Archive for the Golf Thoughts Category

PGA.com (PODS Championship)

March 12, 2007 by Jeff Shores, PGA.

Please log onto www.pga.com/improve/features/alessonlearned/PODS_031207.cfm to read my featured article on the PODS Championship. The article is a combination of tournament re-cap and instruction. I hope you enjoy!

Thanks for golfing with Jeff

Posted in Game Improvement, Welcome New Viewers, Tour Talk, Golf Thoughts | Print | 2 Comments »

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   

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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 

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Dream into the New Year

December 27, 2006 by Jeff Shores, PGA.

Many people start the New Year with goals or resolutions, only to fail within the first few weeks.  This failure is not from lack of effort or desire, but from the inability to dream and visualize themselves already having attained their goal.  Any goal must first start with a dream and then must be followed with the corresponding feelings that match that dream.

Maybe your goal is to play better golf in the New Year.  If so, dream of yourself playing better golf.  What does it feel like to you?  Does it excite you and make you happy?  Feel those feelings on a daily basis.  Dream of yourself playing better golf as if you you are already doing it.  If your goal is to shoot in the 70’s, dream of yourself making a putt on the last hole to shoot 79.  Feel the excitement!  Visualize the people around you who will witness your achievement.  Immerse yourself in those joyful feelings over and over again until they become a mental reality.

I know what many of you are probably thinking…”I’m not going to get any better just thinking about playing better golf.”  The truth is, whether you think you can or can’t get better, your right! 

If your dominant thoughts are getting better at golf and you hold those feelings close to you day in and day out, your body will move in the direction of those thoughts.  You will find yourself doing the things that make your dreams a reality.  You will practice more, you will read more, and you will talk to more people about your dreams of being the player you want to be.

Dreams and goals are not attained overnight.  They happen over time with relentless persistence and unwavering faith.  You must “act, until it is fact!”  Dream your dream, live your dream, and, in time, you will attain your dream. 

Thanks for golfing with Jeff 

Posted in Game Improvement, Golf Thoughts | Print | 1 Comment »

“If #1 played alone…”

December 12, 2006 by The Lefty.

I do think people would watch #1 play by himself, as we have seen by his show where he hit different golf shots and talks about the game through his eyes. I also find this to be more interesting to watch in a lot of cases than to watch the rest of the field try to do what he does, and hope to beat him…I love the game of golf! and Tiger has made the game “cool” (ie:  it’s now cool to be a golfer in school, unlike when I was in school!).  If people want to blame the media for making this a one man game to watch maybe they should blame the rest of the field for not bringing the same heart and intensity as he does.  As far as what will be left after he is gone, other than all new records, and millions of new fans, and a new game for a new age…it will still be one man, hitting one ball, with one club …one shot at a time!  The way this game was started before there were any greats.  As I said, “I love this game.”   I can only thank Tiger, and the media for bringing the game back to the forefront where it belongs, however, it is making the people tune in. The enthusiast, and all of our new era of after Tiger golfers, and all of our purist, all have one thing in common…our love for the game no matter how different we think we are!

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Are you a ‘lucky’ golfer?

December 11, 2006 by aab180.

Have you ever played a Saturday morning twosome with your buddy and quietly watched in amazement as he or she would hit the ball in the trees time after time and end up in the fairway? Hit a ball so thin that when it rolled in the fairway bunker that it managed to run back out of it into a perfect position? Well I have! And its something I’ve been thinking about recently. 

When I started playing golf my Dad told me a quote that he heard Gary Player say which has stuck with me… “The more you practice, the luckier you get.” However I think that a golfers luck has more to do with how they use the luck and their attitude towards it. 

Some of us may feel that we simply aren’t ‘lucky’ golfers. “I always get bad breaks” which may happen to us every once in a while, but I think that the ‘lucky’ golfers are those who decide to choose an attitude that says “I do get good breaks and I take advantage of them.” 

This morning I watched the South African golfer Charl Schwartzel trying to catch a player in the lead of the Alfred Dunhill Championship with 4 holes to play. On the 15th his drive hooked left. It bounced out of bounds, hopped up on to a small stone wall about a foot tall, bounced two or three times and came back in bounds. Was this lucky? You bet it was! But what impressed me was how he went on to birdie this hole. With this momentum he then birdie the next. Had he not hit his approach shot to the par 5 18th hole in the water, a third birdie would have put him in a playoff. But I think in choosing to believe that he gets good breaks and using them, he had prepared himself for such an occasion and was ready for it when it came. 

Can you and I have that same ‘luck’? Its up to you. Make a choice.

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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

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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

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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 

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