Developing performance

Developing performance in anything is an art, in golf it often seems elusive!!

So how do we go about this, a number will buy books and videos and golf magazines.

This can certainly help you build your knowledge, but does it help you improve. Well not alone no! Why? None of these acts tell you where you are and therefore where you need to go to improve.
Have a look at the average driving range, doesn't it look more like a gym with people pumping weights than learning/practicing new skills!!!

So what do we need to do?

We need to measure where we are, the best way to achieve this is with a stats program, here we can accurately find out our start point.

This is now a simple task, use a stats scorecard as you play. The same process as keeping score.

Now we need to focus attention this area and practice (deeply!!!) Questions that need to be answered here are, is it a technical issue? or is it a judgement issue? So work through with a coach on those areas, understand exactly what needs to be changed to improve, this is achieved with initialy repetitive practice, (many repetitions!!) Asking yourself am I doing this correctly, reach, fail, reach until you are successful.

In the example below the area to be practiced would, clearly, be putting. With a closer look at the specifics of the player's stats it would be established what area of putting was weakest.

Once we have established an improvement under practice conditions we need to apply these improvements in play conditions, random and variable skills tests. Replicate your course conditions.

This process is ongoing as each part of the game improves this cycle is repeated.

The stats program I recommend is www.shotbyshot.com sure there are others available however I will only use what I believe to be the best.