Wednesday, December 30, 2015

Monday, December 28, 2015

You can only control YOU

Played today with a group of friends in horrendous conditions. The weather was rough, fierce wind , rain & a wet course. But, in these conditions you can learn a lot about you & your game. Firstly, you cannot control the weather. Secondly it's winter golf so the ball goes nowhere. So, it's time to adjust your game & be PATIENT. In these conditions you should try & control the ball flight by using extra club & playing the ball into the fat of the green. All too often I see amateurs trying to kill the ball & they give up all their control to the elements. Patience is the key. Play the shots you know , not ones you've never tried before. Percentage golf is the key. This time of the year you will not get that many lucky breaks, rather, the breaks will go against you. So, remember to control your state & your mind by staying in the present & playing within yourself.



Enjoy the process!!!!
Darren


Wednesday, December 23, 2015

Power Coil Drill

Let's get 2016 started ahead of everyone else. Each week I will be posting a video tip , so if you would like a tip on a fault let me know.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrbmMgPPjUw


Merry Christmas,
Darren


Monday, December 21, 2015

Short Game Practice

Yes, it's true the short game does account for a high percentage of the game . Figures vary but it is inevitable that it can save you numerous shots during a round. The chip & run around the green is all too often overlooked. This area no matter what level you are at can be mastered quite easily. People just don't practice it enough. Below I have a picture of a lie board I use to practice purity of strike, but you can use a piece of 2x1 MDF. The objective here is to catch the ball first then the board creating a clean, crisp strike. The lines are to ensure you are square & the line on the ball tells you whether the ball is spinning correctly. Very simple but effective drill. When doing this drill, try to hole the shot as when the ball hits the green it will react like a putt.


Keep your stats & try this simple drill twice a week & you will be surprised how quickly your touch around the green will improve.
Enjoy the Process!!!
Darren


Sunday, December 20, 2015

The Time is Now,

Whilst speaking with one of my golf buddies , I couldn't help but notice his false confidence in his game.He is a 10 handicapper & has never broken into single figures. I've given him a few lessons but I know he doesn't practice what I'm showing him. So, the other day I approached the subject. We were in the range & everything I was showing him he disagreed with, so, I stopped & said you're wasting my time & your time. To say he was shocked is an understatement. Now this guy is very successful in his job & is very diligent in other aspects of his life but god does he talk an awful lot of crap about how good he is & that he doesn't need to practice etc. So, I gave him a challenge, that if he could beat me in a round with me giving him a shot a hole I would respect his views. Needless to say after 9 holes it was all over. I wasn't being mean or trying to show him up, rather I was trying to prove how delusional he was. During the round he was stating how certain major champions are "chokers" & that they work too hard on changing their swings. Again, I gave him a challenge , if he practiced what I showed him & gave me video evidence twice a week to prove he had , I would get him to break 80 in a couple of weeks. If this happened he had to wear an Arsenal jersey (my team ) out on his Xmas night out & he had to donate €100 to the Irish Cancer Society. True to his word he did practice what we worked on & he broke 80 after 3 attempts. He went out on his Xmas night out last night wearing the best jersey ever ( he supports Liverpool). I'm justing waiting for the cheque for the charity.
Why am I sharing this? Well sometimes in golf we all need a reality check & realize you only get out of this game what you put in. Will he go back to his old ways , I don't know? Will he finally realize that he didn't know it all? Only time will tell.

Golf is full of expert amateurs who think they know it all. If they were really honest with themselves they would realize that they haven't put in the effort. Could you do more with your game? Could you take more lessons? Could you practice more? Could you work on the mental side?
The answer to all of these questions I'm sure is YES. Well if so , make a commitment for 2016 to be the best you can be. I'm not talking about becoming a Tour Player but to reach your full potential. Who knows you might actually enjoy it.

It's up to you , now JUST DO IT!!!!!

Enjoy the process,
Darren



Thursday, December 17, 2015

Play with what you have mastered

I was reminded today of a situation I was involved in years ago. While playing a Pro-Am , one of my team a high handicapper was in the woods on the right of the fairway. We were going well in the team event & it was looking like we would win the Pro-Am. I looked over & saw my amateur partner buried in the rough , in the trees, proceed to take out a 3 wood. I walked over & said," What are you doing?" to which he replied I am going to bend this 3 wood out & around the trees & cut the ball 30 yards. I replied, "Have you ever practiced or mastered this shot?" He said, "No, But I've seen Seve do it before!!!!!" I took the  3 wood off him, told him to pitch out sideways , to take his punishment , use his shot on the hole & try gain a par. He did , but said that it was an exciting Par.
The moral of this situation is , that in order to be able to hit certain shots you must have practiced them & have mastered them before you can add them to your Arsenal. It's a common mistake that amateurs attempt shots that they have not mastered. Now, that is just naive & detrimental to your confidence & score building. Remember the card doesn't tell a story , just a score. It doesn't matter how you do it but please do not attempt shots that you have not mastered.
THERE WAS ONLY ONE SEVE!!!!!
Enjoy the Process,

Darren

Monday, December 14, 2015

Programming you Swing.

This a technique developed by Dr.Joe Parent. The method involves making practice swings or movements from behind the ball. From behind the ball make numerous swings or mini swings feeling & focusing the move or technique you are working on. Once you have done this a couple of times say to yourself that your swing is now "Programmed".
Select & visualize the shot you want to hit & step into the ball.Just like a computer your brain is now "programmed". You must trust your intuitive mind to do it's best to replicate this "programmed" move & then just let it happen.
The trust element here is very important. Will it work every time? No, but the more you practice it the better the percentage of success will increase.




Sunday, December 13, 2015

What can you learn from Conor McGregor

Conor McGregor shook up the world of MMA when he knocked Jose Aldo out in 13 seconds.
So, what can we as golfers learn from McGregor. He talks very brashly & people said that was all he was"TALK" but Conor had a belief in himself not from delusions but from hard work. He always spoke about what he was doing & what he could do. Outside agencies were not his concern.
As, golfers you cannot control everything around you. You will get bad breaks, bad weather & sometimes it will not always go your way. But, if you put in the work & I mean work & be honest with yourself. "YOU" is all you can control. That's all you need to control , just you. The greats never worried about others , focus on you & the now. The past is the past , the now is the now & the future hasn't been decided yet.

In golf we spend so much time out on the course that it is impossible to control everything, just you. You decide how to feel & hold yourself. So, the next time you are out playing , don't fret about external conditions out of your control. Stay in the moment, focus on you & your demeanor.
You will have good & bad days but you get out of it what you put in.
Enjoy the process.


Saturday, December 12, 2015

We all have faults!

Every golfer whether they be Rory McIlroy, Jordan Speith or you have faults within their game. The onus is on each individual to work on these faults. Lessons  are very beneficial but it is down to each golfer to take the information from a lesson & to work on it , yes " Work" on it. All too often I have seen amateur golfers who take a lesson but don't put in the work to practice what they have learned. As, in any walk of life you need to practice & fine tune a skill, so, you can improve.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING ?
If you are truly honest with yourself & you want to improve , you need to ask this question," Can I do more?"  Well can you ? Of course you can!!!!!! Improvement in golf can be slow but with a clear program & goal where you can analyze your results improvement is attainable.
As, in my previous post it can take only a few minutes of your day everyday to achieve this. The idea is to be the best of your ability.





Friday, December 11, 2015

Winter Practice

Well it's that time of year where golf courses are closed due to inclement weather & the harsh cold days are here. Many people put the clubs away for the duration of the winter period. Is this beneficial to your game? Of, course not . We can all make excuses but if you want to start the new season off on the right foot you can. You don' need to be practicing on the course or at the range. By, simply making a few swings each day , either in the house or the back garden is very beneficial. Like all sports golf can be very frustrating but by diligently making 50-100 swings a day can help during this period. This can only take up 10 minutes of your time. Not, much to ask is it ? Also, slow swing drills are very beneficial. I hope we all can get some golf in over the festive period & hopefully the weather will be on our side but 10 minutes a day can help.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1JXFn9xI70




Monday, March 30, 2015

Goals & Objectives 5 Step Plan

DREAMS & OBJECTIVES
1:
2:
3:
4:
5:

OUTCOME GOALS  (objective outcome indicators)
1:
2:
3:
4:
5:

Areas you need to improve on to achieve your dreams & outcome goals( what will give you the opportunity to realize these targets?)

1:
2:
3:
4:
5:
 PERFORMANCE GOALS ( numeric indicators of skill progression)

1:
2:
3:
4:
5:

PROCESS GOALS (behaviours, that if engaged in & achieved will help you achieve your performance goals)

1:
2:
3:
4:
5:

Rank these into priorities.
Identify when you want to work on them.
What are the barriers to achieving these goals.

Enjoy the process

Darren
0860827800



Thursday, March 19, 2015

GOALS &OBJECTIVES (5 step-plan)

as, in all sports it is important to have goals & objectives. You cannot achieve or attain a certain standard without a plan in place . Otherwise you are leaving it up to Lady Luck.

The plan below , outlines the goals & objectives you are trying to achieve, and further, helps you clarify the specific strategies that you need to employ to realise those targets.

DREAMS AND OBJECTIVES
1. What are your dreams, where would you like your game to go? Where do you want to be ( with respect to your performance) in one year, in five years etc.

OUTCOME GOALS
2: What are the 'objective' outcome indicators that will tell you that you are progressing in pursuit of these targets?  Eg. Tournament wins, handicap reduction , making teams , you decide.

3. What aspects of your performance do you need to improve . Is it physical , psychological ? You need to identify them. What skills do you need to acquire? Putting, driving, accuracy, confidence, better routine?

PERFORMANCE GOALS
4. How will you be able to asses your progress? How will you know whether you are making progress , or whether the specific aim has been achieved. Statistics are great for this.

PROCESS GOALS
5. What are the specific strategies that you need to employ to help you achieve your performance goals? These can vary in specificity. For example, one focus on my key word or phrase that represents the desired movement objective, whereas, one might have a specific goal to adhere to their routine every time they have some doubts about their next shot.

Next week I will go through how to break each section down.

Enjoy the process.

Darren
0860827800

Thursday, March 12, 2015

Before your game of golf.

In this weeks newsletter I will be looking at the time spent before your game. A few elements that are crucial before golf are basics in all sports. Make sure you are fully hydrated & that you have consumed a slow releasing carbohydrate food. Remember if you are thirsty it's already too late , so take in fluids before & during the round. In the modern world it's not always possible but try & consume food at least one hour before your tee time. Getting to the course well in advance of your game can help you establish a practice warm up but more importantly you can asses the conditions of the day. With certain weather conditions you can set out a game plan for your round, ie if it's into the wind on certain holes , already have in mind to take plenty of club. Focus on the positive aspects of your last game & remember the good shots.
Your body language & breathing are vital . Stand tall with the head upright & try not to let your eye level drop below the flag while walking. Breathing deeply allowing the stomach expand while inhaling (babies do this great) can help calm the nerves & give you a personal ease.
Remember it's only a game , it's not life or death or your job! You are going to hit bad shots so be mindful of that & accepting this can help your overall confidence.
Enjoy the process.

Darren
0860827800
darrenmcloughlinpgapro@hotmail.com

Wednesday, March 4, 2015

The Winning Formula

Congratulations to Padraig Harrington on winning the Honda Classic . Padraig has immense tenacity & a work ethic that is second to none , so , it came as know shock to me that he has won again on the PGA Tour.
So, what can we learn from his great win. As, he said himself he had the YIPS in 2012. Yes a major champion who had the YIPS. Does this sound familiar, well maybe it does. Bernhard Langer had the YIPS in his career too. The unmistakeable factor between these too players is there unrelenting work ethic, diligence & love for practice. Were they both the two most talented golfers, certainly not but they sure as hell have squeezed every  ounce out of their games.
In golf you are going to "Fail" more than you win. It's a harsh fact but one we all must face. The process or journey to achieving a goal or achievement is totally an individual thing. For you it might be breaking a certain gross score, for a beginner it might be making a Par & for a Tour player it can be a win or retaining their Tour status. You see as in all walks of life success for the individual has different levels & bearing within their lives.

With this in mind at the Darren Mc Loughlin Academy for the Month of March I am offering you a specialised individual program which covers all the areas of this great game. This program will be catered specifically for you. It's your program to suit your goals & aspirations.
To start you on the new season the initial offer is for 3 One hour lessons with video analysis, drills & individual assessments for only €100. This offer is limited so contact me ASAP .
In the next Newsletter I will be touching on the process of what to do before your game of golf.

Darren

Tel:0860827800
Email:darrenmcloughlinpgapro@hotmail.com

Thursday, January 15, 2015

Practice with consequence

As, in many sports with all great athletes commitment & dedication become their routine. Practice for practice sake is a waste of your time. Your practice must have a consequence. It must be beneficial in ways where you receive feedback & where you can see developments & improvements.
In saying this you must make your practice harder than the real course situation. By doing this when faced with challenging situations you will not be fazed . Also, your confidence levels will increase.
Two examples of this are:
1: practice hitting shots out of divots , this can improve your control of the face at Impact but also plants a seed in the brain saying " if I can hit it out of a divot , off a good lie is easy"
2: worst ball practice, play 9 holes with two balls. When you hit the two balls off the tee, choose the worst shot & hit the two balls from there, then choose the worst ball from there & play the two balls again until you eventually hole out.Play this way on every shot. If you can achieve a reasonable score taking the worst scenario on each shot , you learn to accept that golf is not a game of perfect but a game in which the object is to get the ball in the hole in the least amount of shots.

Enjoy the process,

Darren.