Slow down and take a few deep cleansing breaths. This is what you should do when something stressful happens to you on the golf course. Jordan Spieth had a breakdown on number 12 at Augusta on the final day. The biggest problem wasn't hitting it in the water. It was making sure he could think clearly after that traumatic event. His heart rate increased as he knew the possibility that a second consecutive Masters could be slipping through his fingertips. When your heartrate increase, you simply cannot think clearly hence your decisions tend to be poor.

I know I am armchair quarterbacking here but many people have asked me what I would have told Jordan to do after he hit it in the water. My answer was that he should have hit the ball again from the tee and try to make a 5. When he went to the drop area, he had an extremely difficult shot off a tight lie to a green that has no depth. The degree of difficulty is way higher even though he is closer to the the hole. From the tee, he can create a perfect lie and he can adjust off the swing he just made. 

I think Jordan is human and simply was too stressed to think clearly. What is extremely impressive is that he got up and down from the back bunker for a 7 and then went on to birdie 13, almost birdie 14,  birdie 15 and stiff it on 16. What a gutsy competitor.  

Perfect Pace

There is no skill more important in putting than touch or being able to make the ball travel the right distance. Repetition and the experience are certainly key in developing fine motor control, yet even experienced player’s struggle to get the speed right especially when they stray from their home course.

The key mechanic for possessing great touch is to swing the putter in a consistent pendulum like rhythm. When done, touch simply becomes an intuitive response to this question: “how big a swing at my rhythm is required for this putt”. This is not the mental focus of your average golfer which is: “how hard do I need to hit it”?

Great performers know that putts are not “hit” at all but rather that the putter is swung and the ball just happens to be in the way. If you see the logic in this then the real question becomes, how do I develop a consistent and repeatable rhythm? Normally I teach this skill with a Metronome which is an electronic device that keeps time for musicians, but there are other options.

Tom Pernice and Nick Watney both count in rhythm as they work their way through their pre-shot routines and as they swing their putter. IK Kim recites the words “Perfect Pace” to herself both in her practice swings and during her actual swing to help her regulate her rhythm and be consistent from green to green and round to round.

There is an ancillary benefit to these strategies in that each player is focused on the process of making a great stroke and not thinking or worrying about the result which often leads to anxiety or tension.

Give “Perfect Pace” a try the next time you go to practice and you might be surprised to see that you have the touch of an artist and a calm spirit as you putt.

For a greater understanding of the keys to performance on the greens, check out my new book Your Putting Solution: A Tour Proven Approach to Mastering the Greens available at fine bookstores everywhere.

Best of luck - James

If you’ve ever taken on the challenge of a long hike or endured endless floors of stairs to get somewhere, this will probably sound familiar. You begin with high energy and sharp focus. You’re excited; every step lands confidently. But as time passes, your energy drops, focus wanes, and your control mysteriously disappears. This phenomenon - which we all endure at some point - happens in your golf game as well. 

By the time you begin the back nine, your energy is already depleted. How much depends on you. Your training practices will influence whether you start the back nine with 70%, 50%, or even less in the tank. If you’ve noticed a drop in your game as you fatigue, know that it doesn’t have to be that way. There are strategies and exercises that will prepare you to play your strongest rounds of golf yet. The two main ways to impact your golf game are to (1) build a more conditioned movement platform and (2) develop your recovery practices while playing to stay fresh and mobile on the greens.

The two biggest factors that influence your movement platform are strength and endurance training. You need the strength to move fluidly through your form and conditioning to be able to repeat those controlled movements over and over again. Here are a few movements that will impact your strength.

Split Squat with Cross Body Reach - Start in split squat position with one leg behind the other. Holding weight in each arm, keep hands in line with lower leg as you drop into split squat. Push weight through front foot as you stand back up. Find a steady tempo and repeat for 12 reps.

T-Position Pushup - Start in pushup position. Keep elbows close to body as you perform one pushup. As you reach the top of the pushup, extend one arm towards the sky, following with your eyes and head. Keep both feet pointed down and hips parallel with ground. Repeat for 4 reps on each side.

For conditioning, combine these movements in a sequence with bursts of running or jump rope, resting minimally and focusing on your technique through every rep.

Next month, we’ll address the best ways to recover while playing, so your can be as good as - if not better than - your front nine.