“Through the cultivation of positive qualities, the mind becomes untroubled, serene, and capable of one-pointed concentration” -Dyanand Diffenbaugh When the ego is out of control on the links, the mind’s inclination is toward negativity. We start to look for excuses, blaming other golfers and external factors for our bad shots. The ego proclaims, “It’s too windy, the course conditions […]
Tension is the number one killer of golf swings. Tightening the jaw before and/or during the swing spreads tension to the shoulders and other parts of the body. This sabotages both swing mechanics and tempo. Explore relaxing the jaw before and during your swing. Place a thin potato chip between your front teeth and swing. […]
“With an ungrounded awareness, we can become skillful at the ways we are unskillful.” -Rev. Daijaku Kinst (Co-founder of Ocean Gate Zendo, Capitola, CA.) Awareness Alert: Every moment on the golf course, and in life, is an opportunity to pay attention. Here are a few inquiring questions to illuminate potentially sabotaging mental golf habits: How is the quality […]
Tight shoulders and triceps can inhibit range of motion in the backswing. For a more effortless shoulder turn, try this simple stretch pictured above to improve flexibility. *Avoid or modify if there is an injury. Dodie Mazzuca is the author of “Golf Sūtras,” “Daily Golf Tap-Ins,” and founder of Golf PROformance. She teaches golf lessons, […]
Thinking about your putting stroke while attempting to make a 4-foot par putt is like brushing your teeth while eating Oreos. On the course,DO NOT THINK ABOUT YOUR PUTTING STROKE…unless you want to 3-putt often. Focus your attention on a helpful attribute such as the target, sensing the putt’s distance, or seeing the ball go in the hole. […]
“When the winds of change blow, some people build walls and others build windmills.”-Eastern Philosophy Proverb …and golfers hit low punch shots. Change is hard. Whether we accept it or not, the world around us has changed. Resisting these changes only adds to our own suffering. However, changing the height of our golf shot shouldn’t be […]
To improve distance control and prevent 3-putts, do the following “Ladder Putting Drill”: Putt 10 balls from the same location. Make each putt stop 1-foot SHORTER than the previous putt. Repeat, making each putt 1- foot LONGER than the previous putt. When completed, there should be 10 balls equally spaced 1-foot from each other in […]
Recently proclaimed by one of my students who was struggling with his driver, “I can’t stop trying tokill the ball!“ The prescription: Vitamin “R” = Relax Slacken the tension, borne of your efforts. (Patañjali’s Yoga Sūtra, 2:47)Swing within yourself. Focus on balance, continuously light grip pressure, and tempo. This is the cure for symptoms of chaotic tee shots. […]