WHY?

Isn’t that a great question? So simple and yet so deep. Kids are great at asking WHY? Why do most adults quit asking this revealing question? It’s so easy to develop habits on and off the course and never ask WHY. Let’s change that.

I looked up WHY in the dictionary and here is the definition: for what cause, reason or purpose. Aren’t those fantastic words

CAUSE, REASON, PURPOSE

What can this simple, one word question teach us about golf?

It can teach us a whole lot. Never ask this question while playing, but next time you practice, ask yourself WHY.

• Why is my grip the way it is?
• Why do I hit chip shots the way I do?
• Why do I slice the ball?
• Why do I hook the ball?
• Why do I play the ball in my stance where I do?
• Why do I get frustrated and loose my temper?
• Why don’t I mentally prepare before a round?
• Why do I make certain decisions on the course?

I can promise you right now that great players know the answers to these questions. Just so we don’t get overwhelmed, let’s pick 2 questions for the swing and 2 for the mind.

Swing Questions:

1. Why is my grip the way it is?
2. Why do I play the ball in my stance where I do?

There are a lot of swing questions we could ask but I think these 2 are vital to every player at every level. You just can’t make a good swing if your grip is messed up. Some of you know what a proper grip looks like and should check yours next time out to make sure its OK. For those of you who don’t understand a proper grip, ask a professional. Your chances of hitting a productive shot go way up when the grip is correct.

The second question has to do with ball position. The most common mistake I see high handicap players make is bad ball position. It’s nearly impossible to hit consistent tee shots, iron shots or chip shots with the ball out of position. Again, seek professional help if you don’t understand how to address the different golf shots. You will absolutely see positive results when your grip and ball position are correct. And here’s a quick tip on seeking professional help. A lesson is a great way to go or you can simply watch and learn. The men and women on TV have grip and ball position dialed. Take mental notes as you watch and then go practice.

Mind Questions:

These are fantastic questions for the mental side of golf. For your game to reach the next level you must become a philosopher. Humans have the unique ability to think about their thoughts. Isn’t that interesting? We can actually analyze our own thoughts just like another person could. Animals don’t have this capability. Use it! Think back to a recent round of golf and recall the decisions you made. Why did you make them? Were they good or bad? How could you improve the decision making process next time? It’s tough to make a good swing when your mind isn’t made up. We’ve all hit a bad shot and instantly thought, “Why did I do that?” We knew the bad shot was coming before we swung the club. Eliminating mental errors on the course can drastically improve scores.

The second question is about mental preparation. Most golfers physically prepare before a round but very few mentally prepare. We’ll go deeper into this topic at a later date but it is critical to warm up the mind as well as the body. Get prepared for adversity. Adjust to the current weather and surroundings. When your mind is sharp, your game will follow.

I hope this has been helpful on WHY we should ask ourselves WHY!

Until next time,

Mike Snyder