Speaking of fundamentals , consider adding the following deliberate practice exercise to your next practice session :
Of the many wonderful Connecticut PGA Professionals , one technical expert I am particularly fond of is Tom Rosati at Great River Golf Club in Milford , CT . In my experience of Tom as a teacher , he has a deep appreciation for the fundamentals and the need for a stepwise approach to building a sound golf swing . Specifically , Tom is a stickler for properly setting-up to the golf ball before a swing is even made . When I refer to set-up , I mean body posture , grip , ball position , and alignment to your intended target based on the lie of the ball . Tom believes , as I do , that the vast majority of swing flaws result from an improper set-up . In other words , from a technical perspective , if you don ’ t know how to properly set-up to the ball , you ’ ve significantly decreased your chances of making an effective swing .
So , how often do you deliberately practice setting up to the ball ? Do you know how to set up to the ball with differing lies ( i . e ., uphill , downhill , side hill , rough , greenside bunker , fairway bunker , divot , etc .)? If you do , do you have a way of getting feedback to make any corrections or adjustments if needed ? How do you know you ’ re properly lined up to your intended target ? Remember , expert golfers have more well developed and comprehensive mental representations for proper set-up than the inexpert golfer . Expert golfers deliberately practice setting up to the ball , not just from the comfort of flat plush range mats , but from every lie imaginable .
The next time you practice , take 30 minutes and deliberately work on setting-up to the ball and hitting shots from differing lies . If you don ’ t know how to set-up to the ball properly , especially with differing lies , please consult an expert and let them guide you initially before you start practicing on your own . This way , you can get the most from your practice time . Start with flat lies , then with the ball above your feet , then below , then uphill and downhill lies . Hit 10 balls from each lie identifying which lie challenges you the most . Practicing your weaknesses is also a hallmark of expert performers .
The more feedback you can get from your practice session the better . If no one is there to give you feedback , at the very least , use an alignment rod / aid to ensure you ’ re aiming where you think you are and have a written checklist to reference outlining the proper technique for each of the lies you ’ re practicing . If you ’ re not sure how to properly align yourself to your intended target , please consult an expert to assist you with that as well .
Deliberately practicing setting-up to the ball from differing lies will not only help you develop more useful mental representations for how to hit those shots , but it will also reinforce very specific skills that you will use nearly every round of golf you play . So , until they start letting us bring the range mats with us out on the course , we need to know how to hit shots from uneven lies , and , we will never get better at hitting those shots unless we deliberately practice them .
Please feel free to contact me with any question about this article and / or the mental game of golf .
Dr . Josh Brant is a licensed Clinical Psychologist and Sports Performance Coach who has worked with golfers at all levels including professionals , collegiate , and high ranking amateurs . Feel free to contact Dr . Brant at drjoshbrant @ gmail . com and follow him on Twitter @ drjoshbrant
DrJoshBrant @ gmail . com
@ DrJoshBrant
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