Today's question comes from one of our most active users on the blog. Robert Meade often answers many of your questions because he has studied the Peak Performance Golf Swing for so long. He owns most of the instructional videos available in Surge's Shop and can be seen quoting the swing manual on many daily blog posts.
Pulling off difficult shots can sometimes be easier than hitting a shot from the middle of the fairway. This is because most of the time it will require more concentration and there is less margin for error. Robert says that whenever he has to hit the ball over a tree, he hits some of his best shots. He tries to visualize something in front of him in order to get the same ball flight, but he's unable to do so. He wants to know if there's a way to repeat the same kind of precision when there's no obstruction.
Surge,
In todays daily you shared the the experience and question of Ted, IN YOUR OWN WORDS: CURING HOSEL ROCKETS
In the comments that follow there is an observation made by Howard Pilgrim about how he hits great shots when he needs to clear a tree. He often hits his best shots and gets the best results. In my following comment to his, I repeat that I often have the same experience. Please review our thoughts there and then could you please cover this in a future daily. In part, Howard concluded that holding the knees too long and in the FUS is to blame and releasing and swinging up as you've said a 1,000 times is the answer. I may be guilty of this too.
My question is, how can we more frequently repeat this same kind of precision and get similar results when we have no obstruction or no trees in our way and have a good lie in the middle of the fairway? These shots are ones that come off with beautifully high trajectory and land close to our target. I have pretended to have a tree in my way and it just doesn't work. Again it may seem simple but how can Howard and I along with those paying attention among the Surge Nation learn to repeat the swing while being shot focused?
It may help for background if you review our conversations.
It has been long time since I have asked a question but I feel the answer to this question has the potential to unlock some great golf using the PPGS.
Thanks for considering this one Surge. And may I say, you've been on fire lately. I have really benefited beyond words by your recent lessons.
Your friend and loyal Surgite,
Robert Meade
You have to concetrate on each and every shot as if it's the most important shot in your round. No other shot matters except the one you're about to hit. Visualization can help you see what shot you want to try and pull off. But, you're probably not going to successfully pull off a shot if you've never tried it before. If you've never hit a particular type of shot, there's a good chance your confidence level is not very high. Any time you aren't confident in your ability to hit a shot, it's going to have a negative effect and you'll most likely miss your target.
At the end of the day, you've got to execute what you practice. Feel the swing, step up to the ball, and swing that feel.
Keep it vertical!
The Surge
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Comments
Practice
You reminded me of what I think is a funny story from my younger golfing days. I had the great pleasure once of playing a round at the Olympic Club in San Franciso. I was a 20 year-old college kid, invited along as part of a friend's birthday round. I played terribly overall, but hit one of my most memorable shots ever that day. On the short par 4 7th hole, I squibbed an ugly drive to the trees on the right and ended up with my ball among the roots of one of those towering trees, just to the right of the trunk. No where for me, as a right handed golfer, to take a stance, so I flipped my 7 iron toe down, took a left-handed stance, and knocked the ball up to 3 feet from the hole. My friend looked over and said, "Bob, did you just hit that left handed?" And I answered, "Yeah, but that's why I practice that shot."
Like you say, Surge, if you haven't practiced it, don't try it when it matters, but the reason guys like Tiger and Phil are so amazing with their short games is that they HAVE done so many of these shots over and over in practice. I spent about a dozen or so balls every time I'm on the range practicing non-standard shots, just so I know I have them in the bag when the time comes that I need them. High cut, low cut, high draw, low draw, punch and run, and so on. I don't do the left handed shot anymore, though I probably should give it some practice again at least once a month.
Good to see the shout-out to Mr. Meade here, and it's a great question for conversation. How do we pull off the bread-and-butter shot from the middle of the fairway when it should be so very simple? Practice, practice, practice. :)
Lefty
Robert, You were quite the lefty that day by the Bay. Fun memories . I too have actually practiced all of the shots Surge discusses in the Situational videos. Practice the easy from the middle of the fairway shots? Okay. As much as I play and as often as I am in the fairway after my drives which is normally at least 3 out of 5 drives I get plenty of practice. But now with a new focus. As Surge said, give each shot my full attention. Visualize and feel the swing and then feel the swing! I need to give the seemingly easy shots the same intense focus my trick shots get. Yes I do need to practice that.
Thanks for your thoughts Robert:)
My Slant
Robert, having the ball landing long and centre of the fairway usually means that you end up casually strolling up to the ball with a sense of pride and accomplishment and therefor thinking that the next shot will be the same, thereby being the catalyst for another FATAL ERROR.
Todays round
Neil,
First, thanks for your thoughts on the "FATAL ERROR". I agree completely. As Surge says in this daily, we need to maintain the same kind of focus and attention on all shots and especially on the apparent easy ones.
I was pleased over all this morning and hit quite a few good shots, even out of the fairway! Not not over pleased with my final score of 41 but did several things well. Parred the first two holes. Normally it takes me two holes to warm up however today I started out with a near perfect drive of about 255 yards right down the middle leaving a 165 yard shot to a pin in the back right. I pulled my 7 iron left of the green but was pin high some 20 yards from the hole. Nice chip just past about 10 feet and made the putt. Second hole hit another ideal drive maybe too good as it left me with an 80 yard pitch. Decided to use my most comfortable club from 100 and choke down for a solid 3/4 swing. That is my gap wedge. Focused, stable and accelerating swing. Ah, nice result finishing just under the hole with 9 footer uphill. Just missed left and tapped in. Disappointing bogies followed on the next two holes including a three putt on the par 5 12th. On in three and then rolled my first putt 8 feet by and barely missed coming back. Made a good par on the next hole which is a long uphill par 4.
After a good drive had shot of 145 with the ball on a slope below my feet. Remembered Surges advice that some times we're better off not trying to work the ball but simply hit the right club. So I set up aimed at the left side of the green (to accommodate for the left to right slope) and then took the club taking it all the way to the end of the grip. Then I just took a normal 8 iron swing staying in balance. ball finished right on line and 20 feet below the hole. Made the putt for a birdie. After 3 bogies I finished with a satisfying two putt par at the last.
5 bogies, 3 pars and one birdie. Mixed bag but enough good shots and putts and a pleasantly warm morning of golf.
One thought that helped me on many swings was not swinging too aggressively from the top. I was inspired by two golfers as of late.
Both David Hearn and In Bee Park have really soft initiations of the down swing. No evidence of the hit from the top. Hearns lost in the play off Sunday but I was really impressed by his easy move from the top. It looked like distance just happened without effort. It really helps in avoiding any over the top outside in and allows for an easy drop from the inside. Makes tempo and timing smoother.
Thanks Surge
Surge,
Wanted to thank you for addressing my question. Wasn't expecting any miracle solution but I will certainly replay your response a few times to get the sense of your take on it. Seems to basically come down to focus and concentration, It seems for me, the more narrow and single minded my focus is the better the result are. Any time I have a straight forward and simple shot and think or say anything along the lines of "just stay relaxed and swing nice and easy" it is the kiss of death. I need a specific target and then play aggressively toward hitting it exactly where I aim. Maintaining and edge of intensity helps me hit my best shots. That I believe is why I can pull off lots of improbably shots.
I will also carefully consider all of my fellow Surgites responses and thoughts.
Thanks again Surge and thanks ahead of time for the thoughtful answers from the Surge Nation.
Thanks for this Robert [and Surge of course]
Robert,
Hope that your question and subsequent reply from Surge works for you. I have just broken the chains of being housebound for two vigorous swinging sessions on the front yard driving mat. Something tazered my brain the other day while discussing with my golf mate via email, the Surge/Mike Bartholemew lessons and what I had gleaned from them, particularly the latest one.
Epiphany, light going on...etc moment~! Today was proof positive[so far for me], that I had not been rotating the forearms at all in the BUS!!!!!! How could I not??? To cut a long story short. In both sessions I rotated the forearms in the BUS into the mitt and then up the tree. Feedback was immediate and satisfying. BIG smiles from me. I had not been reaching the toe line in my opinion and my BUS was tight and 'forced'~! As soon as I rectified that, I was effortlessly swinging the club head through on all clubs except my r7 driver~! So that has been dumped for the time being. Now strange but I took out my blonde wood old Ping Zing driver and was swinging it effortlessy up to the high finish with ease, whereas with the r7 I was trying to 'kill the ball' on nearly every swing. So tomorrow if the forecast is accurate, we will be heading for the course and confirmation one way or the other. It is amazing how just chatting with mates and reading the comments after watching the videos can trigger the solution. We are blessed that we have such devoted and helpful PPGS staff and fellow Surgites. Have a great next round the pair of you, and for me, 'toe up-to toe up' or else.....
Thanks again
DH with fingers crossed.
R7 v Ping
DH I would imagine the R7 is a lighter club & could cause a faster tempo & attack mode at the ball. The old Ping, being heavier, could make you focus more on swinging the club & prevent an over aggresive Swing. I think the new drivers nowdays are too light, for me, & its about finding the right ballance. Good luck with that forearm rotation, & remember " all things in moderation"
r7 v Ping
Hi Russty,
Hope that you are coming along well in your recuperation. I trialled the wooden wood yesterday and enjoyed it. The wooden 5W was breathtaking. They are both staying in the bag and their 3W brother is joining them for tomorrow's foray. Worked out well forearms etc, thinking 'Finish' Much better tempo too. Noted too much in the lead palm and not in the fingers. Made a difference and how. DH
Might be the arrow
Dh, Sounds like your switch to the blonde Ping Zing did the trick. As Surge has said, sometimes if only one club is giving us fits then maybe it is the arrow and not the indian. As I mentioned to Neil above, I have gotten away from the "kill the ball" especially from the top where we need to patient and start easy from the top and then accelerate into the zip through impact. Maintaining the same tempo and grip pressure is key. Same muscle tone. There were a couple of swings today that felt like I was too tight and both resulted it hitting just fat enough for bad results. Maintaining the correct feel from start to finish is a current goal.
Hope weather permits you to get out and hit some balls my friend. Stay with blondie. Ditch the brunette!
Playing with focus
The problem is whether we are able to turn down that intensity between shots so it can be there when we have to perform. Maintaining a level of intensity for 4 hours can be too exhausting.
My playing partners and I often play a poor 9 holes followed by a wonderful 9. When you are not working on protecting a score, your natural aggression has a chance to show itself. You can then play fearless golf, with more of an I don't care attitude.
I agree with everything you say, about playing with focus and having a very specific target but once all that is settled in my mind, my prime objective is to make a swing with good tempo. I try to have this same attitude when putting and find it very effective. Thinking about tempo, while swinging, helps me hit more good shots because I'm thinking more of the process and not hung up on results. Don't put too much pressure on yourself by saying " I have to make this shot." A more positive thought like " I will make a good swing." will yield more consistent shots.
Thanks
David,
Thanks for your input. yes, making a wing with good tempo is key. Into the process on every shot. Agree to that turning down the volume between shots is important too. When playing with my wife, thinking about her game and helping her aids me in switching off between shots. When alone I am trying to enjoy the walk and environment. Trees, fresh air, the ducks, geese and rabbits are all good distractions. I do get way too serious for sure.
Thanks again for your thoughts
Say It Out Loud
Great question today and great commentary from Surge. One thing I would add, which I saw on a short video by a sports pyschologist, is to say out loud what you plan to do as part of the visualization process. I usually just think about it, and picture it in my mind. But, based on a few recent experiences (e.g. talking through hitting a fade instead of my standard slight draw), I think the verbalization must help. I never play with a caddy, but i imagine that verbalization with the caddy is part of the benefit. I can see how it forces me to be specific and makes me commit to the plan. Example - "I am going open the clubface, line up with the little tree behind the green on the left, make my normal swing, and hit a 3 yard fade with this six iron, landing just left and short of the flag and releasing towards the hole." Then, make a practice swing that feels right, and then swing that feel as Surge says. It IS vexing that the routine shots are the ones we flub too often. Even if all I need to do is hit my standard slight draw, I think I will benefit if I visualize and verbalize very specifically - "I am going to make my normal set-up, line myself up with the right edge of the fairway, make my normal swing and hit a drive that draws 5 yards into the fairway." I guess the only risk is that your playing partners will accuse you of being Babe Ruth after you call and successfully execute a bunch of beautiful golf shots!
Nice
I like this, RichF. People often think I'm crazy, anyway, so I might as well talk to myself on the golf course. I know that speaking one's intent out loud has a powerful effect subconsciously. The process of using more of our brain, by passing the visualization through our speech centers, may well help to get us fully engaged in the shot. I know I tend to do a lot more hit-and-hope, but then I'm too often on the golf course or driving range trying to clear things from my mind, rather than put new things in. ;-)
Consistency issues
Hitting regular shots consistently is something I've been working on a lot lately. Here are some of the things I've tried with some success, some food for thought:
- At address, I'm doing a "long waggle" in the mitt and a little up the tree (similar to what Surge and DJ do in their swing videos), then for the actual swing at the ball I focus on the clubhead path straight through the ball towards my aiming point.. I try to forget about the BUS when I'm actually swinging at the ball. For the actual swing I'm trying to think about the things that happen during and after the point of contact, striving for that balanced T-finish in the end.
- No freezing over the ball, always stay in motion, even just a little bit (something I know about but tend to forget and was reminded of again during the last "In Your Own Words" video with Mike Bartholomew). The long waggle above helps with this.
- As Surge says, feel the swing then swing the feel.. I can't overemphasize this enough with myself, it's in my nature to obsess about the mechanics of the swing, so I try to tell myself that I'm not going to get it right unless I forget about it during execution (as counterintuitive as that seems, I know that it is true). :)
Golf is SUCH a mental game (in more ways than one!)
Todd N
Motion
Todd,
Staying in motion and not freezing over the ball.............. that along with your other thoughts for consideration are all good.
Yes, mental game it is. Highs and lows. golf gives it all to us doesn't it?
Really good points you made for our consideration.