28
Jul '11
Five Questions: Jackson talks preparation
By Swingpal.com staff
Tim Jackson has compiled one of the most impressive amateur resumes in the country over the course of the last couple of decades.
Among other victories, the Germantown, Tenn., native has captured two U.S. Mid-Amateur titles, along with five Tennessee Mid-Amateur and four Tennessee Amateur championships.
Jackson also won the 1998 North and South Amateur, the 2002 Tennessee State Open and he was a member of Walker Cup teams in 1995 and 1999.
This week, Jackson is in Toledo, Ohio competing in the 2011 U.S. Senior Open at the storied Inverness Club.
Jackson, the president of the Tennessee Golf Association, is competing in the event for the third consecutive year, and he’s no stranger to success.
In 2009, Jackson finished 11th in the 2009 U.S. Senior Open and held the lead after two rounds. His 36-hole total of 133 was eight shots better than the previous best mark by an amateur in the history of the tournament.
Jackson returned to the event in 2010, opened with 68 and ultimately finished tied for 32nd, and he’s looking to have another big week at Inverness.
On Wednesday, following his practice round, Swingpal caught up with Jackson to get some thoughts on tournament preparation from one of the greatest amateurs in the game:
SWINGPAL: When it comes to competing in high-profile tournament settings, how much of your preparation in the week or so leading up to the event is mental and how much is physical?
JACKSON: For the last five or six years, I have found the best thing to do for me is to play in a tournament the week before, especially if I’m preparing for a high-profile event. I played (last week) in the Palmetto Amateur in Aiken, S.C. It was a high-quality tournament, great competition and the greens are always in good shape.
SWINGPAL: In terms of physical and mental preparation, do you have a specific routine that you stick to or will you adapt your practice time to factor in the current state of your game and/or the course that you’ll be playing?
JACKSON: I focus very hard on the mental aspect of the game, sticking to a game plan. I practice on the range as I would be playing on the course. I work on my distance and visualization, getting in a routine. I practice my pre-shot routine, select different targets and focus on tempo and one swing thought.
SWINGPAL: Do you establish a specific game plan for each course you play in a tournament setting and stick to the game plan no matter what or will you let other variables determine how you will approach any given round?
JACKSON: The first (practice round) I establish targets off the tee but I will adjust depending on the wind and where the tees are set up. A perfect example of this was the last two days. The wind was completely different (Tuesday) than it was (Wednesday). Hole No. 5 was playing a bit downwind (Tuesday) so I had 4 iron for my approach shot. The wind shifted entirely (Wednesday) and I had 3 wood into the green.
SWINGPAL: Describe how you typically warm up for a tournament round once you’ve arrived at the course?
JACKSON: I arrive to the course about an hour and ten minutes or an hour and fifteen minutes before my scheduled tee time. I spend 10-15 minutes putting and getting the feel of the putting green. I then head to the range where I slowly loosen up with wedges first, gradually progress to my driver and work back down to wedges again. And I might hit a few pitches and chip shots. During my warm up, I focus more on my wedges, hit a few 7- and 5-irons, a hybrid or fairway wood. I then progress to my driver and might hit about 10-12 shots. I end my warm up time with short shots.
SWINGPAL: When it comes to tournament play, what advice would you give an inexperienced player when it comes to dealing with the added pressure that comes in a tournament setting?
JACKSON: Clear your head, keep your thoughts to one technical swing thought. Establish targets, visualize your shots and stick with your game plan. When you go to the range you may have two, three or four swing thoughts. While you are warming up, try working on one of those at a time. Pick the one you feel has the best result and that’s the one you take to the course.
Jackson also won the 1998 North and South Amateur, the 2002 Tennessee State Open and he was a member of Walker Cup teams in 1995 and 1999.
This week, Jackson is in Toledo, Ohio competing in the 2011 U.S. Senior Open at the storied Inverness Club.
Jackson, the president of the Tennessee Golf Association, is competing in the event for the third consecutive year, and he’s no stranger to success.
In 2009, Jackson finished 11th in the 2009 U.S. Senior Open and held the lead after two rounds. His 36-hole total of 133 was eight shots better than the previous best mark by an amateur in the history of the tournament.
Jackson returned to the event in 2010, opened with 68 and ultimately finished tied for 32nd, and he’s looking to have another big week at Inverness.
On Wednesday, following his practice round, Swingpal caught up with Jackson to get some thoughts on tournament preparation from one of the greatest amateurs in the game:
SWINGPAL: When it comes to competing in high-profile tournament settings, how much of your preparation in the week or so leading up to the event is mental and how much is physical?
JACKSON: For the last five or six years, I have found the best thing to do for me is to play in a tournament the week before, especially if I’m preparing for a high-profile event. I played (last week) in the Palmetto Amateur in Aiken, S.C. It was a high-quality tournament, great competition and the greens are always in good shape.
SWINGPAL: In terms of physical and mental preparation, do you have a specific routine that you stick to or will you adapt your practice time to factor in the current state of your game and/or the course that you’ll be playing?
JACKSON: I focus very hard on the mental aspect of the game, sticking to a game plan. I practice on the range as I would be playing on the course. I work on my distance and visualization, getting in a routine. I practice my pre-shot routine, select different targets and focus on tempo and one swing thought.
SWINGPAL: Do you establish a specific game plan for each course you play in a tournament setting and stick to the game plan no matter what or will you let other variables determine how you will approach any given round?
JACKSON: The first (practice round) I establish targets off the tee but I will adjust depending on the wind and where the tees are set up. A perfect example of this was the last two days. The wind was completely different (Tuesday) than it was (Wednesday). Hole No. 5 was playing a bit downwind (Tuesday) so I had 4 iron for my approach shot. The wind shifted entirely (Wednesday) and I had 3 wood into the green.
SWINGPAL: Describe how you typically warm up for a tournament round once you’ve arrived at the course?
JACKSON: I arrive to the course about an hour and ten minutes or an hour and fifteen minutes before my scheduled tee time. I spend 10-15 minutes putting and getting the feel of the putting green. I then head to the range where I slowly loosen up with wedges first, gradually progress to my driver and work back down to wedges again. And I might hit a few pitches and chip shots. During my warm up, I focus more on my wedges, hit a few 7- and 5-irons, a hybrid or fairway wood. I then progress to my driver and might hit about 10-12 shots. I end my warm up time with short shots.
SWINGPAL: When it comes to tournament play, what advice would you give an inexperienced player when it comes to dealing with the added pressure that comes in a tournament setting?
JACKSON: Clear your head, keep your thoughts to one technical swing thought. Establish targets, visualize your shots and stick with your game plan. When you go to the range you may have two, three or four swing thoughts. While you are warming up, try working on one of those at a time. Pick the one you feel has the best result and that’s the one you take to the course.