What Reg Bamford’s 16 Perfect Peg Shots Can Teach You About Croquet
We break down world champion Reg Bamford's 16 perfect shots to reveal how a simple, repeatable routine builds legendary consistency.
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For any competitive player, the plateau is the most frustrating place in sport. It is a state of suspended animation where effort no longer translates to results, and progress grinds to a halt. In 2022, Mary McMahon, a seasoned and successful player, found herself stranded there.
She had reached a handicap of three, a formidable achievement by any measure. But she was stuck.
"I just couldn't get any further," Mary admits. "It just wasn't happening. I was practicing, but you get to that point of diminished results. What you are putting in, you are not getting dramatic results."
This is the critical juncture where many players resign themselves to their current level. Mary, however, made a different choice.
On the advice of fellow top player Jeff Jemison, she decided to fundamentally change her game by switching to a Solomon grip, a technique believed to offer greater control and accuracy. It was a decision that meant abandoning years of muscle memory and starting again.
The process was anything but a quick fix. It was a brutal and humbling journey backwards.
For six, seven, even eight months, she persevered through the frustration. Her handicap worsened before it improved. It was a test of faith in the process, a commitment to unlearning old habits to build a stronger foundation. She continued her daily drills, working with coaches like Terry Erickson, trusting that the hard work would eventually pay off.
"It took me about six, seven, eight months for me to persevere with that, because it was until it became muscle memory," she says. "If you ask me now how did you used to hold the mallet? I can't remember."
And then, it happened. The new grip became second nature. The frustration melted away and was replaced by a new level of control and confidence. The breakthrough had arrived.
"It kept going this," Mary says, tracing a line of struggle, "and then all of a sudden, 2023 was my year.
I think I got to a minus one. It all just started to flow."
I think I got to a minus one. It all just started to flow."
Mary’s story is a powerful testament to the truth of improvement.
Breakthroughs are not accidents; they are earned through courage, persistence, and a willingness to be guided by expert hands.
Unlock Your Potential with Coaching
A plateau is not a wall; it's a signal that it's time for a new approach. Mary's journey shows that targeted advice from an experienced coach can be the key to unlocking improvement of your game.
If you feel stuck and are ready for your own breakthrough, it's time to invest in yourself.
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