You will NOT improve as a golfer or a player by hitting golf balls into a net over the Winter.

I’ve shared this statement with anyone who ever asks me my thoughts on indoor golf practice. Now, I’ll acknowledge that it can be fun, enjoyable to be around people with like minded interest, the coolness factor of having a Pro walk down the line and chat about the swing changes you intend to make, with their help, over the winter…it’s fun for some I suppose. However, I won’t tell you why you won’t get better hitting balls into a net, instead, I’ll let you know what you need to do to improve as a golfer/player and then, you, the reader can decide where this improvement could take place.

In September, Paul and I attended an AMF Instructor Summit in Dallas, Texas and we had a wonderful dinner with one of our influences over the last 15 years, Dr. Rick Jensen. He is a wise man and an incredible presenter of information. In one of our conversations we were discussing this very topic, about how people improve….is it by perfecting a model swing? WE all agree (those of us having dinner) that none of us taught a “swing”….we coach the individual and take their strengths and identify what works best for them and build from that point.

Dr. Rick smiled. He wanted to hear that because he’s actually researched the topic intensely and here is what he has to say in his book “Easier Said Than Done”:
There are three essential skills that will help someone lower their scores:
1. ball control
2. decision making
3. self-management
The most important of these skills is, by far, ball control. If you can control the direction, distance, and trajectory of your ball consistently (i.e., move it from Point A to Point B in a predictable fashion) then you can play good golf. If you combine good decision making (factoring in the wind, speed and slope of the greens, the lie, etc) and self management (controlling your emotions, managing your attention, etc.) with good ball control skills, you can play GREAT golf.

Now, you can gain better control over your ball WITHOUT your swing looking like Rory McIllroy.

In fact, you could control your ball really well with a swing like John Daly or Jack Nicklaus *in his prime*….with a flying elbow.
In fact, you could control your ball really well with a swing like Lee Trevino or Jim Furyk…an octopus falling out of a tree…pretty.
In fact, you could control your ball really well with a swing like David Duval or Annika Sorenstam….and lift your head through impact.
In fact, you could control your ball really well with a swing like Sergio Garcia or Graeme McDowell….and bow your lead wrist at the top.

How about Bubba Watson, Fred Couples and Bruce Lietzke and line up your feet 70 yards away from where you want the ball to end up?

You get my point hopefully.

If you are going to control your ball better there are obviously many, many skill sets which can be improved. If you can focus on improving those skill sets AND watch the resulting ball flight…you will get the necessary feedback as to whether you are improving your ball control. No ball flight….no way to validate any changes, small or large.

I’ll give you a scenario…In the previous blog entry “Focus” I referenced world champion dart player Phil Taylor. I like darts. I can play a little and I’m sure if I decided to practice I would improve…Wait a second! I have a brilliant idea! I don’t have a dart board at the house, but, I could practice throwing darts in my walk in closet at, say, the wall. I would make stunning improvements on my ability to hit Double 12 by practicing all winter…throwing darts at the wall from half the standard distance… I would gain some “dart control” wouldn’t I?

I’ll be a better field goal kicker by kicking a ball into the net…I’ll become a better tennis player by practicing my serve into a net that would be half the distance it would be on a real tennis court….we could go on and on, couldn’t we?

My suggestion to you, the reader, is what I have said to anyone who has asked my advice on this topic…Get in better shape….golf shape (see Tim, Paul or myself on how this can happen…we’re certified to do so), buy a couple of good self management books…about business, life, or even golf specific…assess the past year on the course, every part of your game….note what you did well, what could have been better….and then…

write down what you’re gonna do about it – and get to it in the Spring.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, December 7th, 2010 at 4:01 am and is filed under Rideau View. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.