I concentrate on picking my target and then pick a spot in front of the ball that is directly on line with it. Done this for years, and when I occasionally forget I always pay the price. So can fully recommend and endorse your tip. Well done Steve.
Great tips by a great Personality,, hope the algorithm appreciated me, love how you repeat out loud what you can tell yourself and WHEN to self talk and when to have one swing thought and one focus when striking ball... See it and create it.
On a similar line, my coach has me doing the following: before the trigger, look at the exact target then as you move your eyes back to the ball, start your swing. That way the last thought before the strike is the target.
Good advice. Another way of phrasing this is "stare at the target, glance at the ball." The focus should always be on the target, not fixated on that little white sphere.
Very deep. Probably the most influential golf philosophy I've ever experienced. Puts all of my practical practice into actual mental action. Thanks brother. 👏 Never shot better on my life. Really.
So important! That's how I got my first hole in one. My friend hit it to 2 feet, and said: "Top that!" In a friendly challenge sort of way. All I remember as I pulled my club from the bag was looking at the hole....the entire time. I landed about 16 inches beyond the hole and the backspin sucked it right back into the hole. It was totally due to my friends comment zoning in my focus. I clearly remember thinking: "To top his shot, I need to put it in the hole." One other point, on those 3-4 foot putts pick out a target as small as blade of grass or spec on the cup. If you miss the spec you actually feel like you missed the putt, but it's in the hole! Plus you will be amazed how often you hit the spec spot on. Great video!
A coach told me to pick out a branch at the top of a tree behind the green and aim for it with my driver, He wanted me to be so precise and it works. On another one of our holes I aim for a 1ft wide sign on a tree next to a pond and its amazing how close in line the ball is when it drops from the sky. I've had the ball drop in line with the sign several times, bang on line. It works for me too Steve ! I think its just because it causes you to focus on something positive. Great tip and I've hit the like too !
Yes, doing as you said, it is amazing how precise drives can be. NEVER hit it at a vague open fairway. Also, whenever I play with someone and they point out the negative, like: "On this hole you want to avoid the woods on the right, or the water over there, etc." I tell them: "No, your last thought is more likely where you will hit it. Pick the spot you want and hit it there."
Well, Steve...after watching hundreds of golf instruction videos...you're the only one ever causing me to hit subscribe! Absolutely superb understanding of the game. Sublime.
The great Harvey Penick used this approach of take dead aim. Tom Kite and Ben Crenshaw did OK with this philosophy. I like it. It stops me playing back swing golf. Top video. Thank you
I was thinking the same thing. Little red book is a charming read from a bygone era, though I do think Harvey admired the naturals. I've read plenty of golf instruction books and discarded them one way or another but I still have The Little Red Book. When I started golf it was all about the target. Seem to have lost that feeling and now it's technique and the memory of what can go wrong. Need a reboot.
@@gazz501 I totally agree, I have the little red book and the little red video. I love the none technical approach, all very simple instructions and more feel oriented. Very old school. There seemed to be many more natural golf swings and shot makers back then. Now its all very robotic and all very similar techniques. I do wonder how some of the tour players today would get on using a set of Seve Blades, a Persimon driver and Tour Balater ball?
Top notch tip Mr. Johnston! Been playing for over 50 years and it's amazing how many tips I've heard and forgot over the years and this is one of them. Not anymore thanks to you. Can not wait to try this on the course. Thank you sir.
Jack Niclaus said if you cant see the shot you have no chance of playing the shot, Harvey Penick was as previosly said was take dead aim, in truth the smaller you make your target the more chance you have of playing good golf, plus if your brain is obsessed with the target it has no room for negative thoughts or fear, good reminder video Steve.
A while back I saw a video of tiger woods talking about this concept about how he would picture a tree or whatever his target was. The hard part for me is to keep doing that throughout the round especially after a few bad shots. The mental game is everything. Thanks again.
What I lack in length off the tee, I make up for (partially at least) in strike and accuracy. I always pick a target, and I always try to put a swing on it that gets me a straight ball right at it. When I was in my 20s, I could bomb the old style wound balata covered 100 compression balls 300 yards, but it was anyone's guess where the ball would end up. Now that I'm almost 70, with the hitch in my giddyup that has accompanied that, I play better quality golf and I really love to play probably more than when I was launching huge drives into the trees...lol Great advice, Steve. Wish I had gotten that 45 years ago.
Thank you for reminding me of this Steve. I saw this tip many years ago in Harvey Penick's Little Red Book, and it really does work. Recently I have been forgetting to use it but will resume using it as soon as I get back on the golf course. I think Hogan used it also. Love your sense oh humour.
Great video! Take dead aim! I take it one step forward and align my club head with a spot 12 inches in front of the ball that is dead on the line with my target. It easier for my older eyes and it works for me. Thanks for posting
"Behind the golf ball, Impact" plus "Dead aim", waooh! What a combination! I fully agree with your behind the golf ball-impact-body opens up spine rotation move, to me the best way to whack a golf ball properly with much power and precision.
Bought Penick's book when it came out in 1992. I've used "Take Dead Aim" ever since.....well, to be honest, when I wasn't cluttering my mind with other garbage! LOL But it really does work. The human brain really can figure things out if you don't get in it's way! This is excellent advice....no matter who came up with the concept. Cheers Steve! (excellent content as always!)
Good advice Steve. Always better to be "target focused" rather than playing the ball with swing-thoughts. I witnessed Jason Jones (a top amateur from Cleveland GC in Teesside) impart this advice on many occasions. Lovely swing you have Steve 👍
Great idea! If I don't think of anything in my pre-shot routine, I can't execute the shot, but I usually think too much about swing positions when I start my swing. This should definitely help me to simply take dead aim for my full swing!
I remember in the book "Golf Isn't A Game of Perfect" it says do not have more than one swing thought on the course (and only have 1 if absolutely necessary). Then, have a conservative game plan and a cocky swing.
Brilliant tip. I just came back from hitting 50 balls at the range. I took three practice swings before each shot getting what I wanted to do firmly in my mind, I then took dead aim and just swung. The muscle memory kicked in and I didn't hit one bad shot. I am taking this to the course with me tomorrow. I am very excited to see if this tip helps my round.
Never thought about,rushing and being lazy on the course,but your tips just go to show that to enjoy the experience you have to put more effort in,I’m not good at golf but I enjoy the experience.
Well done Steve. Now you need to break down a couple holes showing when to drive, when to lay up, when to reverse the hole to play it all to your strengths. I learned this years ago when I was working on my game with a pro (Brooks @ Red Gate). He would pick out 4 clubs to use that round + putter… maybe I didn’t have something for a 190 yd shot that round… I had to work out the hole to match the clubs I had available… He took me from about a 17 to an 8 handicap with “games” like that. Steve, you are doing the same type of thing, for those who will listen. Keep it coming.
I like that 4 club drill / game practice. It also would make you try a variety of different shot types I imagine. Working backwards is also very good. I know this but often forget.
Target shooting is the key!!! Fantastic mind set for every strike of the golf ball 👍 My mindset is usually on what not to do over the ball, so focus on a target is what I'm doing next time out on the course,,,,, just like throwing darts at the board 👏
Hi Steve, I enjoy the quality of the content, production, editing, and style of your videos. Well done. About halfway through this video, ready to hit a shot, you briefly verbalized some pre-shot thoughts. Besides, "wanted to keep the weight left", your other thought, "I want the body to open up as I look back at the golf ball", resonated with me. My lower body tends to stop rotating as I’m hitting the ball. I end up hitting "at it", not through it. Your tip gave me a new sense for the proper body timing and positioning to get efficiently through the impact area. Gonna try it out at the range. Simple thought tip, but a nugget! Thank you sir. John Just a thought: (if you haven’t already) A video for golfers who fixate on the ball, instead of making a golf swing, may be useful. "What my other body parts are doing while I’m looking at the ball". Thanks again.
Excellent - whatever thoughts you have about technique, in the end you have to trust the virtuosity of your brain and body to find a way of hitting the ball to where you have "dead aimed".
Yep Harvey Penick 1904-1995, everyone should read his Little Red and Little Green Books He advocated that "once you address the ball, hitting it to the desired target must be the only thing in your life. Allow no negative thoughts, and focus on your goal. Then read them again.. a year later. Yer man Jimmy Hume knew stuff.
Loved this. Sounds like the Vision54 (Swedish women's golf team) lesson about making the decision before you address the ball. After you cross the decision line, execute the decision. Grade your performance based on the execution, not the result. The results do improve but that is a byproduct of separating the decision from the execution.
I read an article on Xander Schauffle recently and he said he uses C.E.A. which stands for "Commit, Execute, Accept." This aligns nicely with what you said I think.
Great video...On your iron shot u mention look back at ball as you hit through impact. Is that to help keep down & through the ball? I tried that tip yesterday & pured some irons. Any further explanation or videos about this would be appreciated! Thanks for the videos.
Really like this. Thanks for sharing. I like this ‘brain hack’ fir the dead sim just before te shot. You get people saying dont think technique when playing. I like the techniques reminder then dead aim idea. Going to try incorporate into my game 👍
Couldn't help but laugh, first tee... looking down the line at what he wants to hit... "Seeee thaat treee, I wanna go dead in there..." I was thinking.. "Mate we already know how to find the trees"... lol. Another great video mate, and I watched it to the end unlike some of the rude buggers in these comments! The man goes to the effort of making a great video, atleast have the decency to view the whole thing...
Nice one Steve takes a lot of concentrated effort to do this and it does work as you say BUT golf for me is a hobby not work and to improve my game this way requires a step up mentally.i will try it next time though thanks 😊
![Digital Circus Episode 4 [TRAILER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/abZtsmMUbJo/mqdefault.jpg)
Bro this guy is the absolute truth. If you want to learn Golf… Learn from this Guy. I appreciate you Steve 🙌🏼
I fully credit Mr Johnston for the improvement in my game over the last few months. Great guy.
I concentrate on picking my target and then pick a spot in front of the ball that is directly on line with it. Done this for years, and when I occasionally forget I always pay the price. So can fully recommend and endorse your tip. Well done Steve.
Same.
Great Video your second shot nearly took out the camera. Keep up the great videos.
Great tips by a great Personality,, hope the algorithm appreciated me, love how you repeat out loud what you can tell yourself and WHEN to self talk and when to have one swing thought and one focus when striking ball... See it and create it.
Thanks 🙏🏻
On a similar line, my coach has me doing the following: before the trigger, look at the exact target then as you move your eyes back to the ball, start your swing. That way the last thought before the strike is the target.
Good advice. Another way of phrasing this is "stare at the target, glance at the ball." The focus should always be on the target, not fixated on that little white sphere.
Very deep. Probably the most influential golf philosophy I've ever experienced. Puts all of my practical practice into actual mental action. Thanks brother. 👏 Never shot better on my life. Really.
Love your vhdeos. No messing no padding. Just knowledge.
This is so true. I incorporated this technique into my game a couple of years ago and it totally changed my game for the better 👍🏾👏🏾
So important! That's how I got my first hole in one. My friend hit it to 2 feet, and said: "Top that!" In a friendly challenge sort of way. All I remember as I pulled my club from the bag was looking at the hole....the entire time. I landed about 16 inches beyond the hole and the backspin sucked it right back into the hole. It was totally due to my friends comment zoning in my focus. I clearly remember thinking: "To top his shot, I need to put it in the hole." One other point, on those 3-4 foot putts pick out a target as small as blade of grass or spec on the cup. If you miss the spec you actually feel like you missed the putt, but it's in the hole! Plus you will be amazed how often you hit the spec spot on. Great video!
That video stands out above all other instructional videos. Cannot wait to try it out on the course this morning.
A coach told me to pick out a branch at the top of a tree behind the green and aim for it with my driver, He wanted me to be so precise and it works. On another one of our holes I aim for a 1ft wide sign on a tree next to a pond and its amazing how close in line the ball is when it drops from the sky. I've had the ball drop in line with the sign several times, bang on line. It works for me too Steve ! I think its just because it causes you to focus on something positive. Great tip and I've hit the like too !
Yes, doing as you said, it is amazing how precise drives can be. NEVER hit it at a vague open fairway. Also, whenever I play with someone and they point out the negative, like: "On this hole you want to avoid the woods on the right, or the water over there, etc." I tell them: "No, your last thought is more likely where you will hit it. Pick the spot you want and hit it there."
Well, Steve...after watching hundreds of golf instruction videos...you're the only one ever causing me to hit subscribe! Absolutely superb understanding of the game. Sublime.
The great Harvey Penick used this approach of take dead aim. Tom Kite and Ben Crenshaw did OK with this philosophy. I like it. It stops me playing back swing golf. Top video. Thank you
It's a great reminder. When we're target oriented, the bad shots often still go toward target. The body's a genius.
Yup!! Original tip mantra came from Harvey Penicks Little Red book.
I was thinking the same thing. Little red book is a charming read from a bygone era, though I do think Harvey admired the naturals. I've read plenty of golf instruction books and discarded them one way or another but I still have The Little Red Book. When I started golf it was all about the target. Seem to have lost that feeling and now it's technique and the memory of what can go wrong. Need a reboot.
@@gazz501 I totally agree, I have the little red book and the little red video. I love the none technical approach, all very simple instructions and more feel oriented. Very old school. There seemed to be many more natural golf swings and shot makers back then. Now its all very robotic and all very similar techniques. I do wonder how some of the tour players today would get on using a set of Seve Blades, a Persimon driver and Tour Balater ball?
Top notch tip Mr. Johnston! Been playing for over 50 years and it's amazing how many tips I've heard and forgot over the years and this is one of them. Not anymore thanks to you. Can not wait to try this on the course. Thank you sir.
Jack Niclaus said if you cant see the shot you have no chance of playing the shot, Harvey Penick was as previosly said was take dead aim, in truth the smaller you make your target the more chance you have of playing good golf, plus if your brain is obsessed with the target it has no room for negative thoughts or fear, good reminder video Steve.
A while back I saw a video of tiger woods talking about this concept about how he would picture a tree or whatever his target was. The hard part for me is to keep doing that throughout the round especially after a few bad shots. The mental game is everything. Thanks again.
Excellent advice…cant wait to take it to the course.
What I lack in length off the tee, I make up for (partially at least) in strike and accuracy. I always pick a target, and I always try to put a swing on it that gets me a straight ball right at it. When I was in my 20s, I could bomb the old style wound balata covered 100 compression balls 300 yards, but it was anyone's guess where the ball would end up. Now that I'm almost 70, with the hitch in my giddyup that has accompanied that, I play better quality golf and I really love to play probably more than when I was launching huge drives into the trees...lol
Great advice, Steve. Wish I had gotten that 45 years ago.
Thank you for reminding me of this Steve. I saw this tip many years ago in Harvey Penick's Little Red Book, and it really does work. Recently I have been forgetting to use it but will resume using it as soon as I get back on the golf course. I think Hogan used it also. Love your sense oh humour.
Great video Steve...simple advice that makes soo much sense...after all its scoring that matters!⛳
Another great video from groundskeeper Willie
Great video! Take dead aim! I take it one step forward and align my club head with a spot 12 inches in front of the ball that is dead on the line with my target. It easier for my older eyes and it works for me. Thanks for posting
Simple, but very effective. Thanks
Cheers Tim
"Behind the golf ball, Impact" plus "Dead aim", waooh! What a combination! I fully agree with your behind the golf ball-impact-body opens up spine rotation move, to me the best way to whack a golf ball properly with much power and precision.
Getting into "the zone" is a great feeling. And yields great results.
Possibly one of the best videos on how to think on a course I've seen. Thanks Steve
Bought Penick's book when it came out in 1992. I've used "Take Dead Aim" ever since.....well, to be honest, when I wasn't cluttering my mind with other garbage! LOL But it really does work. The human brain really can figure things out if you don't get in it's way! This is excellent advice....no matter who came up with the concept. Cheers Steve! (excellent content as always!)
I totally agree. I can be a nut case on the course and usually when you are playing well you are just thinking about where you want to hit it.
Great reminder/tip, and THANKS for the brisk walk and scenery
I wandered away from your channel a few weeks ago. Glad I came back.
Great advice Steve and F’kinell that backdrop is stunning!
So true mate... I find my mind wandering anymore on the course. Well done Steve
Great tip. Used it today in the wind and rain, it works👍
Hi Steve, Great tip I totally agree with you...👍
We should never forget Golf is a target game before everything...🏌️♂️🏌️♂️
What a tremendous video! This could well be the best tip I've ever seen
Good advice Steve. Always better to be "target focused" rather than playing the ball with swing-thoughts. I witnessed Jason Jones (a top amateur from Cleveland GC in Teesside) impart this advice on many occasions. Lovely swing you have Steve 👍
Great video Steve, loved the autumn colours, sensational framing.
Finally!!! It is working great for me. Thanks a lot.
Great idea! If I don't think of anything in my pre-shot routine, I can't execute the shot, but I usually think too much about swing positions when I start my swing. This should definitely help me to simply take dead aim for my full swing!
I remember in the book "Golf Isn't A Game of Perfect" it says do not have more than one swing thought on the course (and only have 1 if absolutely necessary). Then, have a conservative game plan and a cocky swing.
well done Steve you speak a lot of sense, i will try and take note when i am on the golf course
What a lonely, lovely looking golf course in the height of fall colors.
Brilliant tip. I just came back from hitting 50 balls at the range. I took three practice swings before each shot getting what I wanted to do firmly in my mind, I then took dead aim and just swung. The muscle memory kicked in and I didn't hit one bad shot. I am taking this to the course with me tomorrow. I am very excited to see if this tip helps my round.
Great stuff Phil. Love the MUFC logo on your profile!!!👍👍👍
A year later are you still using the tip? When it has staying power then you know it's a keeper.
"Take dead aim"
Great concept.
However should give credit to
Harvey Penick Little Red Book published 1992
I don't know Jimmy but he knew Harvey Penick
My thoughts exactly. I've read Harvey's book and use his technique constantly.
Channeling his inner Harvey Penick!
Yep Harvey Penick, Russell Heritage just RUclipsd something from his Little Red Book as well.
Excellent presentation Steve and good instruction. Well done. Clive
Will give this a try next time out...Love watching the swing from these out in front angles as well
Never thought about,rushing and being lazy on the course,but your tips just go to show that to enjoy the experience you have to put more effort in,I’m not good at golf but I enjoy the experience.
Thank you Steve, strawberry mouse..............what a game changer for me!
Thanks for posting, very informative
So simple, so important !
Good tip Steve. The tip/comment from you which has stuck in my mind "if you can't see it, you can't hit it" great words 👍
Well done Steve. Now you need to break down a couple holes showing when to drive, when to lay up, when to reverse the hole to play it all to your strengths. I learned this years ago when I was working on my game with a pro (Brooks @ Red Gate). He would pick out 4 clubs to use that round + putter… maybe I didn’t have something for a 190 yd shot that round… I had to work out the hole to match the clubs I had available… He took me from about a 17 to an 8 handicap with “games” like that. Steve, you are doing the same type of thing, for those who will listen. Keep it coming.
I like that 4 club drill / game practice. It also would make you try a variety of different shot types I imagine. Working backwards is also very good. I know this but often forget.
Just came across your video skipping through RUclips. I have subscribed and am looking forward to your future videos.
Target shooting is the key!!! Fantastic mind set for every strike of the golf ball 👍 My mindset is usually on what not to do over the ball, so focus on a target is what I'm doing next time out on the course,,,,, just like throwing darts at the board 👏
It's hard to get out of a negative mindset and shift to a positive one (aka where the ball ought to go). How did this work out for you?
Best advice I've ever seen on RUclips. Fantastic Steve. 👍
Took this tip out on the course today and hey it seemed to work 🏌️♂️great tip.
Hi Steve,
I enjoy the quality of the content, production, editing, and style of your videos. Well done.
About halfway through this video, ready to hit a shot, you briefly verbalized some pre-shot thoughts.
Besides, "wanted to keep the weight left", your other thought, "I want the body to open up as I look back at the golf ball", resonated with me.
My lower body tends to stop rotating as I’m hitting the ball. I end up hitting "at it", not through it.
Your tip gave me a new sense for the proper body timing and positioning to get efficiently through the impact area. Gonna try it out at the range.
Simple thought tip, but a nugget!
Thank you sir.
John
Just a thought: (if you haven’t already) A video for golfers who fixate on the ball, instead of making a golf swing, may be useful. "What my other body parts are doing while I’m looking at the ball".
Thanks again.
Love the video. Course (and the game) looking spectacular! 👍
Great advice Steve-old school intelligence even when the ball didnt go as far as now -still relevant.So logical!
The old Harvey Penick quote from his book! "Take Dead Aim!" 👍
Great job teaching routine…thanks
U r such a blessing brother! Acts 16:31
Your videos really simplify things, glad I found these tips, thank you 👍🏽
Excellent - whatever thoughts you have about technique, in the end you have to trust the virtuosity of your brain and body to find a way of hitting the ball to where you have "dead aimed".
Some great advice there. Will deffo try to take this onto course.
Great tip! Really works too, helped my game immensely
But did it change your life ?
@@petermcgill1315 no 😂
Another great tip....when I have swing thoughts in my head I play badly sothis makes so much sense.
A key tip 👍👍
Trying this tomorrow. Thanks Steve.
Ill take this to the course tomorrow.
Great video Steve, i could see that really helping on the course. I will give it a try on Sunday :)
Very good advice. I periodically have swing thoughts during my swing. The shot suffers as a result.
Any chance of getting able to see where you're hitting at all? Cheers
Superb information, cheers
Great video Steve. Will give this a try at Glencorse tomorrow.
Great tip Steve , I've had problems in the past with my swing and direction of the ball. But hey yes I will try this 👍👍
Still top TIPS Steve. Thank you. Clive
Glad you enjoyed it
Great advice Steve and what a nice office you have👍
Great video Steve 🏌️⛳️
Thanks...i see you the first time, and your tips are simple and good.👍.. thumb and subscribe
Greetings from good old germany
Just started following you steve your tip on grip and this vid absolutely brilliant, ps your peebles course looks awesome, great scenery.
Thank you, Steve, for passing on this sage advice.
Yep Harvey Penick 1904-1995, everyone should read his Little Red and Little
Green Books
He advocated that "once you address the ball, hitting it to the desired target must be the only thing in your life. Allow no negative thoughts, and focus on your goal.
Then read them again.. a year later.
Yer man Jimmy Hume knew stuff.
Loved this. Sounds like the Vision54 (Swedish women's golf team) lesson about making the decision before you address the ball. After you cross the decision line, execute the decision. Grade your performance based on the execution, not the result. The results do improve but that is a byproduct of separating the decision from the execution.
I read an article on Xander Schauffle recently and he said he uses C.E.A. which stands for "Commit, Execute, Accept." This aligns nicely with what you said I think.
Great video, thank you. Could you put up a link for the bag you are carrying, here? Looks like a Titleist Sunday bag?
Dat aim doe. Thanks for the video!
Great video...On your iron shot u mention look back at ball as you hit through impact. Is that to help keep down & through the ball? I tried that tip yesterday & pured some irons. Any further explanation or videos about this would be appreciated! Thanks for the videos.
Really like this. Thanks for sharing. I like this ‘brain hack’ fir the dead sim just before te shot. You get people saying dont think technique when playing. I like the techniques reminder then dead aim idea. Going to try incorporate into my game 👍
Good video; good advice
wowie wow wow!!
this is awesome that's what practice swings are about.
i don't do it I guess most if us don't... I just learned lots
Good stuff Steve, thanks!
Brilliant advice mate thanks
Couldn't help but laugh, first tee... looking down the line at what he wants to hit... "Seeee thaat treee, I wanna go dead in there..." I was thinking.. "Mate we already know how to find the trees"... lol. Another great video mate, and I watched it to the end unlike some of the rude buggers in these comments! The man goes to the effort of making a great video, atleast have the decency to view the whole thing...
Nice one Steve takes a lot of concentrated effort to do this and it does work as you say BUT golf for me is a hobby not work and to improve my game this way requires a step up mentally.i will try it next time though thanks 😊
You spoke about looking back at the ball when you were hitting your irons, can you explain that a bit more please.
Only swing thoughts; Target and trajectory, swing towards the apex. (ball flight apex)
You are the real thing!
Great advice.
Quality advice Steve
Amazing tip 👊
Great vid really helpful
Enjoyed!
Steve really like your videos, basically you say have your head and body behind the ball at impact with your driver but in front with your irons ?