By Richard Woodhouse, PGA of Australia certified teaching professional

 

Box one. Box one.

Reducing your score and breaking the barrier of triple figures can be as simple as improving your process and approach to your upcoming shot.

Course management is crucial to improving your scoring. I look at course management as a series of steps geared around making the upcoming shot as easy as possible to execute.

There are three distinct phases to my routine of which I use a three-box method:

BOX ONE is the planning phase. I evaluate the lie and environmental conditions then make a strategic decision about what I want my desired outcome to be.

Secondly, I build a plan for the upcoming shot. For example, the left side of the fairway is safer than the right or the front of the green is a better miss than over the back.

Box two. Box two.

Once I have my plan in place I move into BOX TWO, where I prepare for the upcoming shot. I lock my eyes on the desired target and move into making a rehearsal swing, picturing what I want to achieve.

I have now created the feel and have trust in the visual cues I have given myself. Then there’s one more look down the target line and a move from box two into box three.

Box three. Box three.

BOX THREE is simply the execution box. Here, at address you have the belief that you have made all the correct decisions and have loaded the subconscious with a positive swing image back in box two.

Take one last look at the intended target and commit to your swing.

THE PROCESS CHECKLIST

BOX ONE – plan and evaluate.

BOX TWO – conduct your preparation for the upcoming shot.

BOX THREE – execution. The desired result will be far improved with increased consistency and accuracy to your target with what is a simple yet effective pre-shot routine.

RICHARD WOODHOUSE is a PGA of Australia certified teaching professional and director of instruction at the KDV Sport Academy of Golf on the Gold Coast. You can book a lesson with Richard on 0415 853 337 or visit his website www.kdvsport.com/golf-academy