At one time during your next round of golf, you will be called upon to make the right shot at the right time. This specific scenario is inevitable and might happen several times over the course of 18 holes. The expectation is that as your lower your handicap, lets say to single digits, you will make this needed shot more often than not. Well, I am here to tell you that the pressure of making the right shot at the right time does not diminish the better golfer you become. An yet we do succeed more that higher handicappers….why is that?
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Eating Healthy = Great Golf
If only my title was that easy. Time is a critical factor in every golfers life. The effort to balance family, work, golf, and eating healthy (and about 100 other things that vie for your attention) is a monumental challenge sometimes. It is not that we do not want to eat properly, but when we juggle a million things on any given day, something has to give…..or does it? I believe that eating healthy 80% of the time is important to my golf game. The proper nutrition gives me the energy in the last four holes of my round to finish strong and stay focused. However, eating to fuel my game cannot happen once in a while, it is a conscious decision that does take time; in my opinion, I receive 10 times the benefits for every second I dedicate to eating healthy.
Continue readingAny New Ideas About How To Improve Our Golf Game?
It is time to innovate golf. I figure that the readers of The Grateful Golfer blog are about the smartest people on earth and can come up with something to change the face of golf. I mean, if you search ‘golf innovation” only 134 million possible websites show up in 0.42 seconds. So, if they can do it, than so can we. Stop holding out, share your big idea! Who knows, it might be worth something.
After playing for 45+ years, I can honestly tell you that I am tapped out. I have nothing that would remotely be considered innovative. I do alter drills and concepts slightly to adapt them to my game, but nothing that would change the face of golf. Although the task would be daunting, and IF we came up with something, how would we break through the white noise spewed everyday on virtually every topic.
I constantly look at possible avenues of success with respect to improving my game. It is a challenge and I rarely find anything substantive. Most of the ideas or concepts require a great deal of practice and patience if I want to follow their path. I do not have a problem with that, however blindly delving into the unknown is just not my style. I have to think things through before moving forward. If I cannot see a distinct advantage in my mind, I will never find one in my swing.
Having said that, I am not adverse to receiving advice on the finer aspects of my game. A friend of mine, Andre Martel who recently became TPI Certified and Precision Nutrition Certified (congrats again Andre), is a player I would listen to if he offered me advice. He and I have different games, but his new knowledge would make him a valuable resource to improve my game. Andre has offered some advice in the past on putting and increasing distance that I found helpful. It is sources like Andre that I find the most valuable in refining my game. On a side note, if you have any questions about the TPI program/certification, Andre says you can as questions directly to him at martelpi@gmail.com
Searching on the internet for solutions to your golf challenges is a great way to pass time. However, I would caution you that making wholesale changes in your swing without proper instruction can be much more damaging than one would think. My friend Brian Penn from All About Golf suggested I take an e-lesson and provided a website. I have yet to do this, but given the current COVID restrictions (and it is the dead of winter), it might be the only way to improve my swing in the off-season. Brian, I am still pondering – don’t give up hope on my yet.
Coming up with ideas to innovate golf (or our swing) is challenging. It takes a tremendous amount of dedication, openness, and foresight. I know for sure I am not the person to make this happen, but maybe you are the next Harvey Penick. If you are, please remember to share you brilliant ideas with the rest of us at The Grateful Golfer. Who knows maybe we can help. 😉
I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!
Does A Routine Help Or Hinder Your Golf Game?
Having a routine on and off the golf course is a process that allows any player to focus on their golf game. Routine is the cornerstone of great golf because it encourages players to improve on their strengths and step out of their comfort zone. Yet, I wonder if rigidly following any routine will drive players towards developing a rut and just going through the motions. This can be a challenge on and off the course and something that all players should be cognizant about as they travel down their own path to lower golf scores.
Continue readingBuying Forgiving Clubs
As many new players enter the golfing arena, there is an important aspect of buying golf clubs that should not be overlooked. Construction of clubs experienced a paradigm shift when Ping’s founder, Karsten Solheim developed the concept of forgiveness by introducing perimeter-weighted irons. This is just one instance that launched a whole new area of marketing to address the needs of the ‘casual golfer’. I often wonder if buying forgiving clubs is the wisest avenue for new players to develop a solid and consistent golf game. Or should they focus a bit more time on developing their unique golf swing.
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