Lesson #4

In this lesson I gave you a solid routine to use for every shot. A routine is very important to focusing your mind at the task at hand as well as making your body feel relaxed and comfortable over some of the most nerve racking shots. Consistent shot routine leads to consistent results! Here’s the process we worked on:

1. Assess the lie, wind, elevation, and determine what technique distance you need to hit the shot.

2. Pick a precise (small) target based on distance and technique.

3. Stare at target while taking some rehearsal swings to feel the shot you have pictured in your mind.

4. Pick your intermediate target 3-6 inches in front of ball while holding onto rehearsal swing feels.

5. Set club behind ball and take your grip and then stance while connecting swing feel to target.

6. Keep the body moving then pull the trigger once you have a clear image of the target in your mind.

In order to perform your best you must have a target only focus on every shot. This activates your athletic mind and gives you the best chance at success rather than thinking about a swing thought and losing connection to your target.

I’ll leave you with a quote from Jack Nicklaus and some Mental Game book recommendations that took my own game to the next level….

“I never hit a shot, even in practice, without having a very sharp, in focus picture of it in my head. It’s like a color movie. First, I see the ball where I want it to finish, nice and white and sitting up high on bright green grass. Then the scene quickly changes and I see the ball going there: it’s path, trajectory, and shape, even its behavior on landing. Then there is a sort of fade out and the next scene shows me making the kind of swing that will turn the previous images into reality.”

-Jack Nicklaus

The one technical aspect we worked on this lesson was keeping the right arm more relaxed and soft, so that we can see your lead arm from this camera angle. Watch the guys on TV and see how many look like you in this picture. Just remember, the range is where we work on mechanics and swing changes but the course is where we need to preform and execute.