It happens all the time. A weekend golfer decides to improve their game.
Determined to trim their golf handicap, they dedicate themself to the effort.
They focus on a major swing flaw and work hard to correct it.
They practice daily, take golf lessons, and study golf tips in sports magazines.
Eventually, they eliminate the flaw.
Yet, they fail to cut their golf handicap.
Eventually, they get frustrated and stop.
Sound familiar?
If you want to take your game to the next level, you must do more than just correct a swing flaw.
Just ask Ernie Els.
In the 2002 season, he decided to take his game to the next level.
Among the PGA’s best, Els started strong that year, winning three times on the European and U.S. tours.
Yet he felt like he was playing poorly.
To get ready for the British Open, he and David Ledbetter worked on fixing his game.
Below is what Els did to get his groove back.
How to Create Your “Golf Game Plan”
Els and Ledbetter developed a comprehensive plan.
Instead of concentrating just on the technical side of the player’s swing, they focused on solidifying the basics, improving his short game, and eliminating swing thoughts.
The plan worked. In November 2002 Els entered the British Open at Muirfield, England, feeling a little uncomfortable.
But by Wednesday he felt great.
Eventually, he won the tournament.
What did Els work on in Ledbetter’s golf instruction sessions?
He worked on making solid contact—the result of good fundamentals.
Poor swing fundamentals lead to all sorts of problems.
It’s like a chain reaction. In his case, his main concern was coming over the top.
To correct that, he focused on ball position, alignment, grip, and posture.
Maintaining good fundamentals helps Els stay square to the target longer through impact, producing consistent solid contact.
How Ernie Improved His Power And Accuracy
Els also worked on achieving power and accuracy.
In his case, they come from staying behind the ball during the downswing.
That means hitting into a firm left side and maintaining the backward tilt at impact that he had at address.
Staying behind the ball allows him to swing the club with his right arm and hand more “underneath” the clubshaft.
It also encourages him to make contact with the club traveling inside the target line.
The “Bunker Fix” That Saved Ernie Els Strokes in the Sand
To improve bunker play, Els worked on maintaining balance—the key to every bunker shot.
Sometimes golfers dig into the sand too far.
This off-balance set-up encourages them to swing the club behind their backs.
From there, they either bury the club’s heel into the sand or hit a shank.
A balanced set-up enables one to swing the club back on a more upright plane and then forward, with hands and club moving along the foot-line.
How to Improve Your Feel On the Green (Uphill & Downhill Putts)
To increase feel, Ernie worked on uphill and downhill putts.
On uphill putts, he focused on accelerating through the ball without rushing into the stroke.
On downhill putts, he concentrated on using a slightly different stroke, one that’s slower and smoother, like a truck climbing a steep upgrade.
He also worked on matching the length of his stroke to the length of the putt.
The “Mental Trick” That Helped Ernie Ground Himself and Save Strokes
In addition, Els worked on eliminating unnecessary swing thoughts.
He focused on trusting his instincts and playing in the subconscious.
He also focused on staying in the moment. Instead focusing on the shot he just made, he forced himself to concentrate on the upcoming shot.
And he replaced all other swing thoughts at the start of his takeaway by the words “low and slow” to himself.
The Takeaway
If you want to boost your game to the next level, don’t just blindly copy Els.
He’s taller than most weekend golfers, so he has different issues than they do.
And don’t just take a golf lesson or two, or read a few golf tips and let it go at that.
If you really want to take your game to the next level, develop a comprehensive plan that focuses on your weaknesses.
It should also strengthen the basics, add power and accuracy off the tee, hone your short game, and help you play in the subconscious.
The effort will definitely help you trim your golf handicap.
The 5 Most Costly Mistakes In Golf…
I’ve worked with hundreds of weekend golfers personally… and even more through this website… and one thing about them is consistent:
They all seem to make at least a couple of these 5 same costly golf mistakes.
Each mistake saps power off your drives… prevents accuracy on irons shots…
They can even lead to a devastating slice or hook…
And of course, they cost you strokes on the green.
I want to help golfers like you play their best round of golf possible… and shave as many strokes as possible…
So I put all 5 of these devastating golf mistakes into a short, free article for you to browse.
Not only that, but I provide quick, easy fixes for each one at the end of the article so that you can save up to 10-15 strokes per round.
All you have to do is click the link below now and read the whole article, start to finish:
Click Here Now for the 5 Most Costly Mistakes In Golf (and How to Fix Them)