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Justin answers 5 questions from his fans on the following:
Take5 On Tips
Take5 On Lifestyle
Take5 On Golf
JR: Hi Ross & Graeme. Unfortunately, my words of wisdom don't include any "secret" formula, but what I can pass on are the things that have worked for me. The number one thing that has helped me this year is setting clear, lofty, but achievable goals. This will, in turn, help keep you focused and dedicated, as I am afraid there is no substitute for hard work. Practising hard doesn't necessarily mean putting in hour after hour. I like to work "smarter not harder", making each minute count, and practising with a clear intention and focus, rather than just mindlessly beating balls. The other thing I have realised as I have matured as I have got older is the power of the mind. People always talk about it, but when I was 18 I don't think I really accepted the importance of mental training, and I believed that talent alone was enough. In a nutshell, this is what I believe: anything that happens to you, you have a choice on how to react to it. If you realise this, you can make yourself react in a positive way to any situation, which will in turn produce a more positive outcome. Like I said there is no secret. A good attitute, hard work, and a supportive family (which you obviously have) have done me well and I am sure will bring out the best in you too. Good luck!
JR: Hi Weston. Before the round, I warm up the important areas of my game. Those include hitting long putts for speed control and then hitting lots of 3-6 ft. putts going through my routine to stimulate what I'll face on the course. I'll then move to the range and warm up hitting a lot of wedge shots. I'll move through the bag quickly and finish hitting the shot I'll need from the first tee. Before heading to the tee, I'll hit 20-30 chips - all bunker shots. So really, the empahasis is on my short game, as this determines how you'll score. On the course, my strategy is to play boring golf. Fairways and greens! Mistake free is my goal out there!
JR: Hi Todd. The right equipment does play a big part in us playing to our potential but also we don't use anything you guys can't get hold of providing you've got some dollars to spend! Custom fitting is the way to go if you're serious about your game and you play to a decent level (8 handicap or better). The margin between winning and losing comes down to a tiny percentage so any help your equipment can give you, you want. A good club fitter will put you on a launch monitor, analyse your club speed, ball speed, spin characteristics and then figure out whether you'll benefit from a different flex shaft or club head loft etc. The result should be less wild shots! With regards to wedges I have 10 degrees of bounce on my sand wedge and 6 degrees on my lobber. If I have a tight lie I'll use the L wedge or if in firm sand. I'll use the club with more bounce if on soggy fairways or in deep rough. I keep my wedges constant generally. Remember, if you open up the clubface you add loft and also add bounce. The other thing to remember is bounce is your friend!
JR: Hi Luke. That has happened on occasions. It is normally because my caddy sings the last song he heard on the radio all day long on the course! If this happens and I feel distracted I am quite disciplined about backing away from my shot and starting my pre shot routine again.
JR: Hi Andy. In an ideal world, a good formula for success is two thirds short game, one third long game. This applies when the long game is in good shape, obviously the game starts from the tee so if you are not getting it in play, then you need to focus on that area of your game for the time being. I work out five times a week on weeks off and push it a little harder than I would during the four sessions I do during a tournament week. Off weeks are more weights, tournament weeks are more core stability and stretching etc. The good thing about working with Nick Bradley is we keep it very simple, and constantly address the same faults that continually crop up. We all have our tendancies, and once you recognise them, it's important to keep working on eradicating them. None of it's rocket science! Just dedication and determination.
JR: Hi Ben. I know Ian Poulter often listens to his iPod during his warm up before teeing off. As for me, I will just have the radio on in the car on the way to the course and sometimes have a bit of a sneaky sing along! I find music can be uplifting, but it's not something I rely on.
JR: Hi Andy. It sounds like you are putting too much pressure on yourself in a medal-maybe you can try and play with your mates in a medal, and have a side game (bet amongst yourselves!) to take your mind off the medal a bit! At the end of the day, if you have fun with your golf, you'll play better!
JR: Hi Mark. The only way a 5 handicap is going to get to scratch is by being mustard around the greens! And the only way to get good around the greens is to put in the time. Before the nights close in, I'd try and spend an hour a night chipping and putting.
JR: Hi Matthew. Tight fitting undergarments are good. The first couple of layers must be tight fitting, I find this really helps keep you warm. In terms of the elements, Isee it as more of a mental challenge and you've got to reverse your mind set and enjoy the challenges that the elements present!
JR: Hi Michael. If i have a day dedicated to practising, I'll spend 8 hours doing it and I probably spend 50% long game and 50% short game. If i were to try and advise you however, Iwould probably say it's best to spend 30% on long game and 70% on short game. That's what i try to achieve but sometimes it's tough. I think it's also really important to play regularly out on the golf course. If i'm feeling pretty happy with my swing then I think playing is the most productive form of practice. But if Ifeel a fault has crept in then I feel I'll need to hit a lot of balls to iron it out. Who inspired me is a tough question! as Ihave played golf from a very young age and have always known that i wanted to be a pro since i can remember. My dad really helped guide me on the way to becoming a pro, and guys i have especially looked up to are Ernie Els and Nick Price.
JR: Hi Jamie. Sounds to me like you're too conscious of your score, because to be off 1 you are obviously playing consistently good golf. When you have a chance to shoot good golf, you are probably getting in your own way. It sounds too simple, but you just have to focus on one shot at a time. Good luck and keep smiling :)
JR: Hi Mark. I'm afraid there's no step by step guaranteed way of progressing through the tours, but the one thing you must do is to continue to improve. I've always found that the easiest way to improve is to make sure that you push yourself to compete against people better than you all the time.
JR: Hi Darren, You sound like you're well on track to becoming a really good player! When I was your age I think I was playing off 2, but you shouldn't really read a lot into that as people mature at different stages. I've never really believed in the handicap system in terms of rating how good a player is or not, because everyone's home clubs differ in difficulty, and it depends a lot on the standard scratch as well. My advice to you is that it's important to break into the England set up as this is where I found I learned a lot and really became a hardened competitor. With your handicap you should be able to compete in all the big amateur events and should really focus on the McEvoy Trophy, the Carris Trophy and the McGregor trophy. I wish you lots of luck!
JR: Hi Allan. Strength wise I would focus on your legs but it's very important to do a lot of core stability exercises which are exercises that use the big swiss ball. I'm sure you can find a book or an internet site on this. I think the most important thing to work on is flexibility, and I know this is something that is easily overlooked as I tend to do that myself!
JR: Hi David. The obvious course which is everyone's favourite is of course Augusta, but other than that, Riviera in LA where we play the Nissan Open is good - a classic old style golf course. TPC Sawgrass is a really exciting course to play and Lake Nona where Iam a member here in Orlando is fun because Ilove going out in the late evenings in a cart and playing a few holes. There's a friendly rivalry between all the players, but especially between all the English guys! We're always vying for the number one Englishman spot, but at the same time, we happily go out to dinner and have a good time together.
JR: Hi Roger. I feel America is the place where my game is going to accelerate the fastest, it gives me the opportunity to work with the best in the business (coach/fitness wise) and I feel that my game is suited to America and Ienjoy spending time here. Saying that, home is London, and I have family and friends there, and in an ideal world, I will be playing a worldwide schedule as one of the best players in the world very shortly. Nice to know you miss me!
JR: Hi Anna. It sounds to me like the shot is on your mind for far too long before you actually have to hit it. I tend to use that time between shots to make sure I'm drinking enough water and eating properly which I find helps my concentration and energy levels. Hope that helps!
JR: Hi Lewis. The key for me was playing as many amateur tournaments as I could and gaining as much experience as possible. I also cut back on all the other sports that I played such as football, so that I could focus on golf as I needed to practice as much as possible around school. Obviously I'm never going to say that giving up school is good, as having an education to fall back on is important and can take some pressure off you.
JR: Hi Charles. To be honest, I'm probably not the best person to ask as Ileft school after my GCSE's! I luckily matured early as a golfer and therefore it was an easy decision to leave school to pursue a golfing career. I would say obviously education is important, but ultimately if you can do a course that leaves you time to practice that's the way to go because there's no substitute for practice!
JR: Hi Andrew. I carry my driver around 280 yards. In terms of the fitness side of things, although golfers are very fitness conscious out on Tour, I'm not sure that there are any great publications on golf fitness specifically. To be honest, flexibility is probably the best way to increase distance.
JR: I definitely keep up with International football no matter where I am! About 40 of the golfers in the French Open were watching the European Championships together and, as you can imagine there is a LOT of banter between all the different nationalities, on the European Tour especially.
JR: Hi Haydyn. Generally I spend 20 minutes in the fitness trailer before heading to the practise range, and in there I will do some dynamic flexibility, some theraband exercises, and throw a medicine ball with my trainer. I then do some golf specific drills, and then head to the range 40 minutes before my tee time. I feel this is good because it prevents me hitting too many balls before I go and play, which has been a problem in the past.
JR: Hi P. When I am swinging, I think it's good to have a swing thought, because this can prevent you from thinking negative thoughts like out of bounds or water. Saying this, the thought has to be simple, for example, good rythym or light grip pressure or full shoulder turn, something like that. Leave the technical stuff for the practice range. The gallery just comes with experience. As your game progresses you just find yourself in more and more pressure situations, and you learn to deal with it as it happens - so no real tip there!
JR: Hi Julian. Man, I consider myself English! I have had an English passport ever since I was born, my grandparents on both sides of the family are British, and I represented England as an amateur!
JR: Hi Stuart. I find that playing for 4/5 weeks in a row is the most I can do as it is mentally more tiring than physically playing on Tour and you need to take regular breaks to keep fresh.
JR: Hi Alison. In order to get a US tour card I have to earn at least as much as the guy who finished 125th on the PGA Tour Order of Merit last year and then play a minimum of 15 events.
JR: Hi Tom. When I am not on tour I do try to relax and not play too much. Depending on the time of year, I usually do some practice with my coach and play in the odd corporate day for one of my sponsors.
JR: Hi Adie. I think having 5 places based on the World Rankings will make it easier for me as I like to play around the world, so to get points wherever I am playing is should give me a better chance of getting into the team.
JR: Hi Guy. My tip for improving your putting is to take 3 balls and try to hole them from 3 feet. If you get them all move back to 4 feet and so on to 6 or 8 feet. If you miss one of the three come forward a foot and if you miss 2 or 3 start again. This will improve your putting and recreate the pressure of the course, because after 40mins of missing one from 6 feet, you really want to finish!!
JR: Hi Clint. I have a personal trainer and we do a little weight work using free weights for golf specific movements in my upper body, plus a bit of leg work on machines. I train most days and also spend about 40 minutes each session doing cardio-vascular work to improve my fitness.
JR: Hi Lauren. If I am having a poor spell I always just focus on the bigger picture. Getting better at golf is a marathon not a sprint and sometimes you do have dry spells, but the good times will come around agian if you put the effort in.
JR: Hi Pippa. I think you can start golf at any age. Nick Faldo about your age when he took up the game and Greg Norman was even older and they did alright!
JR: Hi Mark. I stayed in South Africa until I was 5. Hope you won the bet!
JR: Hi Sim. Everyone gets nervous on the first tee and I try to relax by listening to my breathing, which has a very calming effect. After that it is to pick a small target in the fairway and then trust my swing to get it there.
JR: Hi John. There is not much I dislike so far as I have really enjoyed my time in the USA. The player service at each tournament is unbelievable, the courses are in superb condition, the atmosphere at each event is great and I have enjoyed the banter I have had with the fans.
JR: Hi Kay. Thanks for the compliment. When I was 10/11/12 I just played golf all the time on the course, but when I was 15/16 I started to take it more seriously and spent more time on the range practicing.
JR: Hi Tom. My tip would be at the end of each practice session to play 20 shots as if you are on the course by picking a target and going through your whole routine focussing on the target and not on the technicalities. This gets your mind and body into 'game mode'.
JR: Hi John. I am going to the gym quite a lot to keep my fitness up and that helps me to get over the jet-lag quicker. I also make sure I drink lots of fluids and get plenty of sleep if I can - travelling in business class on long haul flights makes this easier and is worth the extra cost.
JR: Hi Steve. Try focussing on the target and getting the ball into the hole, rather than on how hard you should hit it. Trust your stroke to hit it the right strength and you will hole more putts!
JR: Hi Adam. I feel that visualisation is something you can either do or you can't. However it can be visualisation of sounds or feel as well as sight so give them all a go. If you are having trouble then concentrate on the target, preferably as small as possible, like a blade of grass in the hole when you are putting.
JR: Hi Chaw. Just try to relax before the event and focus on things you can control, such as hitting fairways, greens and making putts. Everyone gets nervous, but it's how you react to it that counts. Shoot the best score you can and forget about everything else. You are in control so go out an enjoy yourself!
JR: It's a bit of a misconception that I turned pro on the back of Birkdale. I'd already had deals in place to play the Dutch Open and the Scandinavian Masters as a pro before I played at Birkdale so it was going to happen anyway. I actually decided to turn pro when I failed to win the British Amateur in the June of the same year, 1998.
JR: Obviously, it's the most famous shot I've ever hit. It's what people know me for even to this day - even though I've won a couple of tournaments. And people have told me it's created one of the biggest roars they've ever heard in golf!
JR: I never doubted turning pro was the wrong decision. I never doubted the fact that I was going to be a professional golfer. I perhaps thought that I'd gone the wrong way about it. One thing I would have changed was my schedule. I think I played too much too soon. My advice to others would be don't be afraid of turning pro young, but don't expect too much too soon - you've got to learn your trade.
JR: I'm the boss and I hit what club I want to hit, but I do respect his judgment and we'll always discuss club selection. My caddy's best advice is just to follow his lead and stay calm. When I'm playing well he doesn't get too excited and if I'm playing bad he doesn't get too down.
JR: I think US fans are a little louder. They tend to go wild when there's any kind of backspin on the ball, whereas the British crowds will respect a golf shot like a punched nine iron which rolls up the green to the flag. I would say the British crowds are more knowledgable and the American pros even say that themselves. They really enjoy the galleries when they come over. Their treatment of Monty is pretty poor to be fair. But if Monty doesn't take himself too seriously then it's a great way to lighten his image. If he makes a joke of how he's been treated he'll make everybody think, 'well you can take it on the chin, you're not too bad'.
JR: I used to putt for hours and hours indoors when I was a youngster when I should have been doing my homework! But I think it's a great way to practice, and it also kills a few hours in the office! It's a great way to groove your putting stroke and any practice is better than none. I would say pick out a small target, so don't aim for a chair leg, aim for the corner point of the chair leg to focus your attention a bit more.
JR: Hi Josh. There is no fixed way to get into caddying. Most caddies work their way up from the bottom starting at local events before moving onto the international circuit. Try going along to a local course or event to get some experience first to see if you like it.
JR: Hi Matt. I try to keep fit by doing lots of aerobic work on the running machine and bike. Give it a go!
JR: Hi Scott. At age 12 I was 5 handicap, 13: 2, 14: 1, 15: 2 and 16: 3. Don't compare yourself to me though - 5 is excellent for your age and Nick Faldo didn't start playing until he was 15, so go for it!
JR: The best tip I can give is to take one shot at a time and focus on shooting the lowest score you can rather than aiming for a number. Good luck!
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