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"Everyone has his own choking level, a level at which he fails to play his normal golf. As you get more experienced, your choking level rises." |
-Johnny Miller |
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Ailment: We have a hole at my club that has out-of-bounds markers on both sides of the fairway. I don't know how to play it. Usually, I try to take the trouble out of the hole by playing away from it. That doesn't work so well on this hole since a slight miss either way results in me having to reach back in my bag for another ball. What do you do when you get to a hole like this? Prescription: Focus on something specific down the fairway, such as a tree. What I like to do when I practice is stand on the range and pick a target like a flag or a pole. I'll focus on that target and try to land all my shots within 20 yards of it. Grip pressure and wrist tension also play a vital role when hitting these challenging shots. Gripping the club too tight or allowing the wrists to break down during the swing will result in a steered shot that rarely goes where you want it to go. Play your natural shot. If you hit a fade nine out of 10 times, don't step up to the tee on a tough driving hole and try to hit a draw. Play the shot you know is most likely to come out of your swing. Trust your routine and take your focus off the trouble. Pick a specific target and go with your natural shot. You'll soon start finding the fairway. Ailment: It seems like every time I get into trouble on the golf course, I cost myself a couple of extra shots because I can't escape the trouble. For example, if I hit my ball into the trees, it will take me three shots to get out. Or I'll have a downhill chip over a bunker and hit it fat and short of the sand, then hit the next one in the bunker. What do you do to get out of these tough situations? Prescription: My first priority is to get the ball back into play as quickly as possible to minimize damage to my scorecard. When I'm faced with a difficult shot, my goal is to make solid contact. Most amateur players get anxious and want to look at the shot to see where it's going. This causes the body to become overactive and move around more than it should, which makes solid contact less likely. Amateurs also have a tendency not to use enough club to move the ball to where they need it to go. Keep your body free of extra movement during the swing. Focus on keeping the lower body steady. Make sure you use enough club to get your ball clear of the trouble and you'll find yourself back in play. n PGA Professional Chris Starkjohann is a Champions Tour player and golf instructor at The Hodges Golf Center in Escondido. |
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