The angle of attack in golf is a fuzzy subject for me. I understand it, but have never really been able to explain it very well. Mark Crossfield does a very good job in the video below.
This makes total sense to me. How about you? Is your angle of attack correct or do you need to adjust something? Let us know what you think!
I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!
Ice Storm – I need a golfing vacation!
Another Christmas Day is in the books! I hope everyone enjoyed their time with their special someone and had time to relax, eat, and laugh until your belly hurt. For most of us, winter is still limiting our ability to hit the links. With cold temperatures limit our activities, thoughts of sugar plums in our heads has shifted to golf trips to warmer climates. If you are planning on travelling to play golf anytime soon, it is important to pack your clubs with care.
Packing golf clubs properly makes a tremendous difference to their well-being. Additionally, identifying them with a unique tag, cloth, or ribbon is a must to prevent confusion at your destination. But, these are just a few things that every golfer could do to make sure their golf vacation an overwhelming success. Mark Aumann at the PGA has even more great tips. Here is he has to say:
- Try to get a non-stop flight, if possible.
- Get a durable, well-made travel bag.
- If you use a soft-sided bag, don’t forget to pack a golf club protection device.
- Don’t forget that golf bags are considered “oversized check-in”.
- Add some personal ID marking to your bag.
- Don’t wind up with more luggage than you need.
- Think about a cab or car service (or ride to airport).
- Pack your clubs so they won’t move around in the travel bag.
- Use your travel bag for additional storage.
- Don’t leave your expensive electronics in your golf bag.
- If you’re still leery of putting your equipment on a plane, do use a shipping service.
For more details, you can read his entire article at PGA.com.
Planning a golf trip anywhere warm is always fun. Proper care of your golf clubs only enhances the experience. I am not planning a golf trip this year, but if you are, I would like to hear about it. So drop me a line and let me know where you are going! It is always fun to share golfing stories when snowbound for 4 months!
I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links
Universal golf tips are difficult to find. Depending on the skill level of the player, a golf tip could be too difficult or too simple. Focusing on more than one movement during a golf swing is often overwhelming for amateur golfers. Therefore, it is very difficult to find that one universal tip that fits the needs of every golfer. Well, for two years I have searched for the elusive tip and I think I have found it!
This drill is so simple, I think everyone can do it! It helps meets the criteria of focusing on one aspect of a golf swing and can be performed by any golfer. It takes only 5 minutes a day and can be practiced anywhere! It is called active visualization. I know we have discussed visualization at length (Visualization for Success, A Growth Mindset, and Visualizing a Shot) and I have finally figured out what was missing.
What was missing was the active part! Normally, when visualizing my golf swing, I think my way through the shot. I try to picture my swing in my mind’s eye through my pre-shot to post-shot routine. I try to keep my concentration on the moment and have achieved relative success. However, I found that I am sometimes easily distracted by other thoughts creeping in, noises, or falling asleep! Ok, now that you have stopped laughing…..
Active visualization is nothing new. My idea actually comes from the movie “Seven Days in Utopia“. The seasoned golf coach in Utopia was helping a struggling golf professional. The first step to improvement was to write out his golf swing. It made the player concentrate on how and why he swung a golf club in a particular way. After some reflection, I think this approach is brilliant.
Active visualization does start with writing out your golf swing. If you are having difficulty, there are many sites that will help. However, it is important to focus on your swing. As you go through the step by step process of writing out your swing, you are in fact analysing your mechanics. This is an important step towards understanding your golf game and is critical to improving your overall game. Once you are done writing, read it out loud to yourself several times.
After reading your Pulitzer prize article aloud, you will remember it step by step. Now, close your eyes and recite your swing to yourself. You will be surprised to see images form within your mind’s eye! You will also see your swing in all its glory!
The cool thing about this process is the ability to make changes. After you have written your swing out in detail, it is easy to identify that part of your swing that is causing you the most difficulty. Once identified, change that part until you are satisfied – watching videos of professional golfers may help if you are experiencing challenges. An important aspect of active visualization is being engaged in the entire process. For 5 minutes (once you have written out your script) anyone can visualize their golf swing and as a result build confidence in their game. Visualization does help lower your golf score, active visualization will provide the foundation to a great golf game.
In future articles, I will share what I have written for my active visualization. But, before I do, what do you think? Do you think this will work? Or am I just crazy?
I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!
Many golf bloggers have a small group of fellow fanatics they talk to regularly. I am no different. Daily, we share our thoughts and views about all aspects of golf. Sometimes the conversation leads to differences of opinion, but mostly we talk like sportsmen and I always leave with a positive vibe.
For the past two years, I have been fortunate to interact with people from New Zealand, U.K., USA, Canada, Ireland, and many other places. Golfers from 112 countries have graced my blog with comments, likes, and some were just looking. How cool is that!
Blogging about golf has helped me through some trying personal challenges, frustration about my golf game, and to keep a real perspective about what is really important! For those who are wondering, it goes in this order: family, health, friends, golf! Without the first three, golf is really not important to me at all.
The greatest rewards of having a golf blog is the connections I have made over the past two years. Some connections have faded, but are not forgotten. Routinely, I talk to my e-friends (because we have not met yet) about golfing news, tips, techniques, our ups and downs on the links and how to steadily improve our scores. Not surprisingly, all the great advice and encouragement has improved my golf game substantially! For that, I am grateful to my e-friends.
There are about 10 of you I talk to on a regular basis and you know who you are! To you and all the others who take the time to connect with me, I am grateful. Your perspective on golf and life is refreshing.
Thank you for all the advice, help and friendship! Because of our positive interaction, it is easy to be a grateful golfer!
I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!
After a week off from golf, I had time to reflect about my season and my golf experiences. I have to say, that I am a grateful golfer! For the past 10 years my game has improved both in score and experience. However, since starting The Grateful Golfer Blog in May 2012, all aspects of my golf game have improved! A year ago, I wrote a blog titled “What is Important in Golf” and that list has not changed. But I have a few new things to be grateful for:
As you can see, my being grateful is not completely tied to how I score on the golf course. This year, I did play well, but I attribute much of my success to those around me. The have all helped reshape how I approach my golf game and as a result, I have experienced many great things on and off the course. There is no question that Norman Vincent Peale was correct when he said “Change your thoughts and you change your world!”
Thank you to everyone who reads, comments, supports, advises, and passes on my ramblings! Golf is a fantastic sport, but the real treasure is in the connections we make with other golfing fanatics!
I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!
The Grateful Golfer 