Hello Golfers,

 

Let’s be honest, a 250 to 300-yard tee shot on a deserted hole all by yourself is pretty nice. Being able to do that in front of random playing partners on the first hole - most would sell their grandma to experience that amazing feeling just once. Let me tell you this in all honesty: To pull off monster drives under pressure, selling grandma isn’t enough. It takes blood, sweat and focused training on the course or a Trackman Simulator as well as in the gym and not just on Sundays for 5 months of the year. A commitment of at least 3 times a week consistently, for many years with a motivating coach by your side is what it takes.

 

Ok, so you may not be that keen anymore about monster drives. 

 

What if I told you another way you can impress your playing partners even more than with really long drives? All without any training or the spending a lot of money?

 

So, now I have your attention again! 

 

Well, all you need is a little self-discipline and maybe a slight change to your thinking and golf course dialogue. From my playing career experience, I can assure you that amazing golf shots and really long drives are not the most impressive things on the golf course. In fact, most people would probably be turned off when you brag about really long drives after a couple of good bounces and among other players it may create envy rather than the admiration you're longing for. 

 

So, what's the trick?

 

First, you have to bear the emotional misery after a bad shot like a professional and without the whining. Like Achilles of Troy or James Bond. Before the shot, you have to relinquish excuses and try not to improve your shots with unnecessary commentary. 

 

Once the first bad shot occurs, refrain of further comments. Nobody is interested in your success on the range and excuses about why your last shot didn't turn out the way you hoped will not bring you the recognition among other players that you subconsciously long for. 

 

The shortest golf joke in Germany used to be (literally translated) “I can do it now”. Today I find, “I know exactly what just went wrong” even funnier. Unless you’re a golf coach or professional player, chances are you have no idea what is wrong with your golf swing. 

 

Second, don't tell stories from the course, even after a good round of golf. This includes your score or your shot of the century. Not even when somebody is asking! Ok fine, it’s ok to talk lightly about your golf game when you get asked. Simply respond I shot a Ninety! Or Seventy-Five! nothing more. No one wants to know a detailed description of each shot, including the fact you were under your handicap after 7 holes but blew it with a few double bogeys on the back nine. Or what you could've shot when this or that didn't happen to you.  Everyone just hears one thing: "Please admire me for my heroic achievement." 

 

By now, I'm hoping the point I'm trying to make is clear. You can be the player who makes excuses, the player who brags, or the rare player who stays calm regardless of a good or bad shot. Most of us have probably never played with such a person, they're rare but I can assure you it's a very pleasant experience.  

 

Now, fake it till you make it. 

 

The Discipline - practice acting calmly on the outside after each shot. We know on the inside you are still steaming but hopefully, sooner than later the sugarcoating comments of your golf game will be a thing of the past. Don’t be surprised when every good golfer all of a sudden wants to play with you.  

 

Your Thinking and Golf Course Dialogue - Other players will really appreciate not having to hear a comment about each shot made. Most people don't expect a compliment after each fairway hit, theirs or yours. Even words of encouragement are debatable unless they come at the right moment. Trust me, timing that can be way more difficult than hitting a 250-yard-long drive. 

 

There is nothing you can say to your ball that will boost your reputation as a golfer. 

 

Shout outs like “sit, bite, release, bounce right or come down” are just expressions of despair and show that you haven't yet managed your post shot emotional control. When you simply refrain from acting like a child during the 5 seconds after impact, I guarantee you that not only your playing partners will stop complaining, but quite possibly your golf ball will too.

 

 

Thank you for reading, 

 

Chris Trunzer

Golf Coach

 

 

If you would like to learn more about how to quietly impress your playing partners with a more powerful swing by spring, sign up for my Winter Golf Coaching Program at Simplex Sportszone. Nothing in Kelowna compares!  We're Changing The Way You Play.