The last few weeks have been hectic. I’ve had a few deadlines to meet and it’s now good to see the back of them.

Most of my time has been taken up with a new e-book I’ve been writing. It was supposed to be a short manual, but it’s turned out a bit longer than I’d planned. It’s not always easy to condense thoughts and ideas into something short. It’s something I’m still working on.

Anyway, I’m giving this e-book (probably more accurate to call it a report or manifesto) away free.

It’s the first step in something I’ve been planning for sometime. Not sure if the golf world is ready for this, but I’m going to give it a shot.

It would be great if you could check it out.

My Golf Manifesto

Let me know your thoughts.

Not long ago I had this crazy idea. Some might think it was ridiculous, but it certainly changed my golf forever. Here’s what I did…

I gave up. I stopped trying to fix my swing and obsess about every part of my game. My obsession with angles and form was replaced with fun and hitting that stupid white ball. For the first time in years I started to actually play golf.

It wasn’t easy. I doubted myself and sometimes it was scary. I worried that I was ‘going against the grain’ but I persisted. Then, when I least expected it, something remarkable happened.

I started playing better. My confidence grew and I enjoyed golf more. It hasn’t always been roses (and here) but its been way better than what it was before.

What’s the motto here?

That sometimes you have to do the ridiculous, break free and get uncomfortable. That, despite what others say, it might be the right thing to do.

I urge you to find your ridiculous. Open your mind and start playing golf the way you really want to. After all, what’s the worst thing that could happen?

Tell me. What would you rather have?

A beautiful, long and powerful golf swing. A swing that is the envy of all of your friends and something that gets talked about around your club. The only problem is that it’s inconsistent; you don’t trust it and it requires a lot of work to keep it “grooved”.

Or would you rather have?

A funky golf swing. It could be a short and quick swing and a bit ugly. It might have some strange bits to it (like a funny loop) but it gets results. You own it and boy is it reliable.

Which swing would you choose?

Most golfers I know (I used to as well) spend a lot of time chasing the first option. We humans can be obsessed with symmetry and good looking things. We are quick to discard the different and ugly (I like the term funky).

The question you have to ask yourself is,

are you prepared to use what looks good or can you settle on what works, no matter what it looks like?

My belief is that we can waste a lot of time and energy working towards looking good. Golfers can spend years fiddling with their grip, stance and swing. They become obsessed with getting it perfect and having it look just right. Often this hard work goes unrewarded - despite your best efforts your pretty golf swing doesn’t get to the lofty level you desire.

I’d argue that your natural swing is better than any contrived golf swing you can come up with. It might be a bit strange, and be the talking point for all the wrong reasons - but it works and you own it. You don’t need to keep changing it and you can get busy playing golf rather than fixing it.

The “perfect” golf swing option is a tempting one. It seems like the right thing to do but is it the best option for you? Especially when your funky swing might be just what you’re looking for.

Let me know your thoughts.

Golf is a great sport but it can also test our character and emotions to the limit.

Despite being the number one qualifier, I lost my first round match in this year’s Club Championship on the weekend.

I’ve been asked all week to explain what happened. This is not an easy thing to do and I’m not entirely convinced this self examination is all that beneficial. Over analysing can get to the point of “storytelling” to justify poor play and I don’t think that helps that much. I believe it’s best to move on and keep trucking as normal.

After a few days reflection these are my thoughts on what happened and what I can learn from this disappointing day, hopefully you’ll pick up a few pointers for dealing with those days where things just don’t go right.

My Opponent Played Well

First and foremost I can’t take anything away from Steve. He played really well and hit some quality shots when it really mattered. Despite being the underdog, he played with confidence under difficult conditions. The further the match went the better he played. He didn’t get tight and controlling - his swing and putting stroke remained free from tension, allowing him to play some great golf.

You can’t control your opponent and if he plays well you’re going to have your hands full - no matter what your handicap or ranking.

Lack of Preparation

If I’m totally honest my preparation was poor. I didn’t check the date for the first round - believing it was a week later I felt rushed and under prepared. Compounding my lack of organisation was attending a function the night before that got me home late before an important round. Not a good start.

Getting frustrated

I got frustrated during the middle of the game. Standing in the middle of the 9th fairway I looked like going 2up. For some reason the green keeper was still rolling the green. By the time he finished there was a build up on the tee - I rushed my shot (didn’t commit or follow routine) and made a poor swing. Steve recovered well from a poor drive and won the hole. This was a big turning point in the match.

I was feeling frustrated and my mind was spinning, “why were they rolling greens in the middle of the Club Champs?” and “Surely the could finish the front nine greens before the back nine?”. I was making excuses for not playing a good shot and my mind was not on the job. Master players are able to handle any obstacles that get thrown at them. Obviously I still have a long way to go in this matter - but I’ll keep working at it.

Playing too aggressively

I was one down playing 14. Despite a few mistakes and some poor play I was right in the match, with a good finish I was certain I could close out the game. But I made a bad mistake - I went for the par 5 14th green when it really was not the shot. I missed the shot slightly and paid for my overconfidence dearly.

Sometimes a conservative game plan is the right thing to do. The easier shot places less stress on your system and it still allows you to shoot good scores. In this situation (being 1 down with fives holes to play) I probably would have been better to lay up and make certain of a par five. The resulting loss was too great to make up on the closing holes.

Not trusting the process and playing safe

This probably hurts the most. I didn’t follow the automatic system fully. Being brutally honest, my swing and mindset was off slightly as I didn’t fully let go and trust my automatic game. I played safe and let some fear and the situation dictate how I played. I don’t know why this happened but I’ll make sure it doesn’t happen too often.

All up it was a bad day. A few errors at the wrong time didn’t help the situation. I’m trying to see the positives though. I’ve been on a dream run for the last year and I’m using this experience to motivate myself to achieve more. More than that it has reinforced the magic of playing automatically - there’s no comparison to a free flowing and natural game to one that is tight, fearfull and controlling. It’s a continual process of learning and discovering and one reason why golf is a great game.

Us golfers can be obsessed with getting better. The problem is that quick fixes and miracle cures are often the focus. Golf magazines and many coaches like to promise “improve your swing in 5 minutes” to better play, this all sounds great but rarely does it happen.

Maybe this culture is about getting lucky? Wouldn’t it be great if we could get that lucky break and almost magically have a new golf game that gives us everything we want?

But luck is a myth. It has a great appeal for those not prepared to make an effort but you can’t rely on it. Even if someone does get lucky it’s unlikely you will too.

So what’s the best way to improve your game? A better question might be, how can you improve your game with minimum time and effort in a busy world? (people will then think you’re lucky)

You have to make some effort. Sitting around reading about golf will not help. You have to work at it. I offer the following solutions to those prepared to make an effort. But be warned! There is nothing magical or lucky about concentrated effort!

• Spend 10 minutes a day on your chipping. Don’t aimlessly chip balls on the carpet but strive to achieve a specific goal. This could be chipping into a bucket or hitting the ball softly to your first born (please be careful if you take the second option )
• Develop a strategy for sinking all (at least most) of those short putts. If you don’t know of a strategy you’ll probably find one here.
• Put a net up at home or the office so you can spend a few minutes a day swinging. If you can’t hit balls then swinging a club in the back yard is a good start. Swinging at home saves you time travelling to the driving range.
• Stop tinkering with your clubs and equipment. The chances are there’s not much wrong with them.
• Learn a new shot. Doesn’t mean you’ll use it much but it helps in your development. Ever tried playing a bunker shot with a 5 iron?
• Exercise. I’ve never been a big fan of exercising for golf. As I’m getting older I can appreciate it more. I like to swing kettlebells. If you haven’t seen them check them out. If you do want to exercise forget fads and gimmicks - try and find some functional strength training. You’ll get a better workout in less time.
• Stop worrying about your game and get busy playing. Playing is what makes the game fun and fun allows you to play your best golf.
• Play the most challenging golf course you can find once in a while. And while you’re at it drag along three better players for the ride. You might get beaten but you’ll learn to play outside of your comfort zone and this can only help!

If you can manage to “make an effort” for a few months you’ll see an improvement. From the outside it will look like your game has magically improved and you’ve gotten lucky. But the real reason is that you’ve taken control and not relied on luck or tricks.

There’s no shortcut to improvement and as Gary Player famously said (I think it was Player),

“The more I practice the luckier I get”

There’s also a chance that you won’t get better, but that’s the chance you’ve got to take. But I’m willing to bet that you’ll improve and I’m not a gambling man.

For a great article that inspired this post please visit this article.

This is a quick update from Saturday’s post.

Sometimes things don’t go to plan. My first round in the Club Championships did not get off to a good start, I kept making bogeys and was struggling badly. I was four over after five holes and when I made another bogey at number 8 it was not looking good.

What did I do?

I followed my own advice. I didn’t panic. I freed up my swing and stopped worrying about the poor shots, feeling uncomfortable and what other people were thinking. I recommitted myself to “playing golf” and this helped turn things around.

I made par on holes 9 through to 13 (which steadied the ship) then a much needed birdie on fourteen gave me a shot of confidence. I birdied the 17th and dropped no more shots for the day. I signed for a 75 (3 over). Not the best score I’ve ever had but one of the most pleasing. Best of all I kept myself in contention. I’m sitting in equal second and in a good position for next week’s round.

It’s easy to read and write about this process but it takes real commitment to put it into practice during competition. There’s also no guarantee that by following it you’ll always avoid bad scores. All you do is maximise your chances of playing well - there’s definitely no magic pill when it comes to playing better golf.

Until you can swing and play without fear (especially under pressure) you’ll never play your best golf. Learning this has been the hardest but most satisfying one of my career. Something worth striving for and more important than new technology or some quick fix golf tip from a magazine.

I‘m about to hit off for the first round of the Club Championships. I thought you’d be interested in some strategies that I use that will (hopefully) ensure I play well.

Strategy #1 - Don’t over play the situation

An important round is still another game of golf. It’s imperative that you don’t go overboard and completely change your routine or your game plan. It’s best that you stick to your normal behaviour before the round. This means if you enjoy lunch and a few drinks then stick with it. I think it’s silly to give up lunch and spend that time on the practice fairway if that’s not your mojo.

Strategy #2 - Warm up

Warming up means that you get your muscles, bones, ligaments and tendons ready for play. It does not mean that you try and find a golf swing and work on your technique. It’s too late to be making adjustments to your game. Best you stick with what you’ve got and trust that will deliver a good round of golf.

Working on your swing is a big mistake I see many amateurs make - it’s tempting but should only be done after the game.

Strategy #3 - Stop the wheels from spinning

It’s tempting to over analyse before and during a big game. “what happens if I play poorly”, “I hope I hit a good shot off the first tee”, “I wonder how James is going” and “what am I doing wrong”, are the type of things we golfers like to think about. It can be difficult but you must try and stop your mind going a million miles an hour - stop the wheels from spinning.

If you can focus your mind on what you want to achieve and leave the analytical stuff for the drive home you should do just fine.

Strategy #4 - Don’t panic

Chances are if it’s an important round for you it’s going to be important for everyone else. So don’t panic after a poor shot or two. Strive to keep your game flowing and automatic. If there’s one thing that has helped me tremendously over the last few years it has been the ability to relax and snap out of any state of panic or concern.

Let others do the worrying while you focus on the shot at hand and manage yourself around the golf course. Over the course of four or five hours this mindset will save you plenty of shots and untold amounts of energy.

Strategy #5 - Work your way into the round

If you’re feeling a little nervous and anxious at the start then it’s fine to play conservatively. Play your favourite club from the tee and avoid the trouble with clever strategy. This doesn’t mean that you swing safely and steer the ball. You still have to commit to the shot and let rip with your own natural swing. When you invariably settle down,  you can have more fun and play more aggressively.

Working your way into the round is a way of minimising damage when you’re feeling a little uneasy. Don’t overdo it and play safe - learning to perform well under pressure takes some courage, you ultimately need to trust yourself that you can pull off great shots with the nerves tingling.

Strategy #6 - See it as a challenge

I play golf for the challenge. There’s nothing better than a tough and long golf course to get my juices flowing. While many golfers will be beaten prior to the first tee, I give myself an advantage by seeing things as another game of golf and looking forward to being challenged. No matter how good you become golf will throw surprises at you - the better you can deal with them the better you’ll play.

I rely on my automatic game to see me through. No matter the shot or situation I strive to hit each shot naturally and freely. It won’t always work but it’s better than the alternative.

I have been sick for two weeks and have hardly touched a club - not the ideal preparation but I can’t wait to get out there and test myself. I’m looking forward to the chance to trust my swing when the pressure is on. I must admit I’m feeling a little more nervous than usual but I’ll follow the above steps and everything will be fine. At the end of the day it’s just another game of golf and I have the strategy to deal with the pressure.

I’ll let you know how I go.

Aregular reader directed me to this article on Robert Allenby.

I like Robert Allenby. I think he’s a great player and one of Australia’s most consistent performers. This year he has made 24 cuts out of 25 tournaments and finished the year ranked 19th in the FedEx Cup. All up he has made US$2.8 million. Not a bad year and good work if you can get it.

But (there’s always a but)…

I think he has underachieved so far in his career.

Despite winning tournaments all over the world and being a member of the Presidents Cup team on numerous occasions I think he still has plenty to offer.

He has always been a great ball striker and I don’t think he can get much better at it. It’s hard to improve on perfection if you ask me.

Allenby needs to learn to play. By “play” I’m referring to bringing his A game to the course more of the time. His A game is as good as most and would probably give Tiger a run for his money.

Not sure if it would happen but I’d like to see Robert approach 2009 in the following way;

• Sack all of his coaches starting immediately.
• Ignore all technical swing advice from the golf gurus. Seriously, he has been very good for so long now that I doubt they can help him much.
• Play carefree and without fear.
• Rediscover a natural putting game. His current putting looks stiff and contrived and seems to hold him back.
• Practice less. I don’t think he needs to hit so many golf balls. He is not going to lose his swing with less practice and it might just help him regain some enthusiasm for play.
• If he does feel the need to practice spend that time on the short game.
• Let go and play the way he really wants to. I think he would do well to forget all of the rules and regulations and play golf in a way that is fun for him.

I don’t expect for a minute for Allenby to do this but I believe it would make an interesting experiment. After 17 years on tour he could do with a break from the usual grind. Making the game more fun and returning to a natural method of play might rejuvenate his career - and just maybe help him do something remarkable like win a major.

I feel qualified to make the above statement.

I have been involved in a major scientific study of the golf swing which led to the development of BioSwing. I’ve also been passionate about natural learning and playing golf instinctively.

Two different paths that have helped shaped my golf career.

But what’s the most important?

Science is good. It helps answer questions and sets things straight. But it can’t be everything.