#11: Jon Sherman (Practical Golf) Helps Manage Your On-Course Expectations, PLUS a Waste Management Preview & LIV’s Moment in the Mexican Sun
Feb 7, 2024
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Jon Sherman, golf improvement site owner and podcast host, shares insights on expectation management, strategy, practice, and his workout routine to 'Rocky' soundtrack. The hosts discuss course management, commercials during PGA Tour broadcasts, nightmare golfers, exercising with or without headphones, focusing on incremental progress in golf, building an online writing business, and reducing double bogeys in golf.
Being easy to play with in golf contributes to a positive and enjoyable experience for all players involved.
Managing expectations is crucial in golf to set realistic goals and focus on personal growth and development.
Experience plays a significant role in golf, helping golfers handle pressure, make better decisions and manage their emotions.
Deep dives
The Importance of Being Easy to Play With
Being easy to play with in golf is a valuable trait, as it contributes to a positive and enjoyable experience for all players involved. It means not making the game solely about oneself and being considerate of others. This includes not getting frustrated or losing one's temper on the course and not taking excessively long for each shot. By focusing on the shared experience and maintaining a positive attitude, golfers can create a more enjoyable environment for themselves and their playing partners.
The Significance of Managing Expectations in Golf
Managing expectations is crucial in golf, especially for newer players. It involves having realistic expectations of one's skill level and the outcomes of each round. It is important to understand that mastery of the game takes time and effort, and that improvement may not happen as quickly as desired. By setting realistic expectations and understanding the learning process, golfers can better enjoy the game and focus on their personal growth and development.
The Role of Experience in Golf
Experience plays a significant role in golf, particularly in competitive play. Having past exposure to tournaments and matches helps golfers to handle pressure, make more informed decisions, and better manage their emotions. Through experience, golfers can develop confidence, gain a better understanding of their own capabilities, and learn how to adapt to different situations on the course. Embracing past experiences and learning from them can contribute to a more successful and enjoyable golfing journey.
The Benefits of Being Present and Focused in Golf
Being present and focused during a round of golf can greatly enhance one's performance and overall experience. It allows golfers to be fully immersed in the present moment, allowing them to better concentrate on each shot and make better decisions. By embracing the meditative and calming aspects of the game, golfers can appreciate their surroundings, enjoy the peaceful nature of the sport, and cultivate a deep sense of concentration and focus. This mindset can contribute to improved performance and a greater sense of fulfillment while playing golf.
Importance of Appreciation and Gratitude in Golf
The speaker emphasizes the importance of having a baseline appreciation and gratitude for being able to play golf, regardless of skill level. This mindset applies to both beginners and professional players, as it helps them stay focused and perform better by avoiding obsession with results. The speaker shares examples of conversations with a professional golfer, McKenzie Hughes, to illustrate the significance of appreciating the opportunity to play golf for a living and the impact it can have on performance.
Effective Practice Strategies and Shot Shaping
The podcast discusses two valuable topics in golf - effective practice strategies and shot shaping. One key point made is the importance of blending block practice and random practice. Block practice, where the golfer focuses on repetitive drills, can be more effective if done intentionally with a specific target, routine, and focus on impact. Additionally, the podcast explores the idea of shot shaping and recommends that golfers choose a shot shape that provides the tightest dispersion and best chance of hitting well, rather than trying to work the ball in both directions. Examples are given of professional golfers who have found success by focusing on one shot shape and reducing double crosses.
The Long Game is back, and before we welcome a special guest to the program, Dave and Casey catch up on all things golf, including the rain-shortened AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, LIV Golf’s moment in the Mexican sun, and this week’s always-entertaining Waste Management Open at TPC Scottsdale. Then, the guys are joined by Jon Sherman (00:24:04), who runs the popular golf improvement site Practical Golf, hosts the Sweet Spot podcast, and is the author of The Four Foundations of Golf. We talk expectation management, strategy, practice, and why Jon works out to the same 4 songs from the “Rocky” soundtrack.
Follow Jon Sherman on Twitter (@practicalgolf), Instagram (@practical.golf), and www.practical-golf.com.
- Email us listener questions/stories at longgamepod@gmail.com
