Picture yourself in this scene at first tee of a golf course.

* Hold golf club loosely * Have my left thumb here * Bend my knees there * Keep my eye on ball * Get outta here you miserable fly! * Don't talk on tee * What was that important tip dad told me yesterday? * Good grief! Everyone is staring at me! * What did golf teacher on Golf Channel say last week? * Rats! I got my 6-iron instead of my 9-iron! * What did my neighbor's cat say to do? * Aaaaarrrrrrrggghhhh! * There's too much to remember!

Don't despair! Below, you will learn an orderly solution to this confusing state of affairs as you attempt to tee-off, putt, chip, pitch, or play any other type of golf shot.

In time you will blend some of following phases together as one phase. But, never develop thoughts which jump back and forth among these phases.

This is 3rd article in my series which will lead you towards good putting, chipping, and swing skills.

In my 2nd article I introduced you to idea that most of our poor golf skills come mostly from one wrong thought which is buried in our subconscious thinking. Much of what I have taught my golf students is designed to replace that wrong thinking with a better thought which can become part of our subconscious control of golf swing.

This article will give you an overview of a very important part of your golfing — what to think about when you try to hit that white round "thingy" on ground (or in water or off neighbor's flower bed.)

By following a regular pattern in your effort to hit golf ball you will be able to give more attention to overcoming that subconscious, natural desire to push your golf club through ball to make ball get to point B.

You will learn about a basic step-by-step process that you can follow for every golf shot. This is a bit lengthy but it covers some important ideas.

I want you to know these phases before you get into my putting and swing instructions. These lesson modules are given in a way which follow these phases. You will be able to apply them in your current golf outings. You will also be able to practice these phases in a limited way if you practice putting on your carpet at home.

This process separates a lot of things you try to remember into a consistent order of events which will become a habit for you to follow without giving much thought. In fact, at each phase you will eventually focus on 1 or 2 ideas which will act as a guide for doing that phase with very little thought.

Many of these phases are given in a way so that you can:

* do them * know that you are prepared for remaining phases * and then change your focus to next phase without going back to any thoughts of phase you have just done

Your thoughts will be so organized that you will not feel like you are running through a checklist of 20 to 50 tips that have you fidgeting at ball as you try to remember what to do.

Phase One - DISTANCE:

It begins as you arrive at next tee-off or where your ball lies from previous hit. It makes you think of distance or height of your next hit. When you know your distance or height choose club which is usually hitting ball indicated distance Once correct golf club is in your hands you eliminate distance from any further part of your golf swing steps This phase is first of two phases which deal with you, golf ball, and where ball is to land.

Optional Phase — PRACTICE SWINGS away from ball or tee-off:

Light, half-swings Practice your posture for club in your hands Practice your turn movements in posture. So important! Training your back and "tummy" muscles to execute main part of swinging your golf club is priority. Give thought to these phases of playing your golf shot

Phase Two — POSITION at ball and DIRECTION:

Here you place your feet with 3 objectives in mind: Line your toes of both feet along a parallel line from ball to it destination. Move closer or farther from ball to allow you to be in good posture Move sideways to ball so it is positioned where you want it between your feet. My lesson modules will teach you some ways to do this phase. When you are satisfied that your feet are positioned do not move them again until momentum of your club, arms, and body pull you into an upright posture as your swing is finishing. Once you have completed this phase you can hold club wherever you want to prepare for next phase. DIRECTION and DISTANCE are now complete. You do not want to think of these 2 elements of your golf swing process again. The remaining phases focus on you, golf club, golf ball, and your swing movements and non-movements.

Phase Three — TAKE HOLD of your golf CLUB

In this phase you "grip" your golf club in your desired manner. As you do this your feet are not to move. This phase also places bottom of club head in correct alignment to your body. My articles and lesson modules will help you develop a desired grip on your club. Once you have taken hold of club you should not move your hands or fingers on club for any reason - no fidgeting!

Phase Four — POSTURE of your legs, body, head, and arms

Here you establish your foundation for controlled movements You establish desired angles of all joints to allow best freedom of movement when you swing club. You position yourself in these angles while confirming that you feel almost same comfort you do while standing in a natural position. You do not want to feel any stress. If you do then you will most likely be out of posture in some part of your legs, body, arms, or head. My articles and lesson modules will teach you how to practice a good golf posture at home until you can feel what your posture should be without going through practice steps. You will also learn to feel 3 body check points and one visual check point so you can be in posture in 1 or 2 seconds once you have gripped your golf club.

Phase Five — SNUG: not "loose" - not "relaxed" - not "rigid"

1. Why an earth are you playing golf?

2. What are you getting out of each round?

3. What is point?

Have you ever thought about any of these points before??

Here is an excerpt from "The Dave Way"... if you already own "The Dave Way" please read this one more time to get a few ideas of why you are on course every weekend.

Pride

It’s almost like a proud parent raising a child successfully. You start out hardly knowing anything about game. Your scores are usually horrible (in my case around 125) and your swing mechanics are usually pathetic. Your shot making is non-existent and your drives are short and very unimpressive.

And then, round after round (and after many nights and $’s spent at practice range) you slowly start to improve. I remember first day I broke 100 - and then first day I broke 90 - and then first day I broke 80... few feelings in world come close.

Status

Let’s face it, golf is rich in tradition. And whether right or wrong, those that have mastered sport are generally stuck at top of social ladder in clubhouse locker rooms and sometimes even in workplace.

Let’s say you’re talking to your buddies about a local golfer and then somebody in your group mentions this person is a scratch golfer, no matter what you though beforehand you hold that person in a higher regard for some reason.

Focus

Even though focus is not necessarily why a person would pick up game of golf, after playing for a little while you will realize game can improve your mental toughness, your mental awareness, and eventually your outlook on life.

Now I know that may sound a little deep and possibly a tad cheesy, but it’s honest truth. If you have been playing golf (even for just one season) you know there are many ups and downs associated with sport. Those ups and downs can be found between years of playing, between rounds, between holes, and sometimes (but hopefully not) between shots.

Through all these good times and bad times you learn perseverance. You develop goal setting skills. If you stick with sport (I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard “I’m going to sell my sticks in paper tomorrow!”) you will build up a “stick to it” type of attitude.

Your mind will become sharp!

No wonder those that have mastered this sport are generally known as over-achievers.

Health

Even though I have listed health as number 4, this is one of main reasons I picked up a golf club.

My body was never in, what you would call, real good or athletic shape. And when I would watch golf on tube I noticed a some of men playing had guts… excuse me… un-chiseled abs J. Kind of like yours truly.