Before we go any further, let’s remember that Grayson Murray is gone far too soon. In New Zealand 15.2 men per 100,000 commit suicide. Too many. One is too many. My post today was to be about tips for golf instruction but the tip, as we see above, has another meaning. The tip of the iceberg is what the public sees. The rest is what the person is on the inside. Let’s not assume that all is ok with those who look like they have their shit together. Remember, I’d rather speak to you at 4 in the morning having knocked on my door, than at your funeral.
So, to tips given as golf instruction. I think of tips as the iceberg. There may be some truth to the tip, it may even have some basis in fact. But…
True improvement in your golf game, his golf game, hers, whomever, is committed, fact-based training made to be simple and achievable by the coach. A tip is most likely a plaster (band aid) over the underlying problem.
So, do you want a quick fix to get you through the next round? Or, long-term improvement?
There’s no right answer to that by the way…golf is an individual pursuit and how you go about putting the ball in the hole is up to you.
I came up with a generic system that illustrates how a player takes their technical skills to the course. Within each step, of course, there is hard work to be done!
| Step | Description | Playing |
| Baseline | Establish baseline move for straight ball flight – full swing. Establish baseline swings for pitching, chipping, sand, putting. | Using only baseline moves to get the ball around the course Begin to use shortened or depowered swings |
| Shotmaking 1 | Establish a ‘3-distance’ (3D) pattern with all clubs except driver and putter. | Play practice holes 1 di Get comfortable using less than full power |
| Shotmaking 2 | Establish a 3-trajectory (3T) pattern with all clubs except putter. Combine the 3D and 3T. | Get comfortable on course with 3T and 3D – 2 di game |
| Shotmaking 4 | Establish a 3-curves (3C) pattern i.e. draw, straight, fade. Start to combine 3D, 3T and 3C. | Dice drill – 3 di game Full shots – not inside 75m That’s 27 shots per club! |
| Play patterns | Objectives – give yourself an objective on the tee of each holeDecide on each shot how that will be done | Call the shot Realistic objectives |
| Tournament patterns | Pre-tournament routines Pre-round routine Pre-shot routine Post-shot, round, tournament routines | Game plans Nutrition,Prep |
| One Di | When practising 3D roll di: 1-2 short distance 3-4 medium distance 5-6 full distance |
| When practising 3T roll di: 1-2 low 3-4 medium/regular 5-6 high | |
| When practising 3C roll di: 1-2 draw 3-4 baseline 5-6 fade | |
| Two Di | When practising 3D and 3T: 1-2 short distance and/or low traj 3-4 medium distance and/or medium traj 5-6 full distance and/or high traj |
| When practising 3D and 3C: 1-2 short dist / draw 3-4 medium dist / straight 5-6 full dist / fade | |
| When practising 3C and 3T: 1-2 draw / low 3-4 straight / medium 5-6 fade / high | |
| Three Di* for advanced | Di 1 = 3D: 1-2 Short 3-4 Med 5-6 Long |
| Di 2 = 3T: 1-2 Low 3-4 Med 5-6 High | |
| Di 3 = 3C: 1-2 Draw 3-4 Straight 5-6 Fade |
Anyway – enough. Stay safe.
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