The Moment of Truth

Proven methods to increase your focus.

Patrick Nuber, GolfTEC Manager of Teaching Quality

Many would argue that the most exciting shot of the 2012 PGA Tour Season was Bubba Watson’s shot at the Masters, as he corkscrewed a 155-yard gap wedge from out of the trees to hit the green, allowing him to two-putt for par and win his first major championship. As the eyes of the entire golf world were upon him, he executed this unbelievable shot at exactly the right time. What’s even more impressive was his ability to block the people surrounding him, the fans shouting “Bubba”, and the natural sounds of Augusta National.

How, though, are professional golfers like Bubba Watson able to execute these pressure-filled shots with endless distractions? How are they able to focus on just one thing – the shot at hand? What differentiates those that can execute under pressure and those that can’t? Simple – experience and decisiveness.

With as much golf experience as players like Bubba Watson have, they understand how to deal with any distraction imaginable. Jack Nicklaus once said that he never “saw” the thousands of people lining the greens or fairways. Rather, he visually erased them, which allowed him to perform in the toughest situations. In addition to blocking out distractions and focusing on the shot, the best golfers in the world are decisive. They commit 100% to their shot and never entertain the thought that they cannot execute the shot.

While we all may not be fortunate enough to gain experience from playing in front of thousands of people, there are some creative ways for you to practice your ability to block out unwanted distractions. Doing so will allow you to pull the trigger on your “must hit” shots.

Practice at the busy end – Sure, it’s easy to walk down to the quiet end of the range to practice so nobody bugs you. Next time, though, challenge yourself to hit balls at the busy side of the range to truly get an idea of how much little sounds distract you. Are your thoughts focused on the shot or the lesson going on behind you? If you are not focusing on improving on every shot, make it your priority to do so. Much like performance practice, which helps you take your skills from the range to the course, this transfer of mental practice will allow you to stay strong when you need your best shot…even when your buddy is shaking coins in his pocket!

Encourage discussion while you play – Earl Woods knew that for his son, Tiger, to be a top competitor, he would need to have mental toughness. To build this at an early age, Earl would try to distract Tiger while he swung by throwing tees at him or by asking him questions during his backswing or downswing. While doing this with your foursome is not proper golf etiquette and typically frowned upon, it can be a great way for you to develop mental toughness and learn how to focus on the right things, rather than what they are saying. During your next fun round of golf, encourage your playing partners to talk amongst each other while you swing. It may seem strange, but I’m sure your playing partners will be more than happy to help! Over time, you will build the ability to block out distractions.

Decide and commit – Too many golfers only judge the quality of their shot on where and how far it flies in the air. What if you judged each shot only by the level of commitment you had to it? The next time you are at the range or practicing, assess the level of commitment you had for each shot. Assign a shot with a low level of commitment a one, and a shot with a high level of commitment a 10. How would your shots score? You will find that there is high correlation between the level of commitment to the shot and the quality of the shot. Much like anything in life, the more committed you are to something, the more likely you are to succeed in doing it. Many amateurs do not practice this way and only increase their level of focus when they come across a pressure shot. Find ways to work on your commitment levels during practice and you will be able to fall back and rely on these things when you need them the most.

At GolfTEC, our Coaches understand what is needed to perform under pressure and are available to help you develop the confidence to capitalize on your moment of truth this year!

Club Corner

A closer look at Mizuno’s mix of irons.
Doug Rikkers, GolfTEC Director of Club Fitting & Merchandise Services, PGA Member

Over the years, Mizuno has earned a reputation for manufacturing clubs that appeal to tour level and low-handicap players. And while it’s true that Mizuno manufactures clubs that are revered by professionals and top amateurs, they also offer an outstanding mix of clubs specifically designed for the needs of higher-handicap players. In fact, Mizuno currently has five models in Golf Digest’s Hot List with Gold Medal awards.

Mizuno’s latest entry in the game improvement line is the JPX 825. The longest and most forgiving iron they’ve ever created, it features an ultra-thin face and the largest sweet area ever to deliver a balance between performance and forgiveness. If you’re in the 10 to 28-handicap range, this club is one you should absolutely consider.

If hybrids are more your style, the JPX 800 HD (High Distance) offers hybrid technology in the 4 & 5-irons, with an ultra-deep pocket in the remaining irons for high launch and maximum forgiveness. If you’re looking for distance and forgiveness in a very easy to hit iron, the JPX 800 HD is a great choice.

Returning to the list for the second consecutive year is the MP-59, which features lightweight titanium that increases the sweet spot by 5% and features Mizuno’s patented Grain Flow Forging for soft, solid, consistent feel on every shot. Generally intended for single digit players, the MP-59 looks, feels, and performs great.

New to the list in 2013 is the MP-H4. This revolutionary new iron offers the most forgiveness and playability Mizuno has ever introduced to the better player’s market. It features seamless blending of iron type hybrid long irons to half-cavity scoring irons. The set actually consists of three different iron designs:

• Long irons that deliver near the legal limit COR and deep COG for long, consistent distance and an easy, high launch
• Hollow mid-irons that offer a medium level COR and a very large Sweet Area for controlled distance and forgiveness
• Compact half-cavity scoring irons for precision and trajectory control

Each of the three head constructions are seamlessly blended for feel, trajectory, and ball control. The MP-H4 is like no other MP iron Mizuno has ever made before.

Also new this year is the MP-64. This is truly a player’s club and was actually designed based on input from Mizuno Tour Staff Member, Luke Donald. The MP-64 features varied cavity depths throughout the set, resulting in easy to launch, controllable long irons and pin seeking scoring irons. Using the highest quality material, the MP-64 offers the ultimate in control, feel and performance.

 

Performance Secret

Taking your game from the range to the course.
Darryl Welman, GolfTEC Certified Personal Coach, PGA Member, GolfTEC King of Prussia

Many golfers say one of their biggest frustrations is that great swings and shots on the practice range don’t translate to good performances on the course. While it’s nice to hit quality shots on the range without pressure, it’s much more difficult to hit these shots during a round. Not rehearsing a good pre-shot routine or simulating shots you’ll likely encounter during a round may quite possibly be what’s holding you back. Here are some pointers to help out.

Use a consistent pre-shot routine
A good pre-shot routine should be applied to each shot hit on the range and consist of selecting a specific target, then aligning properly to it. That target doesn’t always have to be a yardage marker or flag, but something along the line you’d like the ball to fly on, even if you choose a distance short of or past it as your actual target. To help practice aligning to those targets properly, use aids such as other clubs or fiberglass driveway markers.

• Place one by the ball that is lined up directly at the target and another next to your toes that is parallel to the other alignment aid
• Set your club behind the ball and take your stance along those alignment aids
• Before making the swing, take a look at your target (without altering your posture) to feel what that proper alignment is like−since the Rules of Golf don’t allow you to use alignment aids when hitting a shot on the course

Simulate on-course shots on the practice tee
What should be changed regularly on the range are the clubs you hit. For many holes on the course, you’ll hit a tee shot, followed by an approach shot. Therefore on the range, you should practice hitting a tee shot, then an iron off the turf, and maybe even a short shot after that if you often miss greens. Repeat this process in that order to better simulate the way you play a round of golf. If possible, seek out different lies around your practice facility that would simulate what you might encounter on the course.

Focus on your short game
If your facility does not have a quality short game area, you will need to ensure you spend some time on those shorter distances on the range. Many golfers don’t do this because they feel they somehow don’t get the same value for their money. This is exactly the opposite! Time spent improving distance control on shorter distances will translate to value on the scorecard. Be creative and pick specific targets or distances to hit towards.