Managing the Transition – Just How do you Practice That?

First published 28th August 2013

One thing that I’ve noticed about golf is how the different stages of playing a hole mess with your head …

First up, you’re on the tee with perhaps 500 yards of course ahead of you and the pin out of sight

All your instincts tell you to hit the ball very hard and as I’m sure you’re aware, that’s a mistake, unless you’re Bubba Watson, and most of us aren’t …

And that’s a lot like rock climbing

A sport that most non climbers think is aggressive and macho and adrenalin fueled …

And It’s not

At it’s best it’s like dancing on rock …

Plus you learn how to control and reduce the adrenalin flow so that you can make calculated moves

And not die …

Bear with me, there is a point to this, plus a very useful living room exercise that I’ve devised based on these principles

Then it’s maybe 250 -350 yards to the green and the pin is visible so the tension is ratcheted down a notch …

A pitch to the green which requires both delicacy, feel, and positivity

Then a putt from maybe 15 feet for a birdie ..

And finally a tricky 5 footer for par

But how do you practice that transition? The gradual winding down of yardage on a hole, change of clubs, and change of emphasis from power to precision …

In your living room

I have the answer for you and it works very well …

Sidenote:

I live on my own, I also work from home, the downside of which is that I sometimes don’t talk to a human being face to face for 2 days at a time, and have to go buy something in a shop, just to check that my vocal chords still work.

The upside however is that I can do whatever I want in my own space without someone looking at me like they need to call a doctor, or psychiatrist …

Your circumstances may vary

So here’s the drill:

Pick your favourite, frantic tune that you used to dance to when you were younger …

It could be something by the Rolling Stones, maybe it’s Go Buddy Go from The Stranglers or Firestarter by The Prodigy

Whatever it is, whack it on the CD, Ipod or whatever it is you choose to play music on …

And dance around your living room as energetically as you can for 4 minutes or so

There’s an additional bonus here for most males over the age of 30 …

You’ll get used to dancing again

That thing that you used to enjoy doing and then one day realised that you couldn’t do it anymore …

Without looking (and feeling) like your Dad

So when it’s time for the social events, you’ll be up there bopping, rather than listening to the dull conversation around you, repeated for the nth time

Life’s meant to be fun – right?

Then put on another track, something slower …

Not Barry White, that’s wayyyyy too slowwwww

Maybe an Iian Mcnabb ballad, an upbeat Frank Sinatra tune, Ride a White Swan by Trex, you get the idea, slower, but not slow

And have another dance …

Sway a little more and relax those hips baby

And now for the golf bit …

You might have some sort of indoor putter practice device, but here’s what I do

Take a standard, straight sided, half pint glass and place it against the skirting board …

Drop a couple of balls around 8 feet away

And putt

I try to get the ball in the glass, obviously …

But also avoid hitting the skirting board if I miss

I’m looking into the possibility of compiling some golf training mixes for those people who can’t think about tracks to insert into this drill …

But frankly, if you can’t think of your own, and you’ve never danced, you’re either going to have to take a giant leap into the world of music, or find your own way to practice this transition.

I’ve been practicing this for the last hour or so and I can honestly say that my putting has improved ..

I’ve also had a few glasses of red

Which always helps …

With anything

Tomorrow I’m playing my second ever round on a full 18 hole golf course …

I’ll be dancing round it

And I’ll let you know how things worked out …