Lateral Slide Drills

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

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

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

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

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

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.