MIND FACTOR - TIPS & TUITION

A lot of people ask me, "What is the best golf book I have read" ?

My answer is easy. The book is called "Golf is not a game of perfect" written by Dr. Bob Rotella.

A fabulous read and very simple to digest. EXAMPLE BELOW

The 10 Commandments

Dr. Bob Rotella

Play to play great. Don't play not to play poorly

Love the challenge of the day, whatever it may be

Get out of results and get into process

Know that nothing will bother or upset you on the golf course, and you will be in a great state of mind for every shot

Playing with a feeling that the outcome doesn't matter is almost always preferable to caring too much

Believe fully in yourself so you can play freely

See where you want the ball to go before every shot

Be decisive, committed, and clear

Be your own best friend

Love your wedge and your putter.

Pictured below is one of the readily available golf ball alignment devices on the market. They are stocked in most shops (including Milford) and provide a stable hold of the ball so a straight a stright line can be drawn on it.

Next time you see Tiger Woods on the green check out his golf ball. His Nike ball will have "TIGER" on one side and a STRAIGHT line on the other. If it's good enough for him !!!!!!!!!!

Can you swing like Tiger ?

Notice how STRONG Tiger is. The beautifully balanced set up and MASSIVE shoulder turn. Wide stance and "loaded" backswing. Incredible swing speed and FULLY rotated finish.

You need to be seriously fit and strong to try this at home.

I really love the total commitment of his swing and his athleticism. He has changed the way people approach golf. The Faldo era of fairways and greens has been replaced by POWER and AGGRESSION.

Simply an awesome athlete, he just chose golf !

Enjoy the quality of his superb "top of swing" position, pure poetry...

Now is a good time to have a look at your equipment in readiness for winter golf !

1. Grips - Are they worn? If they are then holding on in the rain maybe tough.

2. Gloves - Do I have a RAIN glove? You simply must...

3. Waterproofs - Find & wash them.

4. Woolly hat. - A winter necessity.

5. Golf ball - Maybe switch to a slightly harder ball to maintain distance.

6. Adjust - Courses play longer and the ball does not fly as far. Watch out !

Winter golf to me is a real challenge. I like to try and play to "keep my eye in." It is also great for fitness. If there is a trolley ban then maybe consider a small bag and a few clubs. You may score better with less clubs!!!

Take heed of Dr. Bob Rotella "Love the challenge of the day"

Ever wonder how the tour players hole out so well ? They do have great putting technique and the best greens to practice on. But, they also take advantage any way they can to shave even 1 shot off their score.

The tip of the month is to use a simple device to draw a straight line on your golf ball.

Point this line DIRECTLY at your intended target and take your stroke. Using this simple yet effective AID is a great way to take dead aim and really start to "roll" your putts.

Think of the best putter in the world (Tiger Woods) and check out his golf ball next time you see him on television. You KNOW it makes sense.

I have spent many a lesson in helping people avoid the long grass, but with the current growth rate of the rough on our courses I thought it time to learn how to escape from it too!

"Damage control" and a bogey, is better than trying to be a hero and making a double bogey or worse.

Select your club carefully to extract yourself from the poorest of lies.

Try using a high-lofted wedge to get the ball up and out of the grass as quickly as possible. Remember, the lower this shot flies, the less chance it has of actually coming out and back into play.

Grip down a couple of inches on your wedge and have the face slightly open to help the club side through the grass with less resistance.

The more grass the ball has to pass through and the more power you need supply to it.

A "steeper" swing, with plenty of wrist hinge, should "set" a nice steep angle and allow you the "chop" the ball back into play.

This shot accomplishes the immediate goal of playing out of trouble and back into scoring position.

Good luck !

Now the summer is finally here (well a bit of sunshine anyway) it is time to enjoy the better quality greens by doing some putting practice.

Holing out is the key to building putting confidence. By practicing the 3 footers you confidence will grow from the sound and feeling of the ball going into the hole.

I like to place two golf shafts (or clubs) to act as "railway tracks" either side of my ball. I then set a target of 30 to hole consecutively.

After 30, try 50. The pressure will not really be felt until the final ball. Miss it and face starting again!

Repetition is the key for solid putting. Good luck and I hope it improves your putting.

I play in over 25 regional Pro Am's every season and that means I come into contact with hundreds of amateur golfers.

Very few people actually carry a RAIN GLOVE. I would NOT be caught without mine.

Made from a non - woven microfibre they have a strange almost suede like feel. Horrible in dry conditions and ONLY come into their own in the worst of weathers, RAIN.

Various golf companies make this product and I recommend the Footjoy brand.

Remember, spend £10 on one now and I promise you will reap the rewards when the rain comes....

The correct posture

We all want to have more consistency and accuracy with our game. Most teaching professionals agree that at least 90% of all swing faults can be improved with the proper posture. This means not only being able to achieve good posture at address, but more importantly, to maintain it throughout the swing and throughout the round. Proper posture and spinal alignment not only promote better swing mechanics, but also help to prevent injuries. That's a winning combination! We all WANT to play better, but we all NEED to prevent injuries. You need to stay strong and healthy in order to keep playing your best golf.

1.   Stand dead straight with a club running from your nose down to your belt

2.   Bend over from the WAIST, keeping your back straight.
(N.B - Do NOT sick your bottom out too much, it causes anterior tilt )

3.   Lose tension in knees with a little flex. Let arms hang down. BE comfortable...



All top golfers have unique and sometimes individual swings. Their set up and posture however,
are often described as "text book." With a little effort, your posture could improve and you will decrease the chances of future back problems and increase the chances of consistent golf shots.




Your grip is your only connection with the golf club.

Placing your hands properly on the golf club helps you better control the position of the club's face at impact.

A fundamentally sound grip helps you create power and feel at the same time.

Placing the club more in the fingers rather than in the palm increases the amount of wrist hinge, which results in longer tee shots and more feel.

Check your LEFT hand grip out. Does it look like this ?

CHECKPOINTS FOR THE LEFT HAND

Left thumb a fraction right of centre
Back of the left hand points to the target
Grip pressure approx 2.5 out of 5 (MEDIUM)

The RIGHT HAND is the dominant hand for most people (if you play right-handed, your bottom hand, will be your right hand). It is important that this hand is positioned to deliver a powerful blow at impact without overpowering the lead (or top) hand.
The hands must work together to deliver a consistent impact position.

TRY THIS !

NOW THIS !

Now, check out the finished product.
Does your GRIP look like this ?

CHECKPOINTS FOR THE RIGHT HAND

Right thumb over left centre of the grip
Back of the right hand points directly away from the target
Grip pressure approx 2.5 out of 5 (MEDIUM)

Changing a grip is a huge fundamental issue with golfers and should be done with PGA Professional help. A sound grip will breed consistency and golf WILL be easier.
All great players have their own recognisable features, 99 % have great grips....

TOP TIP

Try a grip change whilst practicing your chipping.
It will feel a lot more comfortable in a very short space of time.
GOOD LUCK !!!

Paul