New Today: A Review and a Tip

Check my "Review" link for a book recommendation (actually two) and the "Tips" link for a related tip (also, actually two).

New Today: Podcast 17

Today's new podcast returns to the heart of Eastern thought by beginning a three-part discussion of The Eightfold Path, the Zen route for escape from the suffering that rises out of our excessive desire and/or futile attempts to control.

New Today

Posted today: a new essay, and the first of a series of putting tips.

Check them out!

New Today: Podcast 16

Check the "Podcast" menu link for the latest program: How to Play Better.

(Do you think it might have something to do with thinking better?)

New Today: Podcast 15

Check the "GolfingZen.Podcast" link for program #15, A Matter of Control.

Fortune Cookies

I confess! I haven't been zealous about posting weekly fortune cookies. I promise to do better.

But, I had hoped that the last one, "Zen golfers have no hope" would have produced more comments or questions. Isn't saying that I have no hope admitting defeat?

It's not that at all. "Hope" implies wishing... wishing for something in the future. In contrast, Zen discipline is being fully present in the here and now, paying attention, accepting ownership for what I can control and letting go of what I can't.

So, to hope for something is very "un-Zen-like," if I can coin that term. Better to get my mind out of the future and focus on now.

Question: what does the new cookie say?

(Also... I can't resist a little "un-Zen-like" bragging. See today's "Review" post.)

A New (Old?) Review: Tour Tempo

Please click the "Reviews" link in the Menu listing for newly posted comments on the instructional book, Tour Tempo.

In addition to my comments, I'm specifically looking for feedback from anyone who has already worked with the book's ideas. Anyone out there?

New Today — The "Physics" Podcast

Podcast 14 is up today, the companion to the essay that deals with the Physics fundamentals: the absolute and impersonal truth that the golf ball tells us about how it was struck. As with the fundamental Zen truth, if you pay attention —without emotion — you must move closer to your potential... and your potential is unlimited!

How to Make Golf Hard: A Self-Lesson

Here in the Philadelphia suburbs, we're being blessed with yet another break from winter: mid-day temperatures nudging into the low 50's. Winter gloves and wind-breakers are standard-issue on the first tee, but we're all peeling layers on the back nine.

That's the good news. The not-so-good is that I'm getting this gift at the same time I'm writing/recording my concluding views on swing fundamentals. The physical fundamentals went up last week, I posted the essay on the laws of physics this week, and a new podcast is due any day.

How do you think one's golf mind works in that situation? How do you think I played yesterday and today?

The short answer is... not as well as I'd like. But, in another sense, I proved my own point. I loaded myself up with responsibility, with obligation, and fell into the "try harder" trap. "If you have to nerve to write it, self, you darn well better be able to deliver." In my mind, the many-hundred readers and podcast listeners walked behind me and watched (judged) every shot.

The good news is that I was able to catch myself, to let go of trying, to focus on my playing focus instead of on score, and — on the back nine today — get back into trusting my routine, choosing a longer club (or two!) so that I could slow down, and feeling the rhythm of the swing.

I can see that, by virtue of this project, I've imposed a special kind of Zen test on myself. I'll keep you posted on how it all works out.

(See the "Reviews" page for a short update on what's in my bag today.)