Coach Ian Triggs and Chris Lee conducted a very particular lesson today for our junior excellence team. It focused around pre-shot routine, imagination and the detailed reasoning why it is that, whilst you practice, one's mental concentration is so very important.
Initially, situations were created for the juniors where trouble-shots would have to be made and the juniors were observed in how they approached their shots. In particular, their use of imagination in a sticky situation and their inherent concentration levels during the ordeal was observed closely for each student.
The next step was to return to the good old driving range to practice with those who were unsuccessful with their trouble shots to play out some very simple shots. The mis-shots amongst these simple shots were recorded and compared to those with those who were successful with their trouble shots. Not surprisingly, there was a significant difference in mis-shot rates between the two groups; attributed mostly to practice ethic and general ability to maintain concentration during shots.
By practicing alternating trouble shots alongside extremely simple shots, the juniors were able to learn the concept of a mis-shot would usually carry onto the next shot, regardless of the difficulty of the shot. This is a concept that is easily forgotten at the range if full concentration and imagining the importance of each shot isn’t considered. By extension, this means concentration and pre-shot routine should be carried out for each and every shot.
Coach Ian Triggs was heard saying, “Don’t attempt to be the best ball striker, become the best player”, which is wiser words than it seems at first glance, good advice for every player to keep in mind, especially after today’s lesson.
Lets focus and keep the values of today’s lessons for every shot on-course and off.