Colin Davie

TrackMan Low Point Distance
A simple practice cycle that actually transfers to the course

Most golfers waste time on TrackMan because they never move from practice to play.

They hit balls.
They chase numbers.
They leave with data, not skill.

This is a simple, repeatable four-stage practice cycle that turns TrackMan feedback into better golf on the course.

The goal is not to hit balls longer.
The goal is to practice, transfer, then play.

This is the exact cycle we use in the Golf Room.

The Rule Before You Start

You are not here to grind.
You are not here to chase numbers.
You are here to improve one thing, then take it to the course.

Each stage has a purpose.
Each stage has an exit rule.

No exit rule, no progress.

Stage 1: Tracer Mode

Purpose: Strike control

Time: 8–10 minutes
Shots: About 20 balls

What you work on

Low point distance

Ball-first contact

One clear intention per shot

What you are looking for

Low point consistently in front of the ball

A stable average, not perfect swings

Solid strike without forcing speed

Rules

No shaping shots

No fixing ten things

Reset fully between every ball

Exit rule

Low point is consistent

Strike feels repeatable

When that happens, you move on.

Stage 2: Range Mode

Purpose: Distance awareness

Time: About 5 minutes
Shots: 10 balls

Setup

Set the target at your average carry distance from Stage 1

What you work on

Same strike intention

Same tempo

Same club

Rules

Do not change your swing

Do not chase distance

Observe start line and spread only

Exit rule

Dispersion looks normal

Misses stay inside your usual pattern

Now the skill starts to look like golf.

Stage 3: Practice on Course

Purpose: Transfer to golf

Time: 10–15 minutes
Shots: One ball per hole

Setup

Place the ball your average 7-iron distance from each green

How to play it

Pick a target

Hit one shot

Move on

Rules

Never hit two balls from the same place

Treat every shot as real

Accept the result and move to the next hole

This is no longer range practice.
This is golf practice.

Stage 4: Play (Switch Off)

Purpose: Trust and enjoyment

Mode

Course play

London Level 1 or your current level

Rules

Forget mechanics

Forget low point

Forget TrackMan numbers

You are not practicing anymore.
You are playing golf.

This separation matters.

Why This Cycle Works

You isolate one skill

You test it under light pressure

You transfer it to golf

You finish by playing freely

That is how learning sticks.

Final Reminder

TrackMan is a tool, not a coach.

The order you use it matters more than the settings.

Next Step

Use this exact four-stage cycle for your next three Golf Room sessions.

Do not change it.
Let the results show up on the course.

Skip the Carousel

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1 week ago (edited) | [YT] | 1

Colin Davie

Why Some Golfers Get Better Under Pressure (And Others Fall Apart)

Most golfers try to avoid stress.

Bad lies.
Bad rounds.
Bad days.

But here is something most golfers do not know.

Some things get better because of stress.

The idea most golfers miss

There is a concept called antifragile.

It comes from the book Antifragile.

Antifragile does not mean tough.
It does not mean strong.

It means this:

Stress makes it better.

Three types of golfers

Think about golfers like this.

Fragile golfers

One bad shot ruins the hole.

One bad hole ruins the round.

They play well only when things are perfect.

Robust golfers

Bad shots do not hurt them much.

Good shots do not help them much either.

They stay the same.

Antifragile golfers

Bad shots teach them.

Pressure sharpens them.

Tough rounds make them better next time.

The best golfers are not calm because they avoid stress.
They are calm because they have trained with it.

Golf already proves this idea

Your body is antifragile.

Muscles get stronger when stressed.

Balance improves when challenged.

Skills improve when tested.

Golf skills work the same way.

If practice is too easy, nothing changes.

Why most practice fails

Many golfers practice like this:

Flat lies only.

Same club every time.

No targets.

No pressure.

This feels good.
It looks good.

It does not hold up on the course.

That kind of practice is fragile.

How to make your golf antifragile

You do not need more practice.
You need better stress.

Here are simple ways to do it.

Add consequences

Miss the target. Start again.

Miss three in a row. Change the drill.

Change conditions

Uneven lies.

Different clubs.

Random targets.

Limit time

Fewer balls.

Shorter sessions.

More focus.

Small stress.
Low risk.
Big learning.

One question to ask after every session

Ask this before you leave the range:

“Did today’s practice make me better only today, or better next time under pressure?”

If it only works on the range, it is fragile.

The goal

Do not try to remove stress from golf.

Golf will not allow that.

Train so stress works for you, not against you.

That is how real improvement happens.

1 week ago | [YT] | 1

Colin Davie

Alignment Smothers Position (Why Most Golfers Are Chasing the Wrong Thing)

Most golfers are taught positions.

Top of backswing.
Club parallel.
Elbow here.
Face there.

And most golfers stay stuck.

The problem is simple.

Positions are snapshots. Golf is motion.

Who Homer Kelley was (and why this matters)

Homer Kelley was not a touring professional or a tip-giving coach.

He was an aerospace engineer.

Kelley studied the golf swing the way an engineer studies machinery.
Not by style.
Not by looks.
But by relationships, geometry, and cause-and-effect.

His work became the foundation of The Golfing Machine, one of the most influential technical studies of the golf swing ever written.

One of his most important observations was this:

“Alignment smothers position.”

That single sentence explains why many good-looking swings do not work.

What alignment actually means

Alignment does not mean straight lines.

Alignment means:

One part maintains a working relationship with another

That relationship holds while the club is moving

Examples:

Left arm aligned to the shaft

Shaft aligned to the swing path

Arms aligned in front of the body

Club aligned from A to B

If those relationships are intact, the swing organizes itself.

If they are broken, the golfer compensates.

Why positions fail

A position can be correct and still be useless.

You can:

Pause at the top in a “perfect” shape

Still deliver the club poorly

Still steer, flip, or hang on

Why?

Because the relationships did not survive motion.

The club was not aligned.
The body had to interfere.
The release did not happen.

Why alignment works

When alignment is correct:

The club loads the arms

The arms load the body

The body releases automatically

No forcing.
No timing thoughts.
No manipulation.

The club behaves like a flail.
When the handle slows, the club releases.

That is physics, not style.

This is why release cannot be taught directly

You cannot teach someone to “release”.

Release is a result, not an action.

Teach alignment:

The release appears

The ball flight improves

The golfer feels early certainty

Miss alignment:

The golfer hangs on

The body stalls

The hands flip or steer

Why great golfers look effortless

Good players are not thinking positions.

They are:

Aligned early

Free through impact

Finished because the club pulled them there

They are directing the hit, not manufacturing it.

The coaching mistake

Trying to fix:

A shoulder

A wrist

A hip

Instead of fixing:

The relationship between the club and the body

One alignment correction can clean up five positions.

The reverse never works.

The takeaway

If the club does not release, something is out of alignment.

Not rhythm.
Not confidence.
Not effort.

Alignment.

Fix the relationship.
Let the motion happen.

That is why alignment smothers position.

1 week ago | [YT] | 0

Colin Davie

The Secret to Winning: Mastering the Art of the Missed Shot

1. Introduction: Why Perfection is the Enemy of Success

Eliminate the misconception that a "bad" shot is a failure of skill. For the developing golfer, frustration often stems from the impossible pursuit of the "perfect" strike. In reality, the most profound secret of the game is that golf is fundamentally a "game of misses." To advance, you must stop trying to eliminate errors and start learning how to manage them.

This philosophy is the cornerstone of professional mastery. Legendary ball-striker Ben Hogan famously asserted that "the guy who misses the best is going to win." Coach Don Trahan, the "Swing Surgeon," validates this by teaching that missing well is the most consistent path to victory. When you "miss best," you keep the ball in play and minimize the severity of the penalty for your error. Winning golf is not about the frequency of your flush shots; it is about the quality of your mistakes.

By understanding that the margin for error is a strategic tool rather than a sign of weakness, you can begin to model your game after the world's greatest champions.


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2. The Professionals' Perspective: Managing the Margin of Error

Professional golfers do not step onto the tee expecting perfection; they expect to manage their outcomes. Even at the elite level, the "pure" shot is the exception, not the rule. Your goal is to narrow the gap between your best shot and your worst.

Professional Expert Core Philosophy
Annika Sorenstam Success is defined by keeping bad shots from becoming "terrible."
Parker Robins Hits the ball "flush" only once every 15 shots; 93% of the game is about learning to "miss it pretty well."

Key Insight: The Strategic Bail-Out High-level course management requires identifying a safe "bail-out" spot during the planning phase. When a flag is tucked in a risky or dangerous position, do not aim at the pin. Instead, intentionally choose a target area where a slight miss still leaves you in a safe position to play your next shot.

This strategic shift from "aiming at the hole" to "managing the target" transforms the way you perceive every swing.


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3. The Three Pillars of a Successful Miss

To turn a potential disaster into a scoring opportunity, you must adopt a disciplined instructional framework. Based on the insights of Dr. Bob Rotella and the PGA, follow these three pillars:

1. Pillar 1: Radical Acceptance Acceptance is a prerequisite for performance. You must acknowledge that missing is a natural, inevitable component of the game. By stripping the emotional weight from a miss, you maintain the composure required to execute the next shot.
2. Pillar 2: Scoring Through Response As Dr. Bob Rotella emphasizes, mastery is determined by how you "accept, respond to, and score with your misses." A miss is not just a recovery opportunity; it is a chance to save your round. Your focus must shift immediately from the error to the math—how to turn that miss into a par or a bogey rather than a double-bogey.
3. Pillar 3: The "Another Chance" Advantage According to the PGA, every missed shot is simply another chance to play. This is your competitive advantage. While your opponents may crumble after an error, you must view a miss as an opportunity to showcase your short-game skills. When you stop fearing the miss, you gain the psychological edge needed to stay aggressive.

Adopting these pillars ensures that you are no longer reacting to your mistakes, but proactively managing your progress across eighteen holes.


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4. Reframing Your Game: From Perfection to Progress

Golf mastery is the art of recovery. It is a curriculum built on planning for the 93% of shots that won't be perfect and developing the resilience to turn those misses into successful scores. To accelerate your development, implement these three Mindset Shifts immediately:

* Priority One: Dispersion Management: Stop aiming at "dangerous" pins. Aim for the center of the green to ensure that your natural shot dispersion keeps you on the putting surface even when you don't hit it flush.
* The Recovery Quotient: Redefine your value as a player. The best golfers are defined by their scramble percentage and their ability to "score with their misses," not the distance of their drives.
* Outcome Optimization: Shift your focus from "How did that swing feel?" to "Where did that ball end up?" A functional miss that stays in play is always superior to a beautiful swing that ends up out of bounds.

Remember: everyone misses. The professionals simply miss better than the amateurs. By embracing the "game of misses," you equip yourself to play smarter, score lower, and truly enjoy the challenge of the game. Now, step onto the first tee and play your next "another chance" with the confidence of a master.

2 weeks ago | [YT] | 0

Colin Davie

Golf Has a Growth Problem. And It’s Not the Swing.
Golf does not struggle because it is too difficult.
It struggles because the way people are introduced to it creates pressure before it creates enjoyment.
Most people do not quit golf after years of playing.
They walk away before they ever feel comfortable.
The problem is not technique.
The problem is the starting point.
Think about how golf usually begins:
Standing on a tee box.
People watching.
Fear of embarrassment.
Fear of slowing everyone down.
Confusion about clubs, rules, bookings, and cost.
That is not an invitation.
That is a test.
Now compare that to putting.
Putting works because:
It is social.
It is simple.
It is easy to understand.
It creates enjoyment quickly.
It removes fear of failure.
That difference matters.
Even Tiger Woods is building venues around this idea.
Putting-focused spaces.
Social environments.
Food, drinks, and time with friends.
Realistic greens, not novelty obstacles.
The signal is clear.
Golf grows when enjoyment comes first.
So what should the real entry point to golf look like?
Start Playing Golf
People do not want to learn golf.
They want to play golf.
The fastest way to do that is to remove complexity.
One club.
Shorter.
Easier to control.
No requirement for a full swing.
Safety comes first.
Confidence comes quickly.
The ball moves forward.
Pace of play is maintained.
People experience golf instead of being taught golf.
They discover that they can do it.
Learn to Score
The next step is not hitting the ball farther.
It is learning how to score without stress.
Instead of starting on a tee, players begin closer to the green.
They experience early success.
They learn distance, touch, and control.
They progress only after achieving simple, clear goals.
This removes the biggest barrier in golf.
Fear of failure before confidence exists.
Learning becomes achievable.
Progress becomes visible.
Enjoyment stays intact.
Where Golf Is Heading
Golf does not need more instruction at the beginning.
It needs better pathways.
Golf grows when:
Enjoyment comes first.
Confidence comes early.
Complexity comes later.
Community forms naturally.
That is how people stay in the game.
That is how golf grows.
If you are interested in a better way to start playing golf,
or a simpler way to learn how to score,
or a future where golf feels inviting instead of intimidating,
you are in the right place.

1 month ago | [YT] | 0

Colin Davie

Club Fitting Isn’t About New Clubs. It’s About Removing the Guesswork.
Yesterday was a strong reminder of why proper club fitting still matters.
This was not a sales exercise.
It was a clarity exercise.
I went to the club fitting with one of my students. Let me tell you.

A golfer went through a real, measured fitting session at Drummond Golf Maroochydore, with one goal.
Find out what actually fits, and why.
Here is what happened.
Where the session started
We did not start with brand, price, or distance.
We started with balance and contact.
How the club interacted with the ground
Where impact occurred on the sole
Whether the swing stayed natural without compensation
The lie angle told the first clear story.
Slightly upright. Not extreme. Enough to explain directional misses that had been showing up on the course.
What changed once the lie was right
As soon as the lie angle was corrected, everything settled.
Strike improved without swing thoughts
Direction tightened without manipulation
Balance stayed centred instead of forced
That is the test.
When the body stops fighting the club, the fit is right.
Shaft choice was about the future, not hype
We agreed on a graphite shaft.
Yes, it costs a little more.
No, it was not a luxury choice.
It matched three things clearly.
Tempo
How often the clubs will be played
Longevity over many years
The goal was not what feels good today.
The goal was what will not need fixing again soon.
What this session was not
This session included observation and documentation only.
No coaching
No swing rebuild
No pressure to buy anything
That matters.
A fitting should reveal information, not create noise.
The big takeaway
Most golfers are not bad ball strikers.
They are compensating.
When the club fits properly:
The body relaxes
The swing simplifies
Confidence increases quickly
That is not theory.
That is exactly what happened yesterday.
Next step
If you are unsure whether your misses come from your swing or your equipment, start with a proper fitting before changing anything else.
If you want to see more real-world fittings like this, subscribe to the channel and keep an eye out for the next session.

1 month ago | [YT] | 0

Colin Davie

A Simple Exercise That Can Change Your Golf (and More)
Progress in golf rarely fails because of bad technique.
It fails because direction is unclear.
This is a short exercise worth doing once, properly.

Step 1. Start Clean
Take a clean sheet of paper.
Write today’s date at the top.

Step 2. Write Ten Goals
Write down ten goals you would like to achieve in the next twelve months.
Rules:

Write in the present tense
Keep it simple
Do not overthink it

Examples:
I play golf without tension.
I practice with purpose.
I break 90.
I enjoy my time on the course.
I feel confident standing over the ball.
Just write.

Step 3. The One Question That Matters
Now ask yourself this:
If I had a magic wand and could achieve only one of these goals in the next 24 hours, which one would have the greatest positive impact on my life and golf?

One goal will stand out.
Circle it.

That is your priority.

Step 4. Transfer the Goal
Take a second clean sheet of paper.
Write only that one goal at the top.

Step 5. The Seven Steps
Follow this sequence exactly:
Write the goal clearly.
Set a realistic deadline.
List everything required to achieve it.
Organise that list into a simple checklist.
Take action.
Do something toward the goal every day.
Do not stop.
This works because it removes guessing.
You are no longer hoping.
You are executing.
Why This Belongs in Your Golf Journey
Golf improvement is not random.
Neither is life improvement.
Clarity creates momentum.
Momentum creates confidence.
Confidence creates results.

Nothing external stops progress.
Only inaction does.

Next step
Do this exercise this week.
When you have your circled goal, post it in the community or keep it private.
Either way, let it guide how you practice and how you make decisions moving forward.
This is your journey.

1 month ago | [YT] | 0

Colin Davie

Why Most Golfers Don’t Improve And It’s Not Their Swing

Here is a question that stopped me in my tracks this week.

Before entering a trade, can you clearly state what will make you exit
If you cannot, it is not a trade. It is hope.

Golf works the same way.

Most golfers do not fail because they lack talent.
They fail because they are hoping instead of following a structure.

They practice.
They watch videos.
They hit balls.

But they do not know what they are working toward.
They do not know how to know if it is working.
They do not know when they have earned the right to move on.

So improvement feels random.
And random does not last.

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What Competent Golf Actually Means

Most people say, I just want to be more consistent.

If you were perfectly consistent, you would make par on every hole.

That is not the real goal.

Competent golf means this.
You can get around a course without stress, embarrassment, or confusion.

Not tour golf.
Not perfect swings.
Just knowing you belong on the course you are playing.

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The Missing Piece Levels and Environments

Golf is not one game.
It is a series of environments.

If you start in the wrong environment, frustration is guaranteed.

A simple structure looks like this.

Level one
Very short distances
Goal finish holes in a set number of shots

Level two to three
Slightly longer
Short game becomes reliable

Level four
Equivalent to most par three courses

Level five to six
You can now play a full course without constant trouble

Each level has a distance.
Each level has a clear goal.
Each level has a pass condition.

You do not feel ready.
You earn the next level.

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Why Exit Rules Matter in Golf

If you do not know what passes a level, you are guessing.

Examples.

I need to shoot 36 or better from this distance.
I need to hit the target six out of ten times.
I need to two putt from inside this range.

No emotions.
No overthinking.
Just rules.

When the box is ticked, you move on.

That is progress.

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Why Technique Is Not the Starting Point

Here is something most people miss.

If you repeatedly hit a 25 to 75 metre shot with a clear target and clear rules, you will improve, even without technical advice.

Technique matters later.
Structure matters first.

When golfers over analyse mechanics too early, they fall in love with why a shot went wrong and ignore what is working.

Rules remove that noise.

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Why People Quit And How To Stop It

People do not quit golf because it is hard.
They quit because they get lost.

Common fears.

What if I commit and still do not improve
What if life gets busy and I fall behind
What if I am the only one struggling
What if I do not know what to work on next

These are not solved by guarantees.

They are solved by clear structure, protection from going backwards, and knowing you always have a next step.

Progress does not expire.
You simply pick up where you left off.

---

The Real Goal

Golf improvement is not about grinding harder.

It is about choosing the right environment.
Following simple rules.
Measuring progress calmly.
Moving forward only when it is earned.

That is how beginners stay in the game.
That is how confidence grows.
That is how golf becomes fun instead of frustrating.

---

Next step.

Ask yourself one question.

What level am I actually playing and what would prove I am ready to move on

Answer that honestly.
Everything else becomes much simpler after that.

1 month ago | [YT] | 1

Colin Davie

I think it is a great thing to simply bring your golf back to being fun. Check out Robin Williams - on Golf

3 months ago | [YT] | 0

Colin Davie

🏏 Seeing Like Bradman: A Metaphor for Golf Focus
Golf, like cricket, is as much a game of the mind as it is of technique. To help golfers grasp the importance of staying present through the swing, it can be helpful to look outside our own sport for inspiration. Sir Donald Bradman – the Australian batsman who averaged 99.94 in Test cricket – is a vivid example.

🎯 The Bradman Focus Metaphor
In the early 1930s, England’s cricket captain Douglas Jardine is said to have sat in a smoke‑filled Lord’s committee room and watched slow‑motion film of Bradman batting. The film showed Bradman reacting to a short ball so quickly that, to observers, he seemed not to blink.

Later, in his coaching book The Art of Cricket, Bradman advised young players to “try to glue the eyes on the ball until the very moment it hits the bat.” 🧠 Modern sports scientists confirm that elite hitters use predictive eye‑movements to track the ball and watch it late into contact.

Whether or not Bradman literally never blinked, his legend reminds us of three key qualities:

Presence: Bradman appeared fully engaged with each ball; he wasn’t thinking about the last shot or the next one.
Anticipation: He read cues from the bowler’s run‑up and seemed to “know” where the ball would be.
Commitment to contact: He watched the ball all the way onto the bat, trusting his preparation and letting the swing happen.
⛳ Applying the Metaphor to Golf
A golf swing is slower than a fast‑bowler’s delivery, yet many players lose focus at the most important moment. They make a backswing, then “hope” the club will find the ball. Using the Bradman metaphor can help sharpen your awareness of what is really happening:

Stay in the present. 🧘‍♂️
Before you start your backswing, take a breath and commit to this shot only. Don’t replay your last miss or worry about the next hole.
Read the cues. 🌬️⛰️
Like a batsman reading a bowler’s run‑up, scan the lie of the ball, the slope, the wind and your target. These are your predictive cues.
Make a purposeful backswing. 🌀
As you wind up, feel the weight of the clubhead. Your goal isn’t to hit hard but to gather energy you can deliver smoothly.
Throw the clubhead at the ball. 🪃
On the downswing, imagine you’re “throwing” the head of the club towards the ball. Let your body unwind naturally; your focus stays on the ball itself.
Watch the moment of impact. 👁️🎯
Just as Bradman advised, try to see the clubface meet the ball. In that split second, a soft object (the ball) is squashed against a hard, grooved face. The grooves grip the cover and impart spin, dictating trajectory and control. You don’t need a physics degree to appreciate this; simply observing that compression can anchor you in the present.
🧩 Why This Matters
When you watch the ball through impact, you’re not just following a myth – you’re giving your brain better information. The slight compression of the ball against the clubface and the friction of the grooves determine launch and spin.

By staying engaged at that moment, you reduce the chance of lifting your head or decelerating; you also train yourself to feel how clean contact produces the flight you want. 🎓

🔁 Bringing It All Together
Next time you practise, use Bradman’s story as a metaphor. Imagine you’re in your own “slow‑motion film,” fully aware of the club and ball. Stay present, anticipate what the ball will do, and watch the clubface compress the ball before it rockets off with controlled spin. 🚀

This simple mental shift – confronting what is really happening at impact – can turn a hurried swipe into a deliberate strike. 💥

By embracing this Bradman‑like focus, golfers can cultivate the kind of presence that keeps them engaged from backswing to follow‑through. And while you might blink, the ball won’t mind – as long as you’re truly watching it when it counts. 👀

📘 Glossary
Backswing: The part of the golf swing where the club is taken away from the ball in preparation for the downswing.
Clubface: The striking surface of the golf club that makes contact with the ball.
Grooves: Small horizontal lines on the clubface that help grip the ball and generate spin.
Compression: The moment when the golf ball is slightly flattened against the clubface at impact.
🏷️ Hashtags:
#GolfTips #GolfLife #PlayBetterGolf #MindsetMatters #GolfBooks

3 months ago | [YT] | 3