In today’s internet age information is abundant and cheap. But knowledge, wisdom, and understanding are lacking. There is probably no subject that personifies this more than golf. Go to Google or YouTube and you will find thousands of articles and videos claiming to fix your golf game. Additionally, with the invention of launch monitors and 3D motion capture we can measure exactly what the best players in the world do, down to a minute detail.
But with all the information out there the average player, the weekend warrior is not getting any better. Average handicaps have not gotten any lower despite this abundance of information and the technology available. In many cases, this information can make a player worse by filling their heads with too many swing thoughts.
I know because I am that regular guy, the weekend warrior. I’ve tried all sorts of different things to “fix” my golf swing. I once had dreams of playing this game for a living but, as they say “life happens.” I still have dreams and belief that I can play this game at a very high level, but the way I have gone about it has not gotten me to where I want to go. So it is time for a different approach.
That’s why I’ve started theProcess.Golf, to re-evaluate and understand what it takes to actually get better at golf. To develop a process that actually leads to progress and document my findings. One thing I know for sure is that the way I’ve practiced in the past is not effective. Overly focused on the technical side and standing on the driving range hitting the same shot over and over does not lead to learning that translates to the golf course, much less competitive golf. Using a swing thought that you saw in some video may provide better results for a shot or even a round or two, but the results are fleeting. Then you move onto the next video and swing thought and start the process all over again. Instant results, fading away, and then searching for the next tip. Always ending back where you started.
As golfers, we spend the majority of our time practicing alone. We may have coaches that we see from time to time but mostly we are on our own. That’s why it’s important to not get caught in the trap of searching for instant fixes time after time. To know what you’re working on and develop a plan to go about it intelligently and in a thoughtful process oriented way. That way, when we do see our coaches again you’ve made the progress necessary and the next piece of the puzzle can be put in and our progress continues. The good news is that the plan doesn’t need to be overly complicated.
My plan is to publish weekly practice plans that will be based on my periodic review of what I believe I need to be working on. Those plans will also include notes and insights from my practice sessions. Another thing I will be doing is post round reviews. I find it very helpful to go back through a round mentally and identify where you are gaining and losing strokes on the golf course. This helps to identify your strengths and weaknesses to inform practice sessions.
I will also be posting articles about different topics on golf. For example, how we can think better and get the most out of our game on the golf course. This site is to document my journey, and the things that I’m learning about this game. I hope you can learn something from it too.
Welcome to theProcess.
The Process 