Credit to Vinne W

Shot IQ is developed using accuracy and precision.  Accuracy and Precision are two words that are often used together, yet have different meanings. The best way to describe accuracy would be the bulls eye method.  If you were to throw a dart at the dart board, the accuracy could be measured by the distance to the bulls eye. When applying this technique to golf, we would use on course reference points like the fairway or the green.  Most beginning golfers have a low degree of accuracy, while PGA Tour players have a high level of accuracy.  Which might explain why they get paid to play!

Look at your game.  Think back to a round of golf you played.  How many fairways did you hit? How many Greens? Did the lack of accuracy result in a higher score? Were you “on” and that resulted in a low score?  All these questions lead us to an important thought process….IMPROVE your accuracy and Shot IQ.

Shot IQ

When we break it down, the ability of most golfers to recover from bad situations depends on their Shot IQ.  What I mean by Shot IQ, is do you have the ability to recover from a bad shot by making a better shot. Does your skill set allow you to make that recovery shot, which can make the difference in saving par and making a double bogey.  Shot IQ requires precision

called reproducibility or repeatability is the degree to which repeated measurements

under unchanged conditions show the same results

Build Your Shot IQ Database

We have all heard the “practice as you play, play as you practice” mantra.  I think that it has some strength.  If you practice with a purpose, and take inventory of what you are doing, the outcome is a stronger Shot IQ.

To build your Shot IQ, you will need to write down some information. (Hint place this in your journal) The next time you are at the range warm up hitting 10-15 balls.  Then make two sets of 10 balls.  Pick two clubs (I suggest a short iron 7 or 8, and a long iron/hybrid) Pick out a target and imagine a fairway width or green.  Hit to the target and mentally keep tab on how many of the ten balls landed within your target area.  Write down your percentage in the journal as well as the club used.  Rotate clubs each practice session. Over time, you will begin to see data that will be used in your Shot IQ database. Remember the more information you have the easier it will be to see your strengths or weakness.

Having Fun

Once you have a few data points under your belt, have fun with the process.  Give yourself bad lies on the range, imagine that there is a tree in your way (either go under or over), hit into cross winds, headwinds, downwind.  The Shot IQ becomes a valuable tool when you can replicate on-course conditions to your practice.  It becomes even more valuable when you can honestly measure your skill level by using your Shot IQ.  The tough part is then using it on the golf course (a whole different post).

Remember, it’s not how it gets in the hole, but how many!

Golf is a game of both physical and mental ability.  During the off season, it is important to keep the mind in golf shape.

You can read a book, you can watch video’s or listen to some great pod-casts.  You can also strengthen your mental ability.

Visualization is a component, often overlooked, of every golfers game.  The ability to clearly see the shot, prior to even taking a swing is vital.  People often comment on my game.  Like “how do you play so fast” or “sorry I didn’t mean to talk during your swing” …I don’t take long on the tee, over a shot, or on the green.  Why?

Simple.  I’ve already determined my shot in about 30 seconds.  I don’t waste brain energy thinking too much.  That is what most golfers do…think too much!  Analysis through Paralysis.

During a round of golf I survey my shot, this is during the time I’m either riding to the ball, or walking to it.  I take my time to get the distance, the wind, the position of the flag.  I take a look at the lie of the ball….then my brain sees the shot while I’m reaching for the correct club. Will it be a high draw? Low “skipper” to the pin.  Do I want to be right or left of the pin? Seriously it takes me 30 seconds. Why?  Because I’ve hit thousands of balls, and know what my game can or can’t do.  I go with the odds.  Do I ever change my mind? Yes, but I don’t waste time.  I focus only on the outcome that I can visually see.

How do you build your visual ability?

Simple.  At the end of reading this sentence, I want you to look around your surroundings for 10 seconds, then close your eyes and see all the things in your “area” Get ready..GO!

Ok.  Your eyes are now reading this so you’ve opened them.  The goal of this is to do it one more time, but this time when you close your eyes…visually see everything around you.  Get a picture in your mind of what is close to you. What’s next to the keyboard.  Do you have pictures on the wall. Where is your mouse in relation to the rest of the stuff on the desk you are at.  Good…now close your eyes again and “see” what is there. I’ll wait……….

Did you see your set up? How many things did you notice.  Many people can only recall 4-5 things.  My task for you is to try it and name as many “things” as you can.  The more you can notice…the better your ability to visualize your surroundings.  This will greatly enhance your golfing mental condition!

This is a great drill to use while “indoors”.  I want you to take a small pillow or cloth and place it about 10 feet away. Next I want you to use a golf ball if you can, and with your eyes closed, I want you to walk the 10 feet and drop the ball (or any other object) on the target. In your minds eye I want you to visually walk that 10 feet and hit the target.

Did it work?  Did you hit the target?  I had one student that could walk 20 feet and place the ball within a foot of the target.  Needless to say he was a great putter, his visualization skills were very high!

PS write this in your journal.