The Three Pillars of Putting
Better Golf Academy: Strategy to Awesome Golf
Most golfers approach putting completely wrong, obsessing over stroke mechanics while missing the three fundamental skills that actually matter. Through the dramatic story of Alexander the Great solving the legendary Gordian Knot with one decisive sword stroke, discover why putting success comes from systematic execution rather than perfect technique. Learn how to read greens like a tour pro using your feet as much as your eyes, develop the technical precision to consistently start putts on line, and master distance control through external focus. Packed with research from putting experts...
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Playing Your Way To Peace
Better Golf Academy: Strategy to Awesome Golf
In this episode, I explore the powerful connection between golf and mental health, examining how and why golf has become a form of self-care and therapy for millions of players. Using research from sports psychology, insights from mental health experts, and personal anecdotes, I demonstrate how golf provides unique mental health benefits through its combination of nature exposure, physical activity, social connection, and mindfulness practice. With younger generations now citing mental health as their primary reason for playing golf, this episode offers practical strategies for intentionally...
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How To Avoid Blow-Up Holes
Better Golf Academy: Strategy to Awesome Golf
In this episode, I explore the three crucial strategies high handicappers can use to avoid disaster holes: embracing the boring play, knowing your go-to shot under pressure, and developing a post-mistake routine. Using research from sports psychology, insights from golf legends, and personal anecdotes, I demonstrate how these mental game approaches can help golfers lower their scores dramatically without changing their swing. The episode explains how most high handicappers aren't held back by their inability to hit good shots, but rather by their poor decisions and emotional reactions...
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Golf Parenting Done Right
Better Golf Academy: Strategy to Awesome Golf
After witnessing a disturbing interaction between a father and his talented young daughter on the driving range, this episode dives into the critical question: Can we raise kids who excel at golf while maintaining their passion for the game? Through research from sports psychology and youth development experts, I explore how parents can foster excellence without sacrificing joy. The episode offers three science-backed strategies that create a foundation for both competitive success and long-term love of golf. Learn how fostering autonomy, developing a growth mindset, and creating emotional...
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Strokes Gained 101
Better Golf Academy: Strategy to Awesome Golf
Ever wonder why pro golfers remember every detail of their rounds while you can't recall the hole you just played? In this eye-opening episode, dive into the revolutionary concept of Strokes Gained that's transformed how the pros play and practice. Discover how this stat, developed by finance professor Mark Broadie, breaks down performance into four key categories: Off-the-Tee, Approach, Around-the-Green, and Putting. You'll learn shocking statistics about Tour pros' putting percentages (they miss more than half their 10-footers!), understand how to interpret Strokes Gained numbers, and...
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What Dreams Are Made Of
Better Golf Academy: Strategy to Awesome Golf
In this episode, we witness history as Rory McIlroy finally captures the green jacket he's been chasing for 11 years, completing the career Grand Slam after countless heartbreaks at Augusta National. From his beginnings as a three-year-old swinging in his living room to his emotional collapse on the 18th green, we explore what this moment teaches us about persistence, resilience, and the winding path to achieving our dreams. This isn't just a golf story—it's a powerful reminder that extraordinary achievements come with extraordinary obstacles, and sometimes the most meaningful...
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How To Control Your Rage
Better Golf Academy: Strategy to Awesome Golf
Ever wonder why you lose your cool on the golf course? In this episode, I reveal the psychology behind those club-throwing moments and why anger is never actually the first emotion you feel—it's always covering something deeper. You'll discover why one pro golfer went to the extreme of taping his mouth shut during a tournament (spoiler: it didn't work) and learn the three powerful keys to emotional mastery that the world's best players use under pressure. I'll share personal stories of my own emotional disasters on the course, practical drills you can use immediately, and the...
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Stop Practicing Like a Robot
Better Golf Academy: Strategy to Awesome Golf
What if everything you’ve been told about practice is wrong? I spent 25 years playing piano the “right” way—grinding the same songs, chasing perfection, and dreading every recital. Then, I watched my son fall in love with music overnight… not by memorizing notes, but by playing thunder. Turns out, golf practice has the same problem. Most players are stuck in their own lifeless recital—mindlessly smashing balls, grooving flaws, and wondering why they never improve. In this episode, you’ll learn why the driving range is LYING to you (and what to do instead). And learn about the...
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How To Get Out Of A Slump
Better Golf Academy: Strategy to Awesome Golf
Are you in a slump? Are you feeling cluttered, overwhelmed, and lost? In this episode, we’re breaking the cycle: no more band-aid fixes, no more swing overhaul madness. Instead, we’re going against conventional wisdom with three powerful (and often overlooked) strategies. Plus, we’ll talk about the real reason slumps linger (hint: it’s not your swing) and how to fall back in love with the game when nothing seems to work. If you’re tired of the endless grind and ready for a smarter way out of your slump, this episode is your game plan. "The slump isn’t your enemy—it’s your...
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Learning Not To Dwell
Better Golf Academy: Strategy to Awesome Golf
What do Roger Federer, Scottie Scheffler, and Rory McIlroy all have in common? It’s not just their incredible talent or their trophies—it’s their ability to bounce back. In this episode, we dive deep into the art of resilience, exploring how the greatest athletes in the world turn setbacks into comebacks. Did you know that even Federer, one of the most dominant tennis players of all time, only won 54% of the points he played? Or that Scottie Scheffler, the current world number one in golf, has the highest bounce back rate on the PGA Tour at 33.33%? These stats aren’t just...
info_outlineIn this episode of the Better Golf Academy, I discuss why it is so important in golf to be in the moment.
I truly believe in order to conquer this game to play our very best, we have to control our thoughts. It’s really true what they say, this game is 90% mental and 10% mental. And I so much believe that if we get this part right, it can really change our game.
Mindfulness is a mental state achieved by focusing one’s awareness on the present moment. Is this easy to do?
It’s Not Easy
No one said it was easy. Staying focus and not allowing your mind to wander is not easy. It takes discipline. It takes practice like everything else. And most of all it takes confidence. What do you mean by confidence? It takes confidence to know and believe and have a conviction that this really works. And, thinking back...I was teeter-tottering. I didn’t think seriously enough about it. Maybe, even though I preach it, I didn’t entirely believe it. I was thinking that if I had the physical talent and ability to shoot well, that I would automatically shoot well and the score will show it at the end of the day. NOT. It takes mental discipline every hole, every shot. Full focus. Being in the moment.
It’s a Journey
How do we get there? I am not there yet. Obviously. But, I believe our pursuit of getting there is the goal, not just getting there. Okay, this reminds me of a quote, I know...sometimes introducing quotes in a podcast is a bit cliche-ish and corny but I think this really applies to what we are talking about today.
“Success is a journey, not a destination. The doing is often more important than the outcome”.
This quote is by Arthur Ashe. Who is Arthur Ashe? He was an American Professional tennis player who won 3 grand slam titles. He was the first black player selected to the US Davis Cup team and the only black man ever to win the singles title at Wimbledon, The US Open and the Australian Open. He was also an author and mostly known for being a crusader for equality. He really lived with intention and impact.
So, for me, I can look at this event as a total failure. Which, I actually called it that on my dreadful drive back home in my head. But, nah...I don’t believe that anymore. It’s all part of the journey and it’s never about the outcome, or the end result, or the certificate, or whatever's in your life...I truly believe it’s about our attitude, discipline, will and our struggle and fight in getting there.
Look Up
When I started my podcast, my friend Charlton messaged me and said dude, this podcast is for me. I am your poster child. Do you know how many books I’ve read on golf? Every single one. Do you know how many videos I’ve watched? Workshops I’ve attended? He’s a learner. A seeker who’s hungry for knowledge, a true student of the game. When we are playing golf together several months back, I asked him, hey...just curious, from all the books you’ve read, videos you’ve watched and the workshops and lessons you’ve received, what’s the one thing, one main thing that has impacted you the most in your game?
He said. “Look up” huh? So, I went home and looked it up. Yeah, the book Zen Golf talks about the expansive awareness. It’s a practice of Mindfulness. “When you have a difficult tee shot or short putt and you are waiting your turn, it’s not very helpful to stare at it, think about it, and let your mind get very small...instead, look up and breathe out, opening to the awareness around you. He says “in life..as in golf, you give it your best shot when you’re free of tension and self-consciousness.” In life as in golf...lol. That’s my line.
Summary:
So, here’s the deal. It’s not easy. It’s a journey and you gotta remember to look up. Take a breath. Don’t get stuck on the small stuff. Be grateful. You are out here, on a beautiful day, on this beautiful course, with awesome people, playing golf. Look up. Enjoy. Have Fun. And be in the moment.