Tour Striker

Growing up, sports and competition were a way of life. It seemed like every other day was a different team's practice; culminating in an inevitable disarray of shin guards, shoulder pads, and golf clubs. Although I lacked some of the requisite organizational skills of the elite performer, I was fortunate enough to have created a nice athletic resume during this time. The success I earned allowed for many great experiences with top level peers; all with one goal in mind- to win championships. This made practices fun and competitve, and we were sure it would culminate in our success. However, it became quickly apparent during competition that almost every player performed at a level below their expectations. How could this be? How could we have worked so hard, agaisnt formitable competition, only to underperform when it mattered most? If competition and sports were what we identified with, what avenue did we need to take next to unlock our potential? This realization was the first time my interest was peaked by Sports Psychology. Upon completion of my undergradate degree in Psychology, I knew I wanted to persue the answers that the elite performers most certainly had to possess. I soon enrolled and completed a graduate degree in Apllied Sports and Exercise Psycholgy, and started my quest toward applying this knowledge to golfers of all levels; so that they too could learn the skills needed to perform up to the standards they set for their game. Lets fast forwards six years… Life as a Coach at Tour Striker Golf Academy is Awesome- to say the least! Those of you that already know Martin and his wife Stacey have had the pleasure of not only their great company and generosity, but their tireless drive to see Tour Striker continue to grow from the tiny seed they sowed only a short while ago. It's truly been an honor in my eyes to have contributed in a small part to that development. From where I stand ( down the line/face on/ the couch) , golfers of all levels seem to impede their performance in one of two ways: 1) they lack the introspection to know how they perform when they are at their best, or 2) they know this information, and they continue to allow their thoughts to gravitate towards those areas which get in their way. In psychology- be it business, sports, or any other field- we look at whether a person is Problem-Focused or Solution- Focused when faced with an obstacle. Those that are problem-focused tend to fixate on what is wrong or can go wrong- leaving little energy for clarity and growth. Conversely, MENTAL MANAGEMENT OF PHYSICAL ATTRIBUTES COACHING the solution-focused individual sets their sights on creating change; vastly accelerating the growth process. In a nutshell- these individuals are better at utilizing their physical attributes because they manage their thoughts and emotions! Lets explore this further in next month's article… Now I know you all subscribe to this newsletter because you want some swing tip-NOW! Below is my tip for the month- it looks at hip rotation in the downswing. Here's the run down: If the lead hip moves laterally past the lead ankle , the sebsequent leg extension will only drive the leg/hip upward. If however, the weight re-locates, and the hip stays inside of the lead ankle, the ensuing leg extension will not only drive the leg/hip upward, but also backward- continuing hip rotation through impact. Mike is a Staff Instructor with the Tour Striker Golf Academy- Specializing in the integration of technical and mental development. MIKE KRAHE

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