My Son, 1 1/2 Years

www.golfingwithjeff.com/GWJPodcast/html 

Most golfers tend to be over aggressive with their putts, taking no time to consider the consequences of where the ball will end up if they miss. Thus, they have 10 foot downhill birdie putts and end up with 15 foot come back putts for par, inevitably three putting for bogey. This process will continue for them with the occasional made putt, which certainly doesn’t help them consider making a change to their approach. The final result is somewhere between 36 and 45 putts per round and a misinterpreted thought that it’s their bad swing that caused such a bad score for the day.

The experienced players hold a very clear picture of not only wanting to make the putt they have, but also the ability to remain prudent in their attempt. Ask yourself the question…”If I miss, where do I want to be?” The answer should most definitely be…within tap-in range.

In order to leave yourself in tap-in range, practice putting multiple balls at the hole without trying to make them. By working on your speed control, without the thought of making putts, you will see an amazing thing happen…you will actually make more putts! Proper speed is absolutely the key to great putting.

Some numbers to look for in assessing your putting improvement are as follows…36 or more putts per round is poor putting. Anywhere between 31-35 putts per round is acceptable good putting for the average golfer. 26-30 putts per round and you have now crossed over into the realm of great putting. If you average 25 or less putts per round, please contact me immediately because I’d like to be your talent agent.

For most players, the fastest way to game improvement and shaving a significant number of strokes off their game is by improving their putting. I recommend at least 50% of your allotted practice time be spent on the putting green. This putting practice should be divided between putts inside and outside the make zone. The make zone is an area around the hole where the player feels they should make the putt 7 out of 10 times. For some players the make zone is 5 feet, for others it is 20 feet. Spend about 1/4 of your putting practice time on lag putting outside your personal make zone. The rest of the practice time should be spent inside the make zone or the “dome.” (See my blog Enter the Dome) The make zone should increase or decrease depending on your skill level and the assessment of your putts per round. With more practice on your lag putting, you should see an increase in make zone distances.

Good luck and thanks for golfing with Jeff

Thanks for golfing with Jeff

I have some fundamentals that I am falling back on and maybe I am missing something.

Fundamentals I am trying:

narrow stance, weight favoring front leg, head behind the ball, cock wrists, keep lower body quiet, ball in middle of stance (for hardpan), hands ahead of ball at impact, and all the while, trying to remember this is a sport and be atheletic.

 Any ideas?  Please help…

By the way, I love the site.

http://www.golfingwithjeff.com/GWJPodcast.html

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   

 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

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