Summer 2024

TAKE YOUR BEST SHOT B Y L A I RD SMA L L Allowing Player B to Come Forward ow many times has this happened to you? It’s a perfect drive down the middle of the fairway, but then you hit your second shot to the green and strike one of the worst shots imaginable. Frustrated, you drop another ball—sometimes before the other ball has landed, and strike it perfectly…your alter ego, Player B, has shown up! You ask yourself why this happens and wonder why Player B can’t show up more often, preferably on the first shot. Is my swing not good enough? Do I not practice enough? The truth is—you are actually good enough, as is evidenced when Player B shows up. So then, what causes our Player B to hide in the background? And, what can you do to have Player B show up on those important shots? Interference Here’s a short list: the hazards in front of you, like a bunker around the green; where your drive might land; a lake you need to cover; a tree lined fairway; a side hill lie; a chance to shoot your best score with only a few holes to go; the wager you may win if you execute a good shot; what people are thinking about you as you hit your tee shot on the first hole; are you holding up the group behind; you want to look good in front of your friends or boss; you don’t want to embarrass yourself; thinking about the 20 things on your check down list before you hit your ball; or the negative conversation you are having with yourself as you prepare to strike your ball. All these things constitute interference which gets in the way of Player B showing up all the time. When Player B shows up, it’s usually a free swing, with no expectations…free of interference.The execution of the shot usually happens so quickly that you didn’t have time to think about the swing or shot, you just swung the club, left it alone, without outside noise and you interfering. And, you hit a brilliant shot! It has been my experience that when golfers hit a poor shot or one that didn’t meet their expectations, they blame their golf swing.When in almost all cases, it is their interference in their swing that caused the poor shot. Witness Player B’s arrival to save the day. If it was all about swing technique, Player B would not show up…confirmation that you can do this! You have the swing; it is really about your ability to execute your swing. The 1-10 Drill Here is a tension awareness drill to help you find how and where you inter- fere in your golf swing. It’s easy to do and you can transfer it to the course. First, make some rehearsal swings away from the ball and try to estab- lish a swing free from tension, using a scale where one is as free as pos- sible and 10 as tight as possible. Notice how you swing the club, how your body moves in response to the club at each tension level. Everyone will have a different level of tension. Next, on the practice tee address your ball and make a couple of these tension free swings directly above your ball without striking the ball. Once you feel the correct rehearsal swing and the correct level of tension you desire—without a target—lower the club, make a swing at your ball focusing on the tension level (you may notice your level of ten- sion changing as you strike your ball). I think you may be amazed at the level of tension and interference you have and where it shows up in your swing. Keep making these swings until you can reduce the tension in the unwanted places. Now, take this to the course, not- ing that it will take some courage on your part to do the same thing. Make a rehearsal swing above the ball calibrating your tension level. Lower the club and strike the ball.You will now see your true ability. If you want to play better golf, you don't have to find a better swing. You just have to trust and execute the swing that you already possess, blocking the interference, and allowing Player B to come forward, unify- ing your play to be able to perform on command. Golf is a game we play for a lifetime—be a lifelong learner. Laird Small recently retired from nearly half a century’s career as a golf professional. Most well known for his 19 years of leadership of the Pebble Beach Golf Academy, Small is a PGA Master Professional, one of GOLF Magazine’s top 100 teachers in America and was 2003 National PGA Teacher of the Year. The truth is—you are actually good enough, as is evidenced when Player B shows up. H 110 C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • S U M M E R 2 0 2 4