

front (toward the target) of the back edge of the ball, is straight, and its deepest part is in the

middle of the divot. THEREFORE, the actual bottom of the swing is slightly in front of the

ball, meaning that the back of the golf ball is struck first.

Illustration D shows an incorrect divot where the golfer struck the big ball (the earth)

prior to the little ball (the golf ball).

The position of the divot will be the same for pickers, however, the divot will be

smaller and shallower. Some pickers do not leave any divots with mid-irons.

Because of the much lower angle of attack of long irons and fairway woods, the divot is

typically further in front (toward the target) of the back edge of the ball, is straight, and its

deepest part will still be toward the middle of the divot.

NO! Not all professional golfers take a divot. That is a common misconception. We were

at a Tour event recently, it was a fairly windy day, and in following Pro Golfer Tom Watson

for nine holes we did not see him take a single ―digger‖ style divot.

□ TO DO. Determine the bottom of the swing with your putter and all of

the clubs you use without a tee.

A B C D


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Visualization and ―Swing Through Drill.‖ We remind our players to swing though the ball, not at it. Timing and stability through the swing are key to smooth acceleration and those two elements can be reinforced by a shorter backswing and then swinging through to a longer follow through. So many players in our clinics hit at the ball, rather than “swing through” the ball. Use the following visualization example and see what you think. Visualize an imaginary second ball; a ball sitting up on a tee about four inches in front of the actual ball. As you address and swing through the first ball, imagine that your swing must get through the real ball and still have sufficient speed and power to swing through the second ball just as hard and fast as the first. Hold your finish!

So, what did you think of the drill? ____________________________________________

Strength & Weakness Practice Card Use this card BEFORE practice and AFTER practice.

Golf Skill Categories In the area of skill development, be certain to set goals and use drills in all of the major

performance skill areas. We define each skill area very carefully.

Techniques or technical skills: swing techniques; setup and alignment; etc.

Tactics or tactical skills: competitive strategies and tactics; tactically playing each hole

from green-to-tee; etc.

Mind ↔ Body skills: psychological; skills such as diaphragmatic breathing that support both

mental and physical intensity levels and thus both technical and tactical skills.

Mechanics: bio-mechanical laws and principles; the physics of golf; such as how energy is

produced and transferred in the golf swing; coil and rotation; etc.

Life Skills: lessons that can be learned on the golf course and utilized off the course as well:

control of thoughts/emotions/behavior; attention/concentration; objective setting and

accomplishment; coachability; personal responsibility, etc.


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(front of the card)

(back of the card)

Players Name________________ Date________

Major weaknesses I will work on eliminating today are:

Swing Technique______________________________

Mental Skill__________________________________

Competitive Skill______________________________

Life Skill____________________________________

Today, I will work to eliminate them by:

Swing Technique______________________________

Mental Skill__________________________________

Competitive Skill______________________________

Life Skill_____________________________________

―I can‘t solve (mental, swing, emotional) golf problems

by using the same kind of thinking, preparation, and

practice that created the problem.

I learned today that weaknesses (technique; mental;

tactic) I still need to work toward eliminating are:

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

In order to work toward eliminating that weakness, my

plan is to ____________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________


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Accuracy Performance Ratio Start with Putting First, develop your Accuracy Performance Ratio with putting and then repeat the process for all the clubs. Example: when you are putting from a distance of 5 feet (60 inches), and you miss the putt by 27 inches, here is how the math works. A. When the strategy is using the ideal ball speed: a putt that misses by 27 inches, less 17 inches when the ball is past the target, divided by 60 inches (the length of the putt), =‘s the Putting Accuracy Performance Ratio. 27 inches – 17 inches (when past the target) = 10 inches 10 inches / 60 inches = 16.67%, which is your Putting Performance Ratio *For more information on ideal ball speed, consult the Optimum Putting Speed information in the Putting Skills Section. B. When the strategy is allowing the ball to die into the cup: a putt that misses by 27 inches, divided by 60 inches (the length of the putt), =‘s the Putting Accuracy Performance Ratio. 27 inches / 60 inches = 45.0%, which is the Putting Accuracy Performance Ratio C. For the remainer of the clubs in the bag. Example: You have 180 yards into the flag stick, which is your target. You miss the stick by 18 yards (18 yards away from the target in any direction). Divide the length of the shot by the length of the miss and you have the Accuracy Performance Ratio.

18 yards (miss) / 180 yards (to the flag) = 10%, which is the Accuracy Performance Ratio

D. With Tee Shots. Use the same formula as above. Example: You select a target in the fairway; let‘s say the center of the fairway. This is the location where you expect the ball to stop. You have 250 yards to the selected target. The drive misses the target by 25 yards. The 25 yards is right or left of center. Divide the length of the shot by the length of the miss and you have the Performance Ratio.

25 yards (right or left) / 250 yards (length) = 10%, which is the Accuracy Performance Ratio

Collect the majority of

Accuracy Performance Ratio

data during qualifying and

tournament rounds, NOT on

the range.


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Objective: Continuously improve your Accuracy Performance Ratio. Recording sequence:

As a starting point, you can take ten strokes at a target, calculate the average distance, and use that figure as a starting point in collecting performance information. Be certain to use your 6-Step Routine with each stroke.

Once you have your starting point, collect the remainder of your data during qualifying and competitive situations, not on the range.

You can use range work from time to time to refine or re-calculate your data.

Organizing YOUR Own Out-of-Season Practice Most of the effective golfers we have worked with over the years organize their own out of

season practice sessions into manageable segments of time, some as short as 15 minutes.

Each practice segment has specific objectives, specific drills and activities, and with

measurable outcomes. Document your out of season sessions, review them, and improve

with each session and season.

Example

Here is an example of how one college player organizes summer practice and play during

non-tournament weeks.

They plan on practicing 25 – 35 hours a week.

They divided each week‘s practice into:

-conditioning, flexibility, and strength training;

-technique or technical training and practice;

-tactical or tactic training and practice; and

-mental performance skills training and practice.

The amount of time within each area changes from week to week depending on the

demands of their schedule and summer golf tournaments.

WARNING LABEL: Do not, under any circumstances, allow another

player to coach you. It becomes the blind leading the blind. We

guarantee you that other players will attempt to coach you from time

to time. This philosophy is especially important if you advance into

learning a system such as the LAWS™ Model where every player‘s

swing is unique. You need to be very firm with this non-coaching

philosophy and stick with it.


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Deliberate Practice and Mastery

Reviewed Define Deliberate Practice IN WRITING for

yourself. We all know that practice does NOT make

perfect, it only makes permanent. Only deliberate

practice leads to mastery. Is mastery one of your

program objectives?

We specify that deliberate practice involves

practicing in-the-moment, with full intent, and

with full attention on a specific goal or task,

combined with learning from feedback. When

you lose attention and intent, and stop processing

appropriate feedback, you are not practicing

effectively. You are practicing mistakes! Mastery

is one of our program objectives and mastery is

only supported by deliberate practice. We practice

as we intend to compete and compete as we have

practiced. Key words include ―maintaining a

competitive mindset.‖

Your definition of deliberate practice and mastery: _______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________.

deliberate practice. Practice that includes: 1. Practicing a well-defined task that is challenging to the golfer; 2. provides relevant and immediate feedback; 3. Conducted with full attention (in-the-moment) and intent; and 4. contains the opportunity for repetition and error correction…which is Step 6 of our Performance Routine. The primary components of deliberate practice include the total number of hours spent practicing, the presence of effort, determination, and concentration, and the lack of inherent enjoyment. 10 years of deliberate practice is required for an individual to achieve expertise. Refer to perfect rehearsal.


163

A Learning Process Seeing is believing. Sensing is believing as well, but that is another story. When we merely

talk with players about swing flaws and compensations, there is always room for doubt,

miss-communication, and miss-understanding. Even when we employ video technology and

have players watch their flaws and compensations, quite often they say things such as

―that‘s not really me.‖ Or something similar ―I don‘t swing like that,‖ ―that‘s not me, is

it?‖ Denial, denial,

denial.

Getting a

player‘s attention,

even when using

video technology,

can be difficult.

Without the

technology, it can

be impossible.

Our Philosophy on Swing Changes Our question for all players is: ―Do You Really Want to Make any Swing Changes‖

and if so, ―Why?‖

Start of golf season. We make very few swing changes, if any, during the early part of our

Fall season. One reason is the lack of sufficient performance data, personal observation, and

an understanding of a player‘s game. Secondly, we do not want to disrupt the scoring

performance of our golfers. We know that certain changes, especially in a player‘s grip

style, can be devistating to competitive performance and are often best left to the off season.

We know what you are thinking and the answer is Yes. We will make minor

adjustments and swing changes to certain player‘s swings during the Fall when and if we do

not think the changes will be detramental to their scoring performance. Certain swing flaws

and compensations are begging to be corrected and can be made quite easily.

ASSESS

DIAGNOSE

PRESCRIBE

APPLY

PRESCRIPTION

EVALUATE

PROGRESS &

ADJUST AS

NECESSARY

Competitive

Date

Swing ModelsLaws, Principles,

Preferences

Video

Learning

Process

Performance

Data

Perfect Practice Competition

Practice Data

Video

Video

Is golfer ready, willing, and able to change?

Does player agree & still able to change?

Are resources

available?

Available

Resources

Determine

Gatekeeper


164

Start with competitive data. Does your swing really need to be changed? Be certain you have the data you need

before considering any swing changes. Here is an example. We will call the player

David.

From watching David‘s swing off the tee, most coaches would begin changing his

swing with his driver immediately; it looked that bad.

After collecting data on David for two tournaments and five days of qualifying

events, the Accuracy Performance Ratio with his driver was 10%. That means on a

300 yard drive, he typical missed his target by 30 yards. That 10% ratio is up there

with many outstanding golfers.

Given that data, are you still certain you would want to change his awkward swing?

We did help David adjust his strategy off the tee because the typical width of the

fairways we play is 36 – 40 yards wide.

Remember that we accumulate sufficient swing data so that we can define a specific

pattern of swing errors or compensations.

Also remember that we only work on one swing, stroke, or shot at a time (putting

stroke, pitching stroke, finesse rotating swing, etc.). Video analysis is combined

with the notes and statistics compiled from observing the player on the golf course,

preferably during competition. We prefer to use video analysis to document swing

errors.

Once we have sufficient competitive scoring and accuracy data, we FIRST show the

individual the type of swing we think they need to be working toward. Example: we

may show them the basics of a pendilum stroke in putting versus a gate stroke; or we

might show them the basics of a Rotating Finesse Swing versus coiling. *We

recommend you refer to our data accumulation forms in the Attachment Section in

order to determine the types of distance, accuracy, and consistency data we collect.

At this point in the process, we work with players to explain how the particular

swing we are focused on works, why it works the way it does, and why it might be

applicable to their body build, power source, playing style, and game. This

discussion includes swing models, or blueprints for each swing and stroke.

IF we get agreement from the player during this phase of discussion, we then show

them the video verification of what we consider to be their swing flaws or

compensations with that one swing, shot, or stroke.

We cover their scoring and error rate data with them as well. For example, they may

have an error rate of 13.7 with their driver, an error rate of 11.7 with their 5-iron, but

an error rate of 31.6 with their 60° wedge. Where do you think we start our

teaching? Correct, with their wedge game.

Error rates and shot data from competitive performance takes time to collect, which

is another justification for not making swing corrections too quickly. We rely

primarily on data from qualifying and competitive rounds rather than work on the

range. Range work is typically unreliable and does not correlate well with

competitive data.

We then work further with the player to confirm agreement on the swing flaw or

compensation.

Once we have reached agreement, we create an Action Plan for correcting the flaw.


165

Once we have agreement on the plan, we help them implement it.

Once the plan is in action, we monitor it for success and use video follow up as

needed.

What are your thoughts on making swing changes? __________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________


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Keeping FUN in Perspective Objectives: One of our primary objectives is to practice with the same emotional, mental,

and physical intensity we plan to compete with. This is an important objective for a variety

of reasons, one being the principle that “skills are best learned when practiced and

habituated on the same intensity level they are used during competition.” You cannot

practice shot selection and execution, decision making, and the use of your performance

routines with a low level of intensity (mental; physical; and emotional) and compete at a

higher level; it is just not going to happen.

*Recent research has shown that full attention to the shot at hand, playing in the moment,

and playing with full intent can and does override a great deal of the emotional anxiety or

the stress of competition. This is an important finding. As intent, attention, and focus are

easier to control than most emotions.

Practice Intensity and Defining Joy As coaches, we want you to enjoy practice and competition. One question is ―How do we

define JOY and FUN, and exhibit it during practice and competition?‖

Put your visualization hat on. For the next few seconds, envision a college

basketball practice session with Hall of Fame coach John Wooden. How might you imagine

Coach Wooden and his UCLA basketball team defining and exhibiting fun during practice?

Coach Wooden‘s players were often quoted that they looked forward to actual basketball

games because the games were less intense than Coach Wooden‘s practice sessions.

Let‘s start by what joy does NOT include in either basketball or golf.

Joy is NOT meant to include catching up socially. It is not gossip time.

Does NOT include visiting/talking with others about matters or concerns outside of

peak performance in the game. Visiting STOPS when practice begins.

Does NOT include anything other than 100% attention to the task at hand;

rehearsing, learning, eliminating weaknesses, etc.

Does NOT include, giggling, joke or story telling, or in any way distracting other

players.

Practice is NOT a socialization time.

Does NOT include excessive verbalization from players. Verbalization/talk utilizes

incorrect areas of the brain from peak performance.

Joy DOES include:

Gratification/Satisfaction. DOES include finding a sense of self-satisfaction and

success in playing and performance. Double check your definition of success.

Success begins with a clear definition of the term and is an inner satisfaction.

Effort; your Investment in Practice. Self-satisfaction includes knowing at the end of

practice that you have given the session your all, and you feel good about it.

Knowing you have done your best at improving the controllable elements of your

game. Eliminating weaknesses, and building upon strengths, helps develop self-

satisfaction.


167

Pride, as well as a sense of self-confidence, incorporates knowing you have done

your best at rehearsing and preparing exactly how you intend to perform during

competition.

Playing and Practicing in FLOW. There is joy in working in the flow of practice. It

is largely an internal process. Effective practice is about internal motivation,

internal drive, the desire and commitment to practice mentally, physically, and

emotionally as one intends to compete.

If you are going to be able to move comfortable in and out of the flow of the game

during competition, by utilizing The Hourglass and the 6-Step Routine, you MUST

utilize these skills during practice and preparation.

By definition, emotions such as joy are NOT present during moments of peak

performance. You may want to review your definition of peak performance.

For golf captains, your role includes helping teammates focus and execute with

the same intensity level that you display. Lead by example.

What is your definition of fun during practice? ________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________.


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Long Distance Runners In the process of training long distance runners and swimmers, it became apparent that they

share many personality traits and states with athletes who invest long hours of practice by

themselves.

Golf, long distance running, and long distance swimming are not team sports in the

same sense as volleyball, basketball, etc. are. It is the runner against the course and

the clock, it is the swimmer against the water and the clock, it is the golfer against

the golf course and score.

Golf and the distance sports require many hours of work by one‘s self. Golf is not

about improving a teammate‘s performance, it is about continuous improvement of

your own ability to get the ball in the hole in the fewest number of strokes. Yes,

there are still team dynamics in the college and high school games of golf.

Extraverts have a difficult time finding the self-discipline to practice effectively on

their own. Introverts tend to be much more effective at practicing in solitude.

Golfers with poor self-management skills and self-control have a difficult time

organizing and scheduling on a daily basis around their priorities, which includes

golf practice.

Between-Shot time

(remain positive, relax,

refer to Between Shot

Self-Management

Techniques)

The Hourglass

(analysis of conditions

impacting shot, pre-shot

analytical planning,

transition into 6-Step

Process)

6-Step Performance

Routine

Play as we have

practiced. (Pre-shot;

shot; post-shot routine.

Incorporates mental,

physical, and emotional

techniques.)

Pre-Round Warm Up

Routine

Post-Round Practice, Analysis,

and Follow Up Practice Planning

Routine

Practice at the physical, mental,

and emotional intensity levels we

plan on playing at. One goal is

playing as we have practiced.

Another goal of practice is

eliminating weaknesses and

improving upon strengths.


169

Practice Your Routines – ALWAYS! The diagram above outlines the primary performance routines within our golf development

program. We can guarantee you that our golf program has some of the most effective

routines in the game to help ensure their success on the golf course. Those performance

routines include: Warm Up Routine; Pre-Tournament Routines; The Hourglass; The 6-Step

Performance Routine; and Post-Practice and Post-Competition Routines.

Remember to follow a LEARNING ORDER in practice. Ball Flight – What major paths does the golf ball take through the air (hook, draw,





face of the club to the ball, and thus determine ball flight (path)?


is the role of loft, lie, etc., and how does it impact ball flight?




movement?





(hands, upper body, lower body, etc.) impact the swing?


170

Data Collection Scorecard In order to help you experience more meaningful practice sessions, we use a Data

Collection Scorecard in all qualifying and tournaments rounds. You do NOT use these

cards in conjunction with typical 18-hole practice rounds. Data from these cards gives us

some of the information we need in setting up individual practice sessions for players. Refer

to the Attachments Section of your workbook for an explanation of terms on the card. For

example, some of the terms, such as Me/Pp, are rather unique to our program. Me/Pp

represents Mentally Engaged and Physically Poised. With this card, you rate yourself on

how mentally engaged and physically poised you were while playing each hole.

We print these cards so they fit into your Scorecard Book.

Name _____________________ Date_________________

Golf Course: _____________________ Did you give 100% ____ Hole 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 TOTAL

Par __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ _____

Fairway __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Total

OB __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Total

Hazards __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Total

GIR __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Total

Putts __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Total

LFP __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Average

Chunked__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Total

Saves __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Total

Me/Pp __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

PlanExec__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

Score __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Total

1-9-1 Practice Sequence One of our favorite practice sequences is:

Go through your complete Warm Up Routine and then your Pre-Tournament

Routine. Allow about 1 hour.

Play 9 holes of highly competitive golf and use the Data Collection Scorecard to

track strengths and weaknesses.

Practice for 1 more hour working to eliminate the weaknesses that stood out on the

Data Collection Scorecard.

Summary: That is 1 hour of Warm Up and Routine Practice; 9 holes of golf; 1 hour devoted

specifically to eliminating individual weaknesses exposed during the competitive playing

time.


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SAVES Assessment & Practice Drill PRINCIPLE: Golf skills are best learned and habituated at the intensity level they are created and executed during competition. This is one of the main principles we organize and operate our program around. The use of statistics is merely one strategy we use to reinforce intensity levels. The Saves Drill is one of our statistical gathering techniques. From the diagram, you can see where the Saves Assessment and Drill fits in with our use of statistics.

Principle: Invest technique practice time at a similar %

to shots taken during competition. Nearly all of the golfers we work with, from beginner to

touring professional, have the same golf shot mix for the

scores they produce.

Example:

Pro Shots par 72 Amateur Shots 100

Putts per round 31 or 43% 43

Short game (chipping/pitching) 13 or 18% 18

Full shots 28 or 39% 39

The Saves Drill helps replicate the previous percentages during practice.

The Saves Drill assesses the number of strokes it takes to get up-and-down in order to save par; saves. Its objective is to help develop scoring game skills (putting/chipping/ pitching). We track saves during qualifying and tournament rounds and use the Saves Drill to help assess and develop your scoring game further. Saves Drill Objectives

Raise the intensity level of short-game practice.

Help you better understand the critical importance of the scoring game.

Assess your ability to get up-and-down (saves) from around the green, sand, and short rough.

Train you to focus on the exact position your ball must land and stop around the green versus merely swinging away at greens and flag sticks.

Help you recognize and read conditions surrounding greens (traps, rough, etc.) more carefully and precisely.

Provide an ongoing measurement and tracking drill you can use to track the improvement of your scoring game and saves.

Improve your ability to control ball flight into specific spots around the green.

Coach you on playing one hole at a time, one shot at a time, and playing in-the- moment.

And finally, offer an efficient short game practice drill away from the practice range. We want to be on the golf course where you only strike one shot at a time, thus increasing the importance of each shot.

Score

A good general

indicator of

performance.

Greens in regulation

Factors Influencing Score

Saves, Etc.

Length of 1st Putt

# of Putts

Fairways hitUnderlying Influences of

Score &

Specific Areas of

Improvement

Performance rating

with each golf club

Performance rating

with putting/chipping/

pitching

Saves Assessment

and Drill


172

One of our Objectives With our scoring game (typically shots within 10:30 PW distance), one of our objectives is landing the ball within 6-8 feet of the pin. Landing all save shots within 6-8 feet of the pin is incorporated into this drill. The important distance for leaving scoring game shots from the hole is about 6 feet for the pros; that is the distance where their putting conversion rate is about 50%. Our target distance is 6-8 feet. In order to improve your putting performance, one key is landing the ball closer to the pin.

Moment-In-Time Another one of our coaching objectives is teaching you to play one hole at a time (from green to tee), one shot at a time (from the target back to the ball), and in the present moment of time. We actually de-emphasize score. When focused on score, you are mentally either in the past or the future, plus you are making the error of engaging self-talk. Score is an outcome and outside your Circle of Control. The Saves Drill helps us coach you away from thinking about score and onto improving both your shot making and mental performance skills. Rules of the Drill

Players are not allowed to play balls that remains on greens in regulation. If a player‘s ball is on the green in regulation, they must putt it off the green and into a sand trap, short rough, or fairway. The putt counts as 1 stroke. Yes, that includes par 3‘s.

During an 18-hole round, a player must play six (6) shots from each of the three locations around greens: sand traps, short rough, and fairways. Players swing from these three positions in any order or sequence. Players need to plan ahead. IF, for example, they use all six (6) of their fairway save shots, and leave their ball in the fairway short of the green on the next hole, they must use another stroke to stroke the ball into either the green-side short rough or into a green-side trap. That stroke counts as 1 stroke.

If players use all of one category and the optional categories are not available on the final holes, that player must play from fairway positions short of the green and add a one (1) stroke penalty. I.E. Amanda uses up all of her fairway and rough saves and has one (1) sand saves left. The final two holes of the course do not have green-side sand bunkers. That is a one (1) stroke penalty on each hole and she must play her save shots from the fairway around the green.

Again, all strokes count toward the final score.

The fringe count as on the green. If a ball lands on the fringe (versus green-side sand, rough, or fairway), the player must use a shot to get off, which counts as a stroke.

All save shots must be made from green-side locations (bunkers or rough) or from a part of the fairway approaching the green.


173

Your Score Card Saves Assessment & Practice SCORECARD Name of golf course. Name _____________________ Date_________________ Hole 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 TOTAL Par 5 4 4 3 5 4 3 4 4 4 4 3 4 5 4 3 4 5 72 SandTrap (X) __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ 6 Short Rough (X)__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ 6 From Fairway(X)__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ 6 Saves __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Total:_____ LFP (in ft.) __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Total:_____ # of Putts __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Total:_____ Score __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Score:____ *Balls landing on greens in regulation must be putted off and into a sand trap, short rough, or fairway. The putt counts as one (1) stroke. During each 18 holes, players must play from 6 bunker side sand traps, 6 short rough lies, and 6 fairway lies. There is a one (1) stroke penalty for not complying with these numbers. As players get close to the end of the round, they may have to use a stroke to get into one of those positions. COUNT ALL STROKES. Comments: In order to improve your short scoring game, which strokes do you need the most work on: ___chipping; __pitching; ___sand shot; ___ putting.

Fairways and Greens Drill We continually emphasize the importance of landing in Fairways and on Greens and use a

variety of techniques to support the importance we place on it. As with most training, an

important 1st Step is grabbing your attention. So, how can we help you realize and

internalize the importance of keeping the ball in play? Answer, with the ―Fairway and

Greens‖ Drill.

Rules:

Players can use any club in their bags.

With all tee shot (including par 3‘s), if the ball is struck out of the fairway, that ball

is ruled OB and the player must take stroke and distance. Depending on the

course and drill‘s objective, the coach may or may not include the first cut of rough

as OB. Coaches can set the rules up differently for different skill levels.

With all shots from the fairway, if the ball is struck out of the fairway, the ball is

ruled OB and the player must take stroke and distance.

Once a player is within the distance of their 10:30 PW Rotating Finesse Swing, any

ball must be played into the green and any ball not remaining on the putting surface

or fringe is ruled OB and the player must take stroke and distance. Again, you

can set the rules up differently for different skill levels.

Be certain to track and post your scores and work toward consistent

improvement with this drill. Improvement is one of our most important

products.


174

Review - Study Where They Take the Test Coaching Tournament “Preparation” Rounds; this is NOT practice

We do not want you referring to pre-tournament rounds on the courses we will be playing as

practice. We are definitely not practicing. You are studying where you will be taking your

test. You are learning the course, preparing your playing and scoring strategies and

techniques, charting greens, etc. You are rehearsing for success.

Refer to the section on Playing Competitive Golf for additional information on Preparation

Rounds.

GOLER‘S PRACTICE SEQUENCES

Magnolia Sequence #1. Players break up into small groups and work through the

following.

Entire Group: Warm Up Routine

Group 1: Practice on wedge area (55 yd. shots and less) for 30 min.

*Be certain to use your 6-Step Routine in all practice sessions, do not ―rake

and hit‖ your way through any of the sessions. Concentrate on making each

and every swing with full intent and attention.

Group 2: Practice on trouble shot area for 30 min.

Group 3: Practice 100, 150, and 200 yd. shots on the main driving range for 30 min.

Group 4: Practice chipping on the practice green for 30 min.

Group 5: Practice putting on the practice green for 30 min.

Group 6: Practice ―getting off the tee‖ for 30 min. Use the clubs you can keep in play.

Group 7: Practice picking, push shot, and cut-and-spin shots from the sand trap for 30

min. *Be very careful where you sit shots to.

Magnolia Sequence #2. Before you can practice out on the golf course, you must work

through the following drills successfully. No exceptions. Split up and work through these

sequences so that everyone is working.

1. Keep 7 out of 10 wedge shots into the target green from 50 yds. on the target green. You

can use any club.

2. Using a 7-Ball Putting Pace Drill (each ball 6 ft. further out from the 1st ball), you must

get all 7 balls within three (3) feet of the cup.

3. Using the N/S/E/W Putting Drill, you must make all four putts from 3 ft., and all four

putts from 6 ft. If you miss ANY PUTT, you must start over from the beginning.

4. Keep 6 out of 10 100 yd. shots within ten feet of the target pin. I know, this will be

difficult to measure, but you can do it, or get some help.

5. From ten different positions around the putting green, at least 15 feet off the green,

making one stroke from each spot, you must chip at least seven balls to within 6 ft. of the

pin.

6. Using any of your three sand swings, you must land 5 of 10 shots from the sand trap onto

the target green. Shots do not have to remain on the target green, but must land on it.


175

Mystic Creek Sequence #1. Players break up into small groups and work through the

following.

Entire Group: Warm Up Routine

Group 1: Practice on wedge area (55 yd. shots and less) for 30 min.

*Am not certain precisely where will work on our wedge game at Mystic

Creek, we will work with the Pro to designate an area.

Group 2: Practice on trouble shot area for 30 min.

*Not certain where we do this at Mystic yet.

Group 3: Practice 100, 150, and 200 yd. shots on the main driving range for 45 min.

*With the four target greens at Mystic, we can really focus on refining our

shots from very specific distances.

**Be certain to use your 6-Step Routine in all practice sessions, do not ―rake

and hit‖ your way through any of the sessions. Concentrate on making each

and every swing with full intent and attention.

Group 4: Practice chipping on the practice green for 30 min.

Group 5: Practice putting on the practice green for 30 min.

Group 6: Practice ―getting off the tee‖ for 30 min. Use the clubs you can keep in play.

Group 7: Practice picking, push shot, and cut-and-spin shots from the sand trap for 30

min. *Be very careful where you sit shots to.

Group 8: When the course is closed on Tuesday‘s, we will determine if we can all be

out on the driving range working on up-hill, down-hill, and side-hill shots for

30 min.

Mystic Creek Sequence #2. Before you can practice out on the golf course, you must

work through the following drills successfully. No exceptions. Split up and work through

these sequences so that everyone is working.

1. Keep 7 out of 10 wedge shots into the target green on the target green. You can use any

club.

*We will need to work on how far out we can pitch onto that green.

2. Using a 7-Ball Putting Pace Drill (each ball 6 ft. further out from the 1st ball), you must

get all 7 balls within three (3) feet of the cup.

3. Using the N/S/E/W Putting Drill, you must make all four putts from 3 ft., and all four

putts from 6 ft. If you miss ANY PUTT, you must start over from the beginning.

4. Keep 6 out of 10 100 yd. shots within ten feet of the target pin.

5. Keep 5 out of 10 150 yd. shots within fifteen feet of the target pin.

6. From ten different positions around the chipping green, at least 15 feet off the green,

making one stroke from each spot, you must chip at least seven balls to within 6 ft. of the

pin.

7. Using any of your three sand swings, you must land 5 of 10 shots from the sand trap onto

the target green. Shots must remain on the chipping green.


176

GENERAL Warm Up for Practice Session

When instructed to do so, use the following sequence in your practice sessions.

1. Warm Up Routine. 10 min.

2. 9:00 Rotating Finesse Swing. Re-establish the feel of your swing. 3 - 5 min.

*Be sure to use your 6-Step Routine with all golf swings and strokes, no exceptions. 3. 7:30 RFS. Re-establish the feel of your short swing. 3 - 5 min.

4. 10:30 RFS. Re-establish the feel for your longer swings. 3 – 5 min.

5. Warm up your 150 yards coil shot. 3 - 5 min.

6. Warm up your 200 yard coil shot. 3 – 5 min.

7. Warm up your off the tee coil swing. 3 – 5 min.

8. Use your 5-ball pace drill to warm up your pace in putting. 5 - 10 min.

*Do not have to use full routine with this drill.

9. Use our N-S-E-W drill from 3 ft. and then from 6 ft. for putting. 5 - 10 min.

*Do not have to use full routine with this drill unless you prefer to.

10. Using your 6-Step Routine, make several putts from a variety of

distances. 5 – 10 min.

11. Warm up your chipping with the 5-ball pace drill from off the green. 3 – 10 min.

12. Warm up your pitching with the 5-ball pace drill from off the green. 3 – 10 min.

13. Warm up your three sand shots from the sand trap. 3 – 5 min.

Option 1. You may discover some elements of your game that you want to go back through

and invest additional practice in.

Option 2. As you work through your warm up, make note of elements of your game to work

on during your practice round.

Option 3. Only play 9 holes, versus 18, and work back through the previous sequence to see

what improvements you have made.

Transition from Practice to Play When you like your ball flight and control on your

major shots during your warm up routine, but those

same shots do not hold up during a playing or

competitive round, it is time to figure out what

transpires in your physical, mental, or emotional

game once you step onto the golf course. We see

golfer after golfer develop into good ―Range Players‖ and have difficulty taking their game

to the course. There are a variety of reasons for this. If it starts happening to you, contact

your coach immediately and get the problem worked out.

It is imperative that you give full intent and attention to your shots during your warm

up sequence in order to determine the swing you brought to the course on this day and time.

Then, and only then, can you discover if there is any degradation once you are out on the

golf course.

It is IMPERATIVE that you

work through your warm up

routine and drills diligently in

order to find the swing you

brought to the course on this

day and time.


177

Minds Side Practice Minds Side (mental) practice is as effective, if not more so, than physical practice.

E-mail from a player: If I only have a few minutes a day to practice my golf have, what do I

need to do?

My Response:

Remember than 5 minutes of focused, attentive, visualization is probably worth 30 minutes

of physical practice.

Here is what I would like for you to do. Take some short 1-2 minute breaks today.

Focus for 1-2 minutes on making putts; visualize yourself going through your complete

routine on your favorite green. On the next break, focus for 1-2 minutes on making chips;

again with your full 6-Step Performance Routine. On the next 1-2 minute break, focus on

making chipping strokes. For your last break, take the time to make scoring game shots

(7:30; 9:00; and 10:30). Hole everything out and use your complete routine.

There you have it, 5-10 minutes of effective mental practice.

My Best, Coach


Source: Pierce Howard‘s ―The Owner‘s Manual for the Brain‖, Topic 21.10, Visualization,

p. 499.

―When you‘re preparing for an event, remember the

importance and effectiveness of visual and mental

rehearsal in combination with physical rehearsal and

practice. Visualization, also referred to as mental

practice, has been shown to be effective in improving

motor skills, although there is no evidence that it improves cognitive and behavioral skills.

University of Chicago neurologist John Milton has used EEG measures to study the

effectiveness of visualization techniques on athletic performance. While helping golfers

improve their swing technique, he observed that subjects showed the more active beta waves

on the left (more analytical) side of their brain while mentally rehearsing a shot, and calmer

alpha waves on the right side of the brain while actually executing the shot just

visualized. He refers to this shift from beta to alpha as going from active concentration into

a kind of ―zone‖ associated with peak performance. Milton found that the golfer‘s

accuracy increased after these visual rehearsals.‖

…a golfer‟s accuracy

increased after visual

rehearsal.


178

You Are Not Learning! [The following information is important enough that it is repeated here from the scoring

section of your manual.]

Stimulus: you make a shot, any shot. Good shot, poor shot, it can be any shot.

Gap: in this same gap, both internal and external information is available for you to process

and learn from.

Response: when you respond negatively in the gap, or shift to self-talk of any form, and you

cut yourself off from learning anything from the feedback available to you.

Secrect of the Short Game from Dave Pelz Short Game Bible, page 356.

―As a teacher, a scientist, a physicist, and a player, I believe the Secret of Feedback is at the

top of the list. Because if you don‘t receive, internalize, and benefit from the feedback

provided by your shots—if you don‘t both consciously and subconsciously correlate your

shot results with your actions and learn from your experience—then you will never

improve.‖

Practice Rules

However, you cannot merely hit short (scoring) shots and improve your scoring

performance. Here are our rules for practicing the scoring game.

Practice laws (face angle, path, angle of attack, center of percussion, and force), then

principles, and ensure that your preferences fit into the laws and principles.

Practice Routine. Always use either your 6-Step Performance Routine or your Abbreviated

Routine. Never rake- and-hit balls; never, never. If you would like the article on our 6-Step

Performance Routine just let us know.

Always work from correct alighment. We use both alignment sticks and a buddy system to

ensure proper alignment.

Know precise distances and the Accuracy Performance Ratio of your shots, especially

during rehearsal.

Trajectory. Observe and note the trajectory of each shot.

Learn from Feedback. Hold your finish until the ball stops rolling, and continue processing

all information through your censes, while you learn.


179

Abbreviated Practice Shot Routine – remaining target focused. Never, never, never, rake and hit (meaning hitting one ball after another on the range) golf

balls in practice. Make each swing with full attention and intent. If you lose your

concentration and intent, take a short break and get it back.

Strategy: Develop an abbreviated version of the 6-Step Performance Routine™ for practice.

We use a practice pre-shot routine that promotes learning and continuous improvement and

can be used with all practice shots. This is the shortest routine we want you using.

__ #1. Always focus on a specific target. On the range or practice green, always

approach the ball from behind it; meaning the ball is between you and the target.

Select your target, or target spot, and studying ball flight (or roll when putting,

chipping, etc.) from your target and from behind the ball. Remain target focused.

__ First, visualize the ball‘s flight path coming back for the target. Second, visualize

the ball‘s flight back to the target. Remember the principle: the target hits you

first. Remain target focused vs. focused on yourself. Most players establish path

1st and then a sense of distance. Establish your intent for the stroke. Note: Intent

relates to the shape of your shot, trajectory, coming back from your target, etc.

___ #2. Always align correctly. Alignment, alignment, alignment. Use an alignment

aid during all practice sessions. However, whether you are using an alignment aid or

not, always work on alignment toward your target and down your target line.

__ Use an alignment partner. For a few shots each practice session, work with an

alignment partner to ensure that your alignment is exactly as you think it is.

__ Use breathing control within your entire routine.

#3. Additional factors:

__ Use visualization (imagery) within your entire routine; avoid self-talk.

__ You may or may not take a practice swing on the range when executing multiple

shots. Much of the time you will not. However, when you do take a practice

swing, ensure that you remain behind the ball and facing the target with both eyes.

__ #4. Habituate the Setup. As you move into the setup position, develop and

habituate a specific sequence and use it with all practice swings.

Example: With 10:30 PW practice: a. walk up to the ball, place both feet

together, and position the ball exactly in the middle of your stance and between

your eyes; b. simultaneously, set the club behind the ball and exactly

perpendicular to the target line; c. keeping the ball in the middle of your stance,

move your left foot into the correct position, keeping it perpendicular to the target

line; d. move your right foot into the correct position, keeping it perpendicular to the

target line; e. then, and only then, flare your feet into the correct position.

__ While putting, position the ball directly under your left eye, or to another

predetermined and consistent position.


180

__ #5. Trigger the Swing. Trigger the swing or stroke the same way every time

and then work to complete the move through the ball on auto pilot. For a trigger, we

prefer a gathering motion of some type (a forward press or waggle) along with a

simultaneous breath. Think of a forward press or waggle as the transition between

your set up and full swing. Your bridge to success!

__ #6. Practice Swings. Never stand on the range and hit shot after shot. The brain

learns and forms neuro-muscular patterns more efficiently, and faster, when fed

information properly. Here is the practice sequence to incorporate into your full

swing work: draw; fade; down the middle; continue the process. Refer to the

―Bucket of Water Drill‖ in the Draw and Fade Section.

__ #7. Learn from Feedback. ALWAYS, always, remain quiet in your stance until

the ball has stopped rolling. Do not attempt to track ball with your head or eyes.

___ NEVER, never start talking until the ball stops rolling.

__ While holding the finish, quickly and mentally compare the blueprint for your stroke

with the actual stroke. Compare both the process and outcome of the stroke.

If you made an appropriate move through the ball and achieved

good results, take a second or two to store that successful blueprint in your

memory.

__ If you did not make an appropriate move through the ball, or achieved appropriate

results, take a second to sense where the swing went wrong. Store the

correct move in your memory and forget the 1st swing. You are always learning

from experience.

__ Now you can talk if you simply have to!

__ Make notes on the elements of your swing you need to improve.

Learning Hurdle With a majority of the golfers we work with, the inability to develop and habituate an

effective practice shot routine is a major hurdle in learning and improving their game.

Likewise, their inability to develop and habituate an effective pre-, shot, and post-

shot routine presents a major hurdle in their ability to learn from, and improve, their

competitive performance.


181


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182

Journalizing - My Practice Development Journal Page.

My 3 overriding GOALS for this golf season are: (always keep these in front of you).

1. ___________________________________________________________________

2. ___________________________________________________________________

3. ___________________________________________________________________

The major 2 – 3 weaknesses I am working to correct are:

1. ___________________________________________________________________

2. ___________________________________________________________________

3. ___________________________________________________________________

My Action Plans for correcting each weaknesses include:

1. ___________________________________________________________________

a. ______________________________________________________________

b. ______________________________________________________________

c. ______________________________________________________________

2. ___________________________________________________________________

a. ______________________________________________________________

b. ______________________________________________________________

c. ______________________________________________________________

3. ___________________________________________________________________

a. ______________________________________________________________

b. ______________________________________________________________

c. ______________________________________________________________

Date Comments

_______ My practice objectives for today include:

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

How effective was my practice, including focus and attention, and did I accomplish my

primary objectives?

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

Comments and Practice Notes

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________


183

LADY‘S SWING MODIFICATIONS

Lady‘s LAWS™ Training When it comes to learning and habituating the golf swing,

women many of the same issues as men. First of all,

there is no single golf swing, or type of swing, that fits all

women. Generally, women have more flexibility,

less muscular strength, especially in the upper body, and a

lower center of balance than men. In the LAWS™ model (Leverage-Ark-Width Styles), a

majority of all women are some form of Leverage player, meaning that they get their power

from body position and leverage versus strength (Width Style) and height (Arc Style).

Therefore, coaches can study the Leverage Style and it will be applicable to most lady

golfers. Coaches can use the LAWS™ Assessment to determine the style of their golfers.

LAWS™ Note: Although women could benefit from the power of the Arc Swing, most do

not have the upper-body strength the swing requires. A long, high arc is a great way to

produce distance, but only if the club is in control. When the club is out of control, the

swing produces off-center contact at impact, which magnifies the loss of distance. LPGA

Arc Players include Beth Daniels, Betsy King, and Sally Little. The Width Swing, with its

muscular advantage style, is also not a good choice for some women because the short club

head arc does not supply enough power unless matched with upper body strength. Width

Players include Alison Nicholas and Laura Davis. With few exceptions, women golfers can

best utilize the Leverage Swing. Within the general guidelines of the LAWS™ model, we

teach specific modifications based on the level of upper-body strength, flexibility, and

distinctive body contours of each lady golfer. Please refer to The LAWS of the Golf Swing

with Doc Jim Suttie for specific recommendations on this swing model.


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General Swing Modifications for Ladies For your lady golfers, check out the following generalizations and preferences. Work

through the list with your coach and check off the factors that work best for you and your

swing type.

Develop a slightly stronger hand position with long left thumb.

Work into a wider than normal stance in order to stabilize the lower body.

In the setup, bend over more at the hip joins. This move gives ladies more room to

swing back and around the chest.

At address, place the upper arms on top of the chest, not to the side. This move

facilitates more rotation of the arms on the back swing and follow through.

Bending over more at address also lower the hands slightly. Be certain the

stance position is bent forward enough at the hips to get the arms past the chest.

Set the wrists earlier in the backswing and fold the right elbow into the body.

Keep the lower body fairly quiet on the backswing; not as much hip turn as with

men.

Have the left foot maintain contact with the ground when at top of the swing

Implement a lower and shorter backswing in order to maintain control of the club

head.

Typically, the hips and legs start the downswing. Experiment with a Rotating Style

with ―everything-back-everything-through.‖

Swing on more of an inside-out path than out-to-in on the downswing and through

impact.

Maintain a light grip pressure through the swing and be sure to release the

hands and arms through impact.

Swing into a high and balanced finish position.

*Use trial-and-success while implementing the previous swing adjustments.

Ladies have strengths that many men lack, so develop those first. Women tend to be strong

in the legs and generally quite flexible, whereas men have stronger upper bodies and less

flexibility. Many women have weak wrists and therefore play better with a stronger (left

hand turned to the right) left-hand position on the club and long (down the shaft) left thumb,

thus allowing them to set their wrists earlier in the backswing.

When working with lady golfers, we make certain their stance position is bent forward

enough at the hips to get the arms past the chest. By encouraging women to place their

left arm on top of the chest, rather than over to the side, it allows the arms and chest to move

together on the takeaway.

Even with strong legs, many women tend to sway in the hips. To add stability, have

them practice with a volleyball ball between their knees. Following the drill, they can play

out of a wider stance to help stabilize the lower body. We encourage women to start their

downswing with the hips, not the arms. This allows them to open their hips at impact and

probably doubles their power.

Women typically have very long swings. Their flexibility allows them to turn more

than most men. To shorten their swings, we ensure they are turn their shoulders over stable


185

legs. Once their shoulders stop turning, the arms need to stop turning. Work on that move

with your lady golfers.

Hook-Coil Drill

Since many women over-swing in the hope of generating additional power, here is a drill

helps shorten the backswing. Yes, some men over-swing as well. Work into your golf

stance without a golf club. In the stance, place the back of the L-hand tightly up against the

back of the R-hand. Turn and coil the shoulders, keeping the left arm straight. That is it!

That is as far as most lady golfers need to turn in the backswing.

Golf Balls Have each golfer‘s club head speed tested and find the golf ball compression that fits their

swing the best. Most lady golfers perform better with lower compression balls than your

men‘s team.

Resources Because our own Golf Development Program is very specific, along with our use of

resources matching our philosophy and terminology, we prefer that lady golfers adapt the

information in our Team Swing Manual to their games rather than referring to a completely

new outside resource.

Example

1. Doc Suttie‘s Your Perfect Swing book has a very informative and useful section for lady

golfers. Doc also works with a large number of college and LPGA golfers.

2. Doc Suttie‘s LAWS™ also has an informative section for lady golfers. 3. Dave Pelz‘s

Short Game Bible fits a lady‘s swing and body type as well as a man‘s.

4. The V1 video instruction program we use has about as many model lady swings as it does

men‘s swings.

5. The Illustrated History of Women‘s Golf. This book by Rhonda Glenn is a good read for

all lady golfers.

6. Because of her unique perspective of, and performance in, the game, we use select

information from Annika Sorenstam‘s book Golf Annika‘s Way and recommend it to others.

For Lady Golfers

With modifications, all of our materials apply equally well to lady

golfers as they do to male golfers. Please do not take the short

amount of materials in this section as a negative reflection on the

amount of appropriate information for lady golfers. A majority of

the Encyclopedia pertains either directly or indirectly to lady golfers.


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Notes and comments on developing lady golfers.

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HABITUATING ROUTINES

Learning Outcomes Learning Outcomes for this section include:

Increasing your awareness and understanding of the power and importance of

mind ↔ body skills and routines in practice and competition.

Reinforcing the fact that there is no such thing as muscle memory and the

importance of developing mental performance skills and routines.


area of performance.

Reinforcing that habits are formed at the intersection of skills, knowledge, desire,

and implementation, and that all four elements are requisite.

Key concepts to understand and master in this section. 6-Step Peak Performance Routine™

The Power of Spots

Breathing Response

Immediate Poise Response

Target Response

Success Response

Triggering the Blueprint

Feedback and Learning Response

The Hourglass of Peak Performance™




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Years of coaching top athletes across all sports,

including PGA Tour Golfers and Olympic athletes,

has convinced us that top athletes succeed and fail by

the efficient development and execution of key

performance routines.

Your Golf Foundational Routines include:

Dynamic Pre-Warm Up Drill.

Pre-Competition Routine

6-Step Performance Routine™

The Hourglass™

Post Practice and Competition Routine

“When struggling during competition, stay with your routines

until your swing returns.” Coach Robertson

FACT: Successful athletes

across all sports, and at all levels

of athletics, not only survive, but

thrive, by the efficient utilization

of key performance routines.


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Peak Performance Routines A survey of Olympic athletes found the development and habituation of, and commitment

to, high performance routines was a commonality among medal winners. Routines win

Olympic medals and routines win golf tournaments as well! Routines help golfers maintain a systematic approach to learning and continuous

improvement, preparation, and competitive play.

Our 6-Step Peak Performance GOLF Routine™

Peak performance demands a primary pre-shot/shot/post-shot feedback & learning

routine.

The habituation of this performance routine allows golfers to execute shots on auto

pilot.

Addresses mental, physical, emotional, and technique performance skills.

Links key performance factors together in the creation of synergy in the golf game.

Can be habituated with putting and easily transferred to the remainder of the game.

Provides a foundational structure for developing an entire golf game.

Buildings are constructed from a blueprint. They are also built from the foundation up, not

from the roof down (with the noted exception of some tropical locations). A foundation for

both the mental and physical sides of the game is a player‘s performance routines. We

teach players their new routine with a putting stroke for two primary reasons. Putting is

perhaps the most mental of all golf shots to create and execute, yet is the least technically

complex to learn.

Remember that your new 6-Step Putting Performance Routine contains mental performance

skills as well as technical and tactical skills. The routine includes: pre-stroke; stroke; and

learning from feedback.

START with putting. Full shot routines follow.

Step onto a practice green (a carpet will do for now).

Place a golf tee into the putting green.

Back away from the tee about 10 feet and drop

a golf ball onto the surface.

Take 3 deep breaths. Let all excess muscle and mental tension drain away with each

breath.

Tighten your shoulders as they are drawn up and into the sky. Allow them to drop

back down. Then drop them clear down and into the swing slot.

As you continue breathing, develop a sense that strings are pulling your shoulders

and head up and into the sky. Do not push or force your shoulders and head up. Develop a

sense that they are being pulled up. Allow your shoulders and head to be pulled toward the

sky as high as they can go. Take in another deep breath and allow them to drop. Allow the

shoulders to drop into the swing slot.

You may have been stressed mentally and physically most of the day. It is time to

get rid of that excess distress and establish an ideal intensity level.

The following is an

introduction to the 6-Step

Performance Routine.


190

Your golf ball is about 10 feet from a tee, which is the target. Do not, we repeat, do

not use golf holes on the practice green for this exercise. Using a tee helps focus on a

very small target, which is an important skill.

Back away from the golf ball another ten feet, keeping the ball between you and the

target. Get down close to the green for a good read on the line of the putt. Using your

imagination and visual imagery, create an image in your Mind‘s Eye of the golf ball

traveling back from the tee, which is your target, rolling across the green, and stopping at its

position in front of you. Once you can visualize the line of the putt coming back from the

target, stand up.

While still facing the ball and the target, move into your regular putting stance.

STOP. Did you start turning sideways to the target or

target line? Be certain to continue facing the target

and viewing the golf ball with both eyes while

making all rehearsal strokes.

Still behind the ball, grip your putter and weigh

the putter head. Weighing the putter head means

you sense the weight of the head on the end of the

shaft, not in your hands. ALSO, and this is key, rehearse your swing until you can sense the

weight out on the putter head as your stroke makes its transition from the backswing to the

forward stroke.

STOP. Do not proceed until your hand pressure is light enough to allow you to sense the

weight on the end of the shaft, not in the hands, and until you can sense your stroke making

its transition from the backswing to the forward stroke. Do that now. Habituate this sense

into your putting routine.

Training Note: Work to develop the same sense of transition from backstroke to forward

swing or stroke with ALL of your shots. Make this a priority.

Moving Along….

From behind the ball and facing the target, while

keeping both eyes on a small target (such as the golf

tee) and the path of the ball back from the target,

physically make the exact stroke the putt calls for.

Rehearse success. Mental and visual success promotes self-confidence. This is your

rehearsal stroke, not a practice stroke. You are rehearsing success. Visualizing success is

self-confidence, you do not even have to think about it. Self-confidence is an image, not a

thought.

Visualizing success is self-

confidence, you do not even

have to think about it.

Do not proceed from this section

until your hand pressure is light

enough to allow you to sense the

weight on the end of the shaft,

not in the hands, and until you

can sense your stroke making its

transition from the backswing to

the forward stroke.


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A RHYTHMIC MOVE – A side note

We are often asked, ―what should I think about during the actual putting stroke?‖

Response: We emphasize learning to create and execute all shots in the here-and-now and

on auto pilot. Being on auto pilot means there is NO self-talk, positive or negative. With

putting, you need a sense of making an rhythmic move through the stroke. It is a sense, not a

cognition, or thought. Your objective is making a stroke through the ball that is founded on

timing, tempo, rhythm, and balance. Remember that self-confidence is an image, not a

thought.

Summary: No thinking during the actual putting stroke, all imagery.

―In rehearsing success, every sense connected to my brain must be giving me feedback

that my rehearsal strokes are going into the cup - or target!‖ Coach Robertson.

Getting back to the rehearsal stroke, it must be the precise stroke you will make once you

are on auto pilot. If you cannot sense the rehearsal stroke connecting with the target, back

off and figure out what is wrong. Not to worry, your brain will figure it out if you let it.

From your position behind the ball, as you think through the illustration above, envision the

ball coming back from the target and along its path one more time. As you envision the ball

rolling toward you, use your imagination and visual

imagery to create a target spot along the path of the

ball, about 8 – 10 inches in front of the ball.

As you take your next deep breath, start

walking up to the ball. With peripheral vision,

keep the target, the target spot, and the back of the

ball, in your visual field. Move into your putting stance over the ball. Then, without

hesitation, stroke a very small spot on the back of the ball over the very small target spot

and toward the a small spot on the target.

Continue breathing, hold your follow through for a second or two, and learn all you

can from appropriate feedback, the roll of the ball, and from your sense of the stroke.

Straight Putt (which we never get!)

(Your

Target)

(Golf Ball)

(Path of your putt.)

(Small spot in front of ball,

and along the path of your putt

target spot.)

(Imaginary line you draw

through the ball; the extended target line.)

Connect the Spots. Stroke the

small spot on the back of the

ball, over the small spot in front

of the ball, toward a small target

spot.


192

One more time…

From another spot on the practice green, from your position behind the ball, envision the

ball coming back from the target and along its path. As you envision the ball rolling toward

you, use your imagination and visual imagery to create a small target spot along the path of

the ball, about 8 – 10 inches in front of the ball. From that target spot, this time mentally

draw a straight line through the ball and to a spot 8 – 10 inches behind it. This is an

extension of the target line. You have created an alignment line for setting up to the ball.

[Aim and Align on Auto Pilot] As you take your next deep breath, start walking up

to the ball, move into your normal putting stance, and allow the extended target line to set

your alignment up correctly. Then without hesitation, stroke the ball down the target line.

Continue breathing, hold your follow through until the ball stops rolling, and learn from

appropriate feedback.

Remember the law.

Law: A body at rest tends to stay at rest; a body in motion tends to remain

in motion.

Principle: Remain in motion through until you are holding your follow through. Once

you begin walking toward the golf ball, and move into position over

the ball, remain in motion and in balance the entire time, and through the

entire stroke until you get to your finish.

Stroke through the putt and hold your follow through for one or two seconds. Do not move

or talk until the ball stops rolling. We repeat, do not move or talk until the ball stops

rolling. Remain poised and take in all of the information from the stroke. For improving

performance, this is perhaps the most important step of the routine.

In this phase of your putting, you very quickly compare the blueprint you created for

your stroke with both the outcome and process of your execution, and learn from either the

success or the deficiencies. You must learn to make this comparison and learn from

experience in the absence of any self-talk or judgment.

There you have it, the foundation for a new performance routine you can use with

putting and eventually with every shot in your game.


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Progress to the Full Swing Most golfers find it more effective to habituate their new performance routine with putting

and then incorporate it into their full swings. The habituation process can take 21-30

contiguous days.

Set up in a practice area where you can execute full shots and begin with a 6-iron.

Place a ball on the turf and back away from it about 10 feet.

Take 3 deep breaths. Let all excess muscle and mental tension drain away with each

breath.

Allow your shoulders and head to be drawing straight up toward the sky, allowing

them to drop back down, and then allow the shoulders to drop into the swing slot.

As you continue breathing, sense a set of strings pulling your shoulders and head up

toward the sky. Do not push or force them up. Develop a sense that they are being pulled

up. Allow your shoulders and head to be pulled up toward the sky as high as they can go.

Take in another deep breath and allow them to drop. Relax and allow the shoulders to drop

into the swing slot.

Select an appropriate target in the practice area for your shot. Make the target as

specific as possible. Select the specific spot where the shot will stop. Focus on the landing

spot and then mentally work back from the ball.

Remain 10 to 12 feet back behind the ball and facing the target. Using your

imagination and visual imagery, create a visual image of the golf ball traveling back from

the target target, traveling through the air, and stopping in front of you.

While still facing the ball and the target, move into your regular set up position.

STOP. Did you turn sideways to the target or alignment line? Be certain to remain facing

the target and the golf ball while making all rehearsal strokes and until you start moving into

position over the ball.

Still behind the ball, grip the club and weigh the club head. STOP. Do not proceed

until your grip is light enough to sense the weight out on the end of the shaft. Please do that

now. Habituate this sense into your full routine.

Moving Along….

You are still behind the ball and facing the target. Maintain your focus on the target.

Visualize the flight of the ball back from the target.

Visualize the flight of the ball back to the target.

Make the rehearsal swing that produces the exact ball flight you envisioned.

Then on auto pilot, set up to the ball and execute the exact blueprint you created.

Hold your follow through and earn from the feedback.


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AN ATHLETIC MOVE

This is a review from putting, but one of our objectives is learning to create and execute an

athletic move that is in the here-and-now and on auto pilot. Being on auto pilot means there

is NO self talk, positive or negative. You have a sense of making an athletic move through

the shot. [With putting, you will recall that we refer to maintaining a fluid, versus athletic,

move.] An athletic move is a sense, not a cognition, or thought. Sense yourself making an

athletic move through the shot, founded on timing, tempo, rhythm, and balance.

Getting back to a rehearsal stroke, it must be the precise stroke you will make once

you are on auto pilot. If you cannot sense your rehearsal stroke connecting with the target,

back off and figure out what is wrong. Not to worry, your brain will figure it out if you

allow it to.

From your position behind the ball, envision the ball coming back from the target and along

its path one more time. As you envision the ball‘s flight toward you, use your imagination

and visual imagery to create a target spot along the path of the ball, about three feet in front

of the ball. This visualization technique works for a draw, fade, or the most difficult shot

shape in golf, straight.

Visualize the ball traveling back over the target spot and landing on the target.

As you take your next deep breath, start walking up to the ball and with peripheral

vision, keep the target, the target spot, and the back of the ball, in your visual field as you

move into your stance. Then without hesitation, stroke a very small spot on the back of the

ball over the target spot and toward the target.

Continue breathing, hold your follow through for a second or two, and learn all you

can from appropriate feedback, including ball flight and results.

Once you have habituated this sequence, you are ready for more advanced information on

the 6-Step Performance Routines.

A Rehearsal Swing Note♫ - Playing Baseball Due to it‘s lack of specificity, one of the most difficult shots to create and execute in golf is

a straight shot. Use the following rehearsal routine and determine how it works for you.

While behind the ball and facing the target:

make one rehearsal swing visualizing and sensing a draw to the short stop;

make the next rehearsal swing visualizing and sensing a fade to the first baseman,

who is standing between 1st and 2nd;

make a third rehearsal swing visualizing and sensing a shot to the second baseman;

now make a rehearsal swing visualizing and sensing the shape of the shot you plan

on executing;

then set up to the ball and execute that shot.

How did the technique work for you? ___________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________.


195

6-Step Peak Performance GOLF Routine™ Use the following information in taking your putting stroke, and eventually your entire golf game, to the next level of performance. In the previous section, you learned about the power of routines in your life and golf game. Now we are progressing to a more advanced skill development level.

Step 1. BREATHING RESPONSE “The breath is a bridge between mind and body,

emotions and doing. Balanced, natural breathing brings you back to the present moment.”

Source: The Way of the Peaceful Warrier, p. 121 Proper breathing techniques and breath control helps you:

maintain ideal levels of physical poise and mental engagement;

get into, and remain in, the here-and-now;

regain composure if you start losing it;

poise the appropriate muscles and release or relax the appropriate muscles;

prepare your mind and body for executing the blueprint of your stroke on auto pilot;

establish more effective focus of attention; and

initiate your entire performance routine. Performance data suggests that when playing on the autonomous level of the game (which is one of our primary program objectives), golfers use a complete exhaling breath as the stimulus for producing the cascading effect of their entire performance routine. Top performers establish an optimum breathing cycle prior to moving into their performance routine. In our materials, we provide several additional references on the science of breathing to assist you in becoming your own best coach in this critical performance area. TO DO [IF you can play one of Steven Halpern’s complimentary performance compositions while working through this exercise, please do so. For additional information on Steven’s music please refer to www.innerpeacemusic.com.]

Sit back in your chair or become more poised if standing.

Make a complete exhale by blowing all of the air from your lungs and out through your nose. That is correct, exhale all of the air from the lungs by blowing out through your nose. You will learn more about why to use this technique later. Once you have cleared all of the air from your lungs, begin filling them from the bottom to the top by inhaling through your nose. Fill your lungs from the bottom to the top by breathing in through your nose. You are gaining poise. Notice the calming effect on your mind and body of exhaling and inhaling a deep breath. Exhale again through your nose. Exhale completely, removing all of the air from your lungs. Inhale through your nose and fill your lungs from bottom to top.

Routines help connect the physical,

technical, tactical, and mental skills

involved in enhancing golf

performance and brings about

synergy.


196

You are gaining poise. Notice the gathering effect on your mind and body of deep breathing. You are becoming calm, gathered, and poised. STOP Proper diaphragmatic breathing is one of your most effective mental and physical gathering and mental performance techniques. Practice and use diaphragmatic breathing often throughout your preparation and performance. Breath control can provide the cue for initiating your entire performance routine, aids in establishing an ideal level of performance intensity, and helps you perform in the here-and-now and on auto pilot. Use diaphragmatic breathing prior to, and throughout, your entire routine. More specifically:

initiate diaphragmatic breathing as you enter The Hourglass and re-commit to it as you walk onto the putting surface;

use another deep breath to initiate the physical part of your putting stroke; and

breathe diaphragmatically throughout the entire 6-Step Routine.

Most importantly, make diaphragmatic breathing a Life Skill.

Breathing Resource Breath control is not trivial, is foundational to performance, and is a technique you can easily learn and enhance. Resource: A valuable performance and breathing resource is “Body, Mind, and Sport” by John Douillard. John provides athletes with appropriate data and additional breath control training.

Step 2. IMMEDIATE POISE RESPONSE In this step of your routine you will learn to:

recognize when your traps, shoulders, arms, and hands begin to accumulate excess tension and distress;

learn to remove excess muscular tension immediately as it starts to form;

establish your ideal intensity level;

correct and maintain posture;

initiate cutters, a punch in the gut, shoulders in the slot, and tightest jeans; and

learn to assess and control excess muscular tension throughout your body BEFORE it impacts your putting stroke and golf game.

You MUST learn to sense and release excess tense from around your shoulders, traps, arms, and hands. You are working toward becoming mentally engaged and physically poised, which is a foundation for improving your performance and lowering your golf score.

Reducing excessive tension is a

golf and life skill. Establishing

your ideal intensity level is key as

well. Learn to control your

intensity on and off the course.

When and How to

Use

Effective breathing is a LIFE

SKILL that warrants your

attention and development

through the whole of your life

and for the rest of your life.


197

Excess muscular tightness must be drained away, and kept away, for you to compete consistently. Remember than excess tightness in the muscles blocks proper functioning of your muscles, joints, and even balance through motion. TO DO Make a complete exhale by blowing all air from the lungs through your nose. Once you have cleared all of the air from your lungs, fill them from bottom to top by inhaling through your nose. Notice the calming effect exhaling and taking in a deep breath has on your mind and body. Exhale again through your nose. Exhale completely and remove all of the air from your lungs. Inhale through your nose and fill your lungs from bottom to top. Notice the gathering effect that taking a deep breath has on your mind and body. As you continue diaphragmatic breathing, develop a sense of strings pulling both of your shoulders up toward your ears and into the sky. Do not push your shoulders up by tightening your body. Develop a sense that they are being pulled up by invisible strings. Take in another deep breath and allow both shoulders to drop, then allow then to drop completely into the slot. Develop a sense that invisible strings are attached to the top of your head and shoulders and pulling them toward the sky. Do not push your head or shoulders up. Develop the sense of them being pulled up gently into the sky by invisible strings. Take another deep breath. You have probably been physically tight and mentally stressed most of the day. It is time to rid your mind and body of excess stress. After all, you are playing a game. The game of golf. Make both hands into tight fists. Tighten both fists to about 80%, but not as tight as you can. Sense the tightness in the fists. As you exhale, release your hands and all of the tightness. Notice how poised your hands are. Poise is the absence of excess tightness. Sense the relaxation in your hands. STOP Gaining poise will become your cue for establishing an ideal level of performance intensity and for performing in the here and now.

Left Hand Training & Warm Up Drill Equipment needed: five golf balls, your putter, and an alignment aid. Set your alignment aid down on a practice green. WITH ONLY THE LEFT HAND, and with specific attention to maintaining a poised neck, shoulders, left arm, wrist, and grip on the putter, stroke 5 balls toward a target. Only attend to maintaining a poised left side and hand position through all five strokes. Stroke from the slot! We are not working on distance or accuracy, only on the absence of tension through the entire stroke. Retrieve the balls. WITH ONLY THE LEFT HAND, and with specific attention to maintaining a poised neck, shoulders, left arm, wrist, and grip, stroke 3 balls toward a target. Only attend to maintaining a poised left side and hand position through the strokes. We are not working on distance or accuracy, only on the absence of tension through the stroke.


198

WITH BOTH HANDS ON THE CLUB, and with specific attention to maintaining poise in both hands through the entire stroke, putt the remaining 2 balls toward a target. Only attend to maintaining a poised upper body and grip pressure through the strokes. We are not working on distance or accuracy. Retrieve the balls and use this drill until you can consistently identify the large muscle groups of the upper body as your primary power source and can consistently stroke the ball with no excess tension in the hands, arms, shoulders, and neck. Include the Left Handed drill in your pre-practice and pre-competition routines. Use the same drill to refine and warm up your chipping and pitching strokes.

Step 3. TARGET RESPONSE READ. If you tracked the brains of golfers playing and practicing at the autonomous level, and had EEG equipment, you could see how their brains were processing available information through their senses, versus self-talk, and the process their brains were using to “read” greens and the conditions for the shot at hand. You could track their mind‘s assessing every section of the green that impacted their scoring, and doing so with a wide frame of attention and visual focus. You could actually observe the brain “reading” the greens. VISUALIZE. Upon completing the initial read and assessment, players begin interpreting all of the data and start the process of visualizing a primary path from, and then back to, the target. SENSE. Once a target is selected and the intent is clear, golfers can sense their minds switching to a narrower frame of attention and visual focus. With a narrower visual frame and with their intent clearly in mind, the path of the ball from the target, and then back to the target, is re-created. They are processing information in the same manner as vision actually works. They are working through their senses, not cognition. For many players, our 6-Step Performance routine constitutes a major change in their visual focus, intent, and how they process information from the target. The primary tasks accomplished in this step of the routine include:

clarification of intent/purpose;

increasing awareness and information intake by switching the direction of attention to external versus internal and the width of the visual field and frame of attention;

helping take attention off of yourself and switching it to appropriate cues in the environment; switching from internal attention to external attention;

helping you select your target with a wide visual field;

then switching to a narrower visual field and frame of attention once you have mentally locked onto your target; and finally

READ

EXCUTE

COMMIT

SENSE

VISUALIZE

LEARN

RVSCEL Process


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in your mind‘s eye, creating the path of the ball coming back from your target and then back to the target. All the time being driven by intent.

The previous information represents several major changes in awareness, attention, intent, and visual focus for most golfers. You are learning to use your mental powers of imagination and visualization to create the path of the ball coming back from your target and then returning to the target. This may seem like a lot of work to get accomplished in the blink of an eye, but you can learn to do the work in that one blink! Trust us, you can do it! Anchor Words: Sense the path.

Step 4. SUCCESS RESPONSE VISUALIZE (imagery). Based on appropriate information from the target, the path of the ball, and all of the conditions, accomplished players construct a mental blueprint of the best stroke they can make for the current situation. Accomplished putters visualize themselves being successful. They do not talk to themselves about success during the putting process, they visualize themselves being successful, and that makes all of the difference in competitive play. They tap into successful and appropriate stored memories, add current information, and recreate success. COMMIT. Reading, interpreting, and organizing for the stroke in the here-and-now is requisite of getting the ball into the hole in the fewest strokes. Committing to the blueprint is another major success factor. Accomplished putters are absorbed in the process of taking in appropriate information, interpreting it, and then creating and executing an appropriate blueprint. YOU CAN DO THIS! Anchor Words: Organize for, and commit to, success. In your mind’s eye (your brain) visualize yourself making a successful stroke over an alignment spot, down the target line, on target, and creating a winner! Sense yourself making a fluid move through the stroke. Take as many rehearsal strokes as necessary to establish the precise timing, tempo, rhythm, and balance for the stroke. You can do this because you can envision yourself being successful! You can do this because you can sense yourself making the stroke! Self-confidence is an image. Reminder Target Goal of a Technically Sound Swing Highlight the following goal information and determine how applicable it is to your own development. Remember this goal, we will be coming back to it from time to time. Our Target Goal for a Technically Sound Golf Swing is: to mentally create an appropriate blueprint for the shot at hand, physically execute the blueprint as precisely as possible, and learn from the experience.


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“Straight Shot” The most difficult shot to create and execute in golf with a full swing is a straight shot. It is also the most difficult blueprint to draw from memory because it lacks specificity. Here is the sequence to incorporate into your 6-Step Routine during competitive play:

sense a draw and make a rehearsal swing;

sense a fade and make a rehearsal swing;

sense a swing down the middle between the two and make that rehearsal swing;

determine the shape of shot you will execute (draw, fade, down the middle—the hardest shot in golf), let‘s say it is a fade; and make that rehearsal swing.

then allow your brain to execute the appropriate blueprint on auto pilot.

Step 5. TRIGGER THE BLUEPRINT EXECUTE. What are the middle two numbers in your social security number? Can you recall those numbers without thinking of the first few numbers? Most people cannot. What are the last two numbers of your cell phone? Could you recall the last two numbers without mentally working through the first numbers? Yes, we are still talking about triggering success and your putting stroke blueprint. Reminder: In golf, putting strokes and full swings are executed from memory, so triggering the appropriate blueprint for the situation at hand is critical. Jerry‘s Example ―I have an e-mail password that is difficult for me to remember,‖ said Jerry (a college golfer). ―It‘s a no-sense, purely random, combination of numbers and letters that nobody else would ever figure out. After using the password for a couple of weeks I noticed something. All I had to do was recall the first couple of digits, which are ―xb‖, and the rest of the password flowed from my brain, into the keyboard, and opened my e-mail. It was like magic. I‘d get the first couple of letters and didn‘t have to think of the rest of the password. Then I noticed something that‘s really baffling. When I tried to think of the complete password, most of the time I couldn‘t. I had to relax, take a deep breath (I learned that from golf), remember ‗xb‘, and boom, the number spilled right out of my fingers and onto the keyboard.‖ How The Brain Works---a short lesson Techniques and the mental images of how to execute a putting stroke are stored in long term memory. You putt from memory. Motor processes such as tying your shoes, brushing your teeth, typing on your computer, and putting are all stored in procedural memory. Procedural memories link physical activities together and allow you to perform them on auto pilot. You type your password easier, brush your teeth faster, and putt more effectively with procedural memories that are executed at a pre-conscious level. Here is an important point. All you need to do to start a procedural memory, including putting, is calmly retrieve the 1st step of that memory chain in your mind eye and then allow the rest of the chain to flow through your mind and body on auto pilot. What is your putting trigger?


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Putting Triggers and Gathering Motions Accomplished players use pre-established motor and memory keys to transition from the setup to the stroke and to execute the complete putting stroke. While each player uses a trigger or gathering motion, the triggers and gathering motions are unique to each golfer. For some golfers the trigger is kinesthetic, such as a forward press or waggle. For others, the trigger is a mind ↔ body technique such as breathing, and the list goes on and on. We recommend golfers use trial and success to find the trigger and gathering motion that works best for them and then habituate them into their 6-Step Performance Routine.

EXECUTING THE BLUEPRINT LAW: A golfer at rest tends to stay at rest; a golfer in motion tends to remain in motion. Principle: Once you begin moving toward the golf ball, and into your setup, remain in motion the entire time (slight though it might be) and through the entire stroke. Experiment with keeping your original pressure with the hands and keeping the putter head up and off the green. Grounding the putter head can stop all motion, thus breaking the LAW, and can change the sensitivity of your grip pressure as well. Weighing: Do you weigh the putter head through the entire stroke? Dynamic: Do you remain in motion, slight though it may be, through the entire putting stroke?

Flow Training/Practice – a counting technique

- Playing in the flow of the game with precise timing, tempo, and rhythm are critical to

putting success and to all golf swings. The following drill helps develop and restore all of

these elements.

- Reminder: the 6-Step Routine occurs within The Hourglass.

- Remember that within the alignment process for putting, proper alignment of the eyes and

shoulders is more critical than any other body parts.

- Work through this drill. Use the counting technique in competitive and practice warm ups

(most of our professionals use a metronome as well), but do not incorporate the technique

into your competitive putting until you are comfortable with it.

Count ―one thousand and 1‖ with each step you take toward the ball and maintain

that pace with each step. Using a metronome will help.

As you approach the ball and are counting ―one thousand and 1‖, simultaneously

align the face of your putter behind the ball and perpendicular with the target line, as

you also set your left eye in position relative to the ball. You execute all of these

moves simultaneously on the count of ―one thousand and 1‖. It will take some

practice.

On the next count, place both feet together, perpendicular with the target line, and

with the ball in the middle of them.

On the next count, move the left foot into its proper position.

On the next count, move the right foot into its proper position.

On the following count execute a forward press to trigger the back stroke.

On the following count execute the stroke.


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Discontinue counting and hold your finish until the ball stops rolling. Learn from the

feedback.

Remain Organized: Fire without hesitation or interruption. Remaining organized and executing your stroke without hesitation or interruption is not actually a step in your routine. It is the result of executing the previous steps successfully. In order to remain organized, you must remain in the here-and-now and allow the blueprint of the stroke to unfold on auto pilot. If your putting stroke does start to get disrupted, the correct coping techniques MUST already be in place to get you back on track instantly. Your Breathing Response and Immediate Poise Response are two of your more powerful coping techniques. Start habituated them now. Anchor Words: Remain organized and compete in the flow of the game.

Step 6. FEEDBACK & LEARNING RESPONSE Only preparation and execution that provides you with immediate feedback on the correctness of generated responses, processes, and related outcomes creates advances towards mastery. Do you have that sentence memorized by now? LEARN. Processing appropriate feedback is how the mind learns from experience. Processing appropriate feedback in competitive conditions is how the brain learns to get the ball into the cup in the fewest number of strokes during tournament play. The brain does not learn performance techniques as efficiently from lectures and secondary sources of input as it does from primary forms of feedback. Associative learning is a primary form of feedback. Remember association? Associative learning includes associating a process, such as a putting stroke, with a specific reaction, such as how a ball travels across a green, and with a specific outcome, such as making a putt or an acceptable miss. The brain learns how to execute performance techniques more efficiently from experience and from processing appropriate experiences through the senses. Processing Feedback - Review Still using putting as an example, and within the 6-Step Performance Routine:

upon executing the blueprint for your putting stroke;

hold the finish, and

process feedback through all of your senses.

Consider the roll of the ball, feel of the stroke, and results of the stroke.

During post routine evaluation, ask yourself, “did the stroke feel, through my senses, as if I made a fluid move through the ball?”

Note: for the full swing, “did the swing feel as if I made an athletic move through the ball?”

Did I maintain my timing, tempo, rhythm, and balance through the stroke?

Did the outcome match my intent?

Associative learning includes

associating a process, such a

putting stroke, with a specific

reaction, such as how a ball travels

across the green, and with a

specific outcome, such as an

acceptable miss or making a putt.


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When the shot is not precisely as you envisioned in your mind‘s eye, in the blink of an eye you can learn to create a sense of what you will do differently the next time, and transition back into the game. You are learning to learn from each stroke. You are discovering how to learn from your mistakes, put errors behind you, and transition back into the true game of golf. Way to go! You are getting it! Anchor Words for Step 6: Learn from experience, play the game. Step 6 in your performance routine involves processing three appropriate forms of feedback that are available to you. The first form of feedback is relative to how a particular move through the ball felt (sensory processing feedback), which is Association. Did you make a fluid move through the stroke? This could be the opportunity to assess your timing-tempo-rhythm through the stroke. A second form of feedback relates to the movement of the ball in relation to the intended path of the ball. Did you create an ideal path? Did you take in the correct information? Another form of feedback comes from the result (outcome) of the stroke. Did the stroke accomplish what you expected it to? Was it an acceptable miss? Be certain to define what an acceptable miss is in your putting game. That definition is a critical mental factor in your game and to your piece of mind. Secondary forms of feedback include emotions and thoughts (cognition) and can be disruptive to both performance and the learning experience when they interrupt autonomous levels of performance. Reminder. Do you recall from our earlier work that secondary forms of feedback are a primary learning mode during the Cognitive Phase of learning neuromotor skills, but not in Associative and Autonomous Phases. 30 Days of CONTIGUOUS Work Remember that it typically takes 20 to 30 days to develop a new habit or routine. You do not eliminate bad or ineffective habits, you build new, stronger ones. Habituating a new routine can take up to 30 days, and your work must be contiguous, meaning every day—no missed days. You cannot revert back to old habits during the development process. Remember that practicing in your mind‘s eye counts the same to your mind and body as physical preparation does. You have no legitimate excuse for missing a few minutes of work each day for 30 days since you can rehearse in your mind‘s eye.

Gimmie Training Drill To habituate the new elements within your 6-Step Routine, work your way back through this Gimmie Training Drill. Set a golf ball down 12 inches from the cup. Work through your new routine to habituate it as you make this seemingly automatic putt.

Primary forms of feedback

include sensory information

from body movement, the

roll of the ball, and

outcomes.


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Working around the cup, making strokes from North, South, East, and West. Do not make more than one stroke from any one direction during the rotations. Work through these gimmie putts as many times as needed. Pay particular attention to the rhythm of your routine and putting stroke. USE THIS DRILL UNTIL YOU ARE COMFORBABLE WITH YOUR ROUTINE. What have you determined about your ROUTINE? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 6-STEP PERFORMANCE ROUTINE Step 1. Breathing Response Step 2. Immediate Poise Response Step 3. Target Response Step 4. Success Response Step 5. Trigger the Blueprint & Remaining Organized Step 6. Feedback and Learning Response


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Pre-Competition Mind ↔ Body Warm Up Routine

“Just like cultivating an effective pre-shot/shot/post-shot routine, utilizing an effective pre-competition warm up routine is another way to

sustain competitive confidence.” Coach Robertson

The following will become your primary mind ↔ body routine for golf tournaments and

competitive events. It is imperative that you learn your new routine, make it your own, and

habituate it. Otherwise, your routine will not be there when you need it the most.

Mind ↔ Body Connection

Your routine is as much about mental and emotional preparation as it is about preparing for

physical readiness. To perform at your best, you must be ready mentally, physically, and

emotionally.

Upon completing this section of your manual, and by utilizing the information in the

remainder of your manual, you will be able to develop your own Pre-Round Preparation

and Warm Up Routine. While your routine will evolve with your game and level of

competition, you can use the information in this article to initiate the development of your

routine.

How many times have you said to yourself, or heard another golfer comment, ―it takes me

three holes to get into the game‖? One objective of your new Warm Up Routine is helping

you play the 1st hole of golf as well as the last hole.

Annika Sorenstam

From watching Annika, and others like her, warm up prior to tournaments, we were shocked

at how brief the description of her warm up routine was in her book (Golf Annika‘s Way). In

the clinic we watched Annika give, she was adamant about the content, length, and intent of

her routine. She had it down to a science and you must take the same approach. According

to Annika, ―the purpose of my warm up routine is to get physically and mentally ready to

play and determine which swing I brought to the course that day. I follow a strict routine

that begins an hour and 15 minutes before my tee off time, or at least when I need to start

heading for the 1st tee.‖ Here is an important point for all of us. Annika continued that, ―if

I am not swinging the club particularly well during my warm-up, and cannot find my A

game, I deal with that AFTER the golf round. I avoid making any swing changes during a

tournament round. If I am consistently hitting a fade during my warm up, I play for a fade

that day.‖


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Something Unique

If you watch enough professionals warm up, you will find that each one has one or more

unique techniques or drills for helping warm up their game. Annika like to stroke a few

putts with only her right hand and then use both hands. John Dailey likes to make a number

of wedge shots with only one hand. One of our clients like to begin his full warm up with a

3-iron, and yes, he has a specific reason for doing so.

What unique drills or techniques work for you? ______________________________

_____________________________________________________________________.

Equipment check

Check that all equipment is clean and ready to go: shoes; clubs; balls; gloves; rain

gear; etc.

We stress cleaning and checking equipment at the END of each round so they will be

ready to go for your next practice or competitive session.

Ensure that you have 14 or less clubs in your bag.

Empty all excess items from your golf bag so that you are not carting them around

for 18 holes and wasting valuable energy. Almost every high school and college

golfer we work with carries too much ―stuff‖ around with them. If you are in a

tournament, and your coach has a golf cart, download as many items to them as you

can.

Hydrate

Be certain to hydrate prior to, during, and following warm up, practice, and play. Make

hydration an integral element of all your performance routines. There is some basic

information on hydration in your manual.

Fuel up

Be certain to fuel up prior to, during, and following warm up, practice, and play. Make

keeping your fuel supply up an integral element of your performance routine.

There is some basic information on fueling in your manual.

Physical warm up

Use our prescribed Dynamic Pre-Warm Up Drill. No more, no less.

No Static Stretching

Only use stretching drills AFTER your golf round and strength and conditioning.

Be certain to build a regular stretching routine into your weekly strength and

conditioning training. Habituate that routine so that it will be there when you need it

for practice and play.

Ideally, you work through your stretching exercises FOLLOWING every golf round.

Do NOT use hitting balls as part of your stretching routine.

There are far too many stretching options for us to include them here.


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Annika‘s Sequence During one of her golf clinics, Annika described the sequence of her warm up as follows:

She had a routine similar to our Dynamic Pre-Warm Up Drill to get her warm, lose,

and ready to swing.

Her first stop was the putting green, where she worked primarily on timing and

tempo. Starting with short putts and progressing outward.

Next, and still at the practice green, was making some chipping shots and working

on developing timing and feel for her stroke. We noted that she never used the word

―hit‖ when talking about her golf game or swing.

Next she warmed up her pitching stroke.

After that, she was off to the range. On the range, she started with her wedges and

took her time working up through her clubs. Looked to us as if she was investing

full intent and attention with each shot. She did what most players do, which to

either make shots with all of the even or odd numbered clubs, but not all of the clubs.

Then she did an interesting thing. She went back to her lob wedge to re-establish her

timing BEFORE swinging her driver and 3W.

We want to repeat the previous sentence. She went back to her lob wedge in order to

ensure her timing and tempo, and then went to her driver and 3W.

From the range, she traveled back to the putting green where she worked on another

progressing putting routine. She started with short putts again and worked her way

out. She was developing her feel for the speed of the greens that day.

She made an excellent point about her stroke, using her putting as an example. ―If

I‘m putting poorly during my preparation, I lower my putting expectations for the

day.‖ Will she work to restore feel? Certainly. And her statement is not negative, it

is realistic. With Annika, and all of us, there are those days when we do not bring

our A putting games to the course.

Test Club

Every Tour Player understands the need to figure out which game then brought to the course

for the day, which not only includes ball flight but distance. Therefore, they typically have

select clubs they check specific distances and trajectory with. Example, one player works

through their warm up routine and then uses his PW, 7-iron, 3-iron to determine if they are

striking the ball farther, shorter, or precisely on target for the day.

What are your test clubs?________________________________________________

When in your routine do you test distance and trajectory? _______________________


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Timing, Tempo, and Rhythm

Most accomplished players warming up the timing short chipping with a heavy club,

such as PW, and then progress into their routines. The key is to find a club and shot

that helps re-establish your timing and tempo.

These same players often advance from there into their Rotating Finesse Swing,

which we define as 7:30, 9:00, and 10:30 swings. These are a rotating swing versus

a coiling motion. Most begin with a PW and then advance through their other

wedges.

With their timing and Finesse Game warmed up, quite a few switch to a 7-, 6-, or 5-

iron to warm up their full swing.

Once their full swing is warmed up, many go back and execute a few shots with each

iron, beginning with their 9-iron and working through their clubs.

Consider switching to fairway woods off the ground next.

Most players then advance to ―getting off the tee‖ shots. This includes their 3-wood

and driver.

Once the golf swing is ready to go, these players travel over to the putting green and

go through a specific putting, chipping, and pitching routine. A sample of these

routines is presented for you later on in this section.

1st Three Holes

Quite a few golfers complete their routine by returning to the practice range and playing the

first three golf holes in their mind‘s eye. They make the exact shots they plan to execute,

with the exception of putting.

Intensity Warm Up

The objective here is to create your Ideal Intensity Level. Which is a combined

mental/physical state. You will therefore need to have habituated both your Breathing

Response and Your Immediate Poise Response. If you have not accomplished that objective,

use the worksheets in your book and practice working through both responses as you warm

up. Additional information will be covered in your training on achieving ideal states of

individual intensity.

Mental warm up

Remember that elements of your routine are to warm up your Mind‘s Eye, so be

certain to give them your specific attention.

Use your 6-Step Performance Routine™ during this routine where it is appropriate.

This will assist you in warming up your brain.

Use your Breathing Response to help you remain in-the-moment during your Warm

Up Routine when you start allowing yourself to be distracted.

Remember to mentally rehearse playing the first three golf holes of the day. If the 1st

hole is a 395 yard, par 4, hole, mentally play the hole backwards, decide on the

appropriate tee shot, and physically make that shot. If you mentally see the next shot

as a 5-iron into a tight pen, physically make that shot.


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Who You Brought to the Dance - Reminder

A primary objective of your Pre-Round Routine is to help you figure out ―who you brought

to the dance‖. Which means what swing do you have today? Including your putting stroke.

How long is your ideal warm up for competition?

________________________________________________________________

How long is your emergency warm up for when you are running late and do not have time to

warm up completely? Trust us, it happens!

________________________________________________________________

How long is your ideal warm up for practice?

________________________________________________________________

Abbreviated Pre-Warm Up Drill There will be times when you do not have sufficient time to warm up for competition or

practice. Be prepared for those times. Here is an abbreviated warm up routine one of our

touring professionals uses. Develop it for when you need it and be sure to develop it before

you need it.

Do Dynamic Pre-Warm Up Drill.

Make 10 Sand Wedge swings to re-establish timing, tempo, rhythm, balance through motion

and concentration. No target – no routine – no judgment – just re-establishing timing.

Make five 9:00 Pitching Wedge finesse swings at a specific target using your Abbreviated

Shot Routine.

Make five 9:00 Pitching Wedge finesse swings at a specific target using your full 6-Step

Routine. How is your distance control?

Make three 10:30 (coil or rotate) 8-iron swings with your full or abbreviated swing, as time

allows.

Repeat the same sequence as above with your 6-iron, 4-iron or hybrid, 3-Wood, then driver.

Be very precise and focused with your full 6-Step Routine.

Play the shots you will be using on your first three holes and in the order you will use them.

As time allows, use your 5-ball drill to warm up your putting, chipping, and pitching.

For a short routine, you are ready to go.

1st Tee

Taking your warmed up mental and physical condition to the 1st tee is what

preparation is all about - being able to perform on the golf course. One or our Tour

players provides a great example of this. During the round, she managed to get under the

skin of her playing partners by standing in their line of sight behind them from time to time,

generally blowing them off, moving around a little too much, at least for their liking, and a

few other things. But that is not the point. At some point in the round, one of their caddies


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said something to her caddie about her inappropriate behavior on the course. When her

caddie mentioned it to her after the round (which was smart of her caddie), she was totally

caught off guard. Her comment to us was that she didn‘t even recall any of the things the

other players were talking about and certainly was not doing anything intentionally. ―No, I

was not playing gamesmanship,‖ she added.

Here is our point. The purpose of your Warm Up Routine, as well as The Hourglass

and the 6-Step Routine is to learn to concentrate and focus with each shot as if nobody else

was around and nothing else was going on except you focusing on your target for the shot at

hand and how your golf ball is going to get reach the target.

With your Warm Up Routine, you come to the 1st tee knowing you have a plan, are

mentally-physically-emotionally ready to execute your plan, and do not allow others to

distract you.

Reference For additional information on performance routines, refer to our articles and materials on

The Dynamic Warm Up Drill, The 6-Step Peak Performance GOLF Routine™, and The

Hourglass of Peak GOLF Performance™.


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Notes for developing your own Pre-Round Routine Equipment check

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________

Hydrate

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________

Fuel up

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________

Physical warm up – As our Dynamic Pre-Warm Up Drill.

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________

Timing, Tempo, and Rhythm

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________

Intensity warm up

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________

Swing warm up – Including Order Putting______________________________________________________________ Chipping______________________________________________________________ Pitching______________________________________________________________ Finesse Swing ____________________________________________________________ Mid-Iron swing_____________________________________________________________ Long Irons and Fairway Woods _______________________________________________ Tee Shots _______________________________________________________________ Sand Play ______________________________________________________________ Other ___________________________________________________________________ Distance. What clubs do you confirm distance with? _____________________________________________________.


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POST-Competition Practice & Routine There are very few accomplished golfers who do not use post-round practice sessions to improve their games. A few of advantages of post- competitive practice include the following.

The strengths of your game are fresh in your mind and you can reinforce them.

Remember that new neuro-motor skills are best learned at the intensity level they will be used. Post-competitive practice is the opportune time to assess new motor skills, as well as mental skills, you are working to incorporate into your game.

The weaknesses of your game are fresh in your mind as well. Rather than remain focused on weaknesses, work to eliminate them and get them out of your mind.

Post-round, while you are mentally and physically tired, is an opportune time to work on how certain aspects of your game perform under fatigue. Example: you want to work on drawing the ball better during competition. You notice that toward the end of a golf round you seem to have more trouble drawing the ball than fading it, but you need both shots. Post-round practice, when at least some fatigue has set in, can be a good time to work on habituating this new shot pattern.

My Philosophy

“The game of golf does not judge me, it only provides me


opportunities to learn and balance my performance and

myself through the Law of Cause-and-Effect.”

Author unknown

Notes for your post-round practice sessions Equipment check __________________________________________________________________ Re-Hydrate __________________________________________________________________ Re-Fuel __________________________________________________________________ Cool Down (stretching) Routine __________________________________________________________________ Habituating New Skills (mental and physical) __________________________________________________________________

Building upon Strengths __________________________________________________________________

Post-competition and

preparation round practice can

be the most effective

opportunity for players to

work toward eliminating

weaknesses and building upon

strengths.


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Eliminating Weaknesses __________________________________________________________________ Mastering the Fatigue Factor __________________________________________________________________

3 X 5 Strength & Weaknesses Card

Complete this card following every practice and competitive golf round. (front of card)

(back of the card)

3 things I did best today were:

1. _______________________________________

2. _______________________________________

3. _______________________________________

I will build upon them by ____________________

_________________________________________

*Refer to Action Plans.

3 weaknesses in my game today were:

1. _______________________________________

2. _______________________________________

3. _______________________________________

I will eliminate them by _____________________

_________________________________________

*Refer to Action Plans.

―I can‘t solve (mental, swing, emotional) golf problems

by using the same level of thinking, preparation, or

practice I created them with.

I learned today that one problem I need to work toward

solving is: ___________________________________

____________________________________________

In order to work toward solving that problem, my plan

is to ________________________________________

____________________________________________


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Equipment check Some players prefer to recheck their equipment following a golf round or practice session, as well as checking it before they play or practice. Refer to the Competitive Preparation Routine for information on checking equipment.

Hydrate Be certain to re-hydrate following practice and competition.

Fuel Refuel following practice and competition as well.

Physical cool down Following practice and competition is the time for a stretching sequence. Be certain to develop a way to mentally decompress following competition as well.

Only use stretching drills AFTER your golf round or following conditioning and strength training.

Be certain to build a regular stretching routine into your weekly conditioning and strength program.

Ideally, work through a stretching routine FOLLOWING every golf round.

Do NOT use ball striking as part of your stretching routine.


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The Hourglass of Peak Performance in GOLF™ [herein referred to as The Hourglass] The Hourglass is a transition routine. It is your

routine for going from between shots into your 6-Step Putting Routine. The roots of The

Hourglass spring from work we did with Professional Golfer Raymond Floyd (PGA Tour

Hall of Fame Member and winner of four Major Tournaments) while he was one of our

S.E.A. clients. The Hourglass has a long and proud tradition of success with golfers at all

levels of the game.

An Hourglass The image of an hourglass is one of the more effective

analogies we have found for describing the flow of

a golfer‘s mental, emotional, and physical states before and

after their 6-Step Performance Routine.

We know that a golfer cannot maintain an ideal

level of intensity during an entire round of golf. One key to

competing successfully is therefore a player‘s ability to

mentally and physically move into, and out of, that

―ideal zone of intensity‖ with each and every shot.

The following is an overview of a player’s typical attention

levels as they work their way into and through The Hourglass.

The sequence is:

1st comes working into The Hourglass;

2nd

then comes working through The 6-Step Performance Routine;

3rd

and finally comes working out of The Hourglass.

Location in the Hourglass Your focus and attention are….. BETWEEN SHOTS The player‘s focus is typically external, is Between shots and immediately very broad, non-specific, may or may not be golf before working into The Hourglass. related. Players need to learn to rest, recover, Typically more than thirty yards and derive a certain pleasure from walking and out from the ball, tee, green, etc. their surroundings. It is, perhaps, within this in between area that the true enjoyment of the game is experienced. If you read Michael Murphy, the game is all about enjoying the walk. Golfers may or not be processing the course and environment for specific playing cues and information.


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The Transition……………………… Avoid getting so caught up in the in between phases of the game that you fail to transition quickly, and completely, back into the information gathering and decision making phase of shot making. *Stop visiting and talking, thinking ahead and behind in time, and get back into the moment and to processing information through your senses! Entering the top of The Hourglass. Focus is external and wide. The player is First 1/3 of top compartment formulating a general target awareness, and (about 30 yards out from the assessing large amounts of non-specific target.) information about the course and the conditions Awareness….. surrounding the upcoming shot. The golfer Attention…….. becomes aware of specific performance cues and Intent…. information within the surroundings. This Interpretation……. level of awareness, attention, and interpretation forms the basis for the player‘s decision making. *this is a pre-decision making state The golfer is moving into their ideal individual intensity level.

Middle 1/3 of top compartment Player‘s visual and mental focus is beginning to narrow, of The Hourglass (still in the they are gaining more specific target awareness, upper chamber of The Hourglass) assessing more specific information about the

target and the conditions of the shot. They are shutting down self-talk and are processing more information though their senses. Their visual focus and mental attention are away from self and onto the decision making process. The golfer continues to move into their ―zone‖ of performance.

Final 1/3 of top compartment Players use narrower visual focus and mental Organization………. attention that is sensory driven. This is the Players initiate their 6-Step organization phase of sensory integration and they Performance routine….. are in the process of creating their mental blueprint for the shot at hand. Golfers are working through *Time is a factor here and some Steps 1 — 4 of their 6-Step Performance players remain in the decision Routines. They are mentally engaged and physically making process longer than others. poised (in their ideal intensity level) and remain at Some golfers also use more self- that level through the remainder of their 6-Step talk during the decision making Performance Routine. process. MIDDLE (of The Hourglass) Aperture of The Hourglass Mental attention and visual focus are narrow and Step 5 of the 6-Step Routine… driven by creating the blueprinting image for the shot at hand. Execution………… There is a domino (stimulus-response) type of action at work where players go through Step 5 of their putting and full swing routines and execute the blueprint on auto pilot.


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Players remain at their ideal intensity level. BOTTOM Top 1/3 of bottom compartment The player‘s attention is still very narrow as they Step 6 of the 6-Step Routine… remain a Quiet Observer of the process, versus a Feedback Loop………. Critical Judge. They may still be working through both process and outcome information in Step 6 of their routine. Middle 1/3 of bottom compartment Both mental attention and vision become broader as Important Note: players either congratulates themselves on a job well During competition, players done, or briefly considers how they can improve upon are always learning on the the next stroke. Associative Level. They are In this section of the routine, players learn to enjoy refining their decision making the process, learn from the experience, and flow process as well. Better players back into the in between game. make better decisions! In this phase of The Hourglass, players may also

begin paying attention to, or checking on, their various performance support systems

(hydration, relaxation, fueling, etc.).

Final 1/3 of bottom compartment This area is marked by broad attention where players are attending to additional performance factors. This is a highly individualized section of The Hourglass.

OUTSIDE Outside of The Hourglass The player‘s attention becomes very broad,

non-specific, may or may not be golf related, can tie into a sense of satisfaction with, and enjoyment of, playing the game.

*Now is an appropriate time for golfers to evaluate both the amount During competition, it is critical that players do not and appropriate nature of the attempt to fix their game during these in between information they are taking in and times. The only adjustments they need to be making processing. are in their playing strategies and decision making

process. Learning outside of the Hourglass can be on the cognitive level, i.e. self-talk.


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IMPLEMENTATION KEY DO NOT go any further in your work until you have started habituating The Hourglass.

Where Are We? You are in the process of habitiating your 6-Step Routine. You may be well

into the 30-day contiguous habituation process by now.

You are working toward achieving the three major goals you have set for yourself. Consider making one of those goals a mind↔body skill (which can be your 6-Step Routine or Hourglass); one a technique skill; and one a tactical skill.

You are beginning the 30-day contiguous habituation process with The Hourglass.

ADDITIONAL HOURGLASS INFORMATION On the course, and even prior to making your first putting stroke, you use The Performance

Hourglass 1st. Use The Hourglass as you approach the 1

ST tee and with each remaining

shot throughout your entire round.

Example. During a practice round, one of our players discovered that the 5th

green at Pine

Needles in NC sloped in exactly the opposite direction from how it appeared once he was on

the green. He read a right-to-left slope and missed the putt because the green was an optical

illusion. Since it was a practice round, we walked back 30 yards from the green, took a

closer look, and sure enough, he could read the left-to-right break. IF he had been using

The Hourglass effectively, he would have picked up that information prior to being on the

green and using his 6-Step Routine.

In Traits of Champion Golfers, Graham and Stabler list four major reasons why golf is so

much of a mind game. About half of their reasons associated with the difficulty of

competitive golf revolve around the element of time. They pointed to the excessive down

time in the game between shots as well as the excessive amount of time it takes to play a

round of golf. Both your 6-Step Performance Routine and The Hourglass address the

critical issue of time in your game. It is important that you take the techniques you are

learning and habituating within your new 6-Step Performance Routine and begin

incorporating them within your between-shots routine, which is what we call The Hourglass.

Your 6-Step Routine needs to be learned prior to this lesson.


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COMPETITIVE GOLF and The Hourglass We recommend that you review Associative Learning,

Autonomous Performance, and Step 6 of your putting

routine before continuing with this section from your manual.

Those three areas of understanding are foundational to your

success in competitive golf.

One more time, and this time with

heart….Competitive golf demands that you pay

attention to appropriate information from the course, to the

conditions, and to the situations you face with each putt and golf shot. Competitive

performance is all about making the best decisions for the situations at hand, creating and

executing

precise blueprints for each stroke

or shot, and learning from

appropriate feedback. If we

observe one consistent

competitive shortcoming among

golfers, it is the inability to

understand their game, the course

they are playing, and adapt to course conditions quickly enough. Competitive golf requires

you to be physically poised and mentally engaged at critical times during a round, BUT

NOT ALL OF THE TIME.

You cannot maintain a high level of attention and intent, or an ideal level of

intensity, through an entire round of golf. You must learn to move into, and out of, your

performance routines. That transition can be

achieved by mastering The Hourglass. The

primary technique The Hourglass can teach you

is how to move into and out of appropriate levels

of attention and intensity with each shot and

through an entire golf round.

Be certain that you habituate The

Hourglass and your 6-Step Performance Routine

prior to competition time so you will have them when you need them the most. START TO

WORK RIGHT NOW!

Under competitive conditions, do you think you are with your decision making? (we will be

using this information later in your training)

___Aggressive, ____Assertive, ____Submissive

―I am mastering the ability

to transition into and out of

my primary mental and

physical state during a

round of golf.‖

A consistent competitive shortcoming among

golfers is their inability to full understand

their game, the course they are playing, and

adapt to course conditions quickly enough.


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To the 1st Tee

Start using The Hourglass on your way to the 1st tee and continue using it throughout the

entire golf round. The information you gather in working through The Hourglass will be

used directly in accomplishing your objectives in getting you off the 1st tee.

Example. During the first round of a tournament, and as he

approached the 1st tee, one of our Tour professionals noticed

excessive mental distress, physical tightness, and negative

emotions starting to build within himself. His negative

self-talk turned on and his Critical Judge started taking over.

Because he had already habituated the performance within his 6-Step Routine, he was able to

work through his Breathing Response and Immediate Poise Response, and move into

visualizing the shot he knew the 1st tee called for. He had efficiently changed channels from

his Critical Judge and onto processing information through his senses. His brain was

moving into sensory control mode. He was able to remain physically poised and mentally

engaged as he moved into his position behind the ball, worked through his 6-Step Routine,

and physically

produced the swing

prescribed by his mental

blueprint. It was the

combination of The

Hourglass and his

6-Step Routine that helped him accomplish his objectives in getting off the 1st tee.

THE BEGINNING

IF you wait until you are competing to initiate your 6-Step Routine, you may be too late to salvage success. Use The Hourglass as your transition into, and out of, your 6-Step Routine.

“I now understand why it is critical that I

habituate my new 6-Step Performance Routine,

and techniques such as the Breathing Response,

prior to working through The Hourglass.” From

one of our college golfers.


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Between Shots What element of competitive golf do you spend the most amount of time in?

What element of competitive golf do you have no control over?

What element of competitive golf, relative to the time spent in it, receives little of no

training time or attention?

We already gave you the answer to the previous question, the amount of time between holes

and shots. That time can be both a blessing to, and a curse for, you and your golf game.

However, time is not the factor to consider, since it is in the Circle of NO Control. So, what

about time is within your Circle of Control? Correct, how you choose to perceive time

and use it to your advantage.

Use the following section to create a Between Shot/Hole Routine for yourself. Place the

results on a 3 x 5 card and carry it in your bag until you have habituated it.

Additional information on managing yourself between holes and shots appears in the

Playing Competitive Golf Section.

Example: Between Shot/Hole Routine -Check the equipment used, clean if necessary, and put away. If between holes, check and

clean golf ball.

-Following a shot, if I produced athletic move through the ball and my execution matched

my blueprint, reinforce the blueprint and move on.

-IF I did not produce an appropriate shot, learn from the experience and move on to the next

hole/shot.

-Hydrate on every hole, even in cold weather.

-Fuel and keep energy levels up. Set up your own routine, perhaps a small snack every three

or four holes.

-Manage self-talk and self-control. Create reinforcing self-talk phrases. Such as, when

playing well, ―Keep up the good work, the practice is paying off, and continue playing one

hole, one shot, at a time.‖ ―The game is all about consistent improvement, what can I still

get better at?‖

-When not playing well, ―Focus on routines until my swing returns, and it will return.‖

―Create and execute shots I have confidence in and can execute 6 out of 10 times.‖ ―Never,

never, never, never give up.‖

Review your Golfer‘s Profile System

Look carefully at your Golfer‘s Profile System, it will provide some insight into your

personality between shots.


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My Between Shot/Hole Routine

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*Remember the additional time information in the Playing Competitive Golf Section.


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Journalizing

My Performance Development Journal Page.

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SET UP AND TAKEAWAY:

foundations of the golf swing.

Step 1 is learning and habituating an effective set up and takeaway for each of

your golf swings and strokes.

Reminder: A proper setup and takeaway are

80% - 90% of the success in the golf swing and

putting stroke. You can make an average swing

from a proper setup and still create a good shot.

However, from an improper setup, the quality of

your swing does not matter, and the odds are you

will not create good shots. Many golfers struggle

playing the game, not because they do not know what to do, but because they fail to

establish and habituate an effective setup in the first place. Drill and practice your ideal

setup until it becomes habit. Set up to every shot correctly.

Very little about an effective setup in golf is what you would call a natural athletic position.

That is because a proper setup does not equate to many of the physical activities you do

throughout a typical day. Can you think of any daily activities where you: bend at the waist

like a waiter; keep your back straight and perhaps have your spine tilted slightly to the right;

keep your chin up (only when looking through bottom of bifocals); stand tall with your

shoulders square; keep your feet at shoulder width apart; have your knees flexed slightly

with the majority of your weight on the balls of your feet; position one hip slightly higher or

lower than the other; maintain perfect static and dynamic balance ; and where you are

practicing tightest jeans, a punch in the gut, and cutters. That is not really a question, it is a

statement.

“No matter how well a posture development and strengthening program is

structured, if you do not change your positioning in your daily activities as

well as when you are playing golf, you will not be successful.”

Ralph Simpson, p. 74.

Never leave the setup and

takeaway to chance. Check

them out on a regular basis,

they are 80% to 90% of your

success with the golf swing.


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One Element at a Time Learn and habituate one setup element at a time.

Alignment, Alignment, and Alignment We were at the Honda Classic working with a player

when a spectator stopped and commented how

exciting it must be to work with professionals at that

level of the game. Little did the spectator know that

we had invested the entire practice session checking

out and balancing the player‘s grip, posture, stance, aim, and alignment. At the high school

level of the game, and even in college, coaches must realize the importance of proper aim

and alignment, understand it completely, and CONTINUALLY CHECK PLAYERS OUT

ON ALIGNMENT. It is important to train players to establish and correct their own

alignment during practice and play. And YES, alignment does differ from player and body

type to player. Our 6-Step Performance Routine contains a very specific and effective

alignment for players to habituate.

Practice Example: We do not allow golfers to give each other golf lessons, it would be like

the blind leading the blind. However, we always encourage players to check out, and work

on, alignment during all practice sessions. WARNING LABEL: Not every golfer‘s

alignment is the same, so check with Coach before you start working on your, or another

golfer‘s, alignment.

Positioning the Hands On the Club grip. The purpose of the grip is to guarantee control of the club without inducing tension. When

the hands are applied correctly, no manipulations are necessary to return the club face square at

impact, nor is there need to attempt to consciously use the writst. Grip is an unfortunate choice of

words for describing the act of connecting the hands with the golf club. The hands must

mesh with the club in a poised and proper position so that they function in coordination with

the clubface. The hands and clubface move in sinc with each other. Think of your hands as

sensors of information about the clubface. Additional information on prip techniques

appears throughout your materials, but what is important right now is to understand that the

hands work in sinc with the clubface.

Hands =‘s Clubface

Clubface =‘s Direction of the Ball

Soft hands (we refer to them as “poised hands” in our drills) promotes a smooth swing.

Poised hands and a light touch on the club during the setup and swing have a myrid of

benefits for the swing. Keeping tension out of the hands helps keep tension out of the arms

and shoulders as well.

Drill #1

- Set up to a golf ball on a tee with a 7-iron. Move into your regular stance and keep the

head of the club immediately above the ball.

Never let me catch you

practicing without your

alignment sticks!


227

- Squeez the club as tightly as you can, hold for ten seconds, and sense the tension spread to

your hands, forearms, and shoulders.

- Relax your hands to the point where you can barely hold the club above the ball, but can

sense the tension draining out of your hands, arms, and shoulders.

- Now, and this is important, tighten your hands only to the point where you sense that you

have control of the head of the club and can feel the weight out on the head. This can be as

little as 20% grip pressure for golfers with quiet hands.

- Now, make a regular swing through the ball and notice that your hands will respond

automatically to the centripital force of the golf swing.

- Use this drill inbetween swings in practice and competition to help you mainain soft hands.

Drill #2

Pick up a 7-iron. Grip it and then play around with it until you understand and appreciate

the fact that the clubface always moves in exact compliance with your hands.

Extent the club out horizontally in front of your body. Focus on your hands and the clubface

simultaneously. Rotate and move your hands around and up and down until you convince

yourself that the hands and clubface move together in harmony. It is imperative that you

increase the sensitivity of your hands to the clubface and maintain soft (poised) hands.

Step 2. Move into your stance. Close your eyes. As you take a slow practice swing, weigh

the clubhead through the swing and sense the hands and clubface functioning as a single

unit.

Step 3. Still with your eyes closed, take a slow practice swing, sense the weight out on the

end of the club, and imagine that your hands are the clubface.

Step 4. Open your eyes, set up to a golf ball, repeat Steps 2 and 3 with your eyes open, then

close your eyes as you make a swing through the ball.

Remember how habits are formed.

Do one exercise or skill drill at a time for 21-30 contiguous days.

Repeat the drill 60 times a day with combinations of slow motion and regular speed.

Evaluate only the content of one skill drill at a time.

Have some fun as you focus more on learning and process improvement than on outcome.

Posture In essence, for an effective setup, you must have perfect posture for the golf swing. A

perfect setup is impossible for most golfers because they never practice, nor do they have,

perfect posture throughout each day. When your muscles are not conditioned properly, you

revert to poor habits that feel more comfortable to you. From a poor setup, swinging the

club correctly is improbably and inconsistent at best.

Standard Setup in the FULL SWING What follows is the setup for the full swing with a typical golfer. Work through the

drawings below (or from p. 80 in Doc Suttie‘s Your Perfect Swing book) and identify the

setup keys we have listed for a proper set up.


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Source: Doc Suttie‘s Swing book, pp. 80-81. In order to adjust the standard setup and

takeaway to individual golfers, you can reference Doc Suttie‘s The LAWs of the Golf Swing

book.

Full Swing Setup for the typical golfer – if there is such a person. If we only had one full swing setup to teach players, the following is the one we would

work from. With more advanced players, we use the LAWS™ model and make

adjustments to the following information.

[Additional information is provided in the Swing Instructor Section on each of the following

items.]

1. In the stance, the back-middle of the heels are as wide as the outside of the shoulders.

2. The player‘s weight is on the middle, inside, of both feet; equally balanced to start out and

can shift with different clubs, shots, and fairway conditions. Example: With the driver, most

golfers place more of the weight on the back foot, 60% for most players. However, the

opposite percentage of foot weight occurs within the Rotating Finesse Swing.

2.A. We prefer to have a sense of the body weight being on the hips, rather than sensing it in

the knees.

3. Typical ball position begins in the middle of the body (vs. middle of the feet) with wedges

and moves forward with longer clubs.

4. The player‘s head is positioned slightly behind the ball and remains there through the

swing); chin is help upward slightly.

5. Eyes are parallel to the target line.

6. In the full coiling swing, the front foot is flared open slightly and the back foot remains

perpendicular to the target line.

7. Shoulders are parallel to the target line. The eye line and shoulders are the two most

important alignment elements, even more than the feet.

8. The golfer is standing stall, the back is flat and without rounding the shoulders, and with a

straight spine that is tilted slightly to the right.

9. There is a square stance, meaning that the tips of the toes form a straight line (before they

are flared) that is parallel with the target line.

(photos are being added…sorry

about that)


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10. The golfer is bending forward at the hip joints, not at the waist, with the upper body

tilted slightly to the right.

11. The knees are flexed slightly, weight centered in the hips versus the knees, with the body

in an athletic and ready position. Can you jump straight up? You need to be able to!

12. Tightest jeans, shoulders in the slot, poised hands, a punch in the gut, and cutters are

engaged to help stabilize the core muscles.

13. With a driver, the hands and positioned off the inside of the left thigh. With shorter

clubs, the position of the hands moves back toward the center of the body.

14. The arms are in a poised position with the shoulders in the slot. Yes, there is more

information on all of these points later on in this section.

15. A line of balance can be draw from the top of the player‘s spine down to the ground.

The line intersects the inside of the elbows, the front of the knees, and the tips of the toes.

16. Practice moving into a balanced position by using a balance board. Come see me, I have

one in the office.

17. Grip pressure is very light and the player is able to sense the weight of the club out on

the head.

18. While the position of the hands on the club (the player‘s grip style) varies from player to

player, a cup in the left wrist occurs with all grip styles.

19. The player‘s left shoulder is aligned inside of their left knee.

20. Read about cutters, a punch in the gut, and tightest jeans below.

Additional information appears in this Swing Section on how the stance is modified with

putting, chipping, pitching, and the remainder of the golf swings.

Muscles of the Stance Primary muscles engaged in the stance are your core

muscles; the muscles of your trunk. A strong core

helps stabilize the torso, shoulders, hips, etc. Strong

lower abdominal muscles are needed to support the

lower back and hips at address. Strong and flexible

upper back muscles are needed to support your shoulders and arms.

When we first learned about cutters, a punch in the gut, and tightest jeans from

Ralph Simpson, we immediately started incorporating them into our setup routine. We were

immediately impressed with how these two techniques helped stabilize our core through the

golf swing and produced a more consistent and powerful swing. Start developing them

into a habit today!

“The most important rule in a conditioning program for golf is to work and develop

strength from the core region of the body outward.” Simpson, p. 67.

Refer to Core Exercises in the Conditioning Section.

Read about cutters, a punch in

the gut, and tightest jeans in the

Conditioning Section and then

incorporate them into your 6-

Step Routine and daily life.


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Gathering Motions – Forward Press and Waggle Think of both a forward press and a waggle as bridges between setting up to the ball and

transitioning into the swing or stroke. Fact: all athletic moves are best initiated with a

gathering motion of some type. This includes the golf swing and putting stroke. Nearly

every professional golfer uses some form of gathering technique to keep their body motion

fluid during the setup and for triggering the golf swing. The irony is that few amateurs use a

gathering technique, which we believe is a technical error. In our training, we refer to one

of these gathering motions as a forward press and another as a waggle. Yes, there are more

than just two techniques, but two will get you started.

Forward Press. Often times, a golfer‘s forward press is

barely noticeable, especially in the putting and pitching

stroke when they are using isometrics. A forward press

has many variations and changes from player to player.

The objectives, however, of all forward presses remain

the same. This gathering motion helps produce a more

fluid and rhythmic swing and is often the physical

trigger for initiating the actual swing or stroke. A

forward press can help ensure that you are habituating a fluid setup and takeaway with each

of your strokes and swings.

Waggle. A waggle, much like a forward press, takes a variety of forms depending on the

golfer. The objectives, however, of all waggles remain the same. A waggle establishes a

pattern for the takeaway and actual swing, keeps you fluid in the transition from the setup to

the swing, and triggers the golf swing itself. One form a waggle takes is the mini-swing.

Visualize and feel your body making a mini-back swing, but only swing a foot or two back.

Next, visualize and sense your body retracing the path of the club back to the ball, THEN

immediately execute your regular swing or stroke. A waggle can help ensure that you are

habituating a fluid setup and takeaway with each of your strokes and swings.

So, which technique do you prefer and what is your Action Plan for building it into

your routine? _____________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

Adjustments Each of the following stokes and swings have

unique elements within the setup and takeaway:

putting; chipping; pitching and the Rotating

Finesse Swing; long irons and fairway woods;

tee shots; and sand play and other specialty shots and swings. However one of the factors

they all have in common is that they are best executed from a dynamic set up.

ALSO, the following swing styles have unique

elements within their setup and takeaway as well:

Leverage Player; Arc Player; and Width Player.

One setup, takeaway, and

gathering motion does NOT fit

all swings or shots.

Nor does one setup, takeaway,

and gathering motion fit all

golfers and swing styles.

Isometrics is a type of training or

movement in which the joint

angle and muscle length do not

change during contraction. The

joints and muscles are working

against an immovable force.


231

1-1-1 Putting Flow Drill Most golfers take far too much time over the ball, and too little time behind the ball

preparing for the shot. The 6-Step Routine, in combination with the 1-1-1 Flow Drill

will help reverse that discrepancy. This drill helps create and maintain a dynamic

setup and trigger for the putting stroke.

Review our 6-Step Performance Routine, or the Abbreviated Practice Routine, with a

putting stroke. Work through the 6-Step Routine and make a practice stroke without a ball

and at your regular pace and timing. As you work through the routine the next time, count

―one thousand and 1‖ to yourself through the entire routine. Counting helps establish a

sense of timing and rhythm through the stroke. We employ a regular metronome (set on one

beat a second) to aid players in the assessment and development of their tempo and rhythm

through each shot. We recommend you use a metronome as well. As you work through the

first stages of your Routine, do not start counting (one thousand and 1) until you see a GO

SIGN flash in your brain. Here is how creating a mental GO SIGN works. When you have

completed the pre-shot portion of our Routine to where you have mentally made two

successful putts and are focused on the alignment spot your putt will travel over on route to

the target, then and only then, allow the words ―GO‖ flash in your brain and begin your

counting (one thousand and 1).



As you approach the ball and are counting ―one thousand and 1‖, simultaneously

align the face of your putter behind the ball and perpendicular with the target line, as

you also set your left eye in position relative to the ball. You execute all of these

moves simultaneously on the count of ―one thousand and 1‖. It will take some

practice.

On the next count, place both feet together, perpendicular with the target line, and

with the ball in the middle of them.

On the next count, move the left foot into its proper position.

On the next count, move the right foot into its proper position.

On the following count execute a forward press to trigger the back stroke.

Execute On the following count execute the stroke.

Discontinue counting and hold your finish until the ball stops rolling. Learn from the

feedback.

Reminder on a Forward Press

A forward press can be used to triggers motor memory to release the blueprint of the

putting stroke to the body.

Moves the body (especially the arms and hands) into a more appropriate position for

the finesse rotating style and full swings.

In order not to de-loft the clubface, we recommend an isometric forward press with

the putting and chipping strokes.

Initiates a sense of timing, tempo, and rhythm.

Relieves tension in the body.


232

Helps ensure a dynamic setup and takeaway for a successful putting stroke and full

swing.

Takeaway The importance of the setup and takeaway are critical for several reasons. For one thing, the

setup and takeaway are controllable elements of the golf swing and thus easier to learn and

habituate. The setup and takeaway take on added importance because they occur slowly, are

very coachable, and are precursors to an effective golf swing.

“By the time you get past the first foot or so (in the takeaway and

backswing), most of the good or bad techniques have already occurred in the

swing.” Source: “Your Perfect Swing,” Doc Suttie, p. 81.

Do you have 100% understanding, and control, of your setup and takeaway? If not, you

must work toward developing that level of control.

How you initiate the backswing directly influences the position of the club at the 7:00

position, which influences the position of the club at the top, and the sequence of events

goes on and on. Therefore, the first foot of so in the takeaway is critical.

An incorrect takeaway also results in making compensations on the downswing in

order to get the club back to the ball in the most efficient method, and path, possible. There

is one thing we know about compensations. They always break down at one point or

another, and typically under the pressure of competition.

*If we only had one full takeaway to teach players, the following is the one we would

use. With more advanced players we always use the LAWS™ model and the

information below.

TAKEAWAY

Leverage. A Sequenced (versus 1-piece) Backswing Two things must occur simultaneously in the backswing of the Leverage Player. The L arm

must swing across the chest as the R. hip begins to turn over the R. heel. The club swings

back along the toe line until the L hand is an inch or so past the right foot. At that point, the

L arm is fully extended; a point signaling the end of the takeaway or the ―running out of the

left arm.‖ The L arm swings to a 45ºangle for maximum power, because during the

downswing the L arm stays melded to the chest so the full force of the body is behind the

club. On the takeaway, neither the chest nor shoulders turn until they are pulled around by

the L. arm as it swings away from the ball. The sequence is arms/right hip →then shoulders

and chest. The sequence of motion, led by the L. arm, keeps a stretch on the muscles of the

left side of the body, especially the triceps. This move is the beginning of coiling. To

maximize coil, keep your shirt buttons even with the ball (no swaying) until the pull of the

L. arm becomes irresistible.


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Arc. The takeaway is dedicated to creating width. In the takeaway for the full swing, everything

must move slowly and in harmony to set the club in the proper path and keep it under

control. Manipulating or jerking the club away from the ball is a course for disaster. A

good, 1-piece, takeaway, similar to Payne Stewart‘s, looks peaceful because everything

moves together. Everything in the upper body (hands, arms, shoulders, and chest),

including the club, moves away from the ball in harmony. Think ―everything back‖. The

chest is the master mover. Arc swings look smooth because their perfectly synchronize

turning motion is keyed by the upper body. When the chest turns, the arms, hands, and club

move with it naturally unless they do something to prevent it.

Since you have an extended, 1-piece takeaway, you shift your weight later than other

swing types, and it happened in conjunction with the setting of your wrists and the folding of

your right elbow.

Width. Begin the takeaway by turning the L shoulder behind the ball. When the hands reach a point

above the R knee, the heel pad of the L hand pushes down on the club handle to cock the

wrists (refer to the specific grip for the Width Style). The R elbow stays straight until it

bends to elevate the club. Get a sense of this description before going on. In conjunction

with the L hand action, the R. hand pushes down on the knuckle of your L thumb to extend

your arms away from your body. This is another way of creating the necessary width in

your swing. Work to get a sense of this more now. Set your wrists as your arms swing

away from the ball. This is an important move. This takeaway sets the club shaft on a

slightly more upright angle than standard, just above your R shoulder. A key move in the

backswing is allowing the upper spine to float slightly toward the R foot as you set the club

in position.

Describe Your Takeaway

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________.


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What is the primary purpose of a forward press and the takeaway?‖ Response: A forward press gathers the body and, along with the takeaway, initiates a chain

of events that helps deliver the clubface back through the ball perfectly square to the target

line, perfectly vertical, so that only the loft of the club affects the trajectory of the shot, on

the correct path, with maximum velocity at the bottom of the swing arc every single time.

Circle of Control, Circle of Influence, and Circle of No Control

As you know by now, we talk at length about the differences between Circles of Control and

Circles of No Control. There is an article on these circles in the Attachment Section. Think

in terms of the setup, takeaway, backswing, and position at the top of the swing as all being

inside the Circle of Control. These swing elements are all within your control. Now think

of the downswing, impact, and follow through as being in the Circle of Influence. These

swing positions are influenced by the previous factors, but not under your direct control.

Forward Press – Part of a Larger Picture Golf is a dynamic move, not a static move. It is a ground reaction sport. [Refer to The

Physics of Golf by Dr. Jorgensen.] Therefore, the skills of the golf swing work best when

the swing is initiated from a dynamic motion versus a static position. Recall the Law of

Physics stating that a body in motion tends to stay in motion and a body at rest tends to say

at rest. Plus, a body in motion can establish and maintain a rhythmic motion. A body at rest

has no rhythm. You will be learning a forward press as part of that dynamic motion. The

other part of the dynamic motion is maintaining a sense of motion through the set up and

takeaway of the golf swing. We mention the forward press in other sections of your manual,

but this section provides additional information. We stated previously that if we had to

recommend only one takeaway for the typical golfer, it would be the 1-Piece Takeaway.

Research on the physics of the golf swing indicates that a 1-Piece Takeaway can be more

effective than other options. The same research indicates that a technically sound swing

does NOT start with a move back and away from the ball. A technically sound swing begins

with moving the body, if only slightly (or not at all if using isometrics), toward the target.

Throughout your manual we refer to this move as a forward press. This slight forward

movement is NOT made with just the hands. It is made with the body.

Use a slight forward press, or forward gathering motion, in order to gather the body

for the back stroke. For the forward press, especially within the scoring game, work on

developing an isometric type forward gathering motion where there is very little, if any,

forward body movement, especially with the hands and the shaft of the club.


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Journalizing

My Setup Journal Page. Including the LAWS information.

Date Comments

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237

THE LEARNING AND

HABITUATING PROCESS

Terms are Important In our terminology, we use the terms technical skills or techniques when referring to specific

procedures and processes golfers use in the movement of their bodies in the performance of

a task that needs to be accomplished successfully; the golf swing itself.

The terms tactical skills or tactics are used when referring to the decisions player

make in order to increase their competitive performance.

We use the term mental performance skills when referring to the cognitive skills

players use in the successful creation and execution of techniques and tactics.

Mechanical power us used in reference to golf swing mechanics such as coiling,

rotating, wrist set, etc.

For a better understanding of the terms most coaches and athletes typically misuse, please

refer to Gifts from Eykis by Dr. Wayne Dyer. IF you take Dr. Dyer‘s book to heart, and

begin changing your thought process, it will alter your vocabulary as well. You will never

use terms including ―try‖ and ―should‖ in the same way again.


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A. General Information on the Golf Swing. There is NOT one golf swing or stroke.

No single golf swing or putting stroke fits all golfers.

All golfers have unique physical characteristics and swing requirements.

Golf is a game centered on the creation and transfer of energy, both physical

and mental.

Ensure that you practice playing the game of golf more than you practice the

golf swing.

Golf is a dynamic ground reaction sport.

Basic Golf Strokes, Swings, and Topics Covered Putting Stroke

Putt-Chip Stroke

Basic Pitching Stroke

Rotating Finesse Swing – Gateway to the full swing

Full Swing with Mid-irons

Getting off the Tee

Course Management (which is actually Self Management)

The Mind‘s Side…Mental Performance Skills

Many golfers struggle with the game of golf due to the fact that they start out with

incorrect or imprecise mental models (blueprints), as well as an incomplete

understanding of how energy is created and transferred through the golf ball.

Technically Sound Swing Model—Doc Suttie‘s Definition

A technically sound golf swing (and putting stroke) delivers the clubface

through the ball perfectly square to the target line, perfectly vertical, so that

only the loft of the club affects the trajectory of the shot, on the correct path,

with maximum velocity at the bottom of the swing arc every single time. Trust us, you will understand this definition and be working toward a technically

sound swing before long!

Not to worry, as we work through our lessons together, we will work with you on

developing appropriate models (mental blueprints) for each stroke and swing, as well as

enhancing your understanding of how to efficiently create and transfer energy through the

swing and into the ball.

One of our Performance Objectives


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One of our primary performance objectives is mentally creating an appropriate

blueprint for the shot at hand, physically executing the blueprint as precisely

as possible, and learning from the experience.

Strategy: work on the 80% First. Another reason for unwarranted struggle in golf is that most golfers lack a specific and clear

strategy for improvement. The following is part of our strategy.

80% to 90% error rate. ―Your setup writes the script for your golf swing‖ says Mike

Adams on page 57 of his golf book The LAWS of the Golf Swing. ―We estimate that over

90% of all swing errors are caused by a faulty setup.‖

We recommend working with golfers at all levels of the game on these foundations: grip;

posture; stance; alignment; ball position; and aiming. Please remember that these

foundations can change with each stroke or swing and that no one position fits all players.

We introduce you to each of these factors in the following swing information.

Refer to the basic grip information in the ―Coaching Less Skilled Golfers‖ Section.

Tactical Skill: Learn from Green-To-Tee We have found that in learning and developing the game, working from green-to-tee is the

more effective strategy. This means learning and habituating the foundational elements of

the short game of golf 1st and then building the game out toward the tee shot from there.

The key is to build a golfer‘s game upon a strong foundation of technical and tactical skills,

mental performance skills, habit patterns, knowledge of the game, as well as knowledge of

the creation and transfer of energy, both physical and emotional. Here is one order for

learning the separate swings:

Putting Stroke

Chip-Putt Stroke

Chipping Stroke

Pitching Stroke

Rotating Finesse Swing – the gateway to the full swing

Mid-Iron Full Swings

Long Irons and Fairway Woods

Getting off the Tee

Trouble and Specialty Shots

Golf Stroke Efficacy Efficacy in golf is different from self-confidence. Efficacy is a noun that refers to the

capacity something, such as the golf swing, has for producing a desired outcome or effect;

effectiveness. What is the efficacy of your player‘s golf swing? Said another way, what is

the effectiveness of your golfer swing. This is different from believing in yourself to

execute your golf swing, this is belief in the swing itself.


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Common to all Efficient Swings It is helpful to have your players experience shooting a free throw shot. That‘s right, a free

throw shot. As they shoot, have them pay specific attention to how energy is created from

the ground up, transported through their bodies, and transferred to the ball. Some of you

may need to simulate shooting a free throw shot without a basket, but it is worth the effort.

You can do it!

Now to Golf. Here is the golf applicable information for reinforcing the experience

of shooting a basketball. Free throw shooting, like other athletic moves (batting, throwing,

kicking, swinging, etc.) is a ground reaction movement that must be fluid, athletic, and have

precise timing and rhythm in order to be effective. In order to create the proper timing,

tempo, rhythm, and balance through motion in a free throw shot, how do effective shooters

initiate each and every shot?

Answer

The correct answer is: effective basketball players initiate their free throw shooting with a

gathering motion. Here is a free throw sequence for creating and transporting power to the

ball.

A slight gathering motion of the entire body down toward the floor and onto the feet

to trigger the start of the shot.

An upward springing motion that creates energy, transfers it up through the body,

and into the basketball.

Effective free throw shooting is:

an athletic move with flow;

a ground reaction movement;

initiated with a gathering motion; and

contains price timing, tempo, rhythm, and balance through motion.

An effective GOLF shot is:

an athletic move with has flow;

a ground reaction movement;

initiated with a gathering motion; and

has precise timing, tempo, rhythm, and balance through motion.

We do not consider putting and chipping strokes as athletic moves in the same sense

that we think of the full golf swing. They must, however, have flow, static balance,

etc.

Law: Newton‘s Law of Physics states that a body in motion tends to stay in motion

and a body at rest tends to stay at rest.

Key concept: The golf ball is stationary, not the golfer.

Practice: Work to maintain a dynamic motion, versus static, through the set up and

into the putting stroke or full golf swing. Do NOT freeze over the ball.


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Developing Timing

A critical link in coaching and developing golf swings strokes is timing, tempo, rhythm,

balance through motion, and concentration. When any of these factors are out of sink, even

at the millisecond level, the brain computes and variance and does its best to correct it, but is

not always successful. An effective method of assessing and developing these important

performance links is the Interactive Metronome™ system.

Here is a review of the goals for our IM training.

improve golf swing timing, which included eye-hand coordination;








Gathering Motion – the forward press Nearly every athletic move is initiated with a gathering motion of some type and form.

Professional golfers use some form of gathering motion to keep their bodies moving during

the setup and to trigger the golf swing. One of those gathering motions as a forward press.

Often times, a golfer‘s forward press is barely

noticeable, especially when they are using isometrics.

Tommy Watson, PGA Tour Professional, has talked

about pressing up against a solid object, such at the wall

at St. Andrews, to generate his forward press for the

putting stroke.

The forward press has many variations and

changes from player to player. The objectives, however,

of all forward presses remains the same. This gathering

motion helps produce a more fluid and rhythmic swing and is often the physical trigger for

initiating the actual swing or stroke.

Here is an Isometric ―How To‖

As you move into your golf stance, it is imperative to keep your body in motion, slight

though it may be. Many professional golfers avoid grounding the club behind the ball for

any length of time, if they ground it at all. Grounding the club produces a more static set up.

Additionally, players typically transfer very small amounts of weight from one foot to the

other, or to the balls of the feet, to help keep their sense of motion and balance alive. Other

top players use a slight waggling motion in order to keep the hands, arms, and shoulders

tension free. Then finally, there is the forward press, a slight gathering motion which

maintains flow in the setup and can trigger the backswing.

Isometrics is a type of training or

movement in which the joint

angle and muscle length do not

change during contraction. The

joints and muscles are working

against an immovable force.


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Forward Press

Helps maintain a poised set up position as well as a fluid start to the takeaway;

can be used to trigger the takeaway; and

helps move the hands slightly forward and into a more appropriate hitting position in

the full coil and rotating swings.

Yes, a forward press is used in the putting and chipping strokes. However, ensure

that you do NOT de-loft the face of the club in the process. With the putting,

chipping, and pitching strokes we train golfers in using an isometric forward press

because we do NOT want the hands moving into a forward position prior to the

takeaway. Please note that using isometrics is our preference, not a law or principle.

Brain Power – another reason for a dynamic setup

We refer to maintaining a dynamic (versus static) set up and initiation of the swing for a

variety of reasons, one of which is based on how the brain functions. A stated objective of

our 6-Step Performance Routine is creating and executing a blueprint of the golf

swing/stroke on auto pilot (automaticity). EEG brain testing shows that the most effective

method of creating and executing blueprints of the golf stroke includes processes all

information through the senses versus self-talk (cognition/thinking). When a golfer freezes

over the ball during their setup, they almost certainly guarantee that the brain shifts from

sensory processing to self-talk, thus severely lessening the probability of executing the

appropriate blueprint on auto pilot. Why does self-talk create disruption in the golf swing?

Because from the time the brain creates a specific blueprint of the appropriate golf stroke,

until the millisecond when the face of the club actually contacts the ball, the brain can, on

average, only hold that specific blueprint for 8 to 12 seconds. You may recall the fact that

all golf shots are executed from memory. We know from biofeedback assessment and

testing that an average golfer can only concentrate on a specific blueprint for about three

seconds. The brain can, however, be trained to hold a specific blueprint for twelve seconds.

Top golfers have learned to play from that memory base and execute their swings and

strokes within a twelve second range.

Grip Pressure is Foundational to the Swing

How firm a player holds the club impacts the tempo or pace of the putting stroke and

golf swing.

Every golfer‘s tempo (or pace) differs slightly.

ALL golfers execute their natural pace more efficiently with a grip pressure that

allows them to sense the club head‟s weight through the swing (“weigh the club

head”) and sense the club head‟s transition from the backswing to the follow

through. STOP: Can you to that? ____________

When a player‘s grip becomes tighter than normal for their tempo, their tempo

changes. When tempo changes, the rhythm and timing of the swing tends to collapse

around the golfer.

No matter which grip you are teaching, instruct players in how to weigh the club

head through the stroke or swing and move their shoulders into the slot. Do you

remember the slot from our Dynamic Pre-Warm Up Drill? If not, you can take a

minute and review it now.


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Summary: too light a hand pressure at address is more productive than too tight a

grip because the hands adjust naturally to the pull of force through the swing.

Remove Distress – A Key to Competitive

Performance Fact: One of the primary causes of poor and missed

golf shots, especially within the scoring game, is

excess tension in the hands, arms, and shoulders

caused by the self-induced distress of competitive

performance, or performance under self-induced

pressure. Players often practice the scoring game

well, score well in practice, but then execute poorly during competition. Does this ever

happen with your players? __________. Well, do you?

To cure inconsistent performance during competition, we coach players on

maintaining a very light hand pressure on all shots, especially in the scoring game, to drop

the shoulders into the slot, and to execute strokes by synchronizing and employing the larger

muscles of the body. One of our preference strategies is ―the closer to the hole, the lighter

the grip.‖ An additional strategy is helping players learn and habituate the use of body

synchronization through the swing, especially in the scoring game.

Summary

The setup and transition in the golf swing must be dynamic in order for the mind and body

to function in the most effective manner. The LAW is: A body at rest tends to stay at rest.

A body in motion tends to stay in motion. There are a variety of mental, physical, as well

as emotional reasons for maintaining a dynamic setup and transition into the golf swing.

Remember that the best estimates remain that 80% - 90% of all swing errors originate in the

set up and takeaway for the golf swing. Work to correct that 90% first.

A Key to Competitive

Performance. My #1 error with

this stroke occurs when my grip

being too tight during the swing.

Dave Pelz (Author, Short Game

Bible) refer to his grip as “dead

hands.” See what you think.


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Customize Swing Instruction One of the major roadblocks in teaching and coaching

the golf swing is treating all golfers the same,

regardless of their mental and physical attributes.

Our philosophy is that technical skills must change

in accordance with each golfer‘s body type, major power sources, plus flexibility and range

of motion. Also, effective coaches do not forces players to change their golf swings in order

to adapt to poorly fitted equipment. Golf clubs need to be fitted to players in order to

accommodate their swings, support their strengths, and help eliminate their weaknesses.

Then why do so many coaches continue to force players into one type of swing? Learning

and executing the golf swing is made infinately more difficult when coaches instruct

players in swing techniques their bodies are ill equiped to perform. Research by

Adams, Tomasi, and Suttie (published in The LAWS of the Golf Swing) revealed that at least

two out of three golfers are victims of a mismatch between their swing type and their body

type. Once a golfer falls victim to this mismatch, it becomes improbably for them to

maximize their potential for playing the game. Through our own research, we have found

the LAWS™ model to be the most effective way to build and reconstruct a golf swing. The

LAWS™ model provides guidelines for matching each player‘s swing to their body build,

giving them a personalized swing model adapted to their unique body type.

LAWS™ Model Here is the process we use with golfers in introducing them to, and instructing them in, the

LAWS™ Model.

First, we take each player through a physical assessment (strength, flexibility, timing,

etc.) to determine their major swing style variations (Leverage, Arc, or Width).

Next, we have each player read the information on their major swing type and

determine if they agree with it.

IF they agree, we move forward with the training. If they do not agree, or do not

understand the assessment and swing types, we work with them further.

Once their swing type has been established, we have them read back through the

appropriate LAWS™ information two or three times. We then discuss the

information with them to determine their level of understand and interest in

improving.

IF their understanding warrants it, we move forward with teaching them their new

swing model. That process is covered in our materials for you.

Because of the extensive nature of the LAWS information, we included it in a special

player handout and was omitted from this section due to its volumn. We have

players add their copy of the LAWS information to their swing manuals.

References: Due to the highly technical nature of the LAWS™ Model, we do NOT

recommend the book to players. We do, however, recommend that coaches obtain a copy.

In place of the LAWS book, we recommend Doc Suttie‘s Your Perfect Swing to players.

And yes, coaches need a copy of that book as well.

Resource: The LAWS of the Golf Swing by Adams, Tomasi, and Suttie, a Harper Collins

publication.

Why do so many coaches and

instructors continue to force

players into an ill-fitted type of

golf swing?


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Alignment, Alignment, and Alignment At all levels of the game, coaches and players must

realize the importance of proper aim and alignment,

understand it completely, and CONTINUALLY

CHECK IT OUT. It is critical to train players to

establish and correct their own alignment during practice and play. And YES, alignment

does differ from player and body type to player. Our 6-Step Performance Routine contains a

very specific and effective alignment for players to habituate.

Practice Example: We do not allow golfers to give each other golf lessons, it would be like

the blind leading the blind. However, we always encourage players to check out, and work

on, alignment during all practice sessions. WARNING LABEL: Not every golfer‘s

alignment is the same, so check with Coach before you start working on your, or another

golfer‘s, alignment.

BALL ROLL – An introduction to Ball Flight (for R-handed golfers) The objective of this review is to reinforce how the face of the putter creates the roll of the

ball across a green. Yes, the surface of the green impacts the roll of the ball as well. The

following example occurs on a relatively flat putting surface.

__ Straight. With putting, the ball rolls straight toward the target.

__ Push. Ball travels to the right of the target.

Note: This ball has straight top spin, but was impacted with an in-to-out stroke path,

and thus travels straight right of the target.

__ Slice. Ball curves/rolls to the right of the target.

Note: This ball is spinning/rotating in a clockwise motion, and thus spins toward the

right of the target. Be certain you know how the face of the club created that spin.

__ Pull. Ball travels to the left of the target.

Note: This ball has straight top spin, but was impacted with an out-to-in stroke path,

and thus travels straight left of the target.

__ Draw. Ball starts out left of the target and curves/rolls further left.

Note: This ball is spinning in a counter clockwise motion, and thus spins

toward the left of the target.

*Review path, face angle, center of percussion, angle of attack, and kinetic energy as you

teach the previous information. For simplicity, begin teaching ball roll before progressing to

ball flight, however, the same laws of physics apply.

Never let me catch you

practicing without your

alignment sticks!


246

Clarity of Intent - Purpose While studying information on stroke techniques,

please keep in mind that clarity of intent and

visualization are important factors in determining

the form of a stroke or swing.

Example 1. Get two golf balls and stand to the side, and just off of, a practice or regular

green with a flag in it. Throw the 1st ball up into the air and have it land and stop as close to

the flag as possible. Roll the 2nd

ball along the green and have it stop as close to the flag as

possible.

With the 1st ball, your arm swung up fairly sharply and your weight shifted upward

and forward without you even thinking about it. With the 2nd

ball, your arm swung along a

flatter sweeping motion, your weight shifted more forward than up, all without you even

thinking about it. Both neuro-motor motions occurred automatically and were based on

your intent, or purpose for either action. The motion occurred without conscious

thought. You were not thinking about weight transfer or arm movement. Rather, you were

visualizing the flight, action, and outcome of throwing each ball; you working from

memory.

Example 2. Make a ―Ball-on-a-String‖ training aid

by attaching a 36‖ piece of string to a golf ball.

Go ahead and do that now. Grasp the end of the

string between the thumb and finger of your right

hand. Extend your arm out in front of you and at

the height of the top of your head. Look directly at

the ball and visualize it traveling in a clockwise circle.

Continue visualizing the ball traveling in a circle until

it is moving in that direction. Once it is moving in a

circle, visualize it traveling in a circle in the opposite

direction until it is actually moving in that direction.

Notice the very fine motor movement of your hand in creating those circles! They

are smooth because you are creating the movement through visualization and creativity

versus conscious control and self-talk. Your INTENT is to move the ball in a circle, you

visualize it, and the mind ↔ body connection produces it.

Application to golf.

The application to your golf game is that you will produce much smoother and more

consistent golf swings and strokes by using visualization and intent during your 6-Step

Routine than by self-talk and cognitively focusing on swing mechanics.

Keep the Ball-on-a-String, we will be using it in the putting section of your

materials.

Intent helps create mental

blueprints and retrieve

them from memory.


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Terms are important Start working right now on important golf terms during practice and carry them over into

competition. Example: Swing through each stroke and shot. Too many players, especially

men, think in terms of hitting. We prefer players to think in terms of swinging.

Additionally, we want players incorporating swinging through shots, and getting to their

finish, with all shots. Example: In teaching the finesse short game rotating swing, length

is controlled by how far back and through the shot players swing. The finish point in the

follow through is critical to distance control.

You will see more on terms and distance control throughout the manual.

Video Equipment - Review From a teaching and coaching perspective, we think that video and digital coaching systems

are among the best investment you can make in your program. When players cannot

visually track the mistakes they are making, it is difficult, if not impractical, for them to

change.

Remember that ball flight is not always a good indicator of successful swing

changes, especially in the early stages of making adjustments. Video is an effective way of

helping players see and track the changes, and progress, they are making.

Club Release There is some confusion with the terms club set, club release, wrist un-cocking, and club

lag, as well as when the hands actually release during the downswing. Club set refers to the

angle created between the club shaft and the plane of the arms as they move around the axis

of the body. During the downswing, the arms are propelled down to the ball. ―The body

goes around and the arms go up and down.‖ Using energy created by the lower body that

is passed through the core to the upper body, the arms achieve (but do not generate)

increased rotational speed. As the arms are accelerated, the angle between them and the

club shaft remains the same and in a cocked position. When the arms begin to decelerate

near the bottom of the swing, energy passes from the arms to the club, causing the club to

increase in rotational speed. On video review, the result is a change in the angle between

the club shaft and the arms, hence the terms of club release of wrist un-cocking. When the

movement is timed precisely, the clubface accelerates to maximum velocity upon impact

with the ball, resulting in optimal power production. Actually, the clubface does not

accelerate to maximum velocity until after it is through the ball, but that is a discussion for

another day.

Club release can be viewed on video as the increase in angle between the club shaft

and the arms when the swing nears impact with the ball. Two common misconceptions

center around the benefits of retaining the club in a cocked position until impact and forcing

the release by throwing the club from the top, or at some point during the downswing.

Fact: retaining the cocked wrist position interferes with the acceleration of the arms

around the axis of the body and reduces club-head speed. One golf instructor theorized that

accomplished golfers retain the club angle through the down swing longer than less

accomplished golfers do. ―Retaining the club angle longer through the downswing,‖

reports Doc Suttie, ―is a matter of style and preference. It is not a principle of an efficient

golf swing, much less a law.‖ In real terms, the acceleration of the arms around the axis of


248

the body is what creates the cocked angle and maintains the angle during the downswing.

Tension in the muscles of the wrists and arms, caused by attempting to retain that cocked

angle, typically results in the disruption of the flow of natural energy into the golf club. This

disruption creates a premature deceleration of the arms and, subsequently, a premature

release of the club angle, and thus the club head.

The value of throwing the club from the top is another misconception. The club

achieves its greatest acceleration when the arms decelerate and the cocked position releases

automatically. Forcing the release most often disrupts energy flow and creates tension in the

muscles, causing a premature deceleration of the arms and less impact power. In the full

golf swing, an effective swing results from the following combination of sequential

movements:

power generation using the large muscles of the lower body;

efficient transfer of energy from the legs through the core muscles to the upper body

and shoulders;

acceleration of the arms for optimal energy culmination and maximal power

production.

Recall that in the finesse rotating swing the sequential movement is everything back,

everything through.

Visualization and ―Swing Through Drill.‖ We remind our players to swing though the ball, not at it. Timing and stability through the swing are key to smooth acceleration and those two elements can be reinforced by a shorter backswing and then swinging through to a longer follow through. So many players in our clinics hit at the ball, rather than “swing through” the ball. Use the following visualization example and see what you think. Visualize an imaginary second ball; a ball sitting up on a tee about four inches in front of the actual ball. As you address and swing through the first ball, imagine that your swing must get through the real ball and still have sufficient speed and power to swing through the second ball just as hard and fast as the first. Hold your finish!

So, what did you think of the drill? ____________________________________________


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Journalizing

Developing the Golf Swing.

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251

B. Reading and Diagramming Greens.

“When you cannot determine the line and pace of

the putt you have, not even a perfect putting

stroke will make up for an incorrect read.” Coach

As a full time college golf coach, working on the PGA Tour has been and remains a

valuable learning and coaching experience. It keeps me learning all of the time. Over the

years we have found that some aspiring professional golfers are not much more efficient at

reading greens than some of our college golfers. Therefore, we have moved the section on

Reading and Diagramming Greens up on our practice and preparation priority list as well as

in our manuals.

A Foundational Skill Learning to read, understand, and plan for the

undulation and speed of greens is imperative not only

to scoring in putting, chipping, and pitching, but for

any shot into a green. Golfers may not be able to

master the game of golf itself, but they can master

many details of the game, including reading greens. It is important for players to learn not

only how balls roll across greens, but how balls react to greens when they land. With any

shot on, or into a green, how the ball reacts to, and rolls on, the green is critical.

We teach players to create shots into the green where the length of the backswing

and follow through control the distance of the shot. Ball flight, spin, and roll are critical

factors for players to understand, learn, and factor into all shots. Therefore, when measuring

and recording club distances, measure the distance of ball flight and record it first. Then,

measure total distance, ball flight plus roll, and record it.

B. Where the ball lands on the green is as

important as how it lands. “Hogan (Ben Hogan)

had gotten out of the practice of firing directly at

flagsticks early in his career, when he hit so many

balls that then bounded farther away that he realized

his accuracy was costing him strokes. Now he

usually aimed for the flattest spot nearest the flag.‖ From Mark Frost‘s ―The Match,‖ p.

132.

With shots into a green, look for the flattest spot nearest the flag and determine whether or

not it is your best landing area. Always look for, and diagram, the optimal landing

spot(s) on greens.

During Preparation Rounds (Which is covered in greater detail later in your manual.)

With any stroke on, or into, a

green, how the ball reacts to,

and rolls on, the green is

critical.

With shots into a green, look

for the flattest spot nearest the

flag and determine whether or

not it is your best landing area.


252

During practice and preparation rounds, we invest an appropriate amount of our time

learning how balls react to greens from the fringe and fairways. We know the ball flight

distances of our chipping, pitching, and rotating finesse strokes quite well, so correctly

factoring in the balls reaction to, and roll on, the greens then becomes critical. With

shots into a green, also look for the flattest spot nearest the flag and determine whether or

not it is your best landing area. Reading greens is a difficult skill to master since greens

change from course to course, from day to day, and even within a golf round. So, start

mastering the art and science of reading greens now!

Rolling Golf Balls An efficient way to read greens is by rolling balls across them and carefully observing the

reaction and path of the balls with binocular (both eyes) vision. Rolling balls is useful for

learning how to read greens and for reading greens on new courses. With shots into the

green, you must learn how the surface of the green impacts and influences the energy

contained within the golf ball. Roll lots of golf balls.

Observation Drill

Here is a practical learning drill, especially with difficult putts. Lie down flat on the ground

about ten feet behind another player and have them stroke putts at the target. Carefully

observe the speed and roll of the ball with binocular (both eyes) vision and have them

continue making strokes until you recognize and understand the speed and movement of the

ball across the green.

Observation Drill #2. In practice rounds, while one player is putting, another player is also

reading and predicting how the 1st player‘s putt will roll. The 2

nd golfer is on the line of the

putt, but on the opposite side of the cup from the golfer and far enough away from the cup

(at least 15 feet) that they have a good view of the line, slope, etc. Once the 1st players

executes the putt, the golfers change locations and the 2nd

golfer putts from the exact same

spot.

Reminder: In our program, we work to develop a putting stroke with an optimum putting

speed that will carry the ball 17-18 inches beyond the hole if missed.

Pace Drill #3. The speed, or pace, of the ball is obviously a critical factor in successful

putting. This drill is designed to help you learn more about your own putting game and the

speed of putts.

- On the practice green, select a hole with a medium left-to-right break and set a golf ball

down ten (10) feet from the cup. You are going to putt three balls at the cup.

- As you would in your 6-Step Routine, read the putt very carefully. Putt #1. Putt the ball so

that if it misses, it misses high-side-long by 12-17 inches. Putt #2. Putt the ball so that it

dies in the hole from the high side. Putt #3. Putt the ball with enough speed to take out the

break.

- Work through the same drill with a right-to-left putt from 10 feet. Work through the drill

again with breaks from both directions, but with a 6 foot putt.


253

Record your observations and conclusions about your philosophy for the speed/pace of your

putts here.

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________.

Bermuda Grass – and heavy grasses like it With some grasses, such as Bermuda and heavy grasses like it, the grain influences ball roll

so much that we chart it on greens as well. When putting against the grain on Bermuda type

greens, the roll of the ball can be reduced by as much as 50%.

This same effect of slowing down the roll of the ball MUST be taken into

consideration when putting, and creating shots into greens, at all times.


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Diagramming Greens Diagramming greens helps learning to read them.

Diagramming Greens: the basics

Ridge Lines. Most greens have at least one major ridge line. Start by marking all

major ridge lines, or levels of the green, on your diagram. We choose to use a solid

line for diagramming major ridges.

Major Contours. Mark the general contour of greens from two directions: front to

back; and side to side. We use dotted lines with arrows to mark contours. See

additional information below.

Flat Areas/Primary Landing Zones. Circle major flat areas on and around greens.

Flat areas can be safe landing zones for shots into a green. With shots into a green,

look for the flattest spot nearest the flag and determine whether or not it is your best

landing area.

Short & Right. 80% of right-handed amateurs leave their approach shots short and to

the right of greens. If you are one of those golfers, and until you fix that deficiency,

pay special attention to the bottom right hand quadrant of the green. With the green

outlined above, that means bringing the bunker into play, so you may want to change

your shot selection.

Look Long. Knowing that a majority of golfers leave the ball short and to the right

of greens, most architects place a majority of the obstacles and obstructions short and

right of greens. Big surprise! Therefore, always look long, at the top of greens.

Diagram how safe area are behind and to the sides of greens. In many instances,

scoring can be improved by playing holes long versus short.

Roll a lot of balls.

Roll a lot of balls across the green in the process of diagramming and then make a lot of

different putts to, and across, specific areas.

Ridge Line

Direction of Break

Flat Areas

Bunker

40 yds 30 yds

30 yds

Open

around

green

40 yds35 yds

Bunker

Ridge Line


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Evaluate the Overall Contour While coaching a player on a Jack Nicklaus designed golf course, it dawned on me that Jack

has designed most of his golf courses and greens with a unique philosophy from most other

golf course architects. You may recall that Jack and his caddie, Angelo Argea, were perhaps

the first on Tour to take figuring out yardages on each golf course very seriously. Now we

take yardage books for granted, but they did not in Jack‘s time. Jack always wanted to know

the exact distance to his targets, including the pin. He also preferred to have either an uphill

or a downhill putt. Most of greens are designed with a slope from front to back. Think for a

second. If you had your preference, where would want your shots into those greens to be in

order to have the better putting opportunities? Our preference would be either long or short

of the hole and thus eliminate those long rainbow putts. With most of Jack‘s greens, the

primary slope is either to the right or left. Where would you prefer your shots to be on those

greens? Our preference would be wide of the hole, either up or down, and preferably below

the hole. Thus eliminating long rainbow putts.

Take care to diagram the overall contour of each green very carefully.

Strategy Session During practice and preparation rounds, strategize a variety of approach shots into greens. If

time allows, make two shots into each green from the same location, one regular shot and

your ‗B‘ game swing. For us, our ‗B‘ game swing is a lower trajectory knock down type

shot. Learn how each shot reacts to greens. Practice lower trajectory shots for:

windy conditions;

dry hot conditions when the greens are not holding;

pens which are set close to the front edge of greens;

when you do not have your ‗A‘ game and need to keep the ball in play;

other unusual circumstances, and for

when you want to confuse your competition.

The key is to give yourself several shot options into greens and learning from those shots

before you need them in competition.

THEREFORE, diagram greens according to the types of shots you plan to hit into them.

Figure out in advance, and diagram, your entry point onto greens when you hit low

trajectory shots as well as high, soft landing, shots.

Drill: Reading Greens with Your Feet Get 6 to 10 feet out from a hole, lay a ball down on the green, work into your stance, sense

the slope of the green with your feet, close your eyes, execute the putt, and guess where

the ball will stop. Many outstanding putters believe they read greens better with their feet

than with their eyes. Even if that is not the case, you can definitely learn to sense the slope,


256

firmness, and undulation of greens with your feet. Practice this technique fairly frequently,

especially when playing new golf courses.

Personally, I have had putts where I read the green one way, got up over the ball,

positioned my feet in my stance, and did not feel right about my read. More times than not,

when I went with my instincts, and the information from my feet, I made a much more

accurate putting stroke.

Work to increase the sensitivity of your feet in putting and all of your shots.

Remember, golf is a ground reaction sport.

Use the worksheet on the following page with diagramming greens.


257

Golf Course Date

Width ___ Length___#1










258

Golf Course Date











259

Instruction Levels Beginners. You may not want to invest as much time in diagramming other than the major

contours of greens until your accuracy at hitting into them increases. However, remember

to continuously improve your green reading skills and knowledge.

Intermediate. Using the basic diagramming information will prove sufficient for your level

of play. As your shot making improves, so must your green read skills.

Advanced. When we watch professional golfers diagram greens, the eye they have

developed for detecting the subtle nature of greens, and how advanced their diagramming

becomes, is truly amazing. At the upper levels of the game, there is no end to how much

can be learned about the condition of greens. When aspiring to play at the professional level

of the game, be certain to take several extended lessons from a professional on the fine art of

reading and diagramming greens.

Reading Practice Drill We have players use the following drill as specified practice times. Use the drill with 2-

person groupings.

Once both players are on the green, pick up one of the two balls. Place a marker by

the ball being putted, but not the other ball.

Both players work on reading the putt as if they were the one putting. They mutually

decide on the line, speed, etc.

One player executes the putt while the other carefully observes the putt from an

optimal position.

They discuss how well they read the green. They do not discuss putting techniques,

that is the coaches job. They only discuss how both golfers read the green.

When time allows, and they are not holding up play, the other golfer putts from the

same spot and the golfers repeat the process.


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Journalizing

Reading Greens.

Date Comments

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261

C. Putting Stroke. The most accurate and consistent golf stroke.

[We teach and review the Putting Stroke

simultaneously with our 6-Step Performance

Routine™.]

Scoring Strategy: Use your putting stroke on the

green and on all shots around the green where

possible, which means you have an appropriate lie

and path to the target. Refer to the Texas Wedge

information in this section.

*Distance Control: Learn to create a putting stroke where the length of the backswing and

follow through control the distance of the putt. For more advanced players, we also use

imagery in controlling distance. More on visualization later.

Five Laws of Physics Putting is the Gateway to the scoring game. Be

certain that you know and understand the Five

Laws governing the transfer of energy from the

face of the putter to the ball, then habituate

techniques that follow these laws.

___ Path _____________________________

___ Face Angle _______________________

___ Center of Percussion _________________

___ Angle of Attack _________________

___ Force or Mass _________________

Step 1. Create a MODEL (blueprint) for the putting stroke. Stroke

Model (blueprint) Review.

1.A. Is your stroke Pendulum or Gate?

Pendulum Stroke: a straight back-straight through stroke. Swings like a pendulum and the

preferred equipment is a center shafted putter.

Gate Stroke: more of a rotating stroke. The sequence is: the putter face is square with the

target line at address, moves open to the line on the backstroke, squares to the line through

impact, to closed to it on the follow through. Swings like a gate and the preferred equipment

is a heel shafted putter.

Combination of Gate and Pendulum: a combination of the two strokes, which we do not

recommend.

So, which one are you? _______________________ Decide and stick with it.

We review 5 of the physical laws

governing the transfer of energy

from the head of the club to the

ball either prior to, or as, we

review the putting stroke. Be

certain you understand the 5

Laws. Our teaching, learning,

and implementation priority is:

Laws; principles; and then

preferences.

Prior to any golf swing training

or development, go through the

IM session to assess your timing,

tempo, rhythm, balance through

motion, and concentration. If

any one of these areas are off in

your swing, it will cause major

problems. Refer to the section in

your manual on Timing Training.


262

2. Equipment. Be certain to select and use equipment that fits

you and matches your stroke model. Find a

putter that fits you and your stroke and stay with

it.

3. Set Up.

Decide on how to hold the club, posture, stance, and alignment. Be certain to match this

with a Pendulum or Gate Stroke. Alignment, alignment, alignment – always work on

alignment.

3.A. Neutral Hand Position.

Most players come to us with strong hand positions on the club, which optimize power in

the full swing. However, with a strong hand position in the scoring game (putting, pitching,

chipping) the tendency is to over rotate the clubface closed through impact, thus de-lofting

the face excessively. In most cases, strong hand positions consistently pull the ball to the

left of the target. We work to switch golfers to a neutral grip position; more in the fingers

than the palm, especially with the left hand. A neutral position allows the clubface to square

itself at impact much easier and more consistently.

No matter which grip you are teaching, instruct players in how to weigh the club

head through the stroke or swing and move their shoulders into the slot.

Wrists remain firm and arched slightly through stroke. Do you understand and use

this preference? _________________________________________________

__ Comfortable palms facing hand position; neutral hand position; more in the fingers

than in the palms.

__ Position the hands down on the club for additional control of the club face through

the stroke.

3.A.1. Hand Pressure.

Hand pressure is important enough to warrant its own heading. Keep hand pressure light

enough that players can sense the weight of the putter head through the stroke. Some

instructors refer to ―dead hands‖, but that is not our preference. Think of holding onto a

very, very, ripe banana. Tight enough that you will not drop it, relaxed enough that you do

not squash it.

3.B. Posture and ball position.

Posture is a life skill, develop good posture on and off the course.

In moving into the stance, bend forward from the hip joints, not the waist.

Our preference: To start with, move into a position where the left eye is directly over the

ball and the putter is a perpendicular position to the green. You will learn, however, that

unless you are bent over adequately at the hip joints, that positioning the left eye over the

ball can position you too close to the golf ball. Setting up too close to the golf ball can cause

Your putter is the most

important club in your bag to

have fitted to your game!


263

the shoulder plane to miss-align with the target line. CHECK THIS OUT IN YOUR SET

UP.

Create and maintain a closed ―U‖ or ―Y‖ through the entire stroke.

3.C. Stance and Alignment.

Our preference: stance is square with the target line; feet are perpendicular with the target

line; feet are 12-14 inches apart at the heels, and there is slightly more weight on the inside

of the forward foot.

Tips of the feet, knees, hips, shoulders, and eyes are all parallel with the target line.

4. Takeaway.

Engage cutters, a punch to the gut, and tightest jeans in order to stability the core muscles

through the stroke. Drip the shoulders into the slot and relax the hands in order to reduce

excess tension through the stroke. Gate Stroke. In the takeaway, think in terms of initiating a rotating motion with the

stroke; rotating around a point at the top of the spine. 1st without a club, sense rotating the

shoulders and core around stable hips and legs. Notice that you can rotate your shoulders

and chest, and thus the hands and arms, over stable hips and legs. Now, repeat the same

movement with a putter.

Pendulum Stroke. In the takeaway, think more in terms of a rocking motion with

this stroke; rocking back and through a point at the top of the spine. 1st without a club, sense

rocking the shoulders and core back and through, and over stable hips and lets. Notice that

you can rock your shoulders and chest, and thus the hands and arms, over stable hips and

legs. Now, repeat the same movement with a putter.

__ Keep the setup and takeaway dynamic versus static; no freezing over the ball.

__ Read the 1-1-1- Putting Flow Drill at the end of this section for additional

information on the takeaway, including a forward press.

Strategy Choice. Which is your preference on creating the optimum speed for the ball with

the putting stroke: a. die into the cup; or, b. the ideal miss is 14-17 inches beyond the hole if

missed? Refer to the Optimum Putting Speed section on the following page. Continue,

but do not continue on until you have made this important decision.

5. The Stroke.

The length of the backswing and follow through for the Pendulum Stroke are the same,

which is a low of physics. The backswing is slightly shorter than the follow through with

the Gate Stroke.

The stroke is executed around timing, tempo, rhythm, balance, and concentration

(herein referred to only as timing). Use our IM™ Training Program to assess and develop

your timing. Use a regular metronome to reinforce your timing in practice and preparation.

Use your breathing and heart beat to reinforce your timing in competitive performance.

__ Never decelerate through the stroke.

__ Develop an optimum putting speed that will carry the ball 17-18 inches beyond the

hole if missed.

__ Use our 6-Step Performance Routine™.


264

Focus on small dots.

During your 6-Step Routine, be certain to focus on very small

dots, which requires a tight visual focus. For example,

select a very small dot for your target, never the entire golf hole.

Select a very small dot to roll the ball over on its way to the

target. And finally, select a very small dot on the back of the ball to focus on. Then, it is

merely a matter of connecting the dots through your stroke. Connect the dot through the

stroke!

Find the bottom of the putting stroke.

In the physics of a putting stroke, every stroke has a bottom. With the correct setup and

stroke, the bottom of the stroke occurs slightly forward (toward the target) of the center of a

golfer‘s stance. Do you know where the bottom of the putting stroke occurs?

Distance Control: Teach golfers to create a putting stroke where the length of the

backswing and follow through control the distance of the putt. For more advanced players,

we also use imagery in controlling distance. More on visualization later.

Warning Label: Do not leave this section without helping your players formulate or refine

their own putting model (blueprint).

Practice Reading Greens

How the golf ball reacts to the putting surface is as important, if not more so, to the success

of the shot as the putting stroke itself. We cover reading greens in the previous section.

Alignment, Alignment, Alignment - measured impact of putter face

misalignment

Degree of Putter

Face Misalignment

Impact of Face Misalignment to

the Target from the Indicated

Distance

5' 10' 15' 20'

0.50 .52" 1.05" 1.57" 2.09"

1.00 1.05" 2.09" 3.14" 4.19"

1.50 1.57" 3.14" 4.71" 6.28"

2.00 2.09" 4.19" 6.28" 8.37"

2.50 2.62" 5.23" 7.85" 10.47"

3.00 3.14" 6.28" 9.42" 12.56"

Connect the dots

through the stroke.


265

The previous chart shows data from putter face

misalignments. It illustrates the results of this

misalignment at the hole from 5', 10', 15', and 20'. For

example, if my putter face is 1º open to the target

from 10', a perfect stroke will roll the ball 2.09" right of center, or on the right edge of the

hole. In a test with the Men's Golf Team at Rice University, seven of the eight players

tested aimed their putter outside of the hole on a straight putt from just 8 feet. One player

aimed his putter 9" to the right of the hole. His putter face was open at least 4 degrees at

address, and his coach stated that this particular player had struggled the most with his

putting performance. There is a direct correlation between putter alignment and an

efficient and repeatable putting stroke – no surprise there!

The previous chart demonstrates how important it is for our players' to improve their ability

to setup and align their putter to their target, and here is why. A mere 1º variance will cause

most players to begin making stroke compensations. The larger the degree of

misalignment, the more a players' brain works to create excess or compensating motions.

The greater the excess motion, or compensation, the more difficult it becomes to repeat the

stroke. If you can guide our players to minimize their misalignment to under 1º at setup,

and train them to maintain a variance under 1º at impact, improved and consistent

performances will result.

Optimum Putting Speed

Player: Talking about how far to miss with my

putting is pretty negative. I thought we

were to keep a positive attitude about

putting?

Coach: Immediately before, and throughout your 6-Step Performance Routine™, you

are correct, every image you have is of the ball traveling back along its ideal

path from the target and into the exact spot where you visualize it stopping.

Now to reality! Do you remember earlier how important we said controlling

expectations was to your reaching your potential, accomplishing your goals

and objectives, and in enjoyment in the game?

Player: Sure.

Coach: It‘s the negative self talk that gets you into trouble, versus controlling your

expectations. Therefore, in using The Hourglass between putts, or as you

walk from green to tee, it is imperative that you control your self talk and

have a realistic measure of creating an ideal putting speed.

Let me ask you a question. Is it important that prior to, and

throughout your 6-Step Routine, that you continue to visualize the

ball traveling on its ideal path from the target?

Player: Sure.

Coach: Following your stroke, if the ball does not go into the cup or stop where you

visualized it stopping, how important is it that you take a second or two,

process the feedback from stroke and outcome, match that feedback with

your mental blueprint, and then learn from appropriate feedback?

You must help players decide

on their primary putting

strategy: the ball dying into

the hole or the ideal speed.

Reminder: a golf hole is 4.25‖ in

diameter and thus only 2.125‖ in

radius.


266

Player: It‘s very critical because that‘s where learning takes place.

Coach: Correct, and are you going to make all of your putts?

Player: Certainly not.

Coach: Then according to data, what is the ideal speed of your putt in

order to give the ball the highest probability of going into the cup?

Player: I prefer to let the ball die into the cup.

Coach: That‘s fine, but the question was not about your preferences. You

are always welcome to your preferences, but what‘s the answer to

the question? What does the data indicate as the ideal speed for a putt in

order to give it the highest probability of going into the cup?

Player: I‘m not sure.

Coach: We are at a good breaking point for today. So, please review the data we

provided you with and let us know what you find out next Wednesday.

The Data on ―High Side Long‖ After studying several sources of original data, and talking with the putting and golf ball

engineers from several manufacturing companies, we came to the conclusion that with a

fairly flat lie, the ball velocity with the highest probability of going in the hole, making the

putt, would actually carry the ball past the hole approximately 17 – 18 inches if missed.

ALSO, the probabilities of the ball going into the cup increase significantly when you keep

the ball on the high side.

Do you have any additional scientific data on the ideal speed of a golf ball as it

approaches a golf hole in order to insure the highest percentage of making the putt? If so,

we would enjoy hearing about it.

Pace Drill The speed, or pace, of the ball is obviously a critical factor in successful putting. This drill is

designed to help you learn more about your own putting game and the speed of putts.

- On the practice green, select a hole with a medium left-to-right break and set a golf ball

down ten (10) feet from the cup. You are going to putt three balls at the cup.

- As you would in your 6-Step Routine, read the putt very carefully. Putt #1. Putt the ball so

that if it misses, it misses high-side-long by 12-17 inches. Putt #2. Putt the ball so that it

dies in the hole from the high side. Putt #3. Putt the ball with enough speed to take out the

break.

- Work through the same drill with a right-to-left putt from 10 feet. Then, work back

through the drill with breaks from both directions, but with a 6 foot putt.

Record your observations and conclusions about your philosophy for the speed/pace of your

putts here.

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________.


267

Bermuda Grass – and heavy grasses like it With some grasses, such as Bermuda and heavy grasses like it, the grain influences ball roll





High Side Long Drill - Locate a section of the green with a right-to-left slope and with sufficient slope that is

easily identified and readable.

- Place a tee in the green, then place a golf ball approximately 10 ft. back from the tee.

- Place a 2nd

tee in the green 12 to 18 inches behind the 1st tee and about two ball widths to

the right.

- Get back behind the ball, facing the tees, and adjust the 2nd

tee to the right until you think

you can putt directly toward it and hit the 1st tee. Having a partner helps with this drill.

- From behind the ball, look closely at the 2nd

tee. It probably looks a lot closer to the 1st tee

than 12 to 18 inches.

- Using your full routine, putt toward the 2nd

tee. Adjust the 2nd

tee until putting toward it

results in your ball hitting the 1st tee.

- Journalize what you learned from the drill.

CONCLUSIONS

Our conclusion is that the ideal speed of a golf ball as it approaches the golf hole is

sufficient to carry it approximately 17 to 18 inches past the cup if it does not go in.

The speed generated by these putts optimizes the ball‘s momentum so as not to cause

it to lip out once it hits the cup.

Putts that never make it to the cup never go it. Go figure!

Putts traveling to the cup on the low side have a very low probability, if any chance

at all, of going in. Putts traveling to the hole on the high side have a higher

probability of going in.

The ideal momentum helps minimize the effects of outside elements on the ball:

spike marks (which you are not allowed to repair), grain of the green, bumps, etc.

Slow rolling putts exaggerate the effects of these outside elements.

The ideal momentum helps control the amount of break putts take, especially close

to the hole. Slow rolling putts exaggerate the break.

As you learn from the feedback from balls that miss long of the hole, you have a

better read on the putt coming back. You are void of this information on a short putt.

References: We recommend you research this topic in Dave Pelz‘s book Putt Like the Pros

and online at www.golftipreviews.com/2009/04/golf-putting-tip-putts-should-always.html.

Gimmie Putting Drill

Additional drills appear in the

Practice Section.

http://www.golftipreviews.com/2009/04/golf-putting-tip-putts-should-always.html


268

Have a player set a golf ball down 18 inches from the

cup. That is correct, 18 inches from the cup. The

golfer goes through all of the techniques they are

working to habituate as they make this seemingly automatic putt. Have them putt from all

four directions: North, South, East, and West. Work through the gimmie putting drill as

many times as they need to. Do not putt from the same direction more than once per

rotation.

Have golfers pay particular attention to the sense or feel (kinesthesia) of their stroke.

Help them develop a very specific sense for the rhythm of their stroke and putting techniques. Ask

―Can you sense the rhythm of your stroke and putting techniques?‖

For the next rotation, have them set up to the ball, close their eyes, and putt strictly on

feel.


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1-1-1-Putting Flow Drill - Review This drill helps create and maintain a dynamic setup and trigger for the putting stroke.

Review the 6-Step Performance Routine, or the Abbreviated Practice Routine, with a putting

stroke. Work through the 6-Step Routine and make a practice stroke without a ball and at

your regular pace and timing.

As you work through the routine this time, count ―one thousand and 1‖ to yourself

through the entire routine. Each count will take close to one second. Counting helps

establish a sense of timing and rhythm. In much of our training, we use a metronome. We

set the metronome to one beat a second to aid golfers in the counting process. We

recommend you do the same.

Next, as you work through the first stages of your Routine, do not start counting (one

thousand and 1) until you see the GO SIGN flash in your brain. Here is how the process

works. When you have completed the pre-shot portion of our Routine to where you have

mentally made two successful putts and are focused on the alignment spot your putt will

travel over on route to the target, then and only then, allow the GO SIGN to flash in your

brain as you begin counting (one thousand and 1).



As you begin moving into a position over the ball, and while still counting ―one

thousand and 1‖, simultaneously align the putter face behind the ball and

perpendicular with the target line, as you move your left eye into position over the

top of the ball, or to the position you have proven effective in your stance. That is

correct. You execute both moves simultaneously on the count of ―one thousand and

1‖. You‘re doing great!

On the next count, place both feet perpendicular to the target line and with the ball in

the middle of them.

On the next count, move your left foot into proper position.

On the next count, move your right foot into proper position.

On the following count, execute your forward press as you trigger the back stroke.


Discontinue counting and hold your finish until the ball stops rolling.

Reminder on the forward press.

A forward press can be used to trigger the brain to start the golf swing.

Helps move the body into a more appropriate position for the rotating and coiling

swings.

We recommend an isometric forward press with putting and chipping strokes.

It initiates a sense of timing, tempo, and rhythm.

The motion relieves tension in the body.

Helps ensure a dynamic setup and takeaway for a successful putting stroke and full

swing.

Ryan‘s Gymnasium Putting Drill Here is an e-mail from Ryan, an up and coming Nationwide player.


270

Dear Coach:

I‘ve discovered a new drill for assessing, checking, and practicing the path of my putter

through the stroke. Not long ago, I noticed that our gym had hardwood floors. The floor

was level and I could see every line of the boards on the floor. So, here‘s what I do. I set a

ball done exactly between two floor boards, right on the line. Since I‘m a pendilum stroke

putter, my stroke ―should‖ be exactly on that very small line back and through the ball, and

the ball ―should‖ roll exactly down that line. You can imagine how small that line is. Man,

was I surprised at how far off my path was. The drill showed up every single flaw in the

path of my stroke. Forget about distance, the ball rolls just time. I use this drill once a

week and it‘s had a major impact on correcting my stroke path. The entire team uses it now.

Anyway, I think this would be a great drill to pass along to all of your golfers. Even if they

don‘t have access to a gym, most have hardwood floors, or something similar at home. Let

me know what you think. My Best, Ryan

Ball-on-a-String Drill

Cut a piece of string the length of an average putter (say 36‖) and attach it to a golf ball.

This is the same Ball-on-a-String we used to demonstrate visualization and intent. Now we

will use it to better sense the motion of the putting stroke.

Lay an alignment stick down on the practice green, take the Ball-on-a-String and

place the ball above or to the side of the stick. Place your feet in a square stance, toes 12-14

inches apart. Visualize the ball moving back and forth just above (or to the side of) the stick

– this is your putting stroke intent. Once you can visualize the movement, make the same

movement, moving your hands just like in a putting stroke, with the ball traveling from one

toe back to the other toe, and back and forth. ONLY DO NOT SIMPLY MAKE THE

MOVEMENT, VISUALIZE IT.

Pay special attention to how sensitive the hands become through the stroke as you

weight the ball on the end of the string. Include this drill in your putting warm up.

Repeat the same drill with your putter.

Golfers are NOT able to learn a putting stroke, or improve their existing stroke, by

merely putting. Source: Taken from our article by the same name, refer to the SAU

Athletic/GOLF Website for the complete article.

The repetition of attempting putt after putt on a practice green can do more harm than good

and only serve to make bad putting habits permanent. Practice makes permanent. Only

deliberate practice leads to mastery.

There is a more efficient way to learn to master

putting, and to maintain your putting stroke,

than by simply putting. .

Overview Several factors surrounding putting make it

If you are not completely

familiar with the laws governing

the transfer of energy from the

face of your putter to the golf

ball, you may want to review

those laws before proceeding in

this section.


271

impractical to improve your putting performance

by merely making putts.

a. The golf ball remains on the clubface for such a short period of time, and is not

compressed as with the full swing, that the path of the golf ball across the green does not

provide adequate feedback about the putting stroke to learn everything you need to know.

b. The undulation and surface of the greens influence the path of the golf ball enough that

again, you do not receive accurate feedback about your putting stroke to learn everything

you need to know.

c. Variations in the putter‘s face angle, center of percussion, angle of attack, path, and force

are usually so minor that they cannot be detected without special equipment or drills.

d. It is very difficult, if not impossible, to determine how the previous five factors interact

and influence each other during the putting stroke itself.

Solution

This article outlines a specific drill for assessing and developing each major factor in the

putting stroke: face angle, center of percussion, angle of attack, path, and force. Work

through each drill and then end your practice session creating and executing several strokes

with your 6-Step Peak Performance Routine™, which is truly putting. END every putting

session by working through your 6-Step Performance Routine™ and learning from the

experience.

3 X 5 Card

We recommend you help each player fill out the following 3 X 5 card on the putting stroke

to use in practice and in developing their game. If you use an outside teaching resource, be

certain they help golfers complete their cards, but it remains your job to reinforce the

techniques in practice.

The Texas Wedge I learned the versatility of a putter from a variety of conditions and circumstances from a

professional golfer from Texas who claims to have learned it from Mr. Ben Hogan.

PUTTING Performance Keys

1. ______________________________________________

______________________________________________.

2. ______________________________________________

_______________________________________________.

3. ______________________________________________

______________________________________________.

4. ______________________________________________

Additional Notes and Comments: _____________________

_______________________________________________.


272

The strategy: Use this shot when you want to reduce the chance for error around greens,

from out of trouble, including sand traps, and in a variety of situations where you would use

a higher risk club, such as a wedge.

The conditions: Use in conditions that are not ideal for other clubs and strokes, with shots

that come up infrequently (hitting off hardpan, out of trouble, etc.), or when control of the

shot of paramount.

Examples: Sand Play. Refer to our section on Sand Play and learn the option of playing

from sand traps around the green with your putter. It is an important option for your scoring

game.

Abound Greens. Consider using your Texas Wedge when conditions (such as hard dry

ground, closely mowed ground, and pins cut close to the front) around the green would

make wedge play tricky, i.e. you could easily miss the shot.

Trouble. Consider this club for executing shots off hard pan, the occasional golf cart path,

all positions you seldom execute shots from.

Executing the blueprint. The one fundamental we alter in using this shot is to move the ball

forward slightly in your stance (toward the ball) to ensure that it is struck slightly on the

upswing, this increasing the probability of a more accurate roll.

Practice, practice, practice. Do not forget to practice this variety of shots with your Texas

Wedge in advance of needing them. Invest at least an hour a week with your putter creating

and executing a wide variety of shots from around the green.

Review of Key Definitions Technically sound golf swing (and putting stroke). Delivers the clubface through the ball

perfectly square to the target line, perfectly vertical, so that only the loft of the club affects

the trajectory of the shot, on the correct path, with maximum velocity at the bottom of the

swing arc every single time.

Target Goal for a Technically Sound Golf Swing or Stroke: to mentally create an

appropriate blueprint for the shot at hand, physically execute the blueprint as precisely as

possible, and learn from the experience.

Remove Distress – A Key to Competitive Performance

This is a reminder that to help cure inconsistent performance during competition, we coach

players on maintaining very light pressure with the hands on all shots, especially in the

scoring game, to drop the shoulders into the slot, and to execute strokes by synchronizing

and employing the larger muscles of the body.


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Journalizing

Preferences and notes on the Putting Stroke.

Date Comments

_______ _____________________________________________________

_______ _____________________________________________________

_______ _____________________________________________________

_______ _____________________________________________________

_______ _____________________________________________________

_______ _____________________________________________________

_______ _____________________________________________________

_______ _____________________________________________________

_______ _____________________________________________________

_______ _____________________________________________________

_______ _____________________________________________________

_______ _____________________________________________________

_______ _____________________________________________________

_______ _____________________________________________________

_______ _____________________________________________________

_______ _____________________________________________________

_______ _____________________________________________________

_______ _____________________________________________________

_______ _____________________________________________________

_______ _____________________________________________________

_______ _____________________________________________________

_______ _____________________________________________________

_______ _____________________________________________________

_______ _____________________________________________________

_______ _____________________________________________________

_______ _____________________________________________________

_______ _____________________________________________________

_______ _____________________________________________________

_______ _____________________________________________________

_______ _____________________________________________________


274

D. Performance Routines - Review

Review: we cover performance routines, including

The 6-Step Putting Routine,™ in other sections of your

manual and chose not to repeat all of that information

here. However, be certain to practice and reinforce the

use of routines simultaneously with your practice

and preparation.

E-mail from one of our college golfers

Coach: I was watching this PGA Tour player being interviewed after his round and he was

saying how hard of a time he was having reading the putts. "I just couldn't see the line of

the putt that well and that is what hurt me" he said. I watched his routine, because we have

direct TV and can rewind, and he was only getting about 5 feet behind his ball. Plus,

everything he did in his routine was to the side of the ball, not behind the ball. I wanted to

call him up and explain our routine to him. How could he miss that?

-Andrew Johnson

Ball Striking Practice Routine Note: The more complete version of your 6-Step

Performance Routine™ appears in the Routines Section of your manual.

Never, never, never, merely rake and hit golf balls during practice. Make each swing with

full attention and intent. When you lose your concentration and intent, take a short break.

Strategy: Develop a short, or practice, pre-, shot, and post-shot routine that incorporates

tactical and technical skills, mental performance skills, promotes learning and continuous

improvement, and can be used with all practice shots. The Practice Stroke Routine on the

following page is the shortest routine we want players using.

Dynamic Pre-Warm Up Drill. Always warm up prior to practice and using drills.

Reminder: Always warm

up prior to practice and

using drills.


275

Practice Stroke Routine Note: The complete version of our 6-Step

Performance Routine appears in the Coaching

Performance Routines Section.

Never rake-and-hit golf balls in practice.

Learn to make each swing with full attention

and intent.

Always be target and alignment focused. While on a range or practice green, approach

the ball from behind; meaning that the ball is between the player and the target. Players

may only be a few feet back behind the ball, but get them use to selecting their target and

considering ball flight (or roll when putting, chipping, etc.) to a specific target from behind

the ball. Keep facing the target. Do not turn to the side. Remain target focused.

While facing the target, visualize the ball‘s flight path from the target back to the

ball. That is correct, from the target back to the ball, then back to the target. Players are

creating the mental blueprint for the stroke. Remain target focused. Most players establish

path 1st (which we just did) and then establish a sense of distance while taking their practice

strokes. Establishing path and distance are part of the intent of the stroke.

Alignment Spot. The final time you visualize the path of the ball coming back from the

target, mentally create an Alignment Spot along that line about 8‖ – 12‖ in front of the ball

(toward the target) in putting and chipping, and further out with full swings.

Alignment, alignment, alignment; ball position, ball position, ball position. We have

players using alignment aids in all practice sessions. Always use an Alignment Spot.

Whether you are using an alignment aid or not, always work on aligning toward your

target and setting up parallel left of the target line.

Use an alignment partner from time to time. For a few shots each practice session,

work with an alignment partner to ensure that your alignment is precisely as you think it is.

Work on executing shots from a consistent ball position.

Use diaphragmatic breathing through the entire routine.

Use visualization (imagery) with the routine as well; NO self-talk.

Reminder: face the target with both eyes when taking practice strokes and swings.

Habituate Set Up and Takeaway. As you move into position to set up over the ball,

develop, and habituate, a specific sequence, and use that exact sequence with all practice

swings and while competing.

Example: With 10:30 PW Rotating Finesse Swing practice: a. walk up to the ball, place

both feet together and position the ball in the middle of the stance–the middle of your body

(for putting, set up with the ball directly under the left eye of in your ideal position);

b. simultaneously, set the club face behind the ball and exactly perpendicular to the target

line and toward the Alignment Spot; c. keeping the ball in the middle of the body, move the

left foot to the correct position, keeping it perpendicular to the target line; d. move the right

Never rake-and-hit golf balls in

practice – Never.


276

foot to the correct position, keeping it perpendicular to the target line; e. then, and only

then, flare both front feet into the correct position.

Trigger the Swing/Stroke. Trigger the swing or stroke the same way every time. For a

trigger, we prefer a forward press type of gathering motion.

Auto Pilot. Develop the ability to complete the swing on auto pilot. Physically execute the

mental blueprint of the stroke.

ALWAYS Learn from Feedback. ALWAYS, always, remain quiet and hold a balanced

follow through until the ball stops rolling. Do not attempt to track the ball with your head or

eyes.

NEVER, never start talking until the ball has stopped rolling.

Through your senses, mentally compare the mental blueprint for your swing with

your actual swing. This entails remaining process, versus outcome, oriented. Next, you can

factor in the outcome of the stroke. Yes, results are important. Process and outcome are

two very different forms of feedback, but then you already knew that.

If you made an appropriate and athletic move through the ball, as you begin walking,

take a second or two to reinforce that successful mental blueprint in your memory.

IF you did not make an appropriate move through the ball, take a second or two and

sense where the swing went wrong. Store the correct move in your memory and forget the

1st swing. Always learn from experience.

Now you can talk if you simply have to! Quiet is grossly underrated.

Incorporate Key Mental Skills into Your Routine

Our performance routine has been developed to incorporate, link, and help golfers build

upon the following mental performance skills.

Playing in the Here-and-Now;

Performing at the Ideal Individual Intensity Level;

Experiencing Success and Developing Confidence;

Creating, Executing, and Evaluating Key Swing Blueprints;

Maintain a Dynamic Routine;

Replacing Self-Talk with Imagery Techniques and Sensory Processing; and

Learning from Feedback.

Coach & Practice Reading Greens How the golf ball reacts to the putting surface is as important to the success of the stroke as

the stroke itself, if not more so. With all shots, help players learn to read greens and

understand the ball‘s reaction to them.


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3 x 5 Cards

ABBREVIATED 6-STEP PRACTICE ROUTINE

1. ______________________________________________

______________________________________________.

2. ______________________________________________

_______________________________________________.

3. ______________________________________________

______________________________________________.

4. ______________________________________________

______________________________________________.

5. ______________________________________________

______________________________________________.

6. ______________________________________________

Lessons and KEY MENTAL PERFORMANCE

SKILLS

1. ______________________________________________

______________________________________________.

2. ______________________________________________

_______________________________________________.

3. ______________________________________________

______________________________________________.

4. ______________________________________________

______________________________________________.

5. ______________________________________________

______________________________________________.

6. ______________________________________________


278

E. Putt-Chip Stroke; including Lag Putting. After putting, the Putt-Chip Stroke is the game‘s 2

nd most accurate and consistent golf

stroke. At least consider utilizing this stroke.

Use of this Stroke:

-Use this stroke as an option to a more traditional

greenside chipping stroke from ball positions around

the green,

-with Lag Putting, and

-to pick the ball out of sand traps.

Strategy: Accuracy and consistence versus distance. The putt-chip stroke is an option to a

regular greenside chipping stroke. It is much easier for beginners and less accomplished

golfers to learn and execute consistently, HOWEVER, it is a shot professionals use quite

often as well when accuracy and consistency really count.

BEGINNERS AND LESS ACCOMPLISHED GOLFERS: Young golfers, beginning

golfers, and less skilled golfers typically score better with the putt-chip stroke than with

regular chipping or pitching strokes.

Equipment: We strongly recommend a chipping club for beginning and less accomplished

players. More advanced players can utilize this stroke with their regular irons. We suggest

they learn the stroke with a 7-iron and a PW. Obviously use your putter for lag putting.

Stroke Objective: Get the ball onto the green and rolling like a putt as quickly as possible.

Scoring Strategy: Utilize a putt-chip stroke on shots around the green when utilizing your

putter is not the best option, or where:

you have a downhill shot into the green which is difficult to stop;

the green is dry and hard. Normal chip or pitch shoots will not hold well under these

conditions.

A poor lie.

You are feeling pressured! Which you are doing to yourself.

You are uncertain of the shot you need to make.

You have a clear path onto the green.

You have a lot of green to work with.

Distance Control: Learn to create a putt-chip stroke where the length of the backswing and

follow through control the distance of the shot, which is much more effective than feel.

Think of the Putt-Chip Stroke as

a long putting stroke with a

lofted club.


279

Reminder about heavy grasses With some grasses, such as Bermuda and heavy grasses like it, the grain influences ball roll





Similar to the Putting Stroke Much of the following information is quite similar to your Putting Section.

Five Laws Be certain that you have already learned the Natural Laws governing the transfer of energy

from the face of the putt-chip club and are habituating techniques that follow the following

laws: Path; Face Angle; Center of Percussion; Angle of Attack; and Force or Mass.

Step 1. Create a Blueprint for the putt-chip stroke. We recommend a Pendulum Stroke.

Lag Putting Pendulum Stroke: a straight back-straight through stroke. Swings like a

pendulum and the preference is with a center shafted putter.

Chipping Pendulum Stroke: we recommend utilizing a pendulum stroke with the Putt-Chip

Stroke.

Equipment. Use your putter for lag putting, but you can use virtually any club for the putt-chip stroke.

Set Up.

Your set up is very similar to putting except that your stance:

-- is more open to the target,

--more upright, and

--you stand up taller to the ball.

Neutral Hand Position.

We prefer a neutral hand position; more in the fingers than the palm, especially with the left

hand. A neutral position allows the clubface to square itself at impact much easier and more

consistently. No matter which hand position you are teaching, instruct players in how to

weigh the club head through the stroke or swing and move their shoulders into the slot.

__ Wrists remain firm and arched slightly through stroke.

__ Comfortable palms facing hand position; neutral hand position; more in the fingers

than in the palms.

__ Position the hands down on the club for additional control of the club face through

the stroke.


280

Hand Pressure.

Keep hand pressure light enough that you can sense the weight of the putter or club head

through the stroke AND the club‘s transition from the back stroke to the forward stroke. We

refer to poised versus relaxed hands.

Ball position; ball position; ball position.

Our preference for both lag putting and the putt-chip stroke is to play the bal under the left

eye, or slightly forward (toward the target) from under the left eye. A slightly forward ball

position allows the ball to get up on top of the grass and rolling faster. As always, use trial-

and-success to determine the better ball position for both strokes.

Stance and Alignment.

Our preference: stance is open to the target line; feet are parallel with each other but open to

the target line; feet are 12 inches apart at the heels, and there is slightly more weight on the

inside of the forward foot.

Takeaway.

Engage cutters, a punch to the gut, and tightest jeans in order to stability the core muscles

through the stroke. Drip the shoulders into the slot and relax the hands in order to reduce

excess tension through the stroke. In the takeaway, think more in terms of a rocking motion

with the shoulders; rocking back and through a point at the top of the spine.

Without a club, first sense rocking the shoulders back and through the stroke over

stable hips and legs. Notice how well you can rock your shoulders and chest, and thus the

hands and arms, over stable hips and legs. Now, repeat the same movement with your lag

putt and putt-chip strokes.

__ Keep the setup and takeaway dynamic versus static; no freezing over the ball.

__ Read the 1-1-1- Putting Flow Drill at the end of this section for additional

information on the takeaway, including a forward press.

The Stroke.

The length of the backswing and follow through for the Pendulum Stroke are the same,

which is a low of physics. The stroke is executed around timing, tempo, rhythm, balance,

and concentration (herein referred to only as timing). Use our IM™ Training Program to

assess and develop your timing. Use a regular metronome to reinforce your timing in

practice and preparation. Use your breathing and heart beat to reinforce your timing in

competitive performance.

__ Never decelerate through the stroke.

__ Use our 6-Step Performance Routine.


281



dots, which required a tight visual focus. Select a very small dot

as your target to chip to. Select a very small dot to carry the ball

over on its way to the target. And select a very small dot on the

back of the ball to focus on. Then, it is merely a matter of connecting the dots through your

stroke. Connect the dot through the stroke!

Distance Reminder: Learn to create lag putt and putt-chip strokes where the length of the

backswing and follow through control the distance of the ball. For more advanced players,

we also use imagery in controlling distance. More on visualization later.

Warning Label: Do not leave this section without formulating or refining your

own lag putting and putt-chip blueprints.

Connect the dots

through the stroke.


282

1-1-1- Flow Drill - Review This drill helps create and maintain a dynamic setup and trigger for your stroke.

Review the 6-Step Performance Routine, or the Abbreviated Practice Routine, with both

putt-chip and lag putting stroke. Work through the 6-Step Routine and make a practice

stroke without a ball and at your regular pace and timing.

As you work through the routine this time, count ―one thousand and 1‖ to yourself

through the entire routine. Each count will take close to one second. Counting helps

establish a sense of timing and rhythm. In much of our training, we use a metronome. We

set the metronome to one beat a second to aid golfers in the counting process. We

recommend you do the same.

Next, as you work through the first stages of your Routine, do not start counting (one

thousand and 1) until you see the GO SIGN flash in your brain. Here is how the process

works. When you have completed the pre-shot portion of our Routine to where you have

mentally made two successful putts and are focused on the alignment spot your putt will

travel over on route to the target, then and only then, allow the GO SIGN to flash in your

brain as you begin counting (one thousand and 1).



As you begin moving into a position over the ball, and while still counting ―one

thousand and 1‖, simultaneously align the putter face behind the ball and

perpendicular with the target line, as you move the ball in position in relation to your

left eye. That is correct. Execute both moves simultaneously on the count of ―one

thousand and 1‖. You‘re doing great!

On the next count, move your left foot into proper position.

On the next count, move your right foot into proper position.

On the following count, execute your forward press as you trigger the back stroke.


Discontinue counting and hold your finish until the ball stops rolling.

Reminder on the forward press.

A forward press can be used to trigger the brain to start the golf swing.

Helps move the body into a more appropriate position for the rotating and coiling

swings.

We recommend an isometric forward press with putting and chipping strokes.

It initiates a sense of timing, tempo, and rhythm.

The motion relieves tension in the body.

Helps ensure a dynamic setup and take away for a successful putting stroke and full

swing.


283

PRACTICE DRILL

Place an alignment stick down with ½ of it on the green and the other half on the

fringe. Place one ball next to the stick and on the green, place the other ball near the

stick but on the fringe.

With your putter, execute a lag putt with the ball on the green, then take your 7-iron

and execute a putt-chip stroke from the fringe.

What do you think of the Putt-Chip stroke now? __________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________.

What do you think of the Lag Putting stroke now? ________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________.

Golf is a dynamic sport

Keep the setup and takeaway dynamic versus static. No ―freezing‖ over the ball.

Check out chipping clubs. There are several things we really like about chipping clubs:

Players can create and execute a chipping shot with the most accurate stroke they

have, their putting stroke.

Players can pick the ball from the sand with the chipping club, using a chipping

stroke, but with the ball toward the middle of their stance.

Players can execute a pitching stroke with these clubs as well.

Purchasing Equipment

Check out www.rockbottomgolf.com for some very good pricing on chipping clubs. Be

certain to ONLY order chipping clubs with a single face striking surface. Some clubs are

dual-face and are illegal in most competitive events.

Remove Distress


players on maintaining very light hand pressure on all shots, especially in the scoring game,

to drop the shoulders into the slot, and to execute strokes by synchronizing and employing

the larger muscles of the body.

http://www.rockbottomgolf.com/


284

3 x 5 Card

Lessons and Keys to the Putt-Chip Stroke

*Consider using a Chipping Club

1. ________________________________________________

2. ________________________________________________

3. ________________________________________________

4. ________________________________________________

5. ________________________________________________

6. ________________________________________________

Lesson Notes:

Lessons and Keys to the Lag Putting Stroke

1. ________________________________________________

2. ________________________________________________

3. ________________________________________________

4. ________________________________________________

5. ________________________________________________

6. ________________________________________________

Lesson Notes:


285


286

F. Greenside Chipping Stroke. Following the putting and putt-chip,

your most accurate and consistent

stroke.

Review the section on reading greens first.

Strategy. Accuracy and consistence around the

greens. And consistency on trouble shots versus

distance.

Stroke Objective. Get the ball onto the green

and rolling as a putt as quickly as possible,

which includes as little back and side spin as

possible. Note: all chip shots onto the green start

out as straight shots.

Distance Control. You are learning to control

the length of the shot through the length of the

backswing and follow through.

Grip. We use a neutral, palms-facing, grip. In order to get the club more in the fingers than

the palm, hold the club directly out in front of you at a 45º angle with the right hand and

place the left hand onto the club across the root of the fingers, where they join the palm.

Grip Pressure. Maintaining a poised, versus tight, grip is key. Weigh the club head at

address and through impact.

Setup and Takeaway - 90% of Success The following are major elements of the chipping setup.

Ensure that the setup and takeaway are dynamic rather than static. No freezing over the ball.

__ Comfortable, palms facing, hand position; neutral hand position.

__ Maintain a poised grip through the stroke that allows you to sense the weight of the

club head. We do not use the term relaxed.

__ Move hand position down on the club for additional control through the stroke.

__ Open, narrow, stance; feet about 6 inches apart, but must be wide enough to

maintain balance through the stroke.

__ Eyes are set along the target line, while the rest of the body is open to it.

__ Bend forward at the hip joints.

__ Feet and hips turned open toward target.

IMPORTANT NOTE: In the set up routine, set up to the ball with the feet

perpendicular to the target line and then flare them toward the target.

__ Place additional weight on the front foot, which promotes stability through the stroke

and a more up-and-down angle of attack.


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__ Place the ball back in stance near the left ankle and work to maintain the same ball

position with all of your shipping strokes. A consistent ball position is key to all

golf shots, especially in the scoring game.

__ Engage cutters, a punch to the gut, tightest jeans, drop the shoulders into the slot,

and poised hands.

Stroke Model (Our Preferences) __ Initiate the stroke with a slight forward press. We recommend an isometric type

press to ensure that players do not push the hands forward in the stroke and leave

them there.

__ Leave slightly more weight on the front foot through the swing to promote stability

and more of an up-and-down angle of attack

__ Stroke down into and through the ball; contact the ball BEFORE the ground.

__ Focus on leading with the L. hand pulling down and through the shot.

__ Maintain a stable power source; the chipping stroke is more of a rocking motion of

the shoulders than it is a rotating motion.

__ We prefer to sense a left-side pulling, rocking, motion to other techniques.

__ Wrists remain firm through the entire stroke; optionally, left wrist remains straight

through the entire stroke

__ Use the 6-Step Performance Routine.

__ Preference: My preference is to address the ball in a fairly upright stance, close to

the ball, thus allowing a more ―straight-back-straight-through‖ stroke.

Chipping is a dynamic activity

Keep the setup and takeaway dynamic versus static. No freezing over the ball.

Club Selection Strategy The greater the loft of the club, and subsequently more spin on the ball, (PW are typically

50º whereas 7-irons are 38º, and a 3-iron are 23º) the LESS precisely the ball lands and

reacts to the green, and rolls consistently. Therefore, for increased consistence and

accuracy, use the least amount of loft the shot calls for: when the ball is sitting down in

grass, use a more lofted club; and, when the lie is tight, use less loft.

Club Strategy A. The player selects one club, such as a 7-iron or a Chipping Club, and

learns to make all of their chipping shots with that one club. Typically, the chipping

strategy is to get the ball onto the green and rolling as a putt as quickly as possible, thus

adjusting the club and ball flight to each shot and distance from the target. However, for

beginners and some additional players, it can be more effective to teach them the chipping

game with one club.

Club Strategy B. Get the ball onto the green and rolling as a putt as quickly as possible, thus

adjusting the club and ball flight to each shot and distance from the target.


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Distance Control Learn to create a chipping stroke where the length of the backswing and follow through

control the distance of the shot. Measure the distance of ball flight and record it first.

THEN, measure total distance, flight plus roll, and record it. We recommend starting with

a 7-iron and adding clubs.

Our preference is to develop an optimum ball speed that will carry the ball 17-18

inches beyond the hole if missed. The same as with putting.

Ball‘s Landing Spot

When chipping, select the ball‘s landing spot on

the green very precisely and aim at that spot, not

at the cup. One technique is to visualize

yourself putting from the ball‘s landing spot on the

green and then work to land the ball on that spot as

precisely as possible.

Power Source

Based on data collected from hundreds of players, our preference is for golfers to habituate a

chipping and putting stroke that is not totally dependent on the kinesthetic sense of touch

(feel) for creating direction and distance in the stroke.

Reminder: Feel is not real.

A success key is learning to create a chipping stroke where the length of the

backswing and follow through control the distance of the shot.

Timing, tempo, rhythm, and balance through motion are determining factors in the

distance of the shot as well.

With more advanced golfers, we use a visualization technique to help produce

correct distances as well.




as your target to chip to. Select a very small dot to carry the ball




3-Spot Practice Drill

All chipping shots onto the green need to start out as straight shots. Ensure that you

understand that concept. For this drill, pick a flat spot on a practice green. We utilize a 40

ft. indoor putting green. Line up three markers to test the direction of your chips: one mark

to place the ball on consistently; a 2nd

mark for a consistent landing area (make it about 10

ft. from the ball); and a 3rd

marker in a straight line from the ball through the landing mark.

With a PW, the 3rd

marker will be ___ ft. (you fill in your own distance). The 3rd

mark helps

you assess both the direction and distance of your chips.

With shots into the green, how

the ball reacts to the green,

where it lands and stops, are

critical to the success of the

shot.

Connect the dots

through the stroke.


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Work through this drill until you can consistently produce straight chip shots of

approximately the same distance. USE the drill at least once a month to keep your chipping

on track.

Practice Reminder

How the golf ball reacts to the putting surface is as important to the success of the shot as

the chipping stroke itself, if not more so. Learn how different clubs and different ball

positions cause the ball to react to the green.

For the following data collection, measure the distance of ball flight to a target spot and

record it first. THEN, measure total distance, ball flight to a target spot plus roll, and

record it.

Chipping/Pitching DATA COLLECTION CARD Name _____________________ Date______________ (all measurements are in yards) Chipping PW; from 5 yds to target; amount of roll: ____ - ____ - ____ - ____ - ____ - ____

PW: from 10 yds to target; amount of roll: ____ - ____ - ____ - ____ - ____ - ____


Chipping 7-iron; from 5 yds to target; amount of roll: ____ - ____ - ____ - ____ - ____ - ____

7-iron: from 10 yds to target; amount of roll: ____ - ____ - ____ - ____ - ____ - ____

Pitching PW; from 5 yds to target; amount of roll: ____ - ____ - ____ - ____ - ____ - ____


PW; from 25 yds to target; amount of roll: ____ - ____ - ____ - ____ - ____ - ____

PW; from 35 yds to target; amount of roll: ____ - ____ - ____ - ____ - ____ - ____


Pitching SW; from 5 yds to target; amount of roll: ____ - ____ - ____ - ____ - ____ - ____

SW: from 15 yds to target; amount of roll: ____ - ____ - ____ - ____ - ____ - ____

SW; from 25 yds to target; amount of roll: ____ - ____ - ____ - ____ - ____ - ____

SW; from 35 yds to target; amount of roll: ____ - ____ - ____ - ____ - ____ - ____

SW: from 45 yds to target; amount of roll: ____ - ____ - ____ - ____ - ____ - ____

*By target we mean a target spot, not a golf hole.


Reminder: to help cure inconsistent performance during competition, we coach players on

maintaining very light hand pressure on all shots (poised grip), especially in the scoring

game, to drop the shoulders into the slot, and to execute strokes by synchronizing and

employing the larger muscles of the body.

Reminder - heavy grasses With heavy grasses such as Bermuda, the grain influences ball roll so much that we chart it

on greens as well. When putting against the grain on Bermuda type greens, the roll of the

ball can be reduced by as much as 50%. This same effect of slowing down the roll of the

ball MUST be taken into consideration when putting, and creating shots into greens, at all

times.


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Left Hand Drill Use this drill and few times and determine what you think.

-Select a certain distance and target and stroke four (4) chipping strokes at it with only the

left hand.

-Then, make the 5th

stroke with both hands, allowing the left hand to control the stroke a

little more than the right. Think of pulling through with the left hand versus pushing

through with the right.

-Repeat the drill several times.

-What do you think. Did your chipping stroke improve? It does for most people. If the drill

works for you, be certain to include it into your practice routine.

[Refer to our article ―You Do not Learn to Chip by Chipping.‖]

Learning Process Reminder Remember to habituate your chipping stroke and then allow yourself to GRADUATE to

playing the game. It may take up to 30 days to habituate the correct stroke and really start

learning distance control, but then GRADUATE and stop messing with mechanics.


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3 x 5 Card

Lessons and KEYS TO SUCCESS IN CHIPPING

1. ________________________________________________

2. ________________________________________________

3. ________________________________________________

4. ________________________________________________

5. ________________________________________________

6. ________________________________________________

Lesson Notes:


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Journalizing

Developing the Chipping Stroke.

Date Comments

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G. Pitching Stroke. Review the section on reading greens first. And remember that all strokes are created and

executed within our 6-Step Performance Routine™. For reasons we explain in greater detail

later in your materials, pitching and the rotating finesse swing are potentially your #1 area

for reducing your scores, even more so that putting.

Strategy and Stroke Objectives Strategy: Still an accuracy stroke (versus a full swing), there are tradeoffs with pitching

between distance, consistency, and accuracy. Our strategy is controlling the length of shots

with the backswing and follow through positions and with synchronized body rotation. We

control accuracy by using an on-plane rotating finesse type swing.

Scoring Strategy. Utilize this stroke on all shots around the green where:

there is an uphill lie into the target;

the ball is closer to the green than a 7:30 shot our highest lofted wedge (when our

highest loft is 60º, and the total distance of that wedge is 35 yards with our 7:30

Rotating Finesse Swing, we switch to a pitching stroke from within 35 yards of our

target);

we need to stop the ball faster than with a chipping stroke;

have an acceptable lie to work from;

must carry an area (bunker, mound, water, etc.) along the path to the target.

When you have sufficient green to work with, and stop the ball, use as low a lofted club as

possible in order to reduce side and back spin distortion on the landing and the roll of

the ball. STOP THROWING THOSE HIGH WEDGE SHOTS AT THE PIN unless you

have mastered that shot. Checkout your Accuracy Performance Ratio with several clubs,

including mid-irons, and let the statistics help make the club selection for you.

Club Selection. We recommend learning the pitching

stroke with a PW and then, and only then, advancing

to other wedges and clubs. For beginners, master the

stroke model with one club and then advance to other

clubs.

Distance Control Create a pitching stroke where the length of the backswing and follow through, along with a

consistent synchronized body rotation, control the distance of the shot.

For Data Tracking: Measure the distance of ball flight and record it first. Then measure

total distance, which is ball flight plus roll, and record it. Learning distance control with a

PW and then advancing to other clubs. With heavy grasses such as Bermuda, the grain

influences ball roll so much that we chart it on greens as well. When putting against the

grain on Bermuda type greens, the roll of the ball can be reduced by as much as 50%. This

same effect of slowing down the roll of the ball MUST be taken into consideration when

putting, and creating shots into greens, at all times.

Within our Golf Development

Program, ALL GOLFERS must

qualify for carrying higher lofted

clubs than a PW. Have you

qualified yet!


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Grip. Use more of a neutral, palms-facing, grip. In order to get the club more in the fingers

than the palm, hold the club directly out in front of you at a 45º angle with the right hand

and place the left hand onto the club across the root of the fingers, where they join the palm.

Grip Pressure. Weigh the club head through the stroke and through the transition from the

back stroke to the forward stroke.

Stroke Preferences - 90% of Success Preferences in the setup for a pitching stroke.

__ A comfortable, palms facing, neutral hand position.

__ Light grip pressure; able to sense the weigh on the club head.

__ Drop the shoulders into the slot.

__ Hands positioned down on the handle for additional control through the swing.

__ Square stance, parallel to the target line. Flair both feet open slightly to fit your

swing.

__ Back of heels 12 – 14 inches apart.

__ Slightly more weight on the inside of the forward foot; and keep it there through the

entire stroke.

__ Bend forward at the waist, not at the chest or shoulders.

__ Bend knees slightly; experiment with a more upright stance.

__ Position ball in the exact middle of your heels; not the toes when the feet are flared.

__ Keep setup and takeaway dynamic versus static. No freezing over the ball.

__ Engage cutters, a punch to the gut, and tightest jeans slightly in order to stability the

core muscles through the stroke.

Takeaway __ A synchronized move away from the ball. The swing thought is ―everything back –

everything through.‖

__ Initiate the takeaway with a gathering motion. We prefer a forward press.

Stroke Model – our preferences

__ A fluid stroke; an athletic move.

__ This stroke is founded on timing, tempo, rhythm.

__ Distance is controlled by the length of the backswing, follow through, and

synchronized body rotation through the stroke.

__ Accuracy is controlled with an on-plane stroke.

__ This is a rotating stroke, not a coiling swing.

__ Use your new 6-Step Performance Routine™.

__ Our preference is developing an optimum pitching speed that will carry the ball 17-

18 inches beyond the hole if missed.

This shot probably got its name from the fact that it looks similar to pitching horse shoes or

pennies underhanded. The stroke flies higher than a chip shot.


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Stance Error

One of the common errors we see is players having their feet too close together with this

stroke. With the center of the heels closer than about 12 inches, it is difficult to maintain

balance because players need to rotate the body rhythmically through the stroke.

Pitching is a dynamic activity





as your target to pitch to. Select a very small dot to carry the ball




Remove Distress – A Key to Competitive

Performance Fact: One of the primary causes of poor and missed

golf shots, especially within the scoring game, is

excess tension in the hands, arms, and shoulders

caused by the self-induced distress of competitive

performance, or performance under self-induced

pressure. Players often practice the scoring game

well, score well in practice, but then execute poorly during competition. Does this ever

happen with you? _____ Well, does it? ____ Want to avoid it in the future?____

To help cure inconsistent performance during competition, we coach players on maintaining

very light hand pressure on all shots, especially in the scoring game, and on executing this

stroke by synchronizing and employing the larger muscles of the body. One of our

preference strategies is ―the closer to the hole, the lighter the grip.‖ An additional strategy

is helping players learn and habituate the use of body synchronization through the swing,

especially in the scoring game.

Cody, (one of our golfers) No Excess Leg Drive: We do not want players driving the legs

through strokes such as chipping, pitching, and the rotating finesse swing because it adds a

secondary, and uncontrollable, power source. However, sufficient lower-body rotation is

required during the pitching stroke to maintain the synchronization of the body through the

stroke. Part of maintaining synchronization is implementing the swing thought of:

―everything back-everything through.‖

A Key to Competitive

Performance. My #1 error with

this stroke occurs when my grip

being too tight during the swing.

Dave Pelz (Author, Short Game

Bible) refer to his grip as “dead

hands.” See what you think.

Connect the dots

through the stroke.


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What are your thoughts on habituating a light grip, dropping the shoulders into the slot, and

a synchronized swing (everything back-everything through) in the scoring game, and thus

helping avoid competitive breakdowns?

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

Avoiding Distress Begins with the Hand Pressure - Grip It is much, much, more effective to avoid distress in the first place versus having to deal

with it once you allow it to invade your game. One of our primary strategies is training

golfers to avoid distress in the first place along with habituating specific mind ↔ body skills

to avoid the stress response if they should allow distress to enter their game. This strategy,

along with associated techniques, is covered extensively in The Hourglass Routine and The

6-Step Performance Routine.

Takeaway

Use a slight forward press to gather the body for the swing, then start the swing by moving

everything away from the target together: legs, hips, shoulders, arms, hands, and club. Do

not pick the club head up on the initial takeaway move. Ensure that you rotate the club back

with the body.

Backswing and Follow Through

In order to ensure the stability of the club head

through impact, the follow through is longer

than the backswing. Which calls for acceleration through impact. Deceleration through

impact can ruin the stroke.

Finding the bottom of the stroke.

In the physics of the golf swing, every stroke has a bottom. So, find the bottom of your

pitching stroke. On the down swing, the club face contacts the ball first, therefore the

bottom of the swing actually occurs slightly in front of the ball, toward the target, not behind

the ball.

TO DO: Mark the position of the ball with a tee. Make a stroke through the ball. Examine

the divot and determine where the bottom of the stroke was. Repeat until you can locate the

exact bottom of the stroke.

Club Selection

We recommend learning the pitching stroke with a PW. PWs‘ are about 50º and SWs‘ are

about 55º. Have beginning and less accomplished golfers give there 60º and 64º wedges

to players they are competing with. Make even advanced players earn the right to

being 60° and 64° wedges into play.


How the golf ball reacts to the green is as important to the success of this stroke as the

pitching stroke itself, if not more so. Invest a significant amount of practice time learning

The follow through is longer than

the backswing.


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how the ball reacts to the green with a PW and SW. Track and record the length of ball

flight to a specific landing target, the length of roll from the landing target, and the total

length of the shot. Yes, the type of ball being used can impact trajectory and thus spin and

roll.

5, 15, 25, 35, 45 Drill Use this as early season data collection drill. Once we have this basic information on

players, we switch to collecting data under competitive conditions. However, this drill is a

good starting point for you.

Pitching Practice Example

The average distance of a 7:30 PW Rotating Finesse Swing for Golfer ‗A‘ is 50 yards. How

does that golfer practice and habituate shorter shots from 50 yards and in to the hole? Here

is one drill. Put five (5) markers down on the pitching practice area. The 1st marker is 5

yards away from the landing target on the green. Use a towel or something similar to

marker the landing target on the green. Place the subsequent markers at 15, 25, 35, and 45

yards from the landing target.

Make three (3) pitching strokes to the landing target from each distance with the

same club. We recommend beginning with a PW. No matter what club is used,

record the club used and the results.

Focus on finding and developing the proper length of backswing and follow through

from each distance. Remember that the follow through is always slightly longer than the backswing. Go back through the same sequence, but only make two (2) strokes from each

distance. Go back through the sequence and only make one (1) stroke from each distance.

Chipping Stroke

Use the same drill as above with three (3) chipping strokes to the landing target from 5, and

10 yards. We recommend beginning with a PW. No matter which club is used, record the

club and results.

For more advanced golfers:

Advanced players can use trial-and-success with a variety of clubs from each length.

With each stroke, pay particular attention to the length of ball flight, how the ball

lands on the putting surface, and the total distance.

Select a final target, such as a golf hole. Set up markers at 5, 15, 25, 35, and 45

yards of the target and make three strokes to the target from each distance.

Chipping stroke. Use the same process as above with chipping strokes.


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3 x 5 Card

Basics of My Pitching Stroke 1. ________________________________________________

2. ________________________________________________

3. ________________________________________________

4. ________________________________________________

5. ________________________________________________

6. ________________________________________________

Lesson Notes:


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Journalizing

Refining My Pitching Stroke.

Date Comments

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H. Rotating Finesse Swing (RFS) - Working the Clock Remember that all strokes are created and executed within The Hourglass™ and the 6-Step

Performance Routine™. For reasons we explain in greater detail later in your materials,

pitching and the rotating finesse swing are potentially your #1 area for reducing your scores,

even more so that putting.

Strategy: increasing the distance of a pitching style stroke

while maintaining as much accuracy and consistency

as possible. Note: within the same range of motion,

a rotating finesse swing generates less club head speed,

and thus less distance, but provides more consistency, than

coil style swings.

A Gateway Stroke

In many respects, a rotating style swing is the gateway

to an on-plane full swing. We recommend learning and

habituating a rotating style swing, then learning and

habituating a coiling style swing.

NO Styling! The Rotating Finesse Swing (RFS) does NOT have the ―styler‖ finish you

think you see the Pros use on TV.

A. Tour Pros are creating and executing a different shot than most players even know about.

B. The low-hands-coiled-around-the-body ―styler‖ finish is a guaranteed way to ruin your

scoring game with inconsistent shot making. This low follow through requires muscle and

hand control, which means it proves inconsistent, especially under pressure. The swing also

creates a lower trajectory than the regular finesse swing, meaning less consistency in how

shots react to greens.

C. The principle of ―the body goes around and the arms go up and down‖ applies to each

RFS.

Scoring Strategy. Utilize a rotating type swing with shots into the green where you:

have a distance into the green that is within your Rotating Finesse Swing scoring

range (further than a pitching stroke, yet shorter than a full coiling swing);

have a reasonably good lie;

have an acceptable amount of green (or area in front of the green) for the ball to land

and stop on; or

need to carry obstacles (traps, etc.) between you and the green.

Scoring Objective Stop the ball within a 6ft. circle around our target, which is typically the pin.


304

Distance Examples (from working with Dave Pelz‘s students)

PW/50° GW/55° SW/60° XW/64º 9-iron

7:30 Swing 50 yds 43 yds 35 yds 28 yds

9:00 – 3:00 75

9:00 swing

10:30 swing 100 85 70 55

*The 1st 9:00 is to 3:00, the 2

nd 9:00 is 9 to parallel with the ground at the top of the swing.

Collect your own distance data in this order:

A. Ball flight distance. (ball flight distances will vary with the conditions, so learn each

swing under a variety of conditions)

B. Roll. (the role will vary tremendously with the condition of the greens, so learn each shot

under a variety of conditions)

C. Total distance.

With heavy grasses such as Bermuda, the grain influences ball roll so much that we chart it

on greens as well. When putting against the grain on Bermuda type greens, the roll of the

ball can be reduced by as much as 50%. This same effect of slowing down the roll of the

ball MUST be taken into consideration when putting, and creating shots into greens, at all

times.

Clubs. Learn the RFS with a PW and then advance to a other wedges. Most professionals

evolve into a 4-wedge system.

Grip. Our preference is a neutral, palms-facing, grip. In order to get the club in the fingers

more than the palms, hold the club directly out in front of you at a 45º angle with the right

hand and place the left hand onto the club across the root of the fingers, where they join the

palm.

Grip Pressure. Weigh the club head through the stroke and through the transition from the

back stroke to the forward stroke; cutters – tightest jeans - poised hands – etc.

Working the Clock If a golfer‘s back was up against the clock shown above while making her 9:00 swing, her

left arm would be pointing to 9 on the clock at the top of her backswing and the club would

be perpendicular to the ground. There are two finish positions. The first is with the right

arm at 3:00 in the finish position. The 2nd

is with her club being parallel to the ground, or

about 1:00.

For the 10:30 swing, her left arm would be pointing to 10:30 on the clock face at the

top of her backswing and her club would get to parallel on her follow through.

We have kept the hardest position for last; 7:30. For 7:30, her left arm would be

pointing to 7:30 at the top of her backswing and her club would get to a position

perpendicular to the ground on her follow through.


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Full Swing Principle

The brain takes words, converts them to images, and

processes images. The brain has difficulty creating

sufficient specificity with phrases such as ―swing

easier or slower‖ or ―swing faster or harder‖. Slower and faster are mere words with a

multitude of interpretations within the brain. For distance and accuracy control, the Rotating

Finesse Swing is more effective than feel because it utilizes positions of the body in the

backswing and follow through, coupled with an on plane swing and synchronized swing.

Question: Does the previous principle help clarify why for most golfers, feel strokes such as

putting, chipping, and pitching are more difficult to execute consistently and accuracy than

full shots? IF not, cover the principle with your coach.

Response: _________________________________________________________________

Think of the Rotating Finesse Swing positions (7:30, 9:00, 10:30) as full swings.

Setup and Takeaway - 90% of Success Our preferences in your setup.

__ Use a palms facing, in the fingers, grip.

__ Sense the weight of the club head through the entire swing.

__ Stance is parallel with the target line.

__ Feet are 12 – 14 inches apart at the heels.


__ Ball is still centered precisely middle of the body. The mistake is moving the ball

too far forward in the stance.

__ Engage cutters, a punch in the gut, and tightest jeans slightly in order to stability the

core muscles through the stroke.

__ Drop the shoulders into the slot and relax the hands in order to remove any excess

stress in the shoulders, arms, and hands.

Swing Model (Our Preferences)

__ The swing is founded in timing, tempo, rhythm, and balance through motion.

__ A synchronized rotation motion; ―everything back – everything through‖.

__ We prefer a ―ramp-up‖ loading of the club through the downswing. This means

there is a steady buildup of pressure (loading) of the shaft until the load is released

just before impact. This swing has no bursts. Said another way, your sense of

acceleration through the swing remains constant. The length of your back swing and

follow through determine distance.

__ Habituate the four swing positions (7:30, 9:00 to 3:00, 9:00 to parallel, and 10:30).

__ Work to take the club‘s shaft through a position parallel with the target line when

the shaft is in a horizontal position to the ground.

__ This is an on-plane. Ask your coach if you are not certain of what being an on-plane

swing means.

__ Maintain balance through swing; hold follow through to increase stability through

the swing.


__ The arms go up and down and the body goes around.

Think of the three rotating

swing positions as full swings.


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__ Use your full 6-Step Performance Routine and establish intent.

More on a Neutral Grip Position

Most players come to us with strong grip positions. With a strong grip in the Rotating

Finesse Swing, the tendency is to close the clubface through impact, thus de-lofting the face,

which reduced the necessary height of the shot. In many cases, strong grips consistently pull

shots to the left as well. We work to switch golfers to a neutral grip position with a rotating

swing. In a neutral position, the wrists cock upward easier and create more loft through

impact. Some experts claim that a neutral position slows down the rotation of the face

through impact, thus allowing for a consistent launch angle to be maintained slightly longer.

Takeaway

Use a forward press to gather the body for the swing, then start the swing by moving

everything away from the target together: legs, hips, shoulders, arms, hands, and club.

Remember the swing thought of ―everything back – everything through.‖

On-Plane Swing Reminder

Use an on-plane swing to ensure consistency

and accuracy through each shot; ―the body goes

around and the arms go up and down.‖

Club Position

Work toward taking the club‘s shaft through, or to,

a position parallel with the target line when the shaft

is horizontal to the ground. Illustrated in the photo

on the left in the illustration. This means that as

the club is swung back, the shaft passes through a position that is parallel with the target line

when the shaft is horizontal with the ground. Correct on the left; incorrect on the right.

Wrist Set

A consistent wrist setting and releasing sequence is

essential to the success of this swing. To develop this

consistency, start with the 9:00 Swing. Pay specific

attention to the fact that the left arm is pointing

directly at 9:00 on the clock face and the club shaft

is perfectly perpendicular to the ground, with the

arms and club forming a 90° angle. Learn and

habituate this wrist set angle. In creating this

angle, you must pre-set the wrists.

With the 10:30 swing, wrist set and release tend to take care of themselves once you

have mastered the sequence with the 9:00 swing. With a poised grip, the weight of the club

head helps you set the wrists naturally; no manipulation or compensations are necessary.

The most difficult swing position is 7:30, which is why we ask you to master the

9:00 position first. Pay specific attention to the fact that the left arm is pointing directly at

7:30 on the clock face and the wrists are pre-set slightly. Examine the photo on the

following page for the correct club position. You MUST develop a consistent arm and wrist

set position. Optionally, some players prefer not to use any wrist set with the finesse swing,

It is critical to habituate a consistent amount of wrist set in the backswing. Swinging the club to the correct positions in the 9:00 swing will help train the correct wrist set, release, and follow through.


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especially with the 7:30 swing, which is a personal preference, but not one shared by us.

Our recommendation is to develop one wrist set strategy, habituate it, and stay with it.

Hand Position

When some players have the ball too far away of them, and thus their wrists tend to tilt up

slightly, their ball flight tends to be to the right of their target. If this occurs with you, move

the ball slightly closer to you, drop the hands down under your shoulders more, and

determine how this position impacts ball flight.

Power Source

While golfers do not use the legs as a primary power source in the rotating finesse swing,

they need sufficient lower-body motion to keep the body synchronized through the swing.

The lower and upper body must move at the same rate in order to maintain timing,

tempo, and rhythm through the swing.

Some golfers attempt to create more club head speed by snapping their wrists at the

bottom of the swing. Although they think they are creating more power, according to

Theodore Jorgensen (former Professor of Physics, Univ. of Neb. and published golf expert),

the action actually slows the club head down, More on this topic later.


How the golf ball reacts to the surface of the green, or fairway in front of the green, is as

important to the success of the shot as the swing itself, if not more so. Refer to the

Diagramming Greens Section for practice in this area.

Reminder: Learning Distance Control – Your Practice Strategy

-Learn the precise distance of your 7:30 RFS with a PW (50°), perhaps 50yds.

-From 50yds and into the green, practice your pitching from 10, 20, 30, and 40 yards out

from the target.

-With a 55° wedge, your 7:30 RFS may be 43 yds, so practice pitching from 40 yds and in.

-With a 60° wedge, your 7:30 may be 35 yds, so practice pitching from that distance in.

-With a 64° wedge, your 7:30 may be 28 yds, so practice pitching from that distance in.


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Control Distance by Working the Clock As mentioned earlier, primary distance control for

the finesse swing is the length of the backswing and the

follow through, along with a synchronized rotation of

the body through the shot.

Measure the distance of ball flight and record it first.

Then, measure total distance, ball flight plus roll, and

record it.

First comes the 7:30 position. If the golfer in the

illustration to the right had his back up against a clock,

his straight left arm would be pointing to 7:30 on the

face of the clock.

Finish Position: the finish for this swing is with the

club perpendicular to the ground. Photo is on the next page.

Estimated Distance: For most of my men‘s golf team, the total distance of this swing, ball

flight plus roll on the green, with a PW is about 40 yards (closer to 36 yards for ladies). Yes

they can produce more distance, but accuracy and repeatability are our primary objectives.

When the ball is shorter or longer than that distance, you are probably not using the correct

power sources, nor or you using them correctly. Or perhaps the lofts of your wedges are off.

Sensing the 9:00 position. Getting to the 7:30 position consistently, especially during

competition, is challenging. We train players to sense the angle of the club with the hands in

habituating the correct position. With sensitive hands, and with ―weighing the club‖, you

can learn to sense the correct angle fairly quickly. Also, in the 7:30 position, the right arm is

up against the body.

Grip Suggestion. With the 7:30 position, we find that our swings become more consistent

when we grip down on the club one to two inches. This lower hand position also seems to

give us better control on the angle of attack and we swing through the ball better, versus

hitting behind it. Use trial-and-success to locate the best position on the club as well. Be

sure to record your results.

IMPORTANT REMINDER: For all rotating swings, it

is important to remember that you only swing hard

enough to reach the finish position. You do not, we

repeat, you do not swing to that position and then STOP

the swing. Swinging through the ball to the designated

finish position is one of the control elements for distance

control and consistency.

Reminder of our scoring objective: stop the ball within

6 feet of our target, which is typically the pin.


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9:00 to 3:00 and 9:00 to Parallel Positions. If the golfer‘s back to the right

was up against a clock, his straight left arm would be

pointing to 9:00 on the face of the clock.

Finish Position: the finish position for the 9:00 swing

is parallel to the ground at the top of the swing, and

9:00 to 3:00.

Estimated Distance for 9:00: 91 yards (82 yards for

ladies). 9:00 to 3:00 is about 75 yds for men and about

65 for ladies.

Common Error: With all of the finesse swings, there

is a common error among golfers when they think

they need to swing hard to the finish position and stop.

Wrong. The technique is to swing back to the 9:00 position and then only rotate hard

enough through the swing to finish with the club in a parallel position at the top; parallel to

the ground and target line.

Sensing the 9:00 position. Getting to the 9:00 position consistently, especially during

competition, can be a challenge. Use the following techniques and determine how they

work for you. A. When you swing back to the 9:00 position, and the club is perpendicular

to the ground, sense the weight of the club shaft going directly down on your hands. With

sensitive hands, and with ―weighing the club‖, you can learn to sense that position. B. With

sensitive hands, you can also sense the butt of the shaft moving out and against the bottom

fingers of the left hand. Develop sensitive hands!

Also, in the 9:00 position, the right arm will still be up against the body and the

relatively parallel to the ground.

10:30 position. If the golfer‘s back to the right

was up against a clock, his straight left arm would be

pointing to 10:30 on the face of the clock.

Finish Position: The finish position for the 10:30 swing

would be getting the club to parallel at the top.

Estimated Distance: 105 yards (95 yards for ladies).

Note: We do not teach our players to make any

rotating swing with the club getting past the

10:30 position on the backswing.

Sensing the 10:30 position. Getting to the 10:30

position consistently, especially during competition,

can be a challenge. Use the following technique and

determine how it works for you. In the 10:30 position, the right arm will have started

moving away from the body and almost into the waiter position. The waiter position is


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where the right forearm is perpendicular to the ground, and the golfer could balance a tray of

water in the right hand. Use trial-and-success to develop a sense for this position.

Reminder: 9:00 & 10:30 finish positions. The finish

position for both the 9:00 and 10:30 swings is with the club,

parallel with the ground, but never past parallel, and

parallel with the target line. We know, the golfer to the

right is not quite to parallel, which is fine if that is consistent

with their swing. The 2nd

9:00 swing has a 3:00 finish

position.

IMPORTANT REMINDER: For all Rotating Finesse

Swings, it is important to remember that golfers only swing

hard enough to reach the finish position.

Finding the bottom of the swing

In the physics of the swing, every swing has a bottom. You

need to find the bottom of your Rotating Finesse Swing.

Since the club contacts the ball first on the down swing, the bottom of the swing occurs

toward the front of the ball, toward the target, not behind the ball.

TO DO: Mark the position of the ball with a tee. Make a swing through the ball. Examine

the divot and determine where the bottom of the swing was. Repeat until you can locate the

exact bottom of the swing.



players on maintaining a very light grip pressure on all shots, especially in the scoring game,

to drop the shoulders into the slot, and to execute strokes by synchronizing and employing

the larger muscles of the body.

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Right & Left Hand Only Swing Drills Right Hand Only. Work through the setup for the 9:00 Rotating Finesse PW Shot and then

make a 9:00 swing with only the right hand. Create a sense or mental image of tossing a

ball onto the green underhanded. Refer to the Drag versus Toss Drill below. The drill can

help develop timing, tempo, and rhythm through the swing. The drill can be difficult for

beginners, but worth the time, practice, and patience.

Remain target focused and emphasize a sense of tossing a golf ball underhanded at

the target.

Work into your normal stance, but without a club, and throw a few golf balls at a

target with an underhand motion. You might be surprised at the difficulty some

players have, so keep throwing balls until you get it!

Next, take a few practice swings emphasizing a sense of tossing the head of your

PW at the target. We have an old PW we actually have some players toss at a target

out in the fairway, but never at a green.

Make 10 – 12 right hand only swings until you start becoming proficient with that

motion.

If you cannot make the swing with reasonable consistency, continue doing the drill

daily during your warm up routine until you can.

NOW, switch to making one right hand only swing and then one swing with both

hands on the club. Focus on producing the same feel and sense of timing with

both hands. This final step in the drill is the most important step; the transfer of

learning to the actual golf swing. Focus on producing the same feel and sense of

timing with both hands.


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Left Hand Only. Repeat the same sequence as above with only the left hand. However, this

time create a sense of dragging the club head through the ball at impact. Refer to the

following Drag Drill.

Additional instructions:

Important Point: with both drills, keep the

swinging arm (right or left) in front of the

body as you cock the wrist on the backswing,

as well as when you release the club on the follow through.

Learn to rotate down and into the ball, up into your follow through, and finish with

most of your weight still on the inside of the left foot.

Drag Versus Toss Drill Here is a way to further increase your understanding

and development in the use of the right and left hands

through the swing.

Execute one 9:00 PW Rotating Finesse Swing

emphasizing a sense of dragging the club

head back through the shot at impact with the left hand leading the charge.

Now execute a 9:00 PW rotating swing emphasizing a sense of tossing the club head

through impact with the right hand leading the charge.

Repeat the sequence five (5) times and pay special attention to the differences in ball

flight and distance when emphasizing one hand versus the other.

Emphasize that neither hand takes over in this drill. One hand merely leads the

charge over the other.

Pay specific attention to the ball flight, roll, reaction to the green, and total distance

characteristics of each swing type.

Document your results and practice notes.

Tee-to-tee Drill This is one of Doc Sutties‘ (Author of Your Perfect Swing and

The LAWS of the Golf Swing) favorite drills to help promote

the proper arm and hand action through the swing.

Objective: Help players develop a sense of setting and releasing

the wrists properly through the swing. Please note that this drill

exaggerates the writ action of most players, which is why it

is such a helpful drill.

Place a long tee in the butt end of the grip of the wedge.

Use a regular setup to execute a 7:30 PW rotating swing.

1st, swing the club to the 7:30 position in the backswing

and STOP.

Keep those hands in FRONT of

your body through these shots!

Pay special attention to the

differences in ball flight and

distance when emphasizing one

hand versus the other through

these swings.


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Work with this move until the tee is pointing directly

down at the ball on the ground when the arms are in

the 7:30 position.

It is difficult to see a tee in the end of the wedge, so

in the photo in the top right we used an alignment

stick to illustrate the correct position.

Now swing through the ball to a 2:30 finish

Position; where the arm is point toward 2:30 on a clock

face. Work with this move until the tee is pointing

directly down at the ball on the ground.

Again, we have used an alignment stick in the photo

to illustrate the correct position.

PW Mastery Birdie Ball Drill --Check out 6 birdie balls from coach. You may or

may not want to come by the office and use the birdie ball matt. ALWAYS USE

ALIGNMENT STICKS WHEN YOU PREACTICE.

--Do this drill every day until you have mastered it and then do it two days a week,

every week. Once you think you have mastered this drill, set up a time to see coach

and demonstrate your mastery.

--Use only your PW to start with. You can advance to other clubs once you have mastered

your PW, but you will still use your PW, then add your additional wedges. One of your

objectives is to advance to using all three of your wedges with this drill.

--You MUST have a partner to help check out your swing positions on this drill.

--Focus on cutters, tightest jeans, sock in the gut, and dropping the shoulders in the slot.

--Using your Modified 6-Step Routine, execute 3 of the following swings, giving full

attention and intent to cutters, tightest, jeans, etc. and especially to specific swing positions,

back swing and follow through for: 7:30; 9:00; 10:30; and coil.

Calculating Dispersion Once you have calculated and recorded the distances of each Rotating Finesse Swing (7:30;

9:00; 10:30), switch to measuring dispersion from the target. Use the Accuracy

Performance Ratio when calculating dispersion. The length of the miss from the target,

divided by the distance to the target, equals the Accuracy Performance Ratio. A 100 yd.

shot that misses the target by 10 yards in any direction has an Accuracy Performance Ratio

of 10%.


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General Instructions

Always put safety first when using drills. Adapt the following data collection card to fit the

needs of your program. We print and cut copies of the following card so our players can fit

them into their Stat Books and record information on the golf course.

When practicing, work in pairs with one player making shots while the other records

the data. Be certain to measure all distances accurately.

If you pace off the distances, ensure your steps are one yard each. Use a ten yard

piece of rope and practice pacing off ten yards. With the first trial, you will find your pacing

to be very inconsistent.

START with the following statistics from Dave Pelz‘s clinics and revise them with

your data. Pay more attention to the loft than the name of the club (PW, GW, etc.)! All

Distances are in yards.

PW/50° GW/55° SW/60° XW/64º 9-iron

7:30 Swing 50 yds 43 yds 35 yds 28 yds

9:00 Swing 75 64 53 42

10:30 Swing 100 85 70 55

*Add the 9:00 to 3:00 to the information above.

Check the loft on your wedges and record them. Never assume the loft of each wedge. We

prefer to have 4°-5° between each wedge. Additional information on wedges appears in the

Equipment Section.

Marker Practice Here is a very practical and effective drill for learning to:

judge 50 yard distances, which can be a reference point for all of your scoring game

distances;

pace off 50 yards accurately and consistently;

track the distance of your 7:30 PW Finesse Rotating Swing;

and practice that swing.

During your on-course practice sessions, and on every other par 4 hole, when you walk up

to the 200 yard marker on the course, throw down a ball, use your 7:30 PW Rotating

Finesse Swing, pace off the distance, and then pace off the distance to the 150 yard marker.

Check where the ball landed. Was it your typical 7:30 distance?

In your setup, look at the 150 yard marker, use it as your target, and really zero in on

learning to judge that 50 yard distance correctly. You do not even need your range finder

for this drill. Way to go!


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Cutters, a Punch in the Gut, Tightest Jeans, Shoulders in the Slot, and poised hands. When we first learned about cutters, a punch in the

gut, tightest jeans, shoulders in the slot, and poised

hands from Ralph Simpson, we immediately started

incorporating them into our setup routine. We were

impressed with how these techniques helped stabilize

our core through the golf swing and produced a more

consistent and powerful swing.

Start developing them into a habit today!

PLUS, remember to drop the shoulders into the slot and relax the hands.

Have you habituated cutters, a

punch in the gut, tightest jeans,

shoulders in the slot, and

poised hands yet? If not, you

are missing an important swing

stabilizing element. Start

habituating them today, in fact,

start right now!


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Journalizing

My ROTATING FINNESSE SWING Journal Page.

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I. MED-IRON SWING - Developing the FULL COIL SWING For a majority of golfers, developing a coiling style swing with medium to short irons is

their introduction to the full power golf swing. Some players stay with a rotating motion,

versus coiling, with all of their clubs, including the driver. All of our college golfers use a

rotating swing for their scoring irons and progress to a coil style swing outside of the scoring

game. Also, as we introduce players to the coil swing we simultaneously introduce them to

the LAWS™ swing models.

Develop Your Swing Concepts FIRST

As you already know, concepts form blueprints (or swing models) and blueprints call up

habituated motor responses. This is the mind ↔ body connection. It is critical to identify

and understand the concepts that make up your mental model for the full golf swing, which

are separate from mechanics or techniques. We do not have time or space in your manual to

replicate the conceptual information in The LAWS of the Golf Swing and we therefore refer

you to that resource for additional information.

For golfers at all levels

Develop and practice the full swing with a mid-iron versus longer irons or a driver. Yes, do

some practice with long irons, but use a 7- or 6-iron for a majority of your full swing

practice and development work. Most of the instructors we know use a 6-iron as their ideal

training club with a coil swing, yet many prefer a 7-iron. It is all personal preference.

Remember that our strategy of developing your game is from green-to-tee versus

from tee-to-green. A full mid-iron backswing and finish are about the same length as long

irons and a driver. Mid-irons make the swing look shorter and more upright at the top of the

backswing, but the swing radius of the arms is quite similar. It is the circumference of the

two swings (mid-iron versus driver) that lengthens dramatically.

Generally, it is more effective to limit the backswing to reaching parallel at the top of

all swings. Reaching a parallel position at the top of the swing is a good rule for most

swings and is an indication of an on-plane swing. Within the Finesse Rotating Swing, we

ask players not to swing past the 10:30 position.

Primary differences between a mid-iron swing and a driver include the fact that with

irons, you swing through the ball at the bottom of the swing, while with a driver the ball is

strike on the upswing, obviously from a tee, and with more of a sweeping, flatter, motion.

Beginners. We encourage beginners and high

handicap golfers to do all of their full swing training,

practice, and play with mid-irons. Most beginning

and high handicap golfers need to remove the driver

from their bags, use nothing longer than a 5-iron off

the tee, and invest a majority of their practice time for

distance swings with mid-irons.

Scoring. Four college golfers were playing a par 5,

dog leg left, 495 yard hole in practice. Not one was

on the green in regulation. They were ask, ―how many of you can consistently hit one of

your clubs 165 yards?‖ They all acknowledged they had such a club, and could produce a

At any level of the game, if you

are not hitting a high

percentage of fairways (60-

70%) with your driver, leave it

out of your bag and use a club

that keeps the ball in play. We

do not need to name names

here, you know who we are

talking about!


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165 yard shot with consistency and confidence. ―So, why not hit three iron shots, be on the

green in regulation, and perhaps putting for a birdie?‖ The coach took them back to replay

the hole. They teed off and play iron shots until they reached the green. Two out of the four

pared the hole! The strategy of far too many golfers today is to hit the ball as far and hard as

they can, find it, and hit it as long and far as they can again. Self-management, scoring

management, and finesse have all been sacrificed for distance. STOP doing that!

Confidence. We prefer to see golfers developing confidence in their full swing with a mid-

iron and, with additional practice, allowing that confidence to spread to other clubs. A

beginner or high handicap golfer who learns to execute a consistent short or mid-iron swing

with confidence can realistically build much of their long and mid-iron game around that

one swing. This is similar to the fact that a golfer who learns to execute an efficient 9:00

PW Rotating Finesse Swing can build much of their ―into the green‖ scoring game around

that one swing.

Advanced Players. For more advanced players, scoring strategies are key. For tee shots on

all holes, the strategy is much the same. Mentally play each hole from green-to-tee. For the

tee shot, select the landing area that places the ball in the best position for the next shot.

Never automatically play driver or 3-wood from the tee. Select the best scoring strategy, the

shots you have the most confidence in, and play accordingly.

Psychologically, the tee shot is one of the more important shots in golf. Mentally, it

is an obvious advantage to start each hole successfully. Therefore, select the club you can

be successful with, more than merely the club you can hit the farthest.

Draw and Fade. The most difficult shot to execute in golf is

straight, yet that is the shot most amateurs attempt

to make. For one thing, straight shots lack

specificity visually, mentally, and physically.

Starting with your mid-irons, learn to shape your

shots. More on this topic later.

The most difficult swing

path to process mentally

and physically is straight.

Learn to shape your shots!


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Playing Swing Development Drill During practice rounds, rather than execute multiple mid-iron swings at one time, we prefer

to have you take the same mid-iron (say a 7-iron) shot on each hole and work on your

distance and accuracy. You can even make a competition out of this drill.

Starting on the driving range by documenting the ball flight distance and roll of all

clubs.

During practice rounds, designate certain holes where all golfers hit the same

distance and record their accuracy. Example on hole #1, a par 4: All golfers drive

off the tee, pick up their drives, walk to the 150 yard marker, and hit from there.

We practice on country clubs that do not allow multiple shots into greens. This drill

allowed players to practice more shots during each round without hitting multiple

shots into greens.

You can also set this drill up so that each player uses the shots they need the most

work on. Get creative with the drill!

Fairway Precision Drill

During a practice round, tee off from the 1st tee with a 5-iron. IF you get the tee shot in the

fairway, you can go down one iron (to a 4-iron) on the next tee shot. IF you miss the

fairway, you must go up one iron (to a 6-iron) on the next tee shot. If you keep missing

fairways, do not go down any further than a PW. You would look real silly teeing off with

your putter. Have some fun with this drill.


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Mid-Iron Foundations (our preferences) With all full swings, there is a trade off between distance, consistency, and accuracy.

Club: Learn the coil style stroke with a mid-iron.

Stroke Suggestions

Many good players use a stronger hand position with their full swings than with

finesse shots; more on this later. The club is also positioned up in the palm of the

left hand than with a scoring game hand position.

The stance is square; feet are about 12–14 inches apart at the heels, not the toes.

Players bend forward at the hip joints.

Ball positioned typically starts in the middle of the stance with a 9-iron and moves

slightly forward and out (away from the golfer) with each longer iron.

Experiment with a 1-piece takeaway.

The swing is founded in timing, tempo, rhythm, and balance through motion.

With full swings, the club reaches a parallel position with the ground at the top of the

swing, but never past parallel. Many accomplished mid-iron players only reach the

10:30 position with their backswings.

Always maintain balance through the swing and hold the follow through to increase

your stability.

Document your primary power source in the swing: legs player; lower body player;

upper body player; hand-and-arms player; balanced player.

Engage cutters, a punch to the gut, and tightest jeans slightly in order to stability the core muscles through the swing. Use your 6-Step Performance Routine.

Remember to modify each element of the golf swing according to your LAWS™ swing

style.

Takeaway

Use a forward press to gather the body for the swing and initiate the backswing by moving

everything (a 1-piece-takeaway) away from the target together: legs, hips, shoulders, arms,

hands, and club. Utilize a dynamic set up and takeaway versus a static one. Avoid freezing

over the ball.

Club Position

In the backswing, when the shaft of the club gets to

a position that is parallel with the ground, the shaft

needs to be parallel with the target line as well.

The position on the left is the one you want to

model.


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Wrist Cock

Wrist cock is definitely a power multiplier in this swing.

Continue working on weighing the club head through the swing;

moving the shoulders into the slot; and

use the Tee-to-tee Drill in the Drills Section.

Request more LAWS™ materials for additional information on the full

swing. With medium irons and beyond, we work with each player

individually based on their swing style: Leverage, Arc, or Width.

Full Swing Note ―The horizontal (right to left) launch angle (of the ball) is determined by only two

parameters, the club path and the face angle. As a rule of thumb, the horizontal launch angle

is 15% determined by the club path and 85% determined by the face angle. For example,

assume a club path of +6.7º (6.7º inside-out for a right-handed player) and a face angle of -1º

(1º closed for a right-handed player). This would result in a horizontal (right to left) launch

angle of 0º degrees (ball starting at the target line). Source: Trackman News, January 2009,

page 3, www.TrackManGolf.com.

3 X 5 Card

Lessons and BASICS OF THE FULL SWING

MIDDLE IRONS

1. ________________________________________________

2. ________________________________________________

3. ________________________________________________

4. ________________________________________________

5. ________________________________________________

6. ________________________________________________

http://www.trackmangolf.com/


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Journalizing

Developing the Full Swing.

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J. Long Irons and Fairway Woods. Many players allow long irons and fairway woods to intimidate them. For these individuals,

a utility or hybrid club is an option to be considered. A majority of golfers need to

considering replacing standard 2-/3-/4-irons with hybrids as well.

As a preference, Coach replaced his 2- and 4-irons with hybrids, but kept his 3-iron for

chipping/low shots out of trouble and general use around the course.

Basic Swing Preferences __ Set up in your stance with the middle of the heels under the outside of the shoulders.

__ For coil style swings, start with the feet perpendicular to target line and then flair

the front toe to an open position; keeping the back foot in a perpendicular position.

__ Position the ball about 2 inches inside the front heel or slightly inside the armpit.

__ Position hands in a forward position; off the inside of the front leg. This is

a mirror image of the finish position.


core muscles through the stroke. __ Keep the backswing lower, slower, and maintain a wider arc than with a mid-iron.

__ Only allow the club to get to a parallel position at the top, not past. Over rotation

can become a severe compensation with long irons and fairway woods.

__ Maintain a stable back knee and foot through the backswing and at the top.

__ Use a wider shoulder turn than normal and experiment with a limited amount of hip

turn.

__ The hands are slightly ahead of the ball at impact.

__ Finish high and with the weight on the inside of the front foot.

__ Hold the finish position for 2 to 3 seconds.

Adapt your preferences with the LAWS™ Swing Models.


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Coil Style Set up

Set up with the feet perpendicular to the target line and the

middle of the heels positioned under the outside of the

shoulders. Flair the front foot open toward the target,

which will allow the hips to turn smoothly through

the finish. Keep the back foot in a perpendicular position

to the target line.

Start with hands in

a forward position,

positioned over the

inside of the front

leg.

Ball Position

Position the ball at a point about 2 inches inside of

the front heel, not the toe, but the heel, or to the inside of the

armpit. Examine the ball and foot positions displayed to the

left carefully.


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Backswing

Take the club head away low, slow, and maintain a

wide, shallow, arc. Golfers typically do not

trust the loft of long irons so they restrict the shoulder

turn and rush the downswing, either beating down on the

ball or attempting to lift it. Use your regular swing, but

limit the backswing to reaching parallel to the ground at

the top of the swing.

Maintain a stable back knee and foot

position through the backswing and at the top of the

swing.

Swing

Turn wide with the shoulders. Experiment with

limiting the hip rotation through the swing.

Make a big shoulder turn and create a sweeping

motion by maintaining good width on the backswing

and follow-through.

The hands are slightly ahead of the ball at

impact, just as in the set up position.

Finish high, with the weight moving in

the same direction as the ball, and with the weight

ending up on the inside of the front foot.

Hold the finish for 2 seconds.

Work the Shot

Because it lacks specificity, the most difficult shot to

execute in golf can be a straight shot. Therefore,

work on shaping shots for greater control. Refer to

the Bucket of Water Drill in Section 12. Draw and

Fade, for more specific instructions on working the

ball.


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Balance Through Motion Drill Make three swings through a ball with the feet together.

Sense the weight shift onto the inside of the back foot with the back swing.

Sense the weight shift onto the inside of the front foot with the follow through.

Make one swing through the ball with your normal stance. Concentrate on

duplicating the sense of movement, balance, and weight shift as when the feet were

together.

Repeat the drill as necessary.

Refer to your LAWS™ materials for additional information on the full

swing.

3 X 5 Card

A Note on Hybrid Clubs – Coach Robertson

When I made the switch from my former long irons (2- and 3-iron) to hybrids, I was not

only pleased, but surprised by the increased distance, accuracy, and consistency of ball

flight. The data on hybrids indicated that I might not hit them as far as my pro staff blades.

That is when I hit my pro staff clubs stiff. However, I not only hit the hybrids as far, but

farther. My suggestion is that all players experiment with hybrid clubs, at least to replace

long irons.

Lessons and BASICS OF LONG IRON PLAY

1. ________________________________________________

2. ________________________________________________

3. ________________________________________________

4. ________________________________________________

5. ________________________________________________

6. ________________________________________________

Additional Comments and Personal Instructions

__________________________________________________


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Journalizing

Developing the Long-Iron Swing.

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329

K. Getting Off the Tee and In the Fairway. Remember to modify each of the following swing elements according to the LAWS™

swing styles.

The ‗Playing Club‘ The following information on the driving club is from Michael Murphy‘s Golf in the

Kingdom, page 16 to be exact. You may experience some difficulty reading the character‘s

Scottish idiom, but stay with it, it is worth the understanding.

After their brief meditation they started taking their practice swings. MacIver took his with

a long iron. ―Nae. Use yer playing club noo.‖ said the professional, pointing to the pupil‘s

driver. As I would learn eventually, he believed that driving was a term that by its very

connotation threw some golfers off their swing. He preferred to say that he was playing the

ball on a driver, and called a driver a playing club, as golfers had done in centuries past.‖

Strategy Strategy #1. Use the club that will get you off the tee, and keep the ball in play

consistently, which for many golfers is NOT the playing club (driver). For beginners, keep the playing club out of the golf bag until you prove you can meet or exceed your

accuracy (in the fairway) requirements. Perhaps 60 – 70%. Until you become proficient with a

mid-iron off the tee, do not begin using driver. Remember, you are learning the game from green-

to-tee, not tee-to-green. Even though mid-irons are shorter than drivers, they are heavier and require

about the same length of backswing and follow through, thus replicating many aspects of swinging a

driver. Become proficient with mid-irons before forging ahead to drivers and 3 woods.

DRILL: 5-Iron Off the Tee Tee off the first tee with a 5-iron. If you hit the fairway with your 5-iron, advance one club

(4-iron) from the next tee. If you miss the fairway go up one club (as to a 6-iron) from the

next tee. Repeat this process through all 18 holes. You could end up using anything from a

PW to a Driver, but you must earn the right to use your driver.


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Hit the Big Dog! We know, all golfers want to hit driver, so here we go! The playing club

has two unique features that all golfers need to understand and adapt to if they plan on

driving the ball effectively:

The driver has the longest shaft of any club in the bag, but is the lightest club in the

bag. Therefore, a shallow or sweeping swing is more effective for most golfers than

a steep swing. Steep swings also promote ―coming over the top‖ of the swing for

most players, which results in some ugly slices.

The driver has the least amount of loft of any club, other than the putter, and is the

only full swing club designed to strike the ball on an ascend (travel up) path.

The Playing Club The driver is a unique club that does not have to match the rest of a player‘s set. Select a

driver with sufficient loft to match your natural swing speed. Avoid getting caught up in the

marketing hype of a Tour Burner driver if it does not match your swing, game, and abilities.

Example: Golfers with low swing speeds typically produce longer and more accurate drives

with higher launch angle drivers, as 13° or more.

Find a shaft and club weight that match your swing speed. A majority of amateur

and new players who are not fitted by a professional purchase shafts that are too stiff for

them, thus losing both distance and consistency.

Our Preferences & General Techniques Position of the Hands (grip)

If you normally use a stronger than neutral hand position, because of the reduced loft of a

driver, and the forward position in the stance, make a few shots with a neutral hand position

and determine how it works for you.

The Playing Club: General Techniques & Preferences

__ Use your full swing hand position.

__ Move hands into a stronger gripping position for body-swing. Use a weaker

grip position for a hand-and-arm swing. Consider starting with a neutral hand

position and working from there.

__ Maintain pressure with the hands that allows you to sense the weight of the driver‘s

head through the swing.

__ Stance is square. Feet are shoulder width apart; measure from the back of the heels.

__ Place 60% of the weight on the inside of the back foot.

__ Front foot is flared open, back foot remains perpendicular to the target line.



core muscles through the stroke. __ Use trial-and-success to experiment with a 1-piece takeaway.

__ Work toward taking the club‘s shaft through a position parallel with the target line

when the shaft is in a horizontal position to the ground.

__ Maintain balance through the swing; hold follow through to increase stability

through the swing


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__ Synchronous swing and balanced power sources. Determine your primary power

source and swing accordingly: legs player; lower body player; upper body player;

hand-and-arms player; balanced player.

__ Weigh the club head through the swing and move the shoulders into the slot.

Getting the Most Out of an Oversized Driver Due to the fact that the center of percussion on oversized drivers is higher than the

center of the clubface, tee the ball slightly higher than normal. Use trial and

success in determining the best ball position for your swing, but remember

that the club is designed to strike the ball on the upswing, which is unique

from any other full swings.

Move the ball slightly forward in the stance than normal. Most successful players

place the ball directly in line with an area between the outside of their shoulder and

their armpit. Use trial-and-success in locating the optimal ball position and keep

good notes.

Use more of a sweeping style swing that contacts the ball slightly on the upswing.

Remember that the priority with the tee shot is keeping the ball in play and getting in the

best possible position for the next shot. For many golfers, that priority precludes

them from pulling the big dog out of the bag.

Stance and Position

Work into a stance that is an inch or two wider than your shoulder width. Measure the width

of your stance from the middle of the heels, not the toes.

Stand slightly more upright than in your regular full swing stance, otherwise your

swing can become too flat. To promote more of a sweeping swing, work the hands into a

position where they are slightly farther away from your body (toward the ball) than with full

iron shots.

Have your instructor demonstrate what is referred to as a Reverse K set up position.

With a Reverse K, the spine tilts slightly away from the target. This swing position sets up

well for placing slightly more weight on the inside of the right foot. The Reverse K is not

for all players. Consult your LAWS™ information.

Ball Position

Begin with the ball positioned immediately off the left arm pit. With an oversized driver,

experiment with moving the ball forward in the stance. Be very careful when selecting ball

position in relationship to your feet, such as off the inside of the left foot for driver. Setting

ball position relative to the upper body tents to be more reliable.

Be careful with how much right foot flair is incorporated into your set up. When not

careful, golfers can move the ball too far forward (toward the target) in their stance. Use

trial-and-success in moving the ball around in your stance (away from the target) and in

locating the best position for your swing. Be certain to record your results.

Tee the ball high. At least ½ of the ball needs to be above the top of the driver.


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Reminder: Grip Pressure is Foundational to the Swing

The pressure exerted by the hands impacts the tempo or pace of the swing.

Each golfer‘s tempo (or pace) differs slightly. Certain players execute shots more

effectively with relatively slower or faster tempos from other golfers.

ALL golfers execute their natural pace more efficiently with a grip pressure that

allows them to sense the club head‟s weight through the swing.

When a player‘s grip becomes tighter than normal, their tempo invariably speeds up.

When tempo becomes too fast, the rhythm and timing of the swing tends to collapse

around them.

Summary: too light a hand pressure at address is more productive than too tight a

grip because the hands will adjust naturally to the pull of force through the swing.

Takeaway

Experiment with NOT grounding the driver head during the set up. Suspend the driver head

behind the ball throughout the set up. Early in our days on Tour we realized that many good

drivers did not ground their drivers, it tends to help them ensure a smooth takeaway.

Swing

Work to sweep the ball off the tee. Visualize yourself sweeping the ball off the tee with a

broom. Remember that intent, or purpose, guides physical motion.

Club Position

Work toward taking the club‘s shaft through a position parallel with the target line when the

shaft is in a horizontal position to the ground. This means that as the driver is taken back, its

shaft passes through a position that is parallel with the target line when the shaft is

horizontal with the ground. Video analysis can help identify and train this technique.

Power Source

Perhaps more than with any other club, it is critical for golfers to identify their major power

sources with the driver. Work with your instructor on identifying your major power sources

and how to use them to your best advantage. Explore the LAWS™ model as well.

Increase Air Time Balls travel farther through the air than on the ground, therefore, it is appropriate at time to

increase the air time (height) of your driver.

- Tee the ball up higher.

- Experiment with moving the ball up (toward the target) in your stance slightly. Use trial-

and-success.

- Take your normal swing and visualize driving a tee up into the ball from just below its

midline. Visualization is important, use it.


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DRILL: 2-TEE PRACTICE DRILL On the practice tee, place two tees in the ground, perpendicular to you and about 7 inches

apart. Place a ball on the furthest tee away from your stance.

Take your stance and position your body in an upright or erect position with the

driver and arms parallel with the ground. Got that image?

Make semi-circular swings around the front of your body. Sense the head of the club

swinging around the front of your body. While swinging, gradually bend forward at the hips

and sense the driver working around the front of your body. Visualize a half-circle with the

top of your spine as the center of the circle. Your hands, arms, and upper body are rotating

around that half-center. Continue your rhythmic swing as you bend forward gradually, the

head of the club move closer and closer to striking the top of the first tee.

Bend forward until you knick the top of the 1st tee with the bottom of the driver.

NOW, with the very next swing, move up toward the ball on the tee. Address the

ball. Swing with a sweeping motion. As you swing, visualize nicking the top of the tee

under the ball as the driver‘s head sweeps through the ball.

Hold the finish position for two seconds and learn from the feedback you receive

from both ball flight and your body.

Playing Driver into the Wind 1

st of all, problems playing golf in the wind

are as much mental as physical, if not more.

Therefore, practice the techniques we are

suggesting under windy conditions so that the

next time you have the opportunity to play shots into

the wind you can say Oh Boy! to yourself versus

Oh No!

Use Trail-and-Success with the following

techniques, track and record your progress,

and you are on your way to developing your Wind Game.

Setup Adjustments

If you play your driver off your left armpit, move it back to where the logo on a golf

shirt would be on the left chest.

Tee the ball down slightly.

Normal weight distribution in your set up is probably 60% on your R foot and 40%

on your L foot, switch the distribution to 60%-40% and put 60% of your weight onto

the L foot.

Move the heels a couple of inches closer together from a normal full swing stance.

On a forward-press (every golfer needs one), position the hands forward (toward the

target) slightly from normal and hood the clubface a few degrees.

Grip down on the club; start with 1 inch. Because gripping down on the club

changes its launch angle, the more you grip down on the club the closer to the ball

you need to stand, and the more upright your swing needs to become.


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Swing Adjustments

Re-read the sentence above about gripping down on the club because it changes your

golf swing as well.

Swing with your normal timing, tempo, and rhythm.

Work with a 10:30 swing versus a full swing. Document your results.

Fine tune the previous adjustments for your swing and you will be on your way to

using the wind to improve your game.

Always use trial-and-success in making swing adjustments.

Reminder: Habituate your Wind Game BEFORE you need it during competition.

Yes, adapt the same ―wind‖ techniques into the remainder of your golf game. Refer

to Section 16 on the knockdown shot.


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3 X 5 Card for your normal Tee Shots

3 X 5 Card for your Wind Game Driver

Be certain to use trial-and-success with the previously suggested techniques in coming with

the keys for your Wind Game Driver.

Lessons and (normal) TEE SHOOTS

1. ________________________________________________

2. ________________________________________________

3. ________________________________________________

4. ________________________________________________

5. ________________________________________________

6. ________________________________________________


__________________________________________________

Lessons and TEE SHOOTS (Wind Game)

1. ________________________________________________

2. ________________________________________________

3. ________________________________________________

4. ________________________________________________

5. ________________________________________________

6. ________________________________________________


__________________________________________________


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Journalizing

Developing the Tee Shot.

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L. Draw and Fade. The most difficult shot to execute in golf is

straight, yet that is the shot most amateurs attempt

to make. For one thing, straight shots lack

specificity visually, mentally, and physically.

Do the following ―baseball‖ drill and see what you

think.

Play Baseball

Align as if you were executing a golf shot to center field, right over the 2nd

baseman‘s head.

This is critical, check your alignment and get it exact. ALWAYS USE ALIGNMENT

RODS IN YOUR PRACTICE SESSIONS. Start this drill with a 5-iron.

-Look out at right field, visualize the fielder standing out there, and swing between 1st and

2nd

as if hitting a golf ball that the right fielder can catch.

-Now look out into left field, visualize the fielder standing out there, and swing between 2nd

and 3rd

as if hitting a golf ball that the left fielder can catch.

-Now look back over the 2nd

baseman to the center fielder and swing as if hitting a golf ball

to him. This swing should feel very natural to you because it is specific. Your body and

mind realize what it is like to make a shot over 2nd

base.

Use a 4-swing approach in your 6-Shot Routine for full shots.

-Left field swing (a draw)

-Right field swing (a fade)

-Center field swing (straight)

-A final preparation swing of the exact ball flight path you are going to execute.

-Then finish your 6-Step Routine and execute the shot.

Playing a draw (left field) has specific advantages when:

You want, or need, added distance.

The course or hole favors a right-to-left ball flight (for right handed golfers).

Greens are larger or with fewer greenside hazards.

Conditions are windy and player wants a lower ball flight.

Golfer enjoys, prefers, of creates this type of ball flight naturally; the player‘s

natural move through the ball creates this flight pattern.

Player‘s dominant power source supports a draw.

Playing a fade (right field) offers advantages when:

You prefer a higher ball flight.

You want to stop the ball faster (faster than a draw) on greens or fairways.

Distance is not a problem, but control is.

The course or hole favors a left-to-right ball flight (for right handed golfers).

Greens are smaller with more greenside hazards.

Player prefers to aim at the pins.

Golfer enjoys, prefers, or creates this type of ball flight naturally.

Player‘s dominant power source supports a fade.

The most difficult swing

path to process mentally

and physically is straight.

Learn to shape your shots!


338

Determining ball flight 1

st determine your natural ball flight with a driver, then a 5-iron, and then a 9-iron. It is rare

that we find golfers whose iron and wood swings are the same, including the pros.

Example: a golfer may naturally fade their irons and draw their playing club (driver).

For both draws and fades, consider where hazards are on any given hole. It is a big

advantage to move the ball away from trouble. Ben Hogan and Jack Nicklaus both chose to

hit fades because a draw was more difficult for them to hit consistently and accurately.

If you hit either a fade or draw consistently, we do not recommend that you attempt

to hit the opposite shot out on the course unless you have practiced, developed, and have

confidence in, the shot ahead of time.

Example: Once a golfer can hit a draw consistently enough to eliminate one side of the

fairway, they can consider working on adding a fade to their shot making repertoire.

FADE

A true fade starts out on a straight path and then curves gently to the right. An exaggerate

curve to the right is a slice.

Set up to the ball with your usual stance and alignment. Set up an inch or so closer

to the ball and determine how this ball position impacts your ability to fade the shot.

Then, adjust your feet and aim slightly to the left of the intended target. Use trial-

and-success to determine how far left to set up.

Aim the clubface directly at the target (down the target line) and maintain your

normal hand position.

Swing normally. Think ―throw a bucket of water to the right.‖ Refer to the drill

below.

Resist the temptation to turn too soon and watch the ball‘s flight.

DRAW

A true draw starts on a straight path then curves gently to the left. An exaggerated curve to

the left is a hook.

Set up to the ball with your usual stance and alignment. Set up a little wider and

determine how this impacts your ability to draw the ball. Also, moving the ball back

in your stance an inch or two can help promote a draw.

Adjust your stance and aim slightly to the right of your intended target. Use trial-

and-success to determine how far right to set up.

Aim the clubface directly at the target (down the target line) and maintain your

normal grip position. Think ―throw a bucket of water to the left.‖

Swing normally. You may want to bend over a little more at address and create a

flatter swing plane.


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Strategy Considerations Become proficient enough with a specific ball flight, draw or fade, that you can eliminate ½

of the fairway, and consistently move the ball away from trouble.

Situation:

- Lateral water hazard to the right of fairway.

- Tree lined fairway to the left.

- Sand bunkers on the right and left front

of the green.

- Fairway is approximately 50 yards wide.

- Green is about 30 yards wide at its

center.

Play the Percentages In the illustration to the right, when

attempting to hit a straight golf shot, which

is one of the hardest shot to hit,

examine at the variance or safety yardages

involved with shot.

If the fairway is 50 yards wide, you

have safety yardages of 25 yards on each side of the fairway. So 25 yards

is your safety margin.

If the green is 30 yards wide, you only have safety yardages of 15 yards on each side

(from the middle) of the green.

There is even less margin for error with the two sand traps guarding the front of the

green.

Taking ½ of the fairway out of play With full confidence in working the ball

left-to-right (a fade), in the illustration to the

right, the player has a 40 yard margin of safety

to the right because of taking the left side of

the fairway out of play.

On the green, the margin of safety

is about 30 yards versus 15.

The player also has a much better

chance of taking both bunkers

out of play.

A.

B.

D.C.

F.

E.


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Consider the Strategy of Playing Long and to the Left 80% of shots into greens made by amateur golfers are short and to the right of the green.

Refer back to the previous illustration. As with most golf holes, trouble around the green

pictured above is mainly short of the hole. In talking with golf course architects, they

consider the fact that 80% of all golf shots into greens are short and to the right when they

design golf courses. Where do you think architects position a majority of the trouble around

greens? Correct, short and to the right of the green.

During your next golf outing, take a closer look at the holes your team plays. Adjust

their strategy on holes such as the one in our illustration. On most greens, coach players on

getting the ball to, or even past the hole.

With putting, our strategy is ―high side/long.‖

Quick, unscientific, analysis.

The next time your team practices or plays, station yourself on one par four hole and track

each of your players as they come through.

The # of players you have is _____. The # of players that left the ball short and right of the

pin on this one hole was ______.

The # of players that rolled their putts either short of below the hole (thus giving them NO

chance to go in) was _______.

What are your thoughts on the previous strategy?

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

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DRILL: 4-Swing Practice and Rehearsal Sequence Do not, we repeat, do not stand on the range and hit draw after draw or fade after fade. The

brain learns and forms neuro-muscular patterns more efficiently, and faster, when fed

information properly. Here is the practice sequence to incorporate into your full swing

work:

draw;

fade;

down the middle (the most difficult shot in golf);

continue the process.

Here is the sequence to incorporate into your 6-Step Routine during competitive conditions:

sense a draw and make a rehearsal swing;

sense a fade and make a rehearsal swing;

sense a swing down the middle between the two and make that rehearsal swing;

determine the shape of shot you will execute (draw, fade, down the middle—the

hardest shot in golf), let‘s say it is a fade; and make that rehearsal swing.

then allow your brain to execute the appropriate blueprint on auto pilot.

Bucket of Water Drill - draw, fade, and

straight shot.

[This drill is very similar to our Baseball Drill.] Create the image of a bucket of water in your mind‘s eye, or

better yet, get a weighted exercise ball. You can substitute a

5 lb. weight if nothing else is available.

The key to the drill is keeping the backswing and swing into

the impact zone the same with all three shot patterns: draw; fade; and straight.

Replace the golf club with a bucket of water (or a 5 lb. object) and move into your

normal setup position for a 7-iron.

Swing the weight back as you would a club. Initiate the down swing. Through the

impact zone, visualize tossing the water out of the bucket (or actually toss an object)

to the left, which produces a draw.

Swing the bucket back again. Initiate the down swing. Through impact, visualize

tossing the water out of the bucket and to the right, which produces a fade.

Swing the bucket back again. Initiate the down swing. Through impact, toss the

water out of the bucket between a draw and a fade, which produces a shot down the

middle.

Here is the important part of the drill. Take a 7-iron and repeat the drill with

the same sense of tossing water out of a bucket, or actually tossing a 5 lbs. ball.

Repeat the sequence as necessary. Toss water left, toss water right, toss water down

the line, swing the club left, swing the club right, swing the club down the line.


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3 x 5 Card

Lessons and KEYS TO DRAWING AND FADING

1. ________________________________________________

2. ________________________________________________

3. ________________________________________________

4. ________________________________________________

5. ________________________________________________

6. ________________________________________________


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Journalizing

Drawing and Fading.

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M. Uneven Lies. Practice Strategy: Since most golf shots in a typical round are played from turf with some

undulation, practice creating and executing shots from a variety of lies as much as, or more

than, a level practice area.

In learning to compete successfully, players must learn to adjust their techniques and tactics

to fit a wide variety of conditions. Unlike many other sports, the playing surface for golf is

ever changing. A primary difference between preparation/practice and competition, and

what gets golfers into trouble, is that practice areas are consistently flat with good hitting

surfaces. If you only learn and prepare on flat lies, and consistent hitting surfaces, your

game will not progress as it needs to. Players must master the fine art of playing shots from

a large variety of lies and ball positions.

There are numerous methods of adjusting the golf swing to uneven lies. An effective

learning strategy includes understanding the club face‘s influence on the ball at impact and

then develop an understanding of your influence on the golf club through impact. We are

talking about LAWS and principles versus preferences.

A tendency with uneven lies, and shots you make less frequently, is to focus too

much on technical skills. In practice and competition, review the techniques of shots from

uneven lies During Step 4 (Success Response) of your 6-Step Routine and then execute the

remainder of your routine.

Playing Strategy Golf is a game of risks and rewards. We present several techniques for adjusting the golf

swing to uneven lies, but part of the decision includes how much risk golfers are willing to

take. For example, a golfer is 180 yards out from the green, with sand traps on both sides.

She typically hits her new hybrid approximately 180 yards. However, her ball is on an

uneven lie. Does the golfer take another club, such as a 7-iron, which she knows she can

control and advance the ball down the fairway, or does she swing away at the green with her

hybrid? These types of decisions are what make the game interesting, challenging, and

exasperating, and all with the same shot.

With proper instruction, an understanding of how the club‘s face influences ball

flight, and adequate preparation, you can learn to manage your game around each type of

uneven lie.


346

Lie Principles - Up Hill UP HILL LIES (front foot is above the back foot). The feet and golf ball are on the same

plain, i.e. the ball is not above or below the feet.

General principles:

It is more effective to have the club‘s swing path traveling through the ball as closely

as possible to the same path as a swing on level ground.

Thus, the shoulder alignment needs to be as close to parallel with the lie, or slope of

the ground, as practical.

Up Hill Swing principles:

Hand Position: Use the same grip as in a normal swing, but choke down ½ to 1 inch for

increased control.

Ball position: Move the ball 1 to 2 inches forward (toward the target) in the stance from

normal. This ball position helps ensure you get the club face onto the ball

before striking the ground.

Alignment: Use your normal stance only start with aiming 10 degrees to the right of the

target. Use trial-and-success to see how far right you need to aim. Record

your results.

Rehearsal swing: Take a rehearsal swing from the side of the ball. Take a shallow

divot and observe where the divot starts. Ball position needs to be

slightly in back (away from the target) of the divot. Reminder: hit the

little white ball before you hit the big ball (the earth).

Backswing: Use either a 9:00 or 10:30 swing in order to remain in balance through the

shot.

Club selection: Balls struck from an uphill lie tend to fly higher, and thus shorter

distances. With choking down slightly on the club, and with a 9:00 or

10:30 swing, the shot typically calls for one or two more clubs, i.e. if from

a normal lie you would hit a 7-iron, experiment with a 6- and 5-iron.

Weight shift: Allow your weight to shift onto your downhill side as in your normal swing.

However, shifting back onto your uphill side will be more difficult so rehearse making a

complete finish. Maintaining balance through motion is your top priority with this shot.

Experiment with placing slightly more weight on the inside of the back foot. Weight shift is

still important, so be certain to make a complete finish or follow through.

Rehearse hitting balls from this lie and take notes on the adjustments you make with your

own preferences. Use trial-and-success to uncover which techniques work best in your

swing.

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

We highly recommend that new golfers fill out 3 x 5 index cards on each of the lie positions

discussed and carry the cards in their golf bags for review. Be certain to write out

instructions in words you understand.


347

DOWN HILL LIES (the ball is even with your feet, but you have a downhill stance)

General principles:

The swing path must travel through the ball as closely as possible to the same path as

a swing from level or flat ground. Thus, shoulder alignment must be as parallel to

the lie angle as practical.

Allow for the fact that shots from down hill lies will come off the club face lower,

and roll further than regular swings.

Understand that downhill lies are even more difficult to execute with wedges than

with less lofted clubs. So practice, prepare, and rehearse uneven lie shots with your

wedges.

Down Hill principles:

SETUP

Hand position: Choke down ½ to 1 inch for increased control.

Ball position: Ball is slightly back (away from the target) in stance from

normal.

Alignment: Use your normal stance only start by aiming 10 degrees to

the left of the target. Use trial-and-success to see how far left

you need to aim. Record your results.

Rehearsal swing: Take a rehearsal swing from the side of the ball. Take a

shallow divot and observe where the divot starts. Your ball

position needs to be slightly in back (away from the target)

from your divot. Reminder: contact the little white ball before you

hit the big ball (the earth).

BACKSWING

Start with a 9:00 or 10:30 swing and test your balance.

FOLLOW THROGH

Experiment with a Gary Player (Hall of Fame Tour Professional) walk through type

finish. Gary would execute his swing, make a good shot by remaining balanced through

impact, and then actually take a step down the hill through his finish. Use Gary‘s

technique and see how it works for you.

Maintaining balance through motion, and through impact, is a priority.

Rehearse executing shots from this lie and take notes on the adjustments you make for

your own preferences. Use trial-and-success to uncover which techniques work best in

your swing.

_______________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________


348

SIDE HILL LIES –Ball ABOVE the Feet General principles:

With the ball above the feet, the ball tends to curve downhill in the direction of the

slope, which is a draw, pull, or hook for a right handed golfers.

With the ball above your feet, make as few changes to your normal techniques as

possible.

Setup: Use your normal grip style, but choke down (toward the ball) ½ to 1

inch. Use your normal setup, but aim slightly right of the target line to allow

for a draw or hook. Use your normal balance and weight distribution, being

sure to remain balanced through the swing.

Ball Position: Use your normal ball position.

Backswing: Use normal full swing takeaway. Experiment with using a 9:00 or 10:30

swing in order to maintain better balance and control through the swing.

Use normal weight shift.

Swing: Use normal swing, ensuring to swing over stable legs and maintain

balance through motion.

Hold the finish for 2 seconds to ensure maintaining balance.

SIDE HILL LIES—Ball BELOW the Feet With the ball below the feel, the ball tends to curve downhill in the direction of the slope,

which is a push, fade, or slice for right handed golfers.

Setup: Use a normal grip and the full length of the club.

Use a normal setup, but aim slightly left of the target line to allow for a fade

or slice. Use your normal balance and weight distribution, being

sure to remain balanced through the swing.

Ball Position: Use your normal ball position with irons. Position the ball slightly forward in

the stance with fairway woods and long irons.

Backswing: Use a normal full swing takeaway.

Use 9:00 or 10:30 swing in order to maintain balance through the swing.

Use normal weight shift.

Swing: Use a normal swing, ensuring to swing over stable legs and maintain

balance through motion.

Hold the finish for 2 seconds to ensure maintaining balance.


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3 x 5 Card

Lessons and KEYS TO PLAYING UNEVEN LIES

1. ________________________________________________

2. ________________________________________________

3. ________________________________________________

4. ________________________________________________

5. ________________________________________________

6. ________________________________________________


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351

N. At Play in the Sand.

We refer to ―Play in the Sand‖ because the

sand shot is not to be dreaded once players

understand the correct scoring strategy and

tactics, our three (3) swing models, the design

of your equipment, and add hours of perfect

practice.

The Brain Drops the Word ―Don‘t‖ We avoid coaching players in what NOT to

do. ―Don‟t hit the ball fat out of the sand.‖ The

brain drops the word don‘t and what type of

shot does the golfer get? Correct, with the wrong

image, you end up executing exactly the wrong shot.

Don‘t think of the water hazard in front of that par-3 hole! How‘s that for an image?

However, since we observe so many players attempting a very difficult blasting

technique with sand play, we will make an exception and start this section with a major

don‘t.

Not a Pure Blast Swing For most golfers, do not use the blast type shot until you gain a lot of experience with sand

play. A Blast Shot is one of the more difficult technique for extricating a golf ball from the

sand consistently and with distance control. Here is how blast type stroke works.

The golfer takes an open stance in relation to the target line.

With a mighty punch, the leading edge of the clubface enters the sand several inches

behind the ball and on a very steep angle of attack.

The leading edge of the club digs down a couple of inches into the sand, blasting

sand and ball out of the trap. With a large blast of sand ending up on the green.

The player, with a lot of practice, may learn to get out of jail, but seldom, if ever,

develops any consistency with this difficult technique, especially under the pressure

of competition.

We think there are too many elements that can go wrong with this technique to make

it practical for tournament play with the typical golfer.

Don‟t think of a pink

elephant? What did you

just think about?

One of our sand scoring

objectives is having three sand

swings (Pick; Push; Cut-and-

Spin) with four clubs (Putter; 7-

iron; PW; 56°).


352

Master the basics of the Rotating Finesse

Swing first. We recommend you do not work on sand

shots until you are well on your way to mastering

the Rotating Finesse Swing and the Chipping Stroke.

Once the foundations of these two strokes are well

on their way to being habituated, step into the sand and learn the three shots we will

covering.

Cut-and-Spin Shot The Cut-and-Spin Shot is the swing we teach to a majority of our golfers. Our philosophy is

that with variations of this shot, along with picking the ball from the sand, players are

prepared to deal effectively with most of the sand shots they encounter during competitive

play.

Alignment-alignment-alignment

While practicing, and once in the sand, select your target (use the flag stick to begin

with) and lay an alignment stick or club down along that original target line. The

target line is the line through the ball and to the target. Line 1. in the illustration is

the original target line.

Up on the putting surface, place a

golf ball about three yards to the

left of the flag stick (for R-handed

golfers). On the ―X‖ in the

illustration.

In the trap, lay a 2nd

alignment

stick down on a line through the

ball in the sand and to the ball on

the green. This is the new target

line; Line 2. in the illustration.

Now, align the entire body (feet,

knees, hips, shoulders, eyes) along

the alignment line, which is

perpendicular to the new target

line; Line 3. in the illustration.

Ball position is key – Sand Cut Shot

Position the ball off the inside of the forward heel (or under the armpit), well forward

of the middle of the stance. Line 4. in the illustration is the Inside Left Foot line

(ILF). Use trial-and-success to locate the ideal ball position in your stance.

Target

(flag)

Golf

Ball

1. Original

Target

Line

X

2. Adjusted

Aiming Line

or Target

Line

3. Alignment

Line of Body

4. ILF

5. CFA

Obtain proficiency with the 9:00

and 10:30 Rotating Finesse

Swings BEFORE moving on to

Sand Play.


353

Preferences

Start practicing with the 9:30 Rotating Finesse Swing you have already been

working on. Using that swing, the club will contact the sand about three to four

inches behind the ball.

The technique for the Cut-and-Spin Shot is to cut about ½ inch under the golf ball

and allow the force of the swing to be transferred through the sand and into the ball.

Reminder: This is not a blast shot. Very little sand escapes the bunker unless you

are very close to its front edge. The ball will travel onto the green with sufficient

backspin to help it stop quickly.

Cut-and-Spin Club Position

For practice, we break the rule of golf on grounding a club in a hazard, which is an

obvious no-no. [Rule 13-4 specifically prohibits a player from touching the ground

in a hazard with their hand or club.]

Ground the club down behind the ball with a normal grip and club head position.

Remove the R-hand from the club. Loosen the L-hand grip on the club. With the R-

hand, rotate the club clockwise until the leading edge of the wedge is at a 45° angle

to the new target line. Tighten the L-hand up slightly and place the R-hand onto the

grip again. In the illustration above, refer to 5. Club Face Angle (CFA).

Sand Rotating Finesse Swing Preferences

We teach the Cut-and-Spin Swing using

the basic Rotating Finesse Swing.

In the stance, place additional weight on the

forward foot (toward the target) and keep it

there through the entire swing.

Use trial-and-success to determine the exact

amount of weight that works best in your

wing, but start off with about 70% of the

weight on the forward foot. Again, transfer the weight, do NOT shift the body

position.

As a practice drill, start out with 100% of your weight on the front foot and keep it

there during the entire swing.

Use a 9:00 PW Rotating Finesse Swing and keep the weight on the forward foot

through the entire swing, including the finish.

As you transfer additional

weight to the forward foot, do

NOT shift the body. Only

transfer additional weight to

the forward foot. Practice this

transfer until you get is perfect,

it is that important.


354

Distance control

Do not focus on the distance the ball travels until there is proficiency with the Cut-

and-Spin Shot with a 9:00 PW or SW.

Once proficiency is gained with the 9:00 Finesse Cut Swing, make ten shots and

record the average distance the ball travels, then add the distance the ball rolls upon

landing and record total distance.

Golfers are learning three distance elements: typical ball flight distance with that

club and swing; roll distance; and total distance.

Now use a 10:30 Rotating Finesse Swing and record the same information as above.

Now use a SW and record the data with the same swings.

Start with the information and then record your own information.

Loft Shaft Length Carry Roll Total

64° 34 inches 8 yds. /_____

60° 34.5 12 yds. /_____

55° 35 16 yds. /_____

50° 35.5 22 yds. /_____

9-iron 46° 36 27 yds. /_____

8-iron 42° 36.5 33 yds. /_____


355

Strategies for Various Levels of Golfers Beginners

Learn to escape from jail (get out of the sand) and get the ball back into play, but not

with a SW. Start with a club and a swing you can already control. Beginners have

no business attempting to blast out of traps with wedges. We start beginners off with

the Push Shot. More on that information to follow.

Learn to pick the ball out of trouble. For this shot, players use a modified chipping

stroke, so habituate the chipping stroke first. More on that in the information below.

Do not over complicate the push or pick shot. Begin by using swings you already

know and with a PW.

Intermediate Players: Practice both the Cut-and-Spin and Push Shots from the sand with a

PW, but your #1 priority remains escaping safely from jail.

More Advanced Players: Practice all three shots (Cut-and-Spin, Push, Pick) from of the

sand with a both a PW and SW.

Remember to engage cutters, a punch to the gut, and tightest jeans in order to

engage the core muscles through the shot.


356

Picking the Ball from the Sand

1st.

Work on developing the putting, chipping, pitching, and Rotating Finesse Swing models

until you can execute them with some proficiency. The ball can be picked out of sand with

all three swings.

2nd.

The objective for the following drill is Getting Out of Jail (getting the ball out of the

trap and back into play; no heroics!)

3rd.

Golfers will be picking the balls out of the sand rather than blasting or cutting.

Stroke: Club: Club: Club: Results:

Chipping Stroke Putter 7-iron PW

Pitching Stroke 7-iron PW SW

Finesse Swing PW SW

Other club: 8- or 9-iron

Other club: 6- or 7-iron

Picking the ball can work well for golfers at all levels of the game, but they must

have their swing models (putting, chipping, pitching, Rotating Finesse Swing) under

control first.

Psychologically, picking the ball from the sand, and getting out of jail, is much easier

from many golfers because they are using strokes they are familiar with.

However, picking the ball from the sand can be difficult because the ball must be

picked cleanly and thus there is little margin for error. Thin or fat shots ruin a

picking shot.

For beginning golfers, the objective remains the same: getting out of jail and getting

the ball back into play.

Sand condition are important considerations for all of picking the ball. The ball must

have a good lie. The shot must not have to get up and into the air quickly, nor over a

tall bunker lip.

Note: picking can be most beneficial when the ball has a long way to travel to the

pin and a lot of green to work with.

Many players prefer the pick shot over others when the sand is wet.

Use trial-and-success with each of the three swings and clubs listed above, record the

results, and develop a specific sand play strategy.


357

Chip-Putt from the Sand

When conditions warrant, there are opportunities to putt or chip-putt the ball from the

sand. In wet or firm sand, with a good lie, when the ball has a long distance to travel to the

pin, and with no lip in the front of the bunker, some players prefer to use the Chip-Putt

Stroke and putt the ball. Remember that most putters come from the factory with 5° loft.

Ball position is critical. Begin with the ball at least an inch forward in the stance

toward the target. Make another stroke with the ball two inches forward and

determine which works the best.

With the uncertainty of the speed coming out of the sand, this shot is more practical

over long distances to the pin, thus reducing the drag of the sand; perhaps 15 yards

and further.

Be certain to Chip-Putt the ball cleanly out of the sand. With the slow club head

speed of this stroke, you cannot contact the sand first or the club will not make it

through the shot successfully.

Begin practicing with your putter and then attempt the same Chip-Putt Stroke with a

3-iron and test your results.

Different Lies in the Sand

With the care sand traps receive, our guess is that about

seventy-five percent of the time players are hitting from good lies.

Since it is always a good policy to have insurance, we will

quickly review variations of the basic Rotating Finesse Swing

in playing from a completely buried lie, a fried egg, along with a slightly buried lie. We

have already covered an ideal lie. As always, use trial-and-success in determining the

individual variations with the techniques presented below and record the results. The

following data is from a Cut-and-Spin Swing with a SW.

Lies Ideal 1/3 Buried Fried Egg Buried Comments

Face Angle *About 45°

open to the

target line

About 23°

open

A few °‘s

open

Slightly closed

Shoulder

Line **Square to

the target

line

More to the R.

of the target

line

More to the R On orig. TL

Ball Position Inside of

the left heel

2‖ back from

the inside of

the left heel

Only slightly

forward

(toward

target) of

center

Center of

stance

Depth of

Bounce

Bounce

about ½ ―

deep under

Some

bounce; start

with 1‖ depth

Slight

bounce; start

with 1 1/2 ―

No bounce,

more dig, start

with 2‖ under


358

ball under ball under ball ball

Notes and

Comments

*―About 45°‖ means open the club face about 45° in reference to the new sand shot target

line, which is left of the original target line.

**―Square‖ means square to the new swing or reference line, which is perpendicular to the

new target line.

―ON orig. TL‖ means parallel with the original target line.

―Inside LH‖ is inside of the left heel.

―2‖ back‖ means two inches back from the inside of the left heel…you‘ve got it!

Only the Beginning

This is only the beginning of learning sand play, but a good start.

Reference: we think it important to develop one primary resource for sand play in order to

keep all of the techniques consistent. Therefore, the only resource we recommend is Dave

Pelz‘s Short Game Bible.

3 x 5 Card

Lessons and KEYS TO SAND Play

1. ________________________________________________

2. ________________________________________________

3. ________________________________________________

4. ________________________________________________

5. ________________________________________________

6. ________________________________________________


359

ADDITIONAL SAND PLAY DRILLS

[Other sand shot drills appear in the Practice Section of your manual.]

Right Handed Bounce Drill Objective: Developing a sense of cutting through the sand consistently.

This drill can teach you a lot about how the clubface reacts to the sand. Pay close attention

to the reaction of the club, the feel of the sand, and how the club feels as it cuts through the

sand. With the face of a PW or SW, draw two four- or five-foot lines in the sand

perpendicular to the target line. Draw the lines about five inches apart. (That is not the

illustration below.)

Set up so that the back line is in about the middle of the stance.

Using a 9:00 Rotating Finesse Swing, but with only the right hand, practice bouncing under

the sand between the two lines.

PW Line Drill With the face of a

club, draw a four- or

five-foot line in the

sand perpendicular

to the target line.

1st, and without golf

balls, set up so that

the line is in the

middle of the

stance. Using a

9:00 Rotating Finesse Swing,

make several practice swings as you work your way up the line. Cut and spin the line out,

do not blast it out.

2nd

, rake the trap and re-draw the line. As illustrated above, place five or six balls about

three inches in front (toward the target) of the line. Place the line in the middle of the

stance. With a Cut-and-Spin Swing, hit each ball toward the green. Be certain to cut the line

out with each swing. Focus on the face of the club cutting into the sand exactly in the front

edge of the line. You may need to reposition the golf balls. Use trial-and-success to

determine the optimal ball position from the line.

7-Iron Line Drill With a low front trap lip, and adequate space to the pin, practice the same drill as above with

an 8-iron. Yes, an 8-iron has bounce and will cut through the sand under the ball.

Document the results.

Target

(flag)

X

Adjusted

Aiming Line

or Target

Line

Alignment

Line of Body


360

Push Sand Shot Objective: Develop an optional sand stroke to the cut-and-spin shot.

For this shot, the trap needs a low front lip and adequate space to run the ball on the green.

Think of this shot more as a bump and run.

Place the ball an inch or two in front (toward the target) of the middle of the stance.

Use a regular Rotating Finesse Swing Stance..i.e. square to the target line.

Do not open the club face.

Hit an inch or two behind the ball. Use trial-and-success to determine the best

position with your swing.

Start the practice session with a mid-iron.

Use trail-and-success to find the ideal ball position.

Start with a 9:00 Rotating Finesse Swing and think in terms of pushing the sand, and

the ball, toward the target.

Document results.

Long Bunker Shots – Shoeprint Drill

With long green-side bunker shots, we notice many players leaving the ball short of the

target. Or they attempt to blast out of the trap so hard that they miss the shot completely,

often times leaving the ball in the bunker. Accomplished players know how to hit shots

farther by taking shallower cuts through the sand, thus taking less sand and transferring

more of the energy to the golf ball. Practice taking less sand by first hitting shots out of a

shoeprint.

Make a light shoeprint in the sand; parallel with the target line.

Without a ball, make a swing that lightly brushes out the entire print, or at least most

of the print, from front to back. Repeat this step until you can brush out most of the

print from the print.

Rake the trap or make another light shoeprint. Place a ball in the middle of the

shoeprint.

Brush the ball out of the print with a shallow cut or push shot.

Place the next ball on top of the sand and make the same shallow brush cut.

How does the shot work for you?

Document your results.

IF players do not do well with this drill, have them use the 7/8/9-Iron Push Shot presented

above, of a 7/8/9-Iron Cut-and-Spin Shot.


361

Rotating Finesse Swing for Sand Play Summary:

Develop the 9:00 Rotating Finesse Swing first.

Then develop the 10:30 and 7:00 swings.

Use a PW off the turf until you become proficient with those three swings.

Transfer the 9:00 Rotating Finesse Swing to the Sand Wedge Cut Shot.

The Beginning

*The previous information is only the beginning of what accomplished

golfers must learn about sand play. Enjoy the remainder of your journey.


362

Journalizing

Developing Sand Play.

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363

O. Getting out of Jail – The Rough.

Strategies by Levels of Golfers For beginning golfers, learn to escape from the rough (Getting Out of Jail) and get

the ball back into play with whatever club and stroke works for you. When in jail,

identify the closest safe spot to hit to and get there!

The priority for intermediate players is escaping safely from the rough to locations

you can play your next shot from.

For advanced players, develop strategies and shots for escaping from the rough and

advancing the ball without losing a stroke.

On most levels of the game, a common error is for players to attempt to escape from the

rough with some heroic shot. Most of the time a heroic effort becomes a horrific shot.

Stroke Preferences

(This is only an introduction to shots out of the rough.)

When you can see the ball and can get a club on it:

Practice with a heavy club, such as a PW or SW.

Open the clubface slightly to the target line.

Position the ball back 1 – 2 inches from the middle of the stance.

Measure to the ball, then hit with that measured position on your swing.

Measuring to the ball involves setting up to the ball in the exact position as you plan

on being in when you contact the ball. Mirror your contact position. Measure down

to the ball with a straight left arm and club (as if swinging through impact), pay close

attention to the height and position of your body in that position. Then, maintain that

height and position through the swing.

Swing over stable legs.

Learn/prepare/rehearse getting out of jail with a 9:00 swing first.

Return the club head directly back down to the ball on the downswing; a steeper

angle of attack than normal.

Allow the follow through to take care of itself.


364

Club Selection

Because of the weight of the club head, and shorter shaft, most golfers are better off learning

to extricate balls from the rough with a PW or SW. Even if a PW will not advance the ball

a long way down the fairway, the objective is getting out of jail.

There are specialty clubs designed specifically for these types of shots and high

handicap golfers need to investigate them. Hybrid golf clubs can be more effective than

regular clubs as getting out of the rough. Experiment with them as well.

The most effective way to discover which swings work best for you in playing from the

rough is to begin with a set of principles and then determine through trial-and-success which

preferences work best for you. `

Playing from Short Rough Most golf courses have more short than long rough. Use trial and success, along with the

following suggestions, in developing your game from short rough.

When your ball is sitting on top of short rough, i.e. you can

see most of the ball, you probably will not need to change

your basic golf swing for the shot. But remember a couple

of things.

Your ball will less backspin than normal and

will not stop as quickly if you are hitting into a green.

Use more of a picking than a digging stroke. A picking swing has a shallower arc

than a digging style. If you are naturally a picker, you will know it because you take

very small divots on your iron shots from the fairway. A digging swing has a steeper

angle of attack, when you do not want from short rough. If you are a natural digger,

you will know it by the deeper divots you take with your fairway irons.

Utilize your ―picking‖ swing

Better golfers have learned to allow their club to do the work in extracting the ball from the

rough.

Use your normal swing;

but add one club (Example: if need a 7-iron go down to a 6-iron);

use your normal swing, but slow down your backswing for greater control;

do NOT swing past parallel at the top of your backswing;

grip down slightly (1 inch) for more control; and

use trial-and-success to develop your technique. Document results.

Next (we are still in trial-and-success), add one more club (from a 7 to a 5-iron) and

grip down two (2) inches on the club. Be sure to use your normal swing, but slow

your backswing down for greater control and do NOT swing past parallel.

On these shots, be certain to swing through the ball versus down and to it, as you

would in high rough. When you can see the top of the ball, you do not need to swing

directly down after the ball. Use a swing that will contact the grass slightly behind


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the ball (about an inch) and carry a small amount of grass with the ball. The ball will

come out with less backspin than normal, so do not expect it to stop as quickly.

Even when hitting through short rough, the grass pulls on the club face, especially

when wet. Tighten your grip slightly, but only slightly, to compensate for the pull of

the grass. The more grass you need to get the club head through, the tighter the grip

will need to be. Practice with different grip pressures.

Tangled Lies: The Birds Nest

From time to time, a ball will land in tangled lies

that resembles birds nests. You recognize a tangled

lie if you have ever had one. Envision the ball sitting

down in something related to a birds nest. You can

get the club head on the ball, but it is in a tough lie.

Perhaps only the top is visible. The player thinks

they can get the ball out with a regular out of the

rough type swing, and the next thing they know, they bury the club head into the grass

behind the ball, or the face catches in the grass and the ball dribbles forward and remains in

the rough, or they hit a hot flier and the ball flies over everything.

When there is a lot of space for the ball to roll to the pin or target, we are going to

employ what we refer to as a Tangled Lie Shot.

Strategy. Think of hitting DOWN to the ball and THROUGH it. From very tall grass, a

Tangled Lie Shot has move power and follow through that a chop shot.

Use more of a chipping stroke setup.

Grip down on the club in the same fashion as with chipping; down to the metal on

the shaft.

Keep the weight on the forward foot through the entire swing.

Place the ball in the same position as in a chip stroke, but use trail-and-success to

determine the best ball position for your swing.

The worse the lie, the further back in the stance you play the ball.

DIFFERENT FROM CHIPPING. With a Tangled Lie Shot, use a full wrist cock

in the backswing, which is obviously different from the chipping stroke.

Swing directly DOWN onto the back of the ball; anticipate a very short follow

through.


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Blast, Cut, or Chop from Deep Grass

We work with two swings for getting the ball out of deep grass. Practice both and keep

track of your success. We teach both the Blast Shot and the Cut shot. That is right,

basically the same swings we use in the sand. The principle is that the clubface does not

actually contact the ball. Either Blast or Cut the ball out of high grass, that is if you can get

the club down to the ball.

Execute the shot as described in the Blast and Cut Section of sand play.

However, while a blast and cut from the sand place a lot of backspin on the ball, the

same shot from high rough will NOT. So, do not expect the ball to roll if you are

landing on a green.

Start practicing with a 9:00 Rotating Finesse Swing.

Be certain to finish the swing.

IF you cannot get the club head down to the ball, you will need to use a shot similar to the

Tangled Lie Shot, only chop down on the ball a little more directly. Practice the shot as if

you were chopping wood.


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Journalizing

Out of the Rough.

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P. Punch, Knockdown Shots, and the Stinger.

The Punch Shot - Objective and Strategy A punch shot is a specialty, low-trajectory shot,

played to keep a golf ball beneath overhanging tree

branches or out of trouble from poor lies. On dry,

hard golf courses, the shot can also be used to roll

the ball onto greens. In creating a punch shot, think primarily about the desired trajectory

and roll. Trajectory (height of ball flight) is a key element, i.e. keeping the ball beneath tree

branches or out of trouble.

Punch Shot Preferences __ Use your normal chipping or Rotating Finesse Swing grip, but grip down on the club

for additional control. You may end up gripping clear down to the metal.

__ Start out with the ball position well back in your stance, as with chipping. Then

invest time learning the trajectory and roll that different ball positions and clubs

create. Document your results.

__ Position the ball back of center in the stance and then learn from experience.

__ Move the heels closer together in your stance. Start with an inch or so.

__ Remember to engage cutters, a punch to the gut, and tightest jeans in order to engage

the core muscles through the shot.

__ Start with a chipping style stance and then develop your stance from there.

__ Start your practice using a low lofted club, perhaps a 3-iron. If you do not have a 3-

iron, order a 3-iron hybrid by tomorrow morning. You need that club in your bag.

__ Some golfers prefer to use the same club, such as a 3-iron, for the majority of their

punch shots and adjust the backswing, follow through, and ball position for

the appropriate trajectory and distance.

__ Use a sweeping or picking style of swing versus a digging swing.

__ With most punch shot swings, the follow through will be shorter than the backswing,

however, never decelerate through impact.

__ Some players choose to hood (close the club face a few degrees) the club, which can

be an effective option once you have practiced it.

__ In your 6-Step Routine™ and pay special attention to the desired trajectory of the

shot.

A punch shot is NOT the same

as a knockdown shot or your

‗B‘ game stroke. Learn and

practice both of these as

separate strokes.


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Distance Drill Practice on the range 1

st. Take two practice shafts (clubs without the heads), place them in

the ground about four feet apart, tie a string to the tops of the shafts, and then practice punch

shots under the string and between the two shafts.

Learn the swing blueprint first with one club.

Once you are effective with the swing model, work on controlling direction.

Next, work on controlling trajectory and distance.

You are on your way!

Where practical, get out on the course and practice one punch shot on each hole.

Position of Hands on the Club

Use your normal finesse swing grip, position the hands down on the club, close to where the

grip material meets the shaft. Place your hands ahead of the ball, in a position often referred

to as a forward press.

Address

Address the golf ball and align toward the target. With positioning the ball back in the

stance, some players need to align more to the left of the intended target or ball flight. Use

trial-and-success to find the address that best fits your swing. Place the heels closer together

than in a full swing.

Ball Position

Position the golf ball in the back of the stance, near the right foot. Move the ball around in

your stance and learn how ball position impacts trajectory and roll.

Back Swing

Start out singing back to a 7:30 position, but do NOT set the wrists. Use more of a chipping

stroke. From the 7:30 position, experiment with different backswing lengths. Remember to

use a sweeping versus picking swing.

Swing

Swing down directly into the ball, striking the ball

before the ground. Swing through the little ball before

hitting into the big ball (the earth). Use as flat a swing as

possible. Pick the ball, do not dig. Are you normally

a picker or a digger?

Follow Through

You will not need to make a complete finish, use more of a chipping stroke finish position.

Swing into the little

ball before digging

into the big ball.


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Getting Started We suggest learning the basic punch shot with one club.

Beginners: use a shorter iron, such as a 7-iron, for more control and to learn the stroke.

Intermediate: begin with a shorter iron, such as a 7-iron, and advance to longer clubs as

quickly as your shot making abilities improve.

Advanced: begin with perhaps a 5-iron and advance to longer clubs as quickly as

your shot making abilities improve.

Learn the stroke on the range before using it on the course.

The Knockdown Shot or Stinger Strategy. Develop a swing for greater control, as a ‗B‘ Game option, for more roll into

greens, or to keep ball flight lower and out of the wind.

The Stinger Taken from Coach Robertson‘s book, ―The Encyclopedia of Successful GOLF Coaching.‖

The Stinger

Odds are that you do not play or score like Tiger

Woods. While that may be true, you can still master

the low penetrating tee shot he calls the Stinger.

The Stinger if fresh on our mind because of

Johnny Miller‘s (PGA Hall of Fame and Broadcaster)

recent televised comment about it. Johnny said

something to the effect that almost every amateur he

sees or works with could use Tiger‘s Drive to hit a low hook and keep the ball in play. ―It

wouldn‘t be real pretty,‖ Johnny said, ―but their stinger would be in play all of the time.‖

Johnny was correct. IF you will develop the swing, it can be among the most dependable

and repeatable swings in your bag, with or without playing in the wind. It is not merely a

wind shot. Practice this shot, habituate it, and call on it often, with or without windy

conditions.

Not Tiger‘s. On a historical note, the Stinger was not created by Tiger, or by the coach

pictured with Tiger, Butch Harmon. Butch‘s father, Claude Harmon Sr., who was one of the

best teachers in his time, created and taught it.

When to use? Use Claude Harmon Sr.‘s Stinger whenever you need more control off the tee

and in situations that allow for more roll. Again, it is not merely a wind shot. Look for

situations where a lower trajectory, more control, and less spin can help you score better.

Also, when you start putting excess pressure on yourself during competition, and need a ―go

to shot‖ off the tee, bring out the Stinger. Just be certain it is well practiced before calling

on it.


372

Which club? Do not limit your shot selection to driver. The shot works as well off the tee

with a 3-wood, 2-iron or hybrid, as it does with a driver. Under the right conditions, it can

be called upon as a punch shot into greens. Plus, you can use any club, clear down to your

PW. Again, just be certain the stroke is well rehearsed before using it and you know your

distances; ball flight plus roll.

Swing Techniques. STOP. It is important for you to physically experience what we will be

talking about in the next paragraph, so get a 3wood right now and observe something

firsthand. Position your body into your normal stance with a normal ball position. Observe

the back of your left hand. With a neutral grip position, you will only see two knuckles on

the back of your left hand. Plus, there will be a slight cup in the back of your left wrist.

Now, for the ―Stinger‖, move the ball about two (2) inches further back in your stance than

normal. This will position your hands slightly forward. Choke down on the grip an inch or

two. This will give the shot additional control and help you create a slight bow (versus a

cup) in the back of your left hand. Make a smooth, full backswing and retain the "y" created

by your arms and shoulders as much as possible throughout the swing. Remember the bow

we just talked about? Well, the shot‘s low trajectory and extra roll are created by retaining

that bow through impact. Yes, the left wrist is firm and curved/bowed toward the target.

Doc Suttie had an article by the Sr. Mr. Harmon showing where he would teach the

sensation of this shot by having golfers take the club, make a swing, but stop the swing as

quickly as possible after impact. That is because the only way to stop the club head that

soon after impact is by keeping the wrists firm. So, maintain that bowed wrist position

through impact versus allowing the wrists to release through impact. Once you learn to

maintain a bowed impact, the appropriate finish will follow automatically if you allow it to.

There is one more thing that occurs automatically as well. The left elbow will fold down

toward the ground through the follow through. Your upper body will rotate the club head

around to the left, thus producing a low running draw. For Tiger, and for you as well, the

faster his upper body unwinds, the farther the ball travels.

Comfort. You are going to have to practice this shot correctly until it feels comfortable to

you, because it won‘t feel that way initially. If you allow ―feel‖ to change the shot, it will

not be as effective because as you will recall, feel is not real. Go back through the previous

instructions and work with the shot until it not only feels comfortable to you, but until you

know your distances with it as well, especially into greens.

The Training Club. Harmon Sr., and a lot of other great teachers, preferred for their students

to learn a new technique, such as the ―Stinger‖ with a training club, the 5-iron. We

recommend you do the same. Start with a specific distance, such as 50 yards, and practice

until you can execute the stroke consistently with a 5-iron to that distance. You add distance

by adding lower lofted clubs and extending your follow through. Work your way up

gradually to your driver. Once you get to your driver, you will have developed a swing

that is among the most dependable and repeatable swings in your golf bag.


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A Note on Grip

On p. 35 of Doc Suttie‘s ―Your Perfect Swing‖ reference book, you will find the following

important information on grip which helps explain why changing your grip in the ―Stinger‖,

and adding a bow versus a cup is so powerful. ―The grip controls the clubface more than

any other part of your body. How you hold the club will determine how your body will

move.‖ Read that last statement again. ―How you hold the club will determine how your

body will move.‖ Which is why grip position in this shot, and all others, is so important.

3 x 5 Card

Lessons and BASICS OF A PUNCH SHOT

1. ________________________________________________

2. ________________________________________________

3. ________________________________________________

4. ________________________________________________

5. ________________________________________________

6. ________________________________________________


Lessons and BASICS OF A KNOCKDOWN

or Stinger 1. ________________________________________________

2. ________________________________________________

3. ________________________________________________

4. ________________________________________________

5. ________________________________________________

6. ________________________________________________



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Journalizing

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375

Q. Additional Specialty GOLF Shots. Playing Out of Divots Rule #1. Always replace your own divots; always! Playing from divots in the fairway has

always been part of the game for most golfers, but due to very poor golf etiquette, not

replacing divots has become epidemic on most golf courses, even country clubs. It is not a

shot most golfers practice enough and the golf ball typically lands in divots at the most

inopportune competitive times. You can learn to create and execute shots from divots with

the right attitude, knowledge, skills, and practice, but you MUST learn the basics of the shot

and practice it at least once a week.

Playing Considerations

Lower Ball Flight and More Roll. With proper execution of this swing, the golf ball will not

fly as high from divots because you will be swinging down and through the ball more than

normal. Anticipate a lower ball flight and additional roll. Practice is key. ALSO, the

deeper the divot, and the closer the ball to the front or deep part of the divot, the lower the

ball flight can be. Use trial-and-success and record your distances. Fill in the following:

―My average ball flight distance with a 7-iron is ___yards. My average ball flight distance

with a 7-iron from divots is typically ___yards.‖

More Club and L-R Ball Flight. With the swing we recommend, plan on at least one or two

more club than is typically required for the distance at hand. Set up for a left-to-right ball

flight.

No HELPING! Because the ball is down in a divot, many golfers attempt to help the ball

out by either scooping at it or using several other techniques that do not work. No helping!

Alignment, Alignment, Alignment, Ball Position, Ball Position, Ball Position. As with

most specialty shots that are not practiced on a regular basis, alignment and ball position

take on additional importance.

--Maintain a square stance, but align to the left of your intended target. Use your normal

foot flare.

--Ball position is in the middle of your body since we are swinging down and through the

shot. Remember to use the body as your alignment gauge, not just your heels.

--Our preference is a narrower stance than normal to help you make a complete turn through

the shot.

--For club face control, grip down on the club 1 or 2 inches and open the club face slightly.

Do NOT open your grip, only open the club‘s face slightly in reference to the target line.

The Swing

--Set the wrists earlier than normal in the backswing to help promote more of an up-to-down

swing.

--Keep your weight more in the center of your body through the entire swing; some players

prefer to keep a 60% of their weight on the front foot through the entire shot, but that is an

individual preference.


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--Focus on swinging THROUGH the shot. You may be taking a shorter follow through than

normal, but get through the swing.

--You are not through yet. Fill the new divot you just made!

MOST IMPOTRANT POINT

Practice this shot until you are confident with it, continue practicing it at least once a week,

and keep your notes on your own preferences.

MY Lessons and Playing from Divots

1. ________________________________________________

2. ________________________________________________

3. ________________________________________________

4. ________________________________________________

5. ________________________________________________

6. ________________________________________________



377

MORE SHOOTS ARE BEING ADDED TO THIS SECTION.


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379

PLAYING

COMPETITIVE

GOLF

You, your coach, and your team must determine in advance how you plan to prepare and

compete in each competitive event. The process includes: 1. Executing your pre-

tournament preparation round effectively, which focuses on developing a competitive plan

for the course and conditions being played; working and staying with your plan during the

event; and, continually improving your preparation round and planning process.

Ask Yourself: If everything you are doing during your

preparation and practice is not focused on making you more

competitive in tournament play, are you really accomplishing

anything?

Principles for Competitive Golf Skills (tactical, technical, mind ↔ body) are

best learned and habituated at the same

intensity level they will be used during

competition. This principle is well

documented and is key to competitive

performance. How many golfers do you know (and you may be one of them) who

have good range swings or practice games, but cannot take their games to

tournaments?

Competitive learning moments (moments when players are most open to learning

competitive skills) occur during competitive level intensity and MUST be reinforced

by the player and coaching staff.

Swing assessment, including club accuracy and distances, is best accumulated during

competition (versus strictly with range work) and taken from measurements and

observations by players and coaches.

Ensure that you practice playing the game of golf more than you practice the

golf swing.

Law: Skills (tactical, technical,

and mind ↔ body) are best

learned and habituated at the

same intensity levels they are

executed on during competition.


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Here is a question for serious golfers: ―If you are not preparing for peak performance in

competitive situations, what are you preparing for?‖

Here is a question for the coaches of serious golfers: ―If we are not helping players prepare

to play at peak levels in competitive situations, are we truly effective coaches?‖

Study Where You Take the Test (Tournament ―Preparation‖ Rounds…this is NOT practice)

For a variety of reasons, we consider pre-tournament preparation rounds as a major priority.

With their impact on competitive performance, we not only plan and execute our pre-

tournament preparation rounds very carefully, but throughout the season we do our best to

schedule at least four opportunities (two in the fall and two in the spring) where our golfers

play preparation rounds on a new course, or courses we do not play often, and then play a

performance evaluation or qualifying round a few days later to assess their learning process.

Our preference is to use these rounds as qualifying rounds for upcoming events, that way the

entire team receives value from the experience.

Why do we consider studying where you take the test (preparation rounds) to be so

important?

Players must develop the ability to learn new golf courses quickly and determine

their best scoring strategies. Knowing how to study and learn new courses is a skill

that most players need a lot of work on.

Golfers appreciate the variety of playing different courses. Example: As nice as our

home course is, golfers not only get a little tired of playing the same course, but

more importantly, they begin taking the course for granted and sleep walking

through practice and preparation.

We also think that holding preparation, and then qualifying rounds on new courses,

provides us with a better assessment of a player‘s ability to learn and score on new

tournament locations throughout the season.

The 1st preparation round of a 2-day preparation/practice series provides us with the

opportunity to coach our players on playing and scoring strategies, how to think their

way around a golf course, shot decision making, plus players have the opportunity to

play a wide variety of shots.

The 2nd

day provides us with the opportunity to observe, evaluate, and collect a wide

variety of data from players under competitive conditions. We can evaluate our

entire team, whereas in tournaments, assessment and data collect is much more

difficult because players are spread out over the golf course.

We do not want players referring to pre-tournament rounds on the courses we will be

playing tournaments on as practice. We are definitely not practicing. We are learning the

course, preparing our playing and scoring strategies, developing a competitive playing plan,

charting greens, etc..


381

Player‘s instructions for preparation rounds.

We provide each player with a form to chart greens on, which is in their Swing Manuals, as

well as two pages to record playing notes on. We review their green charts and playing

notes at dinner following each preparation round.

Go through your regular Dynamic Pre-Warm Up Drills.

You do not need to go through your entire Pre-Tournament Warm Up Routine. You will

be learning the course more than playing it. This is preparation, not practice! But do get

warmed up and ready to play the shots you need to.

Write out your strategy for playing each hole while you are playing it or once you have

finished playing it. Use the sheets we provide. Once the preparation round is over, we

will revise these sheets as a group.

*Reminder: Use your imagery skills to play each hole from green-to-tee and then tee-to-

green. Mentally play one hole at a time and one shot at a time. Shot blueprints are

created mentally from target-to-ball and then from ball-to-target, one shot at a time.

Chart each green while you are playing them. Use the sheets we provide. We will revise

the information as a group once the round is completed.

Focus on getting off each tee successfully and on how you plan to play each tee shot

during completion. Within your 6-Step Routine, mentally process the shot from your

preferred landing area (the target) back to the tee.

Execute the blueprint for your swing and then walk out to where the ball stopped and

confirm whether or not it is your preferred landing area for the tournament.

Complete this process with each shot until you are on the green. Mentally make each

shot from the target landing area back to the ball, execute the shot, then walk up and

check for your preferred landing area.

For greens, mentally make each shot from the green back to the ball, execute the

blueprint for the shot, then walk up to the green and check for your preferred landing

area. Avoid merely swinging at pins, because the pins will not be in the same location

for the tournament. Check out and record your preferred landing areas on each green

and record the information.

Invest time identifying and marking on your sheet the best approach angles and areas for

each green.

Be sure to play from the rough and traps around greens. Practice putts from a variety of

areas on the green. Avoid putting at the current pin location. If they have marked the

pin positions for the tournament, chip and putt to those locations. Have one player mark

those locations with a tee.

During the preparation round, play shots from lies you do not have on your home course

or that are more difficult for you in tournaments.

Play from the rough, sand traps, etc. Develop a good feel for all areas of the course.

We almost forgot, do NOT keep score. When focused on score, you are not preparing

enough shots, or the shots you need to be working on.

IMPORTANT. Create and execute short shots while you are waiting to play into greens

or down the fairway. Do not stand around and waste time, this is important

preparation time. Example: practice your 7:30 PW Rotating Finesse Swing and work


382

on distances…lay down 5 balls and execute 5 swings at a target a specific distance away,

say 40 yds. if that is your distance, and check out your ball flight distances.

Use a range finder and really work on figuring out and recording key distances.

Precision counts!

Rehearse with the same mental intensity and focus that you plan on playing with.

Rehearse like you plan on competing and compete as you have rehearsed.


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Golf Course Date











384

Golf Course Date











385

Golf Course Date

Playing Strategy #1

Playing Strategy #2

Playing Strategy #3

Playing Strategy #4

Playing Strategy #5

Playing Strategy #6

Playing Strategy #7

Playing Strategy #8

Playing Strategy #9


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Golf Course

Playing Strategy #10










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Competitive Outline

Competitive Rule #1.

Don‘t Beat Yourself!

Translated to:

Control Yourself and

Play Your Game

Manage your emotions and expectations.

Manage your physical and mental intensity.

Know your game, understand the situation

at hand, and create the appropriate

response.

Play 1 hole,

then one shot,

at a time.

Make the shots

you have at

least 60%

confidence in.

Remain

TARGET

Focused.


388

Know Your Game Know your game, understand the situation at hand, and create the appropriate responses.

During your Preparation Rounds, a critical key is developing a plan and then working your

plan. In creating a plan for playing competitive golf on a given course, you must know:

where to hit the ball;

spots on the course to play away from;

know the shots you are the most comfortable creating and executing; and

which angles into the greens give you the best approach.

Strategy Example: plan on playing short of trouble as you plan out your shots, especially

from the tees.

For most players, being competitive is about placement. Placing the ball away from

bunkers, traps, and out of bounds. More times than not, it pays dividends to play

conservatively off the tee. Think about it! You play conservatively on a 425 par-4 hole, but

leave the ball short and cannot get on in two. You play up close to the green in 2, pitch it up

close to the pin in 3, and you have a good chance at par. Hit your tee shot OB and you

playing 3 off the tee and looking at a potentially big number. It is the big numbers you must

learn to avoid, so plan accordingly.

Strategy: use the entire tee box. Player after player steps up to the tee, tees the ball up

between the markers, and fires away. First, locate the trouble. If the trouble is down the

right side of the fairway, set up against the right marker and play away from the trouble.

Second, do your best to always work the ball; shape your shot. If normally draw, tee up near

the left marker, aim at the right side of the fairway, and craw the ball toward the center.

Thinking through dog legs. In planning your game, the 1st question here is, ―is it worth it to

carry the dog leg?‖ As a rule of thumb, when cutting a dog leg only gives you a two or

three club advantage, do not take the risk. Rather, determine the distance where the dog leg

begins (say it‘s 170 yards out), the edge of the far fairway that you do not want to hit

through (say it‘s 210 yards out), and select a club to safely carry you between 170 and 210

and always allow for roll.

60% - 70% Rule again. When you are deciding which shot to plan on a specific hole,

uncomplicated your decision and create and execute the shot you know you can pull off six

or seven out of ten times and always play to your strengths.

Developing and Restoring Confidence. Please take a minute and review information on

Developing and Restoring Confidence that appears within the Apply Sport Psychology to

Golf Section. Here is the summary from that information.


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Summary: confidence is easily misplaced.

Winning the chipping contest was in my Circle of No Control. The same as your

winning a tournament. Did I want to win? Certainly! Could I control winning?

Certainly not, so I gave winning no intent or attention.

Did I learn from the results of my chipping

attempts and adjust my stroke accordingly?

Certainly, but result were not where my

confidence was. My confidence was invested

in the elements of the game that were within

my Circles of Control and Influence. Place your confidence in your performance

routines, where it belongs.

What was the outcome? Ask my players and they will tell you that my scoring game

got better as the contest progressed. I did not muff a single shot and represented

myself quite well. You are capable of the same improvement as a tournament

progresses, so avoid focusing your attention on outcomes and focus more of it on

processes within your control.

I also restored my confidence in the controllable elements of the game and in

focusing on processes over results. You can do the same.

Check developing and working your competitive plan as an area of further expansion and


Results were NOT where I

placed my confidence.

Confidence placed in winning

and on outcomes is misplaced.


390

When You Lose Your ‗A‘ Game. In another section we talk about using the warm up

period prior to competitive play and practice to determine

which swing you brought to the course on that specific

date. Certainly we would all prefer to tee off with our

‗A‘ games, but that is not reality. So, what do you do on

those days when you cannot find your ‗A‘ game anyplace

in your bag? First of all, use your Competitive Warm Up Routine to determine which level

of your game you have. The worst mistake you can make is attempting to play and score

with a performance level and game you do not have, and frustration only adds to the

problem.

So, Rule #1 is Play With the Partner You Brought to the Dance. When you are not on your

game, the most detrimental strategy you can use is continuing to attempt shots you cannot

create and execute. One definition of insanity is continuing to use the same flawed golf

swing and expect different results. Save your ‗A‘ level shot making expectations for those

days when you have that level of play. The strategy here is to mentally create shots you can

execute successfully with the game you brought to the

course. You might refer to this as keeping your mind

and body on the same page of the song book. When

you start creating and executing shots you are capable

of, your confidence tends to build and quite often your

‗A‘ game comes back with it.

Develop a specific warm up routine. When the Competitive Warm Up Routine we cover

with you in our materials is specific enough, you will know the swing you brought to the

course on any given day and how your current shot making varies from your ‗A‘ game.

Without this initial level of understanding your game, you are really lost.

Some days your Warm Up Routine will show that you are merely be hitting shots

shorter than normal, so your strategy is to use more club until your normal distances return,

if they actually do. Other days, you may be fading the ball more than usual, so align more

to the left than usual and use slightly more club. On days when you are drawing the ball

more, align more to the right and use slightly less club. You get the point. The keys

include:

knowing your game (club length, dispersion, Accuracy Performance Ratios, etc.) in

the first place;

knowing the game you bought to the course on any given day; and

knowing how to adapt your swing and game to the situation at hand.

Start with a Measuring Club. To get started in your Competitive Warm Up Routine, develop

precise distances with two full coil style swings and one finesse accuracy rotating swing.

Example. Full 5-iron: 180 yds. when warmed up.

Full 9-iron: 130 yds. when warmed up.

10:30 PW: 105 yds. when warmed up.

These are distances you can usually determine with your range finder on a practice range

during your Competitive Warm Up. Get warmed up and then measure your shots with those

Never, never, never,

never, give up and never

give into the temptation to

quit.

One of our professional golfers

uses the phrase, ―I don‘t allow

my mind to write checks my

body cannot cash.‖ Think

about that in your own game.


391

three distances. The comparison can give you a very good indication of your current

distances with all clubs.

Performance Routines. Remember to stay with your performance routines. They are within

your Circle of Control. Within those routines, you can learn to make the adjustments we

discuss below. Remember to:

make these adjustments in your preparation swings behind the ball;

mentally create the shot you are after out in front of you (work from target back);

execute your blueprint on auto pilot; and

learn from the results.

Move down on the grip. The next time you are practicing and hit a good iron (such as a 5-

iron), take a 4-iron, move your hands down an inch, take a 10:30 swing (only get to 10:30 on

the back swing) and test the ball flight and distance. Odds are that with the lower ball flight,

shorter back swing, and less club length, their distances will be about the same. What you

gain is additional control of your game. As always, track and document your results. You

need to use this strategy when you are practicing so you will have additional control when

you need it during competitive play, or when you lose your ‗A‘ game.

When you not swinging your driver well, use the same strategy as described above,

plus experiment with going to a 3-wood or hybrid. Do not have any hybrids in your golf

bag, big mistake? Get some.

Self-management. You may have read in our other materials that we talk more about self-

management than about course management. Terms are important. Absent your ‗A‘ game,

start managing yourself, your thinking, and alter your playing strategy and control your

misses. You cannot manage the course, but you can manage yourself. We are not talking

about playing safe. We are talking about playing smart and finding ways to score without

your ‗A‘ game.

Example: when not hitting into greens well, observe each green very carefully and

determine which spots around the green, and angle, you can get up and down from the best.

When truly observant, you will notice that every green has a more approachable side or

angle, other than perhaps an island green. Play away from the rough and sand, toward ideal

landing zones, and give yourself a good chance to get up and down from a good lie. Ask

yourself this question regarding every green you play, ―where is my bailout area.‖

Remember that our strategy is developing your scoring game from green to tee,

versus tee to green.

Putting Woes. When experiencing putting woes during competition, here are a few specific

suggestions that have worked with some very accomplished players.

#1. Stay poised and use your 6-Step Putting Routine until your stroke returns. Said another

way, ―trust your routine until your stroke returns.‖ Staying with your routine can cure a

great many of the mental putting woes you experience over time.


392

#2. Get off to the side of the green or the tee box, find

a straight line, like the edge of the green or cut of the

grass, and make several putting strokes with only the

left hand. If not holding up play or distracting

anybody, get off to the side of the green and lay down

a club or use the flagstick. Pay specific attention to

remaining stable through the stroke, pulling through

the stroke with the left hand versus pushing with the

right hand, weighing the club head through the stroke, and squaring the clubface through

impact. Then work to duplicate the same feel in your actual putting stroke.

#3. Personally, I have had instances where I read the green one way, got set up over the

ball, positioned my feet in my stance, and sensed a different break through my feet. More

times than not, when I senses the break through my feet and went with my instincts, I made

a much more accurate putting stroke. Fact: Golf is a ground reaction sport. Fact: there are

times when players can read the undulation in greens with their feet more effectively than

they can with their eyes. Technique: Learn to read the undulation of greens through your

feet and incorporate that information into your performance routine.

Find drills that work out on the course. One of the strategies we use is helping players

locate and use drills that help develop their games in practice and can help them get their ‗A‘

games back during competition. Work with your golf or swing coach to develop these drills

for all areas of your game.

Example: When you begin to lose the feel with your finesse rotating swing, get into your

stance but do not bend over at the waste, remain erect. Take two clubs and swing them in a

semi-circle around the front of your body and at chest height. Let the thought of

―everything back and everything through‖ run through your mind as you swing and then

convert the thought to a sense of feel. Then swing just one club. If you have time, turn the

club around and only swing the handle. Listen for the swish sound of the shaft.

You can use the same drill with the full swing, only switch to a thought of coiling

and releasing versus rotating, and then convert the thought to a sense of feel.

Between Shots. Between shots, when you really start talking to yourself about losing your

‗A‘ game, repeat the following sentence to yourself, breathe, and get back to using your

routines: ―Right now, I am figuring out how to get the ball up and down. After the round I

can work out any problems on the range.‖

And Finally. Never, never, never, never give up!

Actually there is one more item. Begin developing your own techniques for getting your

‗A‘ game back, or playing without it, and document your findings.

Guarantee: We guarantee you

that your feel for the putting

stroke and scoring game WILL

change throughout a golf

round. So, get over it, stay

poised, and learn to adapt and

adjust.


393

Self-Management Between Shots and Holes

What element of competitive golf do you spend the most amount of time in?

What element of competitive golf do you have no control over?

What element of competitive golf, relative to the time spent in it, receives little of no

training time or attention?

We have already given you the answer to the previous questions, the amount of time

between holes and shots. That time can be both a blessing to, and a curse for, you and your

golf game. However, time is not the factor to consider, since it is in the Circle of NO

Control. So, what about time is within your Circle of Control? Correct, how you choose

to perceive time and use it to your advantage.

By now you are to already have developed your Between Shot/Hole Routine. If you have

not done that yet, please return to the section on routines and invest the time to create that

specific routine now. Place the results on a 3 x 5 card and carry it in your bag until you have

habituated it.

Check self-management between shots and holes as an area of further expansion and


Mood Meter – Emotional Management We first experienced the concept of a Mood Meter (actually a 3 X 5 card) doing a Pro-Am

for Anheuser-Busch. A sport psychologist was playing in our group (sorry, but forgot his

name) and showed us the Mood Meter he used with golf clients. He and his clients carried a

3 X 5 card with them and would record their moods from time to time during each round.

☺__happy; __aggressive; __patient; __focused; __working my plan; __neutral.

OR __angry; __frustrated; __anxious; __away from my plan.










394

When they discovered they were in the wrong mood for peak performance, they turned their

card over and reviewed several previously prepared notes on moments, events, and phrases

that helped them get back into a productive emotional state. The sport psychologist had

helped each player develop their own phrases and events, but you can get started on your

own. Here is an example and you can fill in the blanks.

Dealing With Adversity From our experience with literally hundreds of golfers at hundreds of competitive events, it

seems to us that how you deal with adversity is one of the more important determinants of

your being successful – both on and off the golf course.

Rule #1. There will always be adversity in your life, both on and off the golf course.

Rule #2. Adversity seems to appear when it is least expected.

Rule #3. You cannot control adversity, but you can control how you deal with it.

Here is your 1st question. How do you typically deal with adversity on the golf course now,

especially during tournaments? Be candid in your response.

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

I always play my best golf when I am ________________

______________________________________________.

One of the things that always gets me back into a

productive emotional state is _______________________

______________________________________________.

To play at a peak level, I must control my thoughts,

actions, and behaviors. I CHOOSE TO DO THAT NOW!

Here are my emotional choices:

A. I Can Be Happy;

B. I Can Be Neutral; but that‘s it.

My most enjoyable moment on the golf course was when

__________________________________________.


395

Is how you are dealing with adversity on and off the golf course working very effectively for

you?

__________________________________________________________________________

If so, you may not have to work through the remainder of the materials. But be honest with

yourself.

Step 1. Take the DiSC Golfer‘s Profile and work with your coach in determining what it is

about your personality that causes you to deal ineffectively with adversity when you put

yourself under competitive pressure. Reminder: only you can put pressure on yourself.

[this section is being completed]

Additional Shot Management Articles on our SAU

Athletics/Golf Website. Refer to: ―Laying up, a Smart Option.‖


396

Journalizing

My Competitive Golf Journal Page.

Date Comments

_______ _____________________________________________________

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_______ _____________________________________________________

_______ _____________________________________________________

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_______ _____________________________________________________

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397

ATTACHMENTS SECTION The Player Development Binder is discussed in several locations throughout the manual and is for your further development. Practically speaking, players take the contents of this manual, such as the Conditioning, Flexibility, and Strength Section, remove them from this manual, insert them in their Player Development Binder and have their start for a complete guide.

PLAYER DEVELOPMENT BINDER TABS Make and insert the following tabs in your binder. Players find that eventually, some of

these tabs evolve into entire binders of their own.

Team Information, schedules, and other important information

Team Rules and Guidelines

Player Assessment and Development

Performance Survey

Swing Assessment and Worksheets

The Golfer‘s Profile System

States, Traits, and Golf Performance Information

Conditioning, Flexibility, and Strength (and in that order)

Dynamic Pre-Warm Up Drill

Conditioning Program

Conditioning Rotational Program

The 2D/3W/NO Gang

Fueling and Hydration

Fueling and Hydrating for performance

Pre-Round Meals

Post-Strength and Conditioning Meals

Snacks

Rules for Eating on the Road and on the run

Life Skills

7 Habits of Highly Effective Golfers

The 8th

Habit

Swing Techniques and Technical Skills

Foundations of the Golf Swing

My Foundational Elements

My LAWS™ Information

Swing Techniques Guide

My Swing System

My Swing Development Program


398

Tactical Skills, Competitive Skills and Performance

Mind ↔ Body Peak Performance Skills

Gateway to the Game of GOLF

My Pyramid of Mental Performance Skills

Performance Routines

Putting and Full Shot Routine

Pre-Match Routine

Between Shots Routine: The Hourglass

Post-Match Routine

Goal Setting and Achievement System

Setting Goals and Establishing Objectives

Priority Setting

Building Action Plans

Implementation and Follow Up

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Golfers

*This is a separate book rather than complete binder, but it is a tab in Player

Development Binder.


399

This section is the beginning of your data collection information. In addition to

these worksheets, we provide players with copies of an Excel program that allows them to enter, track, and report on their own performance data. We review the data with each player every two weeks. You may recall from that part of our assessment strategy is collecting most of our performance data during qualitying and tournament rounds. As a practical matter, we do not have the time or resources to collect sufficient shot performance data on every player. Therefore, we place part of the responsibility squarely where we think it belongs, on the player‘s shoulders.

Accuracy Performance Ratio & Worksheet (your error rate or ratio; how far you miss your target)

Rule #1 in sport psychology: Know thyself. Rule #1 for the golf swing: Know thy golf swing. Develop a consistent, athletic move through the ball. “A mechanically sound golf swing delivers the clubface through the ball perfectly square to the target line, perfectly vertical, so that only the loft of the club affects the trajectory of the shot, on the correct path, with maximum velocity at the bottom of the swing arc every single time.” (Doc Suttie, Your Perfect Swing, p. 7.) Rules #1 and #2 for scoring: 1. Know the distances and dispursion rates of every club in your bag and specific swings (7:30; 9:00; 10:30; etc.). 2. Be able to determine the distances to all of your targets. Rule #1 for self-management (sometimes called course management): You cannot begin to think about course and shot management until you know how to read distances and know the distance and accuracy (dispursion rates) of all your clubs. That means knowing ball flight, roll, full swings, 9:00 swings and etc., playing with and against the wind, etc. Course-, self-, and shot-management are constructed upon a foundation of knowing your equipment fits you and your game, and knowing the distance and accuracy figures for each club in your bag. Without that foundational knowledge you cannot create and execute a game strategy effectively. What good does it do for you to know the distance to a target, such as a golf hole, when you‘re not certain of either the distance, accuracy, or consistency of your clubs UNDER COMPETITIVE CONDITIONS? The answer is, it does not help!


400

Accuracy PERFORMANCE RATIO - Start with Putting First, develop your Accuracy Performance Ratio with putting and then repeat the process for all the clubs. Example: when you are putting from a distance of 5 feet (60 inches), and you miss the putt by 27 inches, here is how the math works. A. When the strategy is using the ideal ball speed: a putt that misses by 27 inches, less 17 inches when the ball is past the target, divided by 60 inches (the length of the putt), =‘s the Putting Accuracy Performance Ratio. 27 inches – 17 inches (when past the target) = 10 inches 10 inches / 60 inches = 16.67%, which is your Putting Accuracy Performance Ratio *For more information on ideal ball speed, consult the Optimum Putting Speed information in the Putting Skills Section. B. When the strategy is allowing the ball to die into the cup: a putt that misses by 27 inches, divided by 60 inches (the length of the putt), =‘s the Putting Performance Ratio. 27 inches / 60 inches = 45.0%, which is the Putting Accuracy Performance Ratio C. For the remainder of the clubs in the bag. Example: You have 180 yards into the flag stick, which is your target. You miss the stick by 18 yards (18 yards away from the target in any direction). Divide the length of the shot by the length of the miss and you have the Accuracy Performance Ratio. 18 yards (miss)/180 yards (to the flag) = 10%, which is the Accuracy Performance Ratio D. With Tee Shots. Use the same formula as above. Example: You select a target in the fairway; let‘s say the center of the fairway. This is the location you expect the ball to stop in. You have 250 yards to the selected target. The drive misses the target by 25 yards. The 25 yards is right or left of center. Divide the length of the shot by the length of the miss and you have the Accuracy Performance Ratio. 25 yards (right or left) / 250 yards (length) = 10%, which is the Accuracy Performance Ratio


401

PUTTING ACCURACY ASSESSMENT [Copy this page for Pre- and Post-Assessment; use with golfers at all levels.]

Equipment Needed Putter. Five (5) good golf balls (ones you use in competition). Long measuring tape of a 40 foot piece of string. You can mesaure the string and mark it every yard. A practice area or practice green. Be certain to use the same practice area of green, and a spot on the green, for both the Pre-Assessment and Post-Assessment. 5 targets. If you are cutting out flat targets, the cup is 4 1/4 inches across. CD discs are 4 ¾ inches and can work. You can also use a regular golf tee. For efficiency sake, use two people in the assessment. One person to call out the distances from the target and another to record distances.

The Target Do NOT use a golf hole as a target as it distorts the assessment and tends to make players too target oriented. Use a flat object that can be clearly seen from the distances in the assessment, such as a CD disc or piece of flat plastic. If you do not have anything else, use golf tees. For long putts, we use a golf tees with orange balls on them. Be consistent in your Pre- and Post-Assessments. You can set the balls up in a straight line or in a half circle, just be consistent. Assessment Spots for Putting are: 3; 6‘; 12‘; 18‘; 24‘; and 30‘.

Number of strokes Players can warm up prior to the assessment with any strokes they prefer, but NOT at the targets being used. After the warm up, players make one (1) stroke at a time from each of the distances, working back from shortest to longest, until they have made five (5) strokes from each distance.


402

PUTTING ACCURACY ASSESSMENT Worksheet [Copy this page for Pre- and Post-Assessment; use with golfers at all levels.]

Player______________________ Assessment Date____________________ ___Pre-Assessment ___Post-Assessment In our calculations for most players, we allow up to 17 inches past the hole to be counted as a ‗0‘ inch miss. Make your own decision on the ideal speed, just be consistent. You may want to review the information on the ideal ball speed for putting. ASSESSMENT. Record the Accuracy Performance Ratios for each putt. All of the following distances are to a target spot (NOT a golf hole) on the green and measured in feet. Round up or down to the closest ½ foot. *Your ideal target speed is: __die in the hole; __17 in.; other, which is_____ in.

Length: 1 2 3 4 5 Average

3‘

6‘

12‘

18‘

24‘

30‘

Overall Average: ______ (use average miss or the Accuracy Performance Ratio)

With putts over 35 feet, many golfers use more of a Lag Putting Stroke, which is very similar to our Putt/Chip Stroke. Check it out for yourself. Record the number of putts it takes you to hole out from the following distances. *Use a golf hole with a fairly flat lie. Be consistent in the lies you use in follow up assessments. Length: 1 2 3 4 5 Average

10‘

20‘

30‘

40‘

50‘

60‘


403

Putting Stroke Evaluation

Putting Evaluation and Recommendation Worksheet

Date________________ Student________________

Areas Assessed: ** Comments: Ratings and Additional Comments:

Center of

Percussion

95%

Face Angle 90%

Path 20%

Angle of Attack

Distance control

Impact point

Hand/shoulder

position

Shoulder line

Forearms

position

Putter shaft

alignment

Putter face

alignment

Ball position&

bottom of swing

Ball position &

eye line

Head movement

Body movement

Wrist position

Forming and

maintaining the

Triangle

Rhythmic swing

Hand position on

club

Grip pressure

Swing tempo

Putting routine

The Hourglass

Distance back

and through

Pendulum or

gate?

** Error transfer rate.


404

GREEN-SIDE CHIPPING ASSESSMENT [Copy this page for Pre- and Post-Assessment; use with golfers at all levels.]

Equipment Needed PW and 7-iron. (players can use other irons if they prefer, as long as they use them for both the Pre- and Post-Assessment). *DO NOT USE ANY MORE LOFT THAN WITH A PW to start with. Five (5) good golf balls. A 40 yard piece of string or long measuring tape. Note: We use the string with pitching so it needs to be that long. We mesaure the string and mark it every three feet with a small piece of red tape. A practice area or practice green. Be certain to use the same practice area of green, and a spot on the green, for both your Pre-Assessment and Post- Assessment. 5 targets.

The Target Do NOT use a golf hole as a target, it distorts the assessment and tends to make players too target oriented. Use a flat object or golf tee that is clearly visable from the distances in the assessment. Remember that we work to create strokes where the length of the backswing and follow through control the distance of the shot. Measure the distance of ball flight and record it first. Then measure roll, then the total length record it. How the ball lands on, and reacts to, greens is as, if not more, important than ball flight. Assessment Spots [These are recommended clubs only, use the clubs that are appropriate for individual players.] Start with a PW from ALL assessment distances. PW from 45 feet to the target. Not to the edge of the green, but to the target. Dedepending on your practice area, you may have to land the ball on the fringe. Typically, with distances beyond 45 feet, players need to use a pitching stroke. PW from 35 feet to the target; from 25 feet; then 15 feet; and finally from 10 feet. Number of strokes Players need to work through their normal warm up prior to the assessment. After their warm up, they will make the following chipping shots in the following sequence: [Each stroke’s distance from the target is recorded on the Pre-Assessment Stroke Sheet.]

Example: 1 stroke from 45 feet [mark on the sheet which club is used] 1 stroke from 35 feet 1 from 25 feet 1 from 15 feet 1 from 10 feet. Repead the order and sequence four more times for a total of twenty (20) strokes. Refer to the Chipping Assessment Worksheet for more information. Refer to the previous section for information on the Accuracy Performance Ratio. If you do not want to do the calculations by hand, e-mail Coach and he will send you a Microsoft Excel® Tabulation Sheet that will do the math.

Chipping Objective: chip the

ball onto the green and get it

rolling like a putt as quickly as

possible.


405

Green-Side Chipping Assessment Worksheet [Make a copy of this form for both Pre- and Post-Assessment.]

Player______________________ Assessment Date____________________ ___Pre-Assessment ___Post-Assessment In our calculations, we allow for up to 17 inches past the target (we recommend NOT using a cup) to be counted as a ―0‖ inch miss. Your make your own decision on this factor, only be consistent. How a chipped ball reacts to the green is critical to the success of your shot. Principle: The more spin on a ball, the more difficult it is to control the consistency of the ball‘s reaction to the green. In principle, this means it is much more difficult to control the reaction of a ball to the green with a PW wedge than with a 7-iron. Remember that our chipping objective is to get the ball onto the green and rolling like a putt as quickly as possible. Use the following drill to test this principle in your game. Make all chipping strokes from 18 feet. Round the total distance up or down to the closest ½ foot from the target.

Clubs: 1 2 3 4 5 Ave. Miss:

5-iron

7-iron

PW

60º

Other

Other

Which club was the most consistent? *Remember, pick a spot and hit your spot! ASSESSMENT. Record the Accuracy Performance Ratios. All of the following distances are to a target spot on the green. Round up or down to the closest ½ foot. Use a relatively flat lie for these assessments. Club used___________


10‘

15‘

25‘

35‘

45‘

Club used___________


10‘

15‘

25‘

35‘

45‘


406

PITCHING ASSESSMENT [Copy this page for Pre- and Post-Assessment; use with golfers at all levels.]

Equipment Needed PW and one other wedge. (players can use other irons if they prefer, as long as they use them for both the Pre- and Post-Assessment). Five (5) good golf balls. A 40 yard piece of string or long measuring tape. A practice area or practice green. Be certain to use the same practice area of green, and a spot on the green, for both your Pre-Assessment and Post- Assessment. 5 targets. The Target Do NOT use a golf hole as a target, it distorts the assessment and tends to make players too target oriented. Use a flat object or golf tee that is clearly visable from the distances in the assessment. Note: We work to create strokes where the length of the backswing and follow through control the distance of the shot. Measure the distance of ball flight and record it first. Then measure roll, then the total length record it. How the ball lands on, and reacts to, greens is as, if not more, important than ball flight. Where Pitching Begins In Player A‘s game, his Lob Wedge (59º) full 7:30 rotating finness shot averages a total distance of 21 yards. So practically speaking, any shot short of 21 yards for him becomes a pitch shot. Assessment Spots [These are recommended clubs only, use the clubs that are appropriate for individual players.] Start with a PW from ALL assessment distances. PW from 20 yards to the target. Not to the edge of the green, but to the target. Then a PW From 15 yards to the target; from 10 yards; and finally 5 yards. Number of strokes Players need to work through their normal warm up prior to the assessment. After their warm up, they will make the following chipping shots in the following sequence: [Each stroke’s distance from the target is recorded on the Pre-Assessment Stroke Sheet.]

Example: 1 stroke from 30 yards (mark on the sheet which club is used) 1 stroke from 24 yards 1 stroke from 18 yards 1 from 12 yards 1 from 6 yards Repead the order and sequence five more times. Refer to the Pitching Assessment Worksheet for more information. Refer to the previous section for information on the Accuracy Performance Ratio. If you do not want to do the calculations by hand, e-mail Coach and he will send you a Microsoft Excel® Tabulation Sheet that will do the math.

Pitching Objective: when

practical, pitch the ball onto

the green and get it rolling as a

putt as quickly as possible.


407

Pitching Assessment Worksheet [Make a copy of this form for both Pre- and Post-Assessment.]

List the loft on each of your wedges: PW ____ GW ____ SW ____ LW ____ ASSESSMENT. Record the Accuracy Performance Ratios for each shot. All of the following total distances are to a target spot on the green and measured in yards. Round up or down to the closest ½ yard from the target. PW – Loft____ Remember, pick a spot and hit your spot!


6 yds.

12 yds.

18 yds.

24 yds.

30 yds.

SW – Loft____


6 yds.

12 yds.

18 yds.

24 yds.

30 yds.

Which club are you the more accurate with? _____ The following if for a 4-wedge system, or additional wedges. LW (Lob Wedge) – Loft____


6 yds.

12 yds.

18 yds.

24 yds.

30 yds.

GW (Gap Wedge) – Loft____


6 yds.

12 yds.

18 yds.

24 yds.

30 yds.


408

Rotating Finesse Swing Assessment Worksheet

[Make a copy of this form for both Pre- and Post-Assessment.]

Document the loft on each of your wedges prior to starting the assessment. PW ____ GW ____ SW ____ LW ____ ASSESSMENT. Record the Accuracy Performance Ratios for each shot. All of the following distances are to a target spot on the green and measured in yards. Round up or down to the closest ½ yard. PW – Loft ____

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Avg.

7:30

9:00 9 – 3

10:30

GW – Loft____

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Avg.

7:30

9:00 9 - 3

10:30

SW – Loft____

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Avg.

7:30

9:00 9 – 3

10:30

LW – Loft____

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Avg.

7:30

9:00 9 – 3

10:30

Which club are you the more accurate with? _____


409

Full Swing Assessment Equipment Needed Note: Assess the clubs players will be using most frequently in tournament conditions All golf clubs. For beginners, consider only using a PW, 7-iron, and 5-iron. Several good balls. An accurate way of measuring ball flight, roll, and total distance. Consider using a range finder and a tape measure. Safe and adequate practice area. We prefer to have two helpers; one to measure and call out distances, another to record carry and roll. SAFETY 1st. Do not get anybody hit. The Target Always assess players as they aim and align at a specific target. For longer distances, this will need to be a flag or similar object. Ball flight, roll, and total distance will be measured, so target selection is important. Warming Up Players go through their Warm Up Routine and hit several practice ballls prior to any assessment. In the Assessment, start with the shortest distance first and work out to the longest. Picking up the balls each time. Measure the following shots for ball flight and roll. We prefer to have players make 3 swings with each club, then 3 more, and end with 4 for a total of 10 swings. We measure the results and then repeat the sequence until they have hit ten balls. For beginners: Three PW shots Three 7-iron shots Three long iron shots For intermediate and advanced players: Three PW shots Three 8-iron shots Three 6-iron shots Three long iron shots Three Drivers (or 3-wood if that is the club used in play for driving)


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Full Shot Data Worksheet Make a copy of this form prior to using it. Player______________________ Assessment Date____________________ ___Pre-Assessment ___Post-Assessment *All measurements are in yards. PW full swing (or other wedge_____degree) Is your full swing coil or rotating_________? 1.Ball flight___roll____Total____ 2.Ball flight___roll____Total____ 3.Ball flight___roll____ Total____ 4.Ball flight___roll____Total____ 5.Ball flight___roll____Total____

SW full swing (or other wedge_____degree) Is your full swing coil or rotating_________? 1.Ball flight___roll____Total____ 2.Ball flight___roll____Total____ 3.Ball flight___roll____ Total____ 4.Ball flight___roll____Total____ 5.Ball flight___roll____Total____

Other wedge_____degree) 1.Ball flight___roll____Total____ 2.Ball flight___roll____Total____ 3.Ball flight___roll____ Total____ 4.Ball flight___roll____Total____ 5.Ball flight___roll____Total____ 9-iron full swing 1.Ball flight___roll____Total____ 2.Ball flight___roll____Total____ 3.Ball flight___roll____ Total____ 4.Ball flight___roll____Total____ 5.Ball flight___roll____Total____ 8-iron full swing 1.Ball flight___roll____Total____ 2.Ball flight___roll____Total____ 3.Ball flight___roll____ Total____ 4.Ball flight___roll____Total____ 5.Ball flight___roll____Total____ 7-iron full swing 1.Ball flight___roll____Total____ 2.Ball flight___roll____Total____ 3.Ball flight___roll____ Total____ 4.Ball flight___roll____Total____ 5.Ball flight___roll____Total____ 6-iron full swing 1.Ball flight___roll____Total____ 2.Ball flight___roll____Total____ 3.Ball flight___roll____ Total____ 4.Ball flight___roll____Total____ 5.Ball flight___roll____Total____ 5-iron/or hybrid full swing 1.Ball flight___roll____Total____ 2.Ball flight___roll____Total____ 3.Ball flight___roll____ Total____ 4.Ball flight___roll____Total____ 5.Ball flight___roll____Total____ 4-iron/or hybrid full swing 1.Ball flight___roll____Total____ 2.Ball flight___roll____Total____ 3.Ball flight___roll____ Total____ 4.Ball flight___roll____Total____ 5.Ball flight___roll____Total____ 3-iron/or hybrid full swing (or _____ iron) 1.Ball flight___roll____Total____ 2.Ball flight___roll____Total____ 3.Ball flight___roll____ Total____ 4.Ball flight___roll____Total____ 5.Ball flight___roll____Total____ Other clubs full swing (# _____ iron) 1.Ball flight___roll____Total____ 2.Ball flight___roll____Total____ 3.Ball flight___roll____ Total____ 4.Ball flight___roll____Total____ 5.Ball flight___roll____Total____ Fairway Wood (3 wood) 1.Ball flight___roll____Total____ 2.Ball flight___roll____Total____ 3.Ball flight___roll____ Total____ 4.Ball flight___roll____Total____ 5.Ball flight___roll____Total____ Fairway Wood (5 wood or Other________) 1.Ball flight___roll____Total____ 2.Ball flight___roll____Total____ 3.Ball flight___roll____ Total____ 4.Ball flight___roll____Total____ 5.Ball flight___roll____Total____ Driver 1.Ball flight___roll____Total____ 2.Ball flight___roll____Total____ 3.Ball flight___roll____ Total____ 4.Ball flight___roll____Total____ 5.Ball flight___roll____Total____


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[All golfers are required to have the following information completed and into their coach prior by ___________________________.] *Starting each season, you will only carry a PW and a SW. You must earn the right to carry other wedges by increasing your accuracy ratio.

Shot Management Information Sheet Golfer________________________________ Revision Date______________________

Loft of: 9-iron_____; PW_____; SW_____; GW_____; LW_____ 7:30/PW Distance___yds. Accuracy Ratio____ *The first three are rotating swings, the 9:00/PW Distance___yds. Accuracy Ratio____ final one is with coil, IF you use it. 10:30/PW Distance___yds. Accuracy Ratio____ Coil/PW Distance___yds. Accuracy Ratio____ Do you use coil? __yes __no 7:30/SW Distance___yds. Accuracy Ratio____ Same as above. 9:00/SW Distance___yds. Accuracy Ratio____ 10:30/SW Distance___yds. Accuracy Ratio____ Coil/SW Distance___yds. Accuracy Ratio____ 7:30/9-iron Distance___yds. Accuracy Ratio____ Same as above. 9:00/9-iron Distance___yds. Accuracy Ratio____ 10:30/9-iron Distance___yds. Accuracy Ratio____ Coil/9-iron Distance___yds. Accuracy Ratio____ 8-iron Distance_____ yds. Accur Ratio___ Do you use coil or rotating with your Stinger 8-iron Distance____ full swings? __Coil __Rotating 7-iron Distance_____ yds. Accur Ratio___ __ Both Stinger 7-iron Distance____ 6-iron Distance_____ yds. Accur Ratio___ Stinger 6-iron Distance____ 5-iron Distance_____ yds. Accur Ratio___ *IF you have hybrids, write in the Stinger 5-iron Distance____ hybrid numbers where the iron 4-iron Distance_____ yds. Accur Ratio___ numbers appear. Also add any Stinger 4-iron Distance____ additional woods or clubs. 3-iron Distance_____ yds. Accur Ratio___ Stinger 3-iron Distance____ 2-iron Distance_____ yds. Accur Ratio___ Stinger 2-iron Distance____ 3-W Distance_____ yds. Accur Ratio___ Stinger 3-W Distance____ Driver Distance_____ yds. Accur Ratio___ Stinger Driver Distance____


413

Swing Techniques

It is important for you to physically experience what we will be talking about in the next

paragraph, so get a 3wood right now and observe something firsthand. Position your body

into your normal stance with a normal ball position. Observe the back of your left hand.

With a neutral grip position, you will only see two knuckles on the back of your left hand.

Plus, there will be a slight cup in the back of your left wrist.

Now, for the ―Stinger‖, move the ball about two (2) inches further back in your stance than

normal. This will position your hands slightly forward. Choke down on the grip an inch or

two. This will give the shot additional control and help you create a slight bow (versus a

cup) in the back of your left hand. Make a smooth, full backswing and retain the "y"

created by your arms and shoulders as much as possible throughout the swing. Remember

the bow we just talked about? Well, the shot‘s low trajectory and extra roll are created by

retaining that bow through impact. Yes, the left wrist is firm and curved/bowed toward the

target.

Doc Suttie had an article by the Sr. Mr. Harmon showing where he would teach the

sensation of this shot by having golfers take the club, make a swing, but stop the swing as

quickly as possible after impact. That is because the only way to stop the club head that

soon after impact is by keeping the wrists firm. So, maintain that bowed wrist position

through impact versus allowing the wrists to release through impact. Once you learn to

maintain a bowed impact, the appropriate finish will follow automatically if you allow it to.

There is one more thing that occurs automatically as well. The left elbow will fold down

toward the ground through the follow through. Your upper body will rotate the club head

around to the left, thus producing a low running draw. For Tiger, and for you as well, the

faster his upper body unwinds, the farther the ball travels.

IF your strategy for a Stinger differs from the one in our manual, please document your

process in the space provided. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


414

Self-Management and Data Collection

(getting started)

Length and Dispersion Data Collection

Self-Management

Shot selection, skill evaluation, strategy, statistical analysis, risk versus reward, on-course

decision making, competitive situations and scoring, are all included within the self-

management part of the performance puzzle. We refer to this piece as Self-Management

versus Course Management. Self-management includes knowing the distances of each club

and specific shots, the dispersion left/right from your intended target, i.e. how far you

missed your target, and other pertinent statistical information.

Once you have a good start on knowing club distances and shot statistics, and can

determine the length and type of shots you have on the course, you are on your way toward

improved shot selection and SCORING.

Range Finders. We have a few range finders we can provide, but encourage all

players to purchase one through.

Ball Flight 1st

We recommend initiating statistical analysis with the distance of ball flight. Our

recommendation is that you do only an initial length analysis on the practice range and

continue the statistical analysis under competitive conditions. Some of the instructors we

work with will not even allow golfers to start on the range. They go right to qualifying and

competitive rounds. As a side note, our coaching staff does quite a bit of statistical analysis

of each player‘s game during tournaments and qualifying rounds. Ask your coach to do the

same.

When you have established the distance of ball flight with each club and shot, you

can anticipate the total distance of each shot (ball flight plus roll) once you understand the

conditions of the course and shot at hand. Then, you can begin measuring roll specifically.

During much of our Oregon winter and spring competition and practice, courses are wet

enough that there is no roll.

Into-the-Green Shots. With into-the-green shots, knowing how each shot, and type of shot

reacts to the green, and rolls, is as important, if not more so, than knowing ball flight.

Therefore, once you know the distance and dispersion of into-the-green shots, begin

measuring and tracking the total length of each club and type of shot (distance plus roll).

These calculations include chipping, pitching, finesse style pitching (7:30; 9:00; 10:30), and

all irons into-the-green.

Use the following Data Collection Card to help you determine:

The club you play 200 yds.

The club you play a knock down shot 200 yds. with.


The club you play a knock down shot 150 yds. with.



415

The length of your PW with your 7:30; 9:00; and 10:30 Rotating Finesse Swing. *Note: Once you have established these distances with your 50° to 51° PW, use the same

process with your Sand Wedge (55°-56°), then Gap or Loft Wedge (60°-61°).

The club you play a knock down shot off the tee with and its distance.

The distance and dispersion (right/left of your intended target) of your driver.

The distance and dispersion of your 3W off the tee.

The distance and dispersion of your 5W (or 2H; 3H) off the tee.

*We have written an Excel program to help players record, track, and summarize their

data. Contact Coach Robertson for a copy of the program.

DISTANCE AND DISPERSION DATA COLLECTION Name _____________________ Record ball flight 1

st, then flight and roll.

200 yd. club: _____/_____ _____/_____ _____/_____ _____/_____ _____/_____ _____/_____

200 yd. N/D: _____/_____ _____/_____ _____/_____ _____/_____ _____/_____ _____/_____

150 yd. club: _____/_____ _____/_____ _____/_____ _____/_____ _____/_____ _____/_____

150 yd. N/D: _____/_____ _____/_____ _____/_____ _____/_____ _____/_____ _____/_____

100 yd. club: _____/_____ _____/_____ _____/_____ _____/_____ _____/_____ _____/_____

7:30/PW: _____/_____ _____/_____ _____/_____ _____/_____ _____/_____ _____/_____

9:00/PW: _____/_____ _____/_____ _____/_____ _____/_____ _____/_____ _____/_____

10:30/PW: _____/_____ _____/_____ _____/_____ _____/_____ _____/_____ _____/_____

Off tee N/D: _____/_____ _____/_____ _____/_____ _____/_____ _____/_____ _____/_____

Driver: _____/_____ _____/_____ _____/_____ _____/_____ _____/_____ _____/_____

3W off tee: _____/_____ _____/_____ _____/_____ _____/_____ _____/_____ _____/_____

5W off tee: _____/_____ _____/_____ _____/_____ _____/_____ _____/_____ _____/_____

Comments: _____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

NOTE: The previous Distance and Dispersion Data Sheet does NOT replace the data

accumulation sheet in your manual. We have created this Data Sheet in order to make it

easier for you to use on the course and then record your data later.

DISTANCE AND DISPERSION DATA COLLECTION Name _____________________ Record ball flight 1

st; then flight and roll.

2-iron/H _____/_____ _____/_____ _____/_____ _____/_____ _____/_____ _____/_____

3-iron/H: _____/_____ _____/_____ _____/_____ _____/_____ _____/_____ _____/_____

4-iron/H: _____/_____ _____/_____ _____/_____ _____/_____ _____/_____ _____/_____

5-iron: _____/_____ _____/_____ _____/_____ _____/_____ _____/_____ _____/_____

6-iron: _____/_____ _____/_____ _____/_____ _____/_____ _____/_____ _____/_____

7-iron: _____/_____ _____/_____ _____/_____ _____/_____ _____/_____ _____/_____

8-iron: _____/_____ _____/_____ _____/_____ _____/_____ _____/_____ _____/_____

9-iron: _____/_____ _____/_____ _____/_____ _____/_____ _____/_____ _____/_____

Full Wedges: _____/_____ _____/_____ _____/_____ _____/_____ _____/_____ _____/_____

Finesse W‘s: _____/_____ _____/_____ _____/_____ _____/_____ _____/_____ _____/_____

Pitching: _____/_____ _____/_____ _____/_____ _____/_____ _____/_____ _____/_____

Chipping: _____/_____ _____/_____ _____/_____ _____/_____ _____/_____ _____/_____

Putting: _____/_____ _____/_____ _____/_____ _____/_____ _____/_____ _____/_____

Comments: _____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

2-iron or 2 Hybrid Distance and Dispersion around a target.


416



5-iron information

6-iron information

7-iron information…you get the idea!

Full Wedges. Full swings, or coiling, versus the rotating finesse swing.

Finesse Wedges. Rotating with 10:30; 9:00; and 7:30 system.

Pitching (with any club)

Chipping (with any club)

Putting

Your Swing Distances & Dispersion Here is the 3 X 5 card we want from each player at the start of each season. We will carry each of your cards with us during practice and competition, so the data needs to be accurate and current.

Name__________________ Date_________

Club: Dist.: Disp.: Club: Dist.: Dist: Dist:

(full coil swings) (rotating finesse swings)

Driver _____ _____ 7:30 9:00 10:30

3-W _____ _____ 9-iron ____ ____ ____

3-iron _____ _____ PW ____ ____ ____

4-iron _____ _____ SW ____ ____ ____

5-iron _____ _____ Other ____ ____ ____

6-iron _____ _____ Loft____°

7-iron _____ _____ Other ____ ____ ____

8-iron _____ _____ Loft____°

9-iron _____ _____ Loft _____°

PW _____ _____ Loft _____°

SW _____ _____ Loft _____°


417

Some Tour Statistics Source: Trackman PGA & LPGA

Club: Carry Distance PGA: LPGA:

Driver 269 220

3W 243 195

5W 230 185

HY 225 7W 174

3I 212 --

4I 203 169

5I 194 161

6I 183 152

7I 172 141

8I 160 130

9I 148 119

PW 136 107

Tour Averages

Source: PGA Tour

Driving Accuracy % of fairways hit: 63.52

Tour Leader 7/2010: Omar Uresti 75.76

Greens in Regulation: 65.25

Tour Leader 7/2010: Kevin Sutherland: 71.81

Proximity to Hole: 35‘7‖

Tour Leader 7/2010: Tim Clark: 30‘5‖

Putts per Round: 29.35

Tour Leader 7/2010: Brandt Snedeker: 27.93

PUTTING

According to Dave Pelz (Dave Pelz‘s Short Game Bible, page 29) here is a sample of the

putting conversion figures for professional golfers.

Distance % of Putts Made

3 – 5 feet About 90% to 60%

6 feet 50% *That‘s right, pros only make about 50% of their putts from 6 feet.

10 feet About 20%

15 feet Drops down to about 15%

25 feet About 5%

30 feet Only about 2%


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Accuracy Performance Ratio Figures from Tour Here are some performance figures for five PGA Tour Pros that Dave Pelz tracked (Dave

Pelz‘s Short Game Bible, p. 20)

CLUBS D 3W 1i 2i 3i 4i 5i 6i 7i 8i 9i PW SW P

A 9.2 8.6 7.2 7.8 6.9 7.7 7.9 7.6 7.0 7.7 7.4 16.1 18.1 23.0

B 7.9 7.9 7.4 7.7 7.1 7.0 7.6 8.1 7.4 7.3 7.8 13.8 17.2 25.5

C 8.3 6.8 6.7 7.2 7.0 7.4 6.8 6.8 6.9 7.7 7.1 15.5 19 27.6

C 9.5 8.2 8.6 8.0 8.1 8.5 8.0 8.5 8.5 7.2 8.0 14.9 14.6 31.1

E 5.4 5.7 5.3 6.0 5.2 5.1 5.7 5.5 5.2 5.3 5.6 13.9 21.0 24.4

Pay special attention to the differences in the PW (50°), SW (55°), putter, and driver.


419

DATA COLLECTION SCORECARD Note: For our golfers, there is a form for recording the following information in your Excel files.

Name [PRINT YOUR NAME]__________________ Date_________________

Golf Course: __________________ Did you give 100%? __Yes __No Hole 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 TOTAL

Par __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ _____

Fwy. Hit __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Total___

OB __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Total___

GIR __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Total___

Putts __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Total___

LFP __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Average ____

Chunked__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Total___

Saves __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Total___

Plan/Ex __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Total Ave. Score___

Score __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Total_____ *You MUST sign your card and Coaches MUST be able to read it or your score does NOT count. **Your score MUST be attested or your score does NOT count.

Record your information as you compete. Do NOT wait until the end of the round and

attempt to recall the data; record information as you compete.

Did you give 100% during the entire round? Simple yes or no.

What is Par for that hole.

Fairway: Fairways Hit with tee shots; record a 1 for every fairway you hit, except for par

3s‘.

OB/LB: Out of Bounds or Lost Balls on a hole. Could have more than 1 per hole.

GIR: Greens In Regulation; record a 1 for every green you are on in regulation, including

par 3‘s.

Putts: total number of putts per hole.

LFP: Approximate length of your 1st Putt. Record the approximate length, in

feet, of your 1st putt on every hole. You need to be reading putts from behind the

cup as well as facing it, so pace off your distance as you walk around the hole and

record that distance.

Chunked/Miss-hit: for miss-hit shots other than OB or in a hazard; topped, hit fat, way off

target…you get the point. Could be more than 1 per hole.

Saves: when you get up and down in two in order to save par; record a ―1‖ for a save.

PlanExec: Evaluate how well you created a green-to-tee plan for playing the hole

and how well you executed your plan. Assess yourself from 1 to 5; 5 being best.

*Total your score and post the average.

Score: your score on the hole.

Record information as you compete. Do NOT wait until the end of the round and attempt to

recall the data; record information as you compete. The information you provide will be

used to help design specific preparation and practice sessions for each golfer, so please

provide accurate data.


420

Rotating Finesse Swing Data Collection Form This drill is each player‘s starting point for distance and accuracy data collection with the Rotating Finesse Swing. Beyond your initial data collection, we want accuracy performance data collected in qualifying and tournament events.

Rotating Finesse Swing Only Ensure that you understand and can use the Rotating Finesse Swing we teach, along with the 7:30, 9:00-3:00, 9:00 to parallel, and 10:30 swing positions. *Some golfers may need to work with their coach on the Finesse Swing before starting this assessment. In order to make a comparison between your rotating and coil swings, there is a space on the data collection form for both styles of swings; rotating and coil. Equipment Needed

Clubs: 9-iron and PW for all players, additional wedges as you are allowed to use them by your coach.

10 good balls.

An accurate way of measuring ball flight. We collect ball flight information first, then flight, roll, and total distance. Consider using a range finder and you will need a tape measure.

You need an adequate practice area. You can use a green for collecting both sets of data if you have one. *We recommend you use Mystic Creek and their target greens for data collection.

Your alignment sticks. Never practice without using your alignment sticks and working on perfect alighment.

We prefer to have two helpers for each golfer; one to measure and call out distances, another to record carry, roll, and total distance.

SAFETY 1st. Do not get anybody injured.

Check Club Loft Have the loft of your 9-iron and wedges checked before starting this drill. Starting with your 9-iron, the steps between your clubs needs to be 4° to 5°‘s. Ensure that the lie angles are the same as well.

Clubs Recommended loft Your club’s loft Pelz Distances

9-iron 45° PW; 7:30; 50yds.

PW 50° PW; 9:00; 75yds.

SW 55° /with 13° Bounce PW; 10:30; 100yds.

Lob Wedge 60° His PW is 50°

X-Loft Wedge 64 - 65°

Ball flight distance & trajectory is your 1st measure and the most

important. This is do to the fact that every green you play into

will differ in slope, firmness and roll, plus the position you are

playing from in the fairway always changes.


421

The Target You can use a green for collecting both sets of data. How the ball lands on, and reacts to, the green is as, if not more, important that ball flight. Select an appropriate target on the green. Remember to calculate ball flight 1st, total distance 2nd. Warming Up Always go through your Warm Up Routine and then play several practice ballls prior to any assessment. Measure each shot for ball flight. Work through all of your wedges and 9-iron. Then measure total distance with the same clubs. We prefer to have players make 2 swings with each club or shot being assessed, then 2 more with the next wedge, and end with a total of 10 swings. I.E. make two 7:30 swings, two 9:00-3:00 swings, etc. Track the results and repeat the sequence until 10 shots have been recorded with each club. No raking-and-hitting. To help make the original assessment more valid, use your 6-Step Routine™ with each and every swing. Complete the following:

Calculate the average distance for ten (10) shots on the range; distance 1st.

You can also accumulating distance/accuracy data during competition and using the Accuracy Performance Ratio. ___/___/___ (enter length of shot, how long missed, and calculate the ratio – all in yards)

MAKE A COPY OF THE FOLLOWING TWO PAGES BEFORE USING THEM. KEEP THEM AS A MASTER FOR WHEN YOU NEED ADDITIONAL COPIES. You need a set of these pages for ball flight distance, then for total distance.


422

Data Collection for Rotating Finesse Swing (all in yards); 7:30 Swing. 9-iron/___° 1. ___ 2. ___ 3. ___ 4. ___ 5. ___ 6. ___ 7. ___ 8. ___ 9. ___10.__ Ave._____ 1. ___/___/___ 2. ___/___/___ 3. ___/___/___ 4. ___/___/___ 5. ___/___/___ 6. ___/___/___ 7. ___/___/___ 8. ___/___/___ 9. ___/___/___ 10. ___/___/___ Ave.___ PW/___° 1. ___ 2. ___ 3. ___ 4. ___ 5. ___ 6. ___ 7. ___ 8. ___ 9. ___10.___ Ave._____ 1. ___/___/___ 2. ___/___/___ 3. ___/___/___ 4. ___/___/___ 5. ___/___/___ 6. ___/___/___ 7. ___/___/___ 8. ___/___/___ 9. ___/___/___ 10. ___/___/___ Ave.___ SW/___° 1. ___ 2. ___ 3. ___ 4. ___ 5. ___ 6. ___ 7. ___ 8. ___ 9. ___10.___ Ave._____ 1. ___/___/___ 2. ___/___/___ 3. ___/___/___ 4. ___/___/___ 5. ___/___/___ 6. ___/___/___ 7. ___/___/___ 8. ___/___/___ 9. ___/___/___ 10. ___/___/___ Ave.___ XW___° 1. ___ 2. ___ 3. ___ 4. ___ 5. ___ 6. ___ 7. ___ 8. ___ 9. ___10.___ Ave._____ 1. ___/___/___ 2. ___/___/___ 3. ___/___/___ 4. ___/___/___ 5. ___/___/___ 6. ___/___/___ 7. ___/___/___ 8. ___/___/___ 9. ___/___/___ 10. ___/___/___ Ave.___ Data Collection for Rotating Finesse Swing (all in yards); 9:00 Swing; 9:00-3:00. 9-iron/___° 1. ___ 2. ___ 3. ___ 4. ___ 5. ___ 6. ___ 7. ___ 8. ___ 9. ___10.__ Ave._____ 1. ___/___/___ 2. ___/___/___ 3. ___/___/___ 4. ___/___/___ 5. ___/___/___ 6. ___/___/___ 7. ___/___/___ 8. ___/___/___ 9. ___/___/___ 10. ___/___/___ Ave.___ PW/___° 1. ___ 2. ___ 3. ___ 4. ___ 5. ___ 6. ___ 7. ___ 8. ___ 9. ___10.___ Ave._____ 1. ___/___/___ 2. ___/___/___ 3. ___/___/___ 4. ___/___/___ 5. ___/___/___ 6. ___/___/___ 7. ___/___/___ 8. ___/___/___ 9. ___/___/___ 10. ___/___/___ Ave.___ SW/___° 1. ___ 2. ___ 3. ___ 4. ___ 5. ___ 6. ___ 7. ___ 8. ___ 9. ___10.___ Ave._____ 1. ___/___/___ 2. ___/___/___ 3. ___/___/___ 4. ___/___/___ 5. ___/___/___ 6. ___/___/___ 7. ___/___/___ 8. ___/___/___ 9. ___/___/___ 10. ___/___/___ Ave.___ XW___° 1. ___ 2. ___ 3. ___ 4. ___ 5. ___ 6. ___ 7. ___ 8. ___ 9. ___10.___ Ave._____ 1. ___/___/___ 2. ___/___/___ 3. ___/___/___ 4. ___/___/___ 5. ___/___/___ 6. ___/___/___ 7. ___/___/___ 8. ___/___/___ 9. ___/___/___ 10. ___/___/___ Ave.___ Data Collection for Rotating Finesse Swing (all in yards); 9:00 Swing; 9:00-Parallel 9-iron/___° 1. ___ 2. ___ 3. ___ 4. ___ 5. ___ 6. ___ 7. ___ 8. ___ 9. ___10.__ Ave._____ 1. ___/___/___ 2. ___/___/___ 3. ___/___/___ 4. ___/___/___ 5. ___/___/___ 6. ___/___/___ 7. ___/___/___ 8. ___/___/___ 9. ___/___/___ 10. ___/___/___ Ave.___ PW/___° 1. ___ 2. ___ 3. ___ 4. ___ 5. ___ 6. ___ 7. ___ 8. ___ 9. ___10.___ Ave._____ 1. ___/___/___ 2. ___/___/___ 3. ___/___/___ 4. ___/___/___ 5. ___/___/___ 6. ___/___/___ 7. ___/___/___ 8. ___/___/___ 9. ___/___/___ 10. ___/___/___ Ave.___ SW/___° 1. ___ 2. ___ 3. ___ 4. ___ 5. ___ 6. ___ 7. ___ 8. ___ 9. ___10.___ Ave._____ 1. ___/___/___ 2. ___/___/___ 3. ___/___/___ 4. ___/___/___ 5. ___/___/___ 6. ___/___/___ 7. ___/___/___ 8. ___/___/___ 9. ___/___/___ 10. ___/___/___ Ave.___ XW___° 1. ___ 2. ___ 3. ___ 4. ___ 5. ___ 6. ___ 7. ___ 8. ___ 9. ___10.___ Ave._____ 1. ___/___/___ 2. ___/___/___ 3. ___/___/___ 4. ___/___/___ 5. ___/___/___ 6. ___/___/___ 7. ___/___/___ 8. ___/___/___ 9. ___/___/___ 10. ___/___/___ Ave.___


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Data Collection for Rotating Finesse Swing (all in yards); 10:30 Swing. 9-iron/___° 1. ___ 2. ___ 3. ___ 4. ___ 5. ___ 6. ___ 7. ___ 8. ___ 9. ___10.__ Ave._____ 1. ___/___/___ 2. ___/___/___ 3. ___/___/___ 4. ___/___/___ 5. ___/___/___ 6. ___/___/___ 7. ___/___/___ 8. ___/___/___ 9. ___/___/___ 10. ___/___/___ Ave.___ PW/___° 1. ___ 2. ___ 3. ___ 4. ___ 5. ___ 6. ___ 7. ___ 8. ___ 9. ___10.___ Ave._____ 1. ___/___/___ 2. ___/___/___ 3. ___/___/___ 4. ___/___/___ 5. ___/___/___ 6. ___/___/___ 7. ___/___/___ 8. ___/___/___ 9. ___/___/___ 10. ___/___/___ Ave.___ SW/___° 1. ___ 2. ___ 3. ___ 4. ___ 5. ___ 6. ___ 7. ___ 8. ___ 9. ___10.___ Ave._____ 1. ___/___/___ 2. ___/___/___ 3. ___/___/___ 4. ___/___/___ 5. ___/___/___ 6. ___/___/___ 7. ___/___/___ 8. ___/___/___ 9. ___/___/___ 10. ___/___/___ Ave.___ XW___° 1. ___ 2. ___ 3. ___ 4. ___ 5. ___ 6. ___ 7. ___ 8. ___ 9. ___10.___ Ave._____ 1. ___/___/___ 2. ___/___/___ 3. ___/___/___ 4. ___/___/___ 5. ___/___/___ 6. ___/___/___ 7. ___/___/___ 8. ___/___/___ 9. ___/___/___ 10. ___/___/___ Ave.___ The following is the average of all total distance (ball flight plus roll) data. At the professional level we calculate and track ball flight, roll, and then total distance.

9-iron (45°) 7:30 Rotating 9:00 Rotating 10:30 Rotating Full - Coil

1st 10/range

2nd 10/range

1st 10/compet.*

Comments:

*Use the Accuracy Performance Ratio for all data collection during competition.

PW (50°) 7:30 Rotating 9:00 Rotating 10:30 Rotating Full - Coil

1st 10/range

2nd 10/range

1st 10/compet.*

Pelz Distances 50yds. 75yds. 100yds.


SW (55°) 7:30 Rotating 9:00 Rotating 10:30 Rotating Full - Coil

1st 10/range

2nd 10/range

1st 10/compet.*



60° Wedge 7:30 Rotating 9:00 Rotating 10:30 Rotating Full - Coil

1st 10/range

2nd 10/range

1st 10/compet.*


Pelz 64° Distances: 28 yds. 42yds. 55yds. *Use the Accuracy Performance Ratio for all data collection during competition.


424

Summary Date Sheet for Tournament Play

The Summary Sheet on the next page is to be carried with you in your yardage book, used as

a reference as you make shot selections, and needs to be updated at the end of each

tournament and qualifying round. The Summary Sheet is not a data recording form, it is

your club reference sheet.

Example:

The example below is for your PW and your four rotating finesse swings onto a putting

surface: 7:30 to perpendicular with the ground, 9:00 to 3:00, 9:00 to parallel with the ground

at your finish, and 10:30 to parallel with the ground at your finish.

- 1st get your ball flight (B/F) distance for each swing.

[Get ball flight distances for ALL of your clubs before working on total distances.] - 2

nd, then get your total distance, ball flight plus roll on a green, distance for each swing.

- Then record your average dispersion (in yards) from the right or left of your target.

- And finally, record your average dispersion (in yards) long or short of the target.

Clubs Swing B/F Dist. Total Dist. Disp R/L Disp L/S

PW 7:30

9 – 3

9 – Parall.

10:30


425

Club Swing BF Total D/L-S D/L-R (onto a putting surface for these shots) PW 7:30 ____ ____ ____ ____ Loft ______ (std. is 50°) 9 – 3 ____ ____ ____ ____ 9 – Parl. ____ ____ ____ ____ 10:30 ____ ____ ____ ____ SW 7:30 ____ ____ ____ ____ Loft ______ (std. is 55°) 9 – 3 ____ ____ ____ ____ 9 – Parl. ____ ____ ____ ____ 10:30 ____ ____ ____ ____ LW 7:30 ____ ____ ____ ____ Loft ______ (std. is 60°) 9 – 3 ____ ____ ____ ____ 9 – Parl. ____ ____ ____ ____

10:30 ____ ____ ____ ____ XW 7:30 ____ ____ ____ ____ Loft ______ (std. is 64°) 9 – 3 ____ ____ ____ ____ 9 – Parl. ____ ____ ____ ____

10:30 ____ ____ ____ ____ Full Coil Swings Ball Total Flt. Dist. PW ____ ____ ____ ____ (probably into a green for all wedges) SW ____ ____ ____ ____ GW ____ ____ ____ ____ 9-iron ____ ____ ____ ____ (may or may not be into a green) 8-iron ____ ____ ____ ____ 7-iron ____ ____ ____ ____ 6-iron ____ ____ ____ ____ 5-iron ____ ____ ____ ____ 4-iron ____ ____ ____ ____ 3-iron ____ ____ ____ ____ 2-iron ____ ____ ____ ____ Hybrid ____ ____ ____ ____ 3-Wood ____ ____ ____ ____ Driver ____ ____ ____ ____


426

Goal Assessment and Achievement Worksheet – Example

Be certain to copy these master worksheets prior to using them.

Goal # ___: _____________________________________________________________.

Objectives: ______________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________.


1. _______________________________________________________________________.

2. _______________________________________________________________________.

3. _______________________________________________________________________.

4. _______________________________________________________________________.

5. _______________________________________________________________________.

Milestones:

1. _______________________________________________________________________.

2. _______________________________________________________________________.

3. _______________________________________________________________________.

Other information: __________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________.

Goal # ___: _____________________________________________________________.

Objectives: ______________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________.


1. _______________________________________________________________________.

2. _______________________________________________________________________.

3. _______________________________________________________________________.

4. _______________________________________________________________________.

5. _______________________________________________________________________.

Milestones:

1. _______________________________________________________________________.

2. _______________________________________________________________________.

3. _______________________________________________________________________.


_________________________________________________________________________.


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Goal # ___: _____________________________________________________________.

Objectives: ______________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________.


1. _______________________________________________________________________.

2. _______________________________________________________________________.

3. _______________________________________________________________________.

4. _______________________________________________________________________.

5. _______________________________________________________________________.

Milestones:

1. _______________________________________________________________________.

2. _______________________________________________________________________.

3. _______________________________________________________________________.


_________________________________________________________________________.

Goal # ___: _____________________________________________________________.

Objectives: ______________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________.


1. _______________________________________________________________________.

2. _______________________________________________________________________.

3. _______________________________________________________________________.

4. _______________________________________________________________________.

5. _______________________________________________________________________.

Milestones:

1. _______________________________________________________________________.

2. _______________________________________________________________________.

3. _______________________________________________________________________.


_________________________________________________________________________.


428

Open Page


429


430

ARTICLES

SECTION


431

DECISION MAKING IN THE GAP The Gap

If you were to ask us what one of the more


performance was, our response would be our

human potential to choose, to utilize our

freewill for effective decision making, to play

the game of golf from the gap. You are about to

discover that ―the history of free man is never

written by chance but by choice—their choice.‖

Source: Dwight D. Eisenhower, President of the

United States and military general.

What is the Gap?

Between a stimulus received by the human brain, and the brain‘s response, there is a space

in time for decision making, a gap; a moment in time. Within the gap lies the freedom to

choose and exercise free will.

Example: A golfer hit a very nice approach shot onto the fringe of a green. Through no

fault of his own (the rub of the green), the ball struck a sprinkler head and bounced into a

sand trap to the right of the green. It was decision time in the gap for the golfer. Rather than

choosing a more appropriate response, the golfer reacted with anger and frustration to an

event he basically had no control over. His decision allowed the event to take control of his

emotions. The hole was a par 5, the ball was in the trap in 3, so par was still in the equation.

However, he took par off the table when he allowed his emotions to take over his decision

making and body. With an aggravated swing, the ball flew out of the trap, over the green,

and OB. Now, the player is still in the trap but in 5. Becoming even more agrivated, the

player slams the side of the trap with his SW. Smart move! With the 2 stroke penalty for

grounding his club, he is not playing 7. The ball is finally extricated from the trap and onto

the green in 8. Our hero 3-putts and cards an 11. For loss of his emotions and mind, the

hole was lost. You already know about the remainder of his golf round. We followed him a

few more holes to see if he regained his composure, but he never did. The fight-or-flight

response (refer to fight-or-flight below) had taken control of his mind, body, and golf game.


to ChooseResponse







not be a victim of



432

Why Utilize the Gap?

Q: Why learn about and utilize the gap in your golf game?

A: In learning to utilize the gap, you are learning to be proactive versus reactive. You are

taking control of your own thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. You are basing your

development and golf game on the choices you make and upon sound principles.

Response Able and Proactive. Being response able means you are ready, willing, and able

to take responsibility for the development of your own performance in the classroom and on

the golf course by being proactive. It is the habit of choice. It is based on the principle that

as human beings we are free to choose and to take responsibility for our own choices.

Utilizing the gap affords golfers the freedom to choose how they respond in a variety of

situations on and off the golf course. Here is the key: While you cannot choose how others

act toward you, or how situations unfold on the golf course, you can always choose how

you act in response. One objective of our golf program is training golfers to be proactive

based on sound principles versus being emotionally reactive.

Positive Example: A golfer hit a draw onto the left side of the fairway. With the rub of the

green, the ball struck some hard object and bounced straight left and OB. Utilizing the gap,

the player took a very deep breath, relaxed, and repeated to herself ―what will be will be.‖

She stayed in the moment, took another deep breath, initiated her 6-Step Performance

Routine, executed the next drive, the ball landed safely in the fairway, and she mentally and

physically stayed in the game. For the control of her response, the hole was won.

Not a Product of the Environment

Please note that while animals are NOT capable of thinking in the gap, they do experience

the same fight-or-flight arousal as humans. The power to choose a response to any given

stimulus seperates us from the animals. Our freedom to choose means that we are not

simply products of our genes or our environments. There is another option; becoming a

product of our decisions. Genes and our environment certainly influence us, but we retain

the freedom to choose. We have worked with golfers who genes and upbringing (lack of

nurturing) have diminished their capacities for exercising their ability to choose. However,

far too often, rather than develop the potential they have, they become a function more of

The fight-or-flight response is a form of hyper arousal, or an acute distress response, created

by golfers (and animals) in their reaction to situations they perceive to be threatening or

irritating. Note that the response is created by the golfer, from their assessment of a

situation, and occurs within their nervous system. The response is the golfer‘s sympathetic

nervous system preparing them to flight-or-flight. The response facilitates immediate

physical reactions associated with a preparation for violent muscular action. Once the

response kicks in, the golfer remains in a hyperarousal state until its impact is neutralized,

which can be thirty minutes or longer. Not exactly the mental, physical, or emotional state a

golfer thrives in for executing the golf swing. Here is the important note. Golfers can avoid

the fight-or-flight response by short cutting it, and keeping it from getting started, by

controlling their thoughts and emotions in the gap.


433

their conditions than of their decisions. We coach them on the fact that their capacity to

choose can always be expanded. We model the way for them and supply them with specific

strategies and techniques for expanding their control. However, the individual must be

responsible for taking control of thinking in the gap.

Some are both surprised and defient (or some other negative emotion) when presented with

the fact about their freedom to choose and thus being responsible for their own behavior.

Many players are certainly not very receptive to owning up to their own problems, poor

decisions, and ineffective scoring. These players take great shelther from not living up to

their responsibilities. Their problems are always somebody elses fault. However, with an

understanding of the gap, whether they choose to admit it or not, all of their excuses

evaporate. Which brings us to the next term, Response Able.

Two Words - Response Able

The word responsibility is comprised of two parts, response and able, which is the ability to

respond appropriately and effectively. Highly effective golfers recongize that being

response able is an inside job. They must prepare and stay alert to being ready, willing, and

able to respond appropriately. Response able golfers stop blaming circumstances, course

conditions, and outside factors for their behavior. Their behavior is a product of their

choices, based on values and principles, rather than a product of the conditions. In being

response able, they are pro active versus reactive.

How a golfer responds to weather conditions is a good measuring stick of

proactivity. Proactive golfers carry their own weather with them on the golf course.

Whether it rains or shines makes little difference to them. They decide time and time again

to thrive in all forms of weather. They choose not to allow weather or other conditions to

distract them from practice and performance. Do they adapt their games to the weather?

Certainly, but this uncontrollable force of nature does not control their thoughts, emotions,

or behaviors.

Expanding the Gap

Golfers expand the gap by exercising it through their lives, not simply on the golf course.

Certainly there are things that happen in their lives over which they have little to no control.

But through engaging their willpower and exercising their freedom to choose, they

continually strengthen the ability to cope, to remain pro-active, and to make better choices.

The choice is theirs. The gap is strengthened in much the same way as muscle, through

regular exercise.

Coaching Note. Providing a nurturing environment for the development of golfers is

important and key to your success as a coach. However, do not lose sight of the fact that the

golfer must remain responsible for taking control of thinking in the gap and becoming a

product of their decisions versus your nurturing or their genes.


434

Learning in the Gap

Stimulus example. Executing a golf shot, any shot, contains many stimulus/response

moments.

Gap example. Once a shot is executed, there is an especially important gap in time.

Following every shot there is a great deal of internal and external information available for

golfers to process and learn from.

Response example. When players respond negatively in the gap, or shift to self-talk in any

form, they cut themselves off from the avilable feedback.

From The Short Game Bible by Dave Pelz, page 356.

―As a teacher, a scientist, a physicist, and a player, I believe the Secret of Feedback is at the

top of the list. Because if you don‘t receive, internalize, and benefit from the feedback

provided by your shots—if you don‘t both consciously and subconsciously correlate your

shot results with your actions and learn from your experience—then you will never

improve.‖

Dave is talking about receiving and processing feedback in a quiet, relaxed, state,

which is controlled in the gap. Please highlight the fact that thinking in the gap is a

cognitive skill that over time can develop into a habit.

Golf Practice

Q: How do golfers apply learning in the gap in golf practice?

A: Players cannot hit shot after shot with little to no attention to the associative learning

response and expect to improve their scoring performance. Well, they can expect

improvement, but it will not happen. We have a set of rules for practicing the scoring game.

Here are two rules that apply directly to using the gap.

Practice Routine. Use either our 6-Step Performance Routine or our Abbreviated

Routine with every golf shot. Never rake-and-hit balls, never!

Learn from Feedback. Golfers hold their finish until the ball stops rolling and

continue processing all feedback through their senses as they learn.

Principle Review

Golfers will not learn to control their golf game, or harness their scoring ability, until they

learn to control their own thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. All of your golfers can do

this!

Change Attitudes

To exercise the freedom to choose, the first step is changing the Want To, which is attitude.

Each playes must want to change, to improve, and to take more control of their our

thoughts, emotions, and behaviors before change can occur. Players must Want To make

more decisions in the gap. They must consider it to be an important element of their

Review of the three stages of habituating an effective golf swing: a. Cognitive; b.

Associative; and c. Automaticity.


435

personal and golf life. Coaching Reminder: Remember that change is strictly an inside-out

job, not something we can make them change or change for them. Work to change attitudes

first. Remember that habits are formed at the intersection of skills, knowledge, attitudes,

and execution. Yes, all four elements are necessary to create a new habit or to change an

existing one.

Paradimes

Paradime is a fancy term for how we view the world and situations

within in it. Think of paradimes as the glasses each of us views the

world through, with each pair being unique to the individual.

Consider the following two paradimes:

A. Controlling my thoughts, emotions, and B. My thoughts, emotions, and behavior

behaviors are within my Circel of Control. are outside of my control. That‘s just

Controlling them makes be a better person the way I am!

as well as a better golfer.

Which of the two paradimes do you coach? Which of the two do you prefer your players

view the world through?

Change Vocabulary In coaching players toward gaining more control of themselves, the first thing to help them

change is their vocabulary and modeling the way for them.

Players need to listen to themselves more often and through our ears. We need to listen to

ourselves as coaches more often as well.

Incorrect: Correct:

―Oh ____, did that shot make me mad!‖ ―I allowed that shot to make me mad.‖

―This weather frustrates the ____ out of me!‖ ―I am allowing the weather to frustrate

me and can stop my reaction right

now.‖

―Why do we have to practice in this weather!‖ ―I get to practice in poor weather and

learn from the experience.‖

―Coach Robertson really distracts me!‖ ―I allow Coach to distract me and need

to get past it.‖

Who is the only person who can make your players mad?

Correct, they are the only ones with the power to make

themselves mad. Make certain your players understand

the power they are giving to others, and to the

environment, when they allow those individuals and

elements to make them mad or distract them. Coach

language of control versus language of victimization.

Teaching players to recognize that they are the only one who can make themselves

mad, and help them change their internal self-talk to reflect that truth. Controlling

vocabulary is an important first step.

Coach, and use, language of

control and responsibility

versus language of

victimization and no control.


436

Coaches, be certain to change your vocabulary as well. We hear coaches saying ―I

have to ____‖ all of the time, versus ―I choose to ____.‖ OR, ―Your performance makes

me so mad!‖ Think about it.

Uncontrollable Elements

Another important strategy is helping players sort out the controllable elements in their lives

and golf games from the uncontrollable ones. Once players can differnetiate between

controllable and uncontrollable elements, work with them on stopping the uncontrollable

elements to influence them. Just think of the energy most of your players waste on

uncontrollable elements such as weather, winning, score, course conditions, other players,

bad breaks, etc.

“Grant to us the serenity of mind to accept that which cannot be changed (or controlled –

our addition); courage to change that which can be changed, and wisdom to know the one

from the other…..” From the Serenity Prayer by theologian Reinhold Niebuhr.

Can golfers control the weather? No. So help them prepare for the weather as best you can

and coach them on playing without allowing the weather to distract them. My comment to

players who complain about the weather during a tournament is ―What! Its not raining on

anybody else?‖ Golfers who are honest with themselves soon discover that most of their

problems dealing with conditions such as weather stim from their own lack of preparation---

mentally, emotionally, and physically.

Can players control score? No, score is an outcome, not a controllable element. Can they

control winning? No, winning is another outcome. We control processes, not outcomes.

They cannot control the score the competition will post. What if the next Tiger Woods

shows up?

Can players learn to control their own emotions, thoughts, and behavior? Yes. Can players

control the use of performance routines? Certainly. Can golfers control their reactions to

the events going on around them. Yes again. So, begin today helping them expand their

capacities to think in the gap.

6-Step Performance Routines

We mentioned our performance routine earlier in the article. Within our 6-Step

Performance Routine lies both the structure and the skills necessary for processing more

information, and making more effective decisions, in the gap. Review the steps in our

Routine and you can determine what we mean.

Step 1. Breathing Response (breath control is one of the most powerful mind ↔ body

control techniques)

Step 2. Immediate Poise Response (controlling intensity levels is another critical factor to

golf success)

Step 3. Target Response (a target response includes maintaining focus on the target and off

of one‘s self)

Step 4. Success Response (how players define and visually perceive success is another

performance key)


437

Step 5. Trigger the Blueprint (the ability to create and execute an effective blueprint for the

shot at hand is what peak performance is all about)

Step 6. Feedback & Learning Response (learning and continuous improvement is what golf

performance is all about)

* Whatever routine you use, be certain it facilitates performing in the gap.

The following comment on our routine is from one of our former college golfers--John

Kolls, who is currently the Assistant Golf Professional at the Duke University Golf Club.

―If you don't mind my suggestion, I think you can expand on the ‗routine‘ part of the article.

I discuss this frequently with my students and the fact that amateurs do not spend enough

time practicing their routine. It is all of the information you taught us. ‗How come I can't

hit the ball on the course like I do on the range?‘ Have you heard this one much??? My

answer is simple...are you practicing the same routine on the course as you are on the

range? Of course, their response is always NO. When they understand that on the course

they can be tense, take more time to hit their shot, etc... it's a totally different routine than

the one, or lack of one, they use on the range.‖

We agree with John, but our performance routine information is far too extensive to cover

here. Our routine is, however, an important strategy and technique for helping golfers

habituate the skill of using the gap as part of their pre- and post-shot routine. Players do

not execute the golf swing in the gap. Processing information in the gap is a cognitive

process. Executing the blueprint for a golf swing is best accomplished at the automaticity

(auto pilot) level.

Life Skills

As coaches, we must encourage and train golfers to continue working on the skills,

knowledge, and attitudes we present in practice, outside of practice, and as life skills.

There is simply not enough time to conduct all of the training and teaching that needs to get

done during practice sessions. Also, if the behaviors we are working with golfers on, such

as thinking in the gap, is not reinforced outside of practice, the odds are that much our

practice time will have been wasted. Here is a great example from Coach Daniels that

reinforces the necessity for developing life skills.

―Your article on the gap is spot on and so very true. It is hard to practice this as how

many times in a practice round do you get the bad enough bounce to make you angry

or up against a tree. It takes many such episodes for you to do something different

than what you are use to doing and I have a difficult time having players adjust when

there are such relatively few times to work on such a behavior and make it a part of

your being.‖

From: Jon Daniels, Athletic Director and Head Men‘s Golf Coach, Bethany College.


438

Sleep Walking Through the Gap

How about players who are under-stiumlated as they enter and leave the gap? The ones

who do not use their decision time to its fullest? Here is a great thought from Coach Guyer.

―You are dead-on (about the gap – our addition). We work on this daily. The gap I

deal with more often is ‗laziness to think out the choices‘. Many times a player shoots

155 yards with their laser and pull out a club without thinking about: flag position,

elevation, weather, or anything else. Just rubs me the wrong way. Thanks for your

ideas.‖

From: Gary Guyer, Mercer University, Head Women's Golf Coach.

In Closing

Would you now agree with one of our program objectives: training golfers to be proactive

based on sound principles versus being emotionally reactive?

We realize we cannot convince coaches of golfers of anything. After all, within the gap we

all possess the power to choose. We all have free will. However, if you are not convinced

of the power to choose, or would like additional information on the gap, please refer to

Victor Frankl‘s book Man‘s Search for Meaning. It is a must read on controlling the gap.


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LANGUAGE OF CONTROL Taken from Coach Robertson‘s book, ―Gateway to the Game of GOLF‖

Responsibility The more ownership you take in the development

and maintenance of your own golf game and

LIFE SKILLS program, the more effective that

program, and you, will become. The principle

involved is that individuals have the freedom to

choose and are responsible for their decisions.

In addition to being trainers, we are also mind readers and just heard a student athlete say to

themselves, ―They don‘t know my life! Who‘s kidding who? I‘m not in control of anything

in my life. My parents control me when I‘m home, teachers at school, and coaches in sports.

What do I have control over?‖

Circles of Control Coach: Please get a blank sheet of paper. If you would, draw 3 circles on

the sheet. A very little circle, one a little bit larger, and a very large

one. Now, label the very little circle I Control, label the next one

I Influence, and label the largest circle No Control.

Let‘s discuss the events, people, and conditions on and off the course that would go into

each of the three circles.

Examples:

I Control ―Would you agree that you can control your own outlook for

today‘s practice, including your own optimism?‖ Coach asked.

―Certainly‖, responded the player.

―Ok, write ‗my outlook toward practice‘ in the I Control Circle‖ said

Coach.

I Influence ―Would you say you at least influence the outlook of your teammates and

their optimism?‖ Coach asked.

―No way do I control them, but I probably can influence their

dispositions,‖ the player responded.

―Ok then, write ‗influence my teammates‘ in the I Influence Circle,‖

said Coach.

No Control ―How about the weather outside today. Do you have any control

over today‘s weather?‖ Coach asked.

PRINCIPLE: Individuals

are blessed with the free will

to make decisions and are

responsible for making

choices.


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―None what so ever,‖ the player replied.

―Then, write ‗weather‘ in the No Control Circle,‖ said Coach.

―But, can you prepare for the weather, practice under harsh

conditions, and by doing so not allow weather to throw you off your

game?‖ Coach asked.

―Sure,‖ responded the golfer. ―We proved that at last week‘s

tournament. The rain really started coming down, we were

prepared, our opposition wasn‘t, and their hopes went down the

fairway with the rain.‖

―Well then, which circle would you write ‗preparation‘ in?‖

―The I Control Circle,‖ responded the player.

―Last question,‖ said Coach. ―Would you agree that even with the

elements in your life that you cannot control or influence, you

can always control your reaction to those events?‖

―I‘d want to think about that a little more,‖ responded the player,

―but basically, yes.‖

―So, which circle might thoughts, emotions, and behaviors go into?‖

asked Coach.

―I almost hate to say it,‖ said the player, ―but in the I Control Circle.‖

What goes into each circle for you?

I Control: your thoughts, emotions, behaviors

and more. With training, this can

become a very extensive list for

you. Increasing control over each

of these factors increases self-

confidence and self-control.

You can also gain control of your:

fuel--what you eat;

hydration--what you drink;

concentration-ability to avoid distractions;

coping techniques and your ability to get back on track when

you start getting off (includes controlling thoughts, emotions, and

actions);

your ability to create and execute mental blueprints on auto pilot;

your decision making process;

emotions;

your passion for the game;

your expectations for your competitive performance;

performance routines;

making a smooth swing or stroke; and

many more.

Do not forget that you are in control of processing your putting strokes and full swings on

auto pilot and in the absence of self-talk.

Routines allow you to control the key factors that influence your training and competitive performance, and to take responsibility for those areas of preparation.


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If you could improve one area of Control in your golf game, in school, and one area in your

life, what areas would help you the most?

Golf _____________________________________________________________________

School____________________________________________________________________

Life______________________________________________________________________

I Influence: you are capable of influencing your teammates and perhaps even

the competition. You can also influence:

the thoughts, emotions, and behaviors of your teammates;

can you at least influence your coach (perhaps)?;

the decision making process of others;

the crowd;

friends and family;

the weather--in your own mind.

If you could improve one area of Influence in your golf game, in school, and one area in

your life, what areas would help you the most?

Golf _____________________________________________________________________

School____________________________________________________________________

Life______________________________________________________________________

No Control: the fans, the golf course,

weather, noise levels, the

outcome of a swing or putting

stroke—this can also become

a very long list. How about

winning or losing, which

circle, or circles, do they go into?

You also have no control over:

the lie of the ball;

the expectations of others, including your coach;

the outcome of a swing or stroke;

and how about the ―rub of the green‖; (Think about your ball landing

on a sprinkler head or the cart path.)

or winning a tournament.

What areas of No Control can you STOP worrying about right now?

Golf _____________________________________________________________________

School____________________________________________________________________

Life______________________________________________________________________

You must learn from the outcome of a stroke, swing, or even a tournament, but you

cannot control the outcome.


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Winning is NOT a Controllable Element – Is Losing? An important area of self-control, and in

taking responsibility for your own

performance, is learning to attend to the

elements in your life and golf game that you

can control or at least influence. Winning is not

one of the elements you can control.

You, however, can certainly influence winning with preparation and performance. You can

control your emotions attached to winning as well, but you do NOT control all of the

elements necessary to win a golf tournament.

Working with coaches and players on keeping winning in its proper perspective, and

as an outcome goal, is one of our greatest challenges. However, even having winning as an

outcome goal can be a slippery slope. But when kept in its proper perspective, winning is

certainly an enjoyable and satisfying experience.

Applying the previous three circles to LIFE SKILLS. We may not even have to make

the transition from golf to life skills for you. As a review, let‘s work through a couple of

examples together. Which Circle do you want the important relationships in your life to be

in? Think before you respond, think hard!

Consider developing and maintaining positive relationships throughout your life within your

Circle of Influence. If someone is really a good friend, coach, or mentor, you allow them

into your world and allow them to influence you. On the same hand, they allow you into

their world and allow you to influence them.

If you are a student, which Circle do you want your instructors to be in? This is a

tougher one, so think about it for a minute.

Coach‘s Response: In addition to coaching for many years, when I teach college classes in

applying psychology to sports, I can tell you that students most certainly have an influence

on me, my teaching style, and our interaction. I allow students into my Circle of Influence

when they allow me into theirs. Most students allow me into their Circles of Influence

when I allow them into mine first. I learned early in my career that Control was a short

term, and typically negative, solution to classroom situations.

Winning a golf tournament is NOT a controllable element.

Is losing?


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COACHING Circle of Control - Example Circle: Area of Consideration:

Circle of Control: Controlling one‘s thoughts, emotions, and actions; the processes used

in creating and executing effective blueprints.

Learn these mental control skills; they are within your Circle of Control.

Circle of Influence: Score, shape of shot, etc.

Learn the skills associated with decision making, shot and club selection, etc. They

definitely influence scoring, but do not control it. You cannot control outcomes, but you can

control processes, along with your thoughts and actions toward outcomes. Learn to focus on

processes more than on outcomes.

Circle of No Control: Weather, course conditions, the competition, rub of the green,

coaches, winning, spectators, and the list goes on and on. *Learn to keep these factors in proper perspective, away from influencing you negatively in

the first place, and be certain to learn how to cope with uncontrollable elements when you

start allowing them to impact your performance. All of the mental skills you need are in the

6-Step Performance Routine and The Hourglass.

After this brief article, what are your thoughts and emotions about the amount of control you

have over your own life, competitive golf performance, the choices you make, and your

reaction to those choices?

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________.


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BANDS OF STEEL (Habits & Routines) By James E. “Coach” Robertson From his book “Gateway to the Game of GOLF”

Terms Are Important Terms are important because they prompt images in the brain and images create the programs the brain runs. Habits: we use this term to define specific and repeatable behaviors that are developed to the point of being involuntary. Webster: a behavior pattern acquired by frequent repetition that shows itself in regularity or increased facility of performance. Routines: we use this term to describe a course or series of actions. One of our objectives is developing routines into habits. Webster: a worked out part that may be often repeated.

Bands of Steel “Inherently, each one of us has the substance within to achieve

whatever our goals and dreams define. What is missing from each of us is the training, education, knowledge, and insight to

utilize what we already have.” --Mark Twain

Steps within routines, such as our 6-Step Performance Routine, are similar to small strands of steel. With each contiguous day of perfect practice, you wrap more and more strands together until ultimately those small strands form a steel cable in your golf game that is virtually unbreakable. Habits are formed as the following four elements come together consistently in preparation, play, competition, and throughout life. To form habits effectively, all of the following elements must converge:

SKILLS

KNOWLEDGE

DESIRE

IMPLEMENTATION

Elements of Habits Knowledge—Laws, information, thoughts/cognition, concepts, and strategies connected with preparing for and competing in golf. Knowledge includes the what, where, when, why, and how of playing the game. Example: you know how important the mental skill of playing in the here-and-now is to competitive performance. You are aware of the fact that you can project your mind into the past or the future, but you know that effective golf is played in the present moment in time. Skills—technical, tactical, and mental performance skills used in preparation and competition. Generally, the terms swing skills, techniques, and mechanics are used synonymously. However, we use the terms technical skills or techniques when referring to specific procedures and processes golfers use in the movement of their bodies in the

+Knowledge

+Skill

+Desire

+Implementation

= ‗s Habits


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performance of a task that needs to be accomplished successfully; the golf swing itself. We use the terms tactical skills or tactics when referring to the decisions a player makes in order to increase their competitive performance. We use the term mental performance skills when referring to the cognitive competitive skills players use. We include areas such as self-control under the heading of a mental performance skill since it is under the player‘s control. Example: a player knows how to refocus attention back to the present moment of time and consistently uses mental skills that draw them back into the here-and-now. Footnote on skill and talent Talent without hard work is like planting good seed on a slab of concrete, nothing will grow! Desire – the ―Want to.‖ Attitude. Feelings, emotions, thoughts toward a certain item or topic; a certain mental position or stance; positive/negative/neutral. Both pessimism and optimism toward golf, your golf game, and even specific shots, are forms of attitude. Example: a difficult golf shot really excites me; or a difficult golf shot really scares me. When it comes to golf, are you basically an optimist or a pessimist? _____ When it comes to playing competitively, do you really have the ―want to‖?______ Motivation. The internal drive to accomplish or avoid something or someone. The inward desire to fulfill an unmet need. Motivation can be either a driving or hindering force in your golf game. Example: I have a personal need to excel and accomplish things and that drives me forward in the game of golf. What unmet needs are you looking toward golf to fill? _________________________ ________________________________________________________________________. Paradigms. Paradigms control attitudes, motivation, and behavior. The glasses you view the world through, including golf; your assumptions; the laws/principles/practices that you process your thoughts and decisions through. Example: I believe that the Newtonian Laws of Physics govern the golf swing and I work to develop my swing preferences around those laws. What is a major paradigm that you view the game of golf through? _____________ ________________________________________________________________________. You are typically motivated to the degree you are emotional. Positive emotions are an element of internal motivation and are a driving force in competitive performance. Harmful and negative emotions fall under the heading of de-motivating or restraining forces. Motivating forces tend to be positive, logical, financial, and conscious, which puts them within your control or influence. On the other hand, restraining forces tend to be negative, emotional, social, illogical, and unconscious, which often drives them outside your Circle of Control. Think about that fact for a minute! It is critical for you to understand that you can control your own motivation, and your emotions, which is why we talk about self-motivation. What elements within the game of golf are you truly passionate about, or motivated by? Ans.______________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________.

+


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What about the game of golf are you negative about, or de-motivated by? Ans. _____________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________.

Implementation Implementation takes self-discipline is paying the price to create effective habits. Think of implementation as your investment into an interest bearing savings account. Or if you are a HS golfer, think of implementation as an investment into your college golf scholarship fund that pays great dividends. You cannot make withdrawals from your golf account, or savings account, without first making enough deposits; your investment. Are you truly exercising self-discipline by making the correct investment in your golf game? ________ Nothing happens with all of your talent until you combine it with a secret ingredient, Persistent and Passionate Hard Work. Do not tell the secret to your competitors! Success demands the consistent application of all your talents. Achieving your potential is in the doing, not in the talking. Goals, objectives, and action plans help you direct your persistent hard work so that it does not go to waste. What is your personal investment in your golf account right now?

Routines Conserve Time When some players think in terms of developing effective performance habits, and review the 6-Step Routine and the skills it contains, they think it probably takes too much time to learn and use. Well, that is not true. Routines actually:

conserve time;

happen in the blink of an eye once they become habit;

provide you with a foundation to build upon; and

help you compete with physical poise and mental awareness.

Key point…..Routines are Controllable Routines allow you to control and take personal responsibility for the areas of preparation, rehearsal, and competitive performance that influence the achievement of your goals and objectives.

Routines form the structure

within which your skills are

implemented.


447

Perfect Preparation

Preparation along does not bring about mastery. Only ideal preparation yielding feedback on the correctness of generated responses and processes can create advances towards mastery.

The subconscious mind rules the conscious mind.

Executing an effective putting stroke at the conscious level is too technical and complex to be effective.

The better you habituate a precise routine during preparation, the more you can play on auto pilot under competitive conditions.

It is very ineffective, and down right foolish, not to make the best utilization of your preparation time by developing your 6-Step Performance Routine.

Prepare as you plan on competing and compete as you prepare.

Few things will do more to increase your ability to internalize preparation, and help you transfer what you are learning into competitive performance, than routines.

Window of Vulnerability From: The LAWS of the Golf Swing with Doc Suttie, pp. 4 – 5. ―Research from Johns Hopkins University shows that to learn a new skill, it‘s not enough simply to practice it; after practicing a skill, you have to allow enough time for the brain to encode the information. For about 6 hours after you learn a motor skill – such as the setup, takeaway, etc. – there is a window of vulnerability during which the new skill can be erased from memory if you attempt to learn another skill on top of it. This is why students often get confused and discouraged when learning the game of golf. The problem is not the amount of information you‘re receiving about any one skill or task, but the number of tasks presented all at once. You can absorb a lot of information about the task you‘re learning, but if there isn‘t a sufficient incubation period between tasks, your brain will forget what you learned.‖

Begin developing effective habits right now. What is the 1

st skill, knowledge, or attitude (including routines) will you commit to

developing into a habit – and begin today?

_________________________________________________________________________

What is your primary goal for developing this habit?

_________________________________________________

What is your Action Plan for developing it?

____________________________________ (how long you think it will take)

____________________________________ Step 1.

____________________________________ Step 2.

____________________________________ Step 3.

How will you know when the skill, knowledge, or attitude has been habituated?

_________________________________________________________________________


448

USING STATISTICS – One Viewpoint

One coach tells us that ―Creating a diamond takes consistent pressure over a very long

period of time.‖ We would agree that developing competitive excellence in golf also takes

consistent pressure over a long period of time. However, players and coaches must realize

the fact that only the golfer can place pressure on themselves. All pressure is self-induced.

We view our coaching job as helping players manage that pressure, play within it, and score

better because of it.

We instruct players that they must be Response Able in this area. Meaning that they

must be ready, willing, and able to consistently and accurately record your practice and

competitive round statistics, turn them into the coaching staff on a timely basis, and use the

results we provide to them to help improve their competitive performance.

Course Strategy Worksheet. Course_______________________ Hole #1. Yardage____. Handicap #____.

Your playing and scoring strategy:

Is this a birdie hole for you____. Does the hole set up for your game____.

Hole #2. Yardage____. Handicap #____.
















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Course Strategy Worksheet. Course_______________________ Hole #10. Yardage____. Handicap #____.



















450











451


452

TOURNAMENT TRAVEL LIST [This is an example of a college Travel List…you will want to create your own list.]

Plan on bringing:

- Your golf bag. We may not always have room to take golf carts and we may have to

rend them for you at the tournament.

- One (1) travel bag

- A smaller bag for your computer, books, etc. to keep with you on the van. Do not take

more than you need, space is limited.

- Your own pillow

*Wear the clothing on the van that you plan on practicing in that day.

*Make sure you pack so that you can get to the practice items you need. Pack as much as

you can in your golf bag, but don‘t bulge them.

No more luggage than the items listed above.

Cell phones and other electronic devices (other than range finders)

No electronic devices out on the course or practice range, even in your bag!

Money

All of your meals and golf items are paid for, so you will only need personal money. YOU

CANNOT CHARGE ANY ITEMS at the golf courses where we play, including drinks.

You can, however, purchase items with your own funds.

*Avoid taking large sums of money as hotel rooms and vans are not a safe place to store

items.

Golf Balls

We do not furnish practice balls, so plan accordingly. You can purchase extra balls through

your coach at a wholesale price.

During the tournament, each player receives three (3) balls for each 18-hole round. Coaches

will carry extra balls in case you need them.

Do NOT carry a lot of extra golf balls around with you all day. Only carry three to six extra

good ball for play.

Snacks

It is a good idea to bring your own snacks and something to drink on the van with you.

Personal item kit

Don‘t forget to pack your ―personal item kit‖ with all of the personal items you need.


453

You are expected to have and keep the following items in good working order.

A complete set of clubs in good condition. Clean your clubs before you leave.

Two (2) pair of golf shoes with spikes in good condition. Clean your golf shows

prior to leaving.

Golf gloves are optional.

Two (2) golf towels. Do not take hotel towels.

NEVER use hotel/motel towels for cleaning clubs, shoes, etc.

Wet gloves are optional.

Winter gloves are recommended but optional.

Divot repair tool for greens

Ball marker

Golf tees

Sun block

Water bottle; prefer no plastic

Umbrella (we have enough umbrellas for both travel teams)

Your own current copy of the USGA Rules of Golf

Let us know what we are forgetting?

The List continues.

Your three school golf shirts. Captains will decide which colors to wear on which

tournament days.

Bring an additional shirt to wear after golf matches, especially for wet days.

Bring extra clothing. You can always take clothing off and put it in your golf bag (or

give it to a coach to carry in the cart), but you cannot put extra clothing on if you do

not have it. Most of our morning tee times are pretty cool, then it warms up during

the day.

Wear the clothing down on the van that you plan to practice in that day.

Bring at least four (4) pair of clean sox.

Two (2) pair of golf shoes if you have them.

Most players only bring two changes of clothing. Remember that you will wear your

rain gear for warmth in the mornings and during the day.

Golf cap.

Rain gear; tops and bottoms.

Optional

Range finders. We will furnish as many range finders as our budget will allow, but

borrow one if you need to.

Bug repellant

Lip balm

Bring an extra pair of contacts or glasses if you wear them.


454

TO DO

Make a ―Tournament Travel List‖ of items you need to take along, and things that need to

be done, prior to traveling to tournaments. We recommend that you pack your tournament

equipment and bag at least a day prior to departure. When out on Tour, I always kept a

separate travel bag backed at all times.

If you have any questions on items to take or leave, ask your captain or Coach.


455


456

TIMING IN THE GOLF SWING

Prior to any golf swing training or development, go through the IM session to assess your

timing, tempo, rhythm, balance through motion, and concentration. If any one of these areas

are off in your swing, it will cause major problems. Work with your coach to correct any

timing problems prior to working with your golf swing.

Among the critical performance links in rehearsing and developing a highly effective

golf swing and putting stroke are timing, tempo, rhythm, balance through motion, and

concentration. When any of those factors are out of sink, even at the millisecond level, the

brain computes and variance and does its best to correct it, but is not always successful in

making such precision adjustments. A proven method of assessing and correcting these

important performance factors is the Interactive Metronome™ Program we conduct.

Here is a review of the goals for our IM training program.

improve golf swing timing, which included eye-hand coordination;





execute the blueprint for each golf swing through automaticity;

learn to perform in the here-and-now;

learn from feedback; and,


Computerized Electronic Biofeedback for GOLF The Interactive Metronome® is a specific form of computer

based biofeedback assessment and training designed for

improve timing, tempo, rhythm, balance through motion, and

concentration in the golf swing. It is also used with a wide

range of cognitive and physical difficulties including Attention

Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). As an assessment

and training tool, this computerized protocol provides a non-

invasive way to stimulate learning and development for

golfers.

How the Interactive Metronome™ (IM) Work

The number and duration of training sessions required will vary depending on individual

needs. The development program involves the participant performing thirteen different

hand and foot exercises to a rhythmic beat for a high number of repetitions while auditory

guide tones provide immediate feedback, letting the participant know when their responses

are on time, early, or late. The difference between the participant‘s response and the actual


457

beat is measured in milliseconds and presented as a score. By keeping the beat, the brain is

trained to plan, sequence, and process more effectively. Research has shown that the brain

learns through repetition of precise activities. In turn, this produces measurable gains in

physical and mental abilities.

Benefits The March/April 2001 issue of the American Journal of Occupational Therapy identified

five core areas of statistically significant improvements gained through the IM training

program: Attention and Focus, Motor Control/Coordination, Language Processing, Reading

and Math Fluency, and the Ability to Regulate Aggression/Impulsivity. Other studies have

shown significant correlations between IM and academic achievement in math, language,

reading, and attention to task. The IM program has also proven to be a powerful tool for

improving both the physical and mental aspects of athletic performance. To view these

clinical studies, please visit www.interactivemetronome.com.

Mental control skills learned through repetitive, successful planning and sequencing

experiences appear to be long-lasting. As a result, upon completing IM training, most

trainees find it significantly easier to learn new complex cognitive and physical tasks in all

aspects of life.

Can the IM program be used with all ages and capacity levels?

IM‘s adaptive design can be used with a broad spectrum of golfers as long as they are

developmentally six years of age or older.

Training Commitment

Typically, IM training requires a minimum of 10 – 15 one-hour sessions, conducted over a 3

– 5 week period. The optimum training frequency is 3 to 5 times per week. Training less

than 3 times a week may not produce desired results. The first few training sessions can last

over an hour.

http://www.interactivemetronome.com/


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Interactive Metronome Long-Form Assessment 2 pages. This form is the sole property of Interactive Metronome®.

Student IM Database #__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ ASSESSMENT DATA SHEET

Student_______________________________ Pre-Test Date_______________

Task Pre *ms Interim ms Post ms

1. Both Hands ______ ______ ______

2. Right Hand ______ ______ ______

3. Left Hand ______ ______ ______

4. Both Toes ______ ______ ______

5. Right Toe ______ ______ ______

6. Left Toe ______ ______ ______

7. Both Heels ______ ______ ______

8. Right Heel ______ ______ ______

9. Left Heel ______ ______ ______

10. Right Hand/Left Toe ______ ______ ______

11. Left Hand/Right Toe ______ ______ ______

12. Balance Right Foot ______ ______ ______

13. Balance Left Foot ______ ______ ______

14. Repeat #1 with Guide Sounds ______ ______ ______

*ms this number is a millisecond average of the trainee‘s performance.

Use the assessment data sheet above to determine in which range your performance falls for each of the

fourteen tasks. Ultimately, to attain the greatest benefit from a full IM training program, you will strive for an

overall average of below 20 ms. No matter what your score, the objective is to improve your overall

rating.

MS Score (Scoring ranges for 16 years old to adult)

Under 22 Superior

22 – 29 Exceptional

30 – 40 Above Average

41 - 69 Below Average

70 – 146 Below Average

147 – 199 Severe Deficiency

Burst. A burst occurs each time four (4) trigger hits in-a-row are within 15 milliseconds of the reference tone.

Pre Long Form Battery Calculations

Hands ms average________________ Feet ms average_________________

Overall average__________________ Tendency: Early _____% Late_____%

Lowest ms task average from above_______________

Bursts_____________ IAR (In A Row) High____________

Interim Long Form Battery Calculations Date________________________






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Page 2. Long Form IM Assessment

Post Long Form Battery Calculations Date________________________





COMMENTS

Golfer‘s ability to remain-in-the moment.

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

Golfer‘s ability to control tempo and rhythm automatically (without self-talk).

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

Golfer‘s ability to control the timing of movements.

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________


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TourTempo Training

In the scoring game (greenside game) the tempo is typically 2/1.

Putting. Determine your current frame count. Record and analyze at least three swings.

1. ___/___ 2. ___/___ 3. ___/____

Based on the test frame count, check your the closest rate: __14/7 __16/8 __18/9 __20/10

More test frame counts:

1. ___/___ 2. ___/___ 3. ___/____ 4. ___/___ 5. ___/___ 6. ___/___

Chipping. Determine your current frame count. Record and analyze at least three swings.

1. ___/___ 2. ___/___ 3. ___/____



1. ___/___ 2. ___/___ 3. ___/____ 4. ___/___ 5. ___/___ 6. ___/___

Pitching. Determine your current frame count. Record and analyze at least three swings.

1. ___/___ 2. ___/___ 3. ___/____



1. ___/___ 2. ___/___ 3. ___/____ 4. ___/___ 5. ___/___ 6. ___/___

Sand Shots. Determine your current frame count. Record and analyze at least three swings.

1. ___/___ 2. ___/___ 3. ___/____

*Some golfers prefer a 3/1 ratio with sand play, while others prefer 2/1. Determine what

works best for you.

Based on the test frame count, check your the closest rate: ___14/7 ___16/8 ___18/9

___20/10

OR…___18/6 ___21/7 ___24/8

___27/9


1. ___/___ 2. ___/___ 3. ___/____ 4. ___/___ 5. ___/___ 6. ___/___


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Determine your full swing frame count. Record and analyze at least three swings.

With the full swing, the tempo is typically 3/1.

PW or 9-iron. Determine your current frame count. Record and analyze at least three

swings.

1. ___/___ 2. ___/___ 3. ___/____


___27/9


1. ___/___ 2. ___/___ 3. ___/____ 4. ___/___ 5. ___/___ 6. ___/___

7- or 5-iron. Determine your current frame count. Record and analyze at least three

swings.

1. ___/___ 2. ___/___ 3. ___/____


___27/9


1. ___/___ 2. ___/___ 3. ___/____ 4. ___/___ 5. ___/___ 6. ___/___

3W or Driver. Determine your current frame count. Record and analyze at least three

swings.

1. ___/___ 2. ___/___ 3. ___/____


___27/9


1. ___/___ 2. ___/___ 3. ___/____ 4. ___/___ 5. ___/___ 6. ___/___

Resource: Tour Tempo by John Novesel with John Garrity.


462

Timing notes and comments.

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

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RATE YOURSELF AS A LEARNER

Your abilities as an effective learner will, in large

measure, determine your success in this game.

Your ability to learn skills, knowledge, and

attitudes, and incorporate them into competitive

performance, is more critical to your success in

golf than are the skills and abilities of your instructors. You are responsible for your own

learning!

Scholar Athlete Qualities ―How to a become a more effective learner‖ First and foremost, you must take responsibility for your own learning and the

implementation of that learning. You are responsible.

Second, you must become the programmer. You cannot allow others to write the scripts you

will learn from. Just like writing a computer program for a laptop, you must write the

program for your mind.

Third, you must ―Begin With the End in Mind.‖ What is the objective of your learning?

What are your goals and objectives? Where do you plan on your learning to take you? How

do you define success in golf and in life? What is the End In Mind for your learning?

Where there a will, there is a way. Perhaps the most important underlying factor to

effective learning is desire. You must be motivated to learn and motivation must be internal.

You must be curious and work to satisfy that curiosity. The number one reason players do

not learn enough about the game of golf, and become accomplished in it, is their own lack of

desire.

Use it or lose it. One way to be an effective learner is to keep learning. According to Dr.

Draganski, people who learned new motor skills (such as the golf swing) increased the

amount of gray matter in their occipital lobes, the area of the brain associated with visual

memory. When those individuals stopped practicing their new skill, the new gray matter

diminished. Go figure! Use it or lose it. The moral of the story, keep learning and refining

a new skill, such as the golf swing. Never stop learning; become a life-longer.

You are responsible for your

own learning. You are the

programmer, so start writing

the program!


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WARNING LABEL: This data does not mean that you are constantly changing your swing

models and approach to the game. It means you are enhancing that model, enriching it, and

continually working on its implementation.

Source: Draganski, B., (2004). Neuroplacisticity: Changes in grey matter induced by train

ing. Nature, 427(22), 311-312.

Form Habits. Habits are formed at the intersection of skills, knowledge, attitudes, and

implementation. All four elements are required to create habits. A key to life-long learning

is the development of key habit patterns.

WARNING LABEL: Again, life-long does not mean that you are constantly changing

established habit patterns. It means you are continually enhancing, enriching, and using

them.

Learn in Multiple Way. According to Judy Willis, ―The more regions of the brain that

store data about a particular subject, the more interconnection there is. This redundancy

means that students (and golfers) will have more opportunities to pull up all of those related

bits of data from their multiple storage areas in response to a single cue. This cross-

referencing of data means we have learned, rather than just memorized.‖ Source: J. Willis.

Brain based teaching strategies. Review of Research. Childhood Education, 83(5), 2008,

31-316.

Multiple ways of learning the golf swing include kinesthetic, olfactory, and

visualization. Rule #1. Visually practicing the golf swing can be as effective, if not more so,

than physical practice. Rule #2. Motor skills visually practiced for a few minutes at night,

just before sleep, tend to be remembered. Rule #3. It takes skills, knowledge, attitudes, and

implementation to really learn and habituate the golf swing.

Teach Others. Great coaches have known this fact for a long time, to really learn

something, teach it to others. Our golf teams have learned this from first-hand experience.

Step one is take the information from this manual and converting it into your own words and

thoughts. This process along helps solidify the new knowledge in your brain. HOWEVER,

one of our rules is to never teach other players on your own golf team. There can be

exceptions to this rule when your coach is guiding the process.

Link New Information to Old Information. In becoming a life-long learner, continue the

process of linking new information to old information. This includes continually reinforcing

old information. Example: my favorite golf book is Dave Pelz‘s Short Game Bible. My

schedule includes re-reading Dave‘s book every single year. I have been doing this for

several years. I am always surprised with how much new information I learn every time I

re-read it. My favorite relationship development book is Stephen Covey‘s 7 Habits of

Highly Effective People. His is another resource that I re-read every single year. Consider

setting up a reading library of resources that you re-read on a regular basis.

Improve Memory Skills. There is no end of techniques to help improve your memory such

as avoiding cram sessions, structuring your study time, improving your concentration and

focus, but much more can be learned on your part. Use keywords ―best ways to improve

memory‖ and find some new techniques that work for you.


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Learning article continued

Additional work is being done on this article.


466

What Every Golfer Needs to Know About

Vision and Their Visual System

[Pardon the construction. This section is still being

developed.]


467

PYRAMID OF SUCCESS

Adapted from Coach John Wooden‘s Pyramid of Success. Source: John Wooden, Wooden

on Leadership, a McGraw-Hill Publication, 2005, Introduction page.

Review the Pyramid with your coach or read more about it in Coach Wooden‘s

Leadership book.

Industriousness

Work Hard.

Worthwhile things

come only through

hard work.

Channeling the

power.

Be Response Able

Character, living by sound

principles and values.

“Begin With the End in Mind”

Enthusiasm

Passion. You must

truly enjoy what you

are doing. Love the

Journey. The power

in you.

Friendship

Mutual esteem,

camaraderie, and

respect create great

bonds of strength.

Loyalty

To yourself and to all

those depending

upon you.

Cooperation

Be interested in

finding the best way,

not in having your

own way. Coachable.

Self-Control

Practice self-

discipline and keep

emotions, thoughts,

and behaviors under

control.

Initiative

The fuel for

accomplishment.

Summon courage to

make a decision to

take action and

responsibility.

Alertness

Be observant and

eager to learn and

improve.

Intentness

Control and direction

of mental force. Stay

the course. Focus on

the objective with

steely resolve.

Skill/Tallent

Be able to execute

all aspects of your

role. Be a life-long

learner.

Self-Control

Practice self-

discipline and keep

emotions, thoughts,

and behaviors under

control.

Condition

Mental - Spiritual -

Physical.

Moderation must be

practiced.

Poise

Stay calm under fire.

Avoid pretense or

posturing.

Confidence

Proper preparation

creates the right kind

of confidence.

Competitive

Greatness

Be at your best when

your best is needed.

Love the hard

battles.

SUCCESS

This foundation of

elements must be

present or nothing

of value will be

accomplished.

They power all that

follows.

Pa

tie

nc

e

Fa

ithFaith and Patience are

the mortar holding the

pyramid together.

Personal qualities, including working with

others, being the programmer, keeping first

things first, and sharpening the saw.

Bedrock. Balanced Wellness: mental, physical, spiritual, and financial. Sharpening the Saw; daily renewal.


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Your Golf Bookshelf - References

We realize there are multiple resources and reference books for each of the major golf

performance categories listed below. Our goal with the Bookshelf is not to provide a

complete reference guide, but rather to offer one or two suggestions within each category.

These are the primary texts we use in our own programs and think they might be beneficial

to you as well.

Nutrition

Sports Nutrition Guidebook, 4th

Edition by Nancy Clark. Human Kinetics 2008.

Swing Techniques or technical skills

The LAWS of the Golf Swing by Adams, Tomasi, and Suttie, Harper Collins, 1998.

Your Perfect Swing by Doc Jim Suttie, with contributions and editing by James E. ―Coach‖

Robertson, Human Kinetics, 2006.

Timing & Tempo

Tour Tempo- Golf‘s Last Secret Finally Revealed by John Novesel with John Garrity,

Doubleday Publishing, New York, 2004.

Tour Tempo 2 – The Short Game & Beyond by John Novosel with John Garrity, Printed in

the United States, 2011.

Conditioning

Complete Conditioning for GOLF by Pete Draovitch and Ralph Simpson, Human Kinetics,

2007.

The Mind‘s Side of Golf – Performance Psychology

Gateway to the Game of GOLF by James E. ―Coach‖ Robertson, self-published, 2010.

Gifts From Eykis by Dr. Wayne Dyer, Simon and Schuster, NY, 1983.

With Winning in Mind by Lanny Bassham, Published by Lanny Bassham, USA, 2001.

Successful Coaching

Successful Coaching, 3rd

Edition by Rainer Martens, Human Kinetics, 2004.

The Encyclopedia of Successful GOLF Coaching by James E. Robertson, 2013.

The Scoring Game

Short Game Bible by Dave Pelz, Broadway Books, 1999.

Teaching HS or College Golf

If you are considering teaching a golf class, here is a text we recommend you consider.

Golf: Steps to Success by Paul Schempp and Peter Mattsson, Human Kinetics, 2005.


469

Life Skills

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens by Sean Covey or The 7 Habits of Highly Effective

People, Simon and Schuster, 1989.

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Dr. Stephen R. Covey, Simon and Schuster,

1989.


470

Additional References Applied Sport Management Skills, by Robert Lussier and David Kimball. Published by

Human Kinetics, 2009.

Applying Sport Psychology. Edited by Taylor and Wilson. Published by Human

Kinetics, 2005.

Contemporary Sport Management. Edited by Pedersen, Parks, Quarterman, and

Thibault. Published by Human Kinetics, 2011.

Golf in the Kingdom, by Michael Murphy,

Handbook of Sport Psychology, 2nd

Edition. Edited by Singer, Hausenblas, and Janelle.

Published by John Wiley & Sons, 2001.

The Team Captain‘s Leadership Manual by Jeff Janssen. Published by Winning the

Mental Game, 2007.

The Ultimate Coach: What Great Coaches Get Right by Bo J. Hanson. Published by

AthleteAssessments.com, 2010.


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Terms are Important [Revised 8/1/2014]

DEFINITION OF TERMS achieve, leave, tie in. Similar to the LAWS™ phrase of achieve and then leave – know what you plan on accomplishing during each practice session, and when you do, stop practicing that element and tie it back into your entire golf game. Refer to graduation: know what you want to accomplish in your game and when you have done that, graduate to the next level of performance. aim and alignment. Aim the club face, align your body. attention. For the purposes of our training, attention refers to what objects, thoughts, or specific senses you are attending to; the object of your focus. Example. With a wide focus in putting, you are attending to the target, which is the cup, and the relevant conditions of the green. When you are narrowly focused on a specific target, you are attending to that target, the target has your attention. Your intent is the ball flight you intend to produce. automaticity. The increased automatiziation of movement in the golf swing that enables the golfer to produce movement with very little cognitive involvement; executing the golf swing on auto pilot; or as elite golfers say, ―just let it happen.‖ axis. A straight line through a pivot point. ball flight as survent. With far too many golfers, the last ball flight conditions the next swing. Ineffective learning concept. Learn from ball flight, but it is only one element in playing and learning the game. Keep ball flight as the survent, not the master of your golf game. balance through motion. Static balance refers to maintaining your balance while in a set position, such as the setup for your golf swing. Dynamic balance is the maintenance of balance through a sequence. Dynamic balance is a higher level skill than static balance, however, both are important in your golf game. binocular vision. Vision in which both eyes are used. Within our 6-Step Routine, viewing the target and ball path or flight from behind the ball with both eyes (which is binocular vision) is a foundational technique. biomechanics. The application of laws and principles to the golf swing; levers, sources of power in the swing, etc. Did you know that Aristotle (Greek philosopher, 384 BC – 32 BC) wrote the 1st book on biomechanics? Did you also know that while some of his principles were later replaced by Newtonian Physics, in his work he pursued questions such as the physiological difference between imaging performing an action and actually performing it? A question we are still contemplating today. bounce. Bounce, or bounce angle, is measured in degrees and is the angle from the front edge of a club's sole to the point that rests on the ground when the club is at address. Bounce is typically discussed with wedges, but applies to all clubs, especially with hybrids. The middle or rear of many club‘s soles is lower than the front edge. The angle can range from below zero degrees to 10-12 degrees for sand wedges. A higher bounce angle helps keep the face of the club from digging too deeply into sand or turf. The amount of bounce a club need depends on the conditions you are playing in. If you play courses with soft, fluffy sand, you will need more bounce. If the courses you play typically have harder sand, you need less bounce. When playing from fairways less bounce is required. Consult your local professional on the bounce all of your clubs need.


472

blending. The arms go up and sown, the body goes around, blend the two elements and do do not allow them to get into each others‘ role in the golf swing. bursts. Peaks of shaft bending during the downswing. casting and forging. Cast clubheads are formed by metal poured into a mold, while forged clubheads are pressed into shape, creating more consistent, lighter, stronger clubheads. Forging is more expensive so expect to pay more. cause and effect. The Law of Causality refers to an established relationship between one event (a cause) and a subsequent event (an effect) which is a direct outcome or result of the cause. Causality helps explain why specific golf results occur. Example: The ball slices (effect) to the right because the club face is open (cause) at impact. course slope. (the simplified answer) A number indicating the difficulty of a golf course to a bogey golfer versus a scratch golfer, which is used in calculating handicaps. It is a 2- or 3-digit number between 55 and 155, with 113 being the average value. Slope values increase with the difficulty of the course. There is one Course Slope for each Course Rating. When the blue tees have a slope rating 123, it means they are that much more difficult than the average 113 rating. The USGA is the ultimate source in calculating course slope. See Course Rating below. Slope is actually not a measure of a course‘s difficulty. That is the Rating figure. Slope is a measure of how much difference a course‘s difficulty is for the average bogey golfer compared to the scratch golfer. course rating. A number indicating the difficulty of a golf course to a ―par golfer‖ which is used in calculating handicaps. Example: When a golf course with a par 72 has a Course Rating of 71 from a specific set of tees, that means the course is more difficult from those tees. The USGA is the ultimate source in calculating course ratings. See Course Slope above. coil. A ratio, such as 2:1, where the shoulders turn more than the hips. concentration. A critical factor in performing in the flow of the game and in reaching peak levels of performance. The mental ability to remain on task. In reference to the golf swing, concentration is being able to create and execute a mental blueprint without interruption. In Interactive Metronome™ terms, concentration is the length of time an individual can remain on task with percision as measured by your number of IAR (in a row) responses—the IAR goal is 12. deliberate preparation. Enthusiastic work that includes: 1. Practice of a well-defined task that is challenging to the golfer; 2. relevant and immediate feedback; 3. full attention (in-the-moment) and intent; 4. the opportunity for repetition, learning from feedback, and error correction (which includes Step 6 of our Performance Routine), 5. enthusiastic hard work, 6. organization and execution around priorities on a regular basis, and 7. Stretching yourself beyond what you can currently do – continuous improvement. The components of deliberate preparation include the total number of hours invested in preparing correctly, with the correct process, the presence of effort, determination, and concentration (attention and intent). Up to 10 years of deliberate preparation can be required for an individual to achieve mastery in a specific area or sport. depth perception. The ability to judge distances of stationary objects and the speed and direction of objects through time and space. efficacy. Efficacy in golf is different from self-confidence. Efficacy is a noun that refers to the capacity something, such as the golf swing, has for producing a desired outcome or effect; effectiveness. What is the efficacy of your golf swing? Said another way, what is the effectiveness of your golfer swing? The term is different from believing in your own ability to execute your golf swing. It is the belief you have in the swing itself. efficiency and effectiveness. With efficiency, the emphasis is on doing things quickly, i.e. getting the most amount of work done in the least amount of time or generating maximum club head speed. With effectiveness, the emphasis is on doing the right things correctly,


473

conserving energy and resources, and protecting the source of productivity, which in this case if you, the golfer. engagement. Being totally absorbed in the task-at-hand, being in-the-moment to the extent of losing your sense of time, self, place, temperature, competition, etc. Flow includes a state of full engatement. See flow below. failure. Failure is giving up. Failure is quitting. Failure is not losing. Failure is not picking yourself up once you have fallen short of the mark, learning from the experience, and moving forward. feed forward. A mental technique or process in which information is sent ahead in time to prepare a part of a control system for future action or to prepare the system to receive a

particular kind of feedback. Feed-forward control processes are important in the control of

movement by the central nervous system. flow. Playing in the flow of the game is one of our program‘s major objectives. Being in the flow of the game is similar to, but not the same as peak performance. Flow relates directly to mental engagement. Following flow, but not during it, is a sense of gratification of doing something well, such as playing the true game of golf. forging and casting. Cast clubheads are formed by metal poured into a mold, while forged clubheads are pressed into shape, creating more consistent, lighter, stronger clubheads. Forging is more expensive so expect to pay more. four dimensions for LAWs Model: height (over you); width (away from you); depth (behind you); and time (how long you spend in each dimension.) gap. Between a stimulus received by the human brain, and the brain‘s response, there is a space in time for human decision making, a gap. Within that gap lies the freedom to choose; free will. greenskeeper – personal. Your personal means, your personal greenskeeper, for insulating your golf game from the viruses and pests, that once inside you‘re your mind, will destroy your golf game. You MUST become your own greenskeeper. hand speed. The distance the hands travel in time; the farther the hands move from address, the slower they are. graduation. Know what you want to accomplish in your game and when you have done that, graduate to the next level of performance. Similar to the LAWS™ phrase of achieve and then leave – know what you plan on accomplishing during each practice session,and when you do, stop practicing that element and tie it back into your entire golf game. grip. The purpose of the grip is to guarantee control of the club without inducing tension. When the hands are applied correctly, no manipulations are necessary to return the club face square at impact, nor is there need to attempt to consciously use the writst. For a variety of reasons, we prefer to use the terms ―hold” or ―connection with the club” when referring to how players connect their hands to the golf club. hope. Hope is an emotional state which can promote the belief in a positive outcome related to events and circumstances in one‘s life and golf game. However, hope by itself lacks sufficient specificity to accomplish specific performance objectives. A specific action plan that is fueled by hope, and directed toward accomplishing a realistic goal or objective, helps create a formula for success. intent. Mental intent or purpose is a factor in determining physical motion, such as in a putting stroke. When you toss one ball toward a golf hole, and role a second one, your intent will, for the most part, shape your tossing motion. Your two different motions will occur without conscious thought. Concentrating on the intent of a stroke—the final result and roll of the ball from, and back to, a target—can produce an effective stroke.

http://www.answers.com/topic/feedback

http://www.answers.com/topic/feedforward-control


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internal, or intrinsic, motivation. Generally, internal motivation is more effective in helping to reach golf goals than is external motivation. When internally motivated, a player:is curious, i.e. a student of the game, always learning;

stimulated or excited by the task at hand;

gains a sense of competence from completing the task at hand, such as practice, preparation, learning, performance, etc.;

perceives the task as being free from external controls or demands; and

feels as if they are at play, not at work, fun versus drudgery. kineanthropometry. Focuses solely on the measurement of size, shape, proportion, composition, maturation, and gross function as related to such things as growth, exercise, performance, and nutrition. kinesthesia. the perception or consciousness of one‘s own muscular movements through time and space. LAWS™. Refers to the Leverage, Arc, and Width golf styles in Doc Suttie‘s book, The LAWS of the Golf Swing. load. Force on the shaft causing it to bow. losing. Losing is missing the mark in giving everything to a cause greater than your own self and falling short of becoming the very best you are capable of being. lag. It is a golf term used to describe the phenomenon where the club head is lagging behind the hands throughout the downswing. The hands lead the club head throughout the downswing and that only passes the hands after impact. mechanics. Refer to the biomechanics within the golf swing such as coil, rotation, etc. mental toughness. Mental toughness is a learned state, versus an inherited trait that cannot be changed. It is, however, a mental state that ebbs and flows. Mental toughness includes elements of focus, abstract thinking, emotional stability, dominance, confidence, self-sufficiency, and optimal arousal. nine (9) senses. The nine senses include sight, hearing, taste, touch, smell, balance (both static and dynamic), proprioception, visceral, and timing. paradigm. In a training file we used, Joel Baker defined paradigms as a set of rules and regulations, written or unwritten, that accomplishes two things: establishes or defines boundaries and describes how to behave inside the boundaries in order to be successful. peak performance. There is considerable variation in sport performance regarding the definition of peak performance. Most definitions include the terms provided by Kimiecik and Johnson when they referred to peak performance in athletics as a ―release of latent powers to perform optimally within a specific competition‖ (Kimiecik and Johnson, p.503). Within our programs, we use the term continuous improvement more than peak performance. Our use of continually enhancing performance also focuses on results, on a golfer‘s high level of functioning, the act of performing up to one‘s capacity, and achieving desired outcomes. We do not factor winning in our definition of performance as winning is outside your Circle of Control. peeling off. At the end of the takeaway, the three types move to their respective dimensions. The arc player sets the club up; the width style continues to push it away; and the leverage player sets the club head behind her.

pivot point. A center of rotation. practice. Practice only makes permanent. Mastery demands deliberate practice; refer to deliberate practice above.

preparation. Preparation includes activities that are related specifically to preparing for competitive performance. We do not refer to our pre-tournament golf rounds as practice, but rather as preparation rounds. We are preparing to compete on that


475

particular golf course, not practicing our games. We are learning the course, preparing our game plans, etc. process. “Process transforms any journey into a series of small steps, taken 1 by 1, to reach any goal or objectives. Process transcends time, teaches patience, rests on a solid foundation of careful preparation, and embodies trust in our unfolding potential. Source: Dan Millman‘s 3rd Law, The Law of Process, p. 25. poise. a state of balance or equilibrium; self-confident manner or bearing; composure; ready or prepared to act. propriocepion. The sense of where your body is in time and space. Close your eyes and clap your hands. Your ability to sense where your hands are with your eyes closed, and clap, is proprioception at work. Set up to a golf ball on a tee with a 7-iron. Close your eyes and execute a swing through the ball. Your ability to swing through the ball precisely is proprioception at work. reasoning. An extremely complex, highly emotional, not necessarily logical, process consisting of awkward trial-and-error procedures illuminated by sudden, and sometimes apparently irrelevant, flashes of insight. relax. To make less tense, rigid, or firm. rhythm. Movement with uniform or patterned recurrence. Measured movement. The regular recurrence of related elements in the progression of the golf swing. Rhythm in movement has been described as the correct proportions, and the balanced relathionships, between the factors of space, time, and energy. shaft plane. The lie angle of the shaft at address. Skype. A free computer-to-computer communication system which we prefer because we can see players and they can see us. Skype has other communication features as well, such as video conferencing, computer-to-phone services, and more. stimpmeter. A device used to measure the speed of golf greens by applying a known force to a golf ball and measuring the distance traveled in feet. swing plane. Needs to be swing-plane angle. The angle at which the club moves during the swing. Leverage players swing on the plane angle; width and arc players deplane and then replane near impact. state vs. trait. Traits are characteristics that are relatively constant over time, whereas states are characteristics that tend to vary over time. Traits are typically linked to properties of the brain as well as to genetic factors, whereas states are more closely linked to internal and external events and an individual‘s perception and reaction to those events and conditions. stereoscopic vision. Three-dimensional vision, which incorporates depth perception, is referred to as stereoscopic vision, and is a foundational visual ability in the game of golf. When is the last time you had your depth perception, eye tracking, eye teaming, etc. checked? success. An individual‘s definition of success is critical to the success or failure they achieve in life and within the game of golf. We define true success as only coming to individuals through the self-satisfaction of knowing they are giving everything to a cause greater than their own self and through becoming the very best they are capable of being. swing slot. A position in the golfer‘s set up where the shoulders have dropped down into a consistent position that is poised and able to transfer power through the swing without interruption. The shoulders are poised, ready, and able to move freely as they help the body create force.


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swing weight. In general terms, swing weight is a measure of how the weight of the club feels when a player swings it. When clubs are not matched in swing weight, those clubs will not feel the same weight to players during the swing. ―Swing weight is a balance measurement and is the degree to which the club balances toward the head. If club #1 has a balance point closer to the club head than club #2, then Club #1 will feel heavier in the swing to the golfer. Swing weight, and the weight of the club, are not the same thing. Club weight is expressed in grams. Swing weight is expressed on a scale from A0 to G10, with G10 being the heaviest. These measures are taken with a swing weight scale. Imagine adding a piece of led tape to your 7-iron. No matter where on the club you place the weight, its total weight is the same. Now imagine placing that added weight on the back of the clubface. Swing the club. More the weight to the very top of the shaft and swing the club again. The weight, or swing weight, will feel quite different. takeaway. First part of the swing that ends in peeling off. target focus. One‘s mental focus on the target at hand. Always focus on a specific target. In practice or play, always approach the ball from behind it; meaning the ball is between you and a target. Select your target, or target spot, and studying ball flight (or roll when putting, chipping, etc.) from your target and from behind the ball. First, visualize the ball‘s flight path coming back for the target. Second, visualize the ball‘s flight back to the target. Remember the principle: the target hits you first. Remain target focused vs. focused on yourself. Most players establish path 1st and then a sense of distance. Focus on your intent for the stroke. Note: Intent relates to the shape of your shot, trajectory, coming back from your target, etc. technique vs. mechanical. We use the terms technical skills or techniques when referring to specific procedures and processes golfers use in the movement of their bodies in the performance of a task that needs to be accomplished successfully; the golf swing itself. We use the terms tactical skills or tactics when referring to the decisions players make in order to increase their competitive performance. We use the phrase mental performance skills when referring to the cognitive skills players use in the successful creation and execution of techniques and tactics. We do refer to the mechanical power factors within a golf swing such as coiling, rotating, etc. tempo. The rate or speed of movements through a sequence. Tempo relates to club head spead. With Tour Tempo 2, their use of tempo relates to the fractional relationship, measured in frame count, between taking the club back and reaching the top of the swing, and from the top of the swing into impact. That frame count is a 3:1 ratio. With putting, the count ratio is 2:1. timing, tempo, rhythm, balance through motion, and concentration timing: sequencing; the order of movements through a sequence, such as a putting stroke or golf swing; the control of movement through time in order for the body to generate maximum force at the proper time. Sequencing is similar to timing and is the unconscious capability of the brain to plan and sequence throughts and actions and connect them to specific conseuqences. Important note, not all swing styles employ the exact same sequence of loading the club or of movement through the swing. Refer to the LAWS™ materials for additional timing/sequencing information. trait. Refer to state vs. trait above. visceral sense. Not intellectual, instinctive, elemental emotions such as glad, sad, mad, and scared. visualization. A form of imagery; the ability to form mental pictures or images in your brain, or your ―mind‘s eye.‖ winning. Winning is the total release of all that you are in giving everything to a cause greater than your own self and through becoming the very best you are capable of being.


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Golf Performance Books By James E. Robertson, PGA Tour Instructor

Director, The Golf Performance Academy

Order Date: ________________________

Name _______________________________________________

(School/Institution) _______________________________________________

Address 1 _______________________________________________

Address 2 _______________________________________________

E-mail address _______________________________________________

Phone # _________________________

City___________________________ State____ Zip______________

ITEMS Quantity Price Total [All prices are subject to change without notice.]

Golf Team Swing and Performance Manual______$40 $____ *Our golf team‟s training and performance manual. 3-hole punched, double sided, no binder. 476 pages.

The Encyclopedia of Successful Golf Coaching ______ $60 $______ *Coaching manual for our swing manual. 3-hole punched, double sided, no binder. 695 pages.

Postage & Handling ______ $4/$7 $______

*In USA, ADD $4.00 for packaging and postage for EACH item.

International, ADD $7.00 for EACH item.

TOTAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $_______

Please make check payable to the “SAU Golf Team” (All profits go to the

Southern Arkansas University Golf Team.)

OR Credit Card: Name on Card______________________________________

Address of Cardholder _________________________________________________

Visa ___ MC ____ Card #______________________________________

Exp. Date___/___ SEC Code________ Amount Charged $________________

Signature _________________________________________ Date________________

James E. ―Coach‖ Robertson, Head Golf Coach

Southern Arkansas University

P.O. Box 9344 Office Phone: (870) 235-4382

Magnolia, AR 71754-9328 Office E-mail: [email protected]

Office Fax: (870) 235-4988

Skype: james.e.robertson USA



480

James E. “Coach” Robertson

PGA Tour Instructor

Director, The Golf Performance Academy

Mental Performance/Swing Golf Instructor

A Common Shortcoming in Golf

While accomplished players work diligently at understanding and

habituating mental performance skills, the typical golfer ignores,

and usually avoids, mental skills completely. From your work with

Coach Robertson, and his book “Gateway to the Game of GOLF:

The Mind↔Body Connection”, you will not only understand how

the mind controls the golf swing, but you will learn how to re-train

your brain toward lower golf scores and enhanced performance.

Former President of Sports Enhancement Associates and PGA Tour Instructor

Throughout his career, Coach has specializes in working with developing Tour players.

James started in professional golf as the President of Sports Enhancement Associates, a

professional sport training group founded by legendary Chuck Hogan. S.E.A. worked

closely with International Management Group (IMG) in training many of their golfers and

specializing in golf. Members of S.E.A.‘s client roster included Peter Jacobsen, Raymond

Floyd, Marlene Floyd, Johnny Miller, Mary Beth Zimmerman, D.A. Weibring, John Cook,

Mark Lye, and many others.

As a PGA Tour Instructor, Coach Robertson has worked with players from the

Nationwide, PGA, Futures, LPGA, Champions, Canadian, and European Golf Tours.

St. Andrews Golf and Performance Academy

James is Co-Founder and Director of the Academy. The Academy specializes in two

primary areas. The first specialization being the assessment and development of precision

timing, tempo, rhythm, balance through motion, and concentration through the golf swing.

Coach Robertson is certified in the same sensory integration biofeedback training provided

on the PGA and Champions Tours, and works with Professional and aspiring golfers in this

area. The Academy‘s second specialization is in the assessment and development of high

school golfers wanting to play on the college level. The Academy offers a program entitled

“Achieving Your College Potential”.

Author

Staff Writer: The World Golf Teachers Federation

Co-author with Chuck Hogan: The Golfer‟s Profile System (a personality assessment and

training tool)

Contributor with Chuck Hogan: Five Days to Golfing Excellence

Contributor with Dr. Jim Suttie: Your Perfect Swing

Author: The Corporate Golfer

Author: Gateway to the Game of GOLF: The Mind ↔ Body Connection

Author: The Encyclopedia of Successful Golf Coaching

Author: The Golf Team Swing and Performance Manual


481

Contributor: Principles and Practices of Stress Management, 3rd

Edition

College Golf Coaching History…

Head Golf Coach, Southern Arkansas University, AR

Head Golf Coach, Warner Pacific College, Portland OR

Head Golf Coach, St. Andrews University, NC

Assistant Women‘s Golf Coach, Missouri State University

Swing Coach for Evangel University and Drury University

Performance consultant to coaches and athletes at

The University of Missouri, The University of Nebraska,

Auburn University, and Missouri State University.

Teacher

―As both a business executive and as a coach, I have always considered my first role as that

of a teacher,‖ says James. He has taught:

Successful Coaching for the University of Nebraska with Dr. Wes Sime, Sport

Psychologist.

The Psychology of Coaching on the Masters level for Drury University.

Applied Sport Psychology on the Doctoral level for The Forest Institute of

Professional Psychology and on the undergraduate level for St. Andrews

Presbyterian College.

Additionally, James was an Assistant Professor of Business Administration and has

created and taught a variety of business courses.

Contact Coach at:

[email protected] Skype Address: James.E.Robertson USA

Cell #870-949-9010.



482

The

Beginning

James E. ―Coach‖ Robertson Skype® Address: James.E.Robertson USA E-mail: [email protected]


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