What to Do When the Wheels Fall Off During a Round of Golf Next time you're on the golf course and the wheels fall off, as they will do for all of us, what are some keys to saving your round?

(1) Most importantly, I would say that you've got to Choose More Conservative Targets as well as the Club you choose.

(2) Have a Go-To Shot that will help you move the ball from Point A to Point B in a manner that is acceptable, or more acceptable than what you did on the previous few holes.  It might be a punch shot or a shot with a certain curve to it.

(3) Stick to your Golf Routine as it can calm you down and help you through some anxious times.  If you don't have a routine, you need to get one! 

Put a cap on your bad rounds in 2012 with these tactics.  If you do, you'll be lowering your average score and that's what improving is all about.

Trent Wearner
scratchgolfer®.org - The Premier Golf Improvement Community


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Three Things to Improve on for Golf in 2012 Spring is right around the corner followed by the Masters and all of that means green grass and the start of the golf season for most folks.  With that in mind, it's time to think about the State of Your Game.  When you look at the upcoming season with regard to becoming better, I would stress to you to look at your game in three ways:

(1) What within my mechanics do I need to improve so that I can move the ball more consistently from Point A to Point B?  Obviously, begin with your weakest link whether that's putting or pitching or whatever that may be and see, probably with a trusted professional at your side, if what you're doing MECHANICALLY is what is holding you back. 

(2) The second process for improvement, and again look at your one or two weakest areas, is to see if there is a more EFFECTIVE WAY TO PRACTICE that will lead to better play on the golf course. 

(3) Look at your ON-COURSE PLAY with specifics like Game mgt, Self mgt, Decision-making, Strategy, and Mental and Emotional Skills to see if there lies something in this aspect that you can improve upon.

Typically the answer for improving lies in all three of these areas.  This is what we stress in our Golf Coaching Programs (Mechanical Improvements, More Effective Practice Sessions, and Sound On-Course Habits).  It might be that you can improve your putting setup but that more effective practice sessions will make a bigger impact on improving that area. Make it simple for yourself so that you can grasp and latch on to improving your game in 2012.  Look at your one or two weakest areas and vow to make them stronger.

Enjoy the upcoming season,
Trent Wearner

scratchgolfer®.org - The Premier Golf Improvement Community






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Phil Mickelson Putting Like a Kid After his final round at Pebble Beach, Phil Mickelson said regarding his putting that he is starting to putt like he did when he was a kid – not over thinking it. It probably goes without saying that we all get caught thinking too much about the mechanics of our golf game. While you may not be able to sense it yet, there’s a movement going on right now and scratchgolfer.org is in the thick of it. A guy like Dr. Rick Jensen is also at the forefront of this movement. He has a Certified Golf Coaches program that is the most beneficial program any golf teacher/coach could go through. So what is this movement you ask?

It’s an emphasis on developing your golf skills and learning how to practice so that you take your game to the course with more success. It’s about making better on-course decisions and managing yourself vs. falling back into the mechanical trap. There are many ways to swing the golf club. Not one way fits everyone. You just have to move the ball from Point A to Point B in a relatively consistent fashion regardless of your swing method.

The over technical golf instruction industry is a big hurdle as they’ve got their arms wrapped pretty tightly around people’s perspectives on improving. Certainly if you’re inconsistent or having trouble moving the ball from Point A to Point B, then it’s likely that you need some mechanical improvements. In that case, find and interview a qualified teacher/coach and tackle your plan head on. But don’t get caught on the mechanical side forever chasing your tail. FINISH your plan with that person then move to the competitive side of practice that helps you perform better vs. swing better with no lower of your scores. As Dr. Fran Pirozzolo says, “An athlete could work to hone their technique until the end of time, and still miss the mark.”

scratchgolfer®.org - the premier golf improvement community.



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