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Aug '12
Develop more consistency on the course
By Tyrus York, SwingFix instructor
It’s happened to all of us … we’re cruising along playing one of the best rounds of our life, and then all of a sudden out of nowhere, we hit the most dreadful, disgusting shot we’ve ever seen, sabotaging our score and eventually our great round.
Ask 100 golfers what they would want to improve on the most and 100 of them will say consistency. Consistency is that elusive little aspect of the game of golf that has even the best players in the world shaking their heads.The most important thing to understand is that golf is not a game that will ever be mastered. We have yet to see 18 birdies (or the equivalent of the same) from an individual in competition.
But what makes it so difficult to simply play to what we believe is our potential?
I’ve compiled two reasons that I believe we are constantly searching for consistency and what you can be doing to maximize your potential to be as consistent as possible.
Fundamentals
If you don’t have sound fundamentals, then it is going to be very difficult to expect consistency.
So what exactly are fundamentals?
Simply put, they are your grip, stance, aim, posture and finish. Without these fundamentals, making a repetitive swing is next to impossible.
The best players in the world are reminded constantly by their swing coaches to make subtle adjustments to their fundamentals.
That doesn’t mean you have to have a swing coach at your side at all times to make sure you do everything correctly (unless you’re trying to get on the PGA Tour), it simply means that you need to set aside a small amount of time and money to get with a PGA professional on occasion to make sure your fundamentals are where they should be.
How often you need these lessons is measured solely by your goals as a golfer.
The Mental Game
Literally mountains of books have been written on the mental aspect of the game of golf, but yet somehow the average golfer ignores the role of the mental side of golf.
Once we learn the physical skills needed, then golf switches to a mental game. It is all about managing expectations and dealing with success and failure on the course.
If you’re trying to hit a shot on the golf course that you’ve never hit or practiced before, you have to know that this might be a poor decision and will likely result in a bad shot.
Dealing with bad shots affects everyone differently, but if you find yourself dwelling on a bad shot you hit a few holes ago, then you have a problem. The more you can stay focused on the course in front of you, the more likely you will execute each shot to your fullest potential.
If the mental game is new to you, then take some time this winter to pick up a book or two to help you manage your mental game. Dr. Bob Rotella is just one author that has written several books that I would highly recommend for any level of golfer to understand the metal game more fully.
And as always, visit your local PGA professional or a SwingFix.com instructor if you have any questions regarding any part of your golf game.