It happens all the time. A weekend golfer decides to improve her game. Determined to trim her golf handicap, she dedicates herself to the effort. She focuses on a major swing flaw and works hard to correct it. She practices daily, takes golf lessons, and studies golf tips in sports magazines. Eventually, she eliminates the flaw. Yet, she fails to cut her golf handicap. Eventually, she gets frustrated and stops.
If you want to take your game to the next level, you must do more than just correct a swing flaw. Just ask Ernie Els. In 2002 season, he decided to take his game to the next level. Among the PGA's best, Els started strong that year, winning three times on the European and U.S. tours. Yet he felt like he was playing poorly. To get ready for the British Open, he and David Ledbetter worked on fixing his game. Below is what Els did to get his groove back.
Creating A Plan
Els and Ledbetter developed a comprehensive plan. Instead of concentrating just on the technical side of the player's swing, they focused on solidifying the basics, improving his short game, and eliminating swing thoughts. The plan worked. In November 2002 Els entered the British Open at Muirfield, England, feeling a little uncomfortable. But by Wednesday he felt great. Eventually, he won the tournament.
What did Els work on in Ledbetter's golf instruction sessions? He worked on making solid contact—the result of good fundamentals. Poor swing fundamentals lead to all sorts of problems. It's like a chain reaction. In his case, his main concern was coming over the top. To correct that, he focused on ball position, alignment, grip, and posture. Maintaining good fundamentals helps Els stay square to the target longer through impact, producing consistent solid contact.
Power And Accuracy
Els also worked on achieving power and accuracy. In his case, they come from staying behind the ball during the downswing. That means hitting into a firm left side and maintaining the backward tilt at impact that he had at address. Staying behind the ball allows him to swing the club with his right arm and hand more "underneath" the clubshaft. It also encourages him to make contact with the club traveling inside the target line.
To improve bunker play, Els worked on maintaining balance—the key to every bunker shot. Sometimes golfers dig into the sand too far. This off-balance set-up encourages them to swing the club behind their backs. From there, they either bury the club's heel into the sand or hit a shank. A balanced set-up enables one to swing the club back on a more upright plane and then forward, with hands and club moving along the foot-line.
Feel Is Everything
To increase feel, Ernie worked on uphill and downhill putts. On uphill putts, he focused on accelerating through the ball without rushing into the stroke. On downhill putts, he concentrated on using a slightly different stroke, one that's slower and smoother, like a truck climbing a steep upgrade. He also worked on matching the length of his stroke to the length of the putt.
In addition, Els worked on eliminating unnecessary swing thoughts. He focused on trusting his instincts and playing in the subconscious. He also focused on staying in the moment. Instead focusing on the shot he just made, he forced himself to concentrate on the upcoming shot. And he replaced all other swing thoughts at the start of his takeaway by the words "low and slow" to himself.
The Takeaway
If you want to boost your game to the next level, don't just blindly copy Els. He's taller than most weekend golfers, so he has different issues than they do. And don't just take a golf lesson or two, or read a few golf tips and let it go at that. If you really want to take your game to the next level, develop a comprehensive plan that focuses on your weaknesses. It should also strengthen the basics, add power and accuracy off the tee, hone your short game, and help you play in the subconscious. The effort will definitely help you trim your golf handicap.
Jack Moorehouse is the author of the best-selling book
How To Break 80 And Shoot Like The Pros. He is NOT a golf pro, rather a working man that has helped thousands of golfers from all seven continents lower their handicap immediately. Free weekly newsletter with the latest
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