The Trackman combine is a great way to test your game and to see where your strengths and weaknesses are.  It is also a great mental exercise.  This week I did a TM Combine with the new Men’s Coach at Penn – Bob Heintz (@bobheintzgolf).  Bob is a former PGA and Nationwide (now Web.com) Tour player. His score was 86.6 and was done indoors at Club Champion in Bala Cynwyd.  (Many thanks to Jim and Steve)

It was fun to watch as he was really swinging well and hitting some very good shots.  I was most impressed with his precision and his ability to control the speed of the club and ultimately his distance. We both knew he had a good score going, but like the pitcher throwing the no-hitter, we didn’t talk about it.  He stayed in the zone and did his routine on every shot.  He even commented that coming down the stretch, he felt a little pressure.  Having played well at the highest level, he certainly knows how to handle pressure though. His last 3 shots at the 180 yard distance finished 2.2, 8.0, and 10.9 feet from the hole respectively.

Another very impressive thing was that Bob hit 19 of 30 shots to 10 feet or closer when he was in the 60 to 100 yard range.  That is why the best players in the world shoot the low scores that they do.  They are hitting it close when they are in the scoring zone (100 yards and in), and they are converting a lot of them into birdies.

I have always viewed the Combine as a great way to test your game and see what you need to work on.  It is also a great way to test your mental toughness and see how you respond under pressure.  Just like on the course, if you are having your best round ever, what are you going to do?  Are you going to start to tense up? or are you going to be able to relax, focus on your routine, and get the job done?  Take a Trackman combine this winter and see what YOU need to work on.