GOLF SIMPLIFIED

Lost Balls & Lessons

Stories from my own rounds, the research that explains them, and the drills that came out of them. I lose the balls so you can keep the lessons.

New here? Start with the mental game guide: all nine holes in the order a round throws them at you.

HoleStoryPar
1 Why your best rounds fall apart on the back nine

A personal-best front nine at Murwillumbah, a back-nine blow-out, and what the research says is really going on.

 Par 66-minute read
2 Why your practice swing is perfect (and your real one isn't)

"Jeez, that was the one," then a chunk. What the ball changes, and three drills to close the gap.

 Par 33-minute read
3 Why you keep topping the ball (it's not your head)

Teed up on a short par 3, topped it anyway, and a mate says "you looked up". What really causes it.

 Par 33-minute read
4 How to stop first-tee nerves wrecking your opening shot

Murwillumbah's elevated first tee, a rushed swing and a driver slice. What nerves really change.

 Par 33-minute read
5 Why one bad shot becomes three (and how to stop it)

Trees, a greenside bunker and a 60-degree that stayed in it twice. How a good hole becomes a triple.

 Par 33-minute read
6 Why you play worse the harder you try

My best golf came in a two-ball Ambrose at Jack's Point with nothing on the line. Here's why.

 Par 33-minute read
7 Why you fall apart the moment you start counting your score

Four years of 92s and 93s, then an 87 with a 4-iron off every tee. Why counting raises your score.

 Par 33-minute read
8 Why you blow up right after a birdie

A birdie on the 14th put 90 back in reach. Then I got greedy on the 15th.

 Par 33-minute read
9 Should you aim at the flag? Usually not

I broke 90 for the first time by aiming at the middle of every green. What the data says about flags.

 Par 33-minute read

Par is the reading time: par 6 means a 6-minute read. Every post lists its sources at the bottom.