Thursday, February 23, 2017

MENTAL GOLF: Avoid the Anyways

I'm sure we've all done it....have some doubts somewhere in your set up and club selection that just doesn't seem quite right.  Zen Golf calls this the Anyways.  We might know what's wrong but not bother to do anything about it and "go ahead and hit it anyway", the result is usually terrible.  The first step in avoiding the anyways is recognizing them.  There are many different types.  One commonly occurs when using golf carts.  You leave the cart, go to the ball on the far side of the green or fairway and realize you have the wrong club for the shot and hit it anyway.  It happened to me at Poppy Hills where it was cart path only and the result of the wrong club was a triple bogey.

Another type is "between clubs".  Let's say you're at a distance a little too far for your 7 but shorter than you might hit your six.  If you set up for the shot with the 7 you might think you don't have enough club and with the 6 you might think you've got too much club.  If you don't make a clear choice you're setting yourself up for an anyway.

Another type is setting up with a club you aren't comfortable with...say a 3 metal on the fairway.  With no confidence in the club the result is usually bad.  I've never played with anyone who said they can't hit a 3 wood just before they attempted to do so that actually hit a good shot with it.

Other types can include feeling the ball is teed too high or too low.  Or maybe you feel the ball is teed to much forward or backward.  Sometimes you might feel you're too close or too far away from the ball.  Or you might feel you're playing too little or too much break on a putt.  If you're having a conversation to yourself about any of these..... all of these will result in anyways if you go ahead and hit the ball.

What can you do about it. Once you catch yourself in an anyway, before you go ahead, make sure you can commit to the shot...change the situation if you have to so you can commit to making the shot without having a negative conversation with yourself or feeling unusual or uncomfortable with what you're about to do.

Sunday, February 19, 2017

Golfers Live Longer

There is an interesting article in this month's Men's Fitness magazine dealing with exercise and golf.  According to the article any consistent exercise is good for you...even golf...according to new data out of the U. of Edinburgh, in Scotland, where golf was born back in the 1400s.  The study, the largest and most systematic review ever done, found that golfers live longer than non-golfers and are in better health overall.  Author Andrew Murray, M.D. says "Golf is a great choice for longevity, physical, and mental benefits - you can play it from age 3 to 103."  Murray says just ditch the cart and carry your clubs.  An 18-hole round can burn 1,200 calories, compared with 600 for cart jockeys.