I cannot remember the last time I whiffed a golf shot, but I am confident it has happened over the past 45+ years. It is not something that happens often with any of my playing partners, but it definitely has occurred through the years. There are many possibilities as to why a golfer misses the ball and most likely the root error is in their swing. Having said that, there is something that does contribute to whiffing the ball that most amateurs overlook: anxiety.
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Can You Make The Bad Shots Stop?
My golf game is a series of good shots mixed with a bunch of bad shots and a whole slew of average shots. On any given day, ratio between all three changes. The result definitely affects my score, but that is the nature of my golf game. On the days where my poor (bad) strokes seem to creep up on the ‘oh please stop’ meter, I think I have found a couple of ways to stop or at a minimum reduce my increasing stroke count. They are not profound, but help me right my sinking ship.
Continue readingWhat Is Fun On The Golf Course?
The definition of fun is completely different for each golfer. Some find hitting the ball a country mile their jam. Others like the delicate nature of a great short game. And others find the social aspect of playing golf to their liking. There really is no wrong answer except if you are not having a good time or feel frustrated the entire time you are on the links. If this is the case, it might be time to reevaluate the reason you spend 4 to 6 hours looping a golf course. For me it is very simple and my reason transcends all others.
Continue readingAdvice From Tiger Woods
I talk about golf everyday. Whether I am writing, playing or chatting about golf, I feel that my game improves. I do not consider myself an expert by any means, but I understand the fundamentals enough to share my knowledge with other players. Today, I was searching for something about the mental aspect of golf because of the hickory stick tournament next week. I like to reinforce my idea about how to be competitive without over analyzing my game. I came across this video by Golf Digest where Tiger Woods talks about the mental side of golf. It really struck home and will help me next week.
Continue readingPracticing My Short Game With My Hickory Sticks
Today, I practiced my short game for about an hour. It was very rewarding and I found out a few things about my hickory clubs. It is not really profound, but it is something I needed to determine before my tournament next week. I did determine what clubs to use when and how they respond to contact. Interestingly, I noticed that my hickory sticks need cleaning and I am all over that requirement. In the meantime, I found out other things that will be valuable moving forward.
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The Grateful Golfer 