Coeur d'Alene Session With Brian Mogg, PGA
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February 18, 2010 8:00 PM
Owen P. McClain, PGA Teaching Professional
Having worked with David Leadbetter and several touring professionals including Mi Hyun Kim, Y.E. Yang, and Bart Bryant, Brian Mogg has a lot to offer both players and teachers. Earlier this month he addressed a group of PGA professionals from the region, and shared his thoughts on what he believes are the elements of good golf:
1. Mechanics
2. Short Game
3. Competitiveness/Self Belief
4. Adaptability to Intangibles
5. Quality of Practice
6. Facing Adversity/Challenges
7. Fitness
8. Technology: Fitting/Lies/Shafts
9. Knowing What to Practice
Mechanics and short game contribute 45% of Mogg's model golfer, the scale tilted slightly toward short game. How much of your game improvement time is dedicated to the other 55%? For many of us, after short and long game practice, we actually have a life other than golf, so the answer is, “Not much!” Let’s look at some practical ways can address items 3 through 9 without trying to cram even more into an already busy schedule.
Competitiveness/self belief is a popular subject for writers, and I wouldn’t be able to scratch the surface in this space. What I will suggest is this: when you are discouraged, write down everything good that is happening. In the Bible we get this: “…whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” (Php. 4:8)
Adaptability to intangibles is required in any sport. During the Olympic Games in Vancouver, speed skaters were faced with a long delay due to ice problems, and several spoke about how it adversely affected their performance. In your everyday life, doo-doo happens. Cultivate a frame of mind that does not dwell on the curveballs that life or sport sends your way; rather, learn to enjoy the creative process of adapting to changing situations. It's an art.
Quality of practice: Build on your strengths, not your weaknesses. Work with what you have and improve it.
Adversity happens to everyone, and the best thing you can do is take ownership of the situation. Too many of us panic. Don’t blame, don’t expect others to make things better, just take responsibility for handling whatever situation has arisen and deal with it.
Fitness: I shared Kendal Yonemoto’s observations last week. You need a fitness plan anyway, so a golf fitness assessment can make your workouts even more beneficial.
Technology: Having the right clubs, the right lie angles, and the right shafts will help your game, and the only way to obtain the information you need is by having a qualified club fitter (usually your PGA professional) conduct a fitting session. The service provided by on-line services is very inaccurate for many players. A proper fitting session will reward you for years to come.
How to Practice: Piles of balls on the range can be helpful, but competitive practice is essential for sharpening your focus. Putting for quarters, playing “horse” from around the green, and other games will sharpen your skills. Practice your pre-shot routine; touring professionals today actually time the routine and practice so that under pressure, the time remains the same down to the second.