These 4 ‘Ps’ are the key to playing better golf
In journalism, research or investigations, there’s something called the five “Ws” and 1 “H.” Also know as “reporter’s questions,” they are “Who, What, When, Where, Why and How.” Answer them correctly, and they’re all but guaranteed to lead you to an appropriate deduction.
Golf is a game with similar questions, except instead of Ws and Hs, they’re Ps.
While I am not presumptuous enough to think I can answer all of your questions and condense improvement to a recipe, I do believe my “4 P’s to Better Playing” can keep you on a Productive Path. (See what I did there?)
1. Play the ball as it lies
No round of golf is ever without adversity. Golf is a game with hazards, penalties, changing and unpredictable conditions.
A common denominator among great golfers is the ability to avoid these pitfalls, and if they don’t avoid them, they are able to recover from the missteps with limited damage.
There are many reasons for this, but in my experience, good golfers are able to limit disaster because they are able to play off unfavorable lies successfully.
“Golf is the closest game to the game we call life. You get bad breaks from good shots; you get good breaks from bad shots – but you have to play the ball where it lies.”
This is pure wisdom from the great Bob Jones and I implore you to take it to heart. Practice off bad lies of every kind, and when you play, resist the urge to bump the ball into a better lie. This discipline will surely grow your skill-set, and your mindset.
2. Putt from off the green
I learned this ditty a long time ago and its wisdom is ageless.
“When off the green, if you can’t putt, chip,
If you can’t chip, pitch,
If you can’t pitch, lob, and
if you can’t lob, play smart.”
Commit this to memory and apply it. Look for every opportunity to putt when you are greenside, and then do it. A bad putt is always better than a bad chip or pitch.
3. Practice productively and purposefully
“The most common practice error is to drift aimlessly to the range and start banging balls at random. This isn’t practice. This is a waste of time. The worst thing you can do is practice your mistakes.” Tommy Armour
I try to avoid making promises because of the mercurial nature of golf, but I can comfortably promise you this: If you practice, and practice with intent, purpose and focus you will improve your game.
It sounds logical but the lion’s share of club golfers don’t practice, they only play golf. If ever they do practice there typically is zero structure and intent to their time spent.
Take Tommy Armour’s insights to heart. Don’t waste time, have a plan and go and execute the plan on the practice area…and practice off bad lies once in a while.
4. Power Up properly
Power. It is enchanting to every golfer around the world. Sadly it is misunderstood and, even more dangerously mis-applied. Indeed the woods are full of many golfers trying to hit the long ball.
Strength is a part of the power equation, but only a small part. The most important element to power is speed… clubhead speed.
Remember this as you strive for power: You are in the energy transmission business and it is your responsibility to transmit energy from your body into the golf ball, and there is only one way to do this and that is via your golf club-face.
As Nick Faldo once said to me: “Your club-head has the longest journey to travel (in the swing); make sure it moves the fastest.”
Take this advice to heart and appropriate your speed so it maximizes through the impact zone.
Quit the lurching, heaving, and to-ing and fro-ing in the vain hope of propelling the golf ball farther. Make balanced, poised, and timed passes that accelerate at the correct time so you can hit the ball solidly. That is reliable and efficient power.
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