I want to take this time, on the eve of my round, to think about the things I would like to accomplish during tomorrow's round. I'll cut to the chase - I want to shoot an 84. My pal and I have talked about this nice number in the past and there is an easy way to come up with it that makes it sound very attainable.
Make a goal for yourself to shoot 2 over every 3 holes. You can get to that +2 any way you want - say 1 par and 2 bogies, etc. I like this because it breaks down the course in little bite sized chunks. Keep your focus for 3 holes, take a mental break and then regroup for the next 3 holes. If you stay true to this and actually do it, you will finish +6 after 9 (42) and +6 on the back 9 for an 84.
The last time I played Balboa (Day 24), I shot a 93. So, I am asking myself to shoot 9 shots better this time around. That's a tall order, but one that I am ready for. In that last round, I ended up 4-putting the final hole - I will not let that happen this time - at worst a 2-putt, so there are 2 shots right there and only 7 to go. I figure that I can save 4 shots on the front and 3 shots on the back - badda bing - an 84.
This is roughly the half way point of my 80-day journey. Knowing this, it will be good to measure my results after this round to see where I am at and how close I am to my goal of breaking 80. I started this journey by shooting anywhere from 94 to 100, so I figure that if I can shoot anywhere in the mid-80's tomorrow, I will be right on track.
Ryan,
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to your score. I'm wondering if you may be able to look into a query for me:
I have a great deal of trouble (at least on the range) hitting through my own shadow and watch my backswing with peripheral vision. Have you ever heard of a cure for such a problem?
I have 2 suggestions for you:
ReplyDelete1) You say that you have a great deal of trouble (at least on the range) hitting through your own shadow. Do you know what you are doing on the actual course to combat this issue? If so, then you can apply that same technique on the range and get in some quality practice.
2) Dr. Nick Rosa - The Golf Shrink - gives a suggestion in his Q & A on scigolf.com (http://www.scigolf.com/scigolf/nrosa/archives.htm):
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Question: I have a bad habit of getting distracted by my shadow, especially on full shots. I've had this problem so long that I'm almost conditioned to hit a bad shot. Can you give me a way to deal with this?
Dr. Nick Rosa answer: You're right on the money. You've become conditioned to hit a bad full shot when you see your shadow. Currently, your shadow is a stimulus which you automatically respond to by being visually and/or mentally distracted and, thereby, hit your full shot poorly.
After you've completed the detailed exercise two or three times, your shadow will become a stimulus that you will automatically respond to by being more visually and mentally focused (not less) and having improved full swing mechanics and tempo.
Read the basic exercise through once or twice. Then go on to the detailed exercise.
Basic Exercise:
1. Think of great full shots you've made over the years. Then choose the best one that you can remember vividly. We'll call this your "best full shot".
2. Close your eyes and visualize seeing yourself hitting your best full shot.
3. Close your eyes and imagine that you are actually on the golf course ( be there) making your best full shot.
Great! Now, on to the detailed exercise. Read it over a couple of times. Then go ahead and do it; reading one step and completing it, reading the next step and completing it, etc.
Detailed Exercise:
(1) Again, think of your best full shot.
(2) Close your eyes and imagine seeing yourself on a video tape hitting your best full shot.
(a) Pay attention to visual details; seeing the course and hole you are playing, time of day, whether conditions and, most important, your swing mechanics and tempo.
(b) Pay attention to auditory details; the sound of hitting the sweet spot as well as incidental sounds such as birds chirping, leaves rustling and so forth.
(3) Close your eyes and imagine stepping into the video. That is, imagine being back on the golf course making your best full shot so that you can see your target, the flight of the ball, etc., tune directly it to surrounding sounds, and feel the grip of the driver or iron in your hand as well as your best full swing mechanics and tempo. Then, take a deep breath, hold to the count of three, and exhale slowly (a trigger). - Open your eyes for a fraction of a second. Repeat step (3) three times.
(4) Close your eyes, take the same type of deep breath and imagine seeing yourself in the future, going through your preshot routine, setting up, seeing your shadow, and making a great full shot.
(5) Close your eyes, take the same type of deep breath and imagine stepping into the future so that you can feel the grip of your driver or iron, see your shadow directly, see your target, see the ball, feel of your setup and the mechanics and tempo of your best full shot swing, hearing the sound of hitting the sweet spot and ending by seeing the trajectory of the ball which lands and rolls perfectly placed. - Open your eyes for a fraction of a second and repeat step (5) three times.
What will doing the detailed exercise a couple of days do for you?
(i) Whether or not you see your shadow, you can take your deep breath to trigger being focused and have the swing mechanics and tempo that will support a great full swing.
(ii) When you do see your shadow, you will automatically (without taking a deep breath) be focused and have the swing mechanics and tempo that will support a great full swing.
Guaranteed!!!
Wow -- great tips! Many thanks for taking the time to research that.
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