SO YOU WANT TO BE REALLY GOOD:

What will it take to become the best?
YOU WILL NEVER RUN OUT OF THINGS TO PRACTICE

GREAT PLAYERS THINK CORRECTLY:  Great Players all think really well on the golf course.  They know the shot that needs to be played for every situation.  Many times juniors will be trying to hit the wrong shot that will cause a big error or an unnecessary error.  Always evaluate after every shot you hit.  Did you choose the right shot to hit?  Were you successful?  Did the shot turn out like it was drawn up in your head?  Did you choose the right club?  Did you hit the shot with the correct ball flight?  Did you factor the wind appropriately?  Was there a flaw in the swing? 

GREAT PLAYERS MAKE EVERYTHING ON THE GREENS:  Watch the PGA Tour this weekend and watch the players who finish in the top 5.  Watch how many putts they make, and when the pressure is on.

MECHANICAL PLAYERS                  vs.                         FEEL PLAYERS   
Most Players either learn the game by learning perfect mechanics or they learn by just playing a lot.  I think you need a combination of the two.  You have to start playing a lot of golf right away, but you also have to develop the tools to hit the ball, chip, pitch, putt when the heat is on.  Tiger has great fundamentals and even a better feel for the game.  He can hit shots most other players can’t because he knows how to change his swing to produce the shot he desires.  When you can do that you can get out of trouble and hit shots at flags others must avoid.  He has it all….

CORRECT PRACTICE AND DEVELOPMENT OF ALL ELEMENTS OF YOUR GAME

YOU CAN NOT PLAY IN TOO MANY TOURNAMENTS AS A JUNIOR.  THERE ARE EXPERIENCES and SITUATIONS THAT YOU MUST GO THROUGH TO DEVELOP YOUR SHOT MAKING SKILLS AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE GAME.  DEALING WITH PRESSURE, TOUGH SITUATIONS, and EVEN RULINGS ARE IMPORTANT THINGS TO LEARN.

STAT TRACKING

PLAYING WITH PLAYERS BETTER THAN YOU:  You are not going to get any better playing with people who are not as good as you or players who do not strive to get really good.  Watch how others practice, play, and compete.

THINGS YOU CAN START DOING RIGHT NOW:

  1. Dedicate yourself to learning the game.  The TOURNAMENT GAME!
    1. Golf and Tournament Golf are Two Different Animals
  2. Start Signing Up for Every Tournament you can.
  3. Choose a Golf Coach (whether you choose me or someone else: Find someone who is interested in your success as a golfer) someone you feel comfortable asking questions to.  You are going to need guidance for years towards becoming a great player.  No one can do it alone.
  4. Play Golf as Much as you can.
  5. Read Mental Game Books and History of Golf Books
    1. Fearless Golf by Dr. Gio Vallante
    2. Putting out of Your Mind: Bob Rotella
    3. Golf is a Game of Confidence: Rotella
    4. Golf is Not a Game of Perfect: Rotella
    5. Zen Golf
  6. Find other Great Players to Play with
  7. When on the Course: Focus on your golf:  Get rid of the distracters’ so you can focus on the task at hand.
  8. Putt as often as you can
  9. Develop YOUR OWN SYSTEM OF PLAYING GOLF.
  10. Repetition is KEY!
  11. Get on a Fitness and Endurance Program
  12. Practice Properly
    1. Drills for consistency
    2. Repetitive Ball Flight
    3. Solid Fundamentals
    4. Great Feel around the greens
      1. Practice the hard shots around the green.  You want to be able to get up and down form the easy areas where everyone should be able to get up n down.  You also want to learn to get up n down from the hardest spots others cannot.

ADVANCED THINGS TO KNOW

  1. Reading Greens
  2. Ball Flight Laws
  3. Control of your ball and your game
  4. Having all the shots
  5. Being Clutch
  6. Control of your body and your mind
  7. Positive attitude