Be Target Oriented
The most important aspect of your pre-shot routine should be your focus on the target and swinging the club there. Everyone perceives the target a little differently. Some people can keep the target in mind as they set up over the ball, as if they had a third eye. Some people have a sense of the target and seem to know where it is by feel. Whatever your method, however, you must swing the club to the target. That bears repeating. You swing the club to the target. It’s not about hitting the ball to the target. Most people focus their attention on the ball and try to move the ball to the target. Your job is to have your attention on the target and swing the club there. Your subconscious will take care of what has to happen with your body. This will also help you swing without effort, as your club will swing more freely if you sense the swinging motion. I’ve heard pros say that amateurs spend more time looking at the ball and the pros spend more time looking at the target. Make it your goal to be target oriented not ball oriented.
In my lessons, I talk to my students about throwing a ball to someone or into a mitt. I ask them what they are focused on and the response is usually the mitt. When I ask them how far back they moved their elbow or their hands they look at me as if I were crazy. When you think about it though, you are making a motion to a target in baseball, tennis, and basketball. You are not thinking about what your body is doing, you are reacting to the target. The same is true in golf, if you let it be.
This is especially true as you get closer to the hole. I tell my students that the secret to a great short game is being completely involved in the target. Tiger Woods rarely reveals his thought processes, but every now and then he throws out a gem.
This happened the other day when he was talking about his father teaching him as a child. As Tiger said, it’s hard to teach distance and direction to a child so his father told him to “putt to the picture.” I would venture to say that Tiger still does that to this day. For your putting, chipping, and pitching try taking a picture of the hole and hold that picture in your head throughout the whole swing. It takes the responsibility out of your hands and leaves it to your subconscious to handle, just like throwing a ball.
That’s much easier than trying to play on a conscious level. Sounds pretty simple, doesn’t it? Next time you are playing or practicing, give it a try. It really is a fun way to play. Keep swinging and enjoy the game.
Erin Szekely is an LPGA Teaching Professional. She can be reached at 425-398-0443 or for more information, please visit www.golfingwitherin.com.
