I just got back from an afternoon of golf with my dad and one of his former co-workers at the Tamarack Golf Course. We picked up a fellow named Tom, who had been golfing for 8 years. The temperature was a relaxing 60F and despite the forecast, it didn’t rain.
My problem is grip. For a very long time, my right hand (I play righty) would be in the correct initial position, but would get messed up during downswing.
I think the trick with golf is this:
“When learning, always be conscious of your mistakes. Be conscious of them so much, that you’re “paying attention” to your errors even when you aren’t. The more passive attention you give to a flaw, the more the correction becomes instinct.”
This can make the game very frustrating. But that’s good, because given enough time (say, 12 or 13 holes), your philosophy becomes:
“Ah, I don’t care anymore.”
The swings I made after feeling “I don’t care” were some of the best swings I made today. They say golf is more of a mental game than a physical game. And it’s true. One of the most common rookie mistakes is to swing super hard. The gains made with extra power come at the cost of control and accuracy. Don’t think about the game too much.
Anyone care to hit with me at the driving range?
Jun 09
I absolutely agree with the “I don’t care” mentality. I’ve been a caddie for over 7 years, and learned how to play simply from watching other people. But the best tip you can give anybody is to not care about the results.
Ever wonder why your mulligan shot is always better? Because you generally just drop a ball and hit it without thinking. Hence, proving your theory correct.