World #1 Dustin Johnson has skills that are impressive but stands out in one particular area of the game: the ability to remember to forget his last shot and even his last round. Amateurs would have difficulty emulating his swing but could learn a lot from DJ’s mental approach to the game. You can see […]
Practice
Making the Most of Injury
Yes, you can have too much of a good thing. In late June, I traveled to Bandon with three buddies for a three day excursion into the heart of golf Valhalla. We had wonderful days of sunshine and temps in the low 60s while inland locales baked in the 100s. It was ideal for golf on […]
Getting Unstuck
One of the most common problems with a golf swing is getting stuck at the top, then compensating by coming over the top to start the downswing. This leads to a plethora of possible catastrophic results including a pull, a pull hook, a push, or a slice. Of course the hands can save the shot […]
Loving and Hating the Driver
One of my first drivers was a beautiful specimen. Persimmon head, painted glossy black, around 260 cc, connected to a steel stiff shaft of 42-43 inches in length. Custom fitted and produced by the renown clubmaker George Izett near Philadelphia. In its day, it was a formidable weapon to attack the mature parkland courses of Philly I […]
Henrik Stenson: Ball Striker Supreme…and what we can learn from him
Henrik Stenson is one of golf’s greatest ball strikers. Here’s some elements from his swing that amateurs may want to learn from.
New Rules of Golf, Proposed
Golf is a challenging game–too challenging for many. Here are some suggestions for making it a bit easier.
Loving Golf
Whether birdie or bogey or double or par, whether topped shot or fat, not so terribly far, I love you golf even more than a Cuban cigar, and the times I pause for praying. It’s a love that at times leaves bad tastes in my mouth. It’s a love that does grieve me, makes me rage […]
Golf, Nerves, and Meditation
In response to a hi-stress job, I spent quite a bit of time at the range last year pounding balls in order to not only improve, but to lower my anxiety levels. And it worked, but with a price paid. After hitting many balls, my anxiety did lower, but I developed golfer’s elbow as a […]
Dealing with Injuries
China has recently banned golf for its 88 million Communist Party members (yes, 88 million!), labeling it bourgeois, decadent, and too representative of Western values. But we democrats know it to be a game that can etch good character and perseverance, especially in the face of injury. Though not quite as brutal as rugby, it can also wear […]