Is that video amazing or what? I had no idea golf balls could handle such a violent collision.

And now that you’ve had your fun, read a couple other posts so you can take a great mental tip to the course with you this weekend.

Talk soon,
 Mike

Follow me on Twitter: @Mike_Snyder

YES, it works like you wouldn’t believe. The mind controls the body which means if the mind is off, the body doesn’t have a chance.

I just had to write this post today after my dad fired his best score in years. Read on to see what he shot.

He was three over at the turn and then proceeded to shoot 2 under on the back 9 for a one over par score of 73! I was so fired up. My dad has been working hard lately on his mental approach to the game and I love seeing the results. He read a great tip in a book by Jim Flick last week that really brought everything together. Here is the tip; You have to become your own best friend on the golf course.

Is that well said or what? When your best friend hits a poor tee shot, what do you say? Do you tell them how lousy of a person they are and how they’ll never play the game well so why even try. Of course not. You immediately encourage them to hit the next one well? Why then do you beat yourself up when you hit a bad shot? Isn’t that a good question?

This game is hard enough. Don’t let your own mind make it worse. You have got to become your own best friend on the course. And even beyond friend, become your own coach. Your mind has the unique ability to encourage itself if you train it to do so. Your brain is so powerful, it can have a thought, then think about that thought, and then decide what to do with that thought. Is that cool or what? No other creature on the planet has this ability. Make it your secret weapon. If you will simply become intentional about which thoughts can stay and which have to go, your game will go places you never imagined.

Next time you duff one off the tee, you will be faced with a choice; beat yourself up or pick yourself up. I’m telling you that one of those options is infinitely better than the other. Take a different mental approach with you to the first tee next time and see what happens. You may just have  a “lowest score in years” headed your way. Will you give it a shot?

Homework Assignment: Make a tee time and decide that your only goal for the entire round is to be your own best friend and coach. Make score irrelevant for the entire 18 holes. Talk yourself through each and every shot only using words that a great friend and coach would use. I promise it will make a difference.

And way to go Pops! You have many, many more fantastic rounds to come and I hope I’m there for every one. It’s a blast to watch.

Thanks for stopping by. Be sure and check back soon.
  Mike

1 more great thought - you should tell all your golfing buddies about my web site. I thank you in advance for the referrals!

You can also follow me on Twitter: @Mike_Snyder

In My Hand I Hold A Ball,
White And Dimpled, Rather Small.
Oh, How Bland It Does Appear,
This Harmless Looking Little Sphere.

By Its Size I Could Not Guess,
The Awesome Strength It Does Possess.
But Since I Fell Beneath Its Spell,
I’ve Wandered Through The Fires Of Hell.

My Life Has Not Been Quite The Same,
Since I Chose To Play This Stupid Game.
It Rules My Mind For Hours On End,
A Fortune It Has Made Me Spend.

It Has Made Me Yell, Curse And Cry,
I Hate Myself And Want To Die.
It Promises A Thing Called Par,
If I Can Hit It Straight And Far.

To Master Such A Tiny Ball,
Should Not Be Very Hard At All.
But My Desires The Ball Refuses,
And Does Exactly As It Chooses.

It Hooks And Slices, Dribbles And Dies,
And Even Disappears Before My Eyes.
Often It Will Have A Whim,
To Hit A Tree Or Take A Swim.

With Miles Of Grass On Which To Land,
It Finds A Tiny Patch Of Sand.
Then Has Me Offering Up My Soul,
If Only It Would Find  The Hole.

It’s Made Me Whimper Like A Pup,
And Swear That I Will Give It Up.
And Take To Drink To Ease My Sorrow,
But The Ball Knows …. I’ll Be Back Tomorrow.

That last line is to true.
Check out a couple of the other posts on mastering the mental game.

Talk Soon, 
  Mike

Follow me on Twitter: @Mike_Snyder

I’m sitting here watching Man vs. Food on the travel channel and it made me think about the this wonderful game of golf we all know, love and sometimes hate. Here is the bottom line.
- The game is not man vs. water hazards.
- The game is not man vs. sand traps.
- The game is not even man vs. others.

When it comes right down to it, the game is Man vs. Self. (And all you ladies who play, go ahead and insert “woman” because this game does not discriminate.)

There is only 1 thing you need to overcome each and every time you tee it up and that 1 thing is YOU!

How can we learn to get out of our own way and simply play the game? How can we forget about the 97 swing thoughts we read in this month’s golf publication and play the game? How can we overcome a recent loss in confidence and play the game? How can we quit worrying about how far our buddy hits the ball and play the game?

The answer lies between your two ears. It takes an incredible level of mental toughness to play the game well. This website is dedicated to helping you play better golf through increased mental toughness and I have another great tip for you today.

Here is today’s lesson; stop looking where you don’t want your ball to go!!!!

I can’t explain why it works this way, but whatever we focus on seems to multiply. See if you can relate. You stand on the tee box and notice a diabolical sand trap in front of you. You immediately think about not hitting your ball into the sand trap. Then you address the ball and once again look at the sand trap. During the swing, all you are thinking about is not hitting the sand trap. And as your eyes turn forward to watch the result of what you have just done, guess where the ball is headed? Again, I can not explain why this happens. I only know it to be true.

The fix is easier said than done but it really is quite simple; focus on where you want the ball to go. This is where mental toughness and training come in to play. You need to practice focusing on the right things before each shot. You can no longer look at all the hazards. Train yourself to stay focused on desirable targets. Will you always hit them? No. But that doesn’t mean you stop focusing. Pick small targets that require laser focus before each shot and watch the results improve. Don’t even bother peeking at the trouble. It’s like those silly magazines at the checkout counter at the local grocery store. They aren’t even worth the look. Hazards are no different. Don’t even give them the time of day. Pick the target you want to hit and don’t let your eyes wonder.

Now for your homework. Schedule a tee time and play the entire round with 1 goal and 1 goal only. Pick small targets on every shot. Don’t worry about score, only concentrate on picking targets. If you will do this on every shot for the entire 18 holes, the score will take care of itself.

Go give this a shot and then come back and let me know the results. I am confident this simple strategy will instantly help you to play better golf.

See you back here soon,

Mike

Twitter: @Mike_Snyder

I recently heard that every shot should be prepared for by the conscious mind and then carried out by the subconscious mind. What a great way to say it!

Never underestimate the power of your mind.

Can we actually lean to play better golf by controlling when our conscious and subconscious minds get used?

Absolutely. All it takes is a little awareness of what is happening on the course. One of the toughest challenges players face is the inability to shut off their conscious minds during their swing. How many times have you hit the first tee with 15 swing thoughts in your head? Instead of playing golf, you end up playing the swing. I see this happen all the time.

If you were going to throw me a baseball, would you think about all the different motions? Of course not. You would look at me, wind up and send it over. That is an example of the subconscious mind kicking in. It’s not necessary to think, just react and throw the ball.

Now golf is more calculated than the simple task of throwing a baseball but we still need to let the subconscious take over at the right moment. The conscious mind plays an important role before the shot and then the subconscious takes over the instant the club starts moving.

  Choosing the right club off the tee – Conscious
  Checking yardage – Conscious
  Club selection – Conscious
  Evaluating the lie – Conscious
  Evaluating wind, weather, etc… – Conscious
  Selecting ball flight for the shot – Conscious
  Picking a target – Conscious
  Visualizing the shot – Conscious
  Taking your stance – Conscious

  Executing the Shot – Subconscious

The pre shot routine is all handled consciously and then you have to trust your body to hit the shot just like you would trust it to throw me the baseball. In an instant, you move from conscious thought to a subconscious action. Too many players get stuck trying to make a good swing in conscious mode and it just can’t be done.

If you want to work on your golf swing, go to the range. The second you step foot on the 1st tee, your mind must leave swing mode and switch into golf mode. It is nearly impossible to shoot a good score working on your swing for 18 holes. Your brain power will be much better spent on course management, shot selection and playing the course.

So what should you do if your swing just isn’t there on a particular day? Make even better decisions around the course. Everyone has off days, including the players on TV. They are often able to salvage good rounds on bad days and so can you. Keep your conscious mind sharp and still allow the subconscious to take over. Even when it’s not doing a perfect job.

One more piece to add here and then you can go give this a try. It is true that on some bad days, we still make practice swings trying to find something to help. You do it, I do it, we all do it. In the event you stumble upon something that is worth trying on the next shot, rehearse the move with practice swings consciously and then step up to the ball and let the subconscious carry out what you have just rehearsed. You still have to make the transition.

All you have to do now is schedule a tee time. Get to the course early so you can hit some balls and put this into practice. Go through your pre shot routine on the range. Pick a target, visualize the shot and then let the sub take over. If you can do it on the range, you can certainly repeat the process on the course.

Thanks for stopping by. Now get out there and take it low! I know that if you will learn to use your conscious and subconscious minds corrrectly, you will no doubt start to play better golf!

And one final recommendation, don’t tell your buddies about this tip until they have paid up!!

Check Back Soon,

 Mike

Follow me on Twitter: @Mike_Snyder

Don’t you just love watching the US Open every year? I sure do. And what could be better than to have it at Pebble? If there was ever an event I would love to attend, this would be it. Unfortunately, I’ll be viewing from the comforts of my own home. At least we have a large screen and HD. I suppose that is the next best thing to being there.

Think about what is going through each player’s mind as they make final preparations for the first tee on Thursday. Can you imagine trying to contain the nerves and excitement? Even the veterans get extremely nervous at the Open. What must the rookies be experiencing? Or how about the player who made it through local qualifiers? US Open pressure is way beyond intense!

Maybe you and I have never and will never experience this level of pressure and nerves, but what about the butterflies that get flapping when we play? What about the 6 foot putt on the 18th green to shoot your best round ever? What about playing for bragging rights with friends on the weekend. Or what about playing in local tournaments? Everyone who plays golf will deal with nerves at some point, the question is how will you handle them? Handle them well and you will no doubt play better golf, especially in situations with pressure.

Which brings me back to the US Open; is there anything we can learn about handling nerves and pressure from this worldwide event?

Absolutely. Here are 3 great tips many tour pros use that are just as effective for you and I.

1. Visualize – If I had a big match coming up, I would start weeks early and begin to visualize the upcoming atmosphere. The mind is  incredibly powerful if you will just use it in the right way. Visualize the pressure. See yourself on the first tee ripping one down the middle. Imagine yourself encountering adversity on the golf course and remaining calm and focused. The brain has the unique ability to imagine situations so clearly that they almost become real. This means you can actually practice handling pressure without being on a course. Visualization is a powerful tool and you can bet the tour players are using this very technique in preparation for the US Open this weekend.

2. Manage Expectations – Newsflash: you will hit some bad shots next time you play. And guess what, so will Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods at this year’s US Open. Everyone hits bad shots. What makes great players great is their ability to recover and remain focused. Can you regroup quickly or do you throw a few clubs and check out for the next three holes? It’s absolutely critical that golfers of all abilities learn to properly manage expectations. Now this doesn’t mean you stand over the ball expecting to hit it poorly. It simply means that you have an understanding of how the game works. Everyone hits poor shots, including you. Regroup, refocus and make the most of the next shot.

3. Focus on Process – If you hit a good putt, chances are good it will go in. The process always directly influences the result. That being said, where should your focus be placed, on the process or the result? It should be placed on the process. You don’t hit fairways by thinking about hitting fairways. You hit them by sticking to your pre shot routine, picking a good target and making a good pass at the ball. If you do all the above well, your ball will likely find the short grass. Pressure has a tendency to take us out of our normal routine. What you have to do is learn to consciously get yourself back to the process that has worked for you so many times in the past. Stay focused on process and you will begin to see better results, especially when under pressure.

At the end of the day, there simply is no way to eliminate nerves and pressure. And even if you could, why would you? Isn’t that nervous feeling what makes the game so much fun? Look forward to your next opportunity to face the pressure. It may not be as intense as the US Open this week, but it will still get your heart pumping. Remember the 3 tips from above and you’ll have a great chance of performing well when it’s all on the line.

Good luck next time you tee it up and the butterflies are present. And don’t forget to tune in this week to see how the best in the world handle immense pressure at the US Open. It will no doubt be an amazing event to watch!

Check back soon.

 Mike

Follow me on Twitter: @Mike_Snyder

And never forget that learning to play better golf is as much about training the mind as it is about training the body!

I was watching the Memorial this afternoon after work and Jack Nicklaus was in the booth with the commentators. One of the players on the course was hitting a long lag putt and Kelly asked Mr. Nicklaus, “Any tips on lag putting?” What a good question to the greatest that ever played and a guy who rarely 3 putted.

Read on for his answer?

He said his goal was always to die the putt at the hole which is contrary to what some people teach on putting. Jack said even if he left a long putt a couple feet short, he was ok with it because he avoided the 3 putt.

Although it is true that putts left short never go in, there is also some wisdom in working to avoid 3 putts. Especially for most golfers who are simply looking for consistency in shooting better scores. For the average player, the best way to consistently shoot better numbers is to eliminate double bogeys. I’ve never tracked this stat but I would imagine many doubles have a 3 putt attached to them.

Take a little advice from a guy who certainly knew how to putt and look to die the longer ones at the hole. It’s amazing how a great putting lesson can be picked up free of charge simply by paying attention when the right people speak. And here is a clue; any time Jack Nicklaus makes a comment, pay close attention!

Thanks for stopping by. Check back again soon.

Mike

Follow me on Twitter: @Mike_Snyder

I took a quick trip to Palm Springs a month ago for 3 days of golf and boy did I get exposed. The wind blew non-stop and my high fade got abused. It’s my favorite shot and the one I have worked so hard to groove. The shot is great…until the wind picks up.

Leave your High Fade at home!

This wasn’t just a slight breeze that showed up that weekend. The 18th hole on the North course at Terra Lago is a 480 yard par 4. We played that hole dead into the wind on Saturday and I hit driver, 3 wood. On Sunday, the hole was down wind and I hit 8 iron to the green. That gives you an idea how strong it was blowing.

Anyway, let’s get back to the point.

Hitting 1 shot all the time just doesn’t cut it. I was so frustrated that I came home and immediately started working on a low draw. I’ll be able to hit my go to shot about 80% of the time but it is absolutley necessary to have other options in the bag.

It’s easy to hit a lob wedge high, can you hit one low? What about options off the tee? Golf is played outdoors which means we must be able to deal with changing conditions. It became very apparent to me that weekend that I needed a couple new shots.

Most of my time at the range is still speant working on the fade, but not entirely. I’ve become conscious that I also need to practice the low draw. Next time you smash a few at the local range, play around until you can hit all different shots. I promise the time will come when every single one is needed.

The final step in learning new shots is always to take them to the course where real confidence is built. This past weekend provided the perfect opportunity. My cousin flew into town and he brought the wind with him. We played three days in a row in some stiff breeze and I was able to make use of the low draw. I don’t have it dialed yet, but I hit the ball much better than I did in Cali.

Pick up a couple new shots so you can play better golf in all conditions and avoid shooting miserable scores while on vacation like I did.

Talk soon,

 Mike

Twitter: @Mike_Snyder

Most players look for Golf Instruction in the form of swing analysis. And just to be clear, I have no issues with getting the swing looked at. Sound fundamentals are critical for anyone looking to play better golf and shoot lower scores. The problem I’ve noticed is that players focus on the swing and neglect the mind and the mental side of the game. This is like baking a cake with half the ingredients and hoping it turns out well. Not a chance!

If the players mind is not strong, the great swing will break down. The mind controls the body and therefore needs to be coached and fine tuned just like the swing. It only makes sense.

Mental Focus is Key

Just about every top level golfer has added a mental coach to their team. It’s that important. And just for the record, this is called a clue.

The question then becomes, “Can amateur players benefit as well from mental coaching?”

ABSOLUTELY!

Everyone can move further towards reaching their potential with a few simple mental tips. This entire website is dedicated to this process. Today I’ll be talking about how I’ve used a couple of these tips over the past year.

When last season began, I wanted to shoot a new personal best score and I had the number in my head on a weekly basis. The number was 2 shots better than my former low round. I kept talking about my need and desire to shoot this score. I even shared the goal with my dad and a couple other friends. It was etched in my mind as the next landmark for my game to reach.

Than I came up  with a plan to reach the goal. After reviewing stats on my game, I determined improved putting would be the most effective way to shoot the number. I worked hard on the greens all last season but the number still eluded me. Somewhat frustrated, the Winter months came here to Denver and golf courses began to shut down for the year. As the calendar rolled over to 2010, I still had that number in my mind but it was yet to be realized on a score card. All Winter long, I kept the putter in my hand and worked to groove a better stroke in the basement. Through practice, I kept building the belief that the score would be realized and my putter was the way to get it done.

Two days ago, on Saturday, I fired the score!
Here are the simple things I did over the past 12 months that helped me out:

1. I visualized adding up my card to this number.
2. I visualized making the birdies needed for the score.
3. I wrote the goal down and repeatedly ran it through my head.
4. I built up the belief that I could shoot the score.
5. I practiced putting with intentional purpose all year long.
6. I stayed focused on the process and not the results.

My hope is that you can take some of these very simple tips and apply them to your game. What is the “Personal Best” score you’d like to shoot this year? Do you know what it will take to get it done? And are you willing to work on your mind as well as your game to make it happen? You can’t shoot it until you can believe it.

Learning to play better golf will require a focused and dedicated effort. Don’t just seek golf instruction for your swing, but also seek tips for your mind. When a solid swing is backed by a solid mental game, you’ll post the scores you’ve always dreamed of.

Here’s to a great season of personal best scores for both of us. I’ve got my next goal in mind, do you?

See you next time,
 Mike

Follow me on Twitter: @Mike_Snyder

Let me show you why keeping a few key stats on your game is critical to playing better golf. I’ll be sharing some of my personal stats from last year and how it helps me prepare for this upcoming season. We’ll be comparing averages from every round I played to averages from my 5 best rounds. Then we’ll talk about what it all means.

What Does It All Mean?

Here is what I think it means: FOCUS IS THE KEY!!

It doesn’t take much to get my average score down by 4.28 strokes per round. Watch this…

Total Putts: 1.08 is not a huge difference. Probably accounted for in the occasional long one that goes in or it’s another make from inside 10 feet.

%GIR: We’re looking at a 4.67% improvement.   4.67% of 18 total greens is .84 which is not even 1 more green per round hit in regulation. We’ll round up.

Putts/GIR: Basically the same.

%Fwys: I hit 11.06% more fairways when I shoot my best scores.    11.06% of 14 possible fairways is 1.55 which means I need to hit 1 or 2 more fairways per round.

%Birdies: 5.35% of 18 holes is .96 which is again shy of 1.

Here is my conclusion again: FOCUS IS KEY!

The difference between me shooting an average round and one of my best rounds is:

   – 1 overall putt
   - 1 more green in regulation
   – 1 to 2 more fairways
   – 1 more birdie

Do you see why focus is so important? It’s not huge steps that will get my scores down. It’s the little things that are easy to overlook. Obviously when the little things get added up, they make all the difference in the world.

Track your stats this year and you too will have interesting numbers to review. It’s very simple to do. I track them on my score card and then input them into an on-line handicap tracker that computes the percentages for me.

Now get out there, stay focused and get those scores down. I hope this has been a helpful golf lesson once again on the mental side of the game. When your mind is right, your game truly will follow!

See you again soon,

Mike

Follow me on Twitter: @Mike_Snyder