3- Tactical: Take what we have and make it work!  

No question about it...this is where the game of golf is played...it's TACTICAL!!!  If the game is all about tactics, what does that really mean.  Webster's definitions are: tactic: 1- of or relating to an arrangement or order.  2- method of employing forces in combat.  3- a device for accomplishing an end.  4- of or having an arrangement or pattern. 5- showing orientation or movement directed by a specified force or agent. tactics: 1- fit for arranging, to arrange. 2- to place in battle formation (akin to Lith, which means 'comfortable').  3- the science and art of disposing and maneuvering forces in combat.  4- the art or skill of employing available means to accomplish an end.   tactical:  1- of or related to combat tactics.  2- involving actions or means of less magnitude or at a shorter distance from a base of operations than those of strategy (in other words, we begin a round with an overall strategy, but each shot requires tactical execution).  3- of or relating to small-scale actions serving a larger purpose.  4- made or carried out with only a limited or immediate end in view.  5- planning or maneuvering to accomplish a purpose. tactician: 'one who is versed in tactics'

OK...Now We're 'Gettin Somewhere !!!

To play better golf... to score better on the course... means that we are becoming better 'tacticians' (BLENDERS).  That is... we are 'getting the most out of what we have'.  We must realize that what we have has everything to do with the nine variables listed in the Total Golf Game Management Outline.  Each one of these variables is involved in every shot that we play and every round that we play.  To play better golf means that we are preparing / arranging / maneuvering / and responding better...we're better 'tacticians'! 

When it comes time to 'Just do it', everything depends upon your preparation...your capability...and most importantly...Your belief system.  To strengthen your belief system means that you have 'blended' your preparation effort...you have 'covered all the bases'!                                           BLENDING

TGM Golf Path-  At this time have another look at the TGM Golf Outline.  We ask you to look at the outline again because we want you to know that playing the game is a 'blending process' that will involve all 9 of the variables listed within the outline.

Mechanical (has to do with positions the club is in / the club is a tool use it as it has been designed to be used) 
1. Angle- Your primary source of power... no angle = no power!
2. Swingpath- Your primary source of direction...poor path = poor direction!
3. Release Action- Your source of power & direction combined...your golf shot!

Physical (has to do with movements that you make / this is what ultimately determines the quality of a golf shot)
4. Your body- Strength / Flexibility / Endurance aren't bad things to have going on!!!!!!!!
5. Rhythm- The 'to-and-fro' swinging action...pace.
6. Timing- Has to do with 'when' different parts of your body are 'firing' (or sputtering!)

Tactical (has to do with anything that is not mechanical or physical in nature...it's where games are won and lost!)
7. Mental Processes- Awareness and Acceptance / Decision making, pure and simple / Committing to the shot
8. Emotional Processes- Will make or break your round, how to make emotions work for you / Understanding PEM's - NEM's - and NEUTRALITY
9. Belief System- Conscious - Subconscious - Superconscious / Believing creates Reality

Whatever our skill level at playing the game is, we will be involving all nine variables in the outline.  To say that any one is more important than another depends upon the individual and where his or her strengths and weaknesses are.  To overlook or neglect any one of the nine would be the same as trying  to put a puzzle together and not having a piece or two to complete the picture... all nine are required and important to you!  

As you work to develop all 9 variables (and all 9 will be involved all the time) you are essentially strengthening the cycle of Preparation / Capability / and Belief System.  At the end of the day it's really all about our belief system!  'Getting the most out of what we have' or 'taking what we have and making it work' is what it's all about!  To do this we have to believe.  To believe requires development in all 9 areas.  Preparation in all 9 areas improves our capabilities. 

Improved capability leads to a stronger belief system

  The 'S-F-D' Process 

See It!       Feel It!         Do It!       
     

The 'SFD' Process is what 'playin a a golf shot is all about!  It starts with your 'pre-shot routine' and ends with your 'post-shot response' and then starts all over again on the next shot! 

TGM Path: Mental Processes have to do with 'Decisions and Committment', Emotional Processes have to do with 'Feelings and Attitude'.  As close as these two are to each other you have to keep them separate.  In other words...you cannot let your 'feelings and emotions' negatively affect your ability to be 'decisive and committed'.  

'See It!'- Mental Processes

See It!:  'Seeing it' is a mental process.  At this time we are using the part of our brain which controls the 'cognitive thinking' function.  The part of our brain that adds & subtracts, surveys, and determines good from bad or red from blue.  Above we stated that becoming a better golfer means that we are becoming better 'tactitians', better 'planners and arrangers'.  We become better at 'manuvering' ourselves around the golf course, 'tactically' avoiding trouble and 'creatively' escaping trouble when we get into it. 

'Mental Processes' take place before as well as after we play a golf shot.  Before playing a shot, when we are sharp we are more acutely aware of everything having to do with the shot at hand.  We are aware and accept factors such as; distance, 'lie' of the ball, risk/reward percentage, wind, current temperature, terrain, even our own body physiology (adrenlin) and how we are swinging that paticular day will be taken into account when planning the shot in front of us.  (By the way...all of this 'processing' takes place in a matter of seconds!  It's an unbelievable process when you have it happening!).  After the planning process takes place there will be a decision made as to the type of shot to be played and the best club to play it with.  After these two decisions are made there must be a complete committment to the proper execution of that shot.  (Committment to the shot is very important, often times, you will be better off committing to the wrong club as opposed to being indecisive with the right one!). 

 PSR - 'Post Shot Response'

After we play a shot comes the 'post-shot response'...and...oh boy...here's where things can get real 'dicey', to say the least!  The 'Mental Processes' taking place at this point have three important functions: 

 1- Decide how we will handle the 'emotional' impact that the shot has created (acceptance verses quitting). 

 2- Having accepted what just happened, good or bad, we decide immediately that we will handle the next shot, however difficult or challenging it may be.

 3- Give ourselves a '8 second time-out' to decide what might have gone wrong with the execution of that shot and give ourselves a quick refresher as to doing it right. 

After this is process is finished  you start over with what went on during the 'pre-shot' processes that took place only moments before.  Sometimes we hear it said that golf is a 'slow-paced' game...not really...there is alot actually going on during those minutes between shots!  If you are playing 'competitive golf' get ready for this, it's really what the game is all about...tactically working your way around the golf course with a minimum of 'mental errors'.  

'Feel It!'- Emotional Processes      

Feel It!:  'Feeling It' is an emotional process.  Where 'seeing it' is a 'conscious function', an idea or thought is generated in your mind through the visual channel of sight.  'Feeling it' is 'deeper', closer to your 'subconscious' mind.  In terms of a golf shot the 'subconscious mind rules'!  You cannot 'think your way through a golf swing'...no...if you try...the result is not likely to be good.  To hit a great golf shot you must 'let go'...'swing away'...or 'let the shot happen'.  'Feeling it' is a 'state of mind', you don't even need to actually be doing it in order to 'feel it'.  'Feeling it' is 'seeing it' with you mind's eye!  

During your 'pre-shot routine' the practice or 'rehersal swings' that you make are very important.  It is at this point that you begin to truly 'feel' what the shot that you are playing calls for you to do with the club. This is what 'feel' is...it's having the 'intuitive sense' of moving the club through the ball in a manner that will produce a specific ball flight and distance.  

Emotions can 'get in the way' of 'feel' if you let them!  Emotions are as much a part of the game as the clubs that are being used.  There's no getting around it...we will have 'MOMENTS' where we feel nervous, excited, angry or happy, frustrated and dissapointed, or satisfied and so on.  'Emotional Moments' can directly effect 'attitude' and having the right 'attitude' is essential for success in anything that we do in life! Before we have a closer look at 'Emotional Moments', take a minute a think about the concept of 'attitude'.

Attitude  

at-ti-tude /  1- the arrangement of the parts of a body, posture.  2- a mental position with regard to a fact or a state. 3- a feeling or emotion with regard to a fact or a state. 4- a position assumed for a specific purpose.  5- a state of readiness set to respond in a characteristic manner.

Emotional Moments - "PEM's" / "NEM's" / NEUTRALITY 

"Excuse me... I'm having a MOMENT!#@!%!".  "Oh!... look out... she's having a moment!".  "Whew!...man... for a moment there I thought I was 'gonna loose it!".  :)

In a certain regard it could be said that this is what playing golf is all about.  It's about 'feeling and dealing' with the varied emotions that we will feel during a round.  One fact that we can count on here is that we are going to feel emotions during a round of golf!  It's how we deal with them that makes the difference!  (Ummm... sounds 'kinda like regular everyday life!) 

 A 'PEM' is a positive emotional moment and it is a good thing... always enjoyable!  Postiive emotional moments seem to last longer, are typically very peaceful, non-threatening and will sometimes last the entire round.  It's called "being in the zone".  (It's really the perfect state of mind we call the Superconscious!).

A 'NEM' is a negative emotional moment and it 'can be' a bad thing...(but it doesn't have to be!).  Hey!...We're 'gonna have'em...there's no avoiding 'em.  The 'negative emotional impact' that can be felt from hitting a 'bad shot' can effect your round much more seriously than the 'positive emotional impact' that is felt from hitting a 'good shot'...if you let it!  It is good to develop the understanding that the result of a shot is simply 'feedback', information for you to use for problem solving.   In other words, whether the shot is good or bad, you process it as information to be used for your benefit as you move forward into your round.  To develop this 'response skill', and it is a skill, depends completely upon your ATTITUDE!  Learn as much as you can about how to develop a good one!         

NEUTRALITY is a state of 'calm'.  It's about having poise under pressure.  It's about staying 'in balance' as the emotional moments bounce off your state-of-mind. (Have a close look at definition #5 for 'attitude', stated above, do it right now!).  Beginning now...make your 'state of readiness to respond in a characteristic manner' one of ...'being calm'. (It's your best bet for staving off the NEM's!)  

   Developing a Good Attitude

TGM Golf Path-  Keeping a good 'attitude' is your defense against the 'negative emotional moments' that you will have during a round of golf.  NEM's will be experienced even when practicing.  This is a perfect time to realize what is happening and begin to build your 'attitudinal' defense aimed at controlling your emotions.  Get good at defeating negative emotions with good attitude and your round won't 'get away from you'!  We can strengthen our ability to keep a good attitude by doing three things:

1- Always watch what you say - The subsconscious mind governs our 'belief system'.  Whatever we say...the subsconscious is always listening...and believing!  If we slip up during  a 'NEM' say something like "I 'gotta be the worst putter in the world!"...guess what...our subconscious is listening and believing...and we ultimately become a contenders for the 'worst putter in the world' award!  The next time you find yourself beginning to verbalize something negative...pull up short and don't say it!  Period...that's it! 

2- Watch your body language - The positions and movements of our bodies speak volumes about our attitude.  The subconscious not only listens to what we say but also associates feelings with how we look.  If we slump our shoulders, kick our golf bag, and walk around with our head down and mumbling...guess what...you know what, so watch out for your gestures.  Afterall, we certainly don't want our opponents to see that we are down, that will only play to their hands!

3- Always focus on past success, not past mishaps -  Since the subconscious is the ruler of our 'belief system', and if all that we focus on is negative, then the 'belief system' that we are supporting will be negative.  For instance...if you stand over a three foot putt, and the thought of a recently missed three foot putt flashes through your mind, as opposed to the thousands of three footers that you have made, then you're setting yourself up to miss that three footer...period, that's it!  Always become focused on your past successes.