How to Build a Golf……

February 28, 2014March 7, 2016 / The Grateful Golfer / Leave a comment

What keeps you coming back to golf?

This is a very philosophical question. Immediately when asked, most experts will say the swing. Pundits point to mechanics immediately. Most of the top sources outline a no fail way to build a golf swing and lower your score. They also suggest that if you have a good golf swing, you automatically will have fun playing golf. This hypothesis is not very sound or practical.

Experiences (history) are great teachers. Think back through your life. What do you see? When you first started something, anything at all, did you immediately jump into the mechanics of that something? What was the first thing that attracted you to that activity? Remember the statement when we were growing up, ‘you will play and like it!’ ‘You will sing and like it!’ You will and on and on and on! Continue reading →

Quiet Hands to Break 100

February 23, 2014April 20, 2016 / The Grateful Golfer / 4 Comments

The touch is a much debated topic in golf. Some amateurs confuse touch with quiet hands. Although ‘how’ a player uses their hands during chipping and putting is extremely important, it is a topic for another day.

Listening to the golf experts, it is obvious that quiet hands are the key to lowering your golf score. The challenge for most amateurs is to figure out what “quiet hands” mean, to what part of the swing it applies, and more importantly how can they get some! Continue reading →

Generate More Power – Part 2

November 18, 2013 / The Grateful Golfer / Leave a comment

The internet is an awesome resource. It has almost everything one could image. This tool has enabled me to make contact with many like-minded golfers who, just for fun, seek the holy grail of golf excellence. After my earlier post on how to generate more power in your golf swing, I asked a knowledgeable golfer and he provided me with an awesome video about when your hands should release during your golf swing.

Troy Vayanos, Hitting It Solid, is from Brisbane, Queensland, Australia who has played golf for over 20 years. Like the rest of us, enjoys teaching and helping golfers online and loves hearing about improvement in people’s golf game. Thanks for your help Troy!

I often questioned when to release my hands during my golf swing. I have tried many different approaches and have not really felt comfortable with the results. The video below explains and demonstrates exactly what I was looking for. Mostly, I like the fact that I have a visual aid to help me understand when to release my hands.

What do you think?

As the winter unfolds, I hope to find more experts like Troy to help fill in our knowledge gaps. Now I just need to try the advice on the range.

I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!

Chasing the Dream

November 14, 2013 / The Grateful Golfer / 3 Comments

How elusive is your golf dream? If 100 people were asked this question, 101 answers would be given. Chasing your dream in golf is very difficult, stressful, fun and exciting all at the same time. It is all a matter of perception.

The famous quote that “Perception is reality” absolutely applies to all golfers. In golf, many players have the dream of turning pro, hitting a hole-in-one, breaking par, breaking 100 or winning a nickel off their buddy during their Saturday money game. That is all dreams are; a varying degree of perception.

Through the years, my dreams have changed. Mostly, they changed as my skill level increased. Thus, my perception of what is acceptable on the course changed and logically my reality changed. In turn, I continue to chase my elusive golf dream. For example:

I wanted a hole-in-one. I now have 3 and chase 5!
I wanted to break par. I have done so several times and now want too every year.
I am still chasing the extremely albatross….came close once – 2 inches.

But are these really dreams or milestones. It depends on who you talk to and how they perceive their game of golf.

Other golf dreams may include things like golfing with fellow bloggers who live around the world. Playing golf with my wife and daughter. Regularly playing golf with my friend in the UK and letting him win. Golfing in New Zealand or Australia. Playing St. Andrews. Always living for the moment on the golf course. Helping someone start golf. The list can go on and on.

Through the years I have met many outstanding people through golf. Some were on the course and others over a conversation. I have played on many outstanding courses and seen things that when I was young I could only dream about. However, as the years pass and my fond memories grow; I just smile and reflect.

After much pondering I have concluded that:

My perception is that I will always chase the elusive golf dream;

My reality in golf is that it is all about the JOURNEY!

I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!

Do You Trust Your Swing!

October 29, 2013 / The Grateful Golfer / 7 Comments

Recently, I purchased a TOM TOM 55M. I thought about buying a GPS for some time, but just never made the buy because the need was not great enough. Preparing for a vacation, I realized that the route we wanted take was through unfamiliar territory and a bit off the beaten path. So it made sense to make the purchase and let TOMTOM be our guide. Needless to say, it was worth every penny and after we figured out how to use most of the features it made our trip quite enjoyable.

So how does this apply to golf you may ask? Well, great question. Once we enter the unfamiliar roads on our trip, I started to second guess the TOMTOM. I thought I could cut of miles by taking a different road or have a more scenic route around the next bend. I started to second guess the device until finally my darling wife said, “If you are not going to follow the directions, we are taking it back”. In other words, trust that the TOMTOM is going to direct us on the path we chose and enjoy the drive.

Her statement, although not really earth shattering, was significant because it made me think about how this applies to the golf swing. How many times have golfers stood over their ball and started to make adjustments, change their grip, address, stance, finish or mental attitude because all of a sudden they did not trust their swing. Golfers suddenly decide that, in that moment, it was important not to trust the swing they have honed, shaped and worked on over years of tedious practice. Golfers believe that not trusting something that has proven reliable was a smart.

How many times have golfers found themselves in this situation? The fact of the matter is that trusting your swing is extremely important break 100, 90, 80 or 70. Trusting your swing instills confidence to mentally play well. Trusting your swing empowers golfers to apply proper course management because they are not thinking about mechanics. Trusting your swing just makes sense!

There are times when all golfers need to work on their swing, but that should be saved for the range. Once you leave the range and head to course, it is time to trust your swing. Golf is a sport that is both complex and easy at the same time. The path you choose really depends on trust!

I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!