The Face First Golf Podcast

Today we're talking what we're always talking about - the TRUTH about improving your game. Every week we do Live Lesson Friday where members send in their swings for my personal feedback and today we're putting a few members in the spotlight and sharing what they've been able to accomplish with 10 minute at-home daily practice sessions. You can do it too!

Are you one of those players who has fallen in love with your 56 degree sand wedge or even your 60 degree lob wedge from around the green? Today we're talking about a better way to get the ball close to the hole and shave strokes. And there's a TON of actionable stuff you can do right now. We cover shot and club selection... how to pick your landing spot... the BLT setup for better contact and shots that role right up by the hole... PLUS a formula for picking your landing spot based on the club you choose. Lower scores are on the way!

Motivation comes and goes as how you FEEL. That's why you can't rely on motivation to change your game (or to change anything else in your life for that matter). Change requires work. Fortunately, the work is simple... But simple does NOT mean easy. It's simple because it's super easy to understand, and it only takes 5-10 minutes a day. And you can do it at home. But the hard part is that it requires DISCIPLINE. CONSISTENCY matters. It all means that if you only do the work when you're feeling motivated, you're not gonna do the work as often. And if you don't practice FREQUENTLY for SHORT PERIODS OF TIME, your rate of improvement slows. It's another one of those things that I learned in my years at Golftec. At Golftec, we were taught from day 1 to encourage our students to take lessons WEEKLY. And I was as skeptical about weekly lessons as our students were. In regular lessons from a driving range or teaching pro, it was pretty standard that you'd encourage students to take MONTHLY lessons at the most. The thinking was always that you need time to work on what you learned during the lesson and 3 or 4 weeks would give you time to engrain it. So at Golftec when we were taught to push weekly lessons, at first I thought what a lot our students thought... that it was probably just a way to get people to burn through lessons so they'd need to buy more. But then I started to see the difference in the rate of change of the weekly lesson takers vs the monthly lesson takers and it was a night and day difference. The weekly lesson takers made changes much faster than the monthly lesson takers. In many cases the monthly lesson takers rate of change was so slow as to be nearly imperceptible when looking at their swings on video. It turns out that "taking a few weeks" to work on it was really just the student working their way all the way back to their old habit. If they took weekly lessons, at least they would only work their way HALF way back to their old habit and they were reinforcing the new habit 3 to 4 times more often than the monthly lesson takers. The key phrase from that is "reinforcing the new habit". The more often you can do that, the better. That's why I encourage the daily practice at home habit. The more barriers to practice you can remove, the better. Having to go the range is a barrier. Even having to go to the garage to get your clubs is a barrier. So put your clubs (or at least a club) where you have your practice setup. I keep my clubs in my office and the net is right outside my office. That makes practice almost inevitable. And that's a good way to think about it. Do everything you can to... Make practice inevitable.

Most players don't practice at home. And if they DO practice at home, it's maybe 10-20% of their practice and the other 80-90% of their practice is at the range. For effective skill building, we've got to reverse that.

Here's what they are... This episode is packed with a LOT of actionable stuff! Let's go!

Improving your game does NOT take a Herculean effort. At Face First Golf we work smarter, not harder. Real improvement comes from doing the little things day in and day that add up to big things... like reducing your handicap by a third like Ben Miller did. With 1000 days to go until his 60th birthday, Ben decided to do something golf related every one of those 1000 days. He shares his story in today's podcast.

Every master of his craft needs his tools. In this episode I'm sharing audio from one of the first videos you get after signing up. There are 7 you're going to need and you can get all of them for less than $100. Set yourself up for success!

What a great live lesson Friday we had this morning! Great attendance, great interaction, and just a fast paced ride to improving your grip among other things. Mastering your golf swing is just like mastering anything else. And I got reminded of it when my wife and I started dance lessons this week. I'm no dancer, and it put me in that space that you'll be in when you finally decide to give up the gimmicks and quick fixes. You've got to pick it up and put it down over and over to create more beginnings and endings to see through the big changes you need to make to play this game at a new level. You'll feel like you have 2 left feet at first. But then it will start coming easy. The journey is the goal. Thanks for listening!

The 3 previous episodes were about the 3 myths of golf improvement. Today I wanted to summarize all 3 and add the 4 pillars of success in improving your game. Thanks for checking it out! Craig

Have you ever heard that when it comes to improving your game you have get worse before you better? These days we only hear about quick fixes. But there's a good reason that old school prevailing thought was that you have to get worse before you get better. It's all explained in today's podcast along with the exact way you can ensure you can go through any swing change without ever having to worry about going backwards.

The driving range is NOT where you fix your swing. The driving range is where you hit 200 balls with 7 different swing thoughts. On the driving range, a lot of players wonder... Am I crazy or is this not doing any good at all? You're not crazy! There are 2 big problems on the range. The first is that nobody will do the small swing work that's required to make big swing changes at the range. The second problem at the range is that you get distracted by ball flight. Instead of working on what you came to work on, you end up trying different things to correct ball flight. The driving range does serve a purpose - it's where you work on turning off mechanical swing thoughts and making swings fully locked onto your target.

Today's episode is a little different. I recorded a video about how you need to walk before you run to make the big changes. It means learning good motion with small, slow swings before building it into your full swing at full speed. The video I recorded got a little long - 8 minute or so. And it was a pretty in depth explanation of the concept of starting small and slow and building on it. So I decided to make the audio from that video into a podcast.

Today's episode dives deep into one of our favorite topics: the grip. Ever heard of a strong grip? Well, if your handicap's over 12, you might want to listen up. Picture that neutral grip—yeah, that V between your thumb and forefinger? Let's make sure it's pointed in the right direction. And hey, weak grip creep? It's real, and it leads to trouble. So, members, time to check that grip. Not a member yet? Well, head over to facefirstgolf.com and let's talk serious game improvement. See you next time!

Craig kicks off the episode with a candid discussion about the reality of improving your golf game. He emphasizes the necessity of hard work and consistency over time to see real improvement. Lesson 1: Start Small to Make Big Changes Drawing on his 25 years of teaching experience, Craig talks about why starting with small swings at slow speed small is key. Trying to make big swing changes at full speed and length just doesn't work. Start with slow, short swings, gradually ramping up as your mechanics improve. Lesson 2: Invest in Yourself Wisely YouTube videos and generic lesson programs don’t get it done. Invest your time and effort wisely, focusing on short, frequent practice sessions at home.

Stage 1: Starting with Zero Knowledge: This is where every golfer begins, knowing nothing about the technicalities of the game. Stage 2: Getting Stuck in Online Programs and YouTube: Next comes the phase where you might find yourself endlessly scrolling through online lesson programs and watching countless YouTube tutorials. While these resources can boost your confidence temporarily, they often fall short in addressing your fundamental swing issues. Stage 3: Transitioning to One-on-One Lessons: Feeling stuck with online resources, you might decide to invest in one-on-one lessons. While this personalized approach is a step up, without long-term commitment and focused practice, you might still struggle to see significant improvement. Stage 4: Embracing Long-Term Commitment to Improvement: Now, here's where the real transformation happens. It's about committing to long-term improvement through consistent lessons over time. Players who embrace this approach not only make tangible swing changes but also develop a deep understanding of their game and the patience required for lasting improvement.

Today’s discussion revolves around the importance of hitting the driver well, contrary to the common belief that short game is all that matters. Craig recounts a conversation with an experienced golfer who offered a simple yet profound insight into improving his swing. He dissects the mechanics of the swing, particularly focusing on achieving depth at the top of the backswing. This depth allows for a better delivery of the club path from the inside on the downswing. The episode emphasizes the differences between irons and driver. While irons require a downward strike to create backspin, the driver benefits from an upward strike for less backspin, higher trajectory, and more roll. A key takeaway is the significance of initiating the backswing with the trail hip, which naturally leads to a better shoulder turn without overcomplicating the process. Craig also introduces the concept of "Grip, Hip, Skip" as a mnemonic for remembering key aspects of the swing. Throughout the episode, Craig emphasizes the potential for fast improvement with the right adjustments.

Coming to you from sunny Marana, Arizona, I've got my eyes set on my trusty net, gearing up for our weekly Live Lesson Fridays. Picture this: players from all corners of the globe connecting via Zoom, sharing swings, and getting personalized lessons right from the comfort of their own home. Now, let's talk practice. Ever feel like you're just spinning your wheels at the driving range? That's where home practice comes in clutch. It's about targeted, focused sessions that actually make a difference, all without the hassle of a commute. Think 5 to 10 minutes a day, honing in on your specific areas for improvement. But why practice at home? Because consistency is key. Mastery isn't built in marathon sessions at the range; it's crafted through frequent, intentional practice. And that's exactly what we aim for with Live Lesson Fridays: cutting through the noise and zeroing in on the actionable steps that will level up your game. And let's not forget the power of community. Surrounding yourself with like-minded players on the same journey can be a game-changer. That's why our members rave about the supportive atmosphere in our Facebook group and the invaluable insights they gain from watching each other's lessons. If you're ready to take your game to the next level, why not give us a shot? Head over to facefirstgolf.com and sign up for our $1 trial. No strings attached, just real, actionable advice to help you play your best.

I'm pumped to be back on the podcast, and what better way to kick things off than by talking about transformation. You know, that feeling of looking in the mirror and barely recognizing yourself because you've crushed your goals? That's what I'm going for, not just with my own health (hence the 75 Hard challenge I'm starting - wish me luck!), but also with your golf game. Now, I know what you're thinking: "75 days to transform my swing? No way!" But hear me out. This isn't about endless hours on the range beating balls into oblivion. It's about focused practice, consistency, and a healthy dose of discipline. Here's the deal for our newest Face First Golf members: Master the fundamentals: We've got a 14-day intensive packed with the 4 key elements that will take your game to the next level. Practice makes progress: Forget the marathon sessions. Just 5-10 minutes a day at home is all you need to groove these new skills. Face your fears: Our Live Lesson Fridays are a game-changer, even if you're nervous about sending in your swing. Trust me, everyone's there to learn and grow together. Level up your knowledge: Grab a copy of "Atomic Habits" by James Clear. This book is pure gold, not just for golf, but for life in general. The truth is, transformation is within reach. Just 44 days from now, your understanding of the swing, your actual swing itself, and your overall game could be completely different. Imagine what that looks like in 75 days, 90 days, or even six months! So ditch the body-wracking marathons and embrace the power of discipline and focused practice. Head over to FaceFirstGolf.com to learn more and get started. Let's transform your game together! See you next time!

In this episode, Craig delves into a topic that many golfers can relate to—the importance of getting a head start on your golf game for future success. We often make the mistake of thinking that the issues we're facing right now are solely a result of our current actions. However, in golf and life, there's a lag time, typically ranging from 60 to 120 days, before our present efforts bear fruit. Craig highlights the common human tendency to expect immediate results. We tend to believe that if we work hard today, we should see the fruits of our labor right away. But that's not how it works in golf or in life. What we do today is like writing the headlines of our lives for the next few months. The core message here is clear: if you want to be at the top of your game in March, April, or May, the time to start is now, not when those months arrive. Craig discusses the notion of discipline and consistency, key elements for improving your golf game. Discipline, in this context, means having the ability to stick to your practice routine even when you don't particularly feel like doing it. It's about doing what's necessary to achieve your goals. The importance of daily five-minute practice sessions at home is emphasized as a means to foster consistency. These short daily routines help ingrain your desired changes over time. Moving on, Craig delves into the distinction between short-term fixes and long-term improvements in golf. Short-term fixes, which can be seen in the 14-day intensive program, provide quick solutions to specific issues that can lead to immediate improvements. However, it's made clear that these are not the same as the long-term changes required to tackle fundamental problems. Craig then delves into the concept of lag time, particularly in the context of significant swing changes. It takes time for your efforts to result in a lasting transformation. In this context, the lag time can range from six months to a year. The transition from an over-the-top swing with a chicken wing to a more effective inside path with a forearm rollover release is discussed. The importance of timing and the release is underlined. Craig distinguishes between short-term improvements and long-term swing changes, highlighting that the latter requires consistent practice and a willingness to adapt to the new mechanics. The conversation shifts towards understanding the stages of making a swing change, from being unaware of the issue to reaching a point where it becomes second nature. The ultimate goal is unconscious competence, where the new swing feels natural on the course. The importance of frequent, short practice sessions at home is stressed. These sessions are not only more effective in rewiring your brain but also more practical than marathon range sessions, which often lead to distractions and inconsistent practice. The role of Live Lesson Fridays is explored, where members can receive immediate feedback and learn to develop their "eye" for their swing. Craig notes that having a clear understanding of what you're working on can greatly boost motivation for practice.