Monthly Archives: October 2012

Do More by Doing Less

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Do more by doing less.  This concept is so foreign and so difficult to embrace by the average golfer.  If you want to be a better golfer, you must understand the concept of doing more by doing less.  The final step is to fully embrace and practice this concept.  Just talking about it will not work.  The true reflection of how much you accept this concept is seen in the improvement of your golf shots.  When you actually do less, your golf shots will improve.

In my previous blog, “Channel Adult Training in Golf”, I discussed how the training to become a successful adult interferes with playing golf. We are trained that trying harder (doing more) will result in better outcomes.  We are also trained that doing a little extra (doing more) will give more benefits.

The most important concept about the golf swing is that, in golf, trying harder never works.  We also know that even though doing the extra credit problem on a test will give you a higher grade on the test, but doing a little extra in the golf swing will give you a failing grade in golf.

When I talk about doing less I am talking about the amount of force and motion that is used in the golf swing.  The average golfer “just swings” and is not really aware of the amount of force of the swing.  In most cases the force of the swing is the result of a violent swing instead of a rhythmic and efficient swing.

I want to bring up the business concept of The Law of Diminishing Returns. This is a concept that states that as you add more resources to a project, the returns will improve proportionally.  But a point is reached where additional resources will actually result in diminishing returns. This applies to how much force you use in your swing.

The length of the back swing controls the amount of force in the down swing.  Being aware of the length of the back swing is foreign the average golfer.  In order to do determine your maximum back swing length, you must be precisely aware of the length of the back swing.  You want to find your personal point of diminishing returns.

The best way to do this is on the driving range.  Go through your pre-shot routine, use your rhythm, and swing in balance to make a swing that uses about what you feel is 40% of your maximum back swing length.   The ball should go straight.  Note the distance the ball travels in the air.  Swing at 40% of maximum back swing length for five to ten shots until you hit shots that are fairly consistent.  I determine the length of my back swing by focusing on how I raise the right upper arm and the hands.

Now increase the length of the back swing to what you feel is 50% of maximum.  The shots should still be going straight but a little farther in the air.  Again, swing at 50% of maximum back swing length for five to ten shots until you hit shots that are fairly consistent.

Keep increasing the length of the back swing you use by what you feel is 10% more back swing until you reach a point where the ball does not travel further in the air or is no longer going straight.  You have reached the point of diminishing returns.  Now drop back down to the previous back swing length and your shots should now be going straight and about the same distance.  This is the length of back swing you should be using for your full swing.

You will feel that the length of back swing that produces the best result is a lot less than their “normal” swing.  This drill will show the concept of “do more by doing less.”

The most difficult part is to embrace the concept to do less is a requirement of an efficient golf swing.  As soon as your shots get worse, it is because you tried too hard.  You reached and went past the point of diminishing returns.  You will do more by doing less.

The reason the ball travels farther when the length of the back swing is increased is because the muscles are increasingly stretched.  The reason for reaching the point of diminishing returns is because the stretch in the back swing transforms from the stretching of the muscles to tightening of the muscles.  Once the muscles tighten, the energy dissipates.  What is thought to be building more energy by increasing the length of the back swing is nullified by the tightening muscles.  Tight muscles result in shorter distance.  What feels like 50% of your maximum back swing length is your maximum back swing length.  Just because the back swing is increased does not necessarily mean that more distance will be gained.  Golf is a crazy game.

 

Putting

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There is an old saying in golf:  Drive for show, putt for dough.  It means that most golfers are attracted to the long drive but golf is really about making a putt.  Look at which club brings the most revenue to the club manufacturers:  the driver.   People will pay hundreds of dollars to buy a new driver and will spend countless hours on the driving range trying to hit the ball farther.  Most amateurs would rather drive the ball farther, but all the professional golfers make their living by being great putters.

Very few amateur golfers embrace the fact that if they want to score better, they must putt better. When you go to the driving range, the range is crowded with golfers banging away with their full swings.  The practice putting green is usually uncrowded.  This is why golf is such a hard game. Most golfers would rather drive the ball 300 yards instead of making more one-putts.

Why is putting so important?  You will become a better golfer if you eliminate three-putts and make more one-putts.  The “old” Tiger Woods was an amazing putter.  When the old Tiger Woods needed to make a putt to save par or make a needed birdie, he would make the putt.  It got to the point where we would expect him to make a crucial putt.  Tiger Woods can dominate again if he regains his putting skills.  If he does not, he is like the rest of the professional golfers, we hope that he will be able to make the crucial putt!  Tiger lost his dominance when he lost his dominant putting.  Jack Nicklaus is the only other professional golfer that I know of who would always make a putt that mattered.  When you look at the wining Ryder Cup teams, the one common trait is that the winning team made the most putts that mattered.  When you look at the dominance of the Korean LPGA golfers, they are all great putters.  I believe that in Korea they choose the golfers who can putt and then they teach them to develop consistent full swings.

The goal of putting is to get the ball into the hole.  But that is not the focus of all great putters.  All great putters do not focus on the outcome.  The focus of great putters is to read the green correctly, start the ball on the desired line, make the ball travel the precise distance.  They focus on the process of precise read, line, and distance.  That is the only thing that the golfer can control.  There is a story that after Jack Nicklaus missed a crucial putt in a tournament a reporter asked Jack how he missed the putt.  Jack looked at the reporter and said “I made the putt. The ball didn’t go into the hole”.  That shows you where Jack’s focus was; the process, not the outcome.  It also shows the confident attitude that Jack has in his putting.

Putting is all about creating confidence and belief.  You need to take the time to experiment and to be open to try anything to develop a technique that gives you absolute confidence and belief that the ball will travel the precise direction and distance and fall into the hole.  There is no right or wrong way to develop confidence and belief.  Whatever method is used does not have to be pretty or logical.  It just has to make putts.  It is very personal and you are the only one who can say what works and what doesn’t.

PUTTER

You must take the time to find a putter and a putting technique that gives you confidence.  The putter must look good to you and must also feel good to you.  When the putter is placed behind the ball, the putter must be square to the target and look like it will roll the ball on the desired line.  The putter should feel that is a natural extension of the hands and that the face of the putter will be remain square to the swing arc.  The putter must also feel that it will transmit the appropriate force to roll the ball the desired distance.  The appropriate force is the force needed to make the ball roll twelve inches past the hole if it does not go into the hole.

The look and feel of a putter that inspires confidence is almost like a magic wand.  This “magic” putter should immediately start to make putts and also provide a sense of confidence that every putt will go the desired distance and direction and into the hole.

All putters have torque when the putter is swung.  This means the face will open and close as the putter swings.  The “magic” in a putter is one that allows the golfer to confidently manipulate the putter head during the swing so that the face stays square to the swing arc.  This is the “feel” and the “magic” that differentiates one putter from the next and is what the golfer is looking for in a putter.

Over time, this “magic” will go away.  Then you must either find another magic wand or find another technique that will make putts.  Usually, it is better to find another putter than to try to change the putting technique, but nothing is immune to being changed.

One putter technology that has the potential to change the putting landscape is the Lie Angle Balanced (L.A.B or LAB) technology.  This technology is designed to automatically keep the face of the putter square to the swing arc.  With the LAB putters, it is no longer necessary to manipulate the putter to keep the face square.  In order to use the LAB putters, it requires the golfer to abandon the manipulations that were used with the conventional putters and just let the grip rest in the hands and feel the putter just swing.  This concept of “letting the putter swing itself” may be too challenging for some golfers to change.

Here is a link that demonstrates the L.A.B. technology:

L.A.B. Golf

The L.A.B. technology shows that when using conventional putters, manipulating the putter, however slight, is required to putt well.

TECHNIQUE

The putting technique consists of a putting routine that is made up of a precise setup and stroke that evokes complete confidence.  A confidence that you believe that the putt will travel the correct direction and distance and fall into the hole.  Experiment with different putting techniques until a technique is found that provides complete belief.  A technique that creates belief produces a confident stroke that keeps the putter face square to the path to make solid contact with the ball to roll the ball the desired distance and direction and into the hole.

The putting technique should be simple.  It needs to be simple in order to be precise and repeatable.  A complex technique is not precise nor repeatable.  The technique should just take the putter back and forth in a rhythmic motion.

Whether the putter moves straight back and forward, inside to inside, or inside to straight, the putter head should be square to the path at impact and accelerating through impact.

Jack Nicklaus said “Acceleration through impact is a must, both to reach the hole and to keep the ball online.”

Golfers have used many different putters and techniques to keep the putter face square: left hand low, claw, saw, arm lock, long putter, etc.

Just as in the full swing, you must use a pre-shot routine in putting.  The pre-shot routine must include an effective green reading technique.  Green reading is crucial in putting because you may have the best putting stroke, but it does not matter if you cannot determine the correct distance and direction to putt the ball.

The basic green reading technique uses the bottom of the feet to feel the slope of the green as you walk around the green.  The bottom of your feet will tell you if you are walking uphill, downhill, or on a side hill.  You should start by looking at the putt from below the hole, the low part of the green, to determine if the putt is uphill or downhill.  Look at the putt from the side to determine the distance of the putt.  Stand half the distance to the hole and look at the last half of the putt.  Look from behind the ball to determine if the putt will break left or right.

MIND SET

Once you have determined the direction and distance the ball should roll, you must confidently make a pure stroke.  The attitude to adopt before making the stroke is the belief that the ball will go into the hole.  No worry or doubt.  Here is a drill to feel no fear:

  1. Place a ball six inches from hole. While using your rhythm, stroke the ball into the hole. Be aware of what it feels like to confidently accelerate the putter so that the ball travels the precise distance and direction.  It is this confident feeling that is needed for every putt regardless of the length of the putt.
  2. Keep moving back one foot at a time and see if you can keep the same confident mind set.
  3. When you get to a distance where you begin to worry or doubt, go back to six inches from the hole and start over.
  4. The objective is to learn what it feels like to adopt a confident mind set for every putt and believe that the ball will go into the hole.

It is better to use a confident mind set than to use a fearful or doubtful mind set.  Using your rhythmic stroke helps to maintain the confident mind set.  No worry or doubt.

For short putts, from three feet or less, confidence is the key.  This means the focus is to confidently roll the ball so it bounces off the back of the cup or hits the flag stick if you leave the flag in the hole.  When you tap the ball into the hole from six inches, you have complete confidence.  Tap a putt over a virtual hole on the green six inches in front of the ball and notice how far the ball rolls.  The ball will roll two to three feet.  So, on short putts, just aim at a virtual hole six inches in front of the ball in line with the cup and confidently tap the ball into the virtual hole.  Nine times out of ten the ball will roll two or three feet and into the hole.

Another way of creating a confident mind set is to use mind games.  Good putters use mind games.  The objective of using mind games is to create confidence and to take pressure off of the putt.  When Stuart Appleby shot a 59 at the 2010 Greenbrier Classic, he said that when he was putting, he knew the putt was going in the hole before he made the stroke.  When Vijay Singh won the FedEx Cup, he told himself that he was the best putter in the world.  When Tiger Woods needed to make a six-foot putt to tie Bob May in the PGA Championship, he told himself that the putt was so easy his mother could make it.  When Tiger Woods needed to make a twelve-foot putt to tie Rocco Mediate in the US Open, he said he did not care if he made the putt or missed the putt; he only cared about making a pure stroke.  Another mind game is to pretend you have just missed the putt.  When you actually execute the putt, you pretend you are practicing the putt you missed.  The pressure is off because you “know” this is just a “practice” putt.  If professional golfers can use mind games, you can use mind games.

Even though you are not on the PGA tour, you must adopt a confident mind set, have an effective routine, and just execute a confident stroke.  You must TRUST your stroke and BELIEVE the ball will go in the hole.

MY TECHNIQUE

I focus to always make a putt with the precise amount of acceleration.  Even on a one-foot putt, my focus is the appropriate length of the back swing and making a stroke that will produce a stroke that accelerates through impact to eliminate any chance of deceleration.  I am aware of the length of my back swing so I can feel the buildup of the appropriate amount of force that is required for that particular putt.  The feel is one of being rhythmic and continuous.

My current putter is the red L.A.B. OZ1.i.  The specifications are:

Length: 35”, Lie Angle: 63 degrees, Shaft: L.A.B. Golf x TPT, Grip: SuperStroke Tour 2.0, Alignment Mark: 3 small dots.

I use the reverse overlap grip.  I place the crease of the second knuckle of the left middle finger against the back of the grip and I lay the left thumb down the front of the grip as I wrap the left fingers around the grip.  I lift the left index finger and slide the fingers of the right hand under the left index finger so that the outside of the right hand rests against the inside of the left middle finger.  I place the crease of the second knuckle of the right middle finger against the back of the grip, I lay the left index finger across the fingers of the right hand, I place the right thumb down the top right edge of the grip while the right index finger lays under the grip.  I maintain a light and constant grip pressure in the hands throughout the swing.

To determine the direction of the putt, I use my feet and my nervous system to help me visualize the curve of the putt.  I straddle the point at what I feel is the apex of the break the putt.  I place an equal amount of weight on each foot and let the front of my hips settle over the lower body.  I feel how much my sternum is displaced off of vertical to determine how much break I need to allow.  If the sternum is displaced to the left, I will aim to the right.  If the sternum is displaced to the right, I will aim to the left.  The amount of displacement that I feel in the sternum is the amount of displacement that I will aim from the edge of the hole.  I also feel whether my feet are on an up slope or down slope.

Once I have “locked in” the direction, I focus on the distance.  I focus on the amount of force I want to use.  I consider the “appropriate” amount of force to be the amount of force required to make the ball accelerate a specific distance and then roll to the hole.  I divide the distance the ball must travel into two parts: acceleration distance and deceleration distance.  My view is when the ball stops accelerating it is decelerating.  I use the length of the back swing to determine the amount of force that is released in the down swing.

I stand so that the ball is positioned opposite the inside of the left heel and the putter grip is in the center of my body as I place the putter behind the ball.  I set my spine angle so that my eyes are positioned inside the ball about two inches with the inside of the left biceps touching the left side of the upper body to create a stable left arm.  I align the feet a little open and I keep the upper body parallel to the target line.

As I take my stance, I look at the amount of displacement from the hole to be the target and I use the target side of the right ulna bone to aim at the target as I hover the putter above the ball.  I am still aiming the target side of the right ulna bone at the target as I put the putter behind the ball.

My stroke is a swing of the right ulna bone.  I feel the target side of the right ulna bone stretch down to swing the putter to the right.  When I feel the appropriate length of the back swing, I feel the target side of the right ulna bone “bounce” to the right to swing the putter down the target line.  I allow the arms and the shoulders to swing.  I trust that the action of the right hand will result in the putter swinging on plane, like a pendulum, to roll the ball down the string of holes and into the hole; just as I visualized.

There is no need to try to use the hands to manipulate the putter head to keep the putter square to the swing path because the L.A.B. putter head automatically stays square to the swing path.

For me, this technique keeps the ball on the target line and the amount of force I use is very precise.  It takes a lot of practice to create the trust and belief that this process will make putts.  The bottom line is that this method currently works for me.  Once it stops working, I will need to find something else that works.  No one ever said golf was easy.

 

 

 

 

 

Swing Thought

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There are a lot of distracting thoughts in golf.  One of the best ways to block distracting thoughts is to use a swing thought as you make your swing.  If you consciously put something in your mind, you have a better chance of blocking distracting thoughts.  The swing thought becomes an integral part of the pre-shot routine. Essentially, the pre-shot routine reminds you to use the swing thought. Remembering to use your swing thought is the last part of the pre-shot routine. This makes using the pre-shot routine even more important.

You must spend time on the driving range to find an effective swing thought.  The swing thought is not only used to block distracting thoughts, the swing thought also stops you from thinking too much about swing mechanics. When you find an effective swing thought, your focus is on the motion of the swing instead of hitting the ball.

Here are a few examples of swing thoughts that golfers use in order to block distracting thoughts.

Start the Back Swing

Active back swing – This is a swing thought to allow back swing to have time to let the back swing “mature.”  Letting the back swing mature or feel like a pause at the top of the back swing will make the swing more rhythmic.

Push back with the left arm – This swing thought promotes a one-piece take away to start the back swing.  This means the upper body will start the swing instead of using the arms to start the back swing.  Using the upper body to control the swing has a better chance of keeping the right side and upper right arm synchronized.

Establish a Rhythm

Use a song – Find a tune that matches your personal rhythm.  This swing thought is a good way to focus on a rhythmic swing.  Use the tune to begin the back swing and continue to use the tune to a balanced finish.  A suggestion is the first few notes of the Blue Danube waltz: dah dah dah dum.

Use a word – This swing thought is a word that you can repeat to block distractions and to make the swing automatic.  Think of the word once to start the back swing and use the word a second time to start the down swing.  Think of a name like Sean Connery.

Enhance the Focus

Watch yourself swing – This swing thought requires strong visualization skills.  Just before you start the back swing, the golfer feels an out of body experience where the golfer leaves the body and is watching the golfer make the swing.

Be in a comfortable and confident space – This swing thought takes a strong mind to visualize a place where the golfer feels confident and comfortable in order to execute the swing.  This space could be a non-descript place or a real place where the golfer feels comfortable and safe.  In the golfer’s mind, the current environment disappears and is replaced by the comfortable environment.

Replay a favorite shot – This swing thought requires the golfer to remember a shot in the past that had a great result.  The golfer visualizes the past shot and just uses the same swing for the current shot.

The above examples show that the swing thought can be any thought that blocks distractions, prevents thinking about swing mechanics, and promotes a rhythmic and balanced swing.  It can take a while to find a thought that works.  Also, a swing thought can suddenly stop working and another swing thought must be found that is effective.  Golf is a mental game and an effective swing thought can help win the mental game.

How Many Swing Thoughts

The discussion of this blog article has been about developing a swing thought.  Most golf instructors say one or two swing thoughts are enough for the average golfer.  Here is what Jack Nicklaus says about swing thoughts:

This is coming from the golfer that has won 18 majors and has been runner-up in 19 majors.  This means that the golf swing is so unnatural that even the best golfer of all time needs to always focus on the motion of the swing   The swing does NOT become a habit.  Instead, the mind focusing on the doing the swing thoughts become a habit.

So, is Jack Nicklaus so exceptional that only he can have more than one swing thought?  That is certainly possible.  Or, should the average golfer have more than one swing thought?  Have the teachers of golf minimized our mental capacity?  In fact, I have six swing thoughts, and I consider myself an average golfer.  Here are my swing thoughts:

Back Swing Thoughts

  1. Feel the back inside of the ball of the right foot snap up to trigger an active back swing
  2. Feel the right side stretch up and feel the front right hip bone stretch down to coil the upper body over the lower body
  3. Feel the left arm stretch to the right and feel the front right hip bone continue to stretch down

Down Swing Thoughts

  1. Feel the back of the right shoulder stretch up
  2. Feel the front right hip bone “bounce” down
  3. Allow the body to swing the arms towards the target

I make sure I “do” the swing thoughts. It may seem like a lot, but the swing motions are not done at the same time, they are done sequentially like a dance choreography.  Although the time it takes to do the motions is less than one second.  I feel this sequence of swing thoughts gives me the best chance focus on the swing motion and execute a consistent golf swing.

I encourage the average golfer to find a series of swing thoughts that will allow the mind to focus on the swing motion instead of being distracted by the ball that is in front of the body.

On the other hand, Annika Sorenstam was asked what swing thought she uses.  She said “when I am on the tee, I think ‘hit it in the fairway’ and when I am on the fairway, I think ‘hit it on the green’”.  So, Annika does not know how she swings, she just swings.

The spectrum of swing thoughts is large and varied.  The key is to use trial and error to see what consistently works to produce a rhythmic and consistent swing.