Where does your golf game need to improve?

Would You Rather hit the golf ball 300 yards and have 41 putts a round or Would You Rather hit the ball 200 yards and have 27 putts a round?

Both the 300 yard drives and the 27 putts are great stats to have. Both signify that you have talent. But, it’s rare to have a Golfer that can do both. I guess the way I look at it is - 100 yards more off the tee box doesn’t equal 14 strokes. Besides it’s a lot simpler to acquire a good putting stroke than it is to acquire the swing speed (and control of that swing speed to make center contact) so that you can propel the ball an extra 100 yards. So why not improve your scores instantly by practicing your putting more this year?

Would You Rather be inconsistent, yet sometimes spectacular out of the greenside bunker (meaning you can hit it close every other shot, but you also have just as good a chance to hit the ball over the green) or Would You Rather be consistent (meaning that you always get the ball on the green in one shot, though sometimes you have a rather long putt)?

There’s nothing like sticking the ball tight out of the bunker. Yet, is there anything more frustrating than hitting your ball over the green and possibly into another sand bunker. That’s how Double Bogey’s and Triple Bogey’s are made. Have a PLAN out of the sand to hit to the biggest part of the green even if it may mean a longer putt. You might not have as many one putts, but you’ll have far, far fewer Blow-up Holes!

Would You Rather have a slice 100% of the time or Would You Rather hit a slice 33% of the time, a hook 33% of the time and hit it straight 33% of the time (but of course not knowing before the shot which way the ball’s going to go)?

There maybe nothing in golf that’s thought of more negatively than the slice. And as frustrating as a huge slice is – there are many Slicers that have one thought in mind – get rid of the slice and learn to hit the golf ball straight. Yet, it doesn’t have to be that difficult. ‘Learn to love your slice.’ Why? Because it’s consistent and by knowing that you’re going to consistently slice the ball – you can aim for that shot. As opposed to the Golfer playing Army Golf (Left, Right, Left, Right).

Yes, many Golfers need to cut down on how much their ball slices, but that doesn’t mean you need to completely overhaul your golf swing to eliminate your ball from drifting a little right (for a right handed Golfer). Are you more interested in losing your slice or being more consistent off the tee? The key should be consistency. And if you’re consistently hitting your golf ball in the same direction, don’t fight it – aim for it!

Would You Rather be in a group that’s waiting for the group in front of you every shot around the golf course or Would You Rather have a group behind you pacing around and looking at you as they wait on your group every shot around the golf course?

Either of these situations is enough to foul-up a Golfers game. Yet, both of these situations are reality! You’re going to have to accept that you’ll be in one or the other of these situations frequently on the golf course and many times both situations at the same time. Don’t fall into the trap of the Monkey that uses these excuses as a crutch for why they didn’t have a good round. Yes, of course both situations are frustrating and tough to deal with – if it was easy, we wouldn’t use it as an excuse. But, these situations are going to happen and there’s nothing you can do about it except to either quit golf or build your own golf course.

So expect this to happen every time you play and there will never be any surprises. This way you can make your PLAN with a clear, calm mind before each shot. Let the other Golfers in your group gripe and complain as they work themselves up to the point where the only thing they can say is – “I can’t play like this. I can’t get in a rhythm by having to always be waiting before my shot!” or “I feel so rushed by the group behind us that I can’t concentrate!”

Would You Rather, during your practice time, spend an hour hitting a bucket of golf balls working on your golf swing or Would You Rather spend 30 minutes practicing your golf swing along with 30 minutes on and around the green?

This is an easier said than done question. Obviously the 30 minutes of each is what you’re going to answer. Right? I mean, I’m sure you already know that close to 65% of your shots are taken within 40 yards of the green. So of course you know that if more than half your shots are taken around the green that you should use at least half of your practice time there.

I must be an idiot to even ask this question to you because it’s so logical to spend half your practice time practicing shots that represent well over 50% of your score. I apologize for even asking you this question. I should be punished and lose my status as a member of the PGA by even thinking that you’d even consider spending most of your time banging ball after ball on the driving range and not spending at least equal time on and around the green since most of your shots are taken there.

Would You Rather, after a round of golf, go inside and have a drink and/or leave the golf course or Would You Rather go to the practice range to work on improving your game while things are fresh?

99 out of 100 Golfers have it backwards. They practice before they go play on the golf course. Whereas the successful PGA Tour Player is simply warming up before a round of golf; then practicing after the round while their swing thoughts are fresh in their mind.

The everyday Golfer is often practicing their swing before they play and then when it’s the most important time to practice (after the round), they’re either having ‘a cold one’ or in their car on the way home. When’s the last time you went to practice for 30 minutes after your round? Do you think it would be beneficial? Or are/were Tiger and Jack Nicklaus just wasting their time using this method since they were both teenagers?

Would You Rather use the strategies listed above to improve your game or Would You Rather read another lame Golf Magazine article about the ‘new secret to gaining ten more yards with your Driver?’ Which is going to give you faster, longer lasting results as opposed to fast fixes that often don’t work?

The Monkey continues to do things like they’ve always done things and then wonders why their game hasn’t improved in 5 years

The Player is constantly looking at their game to see where they’re lacking, what they’re missing out on and comparing it to how other successful Players are improving

Go ahead, Be a Player!

Regards,

Marc Solomon - Your Instructor For Life

www.GolfMadeSimple.com