The IMAGEN Golf Podcast

Today we’re tackling the single biggest scorecard killer in amateur golf: the short miss.Let’s be honest—most of us are optimists. We see a pin at 150 yards, we remember that one time we flushed an 8-iron 150 yards back in 2022, and we pull that club. The result? We hit it "okay," it lands short, rolls into the bunker, or dies in the thick stuff.Here is the secret to instant scoring improvement: Stop playing to the pin and start playing to the back of the green.The Ego TrapMost golfers measure to the flag. But flags are often tucked in the front or middle. When you play to the "perfect" number, you leave yourself zero margin for error. If you don't strike it purely—which, let’s face it, happens—you’re short every time.The Strategy: Aim Long to Finish CloseNext time you’re standing in the fairway, I want you to change your data point:Get the Back Number: Use your rangefinder or GPS to find the yardage to the very back edge of the green.Club for the Back: Choose the club that, if you hit it absolutely perfectly, would land just inside that back edge.The "Mishit" Dividend: If you catch it thin or slightly fat, or if the wind catches it, you don't end up in the front bunker. Instead, you end up in the middle of the green with a birdie putt.The Golden Rule: A "bad" shot that stays on the green is infinitely better than a "good" shot that falls short into trouble.Why It WorksStatistically, about 80% of hazards are located at the front and sides of greens. By over-clubbing and aiming for the back, you take the high-risk zones out of play. You’ll find that "long" is rarely as penalized as "short."The Challenge for This Weekend: For one entire round, ignore the flag. Laser the back of the green, pull the club that gets you there, and watch how many more par putts you actually have.Stop being an optimist with your yardages and start being a realist with your scorecard.Target Keywords:Golf Course ManagementApproach Shot StrategyClub Selection TipsLowering Golf HandicapGolf GPS & Rangefinder StrategyIron Play ConsistencyPrimary Hashtags: #GolfTips #GolfStrategy #ImagenGolf #ForeMinuteFriday #LowerYourScores #GolfInstruction #GolfPodcast #CourseManagement #Break90 #Break80Niche Hashtags: #GolfLife #AmateurGolf #GolfMentalGame #BetterGolf #WeekendWarrior #GolfDrills

"Never up, never in." It’s the most overused cliché in golf, usually chirped by a playing partner right after you leave a 20-footer just inches short. But what if we told you that cliché is actually hurting your game?In this edition of FORE Minute Friday, we dig into the surprising stats behind putting speed. We debunk the aggressive "charge the cup" mentality and introduce the 20% Rule—the statistical reality that if you aren't leaving at least a few putts short, you are likely three-putting way too often.Tune in to learn why dying the ball into the hole is the superior strategy and how to calibrate your speed for stress-free pars.In this episode, we cover:Why hitting it past the hole effectively makes the cup smaller.The danger of the "aggressive" mindset.How to create a tighter dispersion circle for easier tap-ins.The "Safety Zone" concept for speed control.Connect with Imagen Golf:Websisite: www.ImagenGolf.comInstagram: @ImagenGolfTwitter: @ImagenGolfThe "Safety Zone" DrillTo get comfortable with the idea that "short is okay," we need to train your brain to stop fearing the front of the cup. This drill focuses on speed dispersion rather than just "making" the putt.The SetupFind a relatively flat 20-foot putt on the practice green.Place a string or a line of tees 18 inches behind the hole.Grab 10 balls.The Goal: The 8-2 SplitYour mission is to lag all 10 balls into the "Safety Zone"—the area between the front edge of the cup and the string behind it. However, we are going to embrace the 20% rule:The Target: Try to get 8 balls to finish inside the hole or in that 18-inch zone behind it.The "Success" Shorties: Intentionally allow yourself to leave 2 balls just a few inches short.Why This WorksIf you try to make all 10 go past the hole, you’ll subconsciously start hitting them harder and harder, eventually blowing them past your 18-inch safety string. By "allowing" yourself to be short on two of them, you take the tension out of your stroke.The result? Your "aggressive" putts will actually stay closer to the hole because you aren't over-compensating to avoid the "never up, never in" shame.Practice TipKeep track of your "Long Misses" vs. "Short Misses." If you miss 5 putts long (past the 18-inch mark) and 0 short, your speed is too aggressive for your own good. Aim for that 80/20 balance.

Are you addicted to the range? Do you stripe it in practice swings but lose it the second a ball is in front of you?In this edition of Fore Minute Friday, Daniel Guest challenges the number one obsession in golf: hitting the ball. We dive into why being "ball bound" is actually destroying your ability to make swing changes and why the secret to your next breakthrough might just be in your living room, not on the driving range.In this episode, we cover:Process vs. Task: Why your brain panics when a ball appears.The Science: How neuroplasticity works and why you can’t learn at 100mph.The Challenge: The "Living Room Protocol" that can fix your swing in just 10 minutes a day without firing a single shot.Stop wasting buckets and start building a better motor pattern today.Connect with Daniel:Instagram: @DanielGuestGolfWebsite: www.ImagenGolf.comYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/c/IMAGENGolfHere's a great video on an Early Extension Wall Drill:Are you struggling with early extension in your golf swing? 🤔 Daniel from Imagen Golf has got you covered with a simple yet incredibly effective drill: The "Butt Against the Wall"! This...https://youtu.be/fOpifmb8KZo?si=lJQ77vQ2J40s1QSsHere are the "Big Two"—the two most common swing killers I see: The Slice (Over-the-Top) and Early Extension (Humping the Goat).Here is your "Living Room Protocol" for the weekend. You don't need a ball, just a club (or an alignment stick) and a wall.The Weekend Dry Drill ProtocolEquipment: A short iron (or just your hands) and a wall. Space: Enough room so you don't put a hole in your drywall or your TV.Drill 1: The "Wall Slide" (For the Slicers)Target: Fixing the Over-the-Top move and getting the club shallow.Setup: Stand with your back to a wall. You want your heels about 10-12 inches away from the baseboard.Backswing: Take the club to the top. The clubhead should not touch the wall yet.The Move: As you start your downswing, I want you to feel the clubhead gently touch the wall behind you.The Slide: Keep the clubhead lightly dragging down the wall until the shaft is parallel to the ground.The Feeling: This forces the club to stay behind your hands (shallowing) instead of steepening out in front of you.Exit: Once you hit parallel, rotate through to the finish.Pro Tip: If you come over the top, you will miss the wall entirely or slam into it on the follow-through. Keep it glued to the wall on the way down.Drill 2: The "Cheek Squeeze" (For Early Extension)Target: Keeping your hips deep and stopping the flip.Setup: Stand in your golf posture with your butt specifically resting against a wall (or a chair).Backswing: As you turn back, your right glute should slide along the wall, but maintain contact.Transition: This is the key. As you start down, do NOT let your butt come off the wall.Impact: At the moment of impact (in slow motion), your left glute should be pushing hard into the wall.The Check: If you finish the swing and there is a gap between your trousers and the wall, you early extended.Pro Tip: Feel like you are trying to push the wall over with your left hip pocket on the way through.The PrescriptionHere is your set structure. Do not rush this.5 Minutes: Wall Slide Drill (Slow motion)5 Minutes: Cheek Squeeze Drill (Slow motion)Final 2 Minutes: Full swings (no wall) trying to blend both feels.Do this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. When you get to the course next week, that swing is going to feel completely different.

Are you a golfer, or are you an athlete playing golf? There is a huge difference, and it’s showing up on your scorecard.In this edition of FORE Minute Friday, Daniel Guest breaks down a core principle from Dr. Joe LaCaze (creator of ROTEXMotion): the importance of athleticism over static positions. If you are freezing over the ball with 15 different swing thoughts, you are killing your power and risking injury.In just 4 minutes, you’ll learn:Why the "Frozen Golfer" struggles to create speed.How to use the ground and your kinetic chain like an elite athlete.The "Pre-Shot Athletic Check" to prime your body before you tee off.Stop steering the ball and start swinging with intent. Let’s get your game in shape for the weekend!Links:Visit Imagen Golf: www.ImagenGolf.comLearn more about Dr. Joe LaCaze: www.RotexMotion.comFollow us on Instagram: @ImagenGolf

Are you spending $600 on a new driver to gain 5 yards, but ignoring the one piece of equipment you use on every single hole?In this episode of the Imagen Golf Podcast, Daniel sits down with Mark Chantal, the founder of Pick Up Tee, to discuss the hidden yardage sitting right in your pocket. Mark explains the surprising physics of friction at the tee box and how standard wooden pegs might be robbing you of distance and accuracy.In this episode, we cover:The "Friction Factor": How traditional tees create drag and increase backspin, killing your carry distance.The Design: How Pick Up Tee’s flexible prong technology reduces resistance for a cleaner launch.Consistent Height: Why teeing it up at the exact same height every time is crucial for ball-striking consistency.Durability: Why you won’t be snapping a tee on every other drive anymore.If you want to add distance to your game without changing your swing, this is a must-listen!Links & Resources:Get the Tee: Visit PickUpTee.com and use code IMAGEN for a special offer.Follow Imagen Golf: Visit our Website | Follow us on InstagramBook a Lesson: Ready to play the best golf of your life? Schedule here.