! MJ\’s Tips

Mind Advantage

Originally uploaded by gainmoregolf

Many golfers find that their short game is let down by particular shots near the green. Perhaps it’s the bunker, the slope, the long grass, the changing terrain – whatever your particular foible is.

We designed an exercise to improve the consistency of your shots here. We called it “Six ‘n’ Chips”. The basic idea is to take six balls at different locations around the green, letting them fall naturally and, aiming at the pin, your target is to get as many of the six balls as you can into a 3 foot radius of the pin – we draw a target on the practice greens at 3 foot and 6 foot.

Logging your shots is critical for the effectiveness. Which shots are you having problems with? Any commonalities?

Aiming to land the ball within 3 feet of the pin is a powerful mind advantage (rather than aiming for the hole). You know that it is easier! You also know that a put of less than 3 foot is a ‘gimmie’!

Remember, spread the balls around the green, not just from one spot and log every shot – we’ve specially designed log cards for the purpose, though you could just use a piece of paper.

Many golfers take up the game, in part, because it is known as the sport of business people – it is an especially good means of networking and developing relationships, so is there a commonality between the way people play the game and the way they behave at work – our research and observation shows that there is:

There are six main ‘styles’ of playing golf with a corresponding leadership style – the 6Cs of Golf and Leadership Style.

By ‘style’, I do not mean to refer to an individual’s personality or their innate character as though this were true. I am, instead, referring to the way in which you perform at your best and most naturally – which may represent your true personality – best to ask your spouse or a close friend who knows you in many other situations as well.

We’ll consider each of the styles in turn, pointing out the dominant characteristics displayed and consider a few well known players and business leaders who fit each style. Your job is to identify your own style amongst these six – finding the one which most accurately matches your approach to the game of golf, and your approach to leadership. This isn’t about choosing the style you think that you ‘should’ have, or would like to have. This is about understanding where you are now, and knowing that if you play in this style, or lead with this style, it will be the most comfortable. Later you can consider how to compensate for the weaknesses in your own game.
The Conquerer

On the golf course, this player dominates. Blasting a drive as far as possible brings great joy. The conquerer plays to shorten every hole and every shot – going for broke every time. Often an exhibitionist player and like to brag about their prowess.

Long carries over water whet the conquerers appetite – long par 5′s with a copse on the dogleg right to over-fly bring pulses of energy and make the endorphins flow.

As a leader, the conquerer revels in adversity and challenge. The more impossible others consider the position, the more the conquerer defies the odds. They want results, and they want them now. Excuses will bring wrath, and success will bring a new challenge. Seldom satisfied with the result, it can always be better.

Golf players who are conquerers include: Greg Norman, Bubba Watson, Arnold Palmer, Sam Sneed

Famous leader conquerers include: Margaret Thatcher, George W. Bush, Carly Fiorina, Lee Ka Shing, John Chambers, Michael Dell, David Johnson

The Conjuror

These golfers find excitement in difficult lies, thoroughly enjoy being tested in the rough, or an impossible shot between the trees. They excel in the bunker, and become easily bored with routine fairway shots. They gather their wits before a troublesome shot and have marvellous imagination which they are very capable of transferring directly into their game. About half of the conjurors like to show-off, whilst the other, quieter half, like to core well.

The conjuror leader triumphs over adversity again and again. Seemingly intent on making their own lives difficult and forever deliberately putting themselves and their teams into new challenges.

Golf player conjurors include: Seve Balesteros, Tom Watson, Phil Micelson

Conjuror leaders include: Herb Kelleher, Hank Greenberg, Michael Eisner

The Craftsman

The clear headed technical player, deeply aware of their swing. Knowing their game intimately. These golfers, rehearse and practice even during a round – working on particular aspects of their game that needs attention.

This player excels when tinkering with the minutai details of how to play a particular shot. These players prefer a low stress game, hitting the fairway just right, and onto the green all day will suit them just fine. Quiet and concentrate more on scoring than exhibition, these are solid players and maintain a consistent game.

The Craftsman leader similarly likes a smooth-running business where they can constantly and continuously improve aspects of their business in incremental steps.

Golf player craftsmen include: Gary Player, Nick Faldo, Ben Crane, Charles Howell III

Crafstman Leaders include: Gordone Bethune, Andy Grove, Sandy Weill

The Cavalier
The consummate performer – the true exhibitionist of the game, these players like to shape their shots as much as possible and work the ball towards the target. How the shot, and they, look is important. This is the player who says “watch this” as they carve a beautiful shot around a tree and over the water onto the green. Others do this occasionally, with luck, but these players thrive on it. They like to wow the crowd and fellow players and are the shot-makers of the game.

The Cavalier leader is the ‘show-offs’ of the leadership world – not necessarily egotistically, but because it motivates them. Often, they will stun the audience with acts of derring-do and controversial behaviours. These leaders enjoy the limelight and are more frequently in the press.

Cavalier golfers include: Lee Trevino, Corey Pravin and Chi Chi Rodriguez

Cavalier leaders include: Richard Branson, Ken Lay, Bill Gates, Martha Stewart

The Conductor

These are the players who pull the others together as much as play for themselves. Often, the unsung heroes of the regular round with friends, these players organise, cajole and hustle. More concerned for everyone’s enjoyment than just their own, they thrive on playing with others. Taking part is more important than winning, they can glory in other’s success. Few of the world’s top golfers fit this style, yet without them, the amateur game and local competitions would not exist for long. Disciplined and organised, these players like to keep accurate scores and seldom show-off.

Most leaders would like to be considered as conductors, concentrating their efforts on bringing the symphony together in perfect harmony towards a particular goal. These leaders empower others and seldom take centre-stage in public view (like an orchestral conductor, they have their back to the audience and their guidance focused on their team.)

Players who are conductors include: Tony Jacklin, Colin Montgomerie

Leaders: Charles Heimbold, Carol Bartz, Elizabeth Dole, Ralph Larsen, Bill Marriot

The Chess player

These are the strategists of the game. These players plot their way around a course from point a to point b to point c. Positional golf is their forte and they are content to hit fairways and greens and two-put all day with an occasional birdie. They know that consistent, planned performance will win most of the time against all other styles. The Chess Player gets the most from their game when they are thinking clearly, and using their minds throughout the round. Nothing flashy about their game for the most part, these players are good in all aspects of each hole and tend to strike the ball cleanly and well. These are the scorers of the game – they may appear to be showing-off but that is due to their considerable skill and focus.

All leaders would like to consider themselves to be chess players, understanding the ‘art of war’ and the plethora of books on strategic management. But that’s just it, the vast majority of strategists are managers, not leaders (except by title). These leaders understand the environment, the context, the shifting positions of the competition and play a solid game along known successful routes, not too greedy and with contingencies for rough times. They understand foremost, who they are and what drives them, secondly they know their people and leverage their strengths and deploy all their resources to best effect.

Golfing chess players include: Ben Hogan, Bernard Langer, David Toms and Tiger Woods (an ex-conquerer turned strategist)

Leadership chess players are most exemplified by Jack Welch, Walter Shipley, Howard Schultz, Gordon Bethune, Tony Blair

Each of us in reality possess aspects of each of these styles in our game and in our leadership. Underneath the situational style we may have developed though, lies a core style that suits us best. A style in which we are truly ‘playing with ourselves’ – a place where we are at ease with our game, and feel confident that we will achieve what we set out to achieve. Knowing your pre-disposition for a preferred style means that you know where, when the pressure is on, you are going to play naturally and with least effort. Knowing yourself and trusting in the strengths of a particular style will enable you to actively reduce your golf score and pro-actively lead your people.

When making your back swing, much has been written regarding the movement in the left foot. In my humble opinion if you are flexible enough to make a full back swing with the left foot planted then do so!

Keeping the left foot planted throughout the swing allows most golfers to create some good resistance and balance, giving a great feel of coiling the upper body over a stable lower body during the back swing and a solid left side to swing into during the down swing.

I only encourage a little lifting of the foot if the client is struggling to complete the back swing with it planted, it simply allows a little more freedom of motion to some golfers, maybe helping them to complete a full turn. Then I ask them to plant it firmly down on the ground at start the down swing, that way giving them balance and a good weight shift in the down swing.

Let me know if this helps?

When playing those little chip and run shots from the fringe of the green, we encourage you to take onboard some basic putting principles to help you gain greater control.

Hold the club (say a no 7 iron for example) in exactly the same manner you hold the putter, using your standard putting grip. Basically this shot is like putting with a different club, so by taking your putting grip you will encourage a pendulum like motion, keeping the wrists very quiet in the process. It will allow you to use the loft of the club to nudge the ball over the thicker fringe grass and then run the ball down to the hole. Soft hands on the club and quiet wrists during a pendulum like stroke, should give you a consistent and controlled stroke.

One other small tweak on your normal set-up is to stand the club up a little more upright when addressing the ball. Even if the heel of the club then feels like it’s off the ground a smidge, don’t panic as this will help quieten the wrists and stroke the ball like a putt.

If your playing uphill and need a little more run out of the ball, then try a less lofted club. On the flip side, if the green falls away from you and the ball is going to run out quicker, then a more lofted 9 iron or wedge will help you control the run on the ball.

Good luck with this tip!

A good percentage of golfers we see here at the academy picture a line down through their shirt buttons and you turn around this centered point. Unfortunately this can lead into a classic reverse pivot motion, with the weight normally moving to the left leg during the back swing and then having to lean back out of the way onto the right leg during the down swing. So if your hitting weak, high shots and falling back at the finish of the swing then this could be you!!

To get a true and dynamic range of motion during your swing, generating a powerful and repetitive ball flight then picture using the right leg as the pivot point on the back swing and the left leg as the pivot point for the down swing! (Based on you right handed golfers, opposite for you lefties) So feel like you are turning into that right leg, almost sitting into the knee is a sensation I like to have. Feeling like the right knee remains flexed and the weight is as much as 70 to 80% into that right leg at the top of the back swing. From here it’s a case of allowing the weight to shift back to the left side with a little bump of the left knee and hip and when you finish that follow through, your weight should be fully onto the left leg, with the tip toe of the right shoe, the only point of contact with the ground and your tummy facing the target. Hold this pose for several seconds as it brings your swing to a nice composed finish and is a good gauge as to your level of balance in your swing.

More great tips on the GAINMORE Golf Community 

Always address the ball, by starting with your feet together and placing the club head behind the ball.  Getting the club positioned behind the ball, helps you to consistently achieve the correct position to build your swing from.  Once the club is in squarely positioned then place the correct grip on the club, left hand first if you’re a right hander, then the right hand snugly on top.  Finally the feet into the correct position, making sure you’re the correct distance from the ball. So consistent golf starts with a consistent routine and set-up! 

When playing that all important soft landing wedge shot over the bunker or indeed anywhere around the green, one of the most important factors is to encourage a descending blow into impact. If you are looking for more control on the distance you hit these shots, then the strike pattern has to be similar each and every time you play this shot, a major factor in this consistency is a descending blow. 

A great drill to help achieve this correct angle of attack into the ball is to place an umbrella or empty sleeve of balls, about 6 inches or so behind the ball. Now set-up to the shot, checking your weight is positioned nicely onto the left foot (for you right hand players), ball position centre and stance slightly narrower than usual. From here simply swing the club up and over the umbrella and then back down again, allowing the club to descend into the back of the ball, missing the umbrella in the process and giving the perfect ball/turf strike pattern. If you strike the umbrella first then you would have tried to scoop the ball up yourself, rather than trusting the club to get the job done. In addition to this your weight will have probably moved back onto the right side, a classic mistake we see all too often during initial lessons. So keep the weight left and swing up and down over the obstacle and the strike pattern will be hugely improved and way more consistent than previously. 

Best of luck with this, any problems or thoughts, as always feel free to get in touch!!

One of the biggest complaints we hear from our clients is not having enough time to work on their games. Even when they do find a few minutes to practice, are they indeed working on the most relevant area of their game? The simplest way of learning which area of your game is the most important to you personally, the pattern to your game if you like, is by keeping some statistics on your golf, other than just the final score! After each and every round write down a few details on the following:

Fairways hit?

Greens in regulation? (I.e. putting for birdie)

Putts per round?

Up and downs? (I.e. how many chip and one putts)

Start with just these four basic figures and I’m positive you will start to understand exactly where you are dropping your shots on a regular basis. Either store them on your pc or jot them down in a note book that you can keep in your golf bag. You can even forward me these stats as it makes sense that I know which are the key areas to work on for the next lesson. 

For anyone who is keen on this and wants to store the information really professionally, then please take advantage of our partnership with Strokeaverage.com.  These guys are the market leader in recording statistics on your golf, so I’m thrilled to be involved with such a great product and indeed company.  It records, compares and analyses your golf statistics helping you and I to eliminate weaknesses and build on strengths.  With a complimentary trial period of 14 days there is no need to take my word for it, make your mind up during this trial period before taking the plunge at a discounted rate for the year.  If you pop in JANES1 as the promotion code, this will entitle you to a 20% discount on the yearly subscription.  

So a few minutes identifying the pattern in your game can allow you to work on your weaknesses and not waist time fine tuning your strengths!!

For you slicers!

If you (or maybe a friend you know!!) suffer from the common fault of the ball starting left of target and fading right, then find a slope with the ball above the feet and hit loads of practice shots from there. Slopes are a great way of giving us an improved feel for the correct shape to the swing. Up until now you would have felt a very steep swing, with the club moving on a very steep plane and from out to in, with the divots pointing left of target. Practicing with the ball a few inches above your feet allows the club to work a little more around the body, allowing a nice shoulder turn to be completed during the back swing. Then the momentum is set for the downswing, when the club naturally approaches the ball more from the inside path and a little more shallow than your used to. This in turn will help control the ball flight and you might even be able to turn the ball over from right to left.

For you hookers!!

If on the other hand you have the opposite ball flight to our friend above, maybe a controlled (or otherwise) draw flight from right to left, then you need to find some slopes with the ball below your feet and hit plenty of practice shots from there. In the past you are used to the club coming into impact too much from an inside path, on a very shallow plane and the face closing through impact, hence the right to left shape. With the ball now several inches below your feet this slope will encourage the club to swing more up and down on a steeper plane and angle of attack, thus leaving the clubface more neutral and less right to left shape on the ball, you might even fade one or two from left to right!! 

Just before you go out on the course the standard routine on the putting green is to grab three balls, stand ten feet from the hole, miss all three putts and then stroll to the first tee, what a confidence booster, sounds familiar!! Then you find yourself on the 1st green and funny enough miss from the same distance!!

You should be achieving two things from your putting warm up, feel for the pace of the green and confidence to take to the course. So pop a tee peg into the ground somewhere on the green, take one ball and roll it up close. One ball because you only get one go when playing regular golf on the course and a tee peg because all you are working on is feel. If you miss it you are not worried and if you do hit it then that’s a real bonus as the tee is significantly smaller than a hole, all you are really trying to do is roll it up close.