Do You Have These Golf Skills
DO YOU HAVE THESE GOLF SKILLS?
By Dr. T. J. Tomasi, Keiser University College of Golf Senior Faculty and Director of Research
In addition to good full swing mechanics, below are skills that you need to be a player:
- You need to develop a good short game to make up for the lapses in full swing mechanics during your round. Knowing you have a decent chance to get it up-and-down when you miss a green takes the pressure off your full swing.
- You need to know how to reward yourself for the good shots, so you’ll remember them – pat yourself on the back and get a little excited to imbed the feel in your long-term memory.
- You need to know how to go into your “bubble” for each shot to insulate yourself from distractions and interference. The bubble is part of the routine for every shot.
The bubble created by the 30 Second Swing brings with it complete focus.
- You need to take control of your mental screen (close your eyes, and you’ll see it). Images cue motor responses.
- You need to be able to play the special shots (high, low, fade, etc.) that are called for on the golf course.
This pro can hit the shot she is seeing in her minds-eye – a low hooking five iron.
- You need to play the game with realistic expectations. The ball doesn’t care who you are or how successful you’ve been at controlling your environment in other areas of your life. If you play once a week, and never practice or take lessons, your outlook with regard to score should reflect that. If you expect to shoot par, either be prepared to cheat or quit after 14 holes.
- You need to watch your diet on game day: Pre-hydrate by drinking a lot of water before you go to the course and carry water with you, so you’ll stay hydrated. Stay away from fat, alcohol, nicotine, and sugar just before and while you play. Take a healthy snack with you, like raisins or a banana.
- You need to understand that you’ll only have your “A” swing about 10% of the time, and when it slips to “B.” If you panic and tinker with it on the course, your game will sink to “F.” You must develop a ‘just get me to the house swing’ that does just that. You get no style points in golf; that’s why the boxes on the scorecard are so small – they want a number, not a narrative.
- You need to keep stats and then structure your practice sessions based on your play.
- You need to remember that no matter how nice a person you are and how hard you work, the “Game” doesn’t owe you anything.
- Luck, like justice, is blind. While the rules of golf make the game the same for all, it is not always a fair game for each. Luck plays a palpable role in golf, and you must be able to retain self-control when it turns against you as well as when it favors you. Sometimes the latter is the most difficult.
I’ve often cautioned my players against feeling guilty when they get a lucky break on the course. The problem is that guilt can subconsciously cause you to miss the next shot – like a makeup call when the referee blows a call – only you sabotage yourself. I remember watching Fred Couples play on the 9th hole at Sawgrass. He hit a huge tee shot, then topped a three wood that rolled about 200 yards and stopped 12 feet from the hole for an eagle. Then he rammed it in and strolled off as if to say – “I deserved that.”
If you’d like to study with Dr. Tomasi and other PGA Master Professionals, contact The College of Golf today.
