The Summer officially starts; where does your golf game currently sit?

Summer is beginning and golf is in full swing mode!  The US Open has just concluded, a record number of viewers watched the final round( not matched since 2015) and golf rounds across the world are up dramatically compared to just 5 years ago.  Golf is booming....but is your golf game matching that booming arc of improvement?

As I coach at Jack Tone Golf in Ripon, CA I am coaching on a great grass range.  The course has two very large putting greens and a short game area. Basically JTG has a great array of places that a dedicated golfer who really wants to improve their swing and technique.  Once your techniques are improved, as you head to the very challenging 18 hole course you are faced with very small greens, so precise iron shots are a must.  Being able to read the contoured greens is a must and since you will not hit every green in regulation, you better arrive at JTG with a VERY GOOD short game of pitching and chipping.

This simplified overview begs the question for any golfer; of the many areas I suggested that are needed to play good golf at this 18 hole course what are the weakest areas of your golf game?

If you are an avid golfer you probably cringe at the idea of really looking into your weaknesses of your golf game.  I see plenty of players hit golf balls on the range at JTG but most do not have very good structure in how they practice or hit balls.  Of course some go to the range for fun to hit some long drives and just enjoy golf.  That is really why continues to grow, new golfers want to have fun with golf...that is perfect.

However if you are an avid golfer and want to improve your shot making and scores you will have to find your weaknesses in your golf game that hinder your advancement to improving your scores, shot making and FUN.

I have had the privilege to work with Dr. Rick Jensen and Dr. Joe Dispenza personally in the field of sports psychology.  Both have stated that to create anything that you want in your golf game; you have to start at the end and work your way backwards.  It forces your brain to think outside the box.  If you find the root of anything, you have a few choices: accept it, change it, or ignore it.
Depending on your choice it will create a cascade effect that will lead to you creating the desire you want (which was the goal at the end mentioned above).

So to become a better player going forward for this summer and fall and beyond you must first learn to lean on and identify what your current weaknesses are in your golf game?  This is not easy, because most golfers do not really look deeply into their weaknesses.  Victor Hovland on the PGA Tour had a huge weakness in his short game and constantly ignored it.  Last summer he addressed it head on with agonizing pain, but what did golfers see at the Ryder Cup?  Chips and pitches going into the cup, or just tap ins to save par.  He stated after the Ryder Cup that he was much more a total player when you began to strengthen his weaknesses of his short game.

The story here for you the every day golfer is simple: start to lean on your weaknesses and incorporate those into your weekly practice.  If you need help with that you can always come see me and I can help you with driving, pitch shots, chip shots and putting.  

As you start to work on your weaknesses the goal next is to become aware of your body, mind, etc .  What I mean by this ; as you work at weaknesses you will become very aware of what your mind is telling you.  How your body feels and reacts to working on those weaknesses.  Every weakness will have a trigger effect on your mind as Dr. Jensen used to tell me. That trigger will lead to how you react to situations or shots , can you stay focused on the task and if so are you focusing on the right area (idea, body motion, etc).

Weaknesses are good sign when you find them because it is a good signal for you to now create strength and when you strengthen any part of your game: your golf scores will come down!

When I coach players in my Player Development Programs I coach them on how to mentally work on their weaknesses at the course, on the range and at HOME. Both Dr. Jensen and Dr. Dispenza are HUGE proponents of creating greater change in your golf game at home using the silence of your mind, intention, visualization and meditation.

When you work more mentally at your golf game tremendous improvement can occur at a much faster rate.  If something is off in your game you can work at home through visualization, intention and meditation to help change your game.  Jason Day, one of the top players in the world does this every day, he finds 15-30 minutes in the morning to get in a quiet space and begin to visualize and feel the new swing motions or feels he wants to create.  He works on feeling new scores for his play, he visualizes shots he wants to hit, the shapes of shots, the height of shots, etc.  

Overall no change in your golf game will take place without consistent practice and revision of your swing techniques and weaknesses.  As you work at each aspect, a revision will have to take place from time to time just like a contractor was hired to build a new porch on the back of your house...at some point in the building of that back deck there were times you had to pivot to change...could have happened from the building permit, the weather, the soil did not work as well as expected.  Revisions always happen so be prepared for them.

If your current golf game does not sit where you want it to here on the eve of the first day of summer then you need to do something about it!  Take action to improve your game; because if you do not then your golf game will stay where it is.  Action is not for everyone who is getting into golf and wanting to have fun.
But it is needed for over 90% of golfers.  Why do I say that?  Because over 98% of people who come to me for instruction state they want to be more consistent.

Consistency takes action, time, persistence and direction at your weaknesses to make them strengths!  Strengthen your Summer and Fall golf and have fun doing it!