Apr 13 2010
Take It One Shot at a Time
Posted in Mindful Learning , Tour News
By the time you are reading this article, you will have watched the completion of another great Masters tournament. You will most certainly have witnessed great golf shots being executed by some of the world’s greatest players. The course conditions will put these players to a test both physically and mentally.
Yes, they are playing at a different level of golf from the average amateur player but at the same time they must think and prepare for each shot no different from what you should be doing every time you play as well.
Have you ever had the thought cross your mind that you were going to hit a bad shot even before you started your backswing? Maybe it was the bunker or water hazard that you saw out of the corner of your eye or maybe the wind picked up and you questioned whether or not you made the correct club selection.
When you prepare to hit a shot, you must go through a process that allows you to totally commit to the shot at hand. By doing this, you will give yourself the best chance of hitting exactly the shot you desire.
As an example of this process; take the following items into consideration the next time you hit a shot on the golf course.
1. Know your distance. Walk off your shot or use your GPS.
2. If you have to go over water or a bunker, it is imperative that you know the carry distance for each club. I know I can hit my 8 iron 120 yards, but I also know that it carries 110 yards and rolls an additional 10 yards.
3. Is the green elevated or below the fairway? If the green is elevated, you must consider taking more (a longer) club in order to fly the ball to the green. Also, if the green is below the fairway you should take less club to reach the green.
4. Which way is the wind blowing? This can have a tremendous amount of affect on both your distance and direction.
5. Is the ball sitting level in the fairway? If the ball is sitting on an uneven lie, you should take into consideration what will happen when you strike the ball. Depending upon the lie, the ball will go a different distance and direction from what it would normally do under perfect conditions.
Once you have done your homework and step up to the ball, you should have totally committed to the shot. If you question anything regarding your club selection, you should step completely away from the ball, make adjustments, and recommit yourself to the shot.
Try using this routine the next time you get ready to hit your shot. You may be surprised at your result! You may not be playing at the Masters, but it’s all about you playing your best golf on a Sunday afternoon in April as well!