The Top Skills You Need to Play Your Best Golf
The Top Skills You Need to Play Your Best Golf
By Dr. T. J. Tomasi
Keiser University College of Golf Senior Faculty and Director of Research.
Note: the title says “your best golf,” so keep this distinction in mind as you read, because you really don’t need to put in place any/all of these to play the average game of golf – in fact, most people don’t have these as part of their game – which is why most people play at a lower level than they should.
A question I’m often asked is “What skills do I need to play my best golf?’ Fitness is always my first response. A healthy, pliable body is important because you can’t play your best golf without being flexible and uninjured. But there are some other skills that you need in addition to a healthy body.
(1) You need to match your swing to your body type. For example, if you’re barrel-chested with short arms and limited flexibility, it’s no good trying to swing like lanky Dustin Johnson. In golf – you can’t escape your shape (see my book The LAWs of Golf, which shows how to match up your body type with your swing type).
(2) You need to be able to relax before and while you swing because, no matter how athletic you are, tension locks your body up and ruins your balance. Proper breathing is one way to ensure relaxation, and it should be part of your shot routine.
(3) You need to be able to image – to see, feel and hear the shot before you hit it. Images cue motor responses and, if you image correctly, it’s like having a mulligan. Studies show that your Central Nervous System can’t tell the difference between a perfectly imagined experience and a real one.
(4) You need equipment fitted to your body, your swing and your aesthetic preferences – if you don’t like how it looks/feels, don’t buy it. And, of course, always try before you buy.
(5) When you play, you need to focus on the target, not your swing. Too many swing thoughts paralyze you. Golf is a game composed of “what you do” and “when you do it.” Focus too much on the “what” and you’ll ruin the “when.” Remember, on the course, you’re playing golf, not golf swing, and the two are very different. Whatever else it is, golf is a target game.
(6) You need to be able to manage the golf course by developing a plan that directs you where to place each shot. Good players develop positional advantage – mediocre players just go straight at everything – poor players can’t control the ball, so it doesn’t matter.
(7) You need to make an honest personal assessment of your strengths and weaknesses, quantified by keeping stats and then use this profile to select the correct shot. If you’ve been slicing the ball for a week, don’t continue to aim down the right side, because your normal ball flight is a draw. Dance with the one you brought on the course and fix problems on the practice tee.
(8) In addition to stats like greens hit, number of putts, up/downs, etc., you need to keep records in a journal, including a detailed description of your home-base golf swing. When you’re playing well, record what you’re doing using audio/video so, when things go south, you’ll have info to guide you back to your home-base swing. Those who ignore the past are bound to repeat their mistakes.
(9) Your practice on the range needs to come from your play on the golf course. Don’t just beat balls – structure your practice sessions so that you keep your strengths current and upgrade your weakness. On the practice range you should (1) have a plan, then (2) you achieve your goal, then (3) you leave.
(10) Never quit and even if you’re losing, try on every shot. Quitting is a habit formed by – quitting – so don’t.
If you’d like to study with Dr. Tomasi and other PGA Master Professionals, contact The College of Golf today.
