- Learn what the 'ideal golf swing' is all about.
- Discover the '5' essential performance factors.
- Understand the definition of 'success' and the underlying 'laws' responsible for achieving optimal and safe golf performance.
- Find out how to break through your perceived golf performance barriers, unleash your untapped, true golf potential, and experience the amazing journey of total golf 'mastery' ... for a lifetime!
The 'Missing Link': Part One
Golf's 'Most Common' Challenge
OK! So here it is ... the 'missing link' ... the 'real truth' ... about what is required to take your game to the highest level. No 'sugar coating' of any kind for this one ... that is, IF you're a golfer who's REALLY serious about finding and maintaining your 'ideal' golf swing. Are you ready? Here we go ...
As the first Director of Physical Therapy and Golf Fitness on the PGA Tour (1984-87), I have now been working as a specialist in golf fitness training, accelerated golf performance enhancement, and golf-specific injury management and prevention for over 25 years. My work, back in the 1980's, helping major championship golfers like Jack Nicklaus (www.callawaygolffitness.com), Tom Watson, Raymond Floyd, Tom Kite, Fred Couples, Payne Stewart, Ben Crenshaw, Davis Love III, and my work more recently with Tiger Woods, provided me with the professional experience to personally help over 5000 golfers, of all ages, experience and skill levels, to successfully achieve improved golf performance and minimize common injuries.
But you know, it's very interesting, as varied as each one of these golfer's individual needs were ... regardless of their years of experience or level of play ... there was ONE COMMON CHALLENGE shared by ALL. Each and every golfer was 'frustrated' with their game! That's right! Plain and simple, the one common challenge or affliction that continues to plague each and every golfer is 'frustration' with their game. No golfer is ever 'completely' happy with all aspects of their golf game. At any given time, they all have one or more parts of their game that they want to improve. And, do you want to know, specifically, what the 'most' frustrating aspect about their desire to play better golf really is? It's that they aren't exactly sure 'how' to do it! The experience of feeling like they 'could' and 'should' play better ... but not knowing what else to 'do' to fix their problem ... frustrates the living "bleep" out of them!
Now please understand, the majority of thousands of golfers I've trained averaged 5+ years of golf playing experience, they've taken golf lessons from a variety of professional instructors, they've invested in good equipment, practiced regularly, and, some of them, have even read books and/or invested in golf-specific mental and physical training programs to support their golf performance goals ... all prior to meeting me! So, with all of those important golf performance elements in place, why do so many golfers remain so frustrated with their games?
Golfers are already doing a lot of things ... very good things, in fact ... that by definition, 'should' take them to the 'promised land' of their golf dreams. So what's the problem? That's the million dollar question! Is golf REALLY all that difficult to play, and play well? Are the golfers, in question, just that unathletic or untalented - at least for this game? Or, instead, could there simply be a 'missing link' ... a missing element to the equation ... that is so basic yet vital, if fully understood, could unlock the true potential of every golfer who really wants to excel at this wonderful yet so allusive game?
Well, if you are a golfer who can relate, in any way, to this commonly-shared frustration, and you want to answer these important questions for yourself, once and for all, then read on. But first, I will ask you to remain patient a bit longer, as I first need to take a step back and discuss a few key concepts to establish the foundation for what will ultimately provide you with the 'missing link' to relieve your golf frustration. I assure you that your patience will be worth it! But, if you are one of those 'impatient' types ... or ... you just don't believe me when I say that I have 'the secret' you've been looking for? That's OK! Please just do me one favor, though, before you leave and risk 'missing out' on the best opportunity you will ever have to end your golf frustration.
Quickly check out http://www.callawaygolffitness.com/Testimonials.html to read what just a few of the already 5000+ happy golfers are saying about what happened to them after they discovered and applied 'the secret' I am about to share with you. All I can tell you is, when these golfers found out the 'missing link' that ended their years of frustration and got them on the right track to reaching their golf performance potential, they were so 'excited' and so 'motivated' by what they learned, that they invested practically any amount of time, energy and money necessary to apply this information to their game! And, I'm confident YOU will too!
The 'Missing Link': Part Two
The 'Ideal' Golf Swing
Every time I have the opportunity to meet a new golfer or do presentations to golfers and/or golf professional instructors, I start out by asking this question,
"Is there an 'ideal' golf swing?"
Usually, the answer I get - especially from the teaching pros - is a definite, "NO!" But, typically, after a few clarifying questions, what everyone really means from their "No" response is that,
"Every golfer's swing is a bit different. Kind of like a finger print. No two golfers are alike. Therefore, no two swings are really exactly alike".
So, if every golfer is different and, consequently, every swing is different ... even the swings of the very best professional players in the world ... how then, could there ever be one 'ideal' swing that every golfer should be modeling themselves after?
Well, as true as all of that may be, believe it or not, there really IS an 'ideal' golf swing! Let me explain...
To begin with, until we have come to an understanding and agreement on this very important concept, you, me and every other golfer will remain 'frustrated' about our golf performance ... so much so, that for some of us, we may actually choose to quit playing golf altogether rather than face the prospects of experiencing further feelings of frustration and disappointment about our game. So let's see if this definition of the 'ideal' golf swing works for you?
The 'ideal' golf swing has 'two' key elements that are not negotiable. For a golf swing to be 'ideal', it must:
1) Deliver OPTIMAL PERFORMANCE
2) Be LEAST STRESSFUL to the golfer's body.
Make sense? It's very simple, for any golfer's swing to qualify as 'ideal', it must be; 1) a customized swing (unique to them) that produces 'optimal' performance relative to the goal structure of the individual golfer, and 2) it must create the 'least' amount of stress in the golfer's body when they swing.
A swing that does not produce constantly-improving performance results ... in all aspects of the game ... most certainly cannot be considered 'ideal'. Nor could a swing be 'ideal' that provides so much physical wear and tear that it leads to an injury. BOTH performance AND swing safety MUST be present at the same time for the definition of the 'ideal' swing to be completely fulfilled.
In my experience, when the 'ideal' swing is defined in this way, most every golfer and golf instructor alike can now agree that there 'is' an 'ideal' golf swing after all.
With the agreement on the definition and the relevance of the 'ideal' golf swing now clearly established, your next questions should be, "Is an 'ideal' golf swing really attainable? And, if so, how do I attain it?"
Those are the perfect questions! As valuable as it is to know 'what' is wrong with our golf swing, isn't it even 'more' important to know 'how' to fix the problem? What do we need to do to get better? Absolutely! After all, imagine going to your doctor's office with a particular health problem, going through all the diagnostic tests to find out what's wrong, have the doctor appropriately inform you of what your 'sickness' is but, then, before you have a chance to hear 'what' the treatment plan will be to resolve your illness, the doctor simply walks out of the office!
Finding out the cause(s) of your symptoms is only half of the story! What you are also paying the doctor for, and what you really want to know is, 'how' to resolve your sickness ... what do you need to do to get better? Right?
Well, this is where it gets really interesting. This is what you and millions of other golfers have been 'missing' up to now. You have all been the 'patient' with a sickness that has been properly diagnosed ... but you've never been given an adequate treatment plan or prescription for 'curing' your sickness. Therefore, you keep blowing your nose and taking cold remedies that temporarily suppress or cover your cold symptoms, but you never get rid of your cold ... so you remain 'sick' and 'frustrated'!
Read on ... to learn exactly 'how' to get better and discover the 'missing link' that will end your golf performance 'sickness' and frustration! I don't want add to your frustration by being like that doctor who walks out of the office and leaves you hanging!
The 'Missing Link': Part Three
The '5' Essential Performance Factors
In order for you, me and every other golfer on the planet to play optimal and stress free golf ... the golf of our dreams ... we will require '5' essential performance factors.
These '5' factors are as follows:
1) Professional golf instruction with customized and properly sequenced skills development.
2) Custom-fit and technologically-advanced golf equipment.
3) Personalized, golf-specific, mental coaching.
4) Customized, golf-specific physical training and conditioning.
And, the most important factor of all,
5) ALL of the 'four' previous performance factors MUST be fully 'integrated'!
Every 'dish' has a recipe. Every perfect looking, smelling and, most importantly, 'tasting' cherry pie has a specific plan with a specific sequencing and blend of specific ingredients that 'must' be in place in order for that cherry pie to be classified as 'perfect' in all areas!
And, this is the case with your goal of achieving your 'ideal' golf swing.
I know, I know ... here is where you start mumbling to yourself ... "Do I really need ALL of those things to play better golf"? "Isn't there a simpler way"?
Do you want the 'simple' answer? Of course you do! The simple answer that most golfers want to here is, "No"! And, to be honest, if you are just kind of 'playing around' with the idea of playing better golf and are only half-committed to reaching your golf potential ... then, you REALLY DON'T' need all '5' essential performance factors. Not at all!
After all, there are many 'impostor' cherry pies on the market that fall 'way short' of grandma's 'perfect' version. They all have 'some' of the same ingredients that grandma used, but they weren't in the proper proportion, added in the right sequence or baked long enough at the right temperature according to her 'ideal' recipe. Something was clearly 'missing' or they would have turned out the same ... perfect!
However, IF, you ARE really serious and truly desire to achieve your 'ideal' swing for a lifetime, once and for all, then the answer is ABSOLUTELY YES! You 'will' require each and every one of the '5' essential performance factors, at some level, to play your 'optimal' and 'stress-free' golf.
You must follow the 'recipe' for success. That's the total TRUTH. In fact, It's the 'law'!
The 'Missing Link': Part Four
The 'principle' law responsible for attaining your 'ideal' golf swing
You know, a major mentor in my life is a gentleman by the name of, Mr. Bob Proctor (www.bobproctor.com). Bob is the author of the book, You Were Born Rich, and for nearly 50 years now, has been one of the top human performance and self improvement coaches in the world. In total, Bob Proctor has helped thousands of individuals, and many top corporations identify and achieve extraordinary performance levels ... often times, far beyond their wildest dreams!
Two of the most interesting and helpful 'gems' in life I've learned from Bob were his definition for 'success' and his clarification about 'goals'. Bob defines 'success' as,
"The progressive realization of a worthy goal."
This definition clearly suggests that 'success' is not merely experienced in the achievement of the end-result goal but in the experience of the 'progressive' journey along the way toward achieving the goal. By this definition, you are 'already' successful, therefore, if you have set a proper goal and are 'in process' of completing it.
In Bob's experience ... and mine too ... people typically don't set goals that are 'worthy' enough for them. In other words, their goals are not 'big' or important enough! Bob feels that when we set a goal, if it is truly 'worthy' of us, it needs to both 'excite' and 'scare' us a bit at the same time. Only when you have 'both' of those shared feelings in thinking about your goal, have you set the proper goal.
Concerning goals, Bob said,
"Goal 'setting' is an 'intellectual' exercise that takes important thought and consideration. On the other hand, goal 'achievement' is a 'lawful' process."
Bob explains that,
"Goal setting is a process that does not depend on chance or luck ... but only upon the awareness, understanding and application of 'the laws'. In fact, when you understand the universal laws ... goal achievement becomes easy and natural."
When specifically refering to the 'laws', Dr. Wernher von Braun, the father of the early NASA space program said,
"The natural laws of the universe are so precise that we do not have any difficulty building spaceships that will go to the moon, and we can time the landing with the precision of a fraction of a second."
While others described the natural 'laws' as,
"The uniform and orderly method of the omnipotent God."
According to, Earl Nightingale, in his "Lead the Field" program, there is, in fact, one 'principle' law upon which everything in the universe operates: THE LAW OF CAUSE AND EFFECT.
He speaks to this law by saying,
"Unlike any other form of animal life that has been created, we (humans) were given the power of choice or free will; along with this choice came certain responsibilities. The capacity to choose does not involve freedom from the consequences of our choices. The laws or rules which govern every person are as exact as the laws which govern the material universe. You can act in accordance with these laws or your can disregard them, but you cannot, in any way, alter them. The law forever operates and holds you to strict accountability, and there is not the slightest allowance made for ignorance".
And, Nightingale adds,
"The law of 'Cause and Effect' has been written about thousands of times by the greatest minds the world has produced and, as a result, has appeared in many forms. For our purposes, the law of 'Cause and Effect' might best be put in this way: Our 'rewards' in life will always match our 'service'. I like to think of this law in the form of a giant apothecary scale. One of the bowls of the scale is marked, REWARDS; the other is marked, SERVICE. Now whatever we put into the bowl marked SERVICE, the 'world' will equally match in the bowl marked REWARDS. That is the law! So simple, so basic ... so true. And yet, so misunderstood!"
It was probably for reasons similar to Nightingale's, that Ralph Waldo Emerson referred to the law of 'Cause and Effect' as the "Law of Laws".
Could the 'misunderstanding' of the "Law of Laws" be the 'missing link' we, as golfers, have been looking for all along? Well, after working with people (patients and golfers) within the health and wellness 'service' industry for my entire professional life, I know that our human nature predisposes us to be somewhat 'lazy' and 'not' want to have to work very hard to reach our goals.
Instead, we tend to look for the path of 'least' resistance ... you know, the 'quick and easy' method ... to fix our problems. And, unfortunately, this is no less true when in comes to our 'wish' for playing better golf.
So, YES, whether we attribute our ongoing sense of frustration in golf to our 'lazy' human nature, our ingnorance of the law, or our complete and purposeful disobedience to the law of 'Cause and Effect', one thing is for certain, if you ever want to reach your golf performance potential, you 'must' do 'certain things' in a 'certain way'! Because ... "As ye sow, so shall ye reap". And ... "For every action, there is an equal and opposite re-action". How ever you want to state it, the law of 'Cause and Effect' is in operation, and there is 'no escaping it' when it comes to playing optimal and stress-free golf - or - when getting results in any other area in life. It's the 'law'!
The 'Missing Link': Part Five
Get focused! Discover your 'core desire' and keep it your 'main thing'
The final part in the process of understanding and applying the 'missing link' to your goal of achieving your 'ideal' golf swing begins by relaying another very key concept that I have borrowed from Mr. Bob Proctor. In order to successfully attain your goal of mastering your swing, reach your optimal performance potential, and end your golf frustration forever, Bob says this,
"The 'main thing' is to keep the 'main thing' ... the 'main thing'."
In other words, get focused! Once again, so simple, so basic ... so true. And yet, so misunderstood!
Herein lies the problem! Most golfers have never made 'golf mastery' their 'main thing'! Very few golfers, at any level, have ever made the 'committed decision' to make golf performance mastery their 'core desire' in life. In fact, exept for the very few professionals and high-ranking amateur golfers in the US, the relative golf performance standards have actually lowered (not increased) in the past 10-15 years. The performance expectations of golf's general masses in America is so 'low' that it is difficult, if not impossible anymore, for most amateur golfers to even imagine shooting par golf or better. Perhaps that's why statistics have proven that only 0.01% of all male golfers ever shoot a 'par' round of golf even once ... in their life! And, if you are golfer, male or female, who averages less than '100' per 18-hole round, you're already in the 'top 10%' of all golfers. So, congratulations, I guess you've got that going for you ... Hmmmm!
When expectations from results like this are so low, it becomes understandable why golfers 'talk the talk' of wanting to play better ... but never really 'walk the walk' when it comes to setting a committed goal of attaining their 'ideal' swing to a high level of priority, and then seeing it through to the desired result. Golfers don't 'believe' that they could really ever do it! If you don't believe something is a possibility, you will never set out to accomplish it. Thus, it always may remain a dream but never become a reality.
My main purpose for writing this report, therefore, is to provide insight to you, and golfers all over the world, about how to actually achieve your dream of playing extraordinary golf. And, in doing so, elevate your 'possibility thinking' and create real hope that you 'really can' acheve your own personal golf 'greatness' through the accomplishment of your 'ideal' swing ... in a game that we should all enjoy and be able to play well for a lifetime! This IS all possible! But, only if you become aware of, understand, and fully apply the 'missing link' described here.
Bringing it All Together
Making the 'missing link' work for YOU
To summarize, here are the FIVE 'missing link' ingredients you need to know and remember to bake that 'perfect' cherry pie ... 'ideal golf swing' ... of your own:
1) Recognize the main problem. Connect with your feelings of 'frustration' about your golf game leverage those feelings as motivation to learn what one, or more, elements are 'missing' that will help you attain your specific, desired level of golf peformance. Getting help from a professional who can properly and objectively evaluate your total golf performance elements is highly recommended.
2) Understand that there IS an 'ideal' golf swing. And, it IS achievable if you have 'all' the right ingredients.
3) There are '5' essential performance factors or key ingredients necessary to play 'optimal' and 'stress-free' golf for a lifetime.
4) Apply and get 'in harmony' with the law of 'Cause and Effect'.
You will need to create a golf-specific, customized 'action plan' that specifically includes the '5' essential performance factors - especially factor #5 - as provided to you by expert mentors from each golf performance area. Consistent, properly performed 'activity' (work) in this area will guarantee, by law, your desired golf performance result.
5) Get focused! If you want to achieve your 'ideal' golf swing, it needs to be your 'core desire' ... your 100% committed goal ... and, you need to maintain it as your 'main thing'.
Oh yes! I almost forgot! Here's one more very important 'bonus' to your 'missing link' ingredients just mentioned.
6) NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, EVER ... give up! If you really want to be the best possible golfer you can be, then never give up trying! No matter what, NEVER give up! But, along the way, constantly re-evaluate your process and make certain, to the best of your ability, that you have a plan supported by qualified experts who have already produced the results you desire. AND remain 'coachable' ... follow exactly the plan that they provide for you!
This is what it will take. There are no other options. Applying these 'missing link' elements is the one and only way to end your frustration as a golfer and to reach your true potential! Take it or leave it. It is the 'law' ... just like the 'Law of Gravity' ... what goes up WILL come down ... each and every time ... no exceptions!
The law of 'Cause and Effect', as it relates to achieving the 'ideal' golf swing, is no less of a law than the 'Law of Gravity'. It is just as constant, absolute and unconditional. So please learn to understand it, operate within its lmits, and you will reap the great benefits that it provides. If you don't want to obey the 'Cause and Effect', you are totally free to do so. But, simply understand, you will continue to suffer the appropriate 'cause and effect' consequences of your non-compliance to the 'law'... in this case ... remaining 'frustrated' in the experience of never reaching your golf performance ideals.
I know that sounds extreme, but it is, nevertheless, the truth! Sometimes, the truth is a tough pill to swallow. Consider it 'tough love' if you will. As someone who sincerely wants to see you, and all other golfers, WIN at this game ... I really want you to know ... the truth.
But here's some very good news. The opportunity for following this truth to realize your golf peformance goals is now easier than ever before. Why? Because the '5' essential performance factors for golf are now ALL available in both quantity and quality like never before. In today's golf service world, there are plenty of top golf instructors, golf-specific mental coaches, golf-fitness specialists, and professional club-fitters. Availability of qualified professional training resources is NOT the main problem.
A much bigger challenge for you will be finding the 'team' of professionals that will work as a completely 'integrated' team for 'you'. Locating the individual service providers from each golf specialty area is easy. But getting your team members to fully 'integrate' to effectively provide the maximum synergistic benefits of each golf-specific perfomance element is always easier said than done.
So, as you research and interview the professionals who will be making up your 'integrated performance team', please qualify them by ... 1) their experience, and ... 2) their desire and ability to communicate with the performance specialists on your team. This is critical to your success!
There you have it! The 'Missing Link' to Total Golf Mastery. It is my hope that you find this report helpful and that it may assist you in some way along your golf performance journey. If so, please consider passing this information on to your golfing freinds.And, if you ever want help with any of these 'missing link' suggestions, I am at your service. I would love the opportunity to help you, and/or anyone you know, who is serious about playing better golf. It is one of my greatest joys in life to see golfers reach their true potential. If we work together, I know you can too!
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