Think

5 Most Common Mistakes in Golfer’s Bag

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By Tim Graves, PGA

I wanted to start a section in each newsletter that talks about custom club fitting.  In upcoming newsletters, I will be describing / breaking down each club in the bag and why and how that club should be custom fit (in much more detail).

As most of you know (by now..), your clubs must fit the swing you are working toward.  If they do not fit you, it is very difficult to make swing changes and / or those swing changes will be slowed dramatically.   I like to call it “taking the excuses out of the bag”.

But, before I start going through each club in the bag (future articles), I wanted to start with the “Top 5 Club Fitting Mistakes” you see in many golfers bags.

 1.  Driver

The first most common custom club fitting mistake with the driver is not enough loft for the driver for a golfer’s fit.  The optimal loft of a driver for a golfer will give that golfer maximum fly and maximum roll for their swing speed.

Examples:

Hit a 6 iron 150 to 160 yards:  Driver should have 10.5* loft

Hit a 6 iron 120 to 130 yards:  Driver should have 12* loft

2nd most common mistake with drivers is shafts that are too heavy for the golfer.  Golfers want more distance and forgiveness with their driver.  With the appropriate loft, a lighter shaft will help many golfers get more distance with their driver.

40 to 50 grams is considered a “Light weight” shaft and 50 to 55 grams is considered a “mid weight” shaft.  Many golfers have 60 gram or heavier shafts in their drivers and need lighter weight shafts (especially those with senior and regular flex) and wanting more distance with the tee ball.

2.  Fairway Woods

The most common mistake with fairway woods is golfers do not have enough loft (for maximum distance off the ground) with their longest fairway wood.

In other words, most golfers SHOULD NOT carry a 3 wood (unless they use this 3 wood primarily off a tee).

To hit a 3 wood (15 to 16* loft) appropriately (maximum fly and roll) you need to be able to hit you 6 iron at least 175 yards on the fly…

Most will hit a 5 wood (or 7 wood) further than their 3 wood off the ground.  They need the loft of the 5 wood (18 / 19*) for maximum fly and roll.

(FYI – even most professional golfers will hit a 17* / 18* fairway wood off the ground as their longest fairway wood… then why do so many average golfers hit a 15* fairway wood off the ground and get “poor” results..)

3.  Hybrids

The most common mistake is golfers DO NOT have their hybrids fit / customized for their individual lie angle.  Golfers MUST have the lie angle adjusted / fit for their size and swing.  For most, lie angles of their hybrids are too upright, and golfers “heel dig” their hybrids and either top, pull or hit poor shots with them.  This is why so many golfer can hit their hybrids “okay” out of the rough, but have difficulty hitting them off of fairways or “tight” lies.

Hybrids MUST be fit for the lie angle for an individual golfer.  If not, the hybrid is working AGAINST the golfer.

Very few golf equipment companies fit / adjust lie angles for an individual’s size (Callaway is one, that is why their customization process is rated so high).

4.  Irons

Honestly, there are many common mistakes when it comes to golfers irons (length, lie angle, flex, etc..) but for this article – will focus on one…

The most common mistake with irons is golfers do not have correct shafting in their irons.

Correct shafting in irons (and all clubs) allows for the correct height and flight of the golf ball for the golfer.  Having the correct / appropriate height gives the maximum and optimal distance for irons for that golfer.

And correct shafting “protects” golfers.  For a majority of golfers (over 40 years of age… younger for some) – they need a shaft that does not damage or protects the body.  Graphite shafting in irons protects the body.

Graphite shafting for golfers has the following characteristics:

  1.  Much easier on body – will protect elbows, shoulders, wrists, back, etc..
  2.  Will be more forgiving on golf shots (thin and heavy shots will go further, react better with graphite).
  3.  Are more consistent – especially over time.  Graphite is by far the most consistent material in shafts compared to steel.
  4.  Will allow for increased distance as graphite shafts in irons can be lighter and kick the ball up higher than steel.

5.  Wedges

The most common mistake with wedges in most golfer’s bags is wedges not being fit at all…

For most golfers, when talking about the Gap, Sand and / or Lob wedge, they think they can purchase these clubs “off the shelf” in their local club shop and they are good to go….  that can not be further from the truth.

Wedges must be fit to an individual for length, lie angle, shaft flex (and weight), grip size, lofts, etc..

Think about it… you are hitting a chip or pitch (1/2 shot or less) with your wedge and you “heel or toe dig” the wedge because it isn’t fit properly.  That club is going to twist in your hands… you will push, pull, chuck, or even shank the shot.. not because of poor technique, but because of an improperly fit wedge.

It always amazes me how many golfers I watch “chunk” chip / pitch shots (in my pro-ams) with improperly fit wedges for them and they get so upset…. without realizing they really have very little chance of hitting those short game shots well with improperly fit wedges…

Again – as I like to say… “You must take ALL excuses out of the bag”

If you have any questions about your fittings / individual fit, please feel free to email direct at timg@gravesgolf.com

If you would like a free individualized custom fit for you – please see:  CLICK HERE

or

Please feel to email me at timg@gravesgolf.com

Can’t Break Bad Habits

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By Tim Graves, PGA

Don’t Waste Time Trying to Break Bad Habits – Instead Build New Ones

I bet I talk about this so many times in our schools, many of our students probably get “sick” of hearing it.

When it comes to dealing with bad habits, many of us attack the problem head-on, by trying to break the habit.  This tactic, of course, doesn’t work.  And we are left with the old truth – habits are tough (if not impossible) to break.  The blame lies with our brains.  While we are really good at building circuits (creating habits), we are awful at unbuilding them. Trying as you might to break a bad habit, it is still there, waiting patiently for a chance to be used.

So, what do we do?

The solution is to ignore the bad habit and put your energy toward building a new habit that will override the old/bad habit.

To build new habits, start slowly. Expect to feel stupid, clumsy, uncomfortable, and even frustrated at first…. after all, the new “wires” in your brain haven’t been built yet. Your brain still wants to follow the old “comfortable” pattern. Build the new habit by gradually increasing the difficulty, little by little. It takes time, but it’s the ONLY way new habits are created and grow.

To Learn it More Deeply, Teach It

I absolutely love this one.

Here is the issue. Every good golfer, every golfer who learns something new/reaches a goal, etc… must be their own best teacher. If you cannot teach yourself, your ability to make changes, create new habits, reach goals, etc. will occur in a much slower rate.

This is not saying you must create everything yourself, but it is saying you must take what you learn and translate into self-teaching.

Think about it – how much time to you spend practicing, and how much of that practice time is with someone teaching you?

If you are like most, 90% + of your practice time is on your own, trying to create new habits, etc. on your own. Meaning, you must be able to make sure you are doing things correct, must be able to make sure you are “going down the correct path”.

A great way to determine if you can teach yourself it ask yourself “Could I teach this (new habit I am trying to learn) to someone else?”

This works because when you communicate a skill to someone, you come to understand it more deeply yourself. Also, when you see someone struggle, and help them through it, you improve your ability to deal with your own struggles.

The saying “Those who can’t do, teach” should be rewritten as “Doers who teach do better!”

Give a New Skill a Minimum of Eight Weeks

When it comes to growing/creating/developing new skills, eight weeks seems to be an important threshold. It’s the length of many top-level training programs around the world, from the Navy Seals’ physical – conditioning program to the mission training for the Mercury astronauts. A recent study at Massachusetts General Hospital showed the practicing meditation for twenty-seven minutes a day created lasting brain changes in (you guessed it) eight weeks.

Of course, this doesn’t mean that you can be proficient in any skill in eight weeks. Rather, it underlines two more basic points:

1)  Constructing and honing new habits takes time, no matter who you are, and

2) Resilience and grit are vital tools, particularly in the early stages of learning. Don’t make judgements too early.

Keep at it, even if you don’t feel immediate improvement. Give your talent (your brain) the time it needs to grow and create new habits.

Please feel free to contact anytime – we are always happy to help and answer your questions.

Timg@gravesgolf.com

Expectations (Replay)

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By Paul Monahan, Graves Golf Mental Game Coach

Replay:

It is fascinating to me how MUCH our expectations can negatively impact our experiences…as well as our ability to perform at our best.

While watching the last round of the Waste Management Phoenix Open, I heard one of the CBS announcers – I think it was Peter Kostis – comment on the challenging day that John Rahm was having.

After three solid rounds, Rahm began his final series in second place, with a chance to win another event this year after a phenomenal previous year in which he earned his first victory as well as ten top ten finishes.

But after 16 holes, Rahm was at two-over par when he probably needed to be a 3 or 4 under parto be in contention to win. Rahm’s frustration was pretty evident.

At that point, Kostis commented that he thought Rahm’s biggest challenge would be managing his expectations.

What did he mean? Simply that Rahm had such an incredible previous year, that he would have to be careful not to create expectations in his mind about the results he would be able to achieve in any given week.

We perform best when we drop our expectations when we metaphorically leave our expectations in the car. These allow us to see our reality (the game, the shots, the putts…etc.) more objectively…and not have our perspective clouded by our stories.

A little over a week ago I had the chance to attend the Graves Golf Academy 3-Day School in Orlando…

During this first day of the school, Tim Graves and his staff emphasize the importance of starting the Single Plane Swing process with the shortest of golf moves possible – the putt – by leading a putting lesson.

As I interacted with some students during the putting lesson, I noticed how many were struggling with their mental game. And I know it sounds strange…we were practicing putting.

The guidance from Tim was this: work on matching the putting stroke model and don’t worry about sinking putts. We don’t care about sinking putts; we want to make sure that we are hitting “checkpoints.” If we get good at executing the checkpoints, we will make putts, for sure.

But here’s what I saw: guys were getting frustrated because they weren’t sinking putts. (And some guys were extremely frustrated.)

These were brilliant, accomplished people. They know how to listen and follow direction. But …they were stuck in their expectations.

When we get stuck in our expectations, when we view reality through the lens of hope, the only way we can be satisfied is if those expectations are met. (Makes sense…right?)

But if our expectations are not met then what happens? You guessed it: disappointment – or even worse: apparent frustration.

The guys on the putting green were missing putts they expected to make. And so, they experienced those misses as disappointment and frustration. (They even forgot about the purpose of the practice, to begin with.)

But what if they had been able to set their expectations aside?

They likely would have been able to perform better throughout the exercise and would have:

  • Remembered the purpose of the practice session
  • Not worried about the result
  • Focused on process
  • Worked on matching the putting model
  • Enjoyed the experience
  • Learned
  • …and maybe even been a little more fun to be around

I often tell my clients, the tighter your grip on your stories or expectations about what should happen, the more difficult it is to experience your reality in productive ways…especially when things don’t go as you think they should.

If you want to get better at this game, (or anything) you must learn to drop your attachment to results and instead, stay focused on the elements that produce the desired results. Like; gripping the club correctly, starting with a proper address, and matching the swing model.

When you miss a putt or hit a ball poorly, remember: that is a neutral event. It is neither good nor bad…it is. Learn to see the things that happen in your environment as they are…and not worse than they are. Learn to see them as a chance to learn something and master a new skill. No matter what happens.

Like John Rahm or the participants of our GGA Schools, we all would benefit by loosening our grip on our expectations…or dropping them altogether.

Paul Monahan, PCC is a Peak-Performance coach, member of the International Coach Federation and a certified COR.E Performance Dynamicsä Specialist. He resides in Cleveland, Ohio with his wife Paula and is the proud dad to three young men. He works with elite-level performers and leaders, helping them to expand their awareness so that they perform at their best more consistently.

Miss It Fast

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Moe Norman – through his brilliance, his pursuit of excellence, and his perspective on life and golf  –  said a lot of memorable things the course of his life.

One of my favorites is: “Miss it fast.”

What does it mean? And how does it relate to your golf game?

Turns out that the concept: Miss it Fast is amazingly simple, and yet rooted in the complex dynamics of the human brain. You see, even if Moe was not aware of it, the knowledge of what “Miss if Fast” yields for athletes like golfers is supported by the latest research and science in human performance.

And it has surprising implications for your mental game.

Last weekend, at the 2-Day Mental Game Playing School at Prairie Landing Golf Club in West Chicago a whole group of Single Plane Swing golfers had the opportunity to gain a much deeper understanding of what Moe meant by Miss it fast.

One of the key concepts we spent a lot of time on was this: The golf swing is a physical movement. There is a part of your brain that is dedicated to replicating the physical movements you repeat over and over again …it’s called procedural memory.

When you rely on procedural memory to execute a golf shot you give yourself the best chance of pulling off the shot the way you intend to. However, when another important part of your brain – the thinking and analytical part – gets involved, you can often struggle to create high-quality shots.

What to do?

Create routines or distractions so that you prevent too much thinking and analysis (… produced in the part of the brain associated with Working Memory.) Hitting the ball relatively quickly is a perfect example of this kind of distraction.

One super-effective portion of the instruction last weekend was dedicated to teaching a tightly-rehearsed 5-7 second pre-shot routine based on the fundamental concept that dwelling over your shot for 10-15 seconds is a sure-fire way to take you out of Procedural Memory and into Working Memory (where analysis, fear and anxiety lurk.)

Tim Graves led the group through an exercise that allowed the guys at the school to see first-hand how much a short, crisp pre-shot routine can impact the mental game.

Elite-level golfers know that a routine like this supports great shots – but they may not know exactly why.

The reason is that when you keep your pre-shot routine short and structured you prevent the over-analysis, anxiety and resulting tightness in the swing that comes from THINKING TOO MUCH about the shot you are about to hit.

When Tim talks about “playing empty” they are talking about hitting shots when you are operating from Procedural Memory…and not Working Memory. They know – as did Moe – that if you dwell and linger over shots before you hit them – your capacity to hit great shots is significantly diminished.

So if you want to enhance your mental game, consider practicing your pre-shot routine. See if you can build a deliberate – but not rushed – routine that allows you to step into the ball and pull the trigger within 5-7 seconds. I think what you will find is that you won’t get “stuck” in your thinking nearly as often as you may be getting stuck today.

Miss it fast!

-Paul

Paul Monahan, Graves Golf Mental Game Coach

The Grand Illusion

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By, Paul Monahan, Graves Golf Mental Game Coach

Famous author C.S. Lewis wrote an article in 1948 about how to cope successfully in an “Atomic age.” It was only a few years since the emergence of the first atomic bombs –  the entire world was nearly paralyzed with fear over what the future would be like – and whether the human race could survive.

Lewis’ message in his article was meant to help people to gain a little CONTEXT in the midst of a fearful time so that they could live more satisfying lives. He had noticed that the anxiety people were experiencing was debilitating. And so, he urged the reader to think in more objective ways (and ultimately more productive ways) about risk and mortality.

He pointed out that there were lots of risks that people had accepted in their lives – driving in automobiles, living in cites with high crime, coping with sickness and diseases…etc.  – and these did not paralyze them. They went on living.

He reminded people that they likely did not have control over whether or not they died in an atomic bomb blast…so why worry about it?

He asked: “Why should living in the atomic age be any different than what they had already been experiencing? Why not just live your life the way you wanted to in the first place?” He implored the reader to: play with your kids, engage in your work and your passions, enjoy your family, and focus on the things you can control. This is what Lewis said would allow you to live life to the fullest.

Easier said than done sometimes. (Like in pandemics, maybe?) But it makes complete rational sense – does it not?

In my experience spending time with performance experts from all over the world and in multiple domains – US Navy Seals, Corporate CEOs, Major League Baseball teams, the NHL, the NBA, Aussie Rules Football, New Zealand Rugby League, Big Wave Surfing, Country Music and even Electronic Gaming just to name a few –  I have learned that one of keys to performing at your best in any moment lies in your ability to contextualize.

If you can put your challenges into proper perspective as you move through the day today – engaged in your work, interacting with your spouse, practicing your single plane swing, or playing a round of golf – you will have a much better chance of staying connected to your potential and performing at your best.

Yes. It actually is that simple.

What does contextualizing look like on the golf course?

Instead of berating yourself for the wayward drive off the number one tee box, you accept that miss-hits will happen for you – especially on the first hole. Instead of getting mad about your ball hitting the cart path and bouncing out-of-bounds, you laugh at the unpredictability and variability inherent in the game. And instead of steaming over a missed five-footer, you accept that you may have not yet mastered a successful putting formula from that distance.

But why do we struggle mentally and emotionally on the golf course anyway?

Because we want to WIN. (Or because we just don’t want to LOSE. Same coin, different side.)

( I know many who would say – “I play golf for fun. I don’t need to win.” I get that… But let me tell you: you ARE playing to win… or to NOT lose. You just label it differently. Winning for you is mastering the bunker shot. It’s launching a 4 hybrid to 8 feet on that long par 4. It’s sinking a 30 foot double-breaker. It’s driving past your friends in the center of the fairway.  And losing is hitting it out of bounds off the tee box three holes in a row. Losing is three-putting six greens. Losing is hitting a bucket of balls and not hitting ONE ball pure.)

Struggle is technically biological – it shows up when we think we won’t get what we want. (“If I miss this putt, I will lose the momentum going into the last hole…and lose the match!”)  Then our survival brain kicks in and the wheels come off of our game. (Amirite?)

So, how’s this for some contextualizing the next time you are in struggle…and stuck on winning/not losing:

There is no such thing as winning or losing.  They are illusions. Constructs of our imagination… brought to life through language.

Winning and Losing is what I call The Grand Illusion.

That’s right. And here’s the good news – you never have to worry about winning or losing ever again. Instead, just go play the game the best way you know how today …and accept (even embrace) what happens. Chances are that you will stay much more aware, present and playful …and shoot a lower score because of it.

Think of your golf experiences as just one more step on your journey to single plane swing mastery…without the baggage and meaning of terms like winning and losing. How much calmer mentally and emotionally would that make you?

“But wait, Paul,” you say. “You mean to tell me I should stop thinking about winning? Are you crazy? How am I ever going to win anything with that strategy!!??”

In the world of elite performance, there is AWARENESS of winning and losing, for sure. But the best performers can continually and quickly put all their challenges or disappointments into context. And while inside of their performances they can separate their identity from the concept of winning or losing. Why…because they know that they cannot completely control whether they win or lose.

(One possible exception in golf was Tiger Woods. In the first fifteen years he played on the PGA tour, Tiger Wood’s skills were so far above his peers, that he actually got away with focusing on winning in nearly every moment. He was known to be singularly focused on winning …and he talked about it all the time. But he got away with that because his skills were so much better than his competitors. Read The Big Miss by Hank Haney for more insight into Tiger’s mental game during the 2000’s )

 In the past ten years, as his skills have waned, you may have noticed Tiger talking a lot more about the journey – and contextualizing more often. Which is a good thing for him – it keeps him in the game. Otherwise, he would self-destruct due to the struggle that comes from not getting what he wants. These days I believe that Tiger is playing a mental game that more closely matches the rest of the PGA Tour field than at any time in his career. Just a guess…I could be wrong.)

So what is left? Show up and do your best in that moment. Focus on what you can control.

When I played in my club championship earlier this year, I drew a much better player from my flight in the first round. On paper, advancing past this player was a long shot, so I set aside my attachment to winning and focused on what I could control – like how I showed up mentally and emotionally. And how I reacted to what was happening in front of me.

(Yes, for those that have worked with me and heard me talk about this – I DID pour out LOTS of love and positive intentions toward my competitor that day!)

The result: I played 4 strokes better than my handicap, and was tied thru 17 when my opponent pulled off an amazing shot to win on the 18th hole. Losing was not what I wished for. But I was proud that I realized my full potential that day because of how I showed up. And I am a better player today because of what I experienced: focusing on the things I can control – and letting go of the things I cannot.

High performers understand that the thing they want is more likely to show up when they loosen their mental and emotional grip on it. When they “want it a little less.” (Sounds counter-intuitive – I know.)

Moe Norman was very intentional about achieving this level of calm, often saying that his goal was to play with an “alert attitude of indifference.” (At Graves Golf Academy, we conduct an entire two-day playing school based upon this concept!)

As you start a new year – full of promise and potential – I want to encourage you to keep in mind that success in golf and in life comes – in part – from being great at contextualizing…from putting your challenges and setbacks (and achievements) into proper perspective.

And keep in mind that winning and losing is an illusion that you need not fall prey to!

-Paul

Opportunities are Everywhere

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By: Paul Monahan, Graves Golf Mental Game Coach

Note: Two years ago, following a week at the Alumni Camp in Orlando, I wrote about how we have opportunities all around us to practice tuning-up our mental game. As you get back on the course in more normal settings over the next few weeks – wherever you are – keep in mind that there are LOTS of opportunities to strengthen your mental game:

Just had a great week in Orlando at the GGA 5-Day Alumni Camp.

It was a fun week of learning, instruction, growth, as well as some great conversation about what it takes to perform at a high level.

My job at the camp last week was to help the attendees to expand their awareness of the mental and emotional dynamics that allow them to show up at their best.

Said a little differently, I was there to help them learn how to tune into their energetic presence…the mix of physical, mental emotional and other elements that merge to form what I refer to as performance energy.

I believe that the key to performing at your best consistently over time is to build awareness of self… and a knowledge of how the things around you are impacting your thoughts.

How does the experience of standing on the first tee with an audience of other golfers watching you impact your ability to access your skills? Does it make you feel nervous? And if it does, can you identify the actual thinking that produces that nervousness?

If you can identify the thinking, then you are well on your way toward increased awareness. And then you can do something about thoughts that are unproductive, versus ideas that are supportive of your efforts, goals, objectives…etc.

For example, you might realize that you are nervous because you don’t want to be embarrassed by duffing your tee ball into the woods. You don’t want the harsh judgment of others. Understandable.

But what’s another way to look at that? Perhaps all the guys behind you want nothing better than to see you hit it well. They too are capable of hitting it into the woods – by in their minds, they are behind you, pulling for you to hit a great shot.

Or perhaps, they don’t care that much at all. So then you can forget about all that worry and anxiety. After all, it’s just misplaced energy.

All that is left, then is for you to step up and hit it where you want to. (And accept that you can handle the results…no matter where the ball goes.)

We talked a lot last week about increasing awareness of what is happening on the golf course to play better golf.

But here’s the interesting thing: you can practice increasing your awareness all day long, anywhere you go. In traffic. At work. In your interactions with colleagues or those closest to you. There are opportunities ALL DAY LONG to tune into the thought patterns that are driving how you interpret your experiences.

My message to the group last week is the same message I give you here: if you want to improve how you play on the golf course, practice growing your awareness of self in every moment you can. Not just on the golf course, putting green, or during play, but in every situation you experience.

Try it this week. You will be surprised at how easy it is.

The opportunities are everywhere.

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