Archive for November 2006

Annoying Twosomes…

November 29, 2006 by Cahow.

Not being the best and most focused golfer, I often have other twosomes attached with my group.  I don’t always get the best shot off and start my round off on the wrong foot.  Unfortunately, this annoys those golfing with me and puts even more stress on my pitiful 120+ round!  I usually try to find humor in my golf shortcomings, but when those with you shake their head and feel you are the reason they are shanking their shots, its not so easy to enjoy yourself out on the course.  I always thought that being out on the course was supposed to be enjoyable.  Any ideas on how to resolve this upfront or deal with those people who don’t remember that they had to start someplace too?

Cahow

Posted in Viewer Post, Golf Thoughts | Print | 2 Comments »

Pick a Flavor…

November 26, 2006 by Jeff Shores, PGA.

Take a moment and visualize a large Jar of jelly beans.  The jar is clear, so you can see all the different colors and possible flavors of the jelly beans inside.  Now imagine that this jar is abundant, meaning, regardless of what jelly bean is pulled out, the jar will instantly replenish itself.  Reach in the jar, take out a jelly bean and eat it.  Do you like it?  Was the color representative of the flavor that you tasted?  Mentally, do this until you have tried all the different jelly beans in the jar.  Some of these jelly beans you will absolutely love, while others you won’t really care for. (I can’t stand licorice!)  Enjoy the ability to pick and choose the color and flavor of the jelly beans you like.

Let’s take that same jar of jelly beans. Only now, the jar is no longer clear.  You are unable to differentiate between the jelly beans. They all look the same.  Again, grab one and eat it.  Did you like it?  How does the inability to choose your favorites feel to you?  The results of your selections are now left to chance.

A round of golf can be very similar to a jar of jelly beans.  The jelly beans, in this case, representing the shots you hit on the golf course.  And, as before, the jar can be either clear or dark.  Visualization is the key to to determining how clear the jar can be.  The better we visualize the desired results, the more clear the jar becomes.  A beginning golfer must experiment with many different shots before they can pick the shots they truly desire, however, visualization is critical at this period to see and feel all results, good or bad.    

Most beginning players, golf with a jar that is very dark, hitting random shots, unable to select the ones they really like.  Simply accepting the results of their selection without thinking for a moment that they have any control over them.  These players will usually say things like “how did I do that?”, when they hit a good shot, or, “why do I always hit that shot?”, when they hit a bad one.  

Intermediate players, see through a clear jar, yet, still do not choose to select the the shots that they would be most satisfied with.  They are surface level players, playing the first shot available to them in the jar that looks acceptable.  These players do hit far more quality shots, but tend to get lazy and occasionally pull shots “out of the jar” they would rather throw back. 

Advanced players, see through a clear jar and pick the shots out of it that they really want.  they “dig deep” through the surface level of mediocre shots, if need be, to find the shots that they love to see and feel. 

Take a good look at your golf game.  Is your jar clear or dark?  Is it abundant with the shots you want to hit, or do you limit the amount of good ones you can “pull out of the jar?”  Do you sift through the shots available to you, or simply grab for the first one you see?  The more you visualize picking out the perfect shot, the more you will “taste” the rewards of positive outcomes.  Visualize your jar, clear and abundant, and you will see and feel a better golf game.

Thanks for golfing with Jeff

 

Posted in Game Improvement | Print | 3 Comments »

PGA.com offers first time podcasting coverage

November 23, 2006 by admin.

Please click on the link below and read the great announcement from PGA.com and Turner Sports…

http://www.pga.com/grandslam/2006/news/slam_pipeline111606.html

Posted in Uncategorized | Print | 1 Comment »

Make a Splash!

November 22, 2006 by admin.

Jeff 2006Jeff Shores '06Jeff Shores '06Jeff Shores '06

  Let’s hear from you!  Click on the comment section under any post to read responses to your questions or ideas.  Thank you for all the feedback.

What if #1 played alone?

November 21, 2006 by Jeff Shores, PGA.

It has become very obvious, through the media, that the focus during tournaments is on the worlds #1.  Although all the ads say “these guys are good”, they might as well say “this guy is great!”  I think the excessive coverage has brainwashed the public into thinking that if the #1 ranked player is not playing, the tournament is not worth watching.

One truth, without a doubt, it is that a competition, any competition, requires more than one competitor.  And the reality is that although many fans like to route for the favorite, there are many more who prefer to cheer for the “underdog” or “long shot.”  Without the possibility for a lesser ranked player to win or challenge for victory (just ask a Chicago Cubs fan), would any competition be worth watching?

The media has taken away the opportunity for other players to become fan favorites and new role models for those of us watching a tournament.  This is why during the Ryder Cup, many people said to me “who are those guys,” about many of the U.S. players.  We need to be very careful we don’t make golf all about #1, otherwise, where does golf go without #1.  Would golf really be worth watching if #1 played alone?   

Thanks for golfing with Jeff

Posted in Golf Thoughts | Print | 3 Comments »

Dollars making Sense!

November 18, 2006 by Jeff Shores, PGA.

While watching the Dunlop Phoenix golf tournament, my wife asked me, “Why is Tiger playing in that tournament and skipping tournaments like the Tour Championship?”  The question made me realize that most people probably are not seeing the big picture of tournament selection for a business man like Tiger Woods.  Pretty Simple!  Money..money..money!!!  Tiger is getting paid huge bucks to go overseas and play in those events.  So, what would you do?  Here’s the scenario:  Your boss tells you, “Would you like to work this week and I may give you a paycheck if you work real hard and perform well, or, why don’t you take the week off, come back next week, and I’ll give you a couple million dollars just to show up, and, give you that same opportunity to make a paycheck that I gave you last week.”  I don’t know about you, but I’m taking the week off!  If the dollars don’t make sense to you…I’ve got some land for sale. 

Thanks for golfing with Jeff 

Posted in Tour Talk | Print | 1 Comment »

What are “Wie” doing?

November 16, 2006 by Jeff Shores, PGA.

So here’s the latest.  Michelle Wie has been invited, through a sponsor’s exemption, to again participate in the Sony Open (a PGA Tour event).  Let me start by saying that I think Michelle Wie is an amazing young talent and do believe she is going to be playing and winning LPGA Tour events for many years to come, however, can’t “Wie” go one step at a time.  Not really her fault, I guess.  Sponsor says “you get to play,” so she plays.  But are the sponsors really looking out for her best interests?  Who is looking out for her best interests?  Is it all about the money?  Or the experience?  Can she make the cut in a PGA Tour event?  Does anyone really care if she does anymore? 

Thanks for golfing with Jeff

Michelle Wie may one day play on the PGA Tour and I wish her the best of luck in doing it the old fashion way…Earning it!  In the meantime, I would love to see her win an event, any event, on the LPGA, hone her skills and grow up a bit…Shame on the powers that be for letting a young girl make grown up decisions.  What do you think?  

Posted in Tour Talk | Print | 3 Comments »

1st Tee Jitters…

November 15, 2006 by Jeff Shores, PGA.

Here I am; my first blog!  Where do I start to “get the ball off the tee” for discussion and debate about the world of golf?  Well, just as I tell many of my students when they get nervous on the first tee, “this is just one of many shots you’re going to play today, so you might as well relax and enjoy it.”  It is amazing what nerves can do to us.  They can paralyze us to the point that fear takes over and we fail miserably or they can be harnessed and utilized to perform at our highest levels.  What do nerves do to you on the 1st tee?  Do you fear a horrible outcome?  Do you question what your playing partners will think about your shot? Your swing? Your choice of aftershave?  Give it some thought and tell me why the 1st tee jitters exist and more importantly how you deal with them.

Thanks for golfing with Jeff 

Posted in Golf Thoughts | Print | 7 Comments »

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