Risk vs. Reward

So often during a round you're faced with a shot that involves risk.  Most golfers natural tendency is to 'go for it' without balancing the potential outcome.  To me, when you take a risk there must be a viable reward.  As well, the success of the risk must be balanced in your favor.  These are questions you should ask yourself before you play the shot. 
By following this exercise, it will help to minimize 'blow up' holes as well as killing any momentum you had built in the round. 
Below is an instructional video from my youtube channel, timcusickgolf, that outlines risk vs. reward on a short par 4.

Risk vs. Reward

Uphill Greenside Pitch

When you're faced with an uphill pitch shot around the green you can attack it two different ways.  The first way would be to set your body with the slope and get the club to swing down the slope and then up the slope in the followthrough.  This will produce a very high, soft pitch shot with virtually no roll.
The second and higher percentage way is to place the ball back in your stance and play the shot like a chip.  This will help take some of the loft off the shot that comes from the uphill lie.
Below is a link from my youtube channel, timcusickgolf.  It outlines the two options in playing this shot.

Uphill Greenside Pitch

Improving Consistency

Being more consistent is something virtually every golfer is looking for.  Consistentcy comes from good technique and practice.  Having good technique allows you to repeat the same motion time afer time.  Practice cements the feeling that you're working to hone. 
Below is a video from my youtube channel, timcusickgolf, on improving your consistency. 

Improving Consistency

Shaping your finish

The shape of your finish is a good indication of the direction you've hit your shot.  When you see a higher finish with the hands and the club across the back of the head, this usually indicates a draw.  Conversely, when the hands finish lower and to the left with the club positioned higher than the hands the ball will typically fade. 
Rehearsing your finish to shape your shot is a good way to get a feeling before you execute.  Below is a video from my youtube channel, timcusickgolf, on shaping your finish to play specific shots.

Shape your finish

The Takeaway

Being consistent with your ball striking involves a fundamentally correct golf swing.  Part of that formula is a good takeaway.  The proper takeaway sets up the rest of the golf swing.  It allows the swing to start on plane and gives you a good chance of continuing the club up the plane to the top of the backswing.  Below is an instructional video from my youtube channel, timcusickgolf, that outlines how to create a proper takeaway.

The takeaway

Increasing your Distance

Every golfer wants to hit the ball farther.  The first step is you must hit it solid.  The longest shots are the ones hit in the center of the clubface.  The more times you hit the ball in the center of the clubface the more confident you become.  As you become confident, you're able to swing the club faster without concern of the result.  Just a few mph more can make a difference.  As a general rule every mph, plus or minus, equates to 2.5 to 3 yards.
Below is an instructional video from my youtube channel, timcusickgolf, that outlines hitting the ball farther.

Increasing your distance

Minimizing mistakes to shoot lower scores

Scores of double bogey or worse are the result of making more than one mistake on a hole.  Once you've made a mistake, for instance hitting it in the trees, you would like to get out of trouble in one shot and go about your business.  Below is a video that details escaping from the trees. 

Escaping from the trees

Improving

Alot of my junior and college students are now into their summer tournament schedule.  Most are playing on a weekly basis in some form of competition.  It's amazing how short sighted the players and their families can be about just one bad round.  To be really good at golf you must be able to withstand bad shots, holes rounds and even tournaments.  It's all about the process of getting better. 
Something positive has got to be taken from every practice session to competitive round.  That's what you build on.  But in order to withstand some short term anxiety you must have a plan as to what you're trying to accomplish.  Without a plan you can become very lost in your direction.  The plan helps you stay the course on days that are a little rough. 
Lastly, you must be realistic of your expectations every day.  When expectations get out a whack, impatience and frustation sets in.  Neither of these two characteristics are any good for golf.  Review your plan and expectations often.  This will help keep you on the straight and narrow road to success.

Four Seasons Resort and Club/Dallas

I've been the Director of Golf Instruction for six years at the Four Seasons Resort and Club/Dallas. It's a fabulous facility. Cottonwood Valley is the members course and our TPC course plays host the HP Byron Nelson Championship each May.

Below is a short video that describes our facility in more detail as well as delivers the essence to what our club is really about.

Sports Club at the Four Seasons video

U.S.G.A qualifiers

Recently two of my students, Emily Collins and Matt Gilchrest, qualified for USGA national events.  Emily just finished her Freshman year at University of Oklahoma and is a member of the Women's team.  She shot 76-66 at Prestonwood CC at the Dallas qualifier for the Women's US Open and advanced through the site and will play at the Broadmoor Resort July 7-10. 
Matt recently finished 3rd in the Texas 5A State HS Championships for Southlake HS and was selected 1st team All State.  Yesterday, at Vaquaro Club in Southlake, Texas, he shot 71-72 to advance to the US Junior Championships July 18-23 at the Gold Mountain Golf Complex in Bremerton, Washington.
Both are fantastic accomplishments and a tribute to their hard work and their parents dedication to their respective golf games. 

June Avid Golfer Article

Good putting is critical to lower scores.  In the June edition of Dallas based Avid Golfer I talk about the importance of distance and direction in putting.  Controlling these two items on every putt will undoubtedly allow you to take less putts each round you play. 

June Avid Golfer Magazine article