Tuesday,Sep 22 2009, 04:30:57 PMBruce Romberg - The perfect sport

Ronald Bruce Romberg

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Well, Cody, I know what you are saying. As you set-up to the ball, your eyes are pointing at the ball. As you swing the club back, your eyes continue to point at the ball. At impact your eyes are still pointing at the ball. But, I say you should not try to keep your eyes on the ball. Does that make sense? Too a lot of golfers, it does not.

If you ask a great player what they see when they set-up to the ball, you will not hear the statement "I am looking at the ball". The great player isn't focused on the ball; they are focused on the target. The ball is the least important part of golf. Obviously you couldn't play without a ball, but it shouldn't be the most important thought on your mind when you are going to play a shot. If you are staring at the ball, you are too fixated on it.

The most important thoughts in your head (pre-swing and in-swing) should be the target, the golf swing and confidence in your ability. The thought of the golf ball can only give you more tension than you already have before trying to hit a golf shot.

Just think of your practice swings. There isn't a ball you are trying to hit. Therefore the ball isn't in your thoughts. How great does your practice swing usually feel? The comment often heard around the golf course is "I wish my regular swing could feel as fantastic as my practice swing. My practice swings seem so fluid. Then I put the ball there and it all falls apart".

Well, what causes a regular swing to be a lot less effective than a practice swing? The obvious answer is the golf ball. So the obvious answer is to forget the golf ball is there. Easier said than done, but it can be done. We need to take your mind off the ball. We need to get you thinking of the swing. Just like when you take those effortless practice swings. They are so free flowing.

When a player like Jack Nicklaus sets up to the ball, his eyes are pointing at the ball. His mind's eye sees the target. It remembers what the target looked like. It pictures the golf ball landing next to the target. But the mind never thinks of hitting the ball. It may picture the ball in flight, but it doesn't see the club hit the ball. If you ever get the chance to speak with some of the top players in the world, that is what you will hear.

The best drill I can give you to conquer the habit of keeping your eyes on the ball is to practice hitting tees with your eyes closed. The next time you go to practice (after you have stretched) start your practice session by sticking a tee into the ground. Push the tee in enough so that the top is the same height as the middle of a golf ball. Do this with 5 tees that are about 6 inches apart.

Now start at the first tee and make a golf swing trying to clip the tee out of the ground. Without stopping the motion of the swing take a step forward to clip out the next tee. Continue this until all the tees are out of the ground. The key to this drill is not to stop between swings. Keep the motion going back and forth.

By continuing the motion you are taking your mind off the tees and focusing on the movements of the swing. What you will learn is you didn't need to keep your "eyes fixated on the tee". You were able to hit them out of the ground and up in the air without staring at them. So why if it is easily accomplished with tees can't you do it with a golf ball. Think about that for a few seconds before continuing reading. Read this paragraph again if you need too before continuing.

Try this drill a few more times. Then when your confidence is bursting through, try it again with your eyes closed. It probably will feel very different at first. It might even take two or three attempts to successfully accomplish the task. When your eyes are closed you are developing the sense of "feel" for your golf swing. You are feeling your golf swing. Hopefully you are learning how to see your golf swing in your minds eye. If that is happening you are successfully taking your mind off that "dang" ball.

The real test now comes when you tee up a golf ball and close your eyes. Take a swing at it. What do you have to lose? You might even hit it pretty good. I guarantee that by your 6th attempt you will hit the ball perfectly on the sweet spot. I suggest trying this using a 7 iron.

The golf tips that are passed down from generation to generation are like the game we played in grade school called Telephone. Telephone was when every kid in the class stood in a single file line. The teacher told the first kid a message and he/she told the next kid in line that same message. This kept going till the end of the line and the last kid would tell everybody what the message was. The message was never close to the original.

Well, that is what has happened with "keeping your eyes on the ball". What started as a well-intentioned tip has been converted to "a golf swing killing epidemic." That saying (and many others like it) are over taught and misinterpreted. That is one of the main focuses of this column and my golf school. We debunk the myths and give you solutions.

"Do you have the desire to improve your golf game?"

Ronald Bruce Romberg Sports

Golfers who slice have no idea of why they do so. Most think it's because their swing path comes from outside in, (the dreaded over-the-top move) while many even blame their equipment. The one area most overlooked is the angle of the clubface as it makes contact with the ball.

The plain and simple fact is that if the club face is open at impact, the shot will move left to right. The clubface must be square to the target upon impact. An easy way to achieve this is to rotate your left forearm through the impact zone.

To achieve the correct rotation, try this simple drill using a piece of tape or a Band-Aid:


Place a piece of tape or a Band-Aid on the underside of the wrist of your lead arm (the left arm for right-handed golfers, the right arm for left-handed golfers).

Allow your lead elbow to be a couple of inches from your side and rotate your forearm so you can see the tape or Band-Aid as you swing the club through the impact zone. Your left wrist should be flat, (if you are a right-handed golfer). This will help you visualize the proper rotation of the club head during your swing.

During your swing it is important to rotate your forearm, not just your wrist, so you can see the entire piece of tape or Band-Aid as you swing through the hitting area.

Try this drill with your lead arm alone before practicing with both hands on the golf club. Continue to work on this movement until you see the tape or Band-Aid consistently. If you do this properly your slice will be gone for good.


Bruce Romberg Profile

Many of the top touring professionals know that winning on the tour today takes much more than a great game of golf. It means understanding every aspect of their physical and mental being and what factors influence their performance.

Before any golfer — pro or otherwise — picks up a club, they look at the capability of their body versus the requirements of the swing.

What exactly does this mean?


Most of us are aware that golf requires rotation at the hip joints, shoulder joints and spine. So, what if a golfer has a very tight low back or any restrictions in their shoulders? Well, the obvious answer is that any loss of range of motion creates swing flaws in addition to injuries.

This is a fact based on human performance and movement. It’s also necessary to create a fluid and natural golf swing. Not only does golf require good rotation at each joint, but it must be efficient and explosive.


Several years ago I had the opportunity to visit a human-performance center where some of the more famous tour players train. I was able to explore the same tests they take as part of their initial assessment period. Remember since we are all built differently and have different strengths and weaknesses, we all test differently.

The results of these tests help guide, direct and prioritize any training program moving forward. How successful is this approach to golf conditioning? I watched it place a green jacket on a well-deserving young player just a couple of years ago.

What exactly do you test for?


Muscle strength. Evaluate each significant muscle group. Are there any significant differences between your left side and your right side?

Range of Motion. Do you have adequate range of motion in the joints which most affect the golf swing? How does your lower body look versus your upper body? Does your left side match the flexibility in your right?

Core strength and endurance. Do you know how to properly engage your core region? If so, for how long?

Aerobic capacity and endurance. Do you have what it takes to last through a solid 18 holes? Is there an opportunity for improvement?

Balance. Do you have proper balance? Do you know what normal balance for golf looks like?


Physical assessment tests are commonly used by the top touring pros today. These tests are being offered at some of the top golf performance centers and will surely be the wave of the future. It’s your true understanding of your relative strengths and weaknesses that creates opportunities for immediate and sound improvement in your game.


Take the following tests to sample how well you would do under the same criteria.
How strong is your core?


Lie on your back with your knees bent.

Place one hand underneath your lower back, then extend your knees to 90 degrees.

Press the lower back firmly against your hand.

Slowly lower your feet towards the ground by keeping the same tension on your hand.


Which one of the following best describes what happened when you performed the exercises above:

(A) Your lower back lifted and you could no longer feel any pressure on your hand.

(B) Your lower back lifted and you could feel some pressure on your hand.

(C) You were able to keep the same pressure on your hand throughout the movement.

If you answered (C), congratulations! You are well on your way to developing the core strength you need for better golf. If you answered (A) or (B), start with some basic exercises on engaging the core region of your body.
How’s your balance?


Stand on a hard surface with both feet together.

Close your eyes and lift your foot about six inches off the ground. Your knees will be bent at about a 45 degree angle.

Place your arms at your hips or resting to your sides.

Perform this test as stated. Please stop immediately if you are swaying heavily from side to side, elevating your arms or resting your knee against your supporting leg.

Have someone record the number of seconds you were able to hold this position.


If you are between 20 and 49 years of age, 24 to 28 seconds is normal balance. If your age falls between 50 and 59, then 21 seconds is considered normal for your age group. If you are in the 60-69 age group, then 10 seconds places you in the normal range for balance. Above the age of 70, you should shoot for five seconds of steady balance.

About Bruce Romberg

In my first golf tips article, I explained what going deep with confidence was and I explained how you should set down different layers of confidence so that it becomes thick and resilient.

I also explained how this develops golf swagger, an inward sense of confidence that is with us all the time, not visible to the outside. In this article I'm going to outline how to add more layers of confidence and explain what you can do when your golf confidence goes in the tank. This will really create golf swagger.

Another level and type of deep golf confidence comes from having a significant person in your life that has an entirely supportive and non-judgmental respect for you as a golfer. These people are happy for you when you play well and they are there for you when you don't. They certainly don't treat you differently based on what you shot that day.


The problem is golfers don't usually think this type of support affects their confidence, except in a warm-‘n'-fuzzy kind of way. Therefore, they don't pay much attention to it. However, recent research on world-class athletes, including golfers, reports that this is a very important confidence factor for them.

Why would elite athletes say this? First, it's because knowing we have that type of unmitigated support is deeply empowering and true empowerment breeds true confidence. Second, I think it's important because having people who unconditionally support you is another layer of confidence that is not dictated by golf performance.

Therefore, your next task is to create confidence by consciously acknowledging a supportive person in your golf world. I get my clients to add it into their golf swagger because this will help them sustain their emotional balance for all 18 holes. It never goes away.

By now you're probably thinking, "That's fine Dr. Al, but what do I do when the wheels fall off and my confidence is shot to hell? C'mon, give me something I can use in an emergency!"

OK, fair enough. Your next task is to create confidence by building a "confidence vault." This will involve using two very powerful mental tools that you already have: visualization and emotion. But because confidence is built in layers, I'm also going to ask you to incorporate one of your previous layers practice to help build the vault.

Now, wait! Don't get cranky on me. This doesn't mean more practice, but it does mean getting more out of the practice you have already committed to doing.

You build your confidence vault by making regular and systematic "deposits" of excellent shots that are then used when you need a confidence boost. I get players to think of these systematized deposits as multiple layers. The more they deposit, the thicker and more resilient their confidence becomes.

To make a deposit, simply visualize an extremely good shot you played before and recall the emotional reward you felt when it happened. Your smooth 4-iron from 185 arching gently over the water to a tough pin and that delicate chip under the pine branches and over the bunker are very confident images. Even if it's a straight drive that is shorter than usual, it's a positive image.

Now go over and gently tap your golf bag, depositing your positive images, emotions and confidence. Do this every time you hit a great shot, on the course or on the range. These deposits will build layer upon layer of confidence until you have a bulging vault of stored successes - just like a fat bank account.

Now, when the wheels fall off and/or you need to get your game and your confidence back, shot-by-shot of course, go over to your golf bag and mentally take out one of your successful deposits to match the shot at hand. It's easy to visualize it because you've done it before. It's easy to recall the rewarding emotions of the shot because you've had them before. Both of these active mental functions breed enormous amounts of confidence. Now, with your confidence in place, simply play away.

My clients say that the best thing about constantly depositing layers of confidence into their vault is that they have lots of confidence available, even after they use some of it up. And, if they need more, they say they just practice and make more deposits.

One player even stated that it's almost cheating because he gets double bang for his buck out of his good shots. He gets the immediate benefit of the actual shot and a second benefit when he uses it to boost his confidence. I say he gets a triple bang because he often hits his next shot very well as a result of the first two.

Like the building process, the benefits of deep confidence also happen in layers.


Contact Ronald Bruce Romberg

If you are not yet convinced that your golf emotions have a huge impact on your game, you might as well give up trying to play better golf.

Extremely satisfying golf is about hitting good shots under some sort of pressure and where there is pressure, internal or otherwise, your emotions are at play. Golfers cannot act like a bear with a sore bum and expect positive thoughts about their next shot and still expect to feel calm and focused enough to execute it properly.

Similarly, an over-exuberant high five after making a 40-footer often leads to a five on the following par three. We know that overly powerful emotions are detrimental to good golf but players let their emotions get the better of them all the time. Let me explain why this happens and then I'll suggest an enticing solution.


Nearly all golfers accept that "blowing up" can ruin their round, but it takes true courage to admit that they missed their drive on 13 because of the bad break they thought they suffered on 12. Golfers do not acknowledge that their emotions affect their game for three reasons:

• 1) Our emotions occur naturally,

• 2) Most don't think they know how to handle raw golf emotions, and

• 3) People take it very personally when told to control deeply rooted feelings.

My fundamental instruction message for fellow golfers is that you may not be able to control what happens to you on the course but you can control how you react to what happens. Ignoring your emotions is impossible but you can definitely manage yourself once they happen.
What causes powerful golf emotions?

Powerful golf emotions, high and low, occur because golfers want to be better players. Our highs happen because we feel proud and we celebrate truly great shots and our lows happen because we feel frustrated or angry about a poor putt — or three! If golfers aren't careful, this strong desire to perform can put them in a constant state of agitation and frustration because few players are consistently satisfied with golf performances.

Fred Shoemaker says that most golfers are only two bad shots away from being very frustrated. In this constantly agitated state, a golfer's emotions can easily rise up and torpedo their game. But it doesn't have to be this way. If people can keep their emotions from torpedoing their jobs and their relationships, I'm convinced they can do it for their golf game. How? Read on.
Get an emotional caddie who demands respect!

Everybody experiences powerful emotions all the time but we selectively hide them from people by changing our outward reactions and behaviors. Why don't we do the same when we golf? Simple. In golf, as long as we don't rant and rave, our emotions are private and no one is offended.

We simply don't have to show ourselves the same degree of inward respect we publicly give to others and this lets our emotions run wild. So, to keep your emotions in check, I suggest hiring yourself as an Emotional Caddie (EC). No, I'm not kidding and the job interview goes something like this:

Self: So, you want a job as my Emotional Caddie?

Emotional Caddie: Yup!

Self: Why do I need you?

EC: Because you're not doing so well on your own.

Self: Maybe not, but what do you know about my game?

EC: Everything — obviously.

Self: What are you going to do?

EC: I'm going to demand the same respect and support you give everybody else!

Self: Hey, what d'ya mean by that?

EC: Last week you told Charlie to regroup and go through his full routine when he was playing bad but you didn't do that for me yesterday on the back nine.

Self: Yeah, but I was so annoyed. I couldn't even hit one decent shot.

EC: So? That's golf. Why'd you call yourself "a hacker" for nine holes?

Self: I just felt so bad.

EC: So did Charlie. What did you do for him that you couldn't do for me?

Self: Nothing, I guess.

EC: My point exactly.

Self: So, what are you going to do about it?

EC: Whenever I sense your emotions are about to interfere with your game, I'm going to ask if you're emotionally OK to hit your next shot. If you are, it's a green light special!

Self: And if I'm not?

EC: I'll hold you back a little and remind you to use your special breathing exercise. It works great when you use it, but you're just like Charlie, you don't use the skills you already have to regroup after an emotional high or low.

Self: Sounds great. What else are you going to do?

EC: Every time you have an emotional moment on the golf course and then get yourself under control for your next series of shots, I'm going to buy you a beer.

Self: You're hired! I feel better already.

EC: I know, and we just earned our first beer!



Read more about: Ronald Bruce Romberg Magazine , Ronald Bruce Romberg and Bruce Romberg Bio


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Thursday,Sep 3 2009, 02:02:04 PMRonald Bruce Romberg - Become a Golf Pro

Ronald Bruce Romberg
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I've watched golfers set up to the ball correctly only to turn their chin toward the target or away from the ball before they start their backswing. This movement of the head will ruin good alignment and solid posture causing golfers to make bad swings. ...

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Tuesday,Sep 1 2009, 01:40:53 PMRonald Bruce Romberg - Golf Lessons

Bruce Romberg
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