Learn To Be Your Own Best Friend

Fri, 04/18/2014 - 14:00 -- Don Trahan

Golf is a sport that can humble you very quickly. Bad shots can creep up out of nowhere and suddenly you find yourself struggling to get back on track. The key to moving on from a bad shot is to forget about it. You need to find a way to let it go. Instead of focusing on the one bad shot you just hit, think of all the good shots you've hit before.

Ben Hogan was known for saying that you're only as good as your misses. I have a similar saying that he who misses best, wins. Both quotes essentially mean the same thing. A good miss is a ball that stays in play, and that's what your misses need to do as well. Eliminating penatly shots is a big factor in lowering your scores. Your mental game is what can help you get there.

Arian Batty has been a golf pro for nearly 35 years and, at first, had only bad things to say about the Peak Performance Golf Swing. However, as you can read below, his opinion has changed and thanks to the PPGS, he's playing better than he has in the last twenty years.  

About a year ago I was stupid to call Don on here which I later said sorry for. I have since watched all his videos and after being a pro for 34 years myself my game is now back to the best it's been in the last 20 + years . I only wish I was on his side of the pond to go and see for lessons.

Thank you Don, keep up the great work mate.

This swing works, it's as simple as that. Learn to become your own best friend, encourage yourself, and you'll start seeing lower scores too.

Keep it vertical!

The Surge

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Comments

Robert Meade's picture

Submitted by Robert Meade on

"You're not good enough to be THAT mad about that shot." Classic! Almost split my morning hot tea cracking up. That statement is so true. I am guilty of taking myself too seriously on the golf course and not talking to myself in a kind manner. Sure I want to hit great shots every time but the truth is it's not going to happen. What did Hogan say?, something like he hit one or two great (perfect) shots per round. The rest of the time we are keeping our misses in the playing field.
So while we look to improve or maintain a certain level of play some times we need to just get over ourselves and thank God we are blessed to be out playing our favorite game.
Thanks for the humor and words of wisdom Surge. I will try to remember that every time I hit a squirrelly or less than ideal shot. Hmmnnnnn..... I'll be needing this advice often then:)
Golf on!

Spud's picture

Submitted by Spud on

Surge
Thankyou for having such a passion for making golf easier for everybody. I was wondering if you have any information on breathing in the swing sequence to help with timing especially since the chest and abdominal muscles are so big and would therefore have an impact on our swing. Looking forward to your as usual expert comments.

Cheers
Roy

Hal's picture

Submitted by Hal on

Roy, go to the top of the blog to the search area, right below the logout logo. Type in breathing during the swing and you will get full page by Don on breathing made on Aug. 2010. Try that.
Hal

Kevin McGarrahan's picture

Submitted by Kevin McGarrahan on

Since having my lesson with Stretch in Phoenix a month ago, I am now seeing lots of improvement, especially with swing speed. In the past, I was a bit afraid of trying to swing too fast because I would get really erratic - Army golf. I would also overswing and become quite rotational. Now that I know where the top of my BUS is supposed to be, I have stopped overswinging. With that problem fixed, I am now swinging faster in the FUS and actually getting to the -Finish, recoiling and relaxing. It is amazing! In the 4 rounds that I played after my lesson, I was hitting my 8-iron an average of 125 yards and my driver a maximum of 235 with a maximum carry of 205. Now, I am hitting my 8-iron 140+ yards and my driver is averaging 240 with a carry of about 235. I had one drive that went 263 combined carry and roll today. I love it! Thanks, Stretch.

shortgamewizard's picture

Submitted by shortgamewizard on

Great to hear that your lesson helped out! PPGS rules.

Lynn42's picture

Submitted by Lynn42 on

Kevin
I played yesterday at my local course with a guy whos is a starter there and an 84 year old gentleman, George, who was out for his first round of the season. George told me he was recovering from a gall bladder operation and prostate surgery and had just gotten cortisone shots in both shoulders.

They were both much longer than I am. My driver averaged about 170 including roll out and George was easily 30-40 yards beyond me. On one long par 4 on the back 9 he was easily out 240 yards. I noticed his stance was pretty narrow and his swing was veritcal and easily within PPGS guidelines. He mentioned he'd given up the game for about 20 years when golf started to become more popular because the courses were too crowded and had just started playing again.

I asked him if when I reach 84 in another 12 years if I'll pick up another 50 yards off the tee. He grinned and assured me with a little practice it would happen...lol. Now all I have to do is get to 84. ;0))

BTW, I was on a roll for me, 3 over thru 13 holes....11 pars, 1 double and 1 bogie. Chipping was on the money, 8 chips in the first 13 holes that lead to 1 putt pars, something that has never happened before. Finished at 12 over due to 3 holes in a row on the back when the putter let me down and a thinned 5 hybrid approach lead to a penalty stroke followed by a 3 putt. Finished 12 over, but left feeling good about my chipping keeping it in the short grass for most of the round. Surge's rule number 5 has become my mantra.

Robert Meade's picture

Submitted by Robert Meade on

Meant to put Kev's message below his comment further up.
Anyway, Lynn, great to know you guys are starting to play golf again. warmer weather finally eh?? I too played with a gentleman who is 84 just 3 weeks ago. He was with his younger girl friend (maybe 70, lol). Cindy and I enjoyed there young attitude and both could play pretty darn well. They both hit off the most forward tee which made sense. Still both hit the ball solid and fairly far. Seeing this 84 year young gentleman play with such vigor was inspiring. I too hope to be playing then too. God willing huh?
Good to hear you were hitting the ball well Lynn:)
Play on!

Robert Meade's picture

Submitted by Robert Meade on

Way to go Kevin. Sounds like your time with Stretch really paid off!

resumez@cox.net's picture

Submitted by resumez@cox.net on

Robert;
My own theory: every golfer has a certain number of good shots in his bag every day -- and a certain number of bad shots also. The golfers skill level determines the ratio of good to bad.
This attitude helps to keep me on an "even keel" -- not too high on a great shot; not too low on a bad shot.

Just my .02 worth

Amos