"Longer and Straighter Golf Tips"
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The funny thing about the Golf Magazines that you read is that they give you all these tips – and because you trust all these great Instructors that have been built up by the golf media to be Guru’s – you try all their swing tips.
Because if that tip worked for Ernie Els – "it’s got to work for me. Right?"
Maybe...
So the swing guru is yet again going to tell you how to hit it “Longer and Straighter”. And considering that you’ve been reading that Golf Magazine for 5 or 6 years – you must’ve read at this point around 57 articles about hitting it “Longer and Straighter”. Which means considering that you’ve gotten “Longer and Straighter” every time you’ve read one of these articles, you’re now probably hitting the golf ball 340 yards and haven’t missed a fairway for two years.
Think about it – if all it took was to read an article a month – then go practice that tip for a month until the next “Longer and Straighter” tip came out – and then read that article about getting “Longer and Straighter” and practiced that until you received the next cover featuring a Guru posing with a “I’m a genius” smile on their face. You’d either be on a Professional Golf Tour, US Amateur Champion, or just bored with the game because it was too easy for you at this point.
You’ve spent so many hours reading these “Longer and Straighter” articles that you probably have enough knowledge to become a Golf Professional yourself. And you’ve hit so many golf balls using all this advice that you’re probably a single digit handicap by now.
No? Why not?
You would think that if you wanted to learn to play an instrument like a piano – you could go get a few lessons from a Piano Instructor – and you’d steadily improve. And if you then subscribed to Piano Digest and received a new magazine every month that proclaims “Hit Your Keys With The Precision Of Billy Joel” – that you should be able to at least be able to have people recognize the opening of “The Piano Man”.
So why is it not that way with golf? And don’t give me – “Well Marc, golf is completely different. It’s so much harder than anything else. You can’t compare the two.”
Well, why not? They’re both motor skills that require patience and practice. Both are done for enjoyment. And both you can never master. So why do people learning piano improve faster and acknowledge their improvement more often than Golfers do?
The truth is that the majority of Golf Instruction Tips you’re reading are based on selling magazines. Can you believe that? Yes, it’s not about putting out stuff that’s based on Results - it’s based on coming up with a gimmick that will get you excited each month by giving you some sexy tip that you’re going to eat up.
And there’s nothing sexier to a Golfer than “Longer and Straighter”.
Seriously – how many strokes have you improved since you started reading any of those Golf Magazines? And if you’re like 20% of the Golfers I’ve met, the answer is minimal. But if you’re like 79% of the Golfers I’ve met, the answer is that they actually started hitting the golf ball worse after trying a Golf Tip.
And it’s funny because this same Golfer that starts to hit the golf ball worse after trying a tip from a Golf Magazine will anxiously await the next month’s issue so that they can try the next tip. Why? Because – “I know I’m just one tip away from putting my swing together.”
How many times have you said that?
Yet, there are many Golfers that will say – “yeah, but you’ve got to get worse before you get better!” And that might be one of the stupidest comments ever made by a Golfer. For example – would you ever send your 16 year-old son or daughter to Driving School (to learn to drive a car) that advertised that “they’ll probably get worse at Driving before they get better”?
We’ll have to talk more about that stupid phrase and how it’s probably hurting your progress in one of the next few Golf Improvement Weekly’s. But, until then – start thinking about how much progress you’ve seen in the last year and if there’s been any Golf Tips that you’ve read that has helped you improve more than a few strokes.
The Monkey continues to struggle and get frustrated going from “Longer and Straighter” Tip to “Longer and Straighter” Tip
The Player just continues to “Tick Tock”
Go Ahead, Be A Player!
Regards,
Marc Solomon -Your Instructor For Life
www.GolfMadeSimple.com
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Hi Wat,
I hope everything is going well for you and your classes. I had a great time at GMS and learned a lot. I promised myself that I would give you a weekly update as to my progress so here is the first one. I practiced my putting twice this week using the “Toe of the 5 Iron Drill” and the “Uphill/Downhill Drill”. I also had one full swing practice session and mainly worked on the “Stepping Drill” and the “Alternating Clubs Drill”.
I played yesterday and shot 85 on a 6200 yard course with a 129 slope rating. It was typical northwest weather, temps in the 40's, drizzle and a bit of wind. My ball striking is much better. I actually hit 8 greens, kept the ball in play off the tee except for two holes, got up and down from 70 yards out and had 2 birdies.
I'm pleased with my progress, but still need to work hard. I notice that my bad shots are usually caused by forgetting about my "Tick-Tock" - so I obviously need some work there.
Thanks,
Dave A – Issaquah, Washington – Sent April 22nd, 2007
Attended GMS in San Diego location on April 6th to 8th, 2007
 Hi Jeff
I promise I won't write you everyday, but I just cannot avoid telling you about my game today. I thought my last game was good, but this was outstanding and I am soooo happy I joined you at GMS.
I hit 13 fairways and as good as that is, my driving was not even the best part of my game today. Get this, 7 pars, 2 birdies and 9 bogeys for a score of 79 with 28 putts includes one chip in. We played at World Golf Village, and this was the best golf I have ever played.
Like I said the other day, "tick tock" is the greatest thing ever to keep you in rhythm and keep you focused. I am now out of GMS for one week and I cannot believe the results I have had. Thank you so much.
Best regards,
Cora B - Toronto, Ontario, Canada – Sent April 19th, 2007
Attended GMS in Tampa location on April 10th to 12th, 2007
Click Here To Read more GMS Testimonials
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Congratulations - Hayden Lewis: Our Lead GMS Mentor
Congratulations to Hayden Lewis who has been named as Golf Made Simple’s Lead Mentor! What’s our Lead Mentor? It means that Hayden will not be doing GMS classes full time. He’ll be in charge of helping our GMS Instructors continue to grow as Instructors, Coaches and Friends.
Yes, Hayden will continue to be at our Golf Courses – though in a different mode. He’ll be at the GMS classes observing, taking notes and working with our Instructors after class to fine tune their communication and coaching skills even more.
Although we believe there’s absolutely no one that compares to GMS and our GMS Instructors, no one that has as many Instructor Training Sessions as we do and no one that has Golfers seeing better Results – we want to continue to improve. And we believe having Hayden in this new role will benefit our Instructors – which will ultimately benefit our Golfers by helping you to improve even faster than you’re already improving.
Part of Hayden’s new role will also include leading one class a month at one of our GMS locations. These GMS classes are going to be special because in addition to Hayden leading the class – you’ll also have an additional GMS Instructor working with you.
For example – The first class Hayden will be doing as our Lead GMS Mentor is July 6th to 8th in Amelia Island. And in addition to Hayden, you’ll also have our Amelia Island Instructor, Scott Wittosch working with your Group. And then on August 6th to 8th – Hayden will be at our Lake Tahoe area location doing a class with Jeff Seigler. Both of these classes are Level 2 classes – so if you’ve been thinking about doing a Level 2 – here you go.
If you’re looking to come to GMS for the first time or want to do our Level 1 class again (9 out of 10 our Golfers do repeat the first class and see even better results), we'll soon be announcing where Hayden will be for September, October, November and beyond. These GMS Programs are brilliant because you’ll be getting Two GMS Instructors – which means twice the fun.
Regards,
Alex – Director GMS
Golf Made Simple Inc.
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Rich W., Jacob K., Maie K., "Zack" F.
San Diego | April 15th, 16th, 17th | 2007
Mary A., Gail M., Anne A., & Jean W.
Amelia Island | April 15th, 16th, 17th | 2007
Jean R., Charlotte F., Troy C.
Tampa Area | April 15th, 16th, 17th | 2007
Just added this week on WorldGolf.com
Check out our additional PodcastGolf Tips are for Monkeys: How To Hit Your Fairway Woods by clicking below...
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Sooner, Rather Than Later!
To continue with last week’s stat about Golfers having Unreasonable Expectations about how consistent you should be – we’re going to continue with what happened to last week’s winner. Boo Weekly – who won in Hilton Head two weeks ago against a strong field of Players – went to New Orleans against a much weaker field (not putting the Players in New Orleans down, they’re all awesome – just Hilton Head had a stronger field of Players) and missed the cut.
Here’s a great Player that everybody saw win a big Golf Tournament in dramatic fashion and then the next week, he doesn’t even make it to the weekend.
And you’re upset with yourself because you shot 89 on a Saturday two weeks ago and then this past Saturday, without touching a club for a week, shot 96. And you tell yourself – ‘How can I be so inconsistent? What’s wrong with my swing?’
Even the best Players in the world battle inconsistency. Go with the flow. I’m sure that’s what Boo’s going to do. And because of that – he’ll be back on top sooner rather than later.
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Most Golfers spend more time agonizing over their bad shots than celebrating their good shots. It’s as if they so expect themselves to hit a good shot every swing – that after they hit a good shot, they might smile for half-a-second.
And often times after a good shot, when a playing partner offers a ‘that was a great shot, awesome’ – the Golfer will often say – ‘it was alright, I didn’t hit it exactly where I wanted to.’
Yet, when the Golfer that offered the encouragement about the great shot, indeed hits one himself (or herself) – the Golfer that wasn’t excited about their own good shot will say ‘that was a great shot, awesome’ – to which the Golfer will often say ‘ it was alright, I didn’t hit it exactly where I wanted to.’
Come on! It’s alright to get excited and give yourself credit once-in-a-while. "Have Fun Playing Golf" – not just on your playing partners shots – but on yours also!
Marc Solomon 'Your Instructor for Life'
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