ForeThought
Mental Tips For Better Golf

Talking To Bones.
“Phil to Bones. Phil to Bones. What’s our position? Over.”
“Bones to Phil. We’re 168 yards from the hole. There’s no wind but we need to clear those trees. Looks like a stock 8-iron. Over.”

Maybe Phil Mickelson and his caddie, Jim ‘Bones’ Mackay, don’t communicate by walkie-talkie but you have to wonder whether these player-caddie exchanges we sometimes overhear during telecasts are simply amusing entertainment or a high performance tool? Make no mistake, they’re a high performance tool that you would do well to utilize. So let’s look at why they’re so effective.

Win Wenger, Ph. D., author of The Einstein Factor, says that when we talk out loud through a difficult situation as opposed to mulling it over internally we create a feedback loop. The sound goes out. It’s then heard by our own ears and fed back into our brain causing reinforcement for the original thought. Using a caddie as a sounding board for your thoughts is a similar technique that focuses your decision-making. And even if you don’t have the likes of Bones Mackay on your bag every-day you can achieve the same effect.

Before your pre-shot routine talk yourself through your shot out loud, or at least at a level just above a whisper. You could talk to your head-cover – you know the one you call ‘Slugger’ – or you could talk to your coach as if he’s there. “Okay, coach, I know what you want me to do, take the high-percentage shot, right?”

You might worry that your buddies will try to commit you to the funny-farm if they hear you mumbling to yourself, but they’re probably too busy with their own game to be concerned about you. Who knows, you might improve so much that you’ll end up playing at a level that justifies the hiring of your own ‘Bones Mackay’ and fans, including your buddies, will pay to overhear what you have to say. Bob Skura is the author of the award-winning book, How Great Golfers Think – Perfecting Your Mental Game. For more information visit: www.howgreatgolfersthink.com

More Golf Driving Tips…

Once I arrive at the range I begin to limber up by performing some simple yet very important golf stretching exercises. It usually take me about ten to twelve minutes to perform my routine which prepares my body for the movements it is about to encounter.

Once I feel limber the first thing I do is align the driving mat with a specific location on the driving range. With my seven iron that is usually somewhere around the 150 yard marker. If I cannot get a position near the center of the range, I simply move the mat (change the angle) until it aligns where I want it to.

Now it’s time for a few practice swings. Without concern for positioning my feet properly, I simply begin swinging the golf club with two hands and after a few swings I begin to release my right hand through the swing to remind me that the golf swing is more a “pulling” motion than a “pushing” motion. Once I feel comfortable with rebuilding my muscle memory it’s time to hit some golf balls.

The biggest problem I have at the beginning of each golf season is establishing the proper distance to stand from the ball. It usually takes me about three or four swings to zero in on the correct distance for my seven iron. With the proper distance established, the mat aligned towards the target and my feet parallel to the ball, I’m ready to start the season.

My first ten swings are very soft and deliberate. What I mean by that is I make sure that every aspect of my swing is correct from the take away to impact to the follow through. At this point I am not concerned about distance at all. I simply want to re-establish a good consistent swing. If the ball is not going towards the target I established earlier on, I make a few minor adjustments in my stance, grip or both.

Now my goal is very simply to perform a consistent swing and have the ball land near my target. Once I can accomplish this ten swings in a row, I begin to work on varying my distance and placement.  Following these simple steps will help get you back in the golf swing quickly and easily.

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This video by director of training Steve Dahlby shows you how to accomplish both as you continue your quest of becoming a better driver.

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Taking the average amateur golfer through the important things required to improve their golf game is an important thing to watch.  Mike Pedersen continues his excellent teaching method on this par five hole as he watches and comments on the necessary warm up exercises.

Getting the golfer on the green in regulation three strokes is essential in making a par five every time.  Watch the video a see for yourself.

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After playing a few rounds though, you will know if you will be someone that will want to learn how to play golf well or that it just isn’t the game for you.

If your trips to the driving range and the gold course proved to be encouraging, then choosing the right golf clubs will be the next step for you.

Learn more about choosing the right golf clubs.  Click here.

In the continuing saga of getting Morrie to a better game of golf, Mike Pedersen reminds Morrie about the key stretching elements for golf readiness. Mike is a true teacher as he takes Morrie through the various exercise tips that allow his body to prepare properly for the golf swing.

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After just a few hours of practice I was able to perform the balancing techniques shown. I highly recommend reviewing these golf driving power drills for anyone looking to improve balance and driving distance.

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Bob Skura has written a good article that does a good job explaining this golf phenomenon by using Michelle Wie and Tiger Woods as two examples of choosing the right competition level.

I enjoyed reading this article and how Bob suggests peeing into your future to get mentally prepared.

Read the entire article here.

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This video address the best golf posture and how you can find it.  It may be awkward at first so stay with it until you find it.  Mike always does a great job as an instructor so it should be easy for anyone to learn the best golf posture.

Watch the video here.

Easier said then done.  Right?  Let’s look at the good golf swing step by step to see if I can pinpoint the issue specifically.

Let’s make the assumption that if your ball goes anywhere other than straight down the fairway, you should be looking for a way to correct that.  Most people that slice the golf ball are pushing with their right hand which forces the club face to open up and places unwanted spin on the ball.

Coming over the top is the most common mistake amateur golfers have and will need to be corrected prior to attaining the good golf swing.  Please review this article before going any further.  If you need additional help with the basic swing, another place to review golf swing tips can be found here.  So once you are confident that your basic golf swing technique is okay, we can begin to discuss the details of the down swing that will give you the good golf swing you are looking for.

Since the golf back swing is a pulling motion where your shoulders and torso are turning to the right while your arms bring the club straight back (not up), the natural tendency is to begin your down swing with your right arm.  Doing this creates a pushing motion which results in delaying your leg and hip motion.

As your golf club reaches the top of your back swing concentrate on lightening the grip with your right hand and forcing your legs and hips to move first.  Although you may be able to hit the golf ball straight without starting your swing with your legs and hips, you will never attain the maximum distance.

A simple technique is to begin your down swing by forcing your right (back) knee to move towards your left (front) knee.  This puts your hips in motion and pulls your shoulders through impact.  While concentrating on your legs, remember that your left hand must be the dominate one during impact.

Following these steps will produce the good golf swing you have been looking for.

Here are some more Golf Tips.