I often wonder if there is one process that ensures perfect ball contact. You know, that smooth swing and flawless contact that can be emulated by every golfer. Unfortunately, I concluded that one swing does not fit all and this process to produce superior ball contact needs to be modified to suit each player. Yes, there are some basic fundamental aspects of every golf swing that produces the results we crave and each player has that one swing within themselves. And for me, it is focusing on ball contact that works best.
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Is Your Set Up Wrong For Your Golf Game
Our golf game is unique as every snowflake. Regardless of your skill level, every players has something special about their set up. The reason for this cannot be limited to one thing, but generally we all have a different body shapes, flexibility, and muscle movements that drive our desire to create a set up that works for our game. From time to time, I forget to use my unique stet up to ensure I am playing my best golf. But that is my challenge and one I know and understand all too well. Knowing how set up is very important to my game, I do have a tip that I want to share because it is a fault I made in years past and one I make from time to time.
Continue readingSolving Putting Yips – One Possible Solution
Do I really need to define the phrase ‘putting yips’? I am certain that every golfer has played through a period of the putting yips. The lack of confidence before even striking the ball definitely contributes to our flat stick woes. We sometimes get to a point where we feel it is impossible to fix this challenge. I am here to say that it is possible to eliminate the putting yips by finding the solution that works best for you. Today, I have one that might work for your game, so keep reading and let me know what you think.
!–more–>“The yips is the colloquial term for a sudden and unexplained loss of skills in experienced athletes. Symptoms of the yips are losing fine motor skills and psychological issues that impact on the muscle memory and decision making of the player which creates a failure to perform basic skills of the sport.” (Wikipedia)
First, I believe that all yips are rooted in our mental preparation for any shot. The lack of confidence and defeatist attitude before even striking the ball leads to a case of the “cant’s”. This negative step in turn leads to a breakdown in our game and failure to confidently hit the golf. Therefore, when I get a case of the yips, I focus on improving my mental approach and focus to each shot. In the video below, the advice given by Johnny Miller is very good and something I do inadvertently. Take a look:
By focusing on something other than the contact spot on the ball, you mind is forced to forget about many aspects of the yips and lets your putting stroke take over. Yes, hitting the ball or at least contact with the ball will our putter should be automatic. This excludes any swing thoughts. Thinking during the actual swing is not a good idea; we must let our natural putting stroke take over after we committed to the shot.
For me, I focus on the top of my putter. I am not an advocate of not seeing contact (old school training from other sports), but I do allow my mind to focus on something other than the plethora of stressors involved in putting the ball. By focusing on the alignment line on top of my putter, I force my mind to exclude all other swing thoughts. This helps reduce the putting yips because I am mentally focused on something other than my putting stroke; I allow my natural swing to take over. For me, this mental focus helps improve my putting by reducing the 1000 swing thoughts that can occur in an instant during contact.
There is no one solution to defeating the putting yips. The solution mentioned in the video above has many variations. The point is to allow your natural putting stroke take over the process of putting. This is definitely easier to say than do; just ask any player struggling with the putting yips. Regardless, I believe that the root of this terrible affliction is rooted in our mental approach to each shot and that is where I focus my efforts when I consistently struggle with puttting or any other golf shot.
I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!
Starting to Hit My Irons…Finally
For the greater part of the season, I have struggled (to my expectations) hitting my irons. However, the past two rounds I seem to have found my old magic. I am hitting crisp clean irons that are flying on line. As I walked (yes walked) nine holes yesterday, I finally noticed two things I had overlooked for months. With two minor adjustments, I was back to my previous form!
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The Grateful Golfer 