FOCUS for Golf when Learning, Practicing & Competing

Welcome to Target Oriented Golf.

This is a 1 hour interview recorded several years ago in which we discuss the benefits of learning TOG.

"An introduction to Attentional Focus and why it lies at the heart of how you learn, practice and play in competition"

Introducing 3 distinct PSYCHOLOGICAL phases all golfers need SYSTEMATICALLY coaching.

  It is essential to identify YOUR golfing philosophy.

          Your philosophy dictates your approach to practice and play.

                So where do YOU want your ATTENTION when hitting a golf ball?

                             On target or somewhere else?

Your conscious thought processes in the SECONDS before, during and after execution frequently undermines your ability to perform both in practice and on course.

Article supporting the benefits of an external focus when learning and playing golf.

This is an aid for parents who wish to help their child understand the content of each lecture. Slowly introduce the content, one lecture at a time, let them answer the questions and discuss their comprehension of the content.

The Target Oriented Golf Training Manual was written by Dr Anthony Piparo. It explains in detail how to use attentional focus techniques to improve the development of the motor skills required to swing golf clubs.

Regardless of the swing theory you champion, the use of Dr Piparo's training techniques will ensure you develop your motor skills more efficiently and more accurately both at home and on the range.

The training manual is a downloadable pdf file (23MB).

Why does consistent golf performance remain so elusive irrespective of how much you practice?

How can you trust in the heat of competition that which you only continue to doubt in your practice?

You have to learn how to stop focusing on your technique in order to trust it - that's when we PERFORM life skills.

What is the difference between your Extrinsic and Intrinsic motivations for playing golf?

Understanding WHY you are hitting golf balls will improve your ACCEPTANCE after your shot outcomes.

A key component for emotional control on the golf course is acceptance AFTER playing a golf shot.

Your state matters - respect it at all times!

Target or Outcome? What's the difference?

The putter is designed to hit balls in a straight line, a golfer's inappropriate focus can stop this occurring.

IF you can read the correct line for the putt and choose your target on that line, you may get your desired outcome - ball in the hole, gravity does the work. You have to impart the appropriate amount of energy required to move your ball towards your chosen TARGET, which then rolls on towards the hole.

On breaking putts the ball will break towards the hole before it hits your chosen target. It is common to think the HOLE is always your target but it rarely is unless you have a straight, flat putt. It will, however, always be your DESIRED OUTCOME.

You will always be AWARE of the hole but rarely do you need your ATTENTION on your desired outcome because this can promote many faults in the putting stroke. Pushing/pulling/yips etc are common SYMPTOMS of an outcome orientation and/or attempts to consciously control your stroke, which can destroy your physical flow.

You hopefully now appreciate the consequences of being an outcome focused as opposed to a target oriented golfer.

The better you get at focusing on your targets and accepting your outcomes the lower your score.

Assess how well you commit to the process for each shot and you'll see a direct relationship to your desired outcomes.