Post Round Reflections and Feedback, how you can improve this winter

Post Round Reflections and Feedback, how you can improve this winter

This week is a slight change from the original subject but I wanted to take advantage of a video from WinningGolfMind coach Lee Crombleholme, filmed at the Dunhill Links Championship.  I am writing this a couple of days earlier than usual and this video seemed appropriate as Lee’s client Branden Grace yesterday shot a course record 60 (-12) at Kingsbarns Links in the first round.  In fact all 5 of Lee’s clients finished under par in the first round.

The video looks at how you can learn and improve by reflecting on your performance this season.  Creating a performance profile for yourself is crucial if you plan to spend any time this winter trying to improve your golf.

Practice without a plan is just exercise

There is an old saying used by one of my biggest influences, PGA Professional Peter Tupling, “You learn to ski in the summer and to play golf in the winter”.  In other words, winter should be the time to learn new skills for a golfer in preparation for using those skills in the summer.  Use the skills Lee talks about to discover which parts of your game need the most help and then act upon that information this winter.

We have been looking at the short game in recent weeks.  A couple of weeks ago I suggested you kept a post round record of the number of missed greens from close range and the number of 3 putts you had over a number of rounds.  These are parts of the game which are “easy fix”, they don’t demand great athletic ability but with a little time investment they can improve your score dramatically.

To continue last week’s theme of the importance of striking putts correctly you first need to understand your current level.  You may not have access to SAM PuttLAB analysis however you can test your current level with a little help from your Club Professional.  Most Pros have a level of club fitting service and included in the fitting equipment is face impact tape or stickers.  The ball marks the tape when you strike it, even with the putter and allows you to see where on the face you strike the ball.

Simply place the tape on the putter face lined up with the sweet spot then hit 10 putts on the putting green from 3 distances.  Change the tape for each distance as you hit putts from 10 feet, 20 feet and 30 feet in turn.  By comparing the tapes from each distance you will quickly see your strike pattern, ask yourself how close to the sweet spot you strike the ball.  Does the pattern change from different ranges and are your putts long or short, left or right.  Compare your strike pattern to the examples from last week and then make a plan if it can be improved.

Throughout October I will be hosting the National Finals for the HowDidiDo National Matchplay Championship, I look forward to meeting those of you who have qualified to play.

Please send in your feedback from our first 3 months, have any of you benefitted from the videos we have posted.  We would love to hear your stories and as always your questions help shape the content of the blog.  The blog will continue every week throughout the winter and we will be expanding our topics and introducing new guest instructors as we build towards the launch of our fully interactive golf lesson service and E-Book manual for the new 2013 season.

Contact us at academy@howdididomedia.com