All about feel: what it is, how to learn it and when you can say you're a feel player

Golf Digest, June, 2005 by Gio Valiante, Mike Stachura

SIMPLY PUT, FEEL IS GOLF'S HOLY GRAIL. EVERY player wants it, and no player can ever get enough of it. The problem is, feel is misunderstood. It doesn't only mean having the hands to hit a soft lob. It's about using all your senses, knowing what your body and the club are doing and being able to play to a picture in your mind.

The good news: You can learn feel. Like anything else, some players have a natural knack for it, while others need more practice. But every golfer can become a feel player. All it takes is three things: a clear understanding of the concept, some good fundamental instruction and the desire to make it part of your game. Once you have it, you can step up to any shot on any course at any time and just feel it. If that sounds good, the next 39 pages are for you.

Are you a feel player?

To find out where you fall on the Golf Digest Feel Scale (bottom), answer these 10 questions. Give yourself a point for each "a" and no point for each "b."

1. I would equate my playing style to
that of ...

a. Sam Snead, Fred Couples, Sergio Garcia
b. Ben Hogan, Nick Faldo, Vijay Singh

2. When I read for pleasure, I prefer ...

a. Fiction
b. History

3. Warming up on the range ...

a. I'm looking to develop sensations
b. I'm working on specific swing positions

4. When picking a club ...

a. I trust my eyes
b. I trust the yardage

5. When I go to a restaurant ...
a. I ask for the specials
b. I order off the menu

6. When I'm playing well ...

a. I'm thinking about nothing
b. I'm thinking about every aspect
   of the shot at hand

7. If my swing gets off-track ...

a. I play my way through it
b. I take a lesson

8. On TV, I like to watch ...

a. HBO, IFC or Comedy Central
b. CNN, The Golf Channel or The
   Weather Channel

9. If I had a choice for my next job,
it would be something like ...

a. Chef, writer or marketer
b. Engineer, accountant or scientist

10. When I play a new course.

a. I don't look much at the yardage book
b. I look at the yardage book on every
   tee box

GOLF DIGEST FEEL SCALE

0-3 You are a robo-golfer. Go with your gut a little more often.

4-6 Good balance of feel and analytical. You plan well but still play with instinct.

7-9 You rely heavily on feel. Be careful not to get sloppy with your approach or your swing.

10 You're Mr. Spontaneity. You need more structure to play your best.

Dr. Gio Valiante, author of Fearless Golf, with Mike Stachura