The Journey Begins!

It’s hard to believe it’s already been 10 months, but the World Long Drive Championship is right around the corner. That means it’s long drive season and time for me to start preparing.

That means it’s also time to start my “Journey to the 2013 Worlds” chronicles.

I’m about 8 weeks out from the World Long Drive Championship (September 19th – 21st), so my 2013 Journey begins with this video as I take a page out of Jack Nicklaus’ golf book and start with the basics.

At the beginning of every season Nicklaus went back to his golf instructor Jack Grout to check his fundamentals: Grip. Stance. Alignment. Posture. Balance. Ball position.

Watch the video, because this year there is a twist.

MY JOURNEY TO THE WORLDS

For the past couple of years I have been shooting videos and writing about how I prepare and train for the Championship.

I have no idea, of course, how things will turn out.

It’s kind of like reality TV. Only real.

Maybe that’s why my ‘Journey’ chronicles have been the most popular posts on the blog. You get a chance to go behind the curtain and see how I prepare, how I train, and how I think.

Last year, of course, the Journey ended with me pulling out victory on my very last shot in the 2012 competition.

Talk about dramatic.

And I can tell you that the way I prepared was the key factor in winning the championship.

My hope is that you’ll enjoy peeking over my shoulder as the Journey unfolds, and perhaps pick up a few ideas that you can apply to your own golf game.

As you saw in the video, this year there is something new.

Normally I’d start 8 weeks before the event and spend the first couple of weeks testing clubs and working on my swing.

THE 2013 TWIST

But this year there’s a twist: I’m going to try to compete in two divisions – the Super Seniors (age 50-55), and the Seniors (45-50).

I’m already exempt into the Supers based on my win last year.

But to get into the Senior division I have to go through the same qualifying process as everybody else.

That means I have to compete in and win a Local Qualifier.

Then I have to go to the Regional Tournament and earn one of the top three or four spots against all the other Local winners from District 2 (California, Arizona, Nevada).

As the 2013 Journey starts I’ve already won a local qualifier. It’s now two weeks before the Regionals.

That means I’m not going to have time this year to work on my swing.

NO TIME FOR SWING CHANGES

This is a key point.

Two weeks is not enough time to make swing changes and have them hold up under the pressure of competition.

Swing changes take time. Many months of consistent practice until they become automatic.

But set-up changes are a different story.

Set-up changes CAN be grooved in a couple of weeks through deliberate practice of the pre-shot routine. That’s all I have time to work on right now as I prepare for the Regional Championship.

In the next video I’ll show you exactly how I check my ball position, tee height, and alignment.

TAKE AWAYS

Here are your take-aways:
1. At the start of your season review and refine your fundamentals. Like Jack Nicklaus, make no assumptions;
2. The closer you get to competition the LESS time you spend on your swing;
3. Set-up changes CAN be made and grooved in a few weeks by working them into your pre-shot routine and then practicing your routine.