If you are serious about improving your golf game this year then you must stop haphazardly picking up swing tips from any source possible and simply trying them to see if they will work for you. No one has so much time to waste their efforts on swing moves that are not applicable to their swing faults and may even be detrimental to their long-term improvement. The only way to get better fast is to have a Performance Plan and diligently work through that plan.
Before you can form a plan, a roadmap to your success, you must research from where it is you are starting. Any good plan will have several components each of which must be assessed and the results incorporated into your plan.
TechnicalThis encompasses your swing technique, shot control and variety with every club from driver to putter. Each of these can be assessed utilizing the following tools:
- Lessons with a PGA Professional – When receiving an initial assessment at the very least a video assessment of your swing should be made along with a visual assessment of what is your normal ball flight, what is your poor shot and what is your preferred standard ball flight. If possible a 3D swing analysis would also be done as this process can measure body rotation speeds and your timing sequence which normal video cannot.
- Skills Testing – There are a variety of good skills tests available either on the Internet or in books. The better ones will allow you to test your game and compare your results to where you should be given your handicap. Thus you will be able to see where you need to focus your attention to reach your goals.
- Rounds Analysis – From your rounds on the course track fairways hit, greens in regulation, total putts, sand saves and green saves. Then compare these numbers to the ones you can find at www.pgatour.com to get an idea of which area of your game requires the most attention if you are to achieve your goals.
EquipmentIt will not matter how good your plan is or how hard you work that plan if your clubs are not correctly fitted. Poorly fitted clubs and poor set make up will restrict your ability to play the shots you want and can even prevent you from making a desired swing change. Get your clubs tested for head design, lie angle, length, shaft flex, driver loft, grip size and set make up. This need not be an expensive process. Your PGA Professional should be able to check your clubs fairly quickly and making any necessary changes to your equipment will make improving much easier.
Assessing the technical aspects of your game and the equipment you carry is a great place to start building your Performance Plan. To complete the process you should also consider the physical, mental and strategic components of your game. These I will discuss in more detail in my next post.
I hope you enjoyed this post on building your performance plan. As always comments are welcome and appreciated.
Good Golfing
Derek
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