Golf tips

A series of misc golf tips:

The full Swing
- review the hazards, wind and determine where you want the ball to land and place the ball accordingly on the tee box (left for a draw right and right for a cut)
- ball height on the tee is critical (ball should just peek out of the grass in most cases for irons, tee a little bit higher for the 3-4 irons, 3-5 woods)
- always follow pre-shot routine - stand behind the ball first, place the club to aim the face and then take up your position
- bring club on the low and slow
- hands in front of the club for the shorter clubs and wedges e.g. from 8 iron and below
- solid knees
- do not "look down" as this will block your follow through! instead keep head up straight and peek down through your nose to see the ball
- always check for a proper grip before hitting
- light grip pressure, think of snapping the wrists to accelerate through the impact area

Putting
- loose grip
- measure green speed by taking note of the take back distance, not all greens put similarly
- tiny take back on the downhillers

Chipping
- follow thru low
- preset wrists, hands in front of ball and maintain wrist angle on hit

Sand
- ball on left foot
- weight forward
- complete the swing

Choking in Golf - Take 2 (aka a letter to Sergio Garcia)

Golf is the most pressurizing individual sport that you can can play.

Unlike tennis, you can't shake off your nerves by hitting harder or by showing emotion or by taking a break on the sidelines. You don't even have the luxury of having your support team at the side of the court egging you on.

In golf, emotions run how you play the game.

I just watched Sergio Garcia lose in a playoff to Padraig Harrington in the 2007 British Open. Garcia definitely LOST the tournament, but Harrington WON the tournament. Anyone who can come back after that disaster on the 18th with hitting 2 horrible shots in the water and shooting double bogey deserves it in my book. Hats off to Harrington's wife for releasing his son on the 18th green and in turn released all the pressure on him.

Much as I would have loved to see Garcia win, I have to admit he didn't deserve it. Although others have done worse i.e. Jean Van de Velde in 1999, looking at Garcia's ball striking and putting over the first 3 days, it was his tournament to win. A par or a +1 for the day would have won him the tournament.

To Sergio, chin up man! You are one of my heroes in golf. No one else in the game looks like they enjoy the game. That's the key - enjoy your game, especially in the last round of a Major when all the pressures of the world seem to be on your shoulders.

My advice is not to work on your golf for a few days. Your ball striking at the British Open these last 4 days was fantastic. Don't second guess yourself. Trust your putter and your putting stroke, you should since you are rolling the ball beautifully. Don't take too long over the putt and trust your first look at the line. Reconsider your course strategy, although you can hit your irons a long way, your ball flight was too low and didn't hold the greens. Hitting a 3 wood into the 18th green would have taken pressure off your second shot e.g. instead of a 220 carry, you probably would have a shorter short onto the green.

More importantly, recover your fighting spirit. If you believe in yourself (we all do), you will win in the Majors. Take heart.

Choking in Golf

Just watched the dubai tournament with tiger winning over ernie in a playoff. hardly nail biting. ernie choked on the drive and hit it into trouble. after that it was painfully obvious who would win the tournament.

it is also obvious that the person with the stronger mind will win most of the times. same for tennis and other sports. its all a mind game. tiger was not hitting the ball well all tournament but he gutted it out and made the shot when it matters. worst thing about it was the reaction from ernie - apparently second place was good enough for him and he was satisfied with his performance. geez..