A Major weakness most golfers have

2024 is upon us and the weather will start to improve all across the country very soon.  The Masters is just a month away, so all golfers know by then that the golf season has begun in earnest!

As I have transitioned to a new outdoor teaching facility here in the Central Valley of CA I have noticed a common thread that all golfers seem to have.  This is a weakness for golfers of any level really so it is not about where I am located now.  I have seen this weakness in my coaching in San Diego, Chicago, Sacramento, Phoenix, Minneapolis... you get the picture.  What is this weakness?

The weakness comes from the inability for most golfers to recognize the correlation or connection  of two simple concepts of the swing.  Neither really has to do with overly technical aspects of the swing so it is not too overwhelming really.

Blending balance of the body and balance of the mind is a weakness most golfers have.  I will take on one topic at a time and you can judge for yourself if you think one or both of these areas need attention.  If they do then they are a weakness that is impeding your improvement, it is that simple.

The first is balance of the body in the swing.  This sounds simple and almost elementary, however if you go to a practice range tomorrow and there is a line of 8-25 golfers hitting golf balls do they all swing in balance?  Look up and down the line and notice what golfers are doing.

Some are falling backward after a shot, some are coming up out of the shot they are attempting and will top the ball, or hit way behind it causing a huge divot behind the ball.  Some golfers sway too far away from the ball in their backswing causing the arc ( path of the club)  to travel across the ball.  All of these things you would see come as a result of poor balance somewhere in the swing.

As a golf coach for 34 years now I definitely look at any players balance when I coach them.  As  biomechanics expert I know the body is the key to how the club travels.  This would not short change your grip, ball position, body alignment for any shot. These basic musts of the swing never go away.  So body balance is a key issue in your swing and if it is off, your swing will suffer in some way or another.  Inconsistency would be a word I would hear from golfers and as a golfer you have used this word very often in your golf journey I am sure.

Another weak area is the the mind of any golfer.  If a golfer is never truly present with their mind when practicing or playing then their game will suffer also and weaknesses occur.

To explain further, when a golfer is in the Zone they have created a bridge of how the mind and body will work effortlessly together.  The mind assists the body to regain balance during a swing at an incredibly fast rate where the result seems effortless and flowing.  When a golfers mind is not cluttered with excessive thoughts of the swing or obsessed with texts on their phone from work or the latest social media posts when practicing or playing their mind has a better chance of being focused.

This past weekend in the Palm Beaches of Florida they had a rain delay at the Cognizant Championship at PGA National and during the 3 hour delay many players were asked what are they going to do when they get back on the course?
All of these players stated they just need to be back in the present moment, the wet course they cannot control.  They cannot control the wind, and they could not worry about what other players were going to be shooting when the course reopened to very wet conditions.  A high level player who is consistent knows that staying present for each shot with intention of what they wish to create for the next shot is paramount to their success.

Keeping your mind uncluttered when you play is not easy to do and takes time and patience to learn.  This is why an efficient pre shot routine is important for any golfer, it helps to quiet the mind, determine an outcome you desire to have and allows the subconscious mind to take over so your auto pilot swing can do its swing.  If your auto pilot swing is not consistent, it needs instruction so find an instructor to help you with your swing.

The trick to playing good golf is learning to listen to (feel ) your body to see if it is in balance plus observe your mind and see if the thoughts they are presenting to you are empowering your golf game or dis-empowering it?

Because I am at an outdoor facility now and have a golf course to coach from every day if needed, I am going to move to create a unique Instruction program to bridge these two areas together.  If you want more information about this new program please let me know through my contact page HERE.  It does not matter what part of the country you are in because I can use my Sportsboxai swing app to coach your swing from your location and use zoom calls to propel your mind to greater heights of performance as well.

In the meantime, if you want 2024 to be your best and at least more consistent, start to notice these areas of your golf game.  Golfers in the Zone are very good at these topics so as you improve one or both, your golf game will go from a weakness to a strength if you have the desire to work at it!
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