Making A Club Champion Podcast (Chris Baker)

"Our life will be defined by how our character is represented in moments of crisis - that's what people remember about us." - David Galbraith

David Galbraith is a clinical psychologist, with 17 years of experience in his field. In the past 10 years, he has shifted his focus towards sports psychology, working with some of New Zealand's most talented athletes.

His experience includes work with Olympic Gold Medallists, both the men's and women's rugby 7s teams, and NZ golf. Through his work, he helps these already elite athletes get the most out of themselves, both in the sense of sport, and in life.

His focus is on assisting both teams and individuals express themselves as truly as possible. He believes strongly in the present moment, and encourages people to fully commit to, and relish, the process involved in reaching an outcome, rather than focussing on the tangible outcome itself.

In this truly enlightening episode, David discusses the concept of self and identity, and how to develop these ideas. He talks about how resilience on the golf course relates to resilience in real life, and provides advice on how to focus on processes rather than results.

David Galbraith Show Notes

• David explains his role as a psychologist. [0:00]
• How to connect to one's true identity. [7:30]
• What's the benefit of having a strong sense of self? [15:20]
• How to focus on process rather than end result. [23:00]
• David talks about the relationship between resilience on the golf course and resilience in real life. [34:30]
• How to truly evaluate yourself. [43:00]
• Chris asks David some rapid fire questions. [47:30]
• David's action challenge. [52:00]
• David asks Chris about his motivation for the podcast. [54:40]

David Galbraith Action Challenge

1. Looking at your current morning habits.
2. Take your shower, get dressed appropriately for your day.  But during this time don't look at yourself in the mirror.
3. David's Action challenge can be found at 52:00m

• People Mentioned

• Matthew Perry
• Darren Clarke
• Bob Rotella
• David Gemmell
• David Goggins
• Jocko Willink
• Michael Jervais 

Connect and Follow David Gervais

• Unleashing Greatness Within
• Pathway One Foundation

Scott Gregory: Professional Golfer on the Challenge Tour. Attached to Corhampton Golf Club, coached by Simon Andrews and managed by Octagon.

Scott has played in The US Open, The Masters and The Open Championship. 

He was the winner of The British Amateur Championship and has also represented GB & I in the Walker Cup. 

I wanted to interview Scott because I admired his work ethic. 

Hope you enjoy and be inspired like I was. 

Chris 

"I figure everything out in practice so you know exactly what you're doing every single hole. You're almost just on auto-pilot, you're just executing it. I know exactly what club I'm going to hit on every hole, I know exactly what direction the wind is going to be before I even wake up." - Peter Tarver-Jones

Peter Tarver-Jones first developed his passion for golf at the relatively tender age of 12. As a junior, Pete showed a great aptitude for the game, culminating in a Sussex under-18s title at the age of 17. Following this success, he opted to move to the United States to play college golf at Belmont College. These years proved vital in Pete's development as a golfer, and he turned to the professional sphere of golf soon after his return home to the United Kingdom.

After missing his first three cuts as a professional on the Euro Pro Tour, Pete worked his way into an outstanding season which saw him finish second in the order of merit and advance to the Challenge Tour.  Pete went onto to win the Euro Pro Tour Championships in 2016 and subsequently move back up to the Challenge Tour, where he is currently playing.

In this episode, Peter discusses what life was like playing collegiate golf in America and how it shaped him as a golfer. He also talks us through what life is like having turned pro, some of his pre-game rituals, and provides a putting action challenge which he uses to improve his game.

• Peter explains his journey to college golf in the USA. [2:30]
• Life as a college golfer. [5:30]
• Pete remembers one of his favorite tournaments. [13:30]
• Peter's improvement as a college golfer. [15:20]
• Post-graduation. [20:10]
• Pete's first season on the Euro Pro Tour. [23:20]
• Stepping up to the Challenge Tour. [25:20]
• Pete's 2017 Challenge Tour season. [30:30]
• When Chris caddied for Pete. [34:20]
• Pete's pre-game rituals. [38:20]
• Pete's interesting method of calculating yardages. [44:30]
• Chris asks Pete some rapid fire questions. [48:10]
• Pete's action challenge. [54:20]

1. Place tees on the ground 3 feet, 5 feet, 7 feet from the hole
2. Place three golf balls next to each other at each tee - 9 balls in total
3. Try to sink all 9 balls
4. Start again if you miss any of the putts to create pressure
5. Stay on the green until you complete the challenge

• Future Pro USA
• Euro Pro Tour
• Challenge Tour
• PTJ 100 club
• Nutribullets
• Golf's Sacred Journey
• My Life In and Out of the Rough by John Daly
• No Limits by Ian Poulter
• Out of the Rough by Steve Williams

People Mentioned

• David Bainbridge
• Matt Perry
• John Daly
• Ian Poulter
• Tiger Woods
• Steve Williams

Good day golfers!

Welcome to Making A Club Champion Podcast.

My name is Chris Baker, 

And my job is to try and solve questions like 

• Why am I playing off the same handicap year after year?
• How come I invest so much time practicing, but don’t get any better 
• Why do I keep underperforming in competitions and do not live up to the game I play with my friends or during practice by myself?
• Am I truly getting better or just ingraining bad habits, making the same mistakes and hitting the same shots?
• Is mage actually evolving? Am I learning from my mistakes?

So by simplifying the best: 

• Practice sessions
• Routines & Rituals
• ON COURSE Strategies and beliefs
• And disciplines

By interviewing

• tour players,
• Top psychologist,
• master clubmakers
• Golf fitness instructors

And many top performers in the field of golf. 

I give you the listener (and me myself) 

The actionable drills to make your practice time more effective. 

Hope you love the show - don't forget to subscribe.

Welcome to Making A Club Champion Podcast. 

Look forward to this journey together.

Chris

A background of a MSc level education within the area of sport and exercise psychology, published research and numerous years of applied experience (most notably working in the USA with various Olympic and Paralympic athletes), has led to Ben becoming part of Professor Steve Peters’ team at Chimp Management Ltd.

Ben is a British Psychological Society (BPS) member status psychologist in elite sport and to date has effectively applied the principles of Professor Peters’ mind management model within various Olympic sports, Premiership football, Nissan GT Motor racing, elite international equestrian, and currently on the PGA European tour with 3 professional golfers, one of which is a former world number 1 golfer. Ben specializes in supporting athletes to develop resilience and optimally perform in difficult environments whilst under pressure

Adam has studied everything from motor learning research to brain function. He combines knowledge in many different fields to make a more coherent picture of the golfer. Adam possesses a sound understanding of the technical elements of the swing, yet understands that great golf is much more than just the way you swing the club.

Adam currently teaches golfers the importance of developing skill as well as technique, and builds their games as a whole – including strategic and psychological strength. Adam’s theories are cutting edge, utilizing much of the newest research in the field of learning. He presents them in an easy to understand way that will make you revolutionize how you learn the game.

 Adam has worked at some of the top facilities in the world, including the Leadbetter Academies and the World famous Turnberry Resort. He currently teaches in Santa Barbara, California.

Adam Young's Book - The Practice Manual - The Ultimate Guide For Golfers 

Jayne’s expertise is based on over 30 years’ practice and professional coaching in Buddhist meditation and Tai Chi.

For almost two decades she has worked with golfers, tennis players and sports-people from many other disciples,  helping them understand eastern principles and deep practice techniques for connecting mind and body to perform in the zone.

This experience is backed up with 19 years independent research and development of her unique Chi-Performance coaching model, which has been tried, tested and proven to enhance complex movement skills during high-pressure situations by bringing together mind and body, mental game and technique.

Professional golfer, truck driver, session musician, abattoir laborer, digger of holes in roads, programmer, IT sales whizz, director of corporate sales, performance coach, hypnotherapist, sales trainer and business consultant – Ross Mackenzie has had an amazing ride.

He spent 30 years in the high-pressure world of international corporate sales delivering contracts worth hundreds of millions of dollars and running a billion dollar sales business.

His coaching clients include professional sportsmen and women, business leaders, professional musicians and dancers, lawyers, psychologists, dentists, doctors, sales people and entrepreneurs.

He shows people how to discover the thinking and implement the strategies that let them thrive and perform at their best no matter what the circumstances - and remain sane and healthy doing it.

Ross’s work has been covered in the national press and by Sky Sports.

“When everyone’s pressed for time in the modern world you want to make sure what you’re doing is the most efficient route to success as possible.” – Stuart Robinson

Stuart Robinson is a leading chiropractor and golf fitness trainer. He has significant academic qualifications, and is a pretty handy golfer himself, playing off scratch at Walton Heath and St. Andrews.

Stuart studied Human Biology at the University of St. Andrews. Following this, he undertook a further 4 years of study, and became a qualified chiropractor. Throughout his studies, golf was a prevalent part of his life, and he was awarded a Golf Bursary by St. Andrews Golf Club during his first degree.

Logically, Stuart combined his passion for golf and his academic qualifications in chiropractics, and much of his work now centres around applying his knowledge of biomechanics to a golf swing. In his work, he helps to ensure that players have the physical capabilities required to produce their optimum technique. His qualifications provide a point of difference from regular golf coaches, as he is able to explain the physical attributes which allow a golfer to swing in a certain way.

• Stuart talks about his role as a chiropractor, and how it relates to golf. [3:20]
• How to minimise the damage which can result from day-to-day habits, such as sitting for prolonged periods. [16:20]
• The benefits of various pieces of gym equipment, and how they can help your posture. [21:20]
• Common problems among junior golfers. [27:40]
• Flexibility differences between men and women. [32:40]
• Regimes for golfers with limited ranges of motion. [36:10]
• Regimes for golfers with very high ranges of motion. [44:40]
• The importance of stability. [48:40]
• How to prevent DOMS (Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness). [53:40]
• Specific training loads for building muscle strength and endurance. [57:40]
• Nutrition preparation before and during a round. [61:00]
• Chris asks Stuart some rapid fire questions. [76:00]
• Stuart Robinson's Action Challenge. [82:20]

Gear/Resources Mentioned

• Precision Golf
• Mio-Fascia Release Ball
• Rumble Roller
• Yoga Ball
• Theraband
• Bulletproof Coffee
• Balance Pads
• Golf the Mind Factor
• Intelligent Golf Performance

People Mentioned

• Jen Burke
• Simon Cooper
• Ancel Keys
• John Yudkin
• Dave Asprey
• Karl Morris
• Darren Clarke
• Ben Hogan
• Mark Bull

Connect and Follow Stuart Robinson

• Precision Golf Website
• Intelligent Golf Performance
• Precision Golf Youtube Channel

Thomas King is a sports psychology consultant, working for Winning Golf Mind and the Leicester City Football Academy. He has extensive academic qualifications, including a Psychology degree with Honours in Sports Psychology, as well as a Masters Degree in Sports and Exercise Psychology. His work with Leicester City involves psychologically profiling 160 athletes, from young players just starting out to more established players up to the age of 23.

Golf, however, is where Tom's specialty lies. His work with Winning Golf Mind sees him consult a wide variety of players, from seasoned professionals to amateurs with handicaps in the high 20s. He commonly works 1-on-1 with these players, however he also runs workshops and speaks to larger groups. The focus is, essentially, to help their game through the development of psychological techniques.

Tom's interest in sports psychology as it relates to golf stems from a strong playing history. He has competed for his county for a number of years, and in 2007 represented Wales in British colleges.

In this episode, Tom goes into significant detail about the processes which he tries to instill in his clients. These range from imagery and self-talk, all the way through to blood flow and emotional states.

Ep. 6: Thomas King from Winning Golf Mind Show Notes

• Thomas explains his role as a sports psychologist. [2:20]
• How do mindsets differ between golfers and footballers? [3:40]
• What are effective questions? [9:10]
• Swing thoughts. [14:30]
• How do we get into the process of flow, and what is it? [16:00]
• The Winning Golf Mind model. [17:40]
• Pre-shot routines. [22:20]
• Imagery. [26:10]
• Self talk. [28:50]
• Goal setting. [31:50]
• Attitude and quality of thoughts. [35:30]
• Mastery vs ego. [38:10]
• Avoidance vs towards. [41:40]
• Blood flow. [44:00]
• Brain waves. [52:50]
• Emotional states. [56:30]
• Rapid fire questions. [64:00]
• Thomas King's action challenge. [67:00]

Thomas King's Action Challenge

1. Go to a practice range and create an imaginary 50-yard fairway using two markers on the range.
2. Hit 3 drives in a row onto this fairway.
3. Create an imaginary 30-year fairway using two markers.
4. Hit 3 drives in a row onto this fairway.
5. If you miss your fairway, you go back to the start of the process. This establishes consequences to your poor shots and helps you to practice like you play. It does not have to involve driving, nor the exact number. The intention is to practice like you play.

Gear/Resources Mentioned

• Headspace application
• Mastery by Robert Greene
• Ego is the Enemy by Ryan Holiday
• Fearless Golf by Dr Gio Valiante
• Chimp Paradox Model
• Focus Band
• Quiet Eye technique

People Mentioned

• Matthew Perry
• Gary Smith
• Dr Steve Peters
• Wayne Rooney
• Brian Hemmings

Connect and follow Thomas King

• Winning Golf Mind
• Twitter (Winning Golf Mind)
• Highlegh Golf Club

In this episode, I share all of my notes and lessons I learned whilst caddying at the "dreaded" European Tour Q-School over in Spain. 

Q-School is one hell of an experience!  And if you can do it as a caddy, then even better.

In this episode - I break down exactly how to be a caddy on the European Tour, and much, much more. 

Hope you enjoy, 

Jonathan "Jigger" Thomson - How To Get On The European Tour

An insight of what it takes to get on the European Tour featuring Jonathan "Jigger" Thompson. 

Enjoy, 

"Players will tend to rely on certain skill sets more than others. Making sure you are hitting into areas of your game where you are the strongest at is vital. Nearer the whole is not necessarily better. Knowing your average proximity to the hole with each club and with specific distances will enable you to plan the way you play the game more effectively."  Nicky Lumb.

Dr Nicky Lumb specializes in golf practice, skill development, and performance enhancement. She helps golfers of all abilities including elite amateurs and tour professionals to fulfill their potential on the golf course whilst they are competing. Nicky is also an international speaker and recently presented some of her Ph.D. research into golf practice and performance at the World Scientific Congress of Golf in Canada. In some of her research, she was able to help professional golfers become 400% more accurate after only 10 practice sessions.

Nicky has a Ph.D. in Optimising Practice for Peak Performance, as well as an MSc in Sports Coaching where she specialized in Elite Performance. Nicky is also a PGA Professional, has reached TPI Level 3 status as a Golf Professional and Junior Coach, and is one of only a handful of coaches worldwide that is able to use the Every Ball Counts Assessment which is endorsed by the PGA Tour. This is the world’s first science data-driven assessment and enables players to identify where they stand in the 19 key skills attributed to scoring by the PGA Tour Shot Link statistics.

A former Cardinal standout student-athlete and touring golf professional is Stanford’s Knowles Family Director of Men’s Golf. The 2019-20 season marks his 16th on The Farm. 

Ray qualified for the U.S. Open at Pinehurst in 2005. He has played on the Nationwide Tour and other world tours since 1998, achieving 12 top-10 finishes. 

Conrad played on the same team as Tiger Woods and Notah Begay during his time at Stanford. 

Ray is a 1997 graduate of Stanford where he earned a bachelor’s degree in public policy. He was a member of Sigma Chi fraternity and received the 2017 Significant Sig Award from the Sigma Chi national fraternity. In 2011, Ray was inducted into the NCGA Hall of Fame.

“How often do we speak to ourselves in a firm, aggressive voice when we wouldn’t dream of speaking like that to a friend? If we don’t speak like that to a friend why do we do it to ourselves? We’re not trying to hit a shank, we’re not trying to duff it three feet in front of ourselves. So why be so firm?” - Oscar Sharpe

As a child, Oscar Sharpe was a child prodigy. At just 10 years of age he boasted a handicap of 8 - by 11 this was down to 4, and by 13 he was off scratch. He was British Champion in his age group for three consecutive years between Under 14’s and Under 16’s, and was the youngest person ever to be selected for the England U18 golf team - beating out Justin Rose.

Oscar was well and truly on the radar of many well-regarded people within the golfing world as a youngster. Peter McEvoy, former Walker Cup captain, once quipped that he had the talent to be the best British golfer to have ever played the game, while legendary coach Butch Harmon said that he was a better player at 13 than Tiger Woods.

After actively pursuing his dream to become the best player in the world for much of his childhood and his early adulthood, Oscar’s game began to deteriorate, and with it his passion for the sport.

In this podcast, he discusses how his love for the game developed as a young child, and subsequently, how and why it began to dwindle. He provides fascinating insight into a career like no other, including the impact of the pressure which was placed on him as a star young player, the influence of David Leadbetter on his game and his life, and what he did after his golfing dreams subsided.

Show Notes

Introduction to Oscar Sharpe. [0:50]

Oscar talks about the role of golf in his childhood, and how his love and passion for the game developed. [3:00]

Where did his drive and motivation come from as a child, and what plans were put in place to reach his goals? [8:20]

What did a day in the life of Oscar Sharpe look like at 13? [14:40]

His time at Milford, and how his career started to kick off as a teenager. [20:00]

His move to the United States, and how it and the increasing structure which he faced affected his golf. [23:00]

How did Oscar, and coach David Leadbetter, try to fix his game when it began to falter, and what was the lowest point he reached with his game? [32:00]

What was the calibre of players he was beating as a teenager? [38:30]

What happened when Oscar returned to the UK, and the moment he realised he was finished with golf. [40:20]

What did Oscar do during his time away from golf, and the void in his life that was filled by the gym. [46:50]

Oscar talks about his life today, and in particular the role that golf plays in it. [51:20]

Oscar shares an anecdote about a client with the yips. [59:30]

How to deal with players with differing mindsets and outlooks on golf, and what a standard lesson from Oscar looks like. [1:02:20]

Oscar’s golfing plans for the future. [1:09:50]

Oscar Sharpe’s action challenge. [1:11:10]

Oscar Sharpe’s action challenge

Place your ball in a bunker, five yards away from the flag

Take your 4-iron to the bunker, and hit a full swing with it.

Try to hit it as high as possible, and try to land it as softly as possible.

This incorporates feel into your shot, forcing you to adapt and connect with the shot.

A very rare and special interview featuring; Malcolm Lewis, Silver Medal Leading Amateur The (British) Open at Troon 1982 (St Andrews 1978) and Sam Jarman author of The Three Principles of Outstanding Golf, join us for a discussion around the deep mindset of golf, our egos, our identity, and what It really means to play the game. 

This is one of my favorite interviews to date, I hope you all enjoy!

Lynn Marriott is co-founder of VISION54, a breakthrough program and golf school based at Talking Stick Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona. Lynn and Pia (co-founder – you listen to Pia episode – here) are internationally recognized, are the two highest-ranked female instructors in America, and are both regularly featured among Golf Digest’s Top 50 Greatest Teachers.

Lynn and Pia have coached players to well over one hundred tour victories on the LPGA Tour, PGA Tour, European Tour, Ladies European Tour, and Japan Tour. They’ve coached nine different major winners and four #1 ranked players in the world.

David MacKenzie is a Mental Coach and the founder of Golf State of Mind. He currently works with golfers on the PGA Tour, Web.com Tour, European Tour, Challenge Tour, LPGA and LET, along with many elite juniors and amateur golfers of all levels.

Throughout David’s playing career, he learned quickly how attitude, self-belief, focus and mental toughness affect performance in golf. He knew that was the major difference between his average and great rounds. But the question was: “How does one improve these mental skills and achieve “the zone” more often?”

While studying at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, David began in-depth research into sports psychology and how elite performers apply their minds to practice and play. He interviewed hundreds of elite golfers and sports psychologists. He shared what he discovered via his website, “Golf State of Mind” and it quickly resonated with golfers of all levels. Golf State of Mind is now the most popular resource for mental coaching for golf on the web, with over 350 articles published. David has also been published in Golf Digest, Golf WRX and Golf Tips Magazine. 

David is able to effectively communicate the mental and emotional process that elite players are able to achieve on the course, which helps them succeed. Although there are fundamentals to his approach, all players are different in what they need to focus on during a round and what brings out their best performances. For this reason, the Golf State of Mind is a “player-centric approach” that finds the best process for each individual.

David now has over 10 years of experience working as a mental coach for golf. His mental coaching system is taught one on one (in person or remotely), in a group setting, and via his digital mental game training products and books. His system develops mental toughness, improves emotional control and teaches golfers how to stay focused on what’s most important to maximize their chance of success. 

"Not enough people do what they say they are going to do. Words do not mean an awful lot, it is your actions which are the key.  Stop bullshitting yourself.  If you want to do something, make a plan to do it, but actually, carry it out. Be accountable to yourself. So you can say to yourself. " I said I was going to do it and I did it,  that then transfers onto the golf course. " Dr Karl Morris 

Dr Karl Morris is one of Europe’s leading Mind Coaches, delivering cutting-edge methods of peak performance and goal achievement to a range of clients across sports and business.

From the world of golf, he has worked with players such as Darren Clarke, David Howell, Lee Westwood, Paul McGinley, Graeme McDowell, Richard Finch, Phil Archer Alison Nicholas and Trish Johnson.

A consultant to the PGA of Great Britain and Europe he has presented seminars all over the world to the Australian PGA, South African PGA, German PGA, Swedish PGA, Dutch PGA,  Belgian PGA and the Hong Kong Golf Association.

"Don't tell me what you want to do, tell me what you are going to do. Get off your backside and get some action and do something, and then we get some feedback from your actions. Don't winge and moan about things not happening and don't tell me what you are going to do, actually tell me what you have done. I am more interested in that. " Dr Karl Morris 

Dr Karl Morris Show Notes 

This podcast is brought to you by the three golf journals; Golf Data, Short Game and the Long Game.  From the research of the interviews, I put the strategies and philosophies into three books to help make your practice sessions more effective. I personally use them every time I go out on the course and I am delighted how they have come out. Try them and give them a test run, and let me know what you think. To your golfing greatness!

• How Dr Karl Morris met Derren Clarke. [1:50]
• Most important quality a coach can offer when working with a player. [2:50]
• Topics on the groundbreaking book The Inner Game of Golf. [4:40]
• One word that sums up the mental game. [5:50]
• The three parts to every golf shot. [6:30]
• Tony Robbins advice which can help your game. [10:10]
• What questions to ask yourself before your round of golf. [12:30]
• How to understand what goals to set to your personality. [15:10]
• How to view your round as a success. [17:50]
• How to set up your day for success. [20:50]
• Actions speed louder than words. [22:30]
• How to manage your tendencies. [24:30]
• Who is Don Bradman and what is the Don Bradman effect? [25:30]
• Dr Karl Morris "Ten Chance" driver drill. [27:40]
• How to use a golfing journal. [30.00]
• Do you give energy or take energy? [35.00]
• What is the "three shot" diary drill?  [36.00]

• Dr Karl Morris new book. The Lost Art of Putting. [40.00]

Dr Karl Morris Action Challenge 

1. Go to the chipping area and take one ball.

2. Play form nine locations; three easy, three medium and three hard. 

3. Devil is in the detail. Use the ball you use during a tournament. Keep to a routine and finish out every put. 

4. Record your score over time and keep track of your performances.  Derren Clarke has achieved par 18 once, can you beat him? 

Dr. Karl Morris Links 

The Brain Booster 

Mind Factor 

The Lost Art of Putting 

Gary Wolstenholme is a sporting legend, and the last of a dying breed - the career amateur golfer.

He has played in the Walker Cup six times, represented England on no less than 218 occasions, won the Amateur Championship twice, and has been head to head with Tiger Woods...and beaten him.

He has won on every continent and played with legends of the game - such as Palmer, Nicklaus and Ballesteros. While many of the amateurs he played with came from wealthy families, Gary did not. They drove to tournaments in expensive new cars and stayed in five-star hotels; he got the bus or walked miles to the venue with hid clubs on his back, staying at the cheapest bed and breakfast. If there was free food available at the clubhouse, Gary would try to have breakfast, lunch and dinner on site so that he wouldn't have to worry about paying for a meal.

It has been a dream to feature Gary, ( a personal hero of mine) I hope you enjoy episode 25 with Gary.

kia kaha

Chris 

Dr. Joseph Parent is a renowned expert in Performance Psychology and has coached the mental game in golf, business, and life for over 40 years.

Dr. Parent has worked with major champions, many other top golf professionals, and amateurs at every level. He has the singular distinction of coaching both a man (Vijay Singh) and a woman (Cristie Kerr) to #1 in the World Golf Ranking. Golf Digest magazine honored Dr. Parent in their list of “Top Mental Game Experts” in the world.

“People will judge you on the players you work with and the success they have, but that’s not necessarily your success, that’s their success. And I think sometimes coaches get too much credit, and conversely, sometimes they get a little bit too much blame.” – Phil Kenyon

Philip Kenyon is one of the most sought-after putting coaches in the world. His client list reads like a who’s who of the world’s best golfers and includes Rory Mcilroy, Henrik Stenson, Justin Rose, Lee Westwood, Louis Oosthuizen, and Martin Kaymer.

Prior to his career as a putting coach, Phil was a talented golfer himself. He completed around the world as a Tour professional, though he always enjoyed the coaching side of the game. So strong was this passion that Phil completed a Masters Degree in Sports Science before he started his career as a professional golfer, before later completing achieving his Honours in Applied Psychology and Sports Science. This academic knowledge combined with personal experience provides him with a unique skill set, and ability to help other players.

Phil is also the principal owner of the Harold Swash Putting School of Excellence, which was created by his mentor and putting coach legend Harold Swash. On top of this, Phil is the creator of Visio Putting, a leader in the industry of putting aids.

In this episode, Phil tells us his story, from how he initially got into coaching to how he helps many PGA professionals today. He also provides us with some actionable tips to improve our own putting, including the putting gate challenge, performing under pressure, and dealing with the yips.

Show Notes

• Phil talks about how he transitioned from playing professional golf into coaching it, and the help he got from coaching legend Harold Swash. [1:00]
• Different approaches to coaching, including how to find the balance between delivering too much information and not enough, and whether a one-size-fits-all approach works for putting. [5:40]
• The three most important elements of putting, and how to develop them. [8:40]
• Bad advice about putting which Phil commonly hears. [15:00]
• Surprising stats about putting. [16:40]
• How much of coaching players about putting is related to mental factors, and how much is technique based? [19:10]
• Chris discusses his own putting philosophies with Phil, including the idea of not practicing it, and how to measure your own putting performance. [20:50]
• What separates the best putters Phil has worked with from the rest, and how to perform better under pressure. [25:30]
• What are the yips, and how to get rid of them. [30:30]
• Phil talks us through his average day, including how he balances his numerous relationships with players on tour, and his hardest working clients. [34:10]
• How does Phil help his clients after a tough day on the greens? [38:00]
• How much of a golfers practice time should be devoted to putting? [41:20]
• Chris asks Phil some rapid fire questions, including his favourite books, how his beliefs have changed over time, and how he defines success. [42:30]
• Phil Kenyon’s action challenge [51:00]

Pia Nilsson is co-founder of VISION54, a breakthrough program and golf school based at Talking Stick Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona. Along with her co founder - Lynn and Pia are internationally recognized, are the two highest ranked female instructors in America, and are both regularly featured among Golf Digest's Top 50 Greatest Teachers.

VISION54's Golf Schools, 54GOLF, have been awarded the "Best Golf School in America" multiple times. VISION54's Coach Programs, 54COACH, have repeatedly received the highest marks by peers of training for teachers / coaches.

Lynn and Pia have coached players to well over one hundred tour victories on the LPGA Tour, PGA Tour, European Tour, Ladies European Tour, and Japan Tour. They've coached nine different major winners and four #1 ranked players in the world.

They are the authors of four best-selling books, including their newest release Be A Player.

Sam Jarman is a PGA golf professional, coach, author and speaker.

He played full time golf for ten years as an elite amateur and professionally before beginning his coaching career.

He now helps golfers of all levels from club players to Tournament Professionals.

He also works with football, cricket and rugby clubs and coaches and players from other sports.

He still plays competitive golf at PGA regional level.

“Ultimately it’s just what works best for you. Technically a pretty low grade, rotten, 10 buck shaft can outperform a ₤350 shaft if it just suits you better.” – Simon Cooper

Simon Cooper co-founded Precision Golf in 2004, alongside clubmaker and good friend James Davey. The company custom fits clubs to players, utilizing advanced technology to manufacture the clubs which best suit an individual’s needs. Ultimately, this enables golfers to maximize their potential with the skill set they have.

Prior to this business venture, Simon was a talented golfer himself. He participated in a number of esteemed amateur events, and played on the EuroPro Tour in 2004 – coincidentally the same year in which Precision Golf launched. As a player, he showed an interest in understanding his game as deeply as possible, which made a move into club fitting a natural progression.

In this episode, Simon explains how Precision Golf got started, and how the process of being fitted works. He also provides some valuable insights into various technical elements of a club, how they impact shot outcomes, and some of his favorite clubs.

Ep. 3: Simon Cooper from Precision Golf Show Notes

• Simon explains the history of Precision Golf. [3:40]
• How the perception of club fitting has changed in recent years. [5:40]
• What was the driving force behind starting Precision Golf? [7:10]
• How Precision Golf’s location was chosen. [8:30]
• The benefits of fitting indoors vs outdoors. [9:30]
• Simon talks about the impact of personal biases in selecting clubs for purchase. [12:10]
• Simon explains the process of being fitted by Precision Golf. [14:00]
• The most common problem with clubs which players face prior to being fitted, and how Precision Golf attempts to rectify them. [17:10]
• Simon explains the difference between the swing of a low-handicapper and a high-handicapper. [21:30]
• Fixing your swing vs changing your clubs.[22:50]
• What happens after the swing data has been gathered? [26:00]
• What are the key metrics looked at in the TrackMan? [30:30]
• Simon explains how long the entire process of club fitting takes. [33:00]
• What gear is used at Precision Golf to manufacture the clubs? [34:40]
• Simon talks about the development of equipment in recent years. [36:40]
• The benefits of being fitted for a putter. [38:20]
• Simon explains the danger of becoming overly fixated on data. [42:00]
• How much are drivers improving? [44:00]
• Is the club head or the shaft more important? [46:40]
• Simon explains what makes a good shaft. [47:40]
• Who is the best manufacturing company to work with? [49:40]
• Simon talks PXG. [51:30]
• Simon answers some rapid fire questions. [53:30]
• Why lessons are the best value investment for a golfer. [58:30]
• The differences in club grips. [61:00]
• Simon talks about the differences in player’s requirements. [63:00]
• What are the highest quality clubs? [63:50]
• Simon’s favorite book. [65:10]
• Action challenge. [66:00

Simon Cooper’s Action Challenge

1. Work out your yardages
2. Specifically, work out carry distances for every club in the bag. This will enable you to know whether your ball will carry that bunker, that body of water, that hazard.
3. Record it in whichever way you prefer – write distances on your shafts, on your card, in your pocket.
4. Memorize it.

Gear/Resources Mentioned

• TrackMan
• SST Pure Shaft Technology
• RBZ Driver
• Seven Dreamers custom made shafts
• PXG
• Mizuno T-ZOID Pro Iron Set
• Mizuno’s TP11 irons
• TaylorMade r500 Driver Series
• Miura Wedges
• Ping Answer Putter
• GripMaster Grips
• Black Widow Grips
• Arnold Palmer Autobiography

People Mentioned

• James Davey
• Colin Montgomerie
• Jack Niklaus
• Bernhard Langer
• Lee Westwood

Connect and follow Simon Cooper

• Precision Golf
• LinkedIn
• Twitter
• Facebook

Josh Kaufman: The author of three bestselling books:

• The Personal MBA: Master the Art of Business
• The First 20 Hours: How to Learn Anything… Fast!
• How to Fight a Hydra: Face Your Fears, Pursue Your Ambitions, and Become the Hero You Are Destined to Be

Josh’s research focuses on business, entrepreneurship, skill acquisition, productivity, creativity, applied psychology, and practical wisdom. His unique, multidisciplinary approach to business mastery and rapid skill acquisition has helped millions of readers around the world learn essential concepts and skills on their own terms.

Josh has been featured as the #1 bestselling author in Business & Money, as ranked by Amazon.com, and his books have sold over half a million copies worldwide.

Josh’s research has been featured by The New York Times, The BBC, The Wall Street Journal, The Atlantic, Fortune, Forbes, Time, BusinessWeek, Wired, Fast Company, Financial Times, HarvardBusiness.org, The World Economic Forum, Inside Higher Ed, Lifehacker, MarketWatch, The Independent, Bloomberg TV, PBS Next Avenue, CCTV, and CNN’s Sanjay Gupta MD.

Josh has been a featured speaker at The Aspen Ideas Festival, Stanford University, World Domination Summit, Pioneer Nation, Microconf, BaconBiz, Google, and IBM.

JoshKaufman.net was named one of the “Top 100 Websites for Entrepreneurs” by Forbes in 2013.

"My role is to give options, not to give an answer." - Mark Bull

Mark Bull is one of the leading minds in the field of golfing biomechanics. He has extensive knowledge on the relationship between skeletal movement and an effective golf swing, something he has used to help many of the best golfers on the planet.

As a junior, Mark Bull was a talented golfer, but injury proved to be the catalyst for changing interests. His passion moved away from competition and towards biomechanics, a field in which he is now one of the leading minds.

He first became a member of the PGA in 1996, and qualified second in the PGA trainee of the year award at the start of his coaching career.

Since then, he has been continually adding to his resume both academically and through tangible coaching experience. He has recently completed a PhD in Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Science at Birmingham University, with a research focus on, unsurprisingly, the impact of exercise on golf swing biomechanics and kinetics. His work with European tour players, including 2016 Masters Champion Danny Willett and 2011 Open Champion Darren Clarke, highlights the esteem in which he is held.

Mark places a strong emphasis on the idea that no two golf swings are the same, preferring to utilise the specific bodily movements of each individual to best develop their golf swing. In this interview, he explains in detail how he does this, and the role he plays in helping players of all abilities to improve their game. He provides a fantastic level of detail, from the importance of posture to the way he uses bio-feedback, as well as his own development as a golf coach.

Mark Bull Show Notes

• Mark explains biomechanics and how he applies it to golf. [3:30]
• What does success for a client look like? [13:30]
• The importance of asking questions. [18:00]
• Posture. [20:30]
• Mark talks about the work he does with injury avoidance and rehabilitation. [23:10]
• The idea of sequencing and an optimal golf swing. [25:20]
• Bio-feedback. [33:00]
• Mark talks about his evolution as a golf coach. [36:00]
• Mark talks about working with players' coaches.  [41:50]
• How often does Mark see players, and what information does he give them. [45:00]
• Chris asks Mark some rapid fire questions. [49:30]
• Mark Bull's action challenge. [53:10]

Mark Bull's action challenge

1. Find a brick wall.
2. Stand up straight with your back touching the wall.
3. Try to establish a natural standing position with the back of your pelvis, your shoulder blades, and the back of your head all touching the wall, without unnaturally extending your head.
4. Maintain equal pressure against the wall through these three points.

Gear/resources mentioned

• 3D Motion Capture System
• Launch Monitor
• Meditations
• The Talent Code

People mentioned

• Ramsay McMaster
• Marcus Aurelius

Contact and follow Mark Bull

• Bull3D
• Twitter

I just sit down with somebody and see where they’re at – you get some sense of them and they get some sense of you, and together you collaborate.” – Dr. Brian Hemmings

Dr. Brian Hemmings has been one of the most influential figures in English golf for the past two decades. For 16 years between 1997 and 2013, he was the lead psychologist to the England golf team, working with names such as Danny Willett, Chris Wood, and Ross Fisher. His work also extends well past the professional realm, as he has played a major role in shaping the careers of elite talent at the youth and junior levels.

“Wherever you are, whoever you are, you can always get better – but that doesn’t imply there’s fault with what you’re doing at the moment.” – Dave Alred

Dave Alred is one of the best coaches in the world today. Boasting clients including Jonny Wilkinson, Luke Donald, and Padraig Harrington. He has an innate ability to help athletes exceed their own expectations. He has a Ph.D. in Performing Under Pressure from Longborough University and over 30 years of experience in the field of performance psychology.

Dave believes strongly in the concept of continual improvement and has applied his expertise on the topic to not only athletes, but surgeons, pilots, and even dolphin trainers. His endless pursuit of improvement applies to himself as well and has enabled him to reach the pinnacle of the coaching industry.

In 2016, Dave added published author to his list of achievements, releasing The Pressure Principle. Applicable to people in all walks of life, the book sheds light on Dave’s philosophies around handling stress and performing when it matters most.

In this episode, Dave provides us with a fascinating insight into his work with some of the world’s best athletes. He also goes into detail about his philosophies, both in life and in sport, some of his favorite drills, and how he structures practice for his own golf game.

Dave Alred Show Notes

• Dave talks about how he met Luke Donald, and the work they did together. [2:00]
• Dave discusses his innate ability to sense when somebody is fully committed to a shot or a kick, or as he calls it, when they hit the ball ‘with their soul’. [6:30]
• Dave explains his fig drill. [8:40]
• Dave talks about some of his favourite putting drills. [10:40]
• Affirmations, which of Dave’s clients use them, and how often they do them. [12:00]
• What self-talk should a golfer practice during a round? [15:40]
• How far does Dave push his clients, and do they ever get annoyed with him? [17:20]
• What are the shared habits of the top players Dave works with? [18:30]
• Dave talks us through the winning drop goal kicked by his client, Jonny Wilkinson, in the 2003 Rugby World Cup, and their relationship together. [21:30]
• Dave talks about the detailed preparation he runs his clients through prior to competition. [24:00]
• As a capable golfer himself, how does Dave structure his own practice? [26:20]
• How much time should a player spend with a coach, and how much time practicing alone? [28:00]
• Chris asks Dave some rapid-fire questions, including his favorite books, fundamental beliefs, and how he spends his evenings. [28:50]
• Dave Alred’s action challenge. [35:10]

Dave Alred’s Action Challenge

• Each day, write down 3 good things that happened that day.
• On Sunday, read through all of the good things on your list from that week.
  Ask yourself – why am I better than I was last Monday?
  (This demonstrates that you can improve on a weekly basis in any aspect of your life, and be in a better place next week based on how you approach this week. Dave’s action challenge can be found at 35:10)

Aidan Moran is Full Professor of Cognitive Psychology and Director of the Psychology Research Laboratory in University College Dublin, Ireland. A Fulbright Scholar and Fellow of the Association for Psychological Science, his research investigates mental/motor imagery, attention and the cognitive processes underlying expertise in skilled performance.

He has published extensively on these topics in high-impact journals in psychology, neuroscience, medicine and sport science. An author of 21 books (e.g., Manging Your Own Learning at University (3rd ed; UCD Press, 2018) and former psychologist to the Irish Olympic Squad, he has advised many of Ireland’s leading professional athletes/teams (e.g., triple Major winning golfer Pádraig Harrington; also Irish rugby team).

After two decades on tour and six European Tour wins, Simon Dyson takes us through his journey from playing on tour to pro teaching. 
Fitness, course management, psychology and simply getting to know your game better – every single part of the game a player needs to improve.  In this episode, we break down everything he learned playing on the tour. 

The theme of this talk:

Reading a putt is often best done intuitively and seen from the far side of the hole for determining the amount of break combined with the speed of the putt. So the same is true for life and is, in fact, an approach applicable for every situation in life.

From playing in the Open Championship, Walker Cups and working with the best in business all around the world. 

Enjoy :)  

– “The first goal is just to play really good golf. Second goal: Stay healthy, fit and no injuries. If I can do that, my end goal will take care of itself and that is top 15 in order of merit.” Matt Wallace

Firstly, Welcome to Making A Club Champion Podcast!

I am delighted you to bring you the very first guest – Matt Wallace.

In this episode...

• How Matt won five consecutive starts on the Alps Tour
• How developing putting into the strongest part of his game.
• How creating sponsorships through his social media, captured the attention of Chubby Chandlers management company ISM and 2 Thumb.
• How not setting goals to Matt to 242 in the world in 18 months.

Achievements

• 6 wins, 2nd, 3rd, 4th in 9 starts
• Not a lower finish lower than 4th in 9 starts
• Hitting greens in regulation 85% mark in GIR
• Stroke Average – 67.8
• World Ranking – 225

Routines

• Allows 1 hour prep time before teeing off
• 15–20 min: putting green
• 15–20 min: chipping and bunker
• 20–30 min: range
• Range: few pitches, through the bag, finish the last shot with the course I am going to hit on the course
• Visualization: Finishes with the shot he hits on the first tee

• Average puts per round: 28–29
• Start off with 3–4 foot puts to get things going, builds the confidence.
• Block practice putting drills: 5 straight in a row, 5 left to right, 5 right to left
• If the course has lots of breaking puts, Matt will spend more time practicing harder-breaking puts so he is more prepared.
• Better putters during a tournament will win at the end of the day.
• Gear: My putting mirror, Visio Mi Template, Green books, 2-Thumb

Philosophy

• You can hole putts from anywhere. You don’t need to hit it close to make up shots. You can take the chances on the greens rather than hitting the risky shot to gain strokes.
• Never do a put that you don’t think you can hole. You always want the mindset to hole everything, so if you are practicing your lag putting, don’t do it to a hole. Anytime you are on a green – you want to have the mindset of holing it. Don’t get onto a putting green first and attempt a 15ft put. Give yourself an easy 2–3ft put, and then work back to the words to the 15ft ones.
• When things are not going to plan: I ask ‘What is the divot telling me? What is the ball flight telling me?’ Go back to the basics, and look at the ball position. I may get the video out, one down the line and on the side, and start the process again.
• Start off getting small easy wins, to gain confidence to get things going. Don’t start off hitting small-percentage shots; not even the best golfers in the world will pull off initially.
• Intimidating effect – you can’t control what they are doing. You can only influence them by playing good golf.
• Surround yourself with great players; if you are a short hitter, play with people who are longer than you. So you can learn to play your own game and beat exceptionally long hitters.
• Failure is my biggest drive, not playing well, but still scoring. That’s the ultimate goal. Playing badly and scoring badly, that is the worst outcome. Putting all that effort in and not getting anything.
• When playing a new course, it is important visualizing how you want to play the hole. Relax and enjoy just playing around the course in your mind.
• Get nervous and struggle to sleep when I have not worked or practiced hard. The best way I cured this was to leave from all my practice sessions knowing I got something out of it and got better.

Drills

• Don’t give yourself time limits on the range; leave the practice once you got it right.
• Are you practicing hard or are you practicing smart? Get specific on what you want to achieve. What is the outcome of this practice session? Is it to hit 5 in a row on the range? The more specific you are the better. If you are working on technique, just work on technique. If you are working on outcomes, get clear on those outcomes.
• Take regular ice baths for recovery.

Goal Setting

• Matt doesn’t really believe in setting goals as it creates unnecessary pressure. The first goal is just to play really good golf. Second goal: Stay healthy, fit and no injuries. According to Matt, “If I can do that, my goal will take care of itself and that is top 15 in order of merit.”
• Some players have benchmarks to hit, but if they didn’t have that added pressure on them, they would smash through their goals.
• Matt believes in creating a systems/process approach to achieving his results. “If you do the right things, the outcome will take care of its self.”

Life on Tour

• 2016: 3 European tour events, 6 challenges, 9 Alps Tour events: 18 tournaments. Total cost 38 GBP.
• The cost of each event works out to be roughly 2k GBP.
• There are some hidden costs too.  For instance; If you want to perform well, you have to eat and sleep well. This all comes at an optional cost.
• Top 50 of world – management companies have everything all set up for them, so the players just turn up and play. Thus, when starting out, you have a lot more to think about than just golf.
• Chubby Chandler, ISM, managed to get Matt invites to some events which would never have been otherwise possible. This also included connecting Matt with 6–7 sponsors to just play golf.
• Management company fees: 5% of earnings, 20% of all sponsors they find for me. A full tournament could cost Matt 15% of his potential earnings.
• It was the 3rd win on the Alps Tour when ISM got in contact through social media.
• Caddy costs: 650 GBP per tournament. Performance fees: 5% of any earnings, 7.5 % on any top 10s and 10% of any wins.
• Downtime: Love going out for dinner in the evenings once practice and preparation are completed.
• A goal outside from golf: Wallace Wine

Behind the scenes

• Win bonuses: How the likes of the top players claim win bonuses and performance-related wins through their major sponsors.
• Getting your tour card on the European Tour is not quite as straightforward as it seems. Playing the majority of the tournaments throughout the year comes down to what category you are in.
• 150 usually field/ 65-man cut
• What is ‘tipping’? A method of filling up buckets of water and leaning them against your oppositions’ door! (Not advised!)

Gear Mentioned

• 2-Thumb Putting Grip 
• Green Book
• Visio Mi Template
• Putting Mirror

People Mentioned 

• Phil Kenyon
• Nick Taylor (caddy)
• Hugh Marr
• Northwood Osteopath

Connect and follow Matt Wallace:

• Instagram
• Twitter
• Website

For even more information: Visit: MakingAClubChampion.com

Quote

“The most important thing is to be the best version of yourself” - Matthew Perry

Intro

Matthew Perry is a New Zealand-born professional golfer who now resides in Australia. Playing on both the Australia Tour as well as the China Tour. Matt has seen many moments of success on the golf course in 2016 which led to European Tour final stage Q-School. Matt was also New Zealand Amateur Champion in 2011.

Looking to the future, Matt will be playing in the 2017 European Challenge Tour. Placing 15th on the Challenge Tour would make Matt an official member of the European Tour, one of his biggest goals.

In this episode, Matt takes time to talk about his unique and insightful outlook on the game of golf. He also discusses some interesting topics like Aim Point putting and Biomechanics. Join Matt and I as we take a look at his game and how amateurs players can begin to think like a professional.

Show Notes

• How Matt prepares for the upcoming golf week. [3:30]
• What Matt does to warm up before a round. [9:00]
• Discussing Matt’s warm up routine. [11:30]
• Attention to detail and collecting information during practice rounds. [17:00]
• How Matt maps out and plans his shots. [21:15]
• Using the Aim Point technique to read putts. [26:45]
• Matt explains the process on how to read a 20 foot putt. [32:30]
• Seizing the moment at the first tee. [36:50]
• Working with sports psychologist David Galbraith [37:15]
• What influences Matt’s decision on club selection [43:30]
• Moments of Perfection and Resilience Patients Drill. [50:15]
• Discussion of biomechanics and how they relate to golf. [57:20]
• Using analytics to understand your game. [1:04:50]
• How Matt sets goals for the year. [1:08:40]
• Rapid Fire Questions [1:13:00]
• Action Challenge [1:18:20]

Action Challenge

Matt explains that everyone has fear both on and off the golf course. His challenge to you is to embrace the fear in your life and attempt to overcome it.

Here are some tips:

1. Use courage to help stand up to, and push through, the fear in your life. Once you overcome your fear you will realize that it wasn’t really that bad to begin with.
2. Success might not be achieved on the first attempt! Be persistent and keep trying to challenge yourself and what you are afraid of.
3. Being uncomfortable is something that goes along with overcoming fear. Don’t fight this feeling but instead embrace it, and try to make the situation feel more ordinary.

People Mentioned

• Jeff Knox
• Justin Rose
• David Galbraith author of Unleashing Greatness
• Ryan Lambston
• Mark Bull
• Adam Scott
• Sergio Garcia
• Edoardo Molinari

Gear

Hydralyte

ShotsToHole

Connect and Follow

• Website
• Twitter

“Resilience is the one thing that golf beats into you, and if you’re not careful it will beat it out of you.” – Laurie Canter

Laurie Canter didn’t pick up a golf club until he was 14 years old. Prior to that, he was a talented junior tennis player, competing at a high enough level for Avon County that his team came across Andy Murray in under-14s. He quickly developed a passion for golf which usurped his interest in tennis, though, a decision which proved wise.

As an amateur, Laurie boasted a handicap of +5, and won both the South African Amateur Championships and the Spanish Amateur Championships. These successes helped him to become the fifth ranked amateur golfer in the world, and the best amateur golfer in the United Kingdom. In 2010 he played in the Open Championship at the home of golf, St. Andrews. He struggled, failing to make the cut, but overcame the disappointment to turn pro the following year.

This year, he returned to the Open Championship for the first time since 2010, putting in an impressive showing at Royal Birkdale to finish in a tie for 37th place, just a shot behind Jason Day and Bubba Watson, and ahead of names including world number 1 Dustin Johnson, and Ernie Els.

In this episode, Laurie talks to Chris about his development into a professional golfer in recent years. He discusses life on tour in detail, many of his practice techniques and on-course routines, and what separates the best players on tour from the rest of the pack.

Ep. 5: Laurie Canter Show Notes

• Laurie talks about his obsession with golf. [3:10]
• How Laurie practices off the course. [7:30]
• Improving his bunker play. [10:30]
• The most important shots in golf. [12:30]
• Laurie takes us through his journey of life on tour. [14:30]
• Making cuts. [18:30]
• Pre-shot routines and strategies. [23:00]Laurie’s most memorable moments on tour. [25:10]
• Being a rookie on tour. [30:40]
• Bouncing back from disappointing results. [34:40]
• Laurie talks about what separates the best players from the rest. [36:40]
• Who Laurie travels with. [39:10]
• Laurie’s favorite books. [42:30]
• The best £100 you can spend on golf. [43:50]
• Laurie’s biggest mentor. [46:20]
• Laurie Canter’s action challenge. [49:20]

1. Go to the range with 50 balls
2. Split the balls into 2 groups of 25
3. Use 25 balls for technical drills, honing an aspect of your swing
4. Use the other 25 balls for practicing pre-shot routines, changing the target regularly to replicate a round of golf

Gear/Resources Mentioned

• Golfstat Lab
• Every Shot Counts
• I Am Pilgrim
• The Pressure Principle
• Putting tutor
• DST Club
• If poem

People Mentioned

• Cameron McCormick
• Mark Broadie
• Matt Perry
• Terry Hayes
• Dave Alred
• Bertie Cordle
• Gordon Brand Jr,
• Rudyard Kipling

Connect and Follow Laurie Canter

• European Tour 
• Twitter
• Instagram

“Anyone who struggles with the short game tries to create more and more control over the golf club and the ball, and of course the best players do the opposite.” Gary Smith 

Gary Smith is a Golf Monthly UK Top 25 coach and has 14 years experience working with England’s top amateur stars as an EGU Technical Coach working with European Tour players including Danny Willett, Justin Rose, Chris Wood, Ross Fisher, Ollie Fisher, Richard Finch, David Horsey, Seve Benson, Nick Dougherty, and Gary Wolstenholme. Gary is the go man for short game lessons in the UK and I had the fortune of being coached by him back in 2004.

Gary has also played in The Open Championship three times, and a winner on the European Tour. Gary is based at Based at Sutton Green Golf Club 

In this particular episode, Gary explains his philosophy on the short game, sharing the drills and technique he teaches his players. He also shares a funny story on how he creates an incentive for his players if they don’t execute on certain shots.

• How Gary communicates his lessons and what makes them so effective. [04:30]
• What Gary looks at when coaching the linear method [07:45]
• Gary challenges coach's advice to aim left to hit the ball straight at your target. [10:00]
• What is the process to put in place to hit a 15 yard short? [11:30]
• Why ball position should be relevant to the sternum. [12:20]
• Gary philosophy on coaching a player. [17:00]
• Gary shares a story of Olly Fisher. [19:20]
• We go through my notes from my first coaching lesson with Gary. [23:00]
• The process of club selection. [24:30]
• Gary explains the lie and how to use simple routines [25:40]
• Matty Perry’s process for determining shot [26:40]
• How can a player use bounce/slider? [28:35]
• Gary tells the story of how he met Wayne Riley and the interesting game they used to play. [33:00]
• The process of being selected for England. [36:00]
• The importance of having specifics (data) about your game before going to a coach. [40:00]
• Software and feedback on yardages. [42:00]
• Gary’s recommended resources and gear. [51:00]

The four stations of implementing new lessons by Gary Smith 

1. No target: When implementing a new technique, start by getting a feel of the new positions and forget about the target. You can call this "The Technical Station." Where you are introducing changes. Be open to change and embrace it. Look for a positive attitude to change.
2. No Target but further distance: Start playing around with different flights or different clubs, have fun and be creative.
3. Aim at Target:  Start to hit towards specific targets. Flags on the driving range or yardage markers. Now you are embracing what that new technique may look like in a competitive situation.
4. Aim at the target with consequence/ under pressure: Make it real. How many can you do out of 10? Putt money on it or do 100 push ups.  You will see pretty quickly what you would be like in course situation with a card in your hands.

Gear/Resources Mentioned

• Golf Data Lab
• Golfshot
• Bounce by Matthew Syed
• The Chimp Paradox by Steve Peters
• Red Notice by Bill Browder

People Mentioned

• Oliver Fisher
• Danny Willett
• Nick Faldo
• Matthew Perry
• Wayne Riley
• Gary Wilson

Connect and follow Gary Smith

• Website
• Twitter
• Youtube