The Four Foundations of Golf: How to Build a Game That Lasts a Lifetime

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Most golfers are way too hard on themselves and expect much higher performance than necessary to achieve their scoring goals. The ⅔ rule breaks the game into three phases: tee shots, approach shots and finesse shots. You should never expect to score 3/3; at minimum, one part of your game will not perform above average. Shooting your lowest scores can come with a ⅔ score and average scoring can occur with only ⅓. The main goal is to start avoiding rounds where you score a 0/3, and everything in this book will help you do that! Keep reminding yourself that you don’t need to be perfect to play your best golf; you need to be patient. At a minimum, one part of your game can feel like a struggle on any given day. Greens in regulation also has a very close correlation to score across all handicaps. Increasing greens in reg is the key to lower scores. And being closer to the hole after your tee shot ties into this strongly. Golf is primarily a game of proximity. The closer you are to the hole, the better your chances of posting a lower score over the long run. As you get farther from the hole, golfers separate themselves more from one another in scoring potential. You could closely match the performance of a tour player from 30 feet with your putter but would never get close to them with a 200-yard approach shot. According to research done by Mark Broadie, ⅔ of scoring differential occurs in the long game (tee shots and approaches) versus the short game (wedge and putting). Proximity plays a massive role in scoring with tee shots, approach shots, and wedge play. No matter what level of golfer you are, being closer to the hole will result in lower scores on average. Therefore, it must be considered when choosing targets and club selection.

First, the main portion of the video course is divided into six main modules. My favorite three modules were Managing Your Expectations, Learning The Basics Of Strategy, and The Mental Game. Jon presents clear discussions of some of the most valuable information from the book in all of the six modules. Unfortunately, we can’t have it both ways. You can’t become the golfer at the top of your mountain (which is different for each player) without climbing through some mud at the bottom.In a way, I was shifting my mindset and identity. While I still have to work on these shots to maintain my skill, I believe I am an excellent intermediate wedge player. One of my favorite authors, James Clear, describes these as identity-based habits. If that was not enough (!), there is a Bonus Section of the video course that includes interviews and content that on its own would be worth listening to and learning from – including an Expectations Management Crash Course, five videos from the DECADE Foundations course management materials, and a video on How To Practice Swing Tempo. I am writing today to ask for your help. For over seven years, I have shared free articles on Practical Golf. And now, I need your help to make this book a success. Here's most of the highlights I took while reading through Jon Sherman's The Four Foundations of Golf. Honestly, I already forgot what the four foundations actually were, because there were so many good nuggets. This video course will be valuable for anyone who loved the Four Foundations book – but also for golfers who learn better from watching videos rather than reading book content.

LSW does a better job IMO of helping steer the reader towards effective use of practice time by introducing the concept of “Separation Value”.

Swing tips come and go, but foundational golf skills last forever. Whether you are a complete beginner or an advanced player, The Four Foundations of Golf will give you the blueprint to build a stronger, longer-lasting game. This is not your typical, fluffy golf guide that leaves all the important details out. Then I spent hours of meaningful practice to settle on a wedge technique that I could feel comfortable with. Slowly, I became more and more comfortable with these shots while I played. But there were still plenty of times where I chunked a shot, or worse, the dreaded shank! But because I was so determined to solve the problem, I felt confident I could overcome these adverse outcomes. I’m a big fan of Jon Sherman and Practical Golf. I also listen to The Sweet Spot podcast and appreciate what he and Adam are adding to the community. If your goal is to shoot lower scores, you should read this wonderful book by Jon Sherman! His advice is practical, impactful, and presented with clearly reasoned, objective analysis. Highly recommended for every golfer who's serious about improving their game."

Approaching each hole or your entire round with a target score can be counterproductive. It puts you in a results-oriented mindset when you should be more focused on your habits and process on the course. Instead of being the golfer who starts their round thinking they want to shoot a specific score, shift your mindset to being the golfer who will evaluate each situation independently and make an optimal decision. Legendary investor Warren Buffett is often asked what book he recommends to new investors. His answer is The Intelligent Investor by Benjamin Graham (aka the father of value investing).The key to building lasting habits is focusing on creating a new identity first. Your current behaviors are simply a reflection of your current identity. What you do now is a mirror image of the type of person you believe that you are (either consciously or subconsciously). Lower your scores, increase enjoyment. Are you struggling to take your golf game to the next level? Learn the philosophy that has helped thousands of players worldwide lower their scores and improve their relationship with golf. Swing tips come and go, but foundational golf skills last forever. Jon accomplishes exactly what he set out to do with his writing, which is to 1) spell things out clearly with little room for interpretation and 2) communicate in a simple and straightforward manner. Understand how scoring truly occurs and use modern data analytics to lower your handicap efficiently With these earlier chapters in the mental game section, I’m ultimately building a process you can commit to on every shot. I will get into specifics on what I believe are productive elements of pre-shot and post-shot routines. Overall, grit is the commitment to going through these routines on as many shots as possible.