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Archive for January 2007

Enter the Dome

January 31, 2007 by Jeff Shores, PGA.

As with many other words, throughout history, the word “dome” has come to have multiple meanings. Some definitions include, a rounded vault, the natural canopy of the sky, or a head(skull). These definitions have tremendous significance as they relate to golf and those that are serious about playing the game to their highest levels of performance. There are three specific levels that comprise the all encompassing golf “dome.” These levels are the physical dome, the intellectual dome, and the spiritual dome. It is only when a player can distinguish between the three domes and understand how each level relates to their game that they will begin to move closer to mastering golf as well as themselves.

Note: The following definitions deal with all aspects of golf, however, the examples used will be in reference to putting, which is, in my opinion, the cornerstone of great golf. Again, these ideas are for all golfers, at any skill level, to move closer to golf mastery.

The Physical Dome

Although we think of golf as being very linear, the fact remains that every hole on every putting green is circular in nature and, therefore, has 360 degrees surrounding it. Let’s start by drawing an imaginary 10 foot circle around the golf hole. By placing balls randomly around the perimeter of the 10 foot circle and putting them towards the hole you will discover the physical dome, the essence of all conceivable and possible putts around one hole.(Of course, some undulation on the green is required for this statement to be absolute.) These are, uphill-straight, left to right, and right to left…downhill-straight, left to right, and right to left…side hill-left to right and right to left…and, of course, a level straight putt, which is probably the most rare of putts due to the necessity for proper drainage on most putting greens. Just as there are only nine ball flights in the air, there are only nine ways the ball can roll on the earth. Again, the physical dome may be defined as the 360 degree area surrounding each and every hole on every golf course where all putts exist. Acceptance of the physical dome will, without fail, bring any player to a higher awareness of the limited possibilities around every golf hole and how to properly identify the one to choose for their intended shot. This awareness will now move a player into the next level of growth…the intellectual dome.

The Intellectual Dome

I have been asked why I refer to this area as the intellectual dome as opposed to the mental dome and the answer is simple: This area requires intellect. Everyone has mental ability, however, not all use their intellect. This is the distinction between the two. The intellectual dome is not “thinking” you’re going to make the putt, but rather knowing “how and why” you will make it. The intellectual dome is the assessment of all factors that go into any given shot and the absence of any distractions. Again, we will use the example of a 10 foot putt. The physical dome will answer for the player the question of movement of the ball once it has been struck, it is now, through the intellectual dome that the player explores the possibilities of line and pace of the putt. The pace of a putt is the more critical of the two factors because it is only after determining pace that a player can see and choose the proper line. This process, done in reverse, (line before pace) will end in inconsistency and far more multiple putt greens. The truly great players, that are in command of their intellectual dome, know that it is only through proper pace that any type of consistency will develop and trust in their stroke will be nurtured. It is in that trust that we move to the final level…the spiritual dome.

The Spiritual Dome

Many people confuse this with some religious significance. Or, perhaps, for some, it is religious. I would describe it more as, what is commonly referred to as, the “mental game.” However, it goes so much deeper than that, as anyone who has reached this level would agree. The spiritual dome is the unconscious mind “feeling before seeing,” “knowing before understanding,” and “executing instinctively.” It is positive thinking, good karma, and enlightenment all wrapped up in one. When a 10 foot putt is made long before the putter touches the ball. When all the information from the physical dome and intellectual dome have been filtered and programed in the conscious mind and the only thing left are the purest thoughts of success and accomplishment of the task at hand, then, and only then will the great canopy of the spiritual dome be unveiled to see the limitless possibilities of a players potential. The spiritual dome is an umbrella under which time stands still and all things mental and physical blend together in perfect harmony. It is what top performers describe as the elusive ”zone,” although, the truly gifted individuals seem to explore its vastness more regularly than most. The spiritual dome is where good golfers become great, and great golfers become champions!

The Dome is the triumvirate powers of earth, body, and universe joined together to reach the highest levels of performance. Now it is time for you to enter the dome!

Thanks for golfing with Jeff

Posted in Game Improvement, Golf Thoughts | Print | 4 Comments »

Viewer Acknowledgement

January 23, 2007 by Jeff Shores, PGA.

I would like to thank, pinskip, for the compliment in his 1st post “Nice Site”. I generally answer posts in the comment section, however, I thought this would be a great opportunity to formally thank all of my viewers for the overwhelming response I have had to this site. I am so excited to be receiving e-mails from across the United States, as well as globally. This was definitely the intent of creating this site.

As for the future direction of the site…much of the same. The GWJblog is an open forum where viewers thoughts and ideas regarding the game can be shared. I have commented on every viewer post thus far, as will continue to be my goal. Some aspect of my 4P (Preparation, Practice, Play, and People) philosophy will be outlined in every post I write. And, finally, the GWJpodcast highlights people in the world of golf. These interviews are intended to reveal the relationships and lifestyles of the everyday golfers around us and how golf has become a part of who they are.

Again, I thank all the viewers for the many e-mails I’ve received. Please share this site with someone in your golf circle who you feel would enjoy the information. I look forward to hearing from more of you in the form of posts and comments. Also, look for more of my writing on PGA.com in early March 2007.

Thanks for golfing with Jeff

Posted in Welcome New Viewers | Print | 3 Comments »

Nice site!

January 23, 2007 by pinskip.

Dear GWJ,

Nice site you have here…what’s in store for the future??

Posted in Viewer Post | Print | 1 Comment »

Thinking about Lessons?

January 14, 2007 by Jeff Shores, PGA.

A quick story…

A man went to the local golf course because he was interested in taking up golf. He found the golf professional on the range just finishing up with a lesson. He asked the professional, “How much for a lesson, I want to learn how to play golf?” The professional said, “I charge $500 for a series of 10 lessons.” The man replied, “I only want one lesson, how much will that be?” The golf professional quickly responded, “Oh, in that case it will cost $100,000.” The man looked at the pro indignantly and said, “You already told me it was $500 for 10 lessons, why in the world would I pay $100,000 for just one!” The professional smiled and replied, “Sir, you said you were interested in learning how to play golf, I can teach you in 10 lessons and that will cost $500…If, however, it’s a miracle you’re looking for, you had better expect you’re going to pay for it!”

The moral of this story is simple…be realistic with your endeavors and the expectations for results.

There is no quick fix, 5-minute tip, magic glove, weighted swing aid, hozel-less wedge, guru video, or any other type of golf gizmo that is going to improve your game overnight. The people who master the game of golf work hard day in and day out to learn their craft. A great golf swing will not happen through osmosis in the course of a half hour lesson.

Imagine going to a piano teacher and telling them you want to be able to play like Wolfgang Mozart by the end of the lesson. The expectation would be ridiculous and the end result would be failure. However if that same student told the teacher, “I want to learn some strong fundamentals and I’m willing to put in the time needed to one day play music on the piano like Mozart and other composers I like.” Now the student is being realistic with progress.

Can improvement happen quickly? Of course it can. Everyone is different, however, and take to instruction differently. And the fact of the matter is, not all golf instructors are created equal. Some are better than others. The identifying factors of a great instructor are higher levels of communication and the ability to “read the student”, identify the best course of action needed to make the student a better player in the shortest amount of time. The student teacher relationship is, just that, a relationship. They need to care about you and your needs, and you, in turn, need to trust them. And, just like any other relationship, will only be built over time.

This does not mean, however, you need to take a lesson every week, for the next 10 years, to be a good golfer!

You must practice what is being preached. You can’t expect the instructor to do it for you. Golf instruction is the communication of information and knowledge. From the physics of ball flight to the physiology of body mechanics; the psychology of course maintenance to the sociology of the people playing, all of this wrapped up in one tight philosophy called golf instruction. And you thought it was just hitting a little white ball!

There are three stages to getting better in golf through instruction. Before a lesson… you are comfortable and inconsistent. Next, you take a lesson…uncomfortable and inconsistent. Finally, after practice and hard work…you will become comfortable and consistent. Most people give up or say the instructor isn’t good somewhere in the uncomfortable, inconsistent stage. Stay committed and you will reach the final stage.

Building your golf game (whatever level you are starting at) should consist of the following:

1. Decide you want to work on your game and get better… This includes making the time on a weekly basis to take on the endeavor. You must determine, in the beginning, just how much time you are willing to commit to properly assess the rate of your personal improvement.

2. Choose an instructor… This is a critical factor and should not be rushed into. Often times, word of mouth is a good way to locate a good instructor, however, I still recommend interviewing possible candidates for the job. Remember, this golf instructor will be working for you, and with you to help attain your goals and keep you motivated. Go over their philosophies, your commitment level, and possible timelines for reaching specific goals. A good instructor will have no problem, and actually enjoy, going over the expectations and the fact you understand the process of proper learning.

3. Begin your lessons… When you start, it may require frequent visits and what I call “supervised practice time.” This frequency would be once a week or once every other week depending on your time commitment to individual practice. Again, this is a critical time to stay connected to the instructor for support as you will probably struggle a bit with the changes and new concepts you are learning. Embrace these changes; don’t fight them. You went for lessons to make changes, don’t be surprised by them when they appear. As you improve, the frequency of your visits should decrease as you become better with your individual practice time and are taught proper self-analysis. Instruction never goes out of style, however, so even when you reach your goals it is still a good idea to do annual or bi-annual “check-ups” just to make sure you’re not slipping into bad habits.

4. Signs you have the wrong instructor… Any verbal statements like, “Have you thought about taking up bowling,” or a general feeling of impatience coming from the instructor are pretty good signs you need to look for someone else. Your instructor should be your biggest cheerleader and make you feel like you can accomplish all your goals. Anything less should be unacceptable and would make personal improvement difficult, if not impossible.

5. Assess and re-assess… Look at your timelines for improvement. Hindsight is a clear indicator of improvement and should be used to asses whether or not you’re reaching the goals you’ve set for yourself. This is the point that you re-asses your future course of action. Are you seeing the improvement you were looking for with your current plan, or is it time to commit to a new plan. Maybe, you’ve seen more improvement than you anticipated. This is a great time to re-assess and set your sights higher.

Anyone who is serious about improving their golf game needs to take lessons. If the best players in the world think it’s important to continue their education in golf, shouldn’t it be important to you? Good luck with all your golf endeavors and setting your goals to becoming the best player you can be.

Thanks for Golfing With Jeff

Posted in Game Improvement, Golf Thoughts | Print | 7 Comments »