Why we call a frustrated Golfer a Monkey has nothing to do with one’s ability or the scores that you shoot. It has to do
with how a Golfer goes about the learning and improvement process. I’ve seen Players that are just
starting to break 100 and I’ve seen
Monkeys that shoot in the low 80’s. The difference is that the Monkey will become frustrated
because they’re in the same scoring range for an extended period of time –
while the Player is excited because they’re seeing improvement every time they
step on the golf course.
The Monkey uses the same bad habits over and over expecting to improve. The
Monkey continually goes to the practice range without a PLAN banging ball after
ball in rapid fire succession expecting to hit straighter shots. The Monkey
hits their 3 wood for their second shot on every Par 5 regardless of the
situation expecting to get closer to the green. The Monkey tries every new tip
and gimmick hoping to find something magical.
The Player on the other hand has a PLAN. They know what the Strengths and
Weaknesses of their golf swing are. They know how to practice their Driver.
They know how to practice their fairway woods. They know how to practice their
wedges to create backspin. They know how to practice their putting for 45
minutes without it becoming as boring as watching paint dry.
What’s the difference between a Monkey and a Player? It’s how they go about
learning to play better. The Monkey gets stuck in a scoring range and then will
try anything in desperation to start improving again – though often times they
become more and more frustrated. The Player sees and feels continual
improvement – the Player often has other Golfers asking them how they’ve
improved so fast.
For example: when the Monkey wants to improve their Driver; they go to the
driving range to hit ball after ball towards the middle of the range. And this
Golfer will often hit the ball well enough to feel that they had improved. Yet,
the next time on the golf course – reality sets in – and you’re not hitting
your Driver as well as you did on the driving range.
Why does this happen so frequently to the Monkey? Why can the Monkey hit it so
well on the range and then when they go to the golf course ….. well, let’s just
say it doesn’t go as well. While the Player often hits their Driver as well and
in fact, many times they even hit their Driver better on the golf course.
When the Player wants to improve their Driver; they also can go to the driving
range. Though, they have a PLAN that they’ll stick with. Part of that PLAN is
that the middle of the range isn’t a target. Why? Because the middle of the
driving range isn’t as defined as the golf course. When’s the last time you saw
a fairway with the middle as wide as the middle of the driving range? Also,
when have you ever seen the middle of a driving range include water, trees,
fairway bunkers and other assorted distractions such as houses?
The Player hits their Driver to different targets just like they do on the golf
course. And the Player that’s really taking their game to the next level is the
Player that makes their targets on the driving range – smaller than the targets
that they’ll see on the golf course. The Monkey does the complete opposite by
making a target on the driving range that’s over twice as big as the target
they’ll have on the golf course.
No wonder the Monkey gets frustrated on the golf course!
The Player uses a PLAN to make ‘fairways’ on the driving range. I say
‘fairways’ as opposed to the ‘fairway’ because as the Monkey just keeps hitting
to the middle of the range – the Player is constantly changing their targets.
Why? Well, is every golf hole straight and over 100 yards wide like the driving
range?
You have the talent to be a Player. You know it and I know it. The problem is
that you might be going at it like a Monkey.
The Monkey will read the above and say ‘I know what
I’m doing, I’m so close to improving – I just need to hit more balls to become
more consistent’
The Player
knows that Tiger, Annika, Jack, Lorena and every successful Player has a PLAN
that doesn’t include just banging golf ball after golf ball into the middle of
the driving range.
Are you happy with your progress? Do you have a PLAN other than just banging
golf ball after golf ball into the middle of the driving range?
Jeff - Things are falling
into place. I have "rediscovered" my drive and am hitting my irons
and hybrids very well. I am even using my 4 hybrid now off the tee on
short par 4's with great accuracy.
I played on Tuesday at a
course that has been pretty challenging and improved my previous best score by
8 strokes. I played with a buddy of mine who has been playing for about 20
years, whom I had never beaten, and I beat him by 5 strokes. I will continue to
work on the drills and keep my "plan" at the front of my game.
Thanks,
Ray J. – Baton Rouge, Louisiana
- Sent August 6th, 2009
Attended
Boca Raton, Florida location on April 13th to 15th, 2009
Shot an 80 at a new course on Friday morning, followed by another 41 in
the afternoon at another new course!
AM Round: 80, 33 putts, 17 first putts were for par or birdie, 6 GIRS
PM Round: 41, 15 putts, 8 first putts were for par
or birdie, 2 GIRS
The 27 holes on Friday may have been my best day of 27
holes ever...at times some real solid golf, but with some easy-to-spot
opportunities to improve!!
Sincerely,
Bob W. –
Green Bay, Wisconsin – Sent August 16th, 2009
Attended Tampa, Florida Location on April 20th to 22nd, 2009
As we get towards the end of Summer in North America. The beginning of some beautiful weather is approaching much of the United States. And in the middle of all this is our Lake Tahoe location. As many already know - there might not be a better time to visit the Lake Tahoe area than in September. With an average high temperature of 76 degrees and nothing but blue skies - there might not be anything better than being in the Sierra Nevada mountains in September.
And from what we've been hearing - Denver in September is perfect. With an average high of 79 degrees (and no humidity) - what else could you ask for as far as being outside swinging a golf club?
I would expel the virtues of Washington DC and the Virginia countryside - yet we're pretty much sold-out during the month of September. There is a spot or two left - but not many. However, the good news is that we do have some availability in October before our Instructor moves down to our Tampa, Florida location towards the end of the month.
For more information on available dates at any of our GMS locations: call me at 1-888-580-3635 or
email me at IWantToBe@GolfMadeSimple.com
"I guess in this day and age of multiple choices for
everything we want to buy - shopping for golf clubs is not any different than
shopping for a computer - though if you have a sense of humor it can be the
most fun you'll ever have.
The claims made by the club companies are ridiculous -
let me go 1-step past ridiculous - they're preposterous!
Now if you're easily offended if I talk about the brand of
golf club that you might own - don't report to AOL that I'm sending you
spam. Just click the delete button and you won't have to be subjected to
my opinions.
So let's continue by playing a game. Below
I have listed different marketing slogans from well known club
companies. What your challenge is, is to match the slogan with the …"
Continue
reading the rest of this Classic GIW - Click
Here
By the way, the first Golf Made Simple DVD has been the #1 Selling Golf
Swing DVD on Amazon.com. After years and years and offers upon offers
from people that wanted to produce a DVD for us; we decided we wanted
to do it our own way. We've created a DVD to help you become a Player,
as opposed to all the other Monkey stuff that's already out there.
Our DVD - How To Improve
Your Golf Swing Indoors is improvement ... GMS Style. What's
GMS Style? It's a Results Based Approach as opposed to the Theories and
Assumptions Based Approach that millions of Golfers struggle with year
after year.
For
Anyone Considering Video Analysis - We have
added our report on: "Using Video Analysis To Improve Your Golf Swing"
to the Golf Made Simple website for you to download and view.
Indoor Putting Drill
- If you'd like for us to email you a special Indoor Version of an
excellent GMS Putting Drill that you could spend hours on - email us at IndoorPuttingDrill@GolfMadeSimple.com
and put GIW in the subject line.
Tour Putting Square
- Use the Tour Putting Square inside your home to improve your scores.
Just send us an email at TourPuttingSquare@GolfMadeSimple.com
with the subject: Tour Putting Square – and we'll email you
how to use this game changing drill.
Swing Drills & Core Training
- To view a segment that covers 2 swing drills you can practice inside,
plus 3 exercises to strengthen your core - email us at: PushUp@GolfMadeSimple.com
with the words 'Golf Improvement Weekly' in the subject line to receive
a link and password to access the video segment from our DVD - 'How
To Improve Your Golf Swing Indoors'
