Remember that round of golf where everything seemed to go right? Remember those rounds where everything seemed to go wrong? What's the difference?
From my perspective, the main issue that can sabotage a round of golf is keeping an eye on the prize. This can be the thought of winning a tournament or shooting your best score when you are playing well.
The first time this thought sabotaged a tournament for me was in the PA state high school championship. With 8 holes to play, I had a 5 shot lead over one of the best high school golfers in the country, Ted Tryba. I had started the day with a three shot lead, and four over Ted. At this point in the round, I was not playing particularly well, but I remember having this lead because that is exactly when I started thinking about winning.
I subsequently bogeyed the next two holes and my lead was quickly down to three. Ted started to play well and was hitting it close on every hole, but not making putts. I just missed a 10 footer on 17 that would have given me a three shot lead with one to play. I walked up to 18 tee with a two shot lead, and simply choked my guts out, made bogey on an easy par 5 and lost to Ted in sudden death.
A couple years later, I found myself in contention to make it through to the sectional qualifier for the U.S. Open. I was not playing well this day, but I was putting well, and conditions were tough, so the scores were high. Tour player Mark Wiebe finished second that day with a 1 under par total.
I actually shanked two full swing shots that day, one with a 6 iron on a par 3 and one with a 1-iron off the tee. I recovered in both cases to limit the damage to bogeys. I ended up in a 5 way playoff for one spot, and among those players was Stu Ingraham, who would be on the PGA Tour the next year. I was nervous as can be, but somehow managed to execute, made birdie, and won the playoff. In this case, my focus was not so much on the prize, but just trying to not make an ass out of myself.
A couple years after this I remember playing a 36 hole match against a big rival of mine for our club championship. We were both cocky and pretty much hit it 20 yards past everyone else we played with in those days. We were both playing pretty well, and I had a lot of confidence that summer. After a shaky start, I found myself 4 down after 8 holes with some stupid play. Then I just started to play. Over the next 25 holes I played 7 under par, and won the match 3 and 2. In this case, I simply would not be denied. It wasn't the championship I was thinking about, it was just beating my rival. I wasn't worried about what he was doing, just playing the best I could.
We often get too wrapped up in trying to find some secret mental technique to help us with our game. The funny thing is, most of the great players never thought that way. They simply focused on the task at hand. If they were confident, chances are they would win.
In the two examples I presented here where I got the job done, I did it in different ways. In neither case was I focused on the prize. I was simply focused on the task at hand, and I just executed to the best of my ability. Yes, I was very nervous in both cases. But there were no other thoughts sabotaging my round. In one case, I wasn't playing well, so I was just focused on doing the best I could. In the other case, I was playing well, and was focused on beating my rival with good play. In that instance, that might be viewed as a prize in itself, but for me it was motivation. And, since I had already won one club championship before, I was not fixated on that prize.
The bottom line is that you have to just do your best to focus on executing the shot at hand. If you think about a potential prize or you let negative thoughts creep into your head, you will only sabotage your round. Have fun, and just be yourself during the round, and play each shot to the best of your ability. At the end of the day, chances are you will have had a good round.
In regard to golf, it is my thought that keeping things simple is the way to go. There is no magic formula for success.
Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Golf Tip of the Day - Strength Training
As winter drags on here throughout much of the U.S., many golfers turn to fitness as a way to improve their golf game. There is an entire industry devoted to the subject, and Tiger Woods can take credit for putting fitness at the forefront for golfers.
Most of the fitness related information for golfers is what is called "golf specific." Exercises are developed to help golfers increase range of motion and add some strength in areas where they are weak. Many of the exercises employ the use of training bands, balance balls and such. Traditional strength training is practically non-existent, but is it important?
My opinion is that if you are going to try to improve your golf game through fitness training you should incorporate at least some traditional strength training into your routine. The point is that you are likely performing many other activities outside of golf that require some strength, so why only perform golf specific exercises?
Your golf fitness routines should attack these areas...strength, balance, increased range of motion and speed. Many golf specific exercises will try to attack two or more of these areas at once. Many strength trainers will steer clear of traditional strength training because they feel it only attacks the strength area and may lead to too much bulk.
However, when done properly, traditional strength training will increase your range of motion, and it will help increase the strength of the big muscles a bit more rapidly. For instance, if you are seated on a stable surface, you will be able to handle more weight with a dumbbell press compared to if you are seated on a balance ball. The balance ball will incorporate the core muscles for stabilization, however, you simply won't be able to handle as much weight. If pure strength is what you are looking for in the specific muscle group you are exercising, then you need a stable platform.
With all this in mind, I feel it is a good idea to add traditional strength training into the mix. For myself, this means the use of traditional barbells and dumbbells. I train with these twice each week, and on other days I focus on cardio routines, some yoga, plyometrics and some more golf specific exercises. I believe golfers can benefit by incorporating a little of all of these areas into their routines. Lean, strong and flexible is the goal!
Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com
Most of the fitness related information for golfers is what is called "golf specific." Exercises are developed to help golfers increase range of motion and add some strength in areas where they are weak. Many of the exercises employ the use of training bands, balance balls and such. Traditional strength training is practically non-existent, but is it important?
My opinion is that if you are going to try to improve your golf game through fitness training you should incorporate at least some traditional strength training into your routine. The point is that you are likely performing many other activities outside of golf that require some strength, so why only perform golf specific exercises?
Your golf fitness routines should attack these areas...strength, balance, increased range of motion and speed. Many golf specific exercises will try to attack two or more of these areas at once. Many strength trainers will steer clear of traditional strength training because they feel it only attacks the strength area and may lead to too much bulk.
However, when done properly, traditional strength training will increase your range of motion, and it will help increase the strength of the big muscles a bit more rapidly. For instance, if you are seated on a stable surface, you will be able to handle more weight with a dumbbell press compared to if you are seated on a balance ball. The balance ball will incorporate the core muscles for stabilization, however, you simply won't be able to handle as much weight. If pure strength is what you are looking for in the specific muscle group you are exercising, then you need a stable platform.
With all this in mind, I feel it is a good idea to add traditional strength training into the mix. For myself, this means the use of traditional barbells and dumbbells. I train with these twice each week, and on other days I focus on cardio routines, some yoga, plyometrics and some more golf specific exercises. I believe golfers can benefit by incorporating a little of all of these areas into their routines. Lean, strong and flexible is the goal!
Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com
Monday, January 17, 2011
Golf Tip of the Day - Get a Golf Lesson!
I read a post in one of the online forums about a guy struggling to find his swing. He spent three hours on the driving range and completely lost it, so all of the nearby hitters started sending tips his way.
The author of the post then went on to say he had NEVER had a lesson in his twenty years of playing golf.
Golf is a difficult game, and one that is really never mastered. I often draw parallels between golf and the martial arts. There is a lot to learn, and you must always adjust to varying conditions. Yet, virtually no one who wants to learn the martial arts will try and learn on their own. So, why is this the case with golf?
Admittedly, the cost of instruction in golf is much higher, and that may be the problem with the industry. However, a student should at least get some group instruction to learn the basics. After that, there are plenty of less expensive ways to learn this game, especially on the internet.
Golfers can even receive an online video lesson by sending video of their golf swing to an instructor for analysis. So, after learning the basics through group instruction, an online video lesson could be beneficial and less expensive. Beyond that, there are lots of videos and books that golfers can obtain to further their knowledge. While there are many golf swing theories, that is no different than in the martial arts. Choose a theory or swing style you are comfortable with, and learn it!
The bottom line is if you want to improve your golf game, you need to acquire knowledge and learn how to incorporate that knowledge. A good instructor will help you with this, whether in person or online.
Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com
The author of the post then went on to say he had NEVER had a lesson in his twenty years of playing golf.
Golf is a difficult game, and one that is really never mastered. I often draw parallels between golf and the martial arts. There is a lot to learn, and you must always adjust to varying conditions. Yet, virtually no one who wants to learn the martial arts will try and learn on their own. So, why is this the case with golf?
Admittedly, the cost of instruction in golf is much higher, and that may be the problem with the industry. However, a student should at least get some group instruction to learn the basics. After that, there are plenty of less expensive ways to learn this game, especially on the internet.
Golfers can even receive an online video lesson by sending video of their golf swing to an instructor for analysis. So, after learning the basics through group instruction, an online video lesson could be beneficial and less expensive. Beyond that, there are lots of videos and books that golfers can obtain to further their knowledge. While there are many golf swing theories, that is no different than in the martial arts. Choose a theory or swing style you are comfortable with, and learn it!
The bottom line is if you want to improve your golf game, you need to acquire knowledge and learn how to incorporate that knowledge. A good instructor will help you with this, whether in person or online.
Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Golf Tip of the Day - 5 Keys to a Good Golf Swing
Golf is one of those activities where the participants are often trying to find the best way to achieve their goal. It is similar to trading in the stock market, where individual traders with little experience are constantly trying to find the Holy Grail to riches. In the case of golf, golfers are often trying to find the Holy Grail golf tip or golf swing that will help them break 80 or become a scratch golfer.
An observation of the golf swings of some of the game’s most successful players over the years suggests that there is no one way to play the game best. Probably the three greatest players of all time are Jack Nicklaus, Ben Hogan and Tiger Woods. However, none of their swings looks very much alike. Consider the swings of other top players over time. Bruce Lietzke had a successful career on the PGA Tour, with 13 victories, yet he practiced very little. He has a classic over the top slice move, and that is the shot he favored. On the other hand Kenny Perry has the opposite swing from Lietzke and favors a draw shot. He has won 14 times on the PGA Tour.
There have been many other players over time with what would be regarded as unconventional swings. The 2010 PGA Player of the Year Jim Furyk is probably the most visible example. He has a very unorthodox swing, but is also one of the most consistent players of the last 15 years. Lee Trevino is another such player who was very consistent in his days on tour, but clearly had an unorthodox swing. On the other hand, Adam Scott has one of the nicest looking swings on tour, yet displays very little consistency.
So what makes a good golf swing? What most amateur golfers should strive to achieve is a swing they can repeat consistently. They should strive for a swing that they can repeat consistently, and one that results in consistently solid ball striking and consistent ball flight. This means it really doesn’t matter whether the player consistently slices the ball or hooks the ball. If the golfer has a good idea that will be the case, and they have a good idea how much the ball will curve in that direction, then they have achieved a consistent golf swing.
The first key to a good golf swing is balance. Most golfers who struggle do not have good balance during the swing. Poor balance leads to inconsistent ball striking. Poor balance can mean too much of a sway back and forth from side to side during the swing, or from heel to toe, or toe to heel. No matter what the balance issue, the golfer will struggle.
The second key to a good golf swing is a consistent spine angle from set up to just past impact. A changing spine angle will lead to very inconsistent ball striking. One example of a changing spine angle is one where the golfer’s body rises during the back swing. When this occurs, the golfer then must find a way to sink back down in the down swing, otherwise they will miss the ball entirely. What often happens is that the club attacks the ball from an angle that is too steep, and this can result in a variety of ball flight issues.
The third key to a good golf swing is a weight transfer that goes forward in the down swing and follow through. The conventional swing requires a modest weight shift to the rear foot during the back swing, and then back to the front foot in the down swing and follow through. Some newer swing models, such as the Stack and Tilt swing do not require as much transfer of weight to the back foot. Instead, more weight is kept on the front foot, but in the downswing, this weight still goes forward with a hip thrust. Many golfers often finish their swing with their weight on their back foot, and this results in poor ball striking.
The fourth key to a good golf swing is connection and proper sequence. There must be consistent connection between the upper and lower body throughout the golf swing. If there is any disconnect, such as the arms moving without any move in the lower body, or keeping the head down too long in the follow through, there will be inconsistent ball striking. Furthermore, the body must move in the proper sequence in order to achieve good ball striking. For instance, if the upper body starts the down swing once the back swing is completed, there will be a loss of power. A release of the hands too early in the down swing will also result in a lack of power and consistency.
The fifth key to a good golf swing is tempo and rhythm. Each golfer must find the right tempo and rhythm for their own swing. Some golfers do well with a fast tempo, while others do well with a slow tempo. However, this tempo MUST be faster in the down swing than in the back swing. Too often, in an attempt to hit the ball hard, a golfer will start their swing too quickly, and the end result is a deceleration in the down swing into impact. Furthermore, there must be good rhythm in the swing. There should be no choppiness in rhythm during the swing…it must be one continuous motion with no herky jerky type action in the swing.
What is noticeably absent from this list is the normal list of fundamentals such as the grip, stance and posture, alignment, takeaway, weight shift, swing plane, etc. While it may be ideal to work toward certain goals with these particular fundamentals, it is certainly not required that all be perfected in order to achieve a consistently performing golf swing.
Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com
An observation of the golf swings of some of the game’s most successful players over the years suggests that there is no one way to play the game best. Probably the three greatest players of all time are Jack Nicklaus, Ben Hogan and Tiger Woods. However, none of their swings looks very much alike. Consider the swings of other top players over time. Bruce Lietzke had a successful career on the PGA Tour, with 13 victories, yet he practiced very little. He has a classic over the top slice move, and that is the shot he favored. On the other hand Kenny Perry has the opposite swing from Lietzke and favors a draw shot. He has won 14 times on the PGA Tour.
There have been many other players over time with what would be regarded as unconventional swings. The 2010 PGA Player of the Year Jim Furyk is probably the most visible example. He has a very unorthodox swing, but is also one of the most consistent players of the last 15 years. Lee Trevino is another such player who was very consistent in his days on tour, but clearly had an unorthodox swing. On the other hand, Adam Scott has one of the nicest looking swings on tour, yet displays very little consistency.
So what makes a good golf swing? What most amateur golfers should strive to achieve is a swing they can repeat consistently. They should strive for a swing that they can repeat consistently, and one that results in consistently solid ball striking and consistent ball flight. This means it really doesn’t matter whether the player consistently slices the ball or hooks the ball. If the golfer has a good idea that will be the case, and they have a good idea how much the ball will curve in that direction, then they have achieved a consistent golf swing.
The first key to a good golf swing is balance. Most golfers who struggle do not have good balance during the swing. Poor balance leads to inconsistent ball striking. Poor balance can mean too much of a sway back and forth from side to side during the swing, or from heel to toe, or toe to heel. No matter what the balance issue, the golfer will struggle.
The second key to a good golf swing is a consistent spine angle from set up to just past impact. A changing spine angle will lead to very inconsistent ball striking. One example of a changing spine angle is one where the golfer’s body rises during the back swing. When this occurs, the golfer then must find a way to sink back down in the down swing, otherwise they will miss the ball entirely. What often happens is that the club attacks the ball from an angle that is too steep, and this can result in a variety of ball flight issues.
The third key to a good golf swing is a weight transfer that goes forward in the down swing and follow through. The conventional swing requires a modest weight shift to the rear foot during the back swing, and then back to the front foot in the down swing and follow through. Some newer swing models, such as the Stack and Tilt swing do not require as much transfer of weight to the back foot. Instead, more weight is kept on the front foot, but in the downswing, this weight still goes forward with a hip thrust. Many golfers often finish their swing with their weight on their back foot, and this results in poor ball striking.
The fourth key to a good golf swing is connection and proper sequence. There must be consistent connection between the upper and lower body throughout the golf swing. If there is any disconnect, such as the arms moving without any move in the lower body, or keeping the head down too long in the follow through, there will be inconsistent ball striking. Furthermore, the body must move in the proper sequence in order to achieve good ball striking. For instance, if the upper body starts the down swing once the back swing is completed, there will be a loss of power. A release of the hands too early in the down swing will also result in a lack of power and consistency.
The fifth key to a good golf swing is tempo and rhythm. Each golfer must find the right tempo and rhythm for their own swing. Some golfers do well with a fast tempo, while others do well with a slow tempo. However, this tempo MUST be faster in the down swing than in the back swing. Too often, in an attempt to hit the ball hard, a golfer will start their swing too quickly, and the end result is a deceleration in the down swing into impact. Furthermore, there must be good rhythm in the swing. There should be no choppiness in rhythm during the swing…it must be one continuous motion with no herky jerky type action in the swing.
What is noticeably absent from this list is the normal list of fundamentals such as the grip, stance and posture, alignment, takeaway, weight shift, swing plane, etc. While it may be ideal to work toward certain goals with these particular fundamentals, it is certainly not required that all be perfected in order to achieve a consistently performing golf swing.
Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Golf Tip of the Day - Quit Searching for the Holy Grail
I read a post on one of the golf forums the other day. This typifies the approach most golfers take when they go to the range. This particular golfer is a 9 handicap.
The golfer indicated that he had gone to the range one day, and hit the ball horribly. He even hit a few shanks with his wedges. He left the range completely demoralized. He went back home, looked at his collection of golf books, remembered one that had captured his interest, and re-read part of it. He took one of the tips with him to the range the next day, and started to hit it well.
He inquired on the forum if anyone else had an experience like that with that particular tip, and he wondered if this would carry over in the long run. He had also mentioned that he had tried the Stack and Tilt swing a while back, but had since gone back to what he was doing before. Naturally, since I am opinionated, I responded to his question, and suggested that it would last a week or two. He had not really changed anything in his swing.
The fact is, you can not improve your game without improving your golf swing. Small tips like this may occasionally help in the short run, but they NEVER have a lasting effect. If you want to improve your golf swing, you have to improve your fundamentals…grip, stance and posture, takeaway, shoulder turn, swing plane, weight transfer, impact position, and follow through. It’s a process that can not be achieved over night, and not without hard work.
If you are unwilling to make major changes to your swing, short game or putting, then you can forget about making long term improvements. That’s not how you improve in any sport, business or hobby. There are no shortcuts, and there is no Holy Grail in golf.
Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com
The golfer indicated that he had gone to the range one day, and hit the ball horribly. He even hit a few shanks with his wedges. He left the range completely demoralized. He went back home, looked at his collection of golf books, remembered one that had captured his interest, and re-read part of it. He took one of the tips with him to the range the next day, and started to hit it well.
He inquired on the forum if anyone else had an experience like that with that particular tip, and he wondered if this would carry over in the long run. He had also mentioned that he had tried the Stack and Tilt swing a while back, but had since gone back to what he was doing before. Naturally, since I am opinionated, I responded to his question, and suggested that it would last a week or two. He had not really changed anything in his swing.
The fact is, you can not improve your game without improving your golf swing. Small tips like this may occasionally help in the short run, but they NEVER have a lasting effect. If you want to improve your golf swing, you have to improve your fundamentals…grip, stance and posture, takeaway, shoulder turn, swing plane, weight transfer, impact position, and follow through. It’s a process that can not be achieved over night, and not without hard work.
If you are unwilling to make major changes to your swing, short game or putting, then you can forget about making long term improvements. That’s not how you improve in any sport, business or hobby. There are no shortcuts, and there is no Holy Grail in golf.
Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com
Monday, January 10, 2011
Golf Tip of the Day - How to Add Yards off the Tee
I’ve been watching the first PGA event of the season in Hawaii this weekend and am amazed at how far Robert Garrigus hits it. He is basically about my size…5’11, 190 pounds. I am a little bigger, and I think I am stronger, but he is the longest hitter on tour.
How does he do it? Its all in his lower body. His hips are practically square to the target at impact. If you note in his back swing that his club stays well short of parallel, it is even more amazing how far he hits it.
So, keep this thought in mind if you want more distance off the tee. You have to swing from the ground up to start the downswing. If you try to hit the ball with your arms, you will lose speed. I would even go so far as to say forget about trying to make a big shoulder turn and quit trying to get the club parallel to the ground your back swing. It’s not necessary.
What is necessary is to get yourself properly leveraged in the back swing. Your back leg should be used as a brace from which to push off in the down swing. Find that power from the ground up. Try to get as much hip rotation as possible in the downswing. If you have limited mobility in the hips, visit a trainer to learn what you can do to achieve more mobility.
If you are looking for a swing that suggests you don’t need a big back swing to achieve power, Robert Garrigus has it.
Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com
How does he do it? Its all in his lower body. His hips are practically square to the target at impact. If you note in his back swing that his club stays well short of parallel, it is even more amazing how far he hits it.
So, keep this thought in mind if you want more distance off the tee. You have to swing from the ground up to start the downswing. If you try to hit the ball with your arms, you will lose speed. I would even go so far as to say forget about trying to make a big shoulder turn and quit trying to get the club parallel to the ground your back swing. It’s not necessary.
What is necessary is to get yourself properly leveraged in the back swing. Your back leg should be used as a brace from which to push off in the down swing. Find that power from the ground up. Try to get as much hip rotation as possible in the downswing. If you have limited mobility in the hips, visit a trainer to learn what you can do to achieve more mobility.
If you are looking for a swing that suggests you don’t need a big back swing to achieve power, Robert Garrigus has it.
Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Golf Tip of the Day - Learn the Ball Flight Laws
As a scratch player, I really had no clue about the ball flight laws. In fact, according to recent data, no one did. Since the Trackman launch monitor was developed in the last few years, the assumptions that initial direction was caused by swing path were all wrong. We now know that the initial flight of the ball is caused by the angle of the clubface at impact. The curve is then dictated by the swing path's relation to the clubface angle.
Nonetheless, the general idea that the relationship between clubface angle and swing path caused the overall ball flight was known to most people. Swing the club inside out with a closed clubface and you would get a hook or draw. Swing the club outside in with an open clubface you would get a slice or fade.
I knew these general thoughts, but I really did not know the swing thoughts that corresponded with these general ideas. I would venture to guess that most people don't and that is why they struggle to improve.
Here's a quick refresher...
1. Slices are caused by a clubface that is open relative to the swing path of the club. The general causes of an open clubface are a weak grip and/or a swing path that is too steep and outside to in.
2. Hooks are caused by clubface that is too closed relative to its swing path. The general causes of a closed clubface are a strong grip or a swing path that is too flat and inside to out.
With this understanding, go to the range and pay attention to your ball flight. Does it start left of your target and then curve to the right of your target? If you are right handed, that suggests that your clubface is closed to the target line, which is why it started to the left. However, the clubface angle was actually OPEN compared to the swing path. The outside in swing path imparted the sidespin on the ball, and that is what caused the ball to finish with a slice. If the clubface angle matched the swing path, you would have just pulled the ball.
Now, as I said, however, the shape of the swing can impact what the clubface is doing at impact. A steeper swing makes it harder to release the hands and square the face at impact. A flatter swing makes it easier to do this. So, this is where you should focus your attention in regard to corrections to your swing.
So, if you are hitting a bunch of pull slices on the range, your swing path is too much outside in and steep...my first correction would be to get you to swing the club on a flatter swing path. If there are no other issues, this should help you hit a draw right away.
If you tend to hit a lot of hooks, I will first try to get you to swing the club on a steeper swing path with the arms more in front of the body on the down swing. This will help you to delay the release of the club a little longer, which will help you hit the ball a little straighter.
Next time you head out to the range, keep these thoughts in mind!
Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com
Nonetheless, the general idea that the relationship between clubface angle and swing path caused the overall ball flight was known to most people. Swing the club inside out with a closed clubface and you would get a hook or draw. Swing the club outside in with an open clubface you would get a slice or fade.
I knew these general thoughts, but I really did not know the swing thoughts that corresponded with these general ideas. I would venture to guess that most people don't and that is why they struggle to improve.
Here's a quick refresher...
1. Slices are caused by a clubface that is open relative to the swing path of the club. The general causes of an open clubface are a weak grip and/or a swing path that is too steep and outside to in.
2. Hooks are caused by clubface that is too closed relative to its swing path. The general causes of a closed clubface are a strong grip or a swing path that is too flat and inside to out.
With this understanding, go to the range and pay attention to your ball flight. Does it start left of your target and then curve to the right of your target? If you are right handed, that suggests that your clubface is closed to the target line, which is why it started to the left. However, the clubface angle was actually OPEN compared to the swing path. The outside in swing path imparted the sidespin on the ball, and that is what caused the ball to finish with a slice. If the clubface angle matched the swing path, you would have just pulled the ball.
Now, as I said, however, the shape of the swing can impact what the clubface is doing at impact. A steeper swing makes it harder to release the hands and square the face at impact. A flatter swing makes it easier to do this. So, this is where you should focus your attention in regard to corrections to your swing.
So, if you are hitting a bunch of pull slices on the range, your swing path is too much outside in and steep...my first correction would be to get you to swing the club on a flatter swing path. If there are no other issues, this should help you hit a draw right away.
If you tend to hit a lot of hooks, I will first try to get you to swing the club on a steeper swing path with the arms more in front of the body on the down swing. This will help you to delay the release of the club a little longer, which will help you hit the ball a little straighter.
Next time you head out to the range, keep these thoughts in mind!
Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Golf Tip of the Day - Stay Within Yourself
I've been known as a fairly long hitter, and been guilty of letting that go to my head. I've often found myself more concerned with trying to add more and more length off the tee, rather than focused on other areas of my game. At some point you just have to accept that more distance will come at a cost.
My focus this year is to simply develop the rest of my overall game. I have more than adequate length off the tee, so now it's time to check the ego at the door and focus on accuracy and short game.
Watching the first PGA Tour event of the season this week in Hawaii suggests that while distance is a great thing to have, those that have it tend not to develop the rest of their games very well. There are some big boomers on the leaderboard, but also among them are Jim Furyk and Steve Stricker, two of the deadliest with their wedges.
So that is the basic theme of this post. Don't get so caught up in trying to add more distance off the tee. Chances are, you will hit the ball worse due to less consistent contact. Instead, stay within yourself, and focus on improving other areas of your game. Learn to be more accurate within 100 yards, become a better chipper and putter, and your scores will come down far more quickly.
Scott Cole
www.howtgolfyourbest.com
My focus this year is to simply develop the rest of my overall game. I have more than adequate length off the tee, so now it's time to check the ego at the door and focus on accuracy and short game.
Watching the first PGA Tour event of the season this week in Hawaii suggests that while distance is a great thing to have, those that have it tend not to develop the rest of their games very well. There are some big boomers on the leaderboard, but also among them are Jim Furyk and Steve Stricker, two of the deadliest with their wedges.
So that is the basic theme of this post. Don't get so caught up in trying to add more distance off the tee. Chances are, you will hit the ball worse due to less consistent contact. Instead, stay within yourself, and focus on improving other areas of your game. Learn to be more accurate within 100 yards, become a better chipper and putter, and your scores will come down far more quickly.
Scott Cole
www.howtgolfyourbest.com
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Golf Tip of the Day - Avoid Information Overload
There is so much golf instruction information available to golfers these days it is easy to see how many can suffer from information overload. Since golf instructors have had a great deal of difficulty in getting their students to improve, many are turning to new technologies and science to find ways to improve their students. Unfortunately, this may also have the effect of complicating things for the golfer.
Consider this…after analyzing the golfers swing on video, the instructor can also turn to 3D analysis systems to dig deeper into the biomechanics of the golfer’s swing, and their kinetic sequence. The instructor might then conduct a physical assessment of the golfer to identify any physical issues that might have a negative impact on the student’s swing. As a result of much of this analysis, the instructor may prescribe a host of exercises and drills on such devices as wobble boards, balance discs, swiss balls, etc., in an effort to get the student to develop greater physical skills.
On top of all this, there are a whole host of golf swing models that are marketed to golfers as the next best swing in golf. These include the One Plane Swing, Two Plane Swing, Peak Performance Golf Swing, Stack and Tilt Swing, The Golf Machine, and Rotary Swing, etc. All are touted as the best golf swing model, one that will add yards off the tee with greater accuracy.
The fact of the matter is that both the instructor and student can suffer from information overload. Let’s face it…some golfers will have more ability than others. It is up to the instructor to help the student maximize their potential. All that is really required is a simple approach where the student learns how to swing the club a bit better, and coaching on how to score better through an improved short game and golf course management.
My teaching philosophy embraces this more simple approach. I certainly enjoy using video analysis, and can see the benefits of some of the other technologies, but there are more simple ways to teach the golf swing. Unless the golfer is truly committed, all the technology in the world is not going to do the job. While these gadgets are certainly fun to play with as an instructor, I question their value.
The key is simply to learn the fundamentals of the golf swing, learn the ball flight laws, gain an understanding of how your swing can affect ball flight, and then properly work to make improvements on your swing and your short game. This can all be done without all the gizmos, gadgets and books.
Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com
Consider this…after analyzing the golfers swing on video, the instructor can also turn to 3D analysis systems to dig deeper into the biomechanics of the golfer’s swing, and their kinetic sequence. The instructor might then conduct a physical assessment of the golfer to identify any physical issues that might have a negative impact on the student’s swing. As a result of much of this analysis, the instructor may prescribe a host of exercises and drills on such devices as wobble boards, balance discs, swiss balls, etc., in an effort to get the student to develop greater physical skills.
On top of all this, there are a whole host of golf swing models that are marketed to golfers as the next best swing in golf. These include the One Plane Swing, Two Plane Swing, Peak Performance Golf Swing, Stack and Tilt Swing, The Golf Machine, and Rotary Swing, etc. All are touted as the best golf swing model, one that will add yards off the tee with greater accuracy.
The fact of the matter is that both the instructor and student can suffer from information overload. Let’s face it…some golfers will have more ability than others. It is up to the instructor to help the student maximize their potential. All that is really required is a simple approach where the student learns how to swing the club a bit better, and coaching on how to score better through an improved short game and golf course management.
My teaching philosophy embraces this more simple approach. I certainly enjoy using video analysis, and can see the benefits of some of the other technologies, but there are more simple ways to teach the golf swing. Unless the golfer is truly committed, all the technology in the world is not going to do the job. While these gadgets are certainly fun to play with as an instructor, I question their value.
The key is simply to learn the fundamentals of the golf swing, learn the ball flight laws, gain an understanding of how your swing can affect ball flight, and then properly work to make improvements on your swing and your short game. This can all be done without all the gizmos, gadgets and books.
Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com
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