Your 'Blending' Process Begins By Getting on a Path 

When you are truely 'On a Path' to improvement it means that you know what you are working on, and how to best develop it: 1. Level 1 - Is effort directed toward 'mechanics'.  Mechanical work has to do with the club (the tool).  Positions you want the club in during your swing.  2. Level 2 - Is effort directed at 'How your body supports the Mechanics'.  In other words, your 'physical movement'. 3. Level 3 - Is effort directed at 'Lowering your scores'.  Improving your 'tactical' abilities to play the game!

 When it comes to truely getting better at this game 'how' you go about practicing is just as important as 'what' and 'where' it is that you are practicing.  Your continued follow-through ultimately determines when your improvement occurs. 

 Understanding What Being on 'The Path' Means! 

 No whistles and bells or fancy footwork, there is a way to improve at this game, it involves  regular effort along a consistant path.  Reviewing the path again we say:
                   #1- There will be certain  'Mechanical' aspects of the swing that must be developed. 
                   #2- There will be certain  'Physical' aspects of the game that 'should be' developed.
                   #3-  Playing the game is 'Tactical'...  you have to develop the ability to 'Let Go'.
 
Again, the   logo represents the TGM Golf 'Blending Process'.  You must start your game improvement effort with the understanding that all 9 of the variables must be blended into a smoothly working, unforced action.

#1- Mechanical aspects of your swing have to do with positions your club is in and are best developed indoors, without results, but with good feedback (a mirror for example).
#2- Physical aspects of your swing have to do with the rhythm & timing of your movements and are best developed on the practice tee.  Results are important here.
#3- Tactical ability to score well is best developed on the golf course! 

    
The golf club is a tool, use it the way it has been designed to be used.

 Your first stop along 'The Path' has to do with understanding swing mechanics.  Let's say for example that you're driving a nail into the wall with a hammer...simple picture...wall / nail / hammer...OK.  The problem is...we can't get the nail driven in without bending it!  Continued attempts require more nails, maybe try a new hammer, maybe turn the hammer around and try the other side, wow... that certainly doesn't work!  More failed experimenting and trial & error takes place which results in added frustration, when the whole time the hammer continued to be swung at the nail from the wrong direction.  The solution here is simple, swing the hammer directly into the nail on the path it was designed to be swung on.  Your golf club, like a hammer, is a tool designed to be swung a certain way.

Your first step towards understanding swing 'mechanics' is to  have your swing videoed so that you can see for yourself what you are doing with the club. 

  Once your intended swing 'mechanics' are better understood you can then move on to actually developing the 'physical' movements necessary for those mechanical positions to occur.

The 'Brickwall' 

Blending mechanical positions into physical movements is the real challenge during our game improvement process.  This is the 'brickwall' that many golfers hit when attempting to improve their games. 

  Have you heard the saying, "anything worth doing, is worth doing poorly until we do it well"?  Like any 'learning process' this philosophy should be followed during your work to improve your golf game.  Know, however, that good experience will come as long as you stay on the path.  Quite often we'll see some immediate improvement with golfers, that improvement however, seems to fade quickly, and possibly leave that golfer a step behind where they were in the first place.  That's OK!!... this 'up and down cycle' is almost expected as we work to get the mind / body / and club continuosly operating on the same page.   When we have the puzzle pieces in front of us, and we have a better idea of how they fit together, the challenge of managing your own game will be exciting!

Don't Get Stranded at the First Stop!

Playing your best golf means that you are 'blending' all 9 of the variables in the 'The Path's' outline.  Becoming more 'mechanically sound' in your swing is a means, not an end, in terms of playing your best golf.  There are many 'low handicappers' who have somewhat 'unsound' mechanics as well as those who have terrific 'mechanics' yet do not seem capable of 'playing their best'.

Understanding how 'The Path' works means that you understand that all 9 variables are involved during the playing process. 

Improving the 'mechanics' of your swing is hugely important while at the same time can be hugely detrimental to playing your best golf.  The bottom line here is... there is a time, a place, and a way to work on your 'mechanics'.  There is a time, a place, and a way to work on the physical aspects of your swing and game.  And most importantly... there is a time to just go out and PLAY GOLF! 

'Blending' Your Game Is

                                                                                                        
        Mike Lawrence                                                                     Todd Ellison