A Thumbs Down Attitude Helps Me Discover Scoring Opportunities in Every Shot

...by Nick Petti

Has one awkward shot ever thrown you off your entire game? Do you know the kind I mean? A shot that throws you so off balance you take it into the next shot, and the shot after that, until you've made a complete mess of your scorecard?

The kind of shot that has you begging for golf instruction from your golf equipment supply guy?

Here is a great way to discover the scoring opportunities hidden in every one of those awkward shots and how you can gain the edge-up on your opponents who are not aware of what I'm about to tell you.

Please forget about your swing for one moment and burn this piece of golf instruction made simple into your brain.

Golf is a mind set.

It is cerebral. It is a thought process. Of course a little good luck never hurts, but, to achieve the advantage of that winning mind set, you have to acquire an attitude that is becoming of relaxed focus.

Use whichever attitude works best for you to gain that winning mind set and get ready to lower your score and add 20 yards to every club in your bag - except your putters of course.

Now, for me, it's a little secret I call my thumbs down attitude - which is perhaps a story for another day - and my Callaway golf attitude. If I'm swinging what the best in the game swing, my attitude toward my game improves.

When I'm faced with one of those awkward shots, I think it through. I put on my Callaway golf and thumbs down game face, and I focus.

I see myself swinging true. I see myself keeping my balance and my head from moving, then...

I see the line my Callaway golf club must travel. I set up my shot by considering where the club head is in relation to where it needs to be for the greatest distance and accuracy. And I keep in mind that the ball is going to have contact with the club head for several inches through my swing.

After a few practice swings I judge what relationship my feet should have with the line and I find a comfortable stance - then relax.

Relaxed focus and attitude are keys to golf success.

When you try this, first be aware of any problems you may encounter keeping your balance. Shift if necessary until you find a comfortable position where there is no tension in your swing. Keep from swaying as you are about to the hit the ball, but stay loose.

I free my muscles and focus my mind on swinging my Callaway golf club smoothly. Thumbs down keeps my relaxed focus as I address the ball, which enables me to stay square on impact.

Remember, if you are fidgety when you address the ball, you are not going to achieve relaxed focus. This is not a time to be thinking of golf instruction from your golf equipment supply guy.

It is a time to keep your feet still and make sure you see the ball from the beginning of your swing through the end. An awkward shot demands relaxed focus.

This will be your edge-up on opponents.

You really can discover the scoring opportunity hidden in every awkward shot. Just remember that a relaxed golfer is a focused golfer and a focused golfer usually scores lowest.

Don't let the awkward shots beat you. Relax and think them through. Maintain the edge-up on your opponents and you'll beat them every time.

That's what I did today, despite the rain and 30 mph wind gusts.

Now, there is some "golf instruction made simple" worth sharing with my golf equipment supply guy: my focus from relaxation and my attitude from Callaway golf and thumbs down.