If you are putting, keep focused on the cup or if it is a long putt you might focus on a slightly larger target such as an imaginary tub that would be a 15” radius of the cup. Some players like Jack Nicklaus pick a specific spot on the green a few feet in front of them that would be on the line they want their ball to roll. This is sort of like using the arrows on the floor in bowling. This is an excellent method to use for putting. Many good players continue to use this method for full shots as well but it is also important to keep your focus on the exact target you are aiming for.

If playing an iron shot to the green and you are shooting to the flagstick, focus on the flagstick and swing the club through on a line to the flagstick. If the flagstick is tucked closely over a bunker, you might want to play your shot to the center part of the green. If so, pick out a specific target such as a patch of discoloration in the green, or another player’s ball that may already be on the green.

When playing a lay up shot, don’t just swing for the fairway without an exact target in mind. Pick a spot where you want to play your next shot from considering both the distance and line. If playing a par five hole and you cannot reach the green in two shots, don’t just take any club out to advance your position down the fairway. Know what a comfortable distance is for you with your favorite wedge. Let’s say you like to hit your pitching wedge 100 yards and you have 275 yards to the green. You should then know you need to hit your lay up shot 165 yards. You then select a club you can hit the distance of 165 yards. Now it is important to pick an exact target. Look down the fairway to the approximate distance you are trying to lay up to. Look for something that you can precisely focus on. Many times a target might be one of the small cart signs placed in the fairway. Or it might be a chunk of someone’s divot lying in the fairway. Now as you play your shot, you are focused on a precise target and if you are slightly off, you should still have a decent third shot to the green. If just swinging away without focus, you may just end up in that fairway bunker or just in the rough with a grassy lie. Now your third shot to the green is not exactly the easy shot that it should be.

When playing a drive, try to play using this same method. If you can actually see the landing area of the fairway, try to pick a specific target to swing to. Sometime you may be playing a bit of a blind shot. Once again, try to pick an exact target like a tree or maybe a power line tower or roof top at a distance. Picking an exact target will give you more focus and will make your bad shots not as bad. Once the great Ben Hogan was playing a course for the first time came to a hole that was of a blind shot from the tee. He asked his caddy where he should hit his drive. The caddy replied just play to that group of trees at the end of the fairway.

Mr. Hogan then replied, “Which tree?

“Wow, I hardly even felt myself swing.” Have you ever thought or said this to yourself? The reason you said it, is because you were relaxed. Your muscles and your entire body are more apt to perform if you remain relaxed. Being tense will only produce poor shots.

Here is an example of how relaxed muscles work:

Think of a boxer in the ring just prior to the bell. He is shaking his arms and dancing with his feet in an effort to be loose. Try flexing your fist to the point where you can feel your forearm and bicep muscle become tight. Now try to throw a punch. It is near impossible. You cannot generate any muscle speed which produces power. It is the same with a track runner approaching the starting blocks. He is shaking his arms and legs to relieve tension so when the gun goes off, he is quick out of the blocks. A baseball pitcher must be relaxed in order to make a successful pitch. His entire body must work together in a smooth fluid motion whether he is throwing a 90 mph fast ball or a slow breaking pitch. Try taking a baseball and squeezing it, holding it tight with your forearm flexed. Now throw it. More than likely, you will throw it right into the ground in front of you. No control and no speed, all because you were tensed up and had tight muscles.Try flexing your fist to the point where you can feel your forearm and bicep muscle become tight. Now try to throw a punch. It is near impossible. You cannot generate any muscle speed which produces power. It is the same with a track runner approaching the starting blocks. He is shaking his arms and legs to relieve tension so when the gun goes off, he is quick out of the blocks. A baseball pitcher must be relaxed in order to make a successful pitch. His entire body must work together in a smooth fluid motion whether he is throwing a 90 mph fast ball or a slow breaking pitch. Try taking a baseball and squeezing it, holding it tight with your forearm flexed. Now throw it. More than likely, you will throw it right into the ground in front of you. No control and no speed, all because you were tensed up and had tight muscles.

Here is another demonstration of how relaxation can produce not only better swings, but also humor:

Bob Toski, the great teacher of many tour players, was a great player in his day even though he was only about 5′ 4″ inches in height and weighted about 125 pounds. Bob’s philosophy of the golf swing was centered on muscle control and muscle relaxation. Bob had many ways to demonstrate his point. One way was to hold his hand out flat with his palm facing up. He would then place a golf tee standing up in his palm. Then he would have his student knock the tee out of his palm using a closed fist. The tee would only travel a few feet. Then he would repeat the exercise only this time he would knock the tee himself, but only using one flick of his finger. The tee would travel thirty feet or so. His point, muscle control and relaxation produced speed and distance, not big strong flexed muscles. Bob also at times would verbally make his point. One story he would tell was about the first time he gave a lesson to a particular gentlemen. This fellow was about 6′ 8″ tall, weight about 265 pounds and was really built well for a man of his size and age of somewhere around forty years old. After loosening up, the gentleman began to hit some balls. It was like body parts flying all over the place as this huge specimen of a man began swinging the club. He was thrashing, taking deep divots that were sometimes traveling farther than the ball. Lots of energy was being expelled from his giant frame. After five or six shots, Bob called him to a halt. Whoa big fellow. You have got this all wrong. You know the club only weighs about thirteen ounces. The ball weighs less than two ounces. Why are you spending so much energy to move such little mass? Think of watching a brain surgeon performing an operation. The surgeon would not grab his scalpel with a tight grip and go at his patient with violent powerful, uncontrolled maneuvers. Of course not. He would very lightly grip his tool of trade and gingerly, delicately go about performing his task. At that time, his student began laughing out loud. Bob then asked if his story was that funny. The student replied, “Well you see Bob, in my real job, I happen to be a surgeon”.

Once again, I really appreciate everyone’s support.
To all my friends, business associates and fishing club buddies, you all have been fantastic.
For anyone who has not pledged, it is not too late. Any small amount helps. Please let me know by email or phone and I will add you to the list.
I will be sending everyone receipts for their contributions which are tax deductible.

Thanks for your support.
Frank

To learn more about the center visit: http://www.umbrellaweb.org/index2.htm

Being a small part of helping these kids get on the right track of life is extremely gratifying. You can help out by sponsor me in this golf marathon by pledging a small financial amount of ten cents, twenty-five cents, fifty cents, or even $1.00 per hole.

Just reply back to this posting and let me know what you can do and I will pay your pledge on Tuesday and we can arrange collection via e-mail

Your grip should be in the fingers of both hands
not the palms.

Most of the grip pressure should be felt in the last
three fingers of your left hand. There is much less
pressure in the right hand. There should be no
pressure at all in the thumb and forefinger of the
right hand.

At The Water Cooler
Two men are talking at the water cooler at work one Monday morning.
“What did you do this weekend?” asked Don.
“Dropped hooks into water.” replied Dave.
“Fishing, eh?”
“No, golfing.”