Stuck In A Bunker!

You may have heard this alleged quote from Mark Twain: "GOLF IS A GOOD WALK SPOILED."  And what "spoils" the walk?  It is the difficulty in getting the ball to go where you want it to go...which is in the hole in as few shots as possible.

The first day of golf team tryouts for my daughter was yesterday. We managed to get a swing together in 2 weeks, and she did pretty well keeping the ball on the golf course and out of the yards that laced the perimeter. There was one little nuance that we hadn't addressed. The bunker - sand trap is what it used to be called. I'm not sure if the name was changed to make it feel less daunting to the player, or to spare the feelings of the poor little area of sand. :) With or without the name change, my daughter was trapped there for quite a few shots.

Have you ever felt like you keep trying and trying but can't get a different result?  I sure have. In golf and in life. When this happens, it's good to find someone to help you change your approach and enable you to accomplish the result that you desire. Last night, at dusk, my daughter and I stepped in a sand bunker at a local course, and she worked on a few key movements, that had her popping the ball out of the sand with apparent ease.

Hopefully, when she returns today, she will have a good report. If she doesn't come home, I'll assume that she's still STUCK IN A BUNKER! :)

Here are a few key thoughts if you find yourself stuck in a bunker :

1. Rotate the face of your sand wedge so that it points a little to the right of your target
2. Keep your hands angled a little forward
3. Focus your eyes on a spot 2 inches behind the ball and hit that spot as you swing through
4. Spank the sand and keep accelerating - the sand will lift the ball out of the bunker
5. A short prayer before you make your mighty swipe doesn't hurt either!

Fore you, Sue   

Two Weeks Til Tryouts

A few weeks ago, my daughter surprised me with the declaration that she wanted to try out for the golf team...in two weeks mind you, having hit about 12 balls in her life. This was a fun thought to me, as I have waited quietly for golf to be my kids' idea, should they want to play. So now with only two weeks to work with, how should I help her? What are the most important things to tell her? I have taught many people over 25 years, none of which have been my offspring...until now. I do remember her hitting a few balls when she was 5, at which time she said, "Mom, I'll listen to you when I'm 6." Little did I know that she wouldn't turn her ears on until age 15 and need help in a hurry!

This is how I have found this experience : I have all of the swing "ingredients" before me. I can add them to her "empty mixing bowl" and stir. Each ingredient has been tested in other kitchens, and proved reliable and consistent. With the right combination of ingredients, the desired outcome will be achieved. The ten year gap between age 5 and 15, has actually given her a unique lack of attachment to any particular movements. So now that she's ready to listen, her body is ready to cooperate, without any warring factions.

Most people that I teach, have had many different swing ingredients thrown in their golf "mixing bowls." My job is to remove the extra "flour," and add the forgotten "sugar." Sometimes I need to empty the bowl and start over. It's sobering for students to realize that if they want to truly improve, with lasting effects, it's not just a matter of throwing in an ingredient or two. In any case, the desired outcome can be achieved, with time and effort. I feel that anybody can hit a golf ball - well and with consistency - anybody who really wants to, that is. I also believe that anybody can have good fundamentals, if he or she is willing to commit to them.

So in a few days, my daughter will tee it up. Her fundamentals are new. And there is so much to learn about how one moves around the golf course. But I love that she is jumping in and giving it a try. Learning any skill with sound direction from the very beginning, makes a big difference. If you are new to the game, consider it a kind of advantage. You have a chance to build a strong foundation, starting with the first "brick." For those of you who have played the game for a while, and are not liking the "taste" of your outcomes, consider committing to some fundamental changes. You will be rewarded with sweet outcomes! 

Fore you, Sue  

 P.S. It is important that you understand and believe in the changes that you are making. Make your teacher earn your trust. Ask every question that comes to your mind. Express your challenges and frustrations. You are taking the journey with this "teammate," and you need to be open and honest during the process.

Hot Golf?

Today's heat reminds me of a most horrible experience, when a friend took me to a "hot yoga" class. I must tell you that this was my first yoga class of ANY kind. : / For some reason, some people like to do yoga in a sauna like condition. I guess it makes you sweat and keeps your muscles loose, but for me, it felt like a never ending hot flash, while trying to make my body do things that I couldn't even get my childhood rubbery gumby to do! Honestly, I sat there watching most of the time. I knew my limits! So one might ask oneself, "Why would anyone want to play "hot golf?" My answer as a 20 year golf professional = I have no idea! I understand that your muscles are loose, but what are the other reasons???? Maybe because you have the course to yourself???  Okay, since I want to be instructive, I will offer you some suggestions, should you choose to go or be dragged out to the golf course on a 100 degree day :

1. Take a cart - with a top if possible
2. Drink water consistently, starting the day before you play
3. Wear light colors (no navy blue or black, even though it makes you look skinnier)
4. Obviously have water to drink while you are playing
5. Bring a small cooler, with cold cloths in ice water, to put across the back of your neck
6. Pour cool water, or place a cold cloth on the underside of your wrists between shots
7. Wear sunglasses
8. Walk slowly - no running to your ball!
9. Look for shade to stand in, when you are waiting for your turn to play
10. If you are feeling faint, QUIT!

I know that some people love the heat. Does anybody REALLY love 100 humid degrees? If so, knock yourself out! Enjoy, but please be as precautionary about your body as you can. We are not typically acclimated for these temperatures!

Fore you, Sue

Are You A Slowpoke?

If you answer yes to any of the questions below, you may be a slowpoke!

 1. Do you get to the first tee without a ball, tees and a ball marker in your pocket?
 2. Do you stay on the putting green of the hole you just finished, to right down the score(s)?
 3. Do people repeatedly say, "You're away!" or "Your turn!" to you?
 4. Do any of your playing partners lie down and fall asleep waiting for you to hit the ball?
 5. Do you "waggle" several times before you hit your shot? (waggle: the way you move around to get settled before you hit the ball).
 6. Do you take your time and finish your stories even when it's your turn to hit?
 7. Do you wait for the grass to grow under your ball so that you'll have a "fluffier" lie?
 8. Do you stop at ponds to fish out balls that aren't yours?
 9. Do you park your cart in front of the green and leave it there while you putt?
10.Do you wait until it's your turn to hit, before thinking about which club you should hit?

Ponder these questions.  With most of these situations, a simple habit change will get you moving along at a more comfortable pace for you and your playing partners. 

Fore you, Sue

Fundamental Pedal

POSTURE = How you stand over the ball when you are ready to "take a swipe" at it. Most people tend to bend their knees too much and bow from the hips too little.  When this is done, the club ends up being a straight lined extention of the arms.  NOT GOOD.  So these are the key factors in having good  golf posture :

1. An outfit that makes you look 10 pounds lighter.  :)
2. Feet shoulder width apart
3. Slight knee bend
4. Upper body bowing from the hips
5. Arms hanging straight down, on a perpendicular plane to the earth (they are where they would be if only gravity affected how your arms hung)

REASONS that these are key factors :

1. Looking good and feeling sassy!
2. Feet too far apart won't let you turn well and feet too close together, won't give you room to move your weight well.
3.  Neither knees bent too much, (sit you back on your heels) nor knees locked straight, will allow good weight movement.
4. Hunching ones shoulders is bad for swinging the club back well. Keeping your upper body in a vertical line with your lower body, encourages you to miss the ball completely, which is not that fun...unless it's a hot day and you need to create a little wind chill. :)
5. Your arms need to hang down, because it makes them more like hands on a clock, swinging from 3 o'clock to 9 o'clock.  The ball sits at 6 o'clock, waiting to be hit.  If you swing them at any other "plane," it will be harder to hit that 6 o'clock ball!

These are common sense things that set you on the best course (pun intended), for a good swing.

Fore you,  Sue 

Are Both Feet On The Pedals?

Imagine a bicycle rider, riding with his right foot on the pedal and his left foot tucked under him on the seat. He's learned to ride this way, and can get himself from point A to point B. A well meaning friend told him that it would be easier if he only pedaled with one leg.  So he did it.  But before long, he notices people riding past him, more smoothly and at a faster pace.  He feels like he should be able to ride better too.  So he goes to an experienced rider and asks for help.  He is told that he needs to put both feet on the pedals to take advantage of the structure of the bike and the strength of his body.  So he untucks his left foot and places it on the unused pedal.  He pushes off with great anticipation and tips over immediately.  Because his body has been compensating for the fact that he has pedaled with only one leg, it is used to leaning way to one side to keep the bike upright.  This lean will not work with both feet on the pedals.  At this point, he can either go back to leaning and riding with one foot, which allows him to stay up on the bike, or he can fall a few times, allowing his body to readjust and balance with both feet on the pedals.

This is often how it is with golf.  A player either learns on his own or is given advice that limits his movements, even though it allows him a little initial success.  When he wants to get better, he is faced with a challenge.  He will have to endure "tipping over" for a time, until his error is corrected and his compensation movements fade away (error = sitting on one foot, compensation = leaning to one side).

There are fundamental "pedals" on which all golfers need to place their feet.  I will talk about some of these in the next post!

Fore you, Sue   

Do Your Best. Accept the Outcome.

I just worked really hard on a document.  I said exactly what I wanted to say.  The tone and feel was just right.  I was excited to send it.  But somehow, it disappeared from my screen.  I wrote with good effort, solid fundamentals, and hearty zeal.  But I didn't get the result I wanted or anticipated.  This happens in golf a LOT!  You work hard.  You pay attention to detail.  You execute the fundamentals the best you can. You care and put your full effort into it.  And the ball does not go where you want it to go. 

What do you do?

A. Break your club in half over your knee and walk off the golf course
B. Laugh because you think it's funny
C. Cry because you are so disappointed
D. Acknowledge your good effort and remain hopeful for the next shot

I have to admit that over the course of my life with golf, my reaction has often been a hybrid of A and C.  If B has occurred, it was with great sarcasm and if D resulted, it was because I had some idea of why the shot went bad. My challenge to you, is to be patient with yourself.  If you're a "hot head," throw your fit and get over it fast.  Try not to break clubs or offend your playing partners. If you tend to mock yourself and golf when things aren't going well, mutter a few good ones and move on.  If you're a weepy sort, get it out with a good cough - and make sure you have a little pack of kleenex in your bag.  All in all, I'd shoot for D.  Hang in there and keep working hard.  Enjoy your surroundings and the fact that you get to be out in the fresh air, and that most likely, you don't have to make a living playing golf.  :)

Fore you, Sue