The Power of Visualization

I was fortunate to observe a wonderful example of how visualization can be the most powerful skill in your golf game. Visualization is the skill to make a bad swing into a passable golf shot.  And maybe take a a good swing to a great result.

I was giving a lesson to a top level junior who was struggling with her swing.  Technically she was doing well but the results were not matching her, nor my, expectations.  She was 16, attending a high level private academy and was looking to do well in the upcoming Oregon State 6A champions.

On the 4th hole of Portland Golf Club, a 125 yard par 3, we decided to set up shop and work on her visualization.  I asked her to visualize her shot to the finite detail.

"I see a slight cut to the right..." she said.
"How much of a cut?" I asked
"2-3 yards" she responded.
"2 or 3 yards or 2 or 3 feet...?" I asked as I was looking for more detail.
"3 feet."

I had her practice swing over and over and over until she felt that swing type.
"Was that the swing?" I asked.
"Nope" she answered.
"Do it again." I directed.

I continued to ask for more detail...
"How many bounces?"I ask
"2 bounces." she says.
"And then?" I ask
"It goes in the hole."

"Was that the swing?"
"Not yet."
"Do it again."

For 20 minutes we sat on the 4th tee making practice swings... And more practice swings.

Finally...
"Do you see it?"
"Yes!"
"Do you feel it?"
"Yes!"
"Hit it!"

She then steps in to the shot.  She visualizes the shot one last time.  And makes a nice swing.  Not a great swing but a nice one - the best of the day.  The ball is struck well and begins to lift slightly to the left.  As it continues toward the green the ball begins to cut towards the hole.

She holds her finish well.  Her weight is fully into her left side.  She has committed to her swing.  She has swung heroically at her conservative target.  As the ball continues it's gentle curve towards the hole I take notice that it is going to be a petty good shot.

The ball lands to the left of the flag.  It hops softly to the right.  Takes 3 bounces.  And settles into the bottom of the hole.  YES!  A hole in one.  Her first!!!

We are both shocked.  She looks at me and says, "now what do I do?!"  We jumped up and down in excitement.

Now, here is the true beauty and magic of this experience... The next day I saw her she asks, "did that really happen? Or did I just imagine it?"

She was so entranced in the moment...  She was so absolutely committed in her visualization...  She saw it over and over and over in her mind.... That when it ACTUALLY happened she could not distinguish between REALITY and her IMAGINATION...

What a beautiful moment...  And I was fortunate to be there.

If you have any questions or comments please do not hesitate to contact me.
Your friend in golf...
John Grothe, PGA
john.grothe@gmail.com

PGA & LPGA Tour Averages

Here is a great chart to see what the best players on earth are able to produce with proper impact conditions; a downward strike, forward shaft lean and golf ball first.

Club head speed is pretty obvious - measured just prior to impact.
Attack Angle - a negative number is a downward strike.
Ball Speed - speed of the ball after it leaves the club face.
Smash Factor - measures the quality of the strike and transfer of energy.  Perfect smash factor is 1.5
Vertical Launch - Launch angle of the golf ball - 0 is straight and along the ground - 90 would be straight up.
Spin Rate - the rate at which the ball is spinning
Max Height - height at which the ball reached the highest point in it's flight.
Land Angle - the angle at which the ball lands.
Carry - the distance the golf ball travels when it strikes the ground.

These numbers are quite impressive.  As I study them I find the following interesting...
1) The driver launch angle is HIGH!  After all the driver is the home run club.
2) There is a significant downward strike on all clubs of at times of over 4 degrees.
3) The height of all clubs are pretty close.  Lowest 28, highest of 32 on the PGA Tour.  23 and 26 on LPGA.
4) With the irons and their lofts we see that irons are de-lofted roughly 3-4 degrees on average.
5) Based on a 9.5 & 8.5 driver lofts the launch angle is INCREASED by at least 4 degrees if not more.
6) Land angle does not change as significantly as I would have expected.   The variation is only 4 degrees from a 3 iron to a PW.  But, with significantly increased spin rates is the method the TOUR player stops the ball.

The most interesting is that the TOUR player hits their 3 iron and PW roughly at the same height... That means a low PW and a high 3 iron.... Interesting.

If you have questions please do not hesitate to contact me.
Your friend in golf.
John Grothe, PGA
Oregon Golf Association Golf Course

NW Golf Guys - What's in the bag?

If you haven't heard of NW Golf guys they are a great organization here in the Northwest!

http://www.nwgolfguys.com/nwgolf/inthebag/john-grothe/

Technology in Golf

Check on the latest in golf - think MRI for your golf swing!

http://www.kval.com/sports/Wide-World-Of-Golf-Its-a-3-D-world-157973405.html

Golf in the Technology Age

We cannot deny that golf has come into the technology age!  Gagets and lasers and the internet has helped us refine and in fact could redefine this great game.  Ben Hogan believed that the ability to judge distance simply by sight was as critical of a skill to be learned and developed as driving or putting!  Today we simply laser the top of a flag stick and get the exact yardage within a second.  I am sure Mr. Hogan wouldn't appreciate how easy this has become.

Here are some of my favorite technology options for golfers to consider:

APPS:
1) iPing Putting App - FREE with a $29.99 adaptor - this app allows you to tell what type of stroke you have, how much face rotation you have on your putting stroke and your tempo.  It will even fit you for a putter type.
2) My Swing by Tiger Woods - $9.99 - great app with clear video content to watch Tiger's swing.
3) V1 Digital Coaching Video - FREE - another great app to video your swing and compare yourself to some of the top PGA and LPGA Professionals.
4) Golf Tracker - FREE and $1.99 - ability for you to track your stats through a round.

GPS APPS
1) Golfshot: Golf GPS for iPhone - $29.99
2) GolfLink Game Tracker - $9.99
3) GolfLogix - $39.99 per year
4) View Ti Golf - $29.99 per year

And the best app on the web... It is the Oregon Golf Association's Tee Time app powered by Quick 18.

If you have any questions or comments do not hesitate to contact me via email at john.grothe@gmail.com.
Your friend in golf.
John Grothe, PGA

Two ways of Thinking

Which was is the best way to think on the golf course...?

"Let's have fun out there today, Jack." Lee Trevino

"Don't feel like talking much today, Lee." - Jack Nicklaus

"That's ok Jack, today you just gotta listen..."- Lee

This is one of my favorite exchanges in all of golf!  This was the conversation between Lee Trevino and Jack Nicklaus on the first tee during the Monday playoff off of 1971 US Open at Merion Golf Club. Lee won by 3 shots that day for his 2nd US Open title.

Who are you more like on the golf course?  Are you Lee Trevino? Or Jack Nicklaus? Both are the greatest of champions but they come to the mental side of the game from completely opposite sides.

Jack was the consummate grinder. He would concentrate for over 5 straight hours. His intensity was legendary. He would focus on his stride, his breathing and every shot to the Nth degree. His focus was razor sharp and nothing could take him out of his concentration.  He had the ability to seemingly "will" the ball into the hole at the most critical junction in the largest of championships. Nick Faldo, Tiger and Hogan would all fall into this category.

Lee, on the other hand, had a different but equally effective way of concentrating.  He would concentrate intently on his shot for about a minute. He would have his sharpest focus for that time just before and just after he hit the shot. In between shots Lee's focus would wander to whatever he felt. Mostly it was a quick joke but it was anything that his mind let in. But before the shot he then was back to intense focus.

Lee felt that this ebb and flow of his concentration was a better way for him to keep his focus for each shot. He felt concentrating for 5 straight hours was exhausting and wasn't his style. Bubba and Peter Jacobson also fall into this category.

Personally I fall into Lee's category. I find it hard to focus for that long of time. I can do it for 9, 10 or even 14 holes and then get mentally exhausted and then have a 3 or 4 hole lapse and my score suffers.

So which are you? Try both and see how your performance changes. And, most importantly, which is more enjoyable?

Your friend in golf,
John Grothe, PGA

Swing Tempo Drills

The most destructive swing flaw, in my opinion, is tension in the swing.  Yet second could very well be swing tempo or rather improper swing tempo.  In the words of the incomparable PGA professional, Eddie Merrins from Bel Air Country Club, "each swing and each shot has it's own tempo and timing."  My thought is that "swinging the club" removes the "hit" and tension in the swing.

So how do you instill tempo and timing when a player doesn't have any?  Here are a couple drills that I have found to help with just that:

ONE ARM SWINGS

With lofted club tee up a ball slightly higher off the ground. Grip the club naturally with both hands.  Remove one hand (either one) from the club and swing.  Yes, swing!  It will feel very awkward at first.  Take a couple of extra practice swings but try to clip the tee.  Rotate from each hard back and forth.  Take 5 swings with each hand and then place both hands on the club and attempt to match the tempo and timing it took to squarely hit a one arm swing.

Camron demonstrating the one arm drills with his left arm.  This can also be done with just the right hand.

PRACTICE TO MUSIC

While practicing and even while during a casual round listen to music. Nothing too fast and nothing too slow.  I prefer such songs as Eric Clapton's "You Look Wonderful Tonight."  Listening to a slower song will allow for the shoulder muscles, forearm muscles and hand muscles to relax.  Feel the tempo as you swing.

As you make these swings rotate in a full swing or two attempting to have the good tempo soak in.

If you have any questions or comments please do not hesitate to contact me at john.grothe@gmail.com.

Your friend in golf...

John Grothe, PGA