Observations
about Tiger
that can help your game NOW!
It's
Monday, Aug. 28th, 2006. By now you are well that aware Tiger is
back in his super state... He has won four in a row and two
majors in a
row... Wow, it is exciting stuff... this is historic for golf and any
other sport for that matter... Keep watching and pay attention...Still, when Tiger wins 7 in a row and 5 majors in a row, until that happens, he was on a better run back 2 1/2 years ago... But, Tiger will probably beat his old 6 in a row 4 majors in a row record... it will probably happen... why will he beat his own Record? Because, now, Tiger not only has a better, more efficient swing, he is in better shape!...
Here are some observations about what he is doing, that I believe will help your game towards what I call the SuperZone:
1. EQUIPMENT CHOICE
Tiger is making wise choices with club selection... he is choosing other easier clubs/than his driver, and thus is hitting more fairways...
Conclusion: driver is not always the best club selection... Nicklaus was quoted as saying that if he could just hit the Fairway he knew he could beat the field every time...
2. HEALTH
Tiger is in good health... Mentally and physically...
Conclusion: Good health is worth chasing, it always has good payoffs...
3. MENTAL
Tiger is focused... Note how he rarely looks at his opponents... I love those eyes and that focus... he is very calm between a lot of his shots...
Conclusion: Learn how to stay calm between shots... one way is to pace your breathing and relax your shoulders/arms a lot between EVERY SHOT...
4. FUNDAMENTALS
He has been working on perfecting Haney's Instruction for about the last 28 months or so... Note that, that is about how long it took him to perfect Butch Harmon's Instruction... at the end of about 28 months with Harmon, he won 6 straight and 4 Majors in a row... I remember as he was working through Haney's Instruction early on he would comment that he was gaining more and more confidence as each month went on, the % of better shots were increasing each month...
Conclusion for you: If you're working on something new it will take time... rating your improvement on the perfect round is causing you to abandon new fundamentals you and your teacher are working on... Instead tally the # of better shots from each round and watch how that percentage increases from round to round... 1% to 10% each Tourney, is about what Tiger would make comments about his game to the press..
5. COURSE MANAGEMENT
Tiger is very conservative on his approach shots... Note, that he is basically aiming for most greens in the center or to the easiest spot to reach on the greens.
.. On this stretch of four wins in a row he
rarely goes right at tucked pins...Conclusion for your course strategy: No matter where the pin is located head for the middle of the green or the easiest approach... Forget where the pin is and focus on the middle of the green...
So, if you want to get closer and closer to your own stretch of 4 holes in a row or four rounds in a row in a super state make sure you remember to:
- Pick the easiest driving club to hit more fairways
- Stay healthy
- Allow slow improvement when working on new fundamentals
- Aim for the middle of every green.