The Neglected Foundation: The Missing Element in Traditional Instruction

Each instructional article proclaims the importance of swing fundamentals. Obviously, a basic knowledge of swing mechanics is essential as a foundation.

But there is something fundamental that is often overlooked in traditional instruction. To discover this article, please take a moment and consider the answer to the following question.

What is the most important shot in the game?

The most popular answer is the first tee shot. Most golfers feel that a good start bodes well for the rest of the round. The second most common answer was the last shot on the 18th hole. While both answers are logical, I would ask you to change your perspective from a specific shot to the shot that has the greatest effect on how you feel.

Since golf is a game of sensations and how you feel affects your swing, we need to discover the shot that has the strongest emotional effect. This shot is the one that immediately follows the poor foreground.

Every round of golf is a roller coaster of good and bad shots; a bad shot is inevitable. Your ability to quickly dismiss the effects of a bad shot is the most important factor in determining your score.

How often has one bad shot led to several more? When you look back on any round, there is always a turning point; a change in momentum.

Have you heard the axiom that golf is 90 percent mental? Assuming this is true, why is traditional instruction based on the exact opposite methodology? The assumption is that a player must have a high level of skill before any mental tool can be applied effectively. This is a big mistake. The tools for dealing with a bad shot must be developed along with perfecting your swing technique.

This skill will aid any golfer in the elusive quest to transfer their proficiency from the driving range to the golf course. His skill level doesn’t suddenly disappear during the ten-minute walk from the driving range to the golf course. If you have anxiety about the first tee, then you are automatically focusing on potential disaster.

The first step in dealing with the emotional consequences of a bad shot is to be aware of the tendency to anticipate bad results.

In the next article, we will look at some options to quickly interrupt negative thoughts. Thank you for reading. Go out there, have fun and just hit the damn ball!