Get Focused

Phil the thrill has given the golf world something to chat about, other than the past.  Now golfers can chat about the present, like the back nine on Sunday when Phil Mickelson went on a small run to get himself in as the clubhouse leader in the 2023 Masters.

With the main leaders still having 8 holes to complete as Phil was signing his card there was a small hope in his mind he might end up in a playoff.  That did not happen as John Rahm kept the focus needed to maintain his lead on the back nine.  But Phil's performance should be applauded.

Phil's play was the focus of my podcast this week where I went into detail how he stayed present in the moment during his round.  He did not allow the scores around him bother him nor did he allow his missed putts for more birdies hamper his performance on the front nine.

As I mentioned in the podcast Phil had worked extremely diligently at the end of 2020 and beginning of 2021 to get into the present moment in all parts of life.  He rededicated himself to meditation, completely overhauled his diet and changed his fitness focus to be top priority so he would not lose distance as he was 50d years of age.

Phil had found many items to focus on for his golf game.

The rainy weather is over (finally) and now it is easier to get some on course time in to play better golf.  If during the 3 months of deluge you worked on your game less because of rain, then that is on you the golfer.  The skill of the golf shot is always at the forefront of your game.  After all, your job is to train the motor pattern to one of consistent efficiency so you can take that to the course and then open the gateway for you subconscious mind to take over and let your skill shine.

The sun is back so now what are you going to do?  Prioritize what you need to do so you can accomplish your goals.  What does prioritize mean to you?  Prioritize means Get Focused.

Your focus could be sharpen your driver.  It could be improve your short game.
It could be you get down and deep and look at the metrics of your game; GIR, Fwy hit, total putts per round, 3 putts per round or percentage of getting up and down from 20 yards off the green to save par or bogey.

From the above paragraph you would be focused on the skill set of golf.

Once on the course how is your performance coming along?  Is your pre-shot routine as Sharp ( like a knife) like you had it at the end of Level One of the PDP?
Perhaps you are just giving it lip service as you stand behind each shot?

Can you clearly visualize each shot in that pre-shot routine?  Is this a consistent habit where you are dialed in AND connected to that vision of the shot you are attempting to create?  As I mentioned in my podcast on my front 9 yesterday I only did that on 2 shots on the front nine.  I was helping a player learn Balboa Park 18 for the first time playing it.  Lots of things I was doing in order to assist that player understand distances to a bunker off the tee, should you carry it? What distance to lay up and what distance to carry the bunker? What is the risk reward.  How the course tends to slope back to front and tends to take the break of the hills it sits on.  Lots of things going on.

However what is going on with you when you play and when you practice?

If you do not use your journal I have suggested you use since level one you are spinning your wheels.  I journal every idea I have for podcasts and when I do that I can clearly see what mental things I should improve.

To become focused on your golf game this spring you are going to have to become accountable for you actions.  Lip service is really easy to give, like I did for 9 holes yesterday.

I am aware of my areas I need to work on.  Since working strength with a conditioning coach over the winter each iron goes 5-8 yards farther and because my base is stronger my shots go straighter. My hybrids are 15 yards farther and 3 wood and driver each 15 yards farther.  That was my winter focus.  

My short game of pitch and chipping is always in need of help.  I really need to improve that.  My lag putting is pretty good but reading greens is still iffy to me. 

Next week I am off to Palm Springs for a week to play in a Callaway event so I will have to work on some things before that.  Thankfully grass driving ranges and good short game areas are easily found so I can work on set up of each shot, short game and a very solid pre - shot routine that I can take to the tournament next Tuesday and Wednesday.

Every golfer in the world knows the start of the golf season is Masters weekend.
People host parties for it, blow off work on Friday to watch it.  But by Sunday the nation has the golf bug deeply rooted in each golfers body.

Those golfers are generally gung-ho to get out and practice some and play.  They may have some focus of what to do.  But the true golfer is VERY DETAILED things to work on mentally and physically.  The chart analytics of performance and the constantly monitor those statistics.

If the woods are filled with slicers off the tee then the poorly focused golfers would be seen as those that under achieve in their golf game.  The woods are filled with slicers.  Golfers who look at Youtube to improve their games are non-committed players giving golf lip service.  They are the golfers lost in the woods.

My challenge to you is determine are you just a lip service golfer or are you really focused to improve?  It is April, it is sunny.  Are you prepared to play good golf?

If not, find the focus points that you need to improve and go after them.

The time for lip service is OVER!