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The Driven Golfer - Introduction
Segment
"There are no short cuts to
scratch golf. It is a journey. The golfer must welcome all
of the trials with the right attitude, realizing the necessary
learning process. Instead of trying to skip through the
learning process, we must hunger to know every aspect of
the game and experience all of the good and bad, as both
lend valuable information for the future. The golfer that
sees the good in all the suffering from the beginning is
someone who is far ahead of the learning curve. You don't
buy new equipment every time you play badly, as if it is
equipment failure. You take it upon yourself to sort it
out through level thought and patience. We must try our
best to enjoy the journey and show grace as we traverse
the peaks and valleys.
Honest self analysis is one
of the greatest talents we can have. If you are that kind
of person naturally, you have a wonderful chance of success.
Unfortunately, most people are inclined to hide from their
weaknesses to supply quick rationalizations. That attitude
is dangerous in this endeavor. If you are an honest judge
of your talents you will naturally develop the habit of
exploring your game for weaknesses and setting about eliminating
them.
Golfers who achieve the highest
levels of success don't search for easy. Hard work helps
build character, a necessary component for gaining a level
of consistency. Mental ups and downs only impair our vision
and our ability to play the next shot."
The Driven Golfer - Conclusion Segment
"Why is the great player overcome
with emotion when he wins the major championship? For years
they have been building and trying to trust their instincts.
Sometimes they suffer through self-doubt. They weep because
all of the years pour out, the hard work. They have gotten
many more bad breaks than good. They have gotten used to
"fair" having nothing to do with anything. They have a self-worth
that is a much greater payoff than money or fame.
The accomplished player knows
that they have stuck with it during this solitary pursuit
of excellence. They have revealed things to themselves that
no one could have predicted. They are up to the task. They
now know that they were right all along, that they are strong,
honest, have integrity, and are, in fact The Driven Golfer."
Every golfer wants
to hit the ball with power. To produce power we must
understand our sources:
1)Solid contact- we must hit the ball
in the center of the clubface, with the clubhead moving
down a path toward the intended target, and while the
clubface points at that same target. I have never known
anyone who hit the ball solidly who didn't hit the ball
far enough to play good golf.
2)Speed- we must create speed in the
swinging club. This begins by holding the club in our
fingers so that we can exact a relaxed hold on the club.
Relaxed muscles move much faster and with greater precision
than tense muscles. If we hold the club in our palms
we will be forced to squeeze the grip and still won't
be able to control the club.
If we stand in an athletic
posture we should be able to turn our body (swing) in
a forceful manner. Our weight will then shift in the
direction we want the club and ultimately the ball to
travel.
When talking about turning
forcefully, I am talking about the downswing. The backswing
is an upper body movement which positions the club for
the powerful swing through the ball. Good swingers of
the club swing the force, rather than force the swing.
Practice swinging the club, with no ball involved. Your
job is to make good swings, whether there is a ball
there or not. The best golfers practice the art of swinging
the club often, while the average golfer needs a ball
to keep them interested.
3)Knowledge-nothing is more powerful than knowledge.
The best players have an advanced understanding of the
golf club and how to make the fullest use of the equipment.
Watching how good players go about their business or
gallerying tour events pay immediate dividends. We can
then learn the secrets and methods employed by those
with the most talent. We must hunger to know the things
that all good players do and try to follow their lead.
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