Tip of The Month – Clayton Johnson

7 Resolutions to Help Your Game in 2015
If you’re into New Year’s resolutions, you’ve probably already made them — but did you make your 2015 golf resolutions yet? Here are 7 things I think you should consider. These drills, assessments and practice plans will have you on your way to playing the best golf of your life in 2015.

No. 1: Improve Your Wedge Game from 30-to-80 Yards
This is usually the aspect of most amateurs’ games. Regardless of your level of play, you should seek to make your wedge game an asset, not a liability. No one likes to turn a chance to make a birdie into a bogey or worse, and a fat or thin shot from 30-to-80 yards is often the culprit.

No. 2: Increase Your Flexibility
I am NOT advocating that golfers spend two hours in the gym each day doing cardio, weights and stretching. If you can, that’s great, but it’s not realistic for most people. There are many things you can do at home to aid your flexibility, however, and one of my favorite things to do is to take a heavy club and use it to STRETCH myself into different positions. What I did not tell you to do is swing the heavy club back and forth. The stretching I advocate is a way to move your body into positions that it’s not used to so you can find your “normal” swinging position easier. If you’d like more exercises regarding flexibility, strength, injury prevention, etc., visit www.mytpi.com, the leader in golf-specific training.

No. 3: Take More Lessons
If you want to get better at golf and improve your own personal well being on the golf course, lessons will surely help. If possible, I advocate taking a lesson a week. If you cannot, then shoot for one lesson each month. It will help you stay on the right track.

No. 4: Audit Your Set Make Up and Get Fit
There are tools now that help us see if the clubs you have in your bag actually work for your game and
answer questions such as:
Are your lofts and lies correct for you?
Do you have the right shafts?
Do you have enough fairway woods, hybrids or wedges in your bag?
Do you have the right kind of irons for your game?
Are you playing the right ball?

No. 5: Get a Short Game Lesson
A short game lesson will help you improve in hitting stock chips, pitches and flops around the green. This is where I see a ton of shots wasted on the course and it tends to get worse over time if not corrected.

No. 6: Work on your Lag Putting
How many times have you REALLY worked on your lag putting? No, I’m not talking about hitting a few 30 footers and calling it a day, but actually hitting super long putts, working on huge breaking putts and putting from different shelves. These are the things that will help you stop three-putting!

No. 7: Leave Your Ego in the Car
Know your limitations and don’t be stubborn on the course. Appreciate your good shots and enjoy the game.