Picking Targets

Have you ever gone to shoot a gun at a target and not aim for the bullseye? If you’re like most others the blue circle that leads to the little red circle in the middle of the target draws your eyes to a perfect place to aim and shoot. If you aim at the bullseye and miss you still hit some numbers and get points, but if you just shoot without picking a target you will most likely miss all together.
 

All too often I hear golfers I work with tell me they just can't keep the ball in the fairway or that they miss the green on their approach shot too much. So I ask them what's their approach before contact? What are they thinking? You would be amazed of the responses I get, "I'm just trying to make solid contact", " I think about hitting it somewhere in the fairway", or the best one "I just try and hit it as far as I can". They all have the common problem and that is no mental direction of where they want the ball to land.
 

The brain is the most powerful tool in the world. If you think about something it has a better chance of coming true. If you tell yourself something it has a better chance of coming true. And if you think and tell yourself about doing something a certain way your brain will put your body in the best possible position to pull it off. For example id you want to drive to the mall but don't know how to get there you will drive around the city for hours. But if you went to MapQuest and got directions turn by turn it will lead you right to your target. It's the same thing in golf. Next time you’re out on the course or driving range give yourself direction, tell yourself where you want the ball to land, think about that ball landing in the fairway or on the green and you will give yourself the best chance for success.

Written by Jake Hosden