Thursday, 20 May 2010
Trouble North of the border
Take a look at this and feel the passion for change.
http://www.golfblogger.co.uk/post/the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly-of-the-scottish-golf-infrastructure--networking-
http://www.golfblogger.co.uk/post/the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly-of-the-scottish-golf-infrastructure--networking-
Tuesday, 20 April 2010
Time for a change
It is hard to believe that over 9000 books have been written on how to play golf. 9000 books dedicated to trying to unlock the secrets of this elusive game. And yet despite all this advice and knowledge golf remains the most frustratingly difficult game in the world.
Why is that?
Are you ready to challenge some of your long held beliefs?
During my fifteen years as a Tournament Professional, I like many others, fell into the trap of believing that someone else held the secret to my success. I failed to realise that success could not be found in finding the perfect swing that would not break down under pressure. That road lead to total frustration and feelings of wanting to do something better with my time. Does this sound familiar to you? Lessons and information taken in, hours spent practicing, yet still no improvement in performance. Well read on and change your golfing life forever!
The first step on the road to mastery is to trust yourself and understand what it is you are doing when you attempt to hit the ball. Where is your attention and awareness focused? Are you thinking too much about what is a simple task?
You need to move your game away from thinking, and move it towards feeling. You see FEEL is what we use to perform all the amazing motion skills we possess. You don’t think how to walk, you FEEL how to walk. You don’t think how hard to throw the piece of paper into the bin, you FEEL how hard to throw it. And if golf is to change then it must align itself accordingly, because more information is not the answer.
Any sport that sees naturally gifted people unintentionally slice for their entire golfing lives, or that has professionals with golf games that seem to regress in direct proportion with the more they learn about its mechanics, is definitely in need of change!
So how do we move away from thinking and towards feeling? Well, all feel begins with an
objective or task. “Throw the ball to daddy” is all that needs said to evoke an appropriate
technique and start the learning process in a child, and as the skill develops so does the feel.
The issue with golf “coaching” is that it tends to be technique rather than task led.
To help explain that a little more clearly lets look at how I was introduced to two sports. Squash and golf. See if you can spot the difference.
GOLF – This is pretty good representation of the type of instruction that I received when I
came to golf for the first time. How does it compare to yours?
1. I was told how to grip the club.
2. I was told how to stand, aim and position the ball.
3. I was told how to swing. This included lots of things such as, keeping your eye on the
ball and your head down. Your left arm straight and your swing slow. Then as I
progressed it become a bit more complicated and included stuff like turning my left
shoulder under my chin properly on the backswing, and that my hips had to start the
downswing etc. Unfortunately it didn’t stop there, and ultimately I moved on to swing
planes, wrist cock, wrist lag, width and weight transference, and it went on, and on, and
on. It was real fun. NOT!
4. Then every time I got coached I was told that I would get worse before I got better.
GREAT! Just what a young man wants to hear.
SQUASH – I was given the following help with squash from one of my friends.
1. I was handed a racket and a ball.
2. I was then told the rules and objective of the game. Which was basically that ball was only allowed to bounce once before you had to hit it, and my job was to try and direct it where my opponent couldn’t get it. The serve was explained, as were the lines and tin on the walls and floor.
3. I was then asked if I fancied a game!
Did you spot the difference?
You see golf was full of “how to” instructions, whereas squash was all about the game or
objective. In fact in squash there is no technical information whatsoever, and amazingly in golf there was no mention of the objective. The contrast is startling, and that just shouldn’t be. People constantly told me that golf was different (but it isn’t), but I accepted this belief and all the baggage that comes with it. Now it’s time to hand it back.
My introduction to golf encouraged me to think, whereas my introduction to squash
encouraged me to feel and once you learn the appropriate feel for golf you can never lose it.
Fact, the golf ball always does what it is told. We tell the golf ball what to do via the
clubface and how it’s applied to the ball. So what are you telling the clubface? Is your
attention where it should be, that is on the clubface? If not it needs to be. All golfers need to be aware of the reality of what happens at impact. The golf ball will tell you this.
Let me give you an example of this. While I was giving a golf clinic one lady hit a shot
heavy, taking a big divot and the ball barely moved. I asked her “What happened there?”
She replied that she had swung too fast and lifted her head up. A nice story but
unfortunately it was just a story and not reality. What did happen was she miss applied the club and caught the ground before the ball.
After bringing this to her attention I then challenged her to hit the ball without hitting the
ground. After a couple of practice swings feeling a different movement to her previous
attempt, she hit a shot toward her target without taking a big divot. She had changed her
technique due to the task I had given her, without any information of “How To” from me.
You will find that the task will always lead to your technique and NOT the other way around.
Exploring different ways of applying the club will lead to you discovering what is right for
you. Golf is fun once you rid yourself of all thoughts of rights and wrongs. Taking ownership of your own game will be a massive step on the road to having more FUN while playing.
Every great player in the world plays with feel as his major sense, now it’s time for you to
do the same. Good luck and happy INSTINCTIVE golfing.
Why is that?
Are you ready to challenge some of your long held beliefs?
During my fifteen years as a Tournament Professional, I like many others, fell into the trap of believing that someone else held the secret to my success. I failed to realise that success could not be found in finding the perfect swing that would not break down under pressure. That road lead to total frustration and feelings of wanting to do something better with my time. Does this sound familiar to you? Lessons and information taken in, hours spent practicing, yet still no improvement in performance. Well read on and change your golfing life forever!
The first step on the road to mastery is to trust yourself and understand what it is you are doing when you attempt to hit the ball. Where is your attention and awareness focused? Are you thinking too much about what is a simple task?
You need to move your game away from thinking, and move it towards feeling. You see FEEL is what we use to perform all the amazing motion skills we possess. You don’t think how to walk, you FEEL how to walk. You don’t think how hard to throw the piece of paper into the bin, you FEEL how hard to throw it. And if golf is to change then it must align itself accordingly, because more information is not the answer.
Any sport that sees naturally gifted people unintentionally slice for their entire golfing lives, or that has professionals with golf games that seem to regress in direct proportion with the more they learn about its mechanics, is definitely in need of change!
So how do we move away from thinking and towards feeling? Well, all feel begins with an
objective or task. “Throw the ball to daddy” is all that needs said to evoke an appropriate
technique and start the learning process in a child, and as the skill develops so does the feel.
The issue with golf “coaching” is that it tends to be technique rather than task led.
To help explain that a little more clearly lets look at how I was introduced to two sports. Squash and golf. See if you can spot the difference.
GOLF – This is pretty good representation of the type of instruction that I received when I
came to golf for the first time. How does it compare to yours?
1. I was told how to grip the club.
2. I was told how to stand, aim and position the ball.
3. I was told how to swing. This included lots of things such as, keeping your eye on the
ball and your head down. Your left arm straight and your swing slow. Then as I
progressed it become a bit more complicated and included stuff like turning my left
shoulder under my chin properly on the backswing, and that my hips had to start the
downswing etc. Unfortunately it didn’t stop there, and ultimately I moved on to swing
planes, wrist cock, wrist lag, width and weight transference, and it went on, and on, and
on. It was real fun. NOT!
4. Then every time I got coached I was told that I would get worse before I got better.
GREAT! Just what a young man wants to hear.
SQUASH – I was given the following help with squash from one of my friends.
1. I was handed a racket and a ball.
2. I was then told the rules and objective of the game. Which was basically that ball was only allowed to bounce once before you had to hit it, and my job was to try and direct it where my opponent couldn’t get it. The serve was explained, as were the lines and tin on the walls and floor.
3. I was then asked if I fancied a game!
Did you spot the difference?
You see golf was full of “how to” instructions, whereas squash was all about the game or
objective. In fact in squash there is no technical information whatsoever, and amazingly in golf there was no mention of the objective. The contrast is startling, and that just shouldn’t be. People constantly told me that golf was different (but it isn’t), but I accepted this belief and all the baggage that comes with it. Now it’s time to hand it back.
My introduction to golf encouraged me to think, whereas my introduction to squash
encouraged me to feel and once you learn the appropriate feel for golf you can never lose it.
Fact, the golf ball always does what it is told. We tell the golf ball what to do via the
clubface and how it’s applied to the ball. So what are you telling the clubface? Is your
attention where it should be, that is on the clubface? If not it needs to be. All golfers need to be aware of the reality of what happens at impact. The golf ball will tell you this.
Let me give you an example of this. While I was giving a golf clinic one lady hit a shot
heavy, taking a big divot and the ball barely moved. I asked her “What happened there?”
She replied that she had swung too fast and lifted her head up. A nice story but
unfortunately it was just a story and not reality. What did happen was she miss applied the club and caught the ground before the ball.
After bringing this to her attention I then challenged her to hit the ball without hitting the
ground. After a couple of practice swings feeling a different movement to her previous
attempt, she hit a shot toward her target without taking a big divot. She had changed her
technique due to the task I had given her, without any information of “How To” from me.
You will find that the task will always lead to your technique and NOT the other way around.
Exploring different ways of applying the club will lead to you discovering what is right for
you. Golf is fun once you rid yourself of all thoughts of rights and wrongs. Taking ownership of your own game will be a massive step on the road to having more FUN while playing.
Every great player in the world plays with feel as his major sense, now it’s time for you to
do the same. Good luck and happy INSTINCTIVE golfing.
Tuesday, 23 March 2010
PERCEPTION
PERCEPTION. . .Something To Think About. . .
Washington, DC Metro Station on a cold January morning in 2007.
The man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time approx. 2 thousand people went through the station, most of them on their way to work.
After 3 minutes a middle aged man noticed there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried to meet his schedule.
4 minutes later: The violinist received his first dollar: a woman threw the money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk.
6 minutes: A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again..
10 minutes:A 3-year old boy stopped but his mother tugged him along hurriedly. The kid stopped to look at the violinist again, but the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. Every parent, without exception, forced their children to move on quickly
.45 minutes: The musician played continuously. Only 6 people stopped and listened for a short while. About 20 gave money but continued to walk at their normal pace.
The man collected a total of $32.1 hour:
He finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition. No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world.
He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin worth $3.5 million dollars.
Two days before Joshua Bell sold out a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100.
This is a true story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and people's priorities. The questions raised:
*In a common place environment at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty?
*Do we stop to appreciate it?
*Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context?
One possible conclusion reached from this experiment could be this: If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world, playing some of the finest music ever written, with one of the most beautiful instruments ever made. How many other things are we missing?
How many special persons pass us by and we do
not MAKE ANY EFFORT TO get to know them?
Washington, DC Metro Station on a cold January morning in 2007.
The man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time approx. 2 thousand people went through the station, most of them on their way to work.
After 3 minutes a middle aged man noticed there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried to meet his schedule.
4 minutes later: The violinist received his first dollar: a woman threw the money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk.
6 minutes: A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again..
10 minutes:A 3-year old boy stopped but his mother tugged him along hurriedly. The kid stopped to look at the violinist again, but the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. Every parent, without exception, forced their children to move on quickly
.45 minutes: The musician played continuously. Only 6 people stopped and listened for a short while. About 20 gave money but continued to walk at their normal pace.
The man collected a total of $32.1 hour:
He finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition. No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world.
He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin worth $3.5 million dollars.
Two days before Joshua Bell sold out a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100.
This is a true story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and people's priorities. The questions raised:
*In a common place environment at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty?
*Do we stop to appreciate it?
*Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context?
One possible conclusion reached from this experiment could be this: If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world, playing some of the finest music ever written, with one of the most beautiful instruments ever made. How many other things are we missing?
How many special persons pass us by and we do
not MAKE ANY EFFORT TO get to know them?
Technology
I was invited along to Bowker BMW in Blackburn to the launch of the new 5 series BMW. Well not so much to see the car as to attract customers in to have a putting lesson.
I borrowed a SAM PUTT LAB from my good friend Nick Middleton (Break 30 and Zen) and off I went. A number of things amazed me over the course of the weekend I was there. Firstly just how quickly people learn after being given accurate feedback as to what it is they are doing. EVERYONE who used the PUTT LAB were able to change the outcome of their next attempts by seeing and understanding what they had just done! Not one person had to be told WHAT TO DO. Once they understood that the ball travelled in the direction the putter face was pointing at impact they all were able to evoke a change and direct the next putt where they wished.
There were not two stroke alike that I measured,
ALL I may add where successful in holing putts from 12'.
The majority of those measured applied the putter face closed,while swinging the putter left. Never a good option. 95% change their next outcomes by applying the face more open to the same path to get the ball to the target. No intervention from me other to explain the importance of the face at impact.
The variety of swing paths was amazing particularly the number of downward motions!! There were also a number of players, lower handicaps, who delofted the putter at impact allied to a Sharp upward path.
The most annoying thing was the interference of parents thinking they were helping their children when the kids were putting. Telling them how to stand, how to hold the putter, how far to swing back, how they MUST keep their eye on the ball. Much tongue biting done on my part as I kindly asked the parents to let the children HAVE A GO and see what we ALL may learn.
Although I only used the basic training mode and the "sweetspot challenge" functions on SAM I found it to be a fantastic bit of kit to give quick and accurate feedback. I didn't use SAM as a tool to find out what the golfers were doing WRONG only to tell them what they were DOING.
Having spent time with Nick Middleton at Break 30 I saw the science of what it is we do when putting. Absolutely fascinating.
Monday, 15 March 2010
What now?
Well thats the end of the Lancashire Womens Coaching Programme for the winter. I'm not sure how much influence a County, Regional or National Coach can have in such a short amount of time spent in these sessions.
Groups of 12 to 24 golfers on a Sunday morning just about gives you time to say hello. It takes time with individuals just to find out how much they understand about what they are doing
For most the answers are lots of buzz words like too quick, layed off, across the line, trapped, spin out, head still, maintain posture, follow through etc you know the stuff. All nice stories but how much is reallity and what is actually critical in producing desired outcomes?
I asked the girls last Sunday, in groups, to play some skills challenges and write down at least 3 things they thought they needed to do, that was critical, to hit the shot required.
During the review the most common answer from all the challenges was CLUB FACE CONTROL.
Wow, after a five sessions of doubting that I was getting the message across the answer was clear that I had. Now the challenge is for them to take this on through the summer and to not get bogged down with misinformation about what they may be doing wrong.
Of course they will go back to their own coach or parents who will have their own ideas about what they should be doing, so the cycle of sabotage starts again and real learning stops.
The Lob net
North West AASE students at Formby Hall. The lob net skill game proved to be a big challenge. After intervention the students were able to flop 6 irons over when previously lob wedges proved a bridge too far.
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