[okie]

Ellis,


That being said, I feel that a big part of the reason tour pros are able to do things like:

- come back from a birdie with a bogey
- come back from a bad nine holes to shoot a good one, salvaging your score
- continue firing at pins when you are already 7 under
- "get it in the house" when you're off your game
- follow up a 32 with another 32 (or 31)

is because they have done it before, many many times. Most of them have also failed at doing those things before too. And they learned from it.

I think it was Michael Jordan who said, "Nothing prepares you for handling pressure, like handling pressure."

In order to get to scratch, there is a lot more to it than just "the geometry."

I’m sure we are just talking degrees here, but I think what enables pros to accomplish the list you cited is an on plane right forearm, a lag pressure point and a pre-selected hinge action. Getting bogged down in mechanics as the pundits but it is nothing more than dealing with the endless litany of associative feels that are not rooted in principle. Too much is made of the so-called X factor relating to human performance. I say it is nothing more than IMAGINATION! But what are we to imagine? I think the best players just “see it” better than we do. I recall Lynn talking about the “Bubba Effect”, or the second ball syndrome, where you always stripe the second ball down the gut after wiping one into a housing development! This is why address 3-F-5 is crucial to scoring success. You gotta feel like you have already done the deed! That by the way is REAL patience.

False mechanics is position golf…true mechanics is alignment golf…or the science of relationships…GEOMETRY! Have you ever stood over a 25ft putt and just knew that you were going to hole it? In my opinion that is a state induced by the correct orientation towards a straight plane line i.e. you just see it! Without geometry we cannot aim. No aim means a non-specific plane. i.e an all too common any plane will get me there mentality. It does not work with the flying variety either. That of course means a lot of golf!

So, position mechanics is verboten…alignment mechanics (and the meaningful associative feel) is recommended. To feel it is to reproduce the mechanics. I may be putting too fine a point on it…but thar ya go!