MENTAL GOLF: Target Orientation

In our ZEN Golf pre-shot preparation we talked about becoming "target oriented".  Today we want to talk about why this really works to give you a better understanding of how to view your target.

According to ZEN Golf the part of the mind that controls the body does so by images.  When someone asks you "don't think about monkeys" what is the first thing that comes to mind.....monkeys!  Similarly when you think about "don't hit it into the water" the first thing that comes into mind is water. How often do you actually hit it in the water? That's because the word "don't" is not an image it is purely conceptual. The last image you've given your mind is the water. In fact, it takes incredible talent to mishit a shot so accurately that you do go into the lake!

The other thought that is likely to be complicating your "lake" shot is you making sure you make a good swing so the ball doesn't go into the lake.  Now you've introduced a "mechanical" thought into the equation further complicating what you're telling your mind to do.

You need to mimic what happens in other sports... take baseball for instance. A pitcher's target is a very small catcher's mitt.  They make the pitch to the target without thinking about the mechanics of doing so. The clearer their image is of the mitt the more likely they are going to successfully hit the target.  Their sole clarity of thought through out the windup is sending the ball to the glove.  Similarly, you need to pick a small target on the fairway or green and make it the clear image in your mind while you're making your free full swing sending the ball to that target. As far as your mind is concerned there is no water.

EQUIPMENT REPAIR: Paint

I recently purchased an M2 driver on Ebay from a private golf course in Canada...Priddis Greens who is an excellent course to work with.  They advertised it as a demo club with some chips with pictures which the club members had caused.  Nobody seemed to want the club so I got it for less than half price of a new one figuring I could fix the damage.  I first went to Orchard Supply Hardware and got gloss white and gloss black paint.  The black wasn't bad but the white just didn't match. 

I located a company in Kansas...Golf Paint Inc. They have original paint for most all clubs.  I was able to buy both white and black M2 paint which worked great.

The bottles are small and expensive but you don't need much to fix a chip or two.

  I got a bonus with the black....it also matches the paint on my black XC60 Volvo!  This was a good company to work with if you need to freshen up your metal woods.