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2012 Ryder Cup Ready: 9 Hopes and Questions

David Horne —  September 27, 2012 — Leave a comment

ryder cupI love watching the Ryder Cup. The first shot for the 2012 Ryder Cup is less than 24 hours away. Here is a list of hopes and questions I have for this year’s event.

  1. I hope the USA will end its run of horrible looking uniforms. I’ve seen some previews and all looks good so far. 
  2. I hope the matches are close enough going into Sunday to keep the interest of the fans.
  3. Will we see the Rory vs. Tiger singles match?
  4. I hope people will remember this is still just golf. Let’s have fun.
  5. I hope Phil, Tiger, Kaymer and Poulter show up with their A games
  6. Since we had the social media olympics, will this be the social media Ryder Cup?
  7. I hope the TV coverage is better than the PGA Championship. PGA America needs to give more content instead of commercials.
  8. I hope the weather holds up. But a little breeze will make it interesting.
  9. Who do you think will win the cup? Please leave predictions in the comments
photo credit: ltbeyer
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Visualize Your Way To Lower Scores

Kevin O'Connell —  July 24, 2012 — Leave a comment

One of the greatest tools for improving your game is simply visualizing what you want to happen.

Most of us already do this, only we visualize what we don’t want to happen. The problem is our brains don’t understand the “don’t” part. Taking 15 minutes to think about the best shots you hit in your previous round can do wonders for your game. Stay away from the “could have and should have” thoughts and only concentrate on the good shots you actually hit.

Now apply this when you are on the course by adding a few seconds to your pre-shot routine to visualize how you want the shot to come off. Keep those positive thoughts in your mind as long as possible while you execute the shot. It won’t be easy at first but like any other part of your game, in time you will see improvement in your visualization and in your play.

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Black tees marker for #7 at Tree Tops

Why Are Golf Handicaps Important?

Kevin O'Connell —  June 26, 2012 — Leave a comment

A golf handicap is the best way to level the playing field between playing partners. It can also help determine which tee markers each player should be playing from.

How do handicaps enhance your golf course experience?

A well designed golf course should give players from each tee marker the same kind of experience based on their own abilities.

How can you keep track of yours?

If you are a member of golf course or country club your golf shop with have a handicap system that you can use. They usually are connected to your state golf association. It is important to record all your scores for accuracy. They even have a score system to figure out what you shot if you happen to pick up on a hole.

Good free smartphone apps to track your handicap

  • Titleist App featuring My Game section allowing you to post scores and track stats.
  • GHIN Mobile from USGA:   Your state or regional golf association uses the GHIN service and this app is connected to that allowing you to upload scores and view your current handicap and scores away from your home course.     No more sandbagging or asking:  What’s your real handicap?

photo credit: danperry.com

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Golf at Thoroughbred

The Secret to Saving Your Round from Disaster

David Horne —  June 13, 2012 — Leave a comment

Last weekend I played golf at Willow Creek CC in High Point. It was my first round in over a month and things were a little rusty. Despite some my game being off a bit, I scored pretty well. It was the first time in my life (20+ years playing) I figured out something my coach has been trying teach me for over a decade. I think it will help you play better too.

Most of the time a golfer benefits by “trusting” their swing and not focusing on a million different mechanics when they play. You should, as the standard advice goes, dance with the one that brought ya.

But what do you do when who you brought has two left feet and the rhythm of this guy? You have to make adjustments and tweaks to find the something that gets the ball in play and in the hole.

 Here are a few tips that helped me make the click on Sunday:

1. Small change big result

Don’t underestimate minute changes. You will be surprised how much a slight shift in ball position, stance, grip, etc will make.

2. Take a few more practice swings in your routine

I’m usually a one practice swing guy. However, in this case it was helpful for me to take multiple swings trying to zero in on a different feel.

3. Drop back a club off the tee

Hit a 3 wood or hybrid or anything that gives you some margin for error. This saved me several times when the experiment didn’t produce the result I was looking for.

4. Be extra patient

This is the most obvious one. Give you yourself the room to keep making adjustments. It tool me 8 holes to find a feel I could work with.

Hope these help. After the round I’d recommend scheduling a lesson and getting a check up to make sure you are not using duck tape on the Hoover Dam.

How do you get through a round when you don’t have your “A” game?

 

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Golf hole at Littler River

Tips for Developing a Winning Pre-Shot Routine

Kevin O'Connell —  June 7, 2012 — Leave a comment

I often get asked for swing advice and usually the problems are due to poor setup. Fixing setup issues are fundamental but if the player doesn’t have a solid pre-shot routine, achieving the proper setup becomes incredibly difficult.

A good routine helps you get aligned correctly to your target and helps get your body into the correct setup positions. These are two critical elements to play more consistent golf.

The misconception a lot of golfers have is that the routine needs to be complicated. A simple and short routine can help you eliminate mistakes. Having no routine leads to sloppy, frustrating play.

Tips for developing a winning routine

  1. Watch other golfers that you admire and get ideas for your pre-shot routine.
  2. Spend time on the range to create and practice a brief routine.
  3. Make sure it fits your personality. If you are a fast paced person it is best to have a quicker routine that matches your natural rhythm.

If you watch any professional or top amateur events, you will see every golfer has a repeatable pre-shot routine. I think this is an important part of the game that often gets overlooked. Remember, keep it simple and automatic.

What are your pre-shot routine secrets?

photo credit: Zach Dischner

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