Golfing News & Blog Articles

The short game is the area of the game that requires the most use of fine motor skills, which is why some players can struggle. Because precision is required (touch, contact, face control, etc.), a player’s mental state is a huge factor.

If you don’t have confidence, focus and commitment to your short game shots, you won’t be able to access your best physical skills, no matter how good they are.

Understanding How Fear Affects Short Game Confidence

Players who are struggling with short game confidence feel more pressure and fear around it, so the first step to getting better is understanding how this affects the execution of a short game shot.
I hear all the time how a player has a “great short game in practice”, but on the course it disappears. The reason: fear.

Fear makes you focus more on what could go wrong, rather than the outcome you desire. Focusing on the possible negative outcomes such as poor contact (hitting thin or fat shots), what the reaction will be from your playing partners, not making a fluid swing and throwing away strokes takes focus and energy away from what is most important. This fear can also cause physical changes as heart rate and muscle tension rises.

These changes in mental and physical state mean that the intention for the shot is lost, the mind and body are not relaxed, and the messages being sent to the muscles are unclear. Let’s take a look at how you can reduce fear and build short game confidence.

Srixon Z-STAR Diamond Golf Ball – Key Takeaways

Srixon brings Brooks Koepka’s prototype ball to market.Firmer than Z-STAR, higher-spinning than Z-STAR XV102 compression$44.99 per dozen, available Jan. 21

You’ve seen the new Srixon Z-STAR Diamond golf ball in action. At least, you did if you watched the 12-hole grudge match between Brooks and Bryson over Thanksgiving. New Srixon staffer Koepka dormied the match following a killer iron from the rough that hopped and stopped four feet from the hole.

If you’re Srixon, you put that shot in every Z-STAR Diamond commercial. And maybe the tee shot from on the par-3 ninth hole as well.

Because that’s exactly what the new Srixon Z-STAR Diamond was designed to do. And, most likely, exactly for whom it was designed.

“This ball was a major driver in joining Srixon,” says Koepka in a press release. “It’s been a seamless transition.”

Srixon Z-STAR Diamond – A Hybrid Ball

We already have the Pro V1 Left Dash and Left Dot as well as the Chrome Soft X LS, so why not a Z-STAR Diamond?

Cameron Smith finished at 34-under 258, a tournament record by three shots. Ernie Els won at 31 under in 2003, and that had been the PGA Tour record for shots under par.

Jon Rahm matched the low score of his career, tied the course record at Kapalua, Hawaii, and played his last 12 holes in 11-under par for a 61 Saturday, tying Cameron Smith at the Sentry Tournament of Champions.

Cameron Smith "had to hit the reset button" Friday at the Sentry Tournament of Champions after opening with two straight bogeys. He made a sensational recovery, capped by four straight birdies at the end for a 9-under 64 and a three-shot lead.

The U.S. Golf Association announced the U.S. Women's Open purse will nearly double this year to $10 million, by far the richest in women's golf.

 

The post U.S. Women’s Open Gets First Presenting Partner appeared first on Northern California Golf Association.

Patrick Cantlay and Jon Rahm returned from long absences and shot a 66 and 67, respectively, Thursday at Kapalua.

A serious illness after the Ryder Cup left U.S. captain Steve Stricker hospitalized with inflammation around his heart, a high white blood cell count and liver woes, he told Wisconsin Golf in a story published Thursday.

Is $50 a lot of money?

For a hot dog and an adult beverage at the turn? Yes.

For a new BMW M5? Nope.

What about a dozen golf balls? Now, that should elicit some visceral replies.

All that said, the point is that as with any product or service, the relationship between price and value is inherently subjective. A round of golf is no different.

It’s the RUSH in your swing, to hit it longer, that kills your consistency. Just stop and think about this. Your major mishits happen when you try to get more distance out of your swing. When you rush your swing to add POWER you are actually messing up your chance to keep your body in sync for your perfect swing. The pros that we watch on TV seem to get away with a very fast back and down swing. You are NOT a pro.

Your golf swing only finds consistency when your arms have time to reach the top before you hips start your downswing. Rushing your arms by a fraction of a second will throw each physical component of your swing out of sync. I have seen this a thousand times and I know that I have done the same thing every time I hit the ball narrow, thin or heavy. Just watch your playing partners and analyze why they hit the perfect shot and at other times they miss-hit their ball. It’s almost impossible to see them speed up their arms by a fraction of a second but that’s all it takes.

Watch for the Signs
Rushed players may pause a little longer before they start their takeaway as they build up power in their brain to get an extra 30 yards. That extra time just builds up tension in their arms and back. Then BANG, there goes a booming slice or topped ball. Loosen your grip and enjoy the moment.

Take Control of your Mind and your Swing
1/ You can’t afford to put a lot more energy into your drive and then expect to hit your next shot with a different lofted club with less energy. Your body will just be out of sync.
2/ It’s too easy to rush your arms for a faster backswing and downswing. When you do this, your hips and shoulders will have a delayed reaction.
3/ The only club that you want to hit longer is your Driver and possibly your 3 or 5 wood when you are trying to get further down the fairway or to reach the green. The longer shaft on these clubs are designed to do the work for you. The whipping action of your wrist release generates a faster club head speed with a longer shaft. The coiling and uncoiling of your body for a longer shafted club and a shorter shafted club should be completed at the same speed.
4/ You don’t need more swing speed to gain distance with your irons. Just select a lower lofted club (for more distance) and make your controlled swing.

Your backswing should take twice as long as your downswing. When you are setting up at the first tee or for an important shot, mentally count “1 and 2” where 2 is the start of your downswing. Take more time to coil your body and create wrist lag as you bend your leading knee to start loading weight forward at the top of your swing.