Scott's Golf Blog

The President's Cup - What Did We Learn?

2011-11-20T08:22:00.000-08:00

I took away a number of things from The President's Cup this week. The first is that Tiger Woods is very close to winning form, and I suspect he might just win his Chevron Challenge event coming up in December. It is clear that his iron game and short game are quite good now, and his putting is close. He was able to avoid his weakness, the driver, in each of his last two events, as both golf courses in Australia did not demand length off the tee. I am also not yet sure how well he can hit the high fade with his irons, and I do not yet quite see the distance control he once had with the irons.

Another thing I took away from the President's Cup is that some of the young guns still have a ways to go to be considered major challengers next year. Dustin Johnson remains an enigma to me. I know nothing of his work ethic, but with his length, he should contend more often. Ryo Ishikawa and Jason Day are nowhere close to living up to their hype. Day had a couple decent finishes in majors last year, but does not appear to know how to close the deal. Ishikawa seems to be just another player from Japan who doesn't compete very well when he leaves his homeland.

The veterans for the U.S. team played very well. Jim Furyk went 5-0, and Toms, Stricker and Mickelson also had good moments. This just suggests to me that the young international players from outside of Europe are just not up to snuff. Adam Scott, Geoff Ogilvy and Retief Goosen were the most solid performers for the international side, and they are grizzled veterans.

The bottom line is that most of the big challengers for Tiger seem to be from Europe. Sergio Garcia appears rejuvenated, and I believe that players such as McIlroy, Donald, Westwood and McDowell will look forward to the challenge of facing Tiger when he is in better form next year. Most of the young Americans still have a lot of learning to do when it comes to winning. I think many of the top prospects for the U.S. are actually in college now, and it will be a few years until they hit the tour. As a result, I look for Tiger to have a couple good years, starting at Augusta in April.

Scott Cole
Your Golf Swing Fix

Thoughts on the Mental Game of Golf

2011-11-18T08:35:00.000-08:00

In their quest to take their game to the next level, many golfers feel the need to explore The Mental Game of golf. Because golfers see that some PGA tour stars employ a sport psychologist, they think this kind of work will do wonders for their game as well.

Here's the rub. Can anyone name a tour player that suddenly became a great player because they hired a psychologist to help them with their game. Sure, some have certainly changed their attitudes as a result of their work, but it is difficult to name any that were turned into a star golfer.

The fact of the matter is that if you can’t break 100, you probably have a lousy golf swing. No amount of work on what is going on inside your brain is going to help you lower your scores if you can’t get the ball airborne, or have trouble keeping it on the golf course.

Golf is a process. You have to learn good fundamentals before you can start hitting the ball well. You have to learn how to hit the ball well on the range, before you play well on the golf course with your friends. You have to play well with your friends before you can play well in a tournament. You have to play well in a tournament before you can learn how to win a tournament.

Tiger Woods is a perfect case study in all this. He is re-learning how to play golf again. He is getting more comfortable with his new swing, and while it may not be a better version than what he has had before, as long as he thinks so, that is all that matters. As he is getting more comfortable with it, you can see he is getting more comfortable on the golf course, and particularly around the greens. Pretty soon, he will be able to knock down the door and win a tournament again, and then he will build on that process and win a major again. Will he get back to his highest level? That remains to be seen.

In all of this, what you have not heard is that he has hired a mental game guru to help him with his mental game. Tiger is mentally strong already, and therein lies the difference between the great players, and those that are not so great. Their mental toughness is more innate, not trained. Bobby Jones, Ben Hogan, Sam Snead, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Tom Watson, and Tiger Woods never needed to hire a sport psychologist to help them win golf tournaments.

Yes, there are things you can do to help with your mental game. However, there is no magic mental process that is going to turn you into Tiger Woods. There is, however, a learning process to becoming a better golfer overall, as described above. So get to work on that process and you will become a better golfer.

Scott Cole - Your Golf Swing Fix

Will Tiger Woods Win Again?

2011-11-12T09:43:00.001-08:00

Yes, Tiger Woods will win again! However, expect him to face some adversity when breaking through. Tiger has probably not experienced this length of winless golf in his entire life. In fact, he probably started winning golf tournaments at a very young age, and had won SOMETHING every year.

He is now gone two years without winning. Because of that, it will be more difficult to get used to being at the front again. Yesterday's third round in the Australian Open is a case in point. It is a very different feeling stepping up on the tee on moving day in a 72 hole tournament with the lead. Most who get in that position tend to relinquish it.

Golf is a process. Tiger has been reworking his swing. Initially, he could hardly take the new swing from the driving range to the golf course. Then he found it difficult to take it from a round with his buddies to tournament play. Now he must learn to take it from Thursday and Friday to Saturday, and then to Sunday. Then he must learn how to do all of that in a major.

Tiger's greatness over the years suggested that this process would be much easier for him than anyone else. We now know he is human. Jack Nicklaus went through these periods as well. He has mentioned that he had lost confidence some time between his 1978 victory at St. Andrews and his win at the 1980 U.S. Open. The difference is that Jack did not try to overhaul his swing. He just needed to make a tweak to the old one. However, it becomes much more difficult to make any kind of changes as we get older, for the simple reason that life becomes more complicated as we get older. There are more demands on our time, and less time to focus on golf. And, of course, the body does not allow us to make changes very easily as we get older.

We must remember that Tiger has young children, and they will place significant demands on his time. It will be impossible for him to be as sharp as he was for long periods of time. We will see flashes of brilliance, and a few more big wins, but nothing like the domination we once saw, when golf was his only focus. Life just doesn't work that way, and there are too many young and hungry players willing to get in his way.

Nevertheless, Tiger will win again, it's just a matter of time.

Scott Cole

How to Fix Your Slice

2011-11-08T08:41:00.000-08:00

The slice is the most common ball flight error in the game of golf. For a right handed player, the slice is defined as a ball that starts to the left of the target, and then ultimately curves to the right of the target. For a left handed golfer, the ball starts to the right and curves to the left. It has been estimated by such teaching professionals as Hank Haney that at least 80% of all golfers slice the ball. Hank would definitely know, as he has given over 40,000 lessons in his career.

Unfortunately, there is a lot of bad advice in the world of golf when it comes to providing good information how to cure the golf slice. Some pros will simply tell you to set up to the ball with the club face closed (aimed to the left for a right handed player) to your target line, and it will ultimately be square to the target at impact. Other pros will tell you to swing out to right field, and still others will tell you to rotate your hands through the hitting zone.

Fortunately, there is a better way. First of all, it is necessary for the golfer to gain an understanding of the swing plane and how it affects ball flight. Golfers who tend to slice the ball as I have defined typically attack the ball from outside, or above the swing plane. In other words, for a right handed player, the swing path is coming in from the right and heading to the left. Since the right handed player is standing beside the ball, a good swing will result in the club attacking the ball from the inside, rather than the outside.

A swing plane that is coming in from outside and above the correct swing plane, or plane angle achieved as you address the ball (the angle of the club shaft) also has a tendency to result in the club face being open to the swing path at impact. This causes a rightward spin on the ball, which causes it to curve to the right.

There are basically two types of swings that will cause the club to attack the ball from outside the swing plane. The first is a swing with a loop, where the right handed player pulls the club too far inside on the take away, and then loops the club at the top of the swing that it attacks the ball from the outside in the down swing. The other type is simply one in which the player’s alignment and set up result in a steep outside takeaway that and failure to loop the club back to the inside in the down swing. In other words, the club returns to the ball from the same direction as the take away.

In both cases, the cure is quite easy. In the first instance, the golfer must simply learn to reverse the loop they have in their swing. Instead of pulling the club too far inside in the takeaway, and looping it back to the outside in the down swing, they should do the opposite, and perform a take away more to the outside in the back swing, and then loop the club back to the inside in the down swing. Jim Furyk’s swing is a perfect example of this move. Ultimately, the golfer wants to find the happy place in the middle and execute a swing that is more on plane in the back swing, which makes it easier to keep on plane in the down swing.

In the second instance, the golfer needs to feel what it is like to swing the club on a flatter swing plane. One way to do this is to perform a number of swings at chest level, then drop the club about a foot, perform more swings, and keep dropping the club about a foot at a time until it is set up at ground level. A flatter swing plane allows the golfer to square the clubface more easily at impact.

In both cases, it is a good idea to practice these drills with a ball on a tee. When you are able to hit a draw off of the tee consistently, you will be ready to hit the ball of the ground with confidence. Ultimately, getting rid of the slice requires a golf swing that is more on plane, and one in which the lower body starts the down swing. Most golfers slice the ball because of a poor swing plane and poor sequencing of the body.

Scott Cole www.yourgolfswingfix.com

Golf Tip of the Day - Late Round Fatigue

2011-03-29T08:10:00.001-07:00

If you typically play a round of golf and suffer from a lot of mis-hit shots late in the round, you likely need to address some fitness issues.

Golfers who typically hit a draw often find those draws turning into a duck hook later in the round. Golfers who typically hit a fade will often start to lose those shots further to the right. The likely culprit when this occurs late in the round is fatigue in the lower body. When the lower body tires, the upper body takes over, and the mis-hits kick in.

Conditioning is the key. It is most important to get the legs in good shape. The legs are the foundation of the golf swing, and if they start to falter, you have little chance at consistent ball striking. If you are physically capable, I highly recommend a routine similar to the Plyometrics routine of P90X. This routine will both strengthen your legs and provide stamina and cardio benefits. Adding this routine to your fitness program once each week will prove quite beneficial.

In addition to the legs, it is necessary to work on the core muscles. Strength in the core muscles will allow you to maintain your posture in the swing. The core muscles include the small muscles in the legs and hips, abdominals, obliques and lower and middle back. Find a routine that works on these muscle groups and perform it three days each week.

Again, if you find yourself hitting weak shots late in the round, get started on your fitness!

Scott Cole
www.scottcolegolf.com

Golf Tip of the Day - Pay Attention to the Details

2011-03-23T05:38:00.000-07:00

If you are really serious about improving your golf swing, then you MUST pay very close attention to details in regard to your set up. If you don't grip the club properly and set up to the ball properly with good balance, YOU HAVE NO CHANCE!

Yes, there are exceptions to this rule, but they are much better athletes than you, and chances are, they learned to play that way at a very young age. Jim Furyk is the prime example. But, how many other players on the PGA Tour swing the club like he does? None. He has grooved that move from a very young age.

If you are learning the game as an adult, or have been playing golf for a long time, and not having much success (can't break 80, 90 or 100), then you should take the time to learn a fundamentally sound set up. This will take some effort and practice getting used to, but it will get you on the proper path.

Scott Cole
www.scottcolegolf.com

Golf Tip of the Day - Chip shots

2011-03-19T06:29:00.000-07:00

Most golfers, when faced with a 50 foot chip shot from just off the green, pull out a wedge or sand wedge, take a big swing using their hands, and either chunk it or scull it across the green.

These shots should be treated similarly to a putt. In fact, if you have a tight lie, and just a few feet of short grass between you and the green, you should probably putt the ball. Your average putt will get closer than your good chip.

Otherwise, use a 7 or 8 iron for these chip shots. You want to get the ball rolling quickly! There is no need to get the ball in the air on these shots. That just increases the degree of difficulty and widens the shot dispersions.

For a chip shot from short grass, use a 6 or 7 iron...ball a little back in the stance, hands ahead of the ball, relatively short backswing, and hit the ball with a descending blow.

If you are in longer grass, an 8 iron will be a better choice, if you have a lot of green to work with. Same technique as above.

Add this shot to your arsenal, and you will shave strokes off your score!

Scott Cole
www.scottcolegolf.com

Golf Tip of the Day - More Short Game Practice

2011-03-16T05:43:00.000-07:00

If this is the year you truly want to lower your scores, you need to spend more time on your short game. At this time of year, it is perfectly ok to get out to the range to focus on the full swing for a few sessions to get the timing back. Also, if you are really interested in making swing changes this year to improve your ball striking, now is the time to do get started.

However, once you have those first few sessions under your belt, you should really focus a lot more attention on the short game. In fact, short game practice should account for at least 50% of your overall practice. Putting should account for 50% of your short game practice.

For a typical practice session, here is what I recommend. Work your way through the three basic shots around the green...chip shots, longer pitch shots, and lob shots. Hit a group of ten shots of each type to a target circle. For chip shots, the circle should be 6 feet in diameter, for pitch shots, 12 feet in diameter, and for lob shots, about 20 feet in diameter. Count how many you get in the target circle for each type of shot, and figure out the average of each. Then hit 10 more of each shot and try to beat your first group of 10 results.

After that, pick one type of shot to focus more attention on, including bunker shots. Focus more attention on measuring your performance with each grouping. Determine where you want to LAND your shots, write down how close you get to the landing spot on each shot, and how close you get to the hole. Hit an odd number of shots, measure the median distance from each group, then try to beat that median with your next group of shots.

The key to your short game practice is to practice with greater focus. Do not just mindlessly hit chip shots. Do your best on each shot, and measure performance. When you do this, you will see faster improvement.

I'll touch on putting in a future post!

Scott Cole
www.scottcolegolf.com

Golf Tip of the Day - Relax Your Tension

2011-03-15T05:09:00.000-07:00

Most beginners that I teach, and those golfers who have played a long time but still struggle, have a tendency to hold onto the club way too tightly. As a result, that tension tends to transfer to the rest of their body as well. Too much tension in the golf swing invariably leads to poor golf shots.

Most beginners and golfers who struggle think that they need to try and control the club with their hands and arms. However, their focus should be on learning a proper set up, and learning how to move the body properly throughout the swing. When a golfer can do this, they will learn that the club will do what it is designed to do, and that is to get the ball in the air without the golfer helping it.

The proper amount of tension is similar to that of a firm hand shake, not a hand shake where you are trying to show how strong your hands are! Your wrists should be free to hinge and cock throughout the swing. If they are not, then you are holding the club too firmly.

For shots around the green, you want to use a lighter grip pressure. This will allow you to have greater touch around the greens. In fact, this is a good place for many beginners to start. Once you learn proper technique and grip pressure to hit effective chip shots and pitch shots, then you are ready to move onto the full swing.

If you are struggling to get the ball in the air, or most of your shots are going off to the right (to the left if you are a lefty), then try relaxing your grip pressure. Less tension in your hands will translate into less tension in the body and a more freely flowing golf swing.

Scott Cole
www.scottcolegolf.com

Maryland Golf Lessons From Hank Haney Pro Scott Cole

2011-03-13T06:48:00.000-07:00

We added an hour of daylight today, so that gives us golfers more time to work on our game and play a little more golf! Spring is just around the corner, so it's time to get back to work on your game to make this your best season ever.

I am a Level 2 Hank Haney Pro Associate Instructor and I presently offer my golf instruction services at the Olney Golf Park in Olney, Maryland. The golf park is located off of Georgia Avenue (Route 97) to the northeast of Rockville. This is simply the best public practice facility in the state! In addition to the driving range that offers 5 target greens, we have a 12,000 square foot practice green and a separate wedge game area. You can literally work on every aspect of your game!

Call me now to get started on improving your game today! 717-856-1453

Scott Cole
www.scottcolegolf.com

Golf Tip of the Day - Keep the Driver in the Bag

2011-03-05T08:18:00.001-08:00

When you go to the driving range, keep the driver in the bag. Why? Because if you can't hit an 8 iron consistently well, you surely won't be able to hit the driver. The driver has very little loft. As a result, it does not impart enough backspin to offset any sidespin you may create with your swing. Therefore, your bad shots will simply be exaggerated.

Most people like to finish their practice sessions with their driver. Unfortunately, most people swing much harder with the driver, and that will exaggerate their bad habits. Furthermore, the harder swing will ruin your tempo, which is very important with the shorter shots.

If you truly want to learn how to play better golf, you need to be patient and work your way up through the bag. Become proficient with the shorter clubs. At the very least, even if you are hitting it crooked with the driver, you will still have the ability to recover.

Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com

Golf Tip of the Day - Focused Practice

2011-03-02T05:12:00.001-08:00

Most golfers head to the range, grab a bucket of balls, and just start hitting away with no real plan in mind. If they are hitting the ball poorly, they try to remember old tips or old feelings that may have resulted in a few good shots at some point.

I've mentioned before that to gain long term improvement in the long run, golfers need to gain an understanding of their own swing, its flaws and how to correct them and build a better golf swing. This takes time, focus and lots of practice.

Another way to zero in even more on the range is to start keeping some statistics while practicing. This takes more time while you are practicing, but is well worth the effort, and it will help you eliminate flaws and make improvements more quickly.

For instance, yesterday I decided to focus on my short iron play on the range. I warmed up with some wedges, then moved up to the 8 iron, 5 iron, 2 iron and driver. I then dropped back down to the 8-iron shot. At our range, we have one green that is essentially in the 8-iron or 9-iron range for me, depending on conditions. Yesterday, it was about 50 degrees and I had a light breeze in my face, so it was an 8-iron shot.

I decided to keep track of 20 shots at that flag. I would mark down what direction in relation to the flag that the ball would start, and its distance and direction from the flag after it landed. My dispersion over the first ten shots was pretty wide as I was struggling with my swing, but I managed to hit a couple decent shots in those first ten. With the second ten I tried to get the same feel I had for those two good shots, and my shot dispersion was much better.

What this type of practice also does is get you to focus on your routine. If you practice as if you are on the golf course trying to hit your best shot, you will go through your on course routine for each practice shot. This will help to reinforce your on course routine, and it will become second nature.

Get more focused in your practice, and I guarantee your scores will drop!

Scott Cole
www.howtgolfyourbest.com

Golf Tip of the Day - Why Most Golfers Never Improve

2011-03-01T08:37:00.000-08:00

Most golfers never improve. That's just a fact. The average handicap, in spite of all the technological improvements in the last 30 years, has not budged. Why? There are several reasons...First, most golfers never receive quality instruction that allows them to gain an understanding of their own swing faults, how to improve them, and how various swing faults affect ball flight. Second, most people don't spend much time working on their short game. Most golfers spend far more time trying to find a swing that works on the driving range rather than on the most important part of the game, which is putting. Finally, most people don't know how to measure performance properly so that they can understand what is holding them back.

Since golf season has essentially arrived, make this the year that you gain a better understanding of your golf swing, and be accountable for it! Forget all the meaningless golf tips you hear on the range or from your golf partners. Get some good instruction and develop a long term plan for improvement. Learn how to keep better track of your performance so you can identify the areas of your game where you are losing the most shots. Finally, learn how to practice more intelligently! Don't just go beat balls on the driving range and then hit a few putts. Develop a plan of action before you head to the range or golf course, and stick with your plan!

Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com

Golf Tip of the Day - Starting the Season

2011-02-28T05:25:00.000-08:00

On these nice warm days, as few as they've been, that we've experienced this winter, many golfers head out to the range, itching to swing their clubs. Unfortunately, after hitting a few wedge shots to get warmed up, most go to the driver, hoping to find some magic.

What most people should do before stepping on the range is go over to the practice green and hit some chip shots and pitch shots. This will help reinforce the idea that you must learn how to hit the ball first, and then the ground, in order to get the ball in the air. I see too many people trying to lift the ball in the air using their arms.

Yesterday, I was standing next to a guy on the range...same basic build as me, although I may outweigh him by twenty pounds. He couldn't hit a driver as far as my 8 iron. Why? Because he does all the work with his arms, and creates no leverage in his swing.

Understanding that you need to learn how to hit the ball first before you hit the ground is the first step toward learning how to swing the club properly. Learning how to compress the ball is of utmost importance in trying to hit the ball further. This starts around the practice green.

Come see me at the Olney Golf Park in Olney, Maryland so I can get you started!

Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com

Tiger Woods Swing Analysis

2011-02-21T16:46:00.001-08:00

I just completed an analysis of a Tiger Woods' drive swing from his recent tournament in Dubai....check it out below!
Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com

Aaron Baddeley wins at Riviera

2011-02-21T04:33:00.000-08:00

Aaron Baddeley picked up his first PGA Tour win since 2007 yesterday, holding off Vijay Singh for a two stroke victory. If you have followed his career, you may remember that he was once the poster boy for the Stack and Tilt swing model. This was because he was already a high profile name on tour and not long after he began receiving instruction from Mike Bennett and Andy Plummer, the proponents of the model, he won twice and saw his world ranking skyrocket. Since then, he struggled, and he went back to his old teacher in 2009.

Much of the commentary during the telecast revolved around Baddeley’s swing. Since I did not see much of Baddeley’s swing in prior years, I can’t really make a comparison. Today he played under control, and finished the tournament third in greens in regulation. That is impressive considering that Riviera is a shotmaker’s course and it is necessary to hit a fade on some key holes. The Stack and Tilt model is mainly geared toward hitting a push-draw.

During the telecast today, Peter Kostis did his analysis of Baddeley’s swing and focused on the plane of the club shaft. Baddeley did well to stay on or close to the original plane he achieved at address throughout his swing. This is the essential key to Hank Haney’s teaching, although Baddeley is not a student of Hank. Hank also preaches the ability to hit all nine ball flights equally well…a straight shot, fade or draw with low, medium and high trajectories. Tiger Woods was capable of doing this at well with his irons before his knee issues resurfaced in 2008.

The bottom line is that there is no one swing model that will work for every golfer. Baddeley did achieve some success with Stack and Tilt in 2007, but his putting was also spectacular that year, and he actually finished a dismal 188th in greens in regulation that year. Overall, he apparently felt limited by the swing pattern and decided to return to his old teacher. Other tour players are clearly having some success with the model, otherwise it would not be so popular in some respects.

It should be noted that some of the best ballstrikers ever are noted for returning the clubshaft to the original plane they achieved at address. The best example is Ben Hogan, and well, it doesn’t get much better than that. However, he was not concerned with keeping the club on this plane in his backswing. It was his transition and hip turn that caused it.

If Aaron Baddeley continues to swing the club like he did this week, he will be a major force going forward.

Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com

Golf Tip - Preparing for Golf Season

2011-02-19T06:46:00.000-08:00

It's the middle of February and we just got a taste of Spring, so I am sure many golfers took the opportunity to head to the driving range or even the golf course. I know I did! This a great time to get started on making some improvements to your golf swing so you don't need to worry about your swing so much during the heart of the season.

Swing changes take time and effort. If you've been watching the latest Haney Project with Rush Limbaugh, you know that Hank asked Rush to make 100 practice swings each day. It really doesn't take that much time. Ideally, these will be 100 FOCUSED practice swings. I like them to be performed in slow motion first, and preferably with a weighted club. Focus on the changes you want or need to make.

Patience is truly the key. If you are serious about making changes to your golf swing, you should know that even a minor change will take weeks before it will be ingrained in your swing. That means weeks of focused practice and lots of repetitions. That is why it is best to get started now. If you need a lesson, see your pro to develop your plan for improvement. If you have that plan in place, get to work!

Scott Cole
www.scottcolegolf.com

Golf Tip - Early season practice

2011-02-14T14:19:00.000-08:00

Ok, so you've been cooped up all winter, and winter still has some left in it, but you got a break from the cold, so you are heading over to the driving range. Do yourself a favor...just take your wedge.

We finally hit 60 degrees in Maryland today, so I visited the Olney Golf Park for the first time in 2011. January was essentially a bust as it rarely broke above 40 degrees. As I expected, the facility was pretty crowded today. I personally had a plan...just hit a bucket of wedges and work on 3/4 wedge shots. My goal? To simply get the feel of good contact and ball flight, and to start getting my hips more involved through impact.

What I noticed today was that most of the golfers who were there practicing were hitting a lot of drivers. That is a mistake. Developing some tempo, rhythm and timing are essential at this stage of the season. Also, if you plan on lowering your scores, you should probably be focused on mechanics. Ripping a half bucket of drivers just to see that you still got it is a big mistake. If you have not swung a club in a month or two, it is easy to develop some bad habits by letting loose with the driver.

So, if you are reading this post early in the season, keep the long clubs at home for a couple sessions. You have plenty of time to get them out later.

Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com

Golf Swing Fundamentals

2011-02-07T08:43:00.000-08:00

In recent months I've participated in a golf forum known as Golfwrx. This forum provides discussion on a variety of golf topics, including instruction, fitness, and equipment. I have found it quite frustrating that there is some hostility among some of the instructors due to differing ideas about what golf swing models work best.

This provided me the motivation to try and find some common ground among instructors in regard to the fundamentals of the golf swing. To my surprise, a consensus could not even be reached in this regard.

I have concluded that golf instruction is similar to the martial arts in this regard as well. It is up to the student to figure out what type or style of instruction best suits their own personality. It is also up to the instructor to convey to potential students their own thoughts on the golf swing, and how best to learn.

To learn more about how I teach, click here
Scott Cole

Golf Tip - How to Make Swing Changes

2011-02-03T05:49:00.001-08:00

Admittedly, watching Tiger Woods struggle this past weekend is likely going to make it tough for an instructor like me to convince a student to make a swing change when it is required. However, what I will point out is that this is the third major overhaul in Tiger's swing in about 12 years, and I would certainly not ask a student to completely change their swing in this fashion.

Swing changes must be done piecemeal, because even the smallest of changes take significant time and practice to be ingrained.

The best way to make swing changes is to make them without hitting any balls. Most people get too wrapped up in the result, rather than the execution. Occasionally, a golfer will hit a good shot with the same flawed swing. This is just a function of better timing with that particular swing, rather than an improved swing. Then, when they hit a crappy shot after making an improved move, they get frustrated and give up on the change.

What I try to do with a student during the first lesson is to identify the most critical ball flight error. I then let the student know what they need to do to correct that error, and then I give them a plan to improve their overall golf swing.

In order to make a swing change, the student needs to make practice swings without a ball, with significant focus on each repetition, for 100 swings a day, for several weeks. The repetitions need to be done in slow motion until they are ingrained, then done at half speed, then full speed, and without a ball. There is no point in trying to hit a ball until their is significant improvement in the move. I also HIGHLY recommend using a weighted club while working on these new motions. The heavier weight with slow motion reps sends a stronger signal to the brain.

This does not mean you don't ever go out and play while you are trying to make swing changes. When you are out on the course, it is necessary to just play and not worry about the changes you are making. If you are practicing as described above, these changes will take care of themselves out on the golf course over time. A round of golf is meant to be enjoyed, and it is more enjoyable if you are not worrying so much about mechanics. Mechanical changes should only be made and worked on during practice.

The key is to be very patient with making swing changes. Most golfers are not, and that is why most never improve. It takes a year for a good player to make a major swing overhaul, and a couple years for the average golfer. However, along the way, it is not unlikely that lower scores will occur. Stay patient and stay positive and you will surely reap the benefits.

Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com

Golf Tip of the Day - More Thoughts on the Mental Game

2011-01-23T08:00:00.000-08:00

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

Golf Tip of the Day - Strength Training

2011-01-19T06:21:00.000-08:00

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

Golf Tip of the Day - Get a Golf Lesson!

2011-01-17T05:59:00.000-08:00

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

Golf Tip of the Day - 5 Keys to a Good Golf Swing

2011-01-13T07:31:00.001-08:00

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

Golf Tip of the Day - Quit Searching for the Holy Grail

2011-01-12T04:36:00.000-08:00

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

Golf Tip of the Day - How to Add Yards off the Tee

2011-01-10T05:22:00.000-08:00

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

Golf Tip of the Day - Learn the Ball Flight Laws

2011-01-09T07:26:00.000-08:00

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

Golf Tip of the Day - Stay Within Yourself

2011-01-08T09:29:00.000-08:00

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

Golf Tip of the Day - Avoid Information Overload

2011-01-02T07:01:00.001-08:00

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

Golf Tip of the Day - Winter Golf Instruction

2010-12-29T05:46:00.001-08:00

We are getting a heat wave here in PA and Maryland toward the end of this week (yeah, over 40 degrees, woohoo!), so some folks apparently broke out the golf clubs yesterday and played some golf. One of my students immediately got in touch with me to set up a lesson.

Let's be realistic. We are only in the FIRST week of winter! We've had a cold December, and some long range forecasts suggest a warmer than average January and February, but please, you know it's generally going to be cold!

Now is NOT the time to get a lesson on your full swing unless you live in a warm climate. In that case, any time is a good time. But, here in PA, most golfers won't get out much until April. As such, a good time to start getting ready for the season with a full swing lesson is some time in March.

Now, if you absolutely have no clue about how to work on your golf swing over the winter months, then by all means, get a lesson. But, this lesson should not involve much ball striking. It should be all about learning the proper fundamentals of the swing. Most improvement in the golf swing comes WITHOUT hitting balls. Now is the time to get in front of a mirror and perform slow swings, and learn what it feels like to be in the proper positions throughout the golf swing.

Winter golf instruction can also focus on improving your biomechanics and fitness. If you have the opportunity, get yourself a physical assessment and get set up on a program to improve your golf fitness so you can be better prepared to improve your swing when the season arises.

If you have the itch to play golf this winter, go ahead! But, if you have not swung a club in a couple months, keep your expectations low. Your timing will likely be off a bit, and this will hamper your swing. However, your mind will likely be uncluttered as well, so you may actually be able to hit some good shots. The bottom line is to just enjoy yourself as always.

Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com

Golf Tip of the Day - Goal Setting

2010-12-28T05:27:00.000-08:00

As we approach the end of 2010, it’s time to set goals for the New Year. We should do this in all aspects of our life, but if you are passionate about your golf game, it’s really a great idea.

Let’s take the example of a 20 handicapper. Some people might be happy with dropping their handicap to 15 over a twelve month period. In reality, that would only be within the normal statistical fluctuation of a typical golfer’s scores. Consider this…the typical PGA Tour player is going to shoot a low round of 64 or 65 some time during the year, and under difficult conditions, may shoot a round or two in the 80s. That is essentially one shot per hole. The top players are more consistent and may have a narrower deviation.

With this in mind, the 20 handicapper can expect to shoot anywhere from 85 to 105 during the course of a year. Dropping down to a 15 handicap would only drop those figures from 80 to 100. In reality, dropping down to a 15 handicap only requires a few more scores in the low 80’s and a few less scores above 95. The golfer might get a little more consistent for a season through better putting, or better ball striking, but their overall game really shows limited improvement. The next year, they could be right back up to a 20 handicap if one area of their game falls apart. Therefore, why not be a bit more ambitious in your goal setting? You can be ambitious, but still realistic! I say you shoot for a 50% drop in your handicap.

To really drop your handicap by 50% or more, you have to show improvement in your entire game. To go from a 20 handicap to a 10 handicap will require you to break 80 a couple times, and shoot only a few scores in the 90s. Is this possible? Absolutely. As 12 year old, I dropped my handicap from 25 to 14. When I was 13, I went from 14 to 8, and when I was 14 I went from 8 to 4. After that, my handicap hovered from scratch to 3 for the balance of my amateur career. I plateaued due to lack of adequate instruction, as no one could ever claim I was lazy. I hit more balls than anyone I knew. Ok, so my handicap was dropping about 40% per year, but that was without any instruction. I just went out and played.

So how do you go about accomplishing this goal? You need to break things down in more detail.

First, you should set a goal of improved ball striking by the time the season begins in earnest. Here in Maryland, that is around mid-April. The weather beginning in mid-March is adequate for work on the full swing. Get yourself some instruction on the full swing, and start your practice. If you practice smartly, and keep accurate data, by the time May rolls around, you should already be hitting the ball better than the previous year.

Now its time focus on other areas of your game. In your first few rounds of the year, you should pay attention to your ball flight characteristics, where you are missing your tee shots, where you are missing the green, how many penalty shots you are accruing, how you are missing your putts, etc. If you can keep accurate data, you will learn your tendencies and what areas of your game need the most work. Then you can set goals for your putting, greens in regulation, etc.

If you are an avid golfer and you already keep detailed statistics, it is far easier to develop detailed goals for the upcoming season. Get yourself into this habit, and each year you will find you have the ability to improve, no matter how low your handicap is to start the year.

Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com

Golf Tip of the Day - How to Stretch

2010-12-23T07:05:00.000-08:00

As many golfers know, improved flexibility can help to improve your golf swing by allowing you to have a bigger shoulder turn, create a wider swing arc, and maintain posture throughout the swing. However, much of what I read on the golf forums on how to stretch is not healthy.

If you are seeking to increase your overall flexibility, it is NOT necessary to stretch hard every day. In fact, that would do more harm than good. It is, however, necessary to do some light stretching before your round of golf or practice session, and helpful to do some light stretching afterward.

When you stretch for increased flexibility, keep these tips in mind....

1. You only need to stretch for increased flexibility 2 or 3 times per week.

2. With each stretch, ease into the stretch, and never bounce when you are in the stretch. That is a good way to cause injury.

3. Hold your position for 30 to 45 seconds, and be sure to breathe. Get into your initial position where you feel discomfort, hold it for 15 seconds, then try to increase the stretch slightly and hold for another 15 to 30 seconds.

4. Always remember to breathe and try to keep the rest of your body as relaxed as possible.

5. When you are finished with the stretch, come out of the position very slowly.

6. Try to hit the major muscle groups when you stretch. Of utmost importance to golfers are the hamstrings, glutes, back, lats, shoulders and neck.

7. Give yourself 30 to 45 minutes to do your stretching routine and take your time!

Keep these tips in mind and you should start to see results after just a couple weeks. If you have any very tight areas, there may be an injury, so be sure to get checked out. Never, ever stretch beyond your limits...if you have pain, back off!

Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com

Golf Tip of the Day - How to Improve Your Golf Swing

2010-12-20T05:08:00.001-08:00

If you've ever paid much attention to the golf tips I write in this blog, you will notice that I rarely get into specifics about how to swing the golf club, or offer specific ways to putt or hit various shots. There are millions of tips like that on the internet, in books and in magazines. If you read this blog, chances are you've seen a lot of those tips.

Today I offer a very general idea about improving your golf game. If you want to hit the ball better, you need to improve your swing. But, what exactly does that mean and how do you do it? Well, the first thing I will say is that there is no SECRET. Just as there are millions of golf tips to help you improve your swing, there are thousands of ways to swing a golf club relatively effectively.

Consider this...there are over 28,000 PGA professionals (no, I am not one of them). To gain entry into the PGA management program, at some point you must pass a players ability test. Typically, to pass, you have to shoot a couple scores in the mid-70s. I would argue that to do that, you need a reasonably effective golf swing. But, I guarantee, many of those swings are going to look a bit unorthodox.

So, when I say that to play better golf you need to improve your swing, I am not saying you need to go out and try and turn your swing into Ben Hogan's swing. What I am saying is that you should learn about the basic fundamentals of the golf swing and try to apply them to your swing.

Unfortunately, we have some disparity in opinion regarding these basic fundamentals. For instance, the Stack and Tilt swing model will have you set up to the ball with more weight on your front foot and have you feel as if you are keeping more weight on this front foot throughout the swing. That swing will have you finish with definitive tilt in your upper body away from the target.

Other swing models seem to be a response to the Stack and Tilt swing. For instance, CJ Goeck's Perfect Connection model will have you finish in a more upright position that appears to put less strain on the back than the Stack and Tilt swing. Also, there is disagreement among the supposed golf biomechanics as to what model will result in less stress on the body.

So, what does all this mean for the golfer? I strongly believe that the first thing a golfer should do to start making improvements is to get a physical assessment of their body from an experienced trainer or therapist. This will help identify the weaknesses in the body that may be keeping you from making any improvements at all.

Once you identify those weaknesses, work to strengthen them through a training program recommended by your trainer. After that, it is on to the fundamentals.

I believe that the fundamentals of the swing are quite simple. They start with a good grip, good stance and posture, and then you need to train the body how to move properly in the golf swing. Get yourself a video analysis of your swing so you can identify the areas that need most improvement. Then set a goal to improve on those fundamentals. Develop a plan to achieve that goal. This plan should require that you only work on one or two areas of the swing at a time.

Keep this in mind...improving your golf swing is a long term pursuit. If you are simply looking for a quick fix to help you straighten out your slice, don't expect long term improvement in your ball striking. Improving your swing requires knowledge of the fundamentals and the ball flight laws.

One other thing I should add...there is no one golf swing model that is better than the rest. While Ben Hogan had a gorgeous swing, most people do not have the physical capabilities of duplicating that swing. I can't name one player on the PGA Tour who swings like Hogan. None.

There is, however, a golf swing model that will work for best for you, based upon your own abilities. As Hogan used to say, you have to go dig it out of the dirt.

Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com

Golf Tip of the Day

2010-12-17T20:24:00.000-08:00

Greetings golfers! I am looking for some input regarding services that I offer with this website and some information about the typical visitor to my site. Please click on the link below to take the survey. It will only take you a couple minutes and your help is greatly appreciated!

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/2XCT82M

Golf Tip of the Day - Training the Hips

2010-12-17T06:43:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, a golfer asked on a forum about how the pros learn how to turn their hips properly in the golf swing. I commented that most pros and good golfers and general don't think about it that much, because we learned to play at an earlier age and it just comes naturally.

With the popularity of the Stack and Tilt golf swing, there are now a couple schools of thought on how the hips move in the golf swing, but there are some common elements. There is some turn in the hips in the back swing, although the Stack and Tilt method calls for more of a tilting to allow for a straighter back leg. In the down swing and follow through, there is a lateral move toward the target, a turn and some "curling" of the hips in both methods.

However, many golfers simply have trouble with all of these moves, and they wonder how to learn them. Here are a couple thoughts.

No matter which swing model you subscribe to, you need to learn how to make the moves slowly, and without a club in your hands. Break the move down piece by piece, and perform each move slowly and master it.

If you have never participated in any sport or activity where the hips are engaged quite a bit, such as baseball, swimming, the martial arts, etc., I highly recommend taking up a martial arts class. In order to throw the various kicks and punches properly and with power, you need to learn how to utilize the hips and core. Training your hips and core this way will help you develop them for use in the golf swing. Furthermore, the hip action for throwing a simple straight punch with power is very similar to the hip action used in the golf swing.

I like this idea better than simply trying to find exercises to train your hips because of the practical use of martial arts training. Learning a skill that applies to two activities is better than simply working an exercise to benefit one. It will also keep your attention longer as well.

Scott Cole

Golf Tip of the Day - Passive Arms

2010-12-16T04:20:00.000-08:00

I just read a great interview with instructor Jim Waldron, who teaches in Oregon and Hawaii. I agree with much of what Jim teaches and how he teaches. Jim has a martial arts background as I do, and he employs much of what he has learned in studying the martial arts into his golf instruction, as I do.

One thing he mentions in his interview is that the arms should be PASSIVE throughout the golf swing. Most golfers try to control the golf club too much with the hands and arms, and as a result, they actually lose control of the club. Over active arms throughout the golf swing also results in a substantial loss of power.

Jim refers to the use of the arms in the golf swing as the "Arm Swing Illusion." It appears that the arms control the club throughout the swing, but they actually just follow the body movement. If you employ sound mechanics in your swing, you don't have to worry about what the arms are doing. Furthermore, the arms actually move very little on their own during the swing, it just looks that way.

I often say to students "you have to lose control to gain control." Until you understand that concept, you'll never take your swing to the next level. Learn to develop passive arms throughout your swing, and keep the triangle formed by your arms and shoulders down to the grip of your club in front of your body, and you will become a much better ball striker.

Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com

Tiger's Hank Haney Swing vs. Tiger's Butch Harmon Swing

2010-12-14T10:10:00.000-08:00

There is a new article online regarding Tiger's performance under Hank Haney from 2006-2009 and during his record year in 2000 when he was coached by Butch Harmon.

No matter what you think of either instructor, both have earned their ranking as the two best instructors in the business, no matter what you think of their abilities.

The link to the article is below...

http://rexfordbuzzsaw.wordpress.com/2010/12/08/which-tiger-swing-was-better-hank-haney%E2%80%99s-or-butch-harmon%E2%80%99s/

Scott Cole
www.howtgolfyourbest.com

How To Play Golf Without Back Pain

2010-12-13T06:01:00.000-08:00

The golf swing is a complex athletic move that involves the use of just about every muscle and joint in the body. As a result, golfers tend to be injury prone when they swing the golf club with some improper moves during the golf swing. One biomechanical trainer who trains a number of golfers on the PGA Tour has suggested that golfers are great compensators. When they struggle to make a proper move at some point in the golf swing, golfers will compensate by trying to counter that move later in the golf swing. Unfortunately, this is often when injuries occur.

Probably the most common injury among golfers is in the back. Back injuries are usually a result of two major faults in the golf swing. The first swing fault occurs when the golfer has difficulty lifting their arms in the back swing. The golfer usually compensates for this by tilting the hips in the back swing, instead of turning them. As a result, the back leans toward the target in the back swing. In the downswing, in order to make some decent contact with the ball, the golfer must thrust the hips forward violently, which tilts the spine back away from the target, and puts significant pressure on the lower back.

The golfer who has some difficulty in lifting their arms in the back swing likely has some shoulder issues that need to be addressed. There is likely some rotational ability that can be addressed with treatment and exercise. Once this is addressed, the golfer should also learn to swing the club without tilting the spine toward the target. Maintaining the spine angle properly throughout the swing will go a long way toward playing without back pain.

The second swing fault that results in back pain is the reverse C position that many golfers end up in on their follow through. Many golfers end up in this position because they do not understand how the golf club functions to get the ball in the air. As such, they try to help the ball in the air with a big follow through that results in them leaning away too much from the target, and this puts significant pressure on the lower and middle back.

The simple solution to this swing fault is to get a better understanding of how the golf club works to get the ball in the air. Consider a pitching wedge. The wedge typically has 47 degrees of loft, and a number of grooves. The loft and the grooves will combine to create backspin, and it is the backspin that lifts the ball in the air. The more spin you create, the higher the ball flies.

Many beginners and average golfers instead try to help the ball in the air by catching the ball on the upswing as they tilt the back too far away from the target. What they should be doing is lowering their center of gravity in the downswing, which will allow the club to catch the ball first, and bottom out past where the ball was sitting. The divot should actually occur past where the ball was sitting. This allows the club to compress the ball and put spin on it to get it into the air. A golfer who understands this knows that they don’t need to tilt the spine so much during the swing.

The key to avoiding back pain while playing golf is to learn the proper fundamentals of the swing. By having a better understanding of the swing fundamentals, the golfer can learn to swing the club properly, and play pain free.

Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com

Golf Tip of the Day - Test Your Balance

2010-12-12T07:56:00.001-08:00

Now that the cold weather is firmly entrenched here in the northern states, I will focus most of my posts on golf fitness for a while. Today, I want you to test your balance. If you have poor balance in your golf swing, you will never be a consistent ball striker. This doesn't mean you need to go out right away and by a swiss balance ball and try and hit golf balls while standing on that. While that would be an impressive feat, we'll leave that to the trick shot artists. It's completely unnecessary. It is also unnecessary to learn how to hit golf balls from any sort of device that makes it difficult to maintain balance. Without getting into specifics, recent research indicates that training on these devices is not helpful to swinging a golf club with better balance.

To test your balance, all you need to do is stand on one foot and then close your eyes. Try and hold the position for 15 seconds. It will be difficult for sure. If you struggle with this, do the following exercise.

Stand with both feet together. Shift your weight to your left leg and let your arms relax by your sides. Raise your right foot off the floor by bending your knee. Lean into a golf posture and allow your right leg to extend behind you. Allow your left leg to bend as you are doing this. Hold for a count of five, then return to the previous position, while keeping the right foot off the floor. Repeat this ten times, then switch legs and do the same. Gradually try to build up the time you hold the golf posture position on one leg for 15 seconds per repetition.

This exercise will help you develop better balance, which will translate into better balance for your golf swing.

Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com

Golf Tip of the Day - Reading the Green

2010-12-11T06:45:00.001-08:00

Let's face it, you could have the best putting stroke on the PGA Tour, but if you can't read the greens, it won't matter much. Still, I think we make this out to be more difficult than it needs to be. For instance, if you look at a putt from both sides of the hole and can't figure out which way it will break, it is likely a straight putt. So, just go straight at the hole. If you have good speed, you will likely have a chance to make the putt.

Here is a tip for you though for putts of 10 feet or longer. The most important part of the putt for you to read is the last third. This is when the ball is slowing down. Therefore, it will curve more than at any other time during the putt. Try to figure out what the break will be in the last third of the putt, then worry about the remainder of the putt after that.

Now, if you have a putt that breaks right to left, visualize the ball rolling into the top half of the hole, because that will actually be the center of your LINE. Then focus on having good speed and you will have a better chance to make a putt.

If you are having trouble reading the putt from behind the ball, walk to the other side of the hole and look at the line from there. Still no idea? It's likely a pretty straight putt. If you are more advanced at reading greens, then you can worry about how the grain may affect the putt as it dies at the hole.

Remember though, focus most of your attention on the last third, and visualize the ball rolling in the high side. One other comment, most golfers tend to miss to the low side, so that means they underestimate the break more often than not. With that in mind, learn to play a little more break than what your eyes are telling you.

Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com

Golf Tip of the Day - Measure Your Performance

2010-12-10T04:19:00.000-08:00

One reason most golfers don't improve much over time is that they don't measure their performance properly. As a result they don't understand their strengths and weaknesses.

Most people measure performance simply by monitoring their handicap from year to year. However, it is rare that a golfer's handicap improves much after they have played golf for three years. Their handicap will hover within a relatively tight range, but there is no trend of improvement. As they get older, and their physical abilities diminish, they game becomes more difficult.

However, if they learn to measure performance in more detail then they can focus on the areas of their game that need the most improvement, and watch their scores drop. If you go to PGATour.com, you can find a whole host of statistical measures for each player. The individual golfer can go into even further detail with various measures of where their shots are heading when they miss, proximity to the hole, what putts they tend to miss and make, etc.

If you want to get control over your own improvement, learn how to measure your performance in greater detail.

Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com

Golf Tip of the Day - More on Golf Fitness

2010-12-09T04:49:00.001-08:00

The other day I touched on the potential need to undergo a physical assessment from a qualified therapist before undergoing any golf fitness program. This assessment will highlight weaknesses that may be keeping you from making improvements to your golf swing.

A proper assessment will involve analysis of the following:

1. Head, shoulder and hip alignment - this assessment looks for such characteristics as rounded shoulders, ears that may be ahead of the shoulders and an increased curvature of the spine.

2. Position of the feet as you stand erect - do the point in or out?

3. Balance - can you stand on one leg for 60 seconds?

4. Core strength - a lack of core strength will affect your ability to maintain posture in the swing.

5. Shoulder rotation - Lack of rotation ability result in restrictions to your arm swing. For instance, lack of rotation may result in an inability to lift the arms in the back swing, which can lead the golfer to compensate elsewhere. A reverse pivot is an example.

6. Torso rotation - lack of rotation ability in the torso may lead you to compensate by over rotating the hips or the shoulders.

7. Overall strength and coordination - If you lack in strength or coordination in some areas, it will be difficult to swing the club properly with good balance.

I will continue to touch on the subject in more detail in future posts.

Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com

Golf Tip of the Day - Assess Your Golf Fitness Needs

2010-12-07T04:25:00.000-08:00

Golf fitness is another golf related industry that has taken off over the last decade as PGA Tour players, led by Tiger Woods, have focused more on their fitness. As better technology has failed to help golfers improve, they are turning more to fitness, since golf instruction still tends to be a bit expensive for the average golfer.

Before a golfer begins to focus on improving their fitness, however, they should get a physical assessment first. This assessment will determine their strengths and weaknesses. The fact is, many golfers have physical issues that inhibit their ability to swing the golf club well. Visiting a physical therapist who knows the biomechanics of the golf swing is a good idea. The golfer can gain an understanding of their physical issues and learn how to improve them.

Over the winter months, it is a good idea to work on your fitness. Start out by getting a physical assessment so you can improve on your weaknesses and build on your strengths. This will help your game as the new season begins.

Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com

Golf Tip of the Day - Keep an Open Mind

2010-12-06T05:44:00.001-08:00

our students. Therefore, it is helpful to learn new ways and new ideas to help make students better.

With that in mind, I picked up a copy of the Stack and Tilt book yesterday to see what all the hub bub is about this swing model. There is practically a cult following with this model, much like there has been with the One Plane Swing. While I do not agree with many of the concepts of Stack and Tilt (or One Plane Swing for that matter), there are some things I found useful. Down the road I will start to conduct full reviews, but keep in mind, these will only be my opinions. That is the beauty of golf though, there are many ways to hit a golf ball, so there will be many opinions!

Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com

Golf Tip of the Day - Keep a Journal

2010-12-04T05:59:00.001-08:00

In a couple previous posts I have discussed the topic of taking notes. Behavior analysis studies suggest that golfers can improve much more rapidly by taking detailed notes during practice, lessons and their rounds of golf.

Golfers should also maintain a daily journal whenever they do something golf related. During winter, this could mean describing the few indoor swings you took or putts you hit, or your workout at the gym. Otherwise, write down a paragraph or two describing your round of golf, the weather, how you were feeling, what bets you might have had, how you performed, etc.

This journal should be kept in addition to the detailed notes you should start taking regarding your golf game. When you combine the information in the journal and in your notes, you will have a far greater capacity for learning, and this should lead you to improve your scores more rapidly.

Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com

Golf Tip of the Day - Indoor Training

2010-12-02T05:10:00.000-08:00

I think Mother Nature officially ended the golf season here in the Northeast and Maryland yesterday. The temperature dropped about 20 degrees in a matter of minutes as this cold front blew through. A few hearty souls still managed to find their way to Olney Golf Park, but it was not a comfortable day to work on your game or play golf anywhere.

So, now we are faced with about three months of chilly weather. Sure, there will be a few days where we can practice comfortably, but they will be few and far between. The heaters here at Olney Golf Park will help the avid golfer, but short game practice won't happen much.

How can we stay in touch with our golf swings when the weather gets cold? This is the time to really do some hard work on your swing. Indoor practice can be quite beneficial all year round. This is a great opportunity to work on your fundamentals.

I consistently hammer the point home...get in front of a mirror and work through the various positions of your swing slowly. Study the fundamentals of the full swing, and try to match them in the mirror. Use a face on view at times and a down the line view at times.

Learn how to move the body properly through the golf swing. Learn how to keep the club on plane slowly, and gradually try to build up your swing speed. If you struggle with making these movements, it could be the result of physical issues. Winter time is a great time to address these.

Don't let the cold months go to waste. To continually improve your game, it makes no sense to start again from scratch every Spring. Keep up the work in the winter months and you'll be sure to hit the ground running when Spring arrives.

Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com

Golf Tip of the Day - How Do You Learn?

2010-12-01T04:53:00.001-08:00

How do you learn? Why is it that we have all this new technology, all these training aids, golf tips and instruction from the best teachers in the world, and yet most golfers never improve? Why has the average handicap not dropped in 30 years while the clubs hit the ball straighter and the ball flies 25 yards further?

I will tell you why. Most golf instructors are not demanding enough of their students, and most students are not demanding enough of themselves.

Golf is a difficult game. There is a ton to learn, just in the swing itself! Yet, how many golfers take notes during a lesson. How many instructors have told a student to take notes? How many golfers keep detailed records of their rounds? Why is it that Steve Williams knows more about Tiger’s game than you know about yours?

The best way to learn is by practicing, but if you don’t take notes and keep track of the proper statistics, how do you even know what to practice?

I studied Pai Lum Kung Fu for eight years and was REQUIRED to keep a notebook and journal. We essentially learned something new every day, so there was no other way to keep track of everything.

Golf is a little bit different in that you can read all about the golf swing in a variety of books. But, you still need to learn what works for you, and the only way to keep track is by taking notes.

Just some food for thought. I will be hitting on this topic a bit more in the coming days.

Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com

Golf Tip of the Day - Keep it Simple

2010-11-28T06:32:00.000-08:00

I read through some golf forums daily and many people are often looking for swing tips. Many are concerned with this position or that position in their golf swing, and some of the tips offered break things into minute detail. While these tips are well intended, they are often reflective the teaching or swing philosophy of the tipper.

From my point of view, many of these tips will not result in much improvement in the golfer. In regard to the full swing, golfers should pay much more attention on improving their fundamentals, such as their set up, how they move the body in the swing, and their swing plane.

With a better player, to get the club on a better swing plane, it may just be a matter of a tweak or two, but for most people it is more of a need for improved fundamentals.

This winter, if you are stuck indoors, work on the basic fundamentals of body movement, and work on improving your swing plane in front of a mirror. Learn to make the movements slowly before you try to do them at full speed. By the time Spring comes around, you'll be way ahead of the game!

Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com

Golf Tip of the Day - Learn Your Tendencies

2010-11-27T06:02:00.001-08:00

Golfers can make significant improvements to their game by keeping track of some specific statistics. Unfortunately, most golfers do not keep any records, or pay attention to these statistics, and therefore, they have no idea how they should focus their practice.

Some avid golfers do keep track of some statistics such as greens in regulation, fairways hit, putts per round, penalty shots, etc. However, this does not reveal a golfers tendencies. For example, you may keep track of how many fairways you hit in a round of golf, but did you pay attention to where your misses landed when you did miss a fairway? What about when you missed a green? Or a putt?

It is possible to break the game down several levels to reveal a golfer's tendencies, particularly when it comes to putting and the short game. For instance, a golfer can learn whether they tend to miss short putts to the right or left, short or long, etc.

Amazingly, it really doesn't take too many rounds of golf with solid record keeping to identify your tendencies. Once you do, you can develop a plan for improvement. Developing a plan is key to making improvements and lowering your scores.

In coming weeks, I will be employing these ideas in my own instruction and I will be offering a private membership area on this website that will discuss in much more detail how a golfer can keep track of their performance and plan for improvement.

Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com

Golf Tip of the Day - Plan for Improvement

2010-11-24T07:19:00.000-08:00

With golf, as we get older, if you aren't getting better, you are likely getting worse. The fact of the matter is, as we get older, we are going to lose distance over time. Sure, you can slow the rate of decline by staying in great shape, but it will happen.

So, if you are losing distance, the golf course can get harder. Of course, you can choose to play from a more forward set of tees so that the course doesn't get harder. Most good players might find that difficult to do.

What is the answer? Make improvements in your swing so that you will be more accurate; make improvements to your short game so that you will leave yourself with shorter putts; and make improvements to your putting so that you can hole more putts. This last item may prove more difficult if our eyesight is declining. Obviously, the other areas may become more difficult to improve on if we develop a physical malady.

However, it is possible to develop a plan. Learn how to plan for improvement. Keep better records during and after your practice sessions and rounds of golf. Find out what your weaknesses are, then find ways to make them better.

The bottom line is that if you don't develop a plan, you won't likely see much improvement, if any, in your game. Always approach each session with a plan of attack. Don't just go beat a bucket of balls and hit a few chips and putts. That is not planning, that is just going through the motions. That may help keep you at your current level, but as your skills erode, practicing without a plan will not help you improve.

Find a good instructor to help you develop an overall plan for improvement and learn to keep better records. If you can do this, you will definitely improve more quickly and stay on top of your game even as your physically abilities may decline.

Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com

Golf Tip of the Day - How to Hit a Draw

2010-11-22T05:02:00.000-08:00

It's late in the season here in the Mid-Atlantic states, and it looks like today and tomorrow will be the last relatively warm days for a while. As such, many people may hang up their clubs for the winter. However, that doesn't mean you can't work on your golf swing.

One of the best ways to train your golf swing is to simply find a place to swing indoors, any place where you can at least swing a 6 or 7 iron. Get yourself a mirror and start learning how to move the club into the proper positions in the golf swing. You can learn those positions by picking up a copy of my ebook "Fundamentals, Faults & Cures" here.

Now, on to today's topic, how to hit a draw. It is estimated that 80% to 90% of golfers slice the ball. The reason why is that most golfers try to hit the ball with the upper body, rather than simply letting the club swing while the lower body does the work in the down swing. A slice is a result of the club approaching the ball from an outside in swing path with an open club face.

To counteract that swing path, golfers are told to try a takeaway more to the inside, or to swing out to right field in the down swing. Both are terrible pieces of advice. Pulling the club more to the inside on the takeaway will only make the inside takeaway, over the top swing loop even bigger, resulting in a bigger slice. When people try to swing out to right field, they often do it with the arms only. The tendency is to get an early release, or to reach too far and hit the ball on the hosel, which results in a shank.

To hit a draw, you need to think of two things...a flatter swing plane on the downswing and you must initiate the down swing with the lower body. This will allow you to hit the ball from a more inside swing path. If this simply results in a push, check your grip, and make sure it is not too weak.

I've got drills and video to show you how to hit a draw. My ebook "Fundamentals, Faults and Cures" will show you all and again, you can find it here.

Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com

Golf Tip of the Day - Take Notes, Keep Stats

2010-11-21T05:37:00.000-08:00

One way to really learn how to play better golf is to take notes. You should take notes when you practice, when you play and during a lesson. You should then keep tab of some important statistics.

When you receive a golf lesson, you should take notes during the lesson. I have often told students to at least take notes afterward, or as soon as they get home, but this does not work well either. So, from now on, my students will be encouraged to take notes during a lesson. The student should bring a bound notepad of some type, a pen, and a plastic bag to keep the notes dry. These notes should be kept in their golf bag for reference when they play and practice on their own.

Students should keep notes when they practice. They should pay attention closer attention to where the ball lands in relation to their target with each club so they can get a feel for their shot patterns. I ask all students before a round of golf if they can describe their critical ball flight error, and many don't even know if they slice, hook, pull, or push their shots. Students can prepare better for a lesson by paying more attention to their ball flight.

Some students actually do keep some statistics such as fairways hit, greens in regulation, putts per round, sand saves, etc. However, to really learn about their own game, they should keep more detailed statistics. For instance, when you miss a green, keep track of whether you missed short, long, left or right and by how far from your target. In regard to putts, pay attention to the distance of the putt, how you read the break, and whether you missed long and low, short and low, long and high or short and high. You can also do the same for short game shots.

Behavioral research has shown that when you get a better understanding of your game by keeping better notes and statistics, you can improve significantly faster.

Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com

Golf Tip of the Day - Warm Up and Stay Warm

2010-11-20T05:49:00.001-08:00

Not too many people will be grabbing early tee times here in PA and MD over the next few months. Every morning we have major frost on the ground accompanying freezing temperatures. However, by late morning, the temp rises to tolerable levels for some sturdy golfers.

If you are playing golf in colder weather, it is important to get yourself appropriately warmed up and loosened up before you start to play. Cold and tight muscles can lead to injury at some point in the round. Before you play, get the blood flowing by jogging in place, doing some jumping jacks, or possibly some squats while holding a golf club at arms length, one hand at either end, and raising it over head as you squat. As you rise back up, lower the club to chest level.

You should take about 5 minutes to get warmed up, and then do some light stretching. Your focus should be on the hamstrings, back, neck and shoulders. Once you get them loosened up a little, you can start swinging a heavy club slowly, or use a club with a donut weight on the end. Or, simply swing two irons together.

The trick will then be to stay warmed up during the round. In colder weather, we lose our touch, so wear a pair of mittens or carry a hand warmer. Occasionally, you may want to repeat the warm up process, especially if you are riding a cart rather than walking. Continue to keep the blood flowing and do some light stretching. This will not only help your swing during the round, but keep you injury free as well.

Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com

Golf Tip of the Day - How to Increase Your Swing Speed

2010-11-19T17:20:00.001-08:00

I just read a forum post in a relatively popular golf instruction site and the golfer who wrote it was bragging about getting his swing speed up over 130 mph. The gentleman in question mentioned that he is 57 years old, and accomplished this by doing a particular workout for about a week and a half. He went from 106 to 131 in that period of time.

Time for a reality check folks. That swing speed would put him among the top 5 longest hitters on the PGA Tour. Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson can get their swing speed up to that level when they go at it hard. They typically average about 125 mph. The average swing speed on tour is 112 mph.

A 57 year old man can not accomplish a 25 mph increase in swing speed in less than two weeks. I would venture to guess that there are fewer than twenty 57 year olds on the planet that can swing the club at 131 mph, if there are any at all. A 131 mph swing speed would translate into a carry of over 325 yards, and probably closer to 350 yards. Jamie Sadlowski, the two time defending ReMax world long drive champion swings the club at 145 mph. The funny thing is, the people in the forum were actually congratulating this guy, because they really have no clue.

It is possible to increase your swing speed significantly, but it takes a long period of time and work.

Here is what needs to happen to see a dramatic increase in swing speed.

1. You likely need to improve your technique. If you have a major swing flaw such as a reverse pivot or over the top swing, you will have great difficulty increasing your speed.

2. You need to increase your flexibility so you can swing the club on a bigger arc.

3. You need to increase your strength. Golf specific exercises will help, but you will really need to train like an athlete. Just look at today's long drive champions...they train hard!

4. You need to increase your body speed. This is done through the incorporation of plyometrics into the training routine.

5. You need to get on the range and learn how to swing the club faster without losing control.

I have had success with reasonably talented golfers in achieving increases of swing speed of near 10 mph in a single lesson, but that was due to an improvement in technique. I likely could not get another 10 mph in swing speed from them without training them like serious athletes.

I intend to put myself through more rigorous training over the winter to see what I can do about increasing my own swing speed. I could stand to shape a bit anyhow, so I will turn this into an experiment. My training will consist of a mix of typical free weight training, some P90X training which includes some plyometrics, yoga and some excellent core work, cardo training and more flexibility training. I take some measurements in the next week and follow up on this on a monthly basis.

Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com\
www.powergolftraining.net

Golf Tip of the Day - Start Stretching

2010-11-18T06:53:00.000-08:00

Golf season is winding down here in the northern states, but that doesn't mean you should completely forget about your game over the winter months. You can make some major improvements without touching a golf club, although I would highly recommend that you keep swinging, somewhere, just to keep that muscle memory.

If you haven't already, now is a good time to add a stretching routine into your golf improvement program. But, before you do so, I highly recommend getting together with a physical therapist to get yourself evaluated first. Many of us have developed some physical issues over time, and these can result in muscle tightness in various parts of the body. However, simple, passive stretching exercises will not do much to loosen those muscles up until you identify the cause of the tightness first.

Get together with your physical therapist to identify the causes of any muscle tightness you may have, and then they will also be able to put you on the appropriate stretching and physical therapy routine to help alleviate these issues. It is usually recommended that strength training and active stretching exercises be performed as well.

Do yourself a favor, invest a little time into getting your body evaluated and you will go a lont way toward making those improvements in your golf swing you so desire.

Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com

Top 10 Best Golf Tips

2010-11-17T16:47:00.001-08:00

These are the Top 10 Best Golf Tips I can give to any student...

1. Learn to hit your putts more solid – The average number of putts per round for a PGA Tour pro is about 29. The best putters average just under 28. I would venture to guess that most beginners average well over 40 putts per round. The average 90 shooter probably averages about 36 putts, while the average 80 shooter about 32 to 33 putts. If you want to lower your scores quickly, become a better putter. This starts with learning how to hit your putts more solid. You need to develop a better stroke, which may be a function of your setup. Then you need to practice. At least 50% of your practice should be on your putting.

2. Practice your lag putting – This is directly related to the first tip. To be able to control your speed on the greens, you have to learn how to hit your putts consistently solid. Once you do that, you need to practice your lag putting before every round. Get yourself used to the speed of the greens so that you will not have trouble getting the ball close with your long putts. Good speed is far more important that getting the direction right.

3. Practice your chipping and pitching – So that you don’t throw shots away during the round, learn how to hit the basic chip and pitch shots, and practice them diligently. Many people don’t even know the proper technique or which club to use. Learn that, and practice the proper technique. If you combine this with improved putting, your scores will drop like a stone.

4. Learn how to hit a bunker shot – Most people fear the sand, but the pros surely do not. Hitting bunker shots is all about technique. Learn the proper technique, and you will be able to get the ball onto the green consistently. That should be the first goal. With practice, you can start going for the pin to give yourself a better chance at par saves.

5. Keep your driver in the bag – Most people slice the ball. The driver, because it has less loft than any other club, creates more side spin when it strikes the ball improperly. Most people will pull out the driver on every long hole. It is far more important to keep the ball on the fairway than to hit the ball long. When faced with trouble in the direction that your ball normally curves (i.e., water to the right when you normally slice it as a right hander), keep the driver in the bag. You will have a better chance at keeping the ball in play by using a club that has more loft to counteract the side spin.

6. Hit one extra club into every green – Most golfers consistently under club themselves going into every green, because they usually do not hit the ball very solid and on the sweet spot. They usually have only a general idea of how far they hit a ball with each club, and due to ego, will always take out less club than they need. Hit one more club than you think. If you happen to hit it very solid, you might go over the green, but more often than not, you won’t hit the sweet spot, and your ball will get closer to the green or you will hit more greens by taking one more club.

7. Learn the proper set up – Many swing faults are a direct result of a poor set up, whether it is simply the alignment, or possibly posture issues. For instance, if you tend to squat in your stance with little bend in the hips, you will tend to change your spine angle during the swing, and pull the club to the inside too much. This will often lead to an over the top move in the down swing, and a pull or slice. Work on a better set up to improve your overall swing.

8. Learn a set up routine – Many golfers may have a decent set up, but they have a poor routine, and they do not get themselves aligned properly, or they may stand too close or too far from the ball. By developing a proper set up routine, you will eliminate these errors and you will hit more shots on the intended line.

9. Learn the ball flight laws – Most golfers have no clue what causes a slice or a hook, or how the golf club and golf swing combine to get the ball in the air. This lack of understanding leads to many swing faults and poor tips on how to correct those swing faults. If you learn the ball flight laws, you will be on your way to having a better understanding of how to correct your own swing faults.

10. Learn how to fix your slice the right way – Most people slice the golf ball, and they read tip after tip on how to correct it, or they buy a $500 driver to help correct it. The slice can be fixed if you learn what it takes to hook the ball. Most people say they just want to hit the ball straight. That can’t be done until they learn how to eliminate the faults that cause the slice. Learn how to fix your slice the right way buy learning how to swing the club on a better swing plane, and you will be on your way to fixing your slice.

If you notice, the first few tips all had to do with the short game. Improving your short game will lower your scores faster than anything else you can do with your golf game. Notice how it wasn’t until the last tip was mentioned that there was any tip involving the swing itself. The fastest way to improvement is the short game and learning the set up fundamentals. Spend more time on these areas, and you will become a much better golfer. After that, it will likely require some instruction on the full swing to help make improvements there. By understanding the ball flight laws, you will be able to make these improvements in your swing more quickly.

Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com

Golf Tip of the Day - Plan for Environment

2010-11-17T09:16:00.000-08:00

This particular post is geared mainly toward golfers who play a little competition now and then. If you play competitive golf, then there will be days where the weather is not so nice, but you still have to play. With that in mind, it's a good idea to be prepared.

When I was a sophomore in high school, I won my conference championship. The following week, we were playing the district championship on the same course. The district tournament at the time was 36 holes played in one day. Since I was conference champion, I was paired with other conference champions in the district. One these was Emlyn Aubrey, who played some on the PGA Tour. Another is noted long drive, trick shot artist and instructor, Ben Witter.

On that day, it rained buckets. I was unprepared. My golf bag was a small nylon carry bag. My grips were wet immediately, as were my towels. As my swing is a little handsy, I had trouble holding onto the club. I shot 51 for 9 holes and walked off the course.

Emlyn Aubrey went on to win the tournament with a pair of 72s. Obviously, he was just a better player, but he was also prepared. Fast forward two years later to the PA state championships where under cold and wet conditions, I finished 2nd, losing in a playoff to future PGA Tour player Ted Tryba. I was carrying a similar bag, but I had covered most of it with some sort of plastic. It kept everything dry and I had no issues.

The moral to this story is that you have to learn to play in lousy weather if you compete at all. Even if you are just playing in the 4th flight of your club championship, you need to experience playing in rain, wind and cold. With that in mind, when the weather is bad and you planned to play that day, go ahead, if the course is still open. You will learn to be a little more patient and learn how to deal with various conditions.

Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com

Golf Tip of the Day - Fairway Bunker Shot

2010-11-15T05:49:00.001-08:00

Most people hit a tee shot into a fairway bunker and think it is the end of the world. However, it is really not a difficult shot when you learn a couple keys.

First of all, your priority should be to make sure you at least get out of the bunker with your first swing. So, if you find yourself in a bunker like on the 18th hole at Augusta National, with a steep face in front of you, don't try to be a hero and go for the green. Be sure to take out a club with plenty of loft to get over the top of the bunker.

Next, your mindset should never be to try and lift the ball out with your club. You need to let the club do the work, and that is why it is important to choose a club with more than enough loft to get out of the bunker first.

From here, the fairway bunker shot is just like a fairway shot. You are going to hit the ball first, then the sand. So that is a bit different than a greenside bunker shot where you want to slide the club under the ball. Hitting the ball first will allow you to utilize the entire clubface, which will create the back spin necessary to get the ball in the air.

Just like in a greenside bunker, you want to make sure you dig your feet into the sand a bit to provide some stability. Then, because you are digging yourself into the sand and inch or two, you need to choke down on the club by a similar amount. If you don't, and you take your normal swing, you will hit the shot fat.

The set up is then similar to any other fairway shot, assuming you have a level lie. You should align the body parallel to your target line (feet, knees, hips and shoulders), play the ball in the normal position in your stance for whatever club you are hitting, and then just make a normal swing (if you are you have a steep downswing, you will need to flatten your swing modestly so you don't hit the shot too fat; if you have a flat downswing, you need to make it a bit more steep so you don't hit the shot too thin).

Next time you are out playing a round of golf just for fun, throw a couple balls into the fairway bunker and apply these tips. Once you learn how to hit the ball more crisply out of the fairway bunker you will have no more fear of them.

Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com

Top 10 Worst Golf Tips

2010-11-14T06:00:00.001-08:00

Here are the Top 10 Worst Golf Tips I have come across over the years...

10. Extend Your Arms At Impact - I just read this particular tip the other day, and it is absolutely horrible advice for the average golfer. Most golfers lose power because their arms ARE already extended at impact. This means their swing is already slowing down. Compare this thought to throwing a punch. Do you want to hit your opponent when your arm is full extended? No, because then you will have no penetration in your punch! The same can be said for the golf swing. You don’t want to be fully extended until AFTER impact. Full extension of the arms should actually happen about two feet past impact with the ball. This way you make sure you have the body behind the shot completely and you hit through the ball with acceleration.

9. Weaken your grip – Quite often, when an instructor sees a student for the first time, they will ignore the student’s ball flight and focus only on what they don’t like about the student’s golf swing. One area where most people have poor fundamentals is in the grip, and many people have a strong grip. Unfortunately, most people also slice the ball. So, while a strong grip should cause them to hook the ball, they are slicing the ball because their swing is badly flawed. If the instructor focuses on the grip rather than the ball flight, a weaker grip will make the slice worse.

8. Turn your hips more – Most people already turn their hips plenty in the golf swing. Yet, they will be told to turn their hips more if they are not generating much power in their golf swing. This is terrible advice. Turning the hips more, without turning the shoulders more will result in a lack of torque in the back swing. This torque is the difference between how much the shoulders turn and how much the hips turn. If the hips turn as much as the shoulders, or only a little less, than there is no torque, or tension built up between the upper and lower body. Furthermore, turning the hips more may actually result in weight shifting back to the front foot during the backswing. Ideally, there will be about a 2:1 ration between the shoulder turn and hip turn.

7. Get Stacked – This is in reference to the Stack and Tilt golf swing being marketed to both tour pros and amateurs alike. This is not a knock on the developers of the swing, who are two decent teaching pros from what I understand. The idea behind the swing is that it will help some golfers learn how to make better contact with the golf ball by keeping the weight primarily on the front foot and leaning the spine toward the target during the back swing. Unfortunately, most golfers are not athletic enough to pull off the move required in the downswing, which is that the spine will tilt back away from the target by impact. Many golfers already have a reverse pivot in their golf swing, and it leads to a variety of other swing faults as well as some back issues. Before attempting to copy this swing, get with a pro who is very familiar with it first.

6. Get a new putter – Putters are not cheap. If you are putting poorly, it is not likely because you need a new putter, unless you have bent it somehow, or unless you are putting with some hickory shafted relic. It is likely because you don’t spend much time practicing putting, and when you do, you don’t have a good routine or plan for improvement. Save your money and get your butt onto the practice green and work with some drills to gain better speed control and to develop more consistent contact with short putts.

5. Get a new driver – Drivers are even more expensive than putters. The solution many people seek is to get fitted with a new driver. Most people slice the ball, so most new drivers are built to combat that issue. Unfortunately, human beings have a way of adapting, and that slice will rear its ugly head no matter what kind of driver you are using. Save your money on equipment and get a couple lessons from a good teaching pro who knows how to fix a slice. A little research will help in that regard!

4. Feel as though you are sitting down when you stand up to the ball – This is terrible advice and it is often given to golfers who are topping the ball. Telling them to sit down in the stance is an attempt to help them stay down through the ball. Unfortunately, if they bend their legs too much and put too much weight on the heels, they will likely not have enough bend in the waist. Furthermore, it is not a natural position and the body will adjust at some point in the swing. The spine angle will change throughout the swing due to this poor set up, and it will be impossible to make consistent contact with the ball.

3. Aim further left – This advice is given to right handed golfers who tend to slice the ball, so if you are a lefty, chances are someone told you to aim further right if you slice the ball. Unfortunately, this will only cause you to come into the ball even further from the outside and over the top, which will cause a bigger slice. Most people are told this if there is trouble to the right (for a righty). The best thing to do is keep the driver in the bag and hit a more lofted club such as a 3 or 4 wood. The higher loft will add back spin to the ball, which will offset some of the side spin that causes the slice.

2. Hit down on the ball – This advice is often given to golfers who are having trouble getting the ball in the air because they are topping it. Telling them to hit down on the ball usually results in more swing faults because the golfer is trying to hit the ball with the upper body and the arms. They are topping the ball because their spine angle is changing in the golf swing, and they may be trying to lift the ball in the air. They just need to learn how the club design will get the ball in the air on its own, and they need to adjust the ball placement in their stance, and maintain their spine angle through the swing.

1. Last, but not least…drumroll please – Keep Your Head Down! - This is the worst advice to give to a golfer. It is given to golfers who top the ball too much. When a golfer tops the ball they will often say to themselves “I lifted my head.” Nope, they didn’t, they did not keep their center of gravity down at impact. Most golfers’ center of gravity rises in the down swing, while good players always lower their center of gravity, just as any athlete in any other sport tries does. Keeping the head down too long will only result in the upper body becoming disconnected from the lower body through the impact zone, and therefore, little power is generated. For better players who keep their head down too long, it often results in a pull hook.

Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com

There you have it, the top 10 worst golf tips!

Today's Golf Tips - Lose Control to Gain Control

2010-11-13T06:03:00.001-08:00

When I begin teaching a beginner student, I don't put the golf club in their hands for a lesson or two. The reason is that they want to start out trying to hit the ball by simply swinging the club with their arms. They are not conscious of what the body needs to be doing during the golf swing. In many cases, because they are only using the upper body, they are incapable of even hitting the ground!

When you initially start learning how to swing a golf club, you need to learn how to lose control of the club, and let your body, and gravity, do the work for you. What you need to focus on first are the fundamentals of the body movement. The photos below are examples of how I teach without the golf club. My students will swing a basketball or dodgeball, and learn how to just let their arms follow the body, particularly in the downswing.

Until the student can move the body properly, it will be difficult for them to swing a golf club properly. The main issue usually arises to start the downswing. Most beginners don't trust that the club will hit the ball if they let the lower body lead the downswing. They then try to hit the ball by using their arms, and this is what causes a variety of bad shots...topped shots, fat shots, slices, shots on the toe, etc.

Learn how to lose control and trust that moving the body properly will result in a good golf swing. Once you learn to lose control, you will gain better control over the golf ball!

Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com

Golf Tip of the Day - Mind Your Balance

2010-11-12T12:15:00.000-08:00

Not many golfers have very good balance when they swing a golf club. At impact, many are up on their toes, falling forward, falling backward, or spinning out on their heels. This is mainly because they do not have a good set up.

When you set up to the golf ball, assuming you have a level lie, you should typically have your weight balanced evenly between both feet, and the weight should be balanced just behind the balls of the feet. More often than not, golfers have their weight too much on their heels or too much on their toes.

When you set up with the weight too much on your heels, you typically will not have enough bend at the hips. This will likely cause a couple different swing faults. If you do not have enough bend at the hips, the tendency is to pull the club too far inside on the takeaway. Also, it may cause you to rise up and down during the golf swing, or you may lean forward in the backswing.

If your weight is too much on the toes, the tendency is to fall back on your heels at some point in the swing. You may also be bent over too much as you address the ball, and that often leads to a steep takeaway.

In regard to the takeaway, once the club gets on the wrong path, it needs to be re-routed somehow in order to get back on plane. Unfortunately, most golfers are not skilled or athletic enough to pull this off. Most then end up with a swing that results in a slice.

With that in mind, be more mindful of your balance at set up. Just a few simple adjustments may go a long way toward better ball striking.

Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com

The Golf Swing and Back Pain

2010-10-26T08:36:00.000-07:00

One of the topics that a number of the online golf swing gurus are hitting upon these days is the back pain that can be caused by the golf swing. Some of the online teaching pros go as far as to claim that their golf swing model is endorsed by medical professionals, or is scientifically proven. One teacher may suggest that the two-plane swing is the culprit, while another may indicate that the more modern and athletic, rotational swing is the culprit.

So with all this conflicting information being thrown at you, what is the true answer? I really don't know, but here is my two cents. It all depends on the individual.

The golf swing, no matter what model you subscribe to, is a complex athletic move. I know, I know, contrary to what is being sold to the public, the golf swing is not SIMPLE! What athletic move that incorporates just about every single muscle in the body at one moment or another can possibly be described as simple?

So, due to the fact that the golf swing itself is a complex athletic move, and no two human bodies are exactly alike, then it is no wonder that some people can develop back pain by using a one plane swing, two plane swing, or any other swing. Jack Nicklaus, Lee Trevino, Fred Couples, Seve Ballesteros and even Rory McIlroy have suffered from back pain. They all have very different golf swings. The only common thread is that they play golf.

Back pain for golfers can come from a variety of sources. Those who walk most of the time and may have foot issues may develop back pain. Those who walk and carry their golf bags can develop back pain. Those who are significantly over weight can develop back pain.

The only real way to fight it is not by switching to a new golf swing. Sure, a tweak here or there may alleviate some of the issues. It was revealed that Butch Harmon has Fred Couples hitting a draw this year to help alleviate some of the back pain, and Fred appeared to be doing well up through late Spring, but the issue did come back later in the season.

So, the best way to fight back issues is to strengthen the back, get it more flexible, and work on some of the spinal alignment issues, if you have any. I personally have some back issues, but I avoid major flare ups by continuing to do my core muscle workouts at least semi-regularly, stretch at least a little, and use my Tru Back device for alignment. The spine requires consistent attention. If none is given, any complex athletic move or activity is bound to result in wear and tear.

Do yourself a favor. If you have back issues, don't imagine for one second that a different golf swing will be the cure. The fact is, changing the overall shape of your golf swing takes a lot more work, than just a viewing of a video. Remember how long it took Tiger Woods to incorporate the changes he made to his swing with Hank Haney...over a year. Subtle change can be made, but major changes take time and practice.

Take care of your back instead. Take the time every day to loosen it up and stretch it out a bit. Consider taking some yoga classes and picking up an alignment device like the Tru Back or an inversion table. If needed, go to a chiropractor. If you take care of your back consistently, you will be much better off in the long run.

Scott Cole
www.powergolftraining.net

Sunday Golf Tip

2010-10-24T07:05:00.001-07:00

Occasionally when I head to the range to practice, I will often be hitting balls next to a couple people where one person is trying to teach the other. The tips and advice I hear being offered to the one trying to learn is usually worthless. The "teacher" might have an idea how hold onto the club and how to swing it, but they usually have no idea how to communicate, and they often talk way too much. This just confuses their "student."

Sometimes, when I give a lesson, a student will tell me "my friend told me to keep my head down," or some similar piece of worthless advice. I then ask them how well their friend plays the game, and ask why they would take advice from someone who can't shoot under 90 or 100 themselves.

If you are trying to learn the game, the best thing to do is get individual instruction. If you can't afford that, at least get an understanding of the fundamentals through group instruction, or go purchase a book or dvd.

It is absolutely crucial that you ignore the advice of your friends! Even scratch golfers do not know how to communicate well. Part of becoming a golf instructor is learning how to communicate. So, even if the instructor is not a great golfer, if they can communicate and at least demonstrate some things well, it will be of benefit to the student.

Ultimately though, if you want to learn to play well, you need to learn the fundamentals and apply them, AND keep track of your progress and take detailed notes! Take ownership of your learning, and you will benefit in the long run!

Scott Cole
www.scottcolegolf.com
www.onlinegolfswingcoach.com

Late Season Golf

2010-10-23T06:15:00.000-07:00

As the golf season starts to wind down here in Maryland and southern PA, I am reminded how the golf season extends quite a bit further if you are willing to drive just a few hours south.

One of my favorite places on earth is Williamsburg, VA, where I attended The College of William and Mary on a golf scholarship. Williamsburg is about a 2.5 hour drive south of Washington, DC, yet the average high temperature in December is about 8 to 10 degrees warmer. Furthermore, you can find some great packages at great golf courses such as Kingsmill, Golden Horseshoe, Fords Colony and more.

Williamsburg is a great place to visit for a long weekend, and Fall is probably the best time of year to go. As the weather gets cooler here, if you still have the golf bug, check out Williamsburg!

Scott Cole
www.powergolftraining.net
www.onlinegolfswingcoach.com

Scientifically Proven Golf Swing?

2010-10-22T20:47:00.000-07:00

One of the new catch phrases I have stumbled upon lately on several golf related websites is "scientifically proven." One site then goes on to claim that their model swing is endorsed by a host of doctors, chiropractors, physical therapists, etc. I also mentioned recently that Hunter Mahan has made the claim that what Sean Foley is teaching him and Tiger Woods, Sean O'Hair and Justin Rose is backed by science.

So, how exactly do you scientifically prove a golf swing? From what I have seen, you have some biomechanics guys plugging some numbers into a computer and up pops an image of this scientifically proven swing. If you address the ball this way, and swing the club this way, you have a swing that is scientifically correct and you will be able to swing the club pain free!

Ok, well, the problem is that no two people are alike. Therefore, no two golf swings are identical. So, how can you prove that any of this stuff will work for the typical golfer? How about a golfer who may have a bum knee, or shoulder, or elbow, a bad back, issues with their neck or even their hands?

In a few of these cases, the golf swing model suggests swinging the club on a more upright swing plane. Well, I can tell you that 90% of all golfers already swing the club on an upright swing plane, in fact, a plane that is too steep! The issue with a steeper swing plane is that your timing must be very good because the hitting area at impact is much smaller than that with a more shallow swing plane. That is why most of the better players on the PGA Tour today have a more rotational, athletic swing, as it allows for more consistent ball striking.

Who is widely regarded to be the best ball striker the game has seen? Well, Ben Hogan of course. And he had a flatter swing plane than most. Moe Norman is also mentioned as a great ball striker, and his swing plane was also a bit flatter. This is not to say that a more upright swing can't work. Jack Nicklaus had a fairly upright plane, and he was terrific with his long irons and at driving the ball, although not so good with his wedge game.

The bottom line is that there are many ways to get it done in this game. Ideally, we want to try and keep things as simple as possible, and as pain free as possible. But, try to look through all the hype. Even if one particular swing model may be more biomechanically sound than another, the fact is, most people won't be able to duplicate that swing, because they just won't be able to get their body to move that way.

The golf swing is a complex, athletic move. Once you get beyond a certain age, it becomes even more difficult to learn to do well. However, by learning about your own strengths and weaknesses, and the general Ball Flight Laws, you can find a way to make significant improvements in your ball striking without making any major changes. Down the road, I will be happy to show you how!

Scott Cole
www.powergolftraining.net

Weight Loss For Golfers

2010-10-22T10:09:00.000-07:00

I have a friend by the name of Larry Jacobs who is THE weight loss guru for golfers. He has had great success working with pros such as Roger Maltbie of NBC and Allen Doyle on the Champions Tour. Click here to find out more!

What was your best golf shot ever?

2010-10-19T19:19:00.000-07:00

Ok folk, I thought I would try to get a little participation to my blog, so all of your comments are welcome! I want to hear about your best golf shot in your entire golf career. Here's mine...

I was 18 at the time, so this is a long, long time ago! I was playing in one of the local better ball of partners tournaments, which dominate the competitive golf scene in the Southcentral Pennsylvania region. There were not many individual tournaments with sizable fields, so these were the tournaments most of the best players competed in.

Heading into the final round at my home course, Carlisle Country Club, my partner and I were tied for the lead with the two best players in the area, who were 20 and 30 years older. These guys had won every local tournament several times over, and were always regarded as the team to beat as they paired so well together.

My partner and I got off to a bad start, and ultimately we found ourselves down by 3 with two holes to play. The 17th was a short par 3, and my partner knocked in a bomb from about 30 feet for birdie to cut the lead to two. The last hole was a 550 yard par 5. In those days, since we were still using persimmon drivers and balata cover balls, the only time you reached that green in two shots was if the weather was somewhat dry and you had the wind at your back.

On this day, however, the hole was into a slight wind. I hit a solid tee shot about 280 to 285 yards, and found myself in the fairway, with a slight uphill lie. Knowing that we needed a 3 to have a chance, and there was little trouble in front of the green, I pulled out the driver again. About 50 yards short of the green is a fairway bunker, and after that, a modest downslope to the green. I hit the ball absolutely perfect, and dead straight. I have no idea where the ball actually landed, but it ended up rolling up on the green and finished pin high, to the right of the flag. Under the circumstances, this is clearly the best shot I have ever hit in my life. I don't see how I could top it, until I actually knock one in from 270 yards under the same circumstances.

So, I had a 25 foot, right to left curler for eagle. I was shaking as I had rarely been in position to win anything of note up to that point in my career (I missed a 4 footer to win the PA State high school championship about 9 months prior). Somehow I managed to hit the putt solidly, and it curled into the right lip for an eagle 3. The crowd went wild, and that is one of the best moments I have ever had in the game.

Unfortunately, one of my two nemeses proceeded to knock in a 15 foot, downhill slider right on top of me for birdie, so we lost the tournament by one. Still, it is a great memory!

Ok, tell me your story!

Scott Cole
www.scottcolegolf.com
www.onlinegolfswingcoach.com

New Ben Hogan Book Review

2010-10-18T06:08:00.001-07:00

I just had the opportunity to read Kris Tschetter’s new book Mr. Hogan, The Man I Knew, an autobiographical account of her relationship with Ben Hogan. The book reveals the man behind the gruff image often portrayed in the media, from the perspective of an LPGA golfer.

A little background. Kris Tschetter received a golf scholarship to play at Texas Christian University in the early 1980s. The university is located in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area where Hogan made his home. She and her brother received junior memberships at the Shady Oaks Country Club where Hogan was a member early in her college career. It was there that she ultimately befriended Hogan.

Hogan, Mr. Hogan as he is referred to by Tschetter, became her mentor and coach, and they ultimately became very close, as did their families. Tschetter reveals a side of the man that virtually no one was aware of, particularly his charitable side and his care for children. She also confirms his desire for privacy and his methodical demeanor.

As my own career as a golf instructor has evolved, I have become more and more fascinated by Hogan due to his success, particularly after his near fatal car accident. Tschetter’s book reveals that Hogan was indeed human, and not just a ball striking machine. He won his many tournaments by outworking and being better prepared than his competitors. It is clear that he could have likely won many more championships and major championships had it not been for the accident. His injuries not just to his legs and hips were devastating, but he also received a head injury that damaged his eyesight. His ability to overcome these injuries and go on to win several more major championships is simply awe inspiring.

As an instructor, what I take away most from the book are the golf course management lessons that Hogan gave to Tschetter. He actually did not stress swinging the golf club a particular way to her. With all the instructors out there who try to copy Hogan’s swing and his teachings, he never felt that his way was the best way. His swing simply worked for him. In the book, there is actually a passage where Tschetter is complaining about her inside takeaway. Hogan replies that she should not focus on that much, and he refers to Ray Floyd’s swing, since he had just won the U.S. Open at Shinnecock. Hogan simply stressed being in the right position just through impact. If you could get that right, chances are, you have made good contact with the ball. I can relate, because I have a similar type of takeaway.

After reading this book, I have concluded that it will be one of the best golf related books for years to come. The information in the book is extremely valuable from the perspective of a golf instructor and any golfer who wants to improve their game. There are no secrets! Becoming a great golfer requires hard work and patience along with a solid foundation in the fundamentals. However, from the standpoint of providing a glimpse into the life of Ben Hogan, I think it is even more revealing. The man clearly should be admired as a person, rather than just a legendary golfer, and Tschetter does an excellent job in uncovering the truth behind the legend. I will be forever grateful for her contribution to the game!

Scott Cole
www.scottcolegolf.com
www.onlinegolfswingcoach.com

Golf Tip of the Day

2010-10-17T06:31:00.000-07:00

I completed reading Kris Tschetter's new book about her relationship with Ben Hogan, and will complete a review of that book in the next day or so. One revealing tidbit in the book was that even Ben Hogan suggested he only hit 3 or 4 shots each round just the way he wanted to. Now, of course, Mr. Hogan's misses were far better than the good shots most people make!

Still, what this implies, and it is implied elsewhere in the book, is that there is really no way to swing the club perfectly every time. Hogan was successful because he knew how to manage his game better than anyone else. Sure, he hit the ball better than everyone too, but he stressed golf course management to Tschetter at least as much as the golf swing.

So, while you are out on the course, don't worry so much about mishitting some shots. Just make sure you play to miss the shot in the right place. For instance, if you have water in front of the green, and the pin is cut close to the front of the green, don't shoot at the pin. Instead, hit enough club to get you to the back of the green! If you miss long, chances are you can walk away with bogey or less. Hit it in the water, chances are far greater that you will walk away with double bogey or more.

Enjoy your round!

Scott Cole
www.scottcolegolf.com
www.onlinegolfswingcoach.com

Golf Tips to Add Distance Off the Tee!

2010-10-15T10:29:00.000-07:00

Golfers, I've just finished my new report, 10 Ways To Add 15 Yards To Your Tee Shots Today!. If you go to my home page, you can sign up to receive the free report. Down the road, I will make available a video discussing these golf tips. In the meantime, check out the new report! scottcolegolf.com

Scott Cole

Golf Swing Feeling Tight in the cold weather? Stretch more!

2010-10-14T18:36:00.001-07:00

Today I headed over to Olney Golf Park where I teach here near Rockville, Maryland, and after my one lesson today, I decided to hit some golf balls. My student is a beginner, and today we simply worked on how she should move her body through the swing, so she did not hit many balls. So I ended up with two large buckets of balls, or about 200 balls to hit. It was a cold and wet day here in Maryland, and I was still a bit tight from my upper body workout the other day, and I've had a kink in my neck the last couple days.

While I hit the ball ok, it was clear I was not hitting with the power I am used to. As the session wore on, I could feel my swing becoming more compact, and I was not getting any extension through the ball. This was quite evident when I decided to try hitting one driver, which ended up being a low hook. I knew it was time to end the session with some short pitch shots.

I have not spent much time on my stretching for a while, but now that the weather has turned cold, it is even more important to make sure I do. This goes for any golfer. Colder weather makes us tighter, and that leaves us with less efficient, less powerful golf swing. Not only should we take more time to get warmed up and stretch before practice or a round of golf, we should do more at home as well.

If you do not have a stretching program, I highly recommend starting one. I learned quite a few stretches in my martial arts and yoga training, and will begin to implement them even more as I finally start to settle into a routine here in Maryland. I recommend you get started as well! Keep an eye out for more fitness information here at scottcolegolf.com in the future! You can also visit my Power Golf Training website to obtain my Principles of Power Golf ebook.

Scott Cole

PGA Tour Statistics Suggest You Need a Putting Lesson!

2010-10-11T16:31:00.000-07:00

I just pulled statistics for 33 of this years full field PGA Tour events to see if any particular statistic stood out among the winners. That stats I pulled were for Driving Accuracy, Driving Distance, Greens in Regulation, Putts Per Round and Putts per Green in Regulation. I looked at the ranking in each category for each of the winners. I then added an Overall ranking as well.

For example, in the first tournament of the year, won by Geoff Ogilvy, he was 16th in Driving Accuracy, 19th in distance, 10th in Greens in Regulation and 1st in both putting categories. His overall score was then calculated by adding up all his rankings in the five categories, which resulted in a score of 47.

I found some interesting numbers. The average overall score was a 92. The lowest overall score was a 46 at Bayhill by Ernie Els. the highest was a 165 by Hunter Mahan at Phoenix, followed closely by Ben crane with 164 at the Farmers Insurance. In both cases, both were first in Greens in Regulation, but well down the list in putting.

The least reliable indicator of a potential victory was both driving categories. The average ranking for both accuracy and distance for the winners was 26th. Not surprising, putting was the best indicator of a potential victory. The average ranking of the winner in the Putts Per Green In Regulation category was 10th, but this was skewed upward by the Crane and Mahan performances, where they ranked 42nd and 54th respectively. Take out those two performances, and the average rank is 7th. Six times, the winner was first in this category. Only four times was the winner ranked first in total putts per round. 14 times the winner was first in putts per green in regulation.

In regard to greens in regulation, the average ranking of the winner was 16th. Four times the winner was ranked first, but nine times the winner was ranked out of the top 20, and six times the winner was ranked outside the top 40!

These stats are quite eye opening, because the vast majority of golfers either buy a new driver or get lessons in hopes of hitting the ball farther and straighter off the tee. Yet, how many golfers actually get a putting lesson?

The moral of the story? When you are ready to spend some money on your golf game again, get a putting lesson! I would also note that the statistics also imply that the winner is hitting the ball pretty close with his short irons, so you should also consider learning how to hit those better as well!

Scott Cole
www.scottcolegolf.com
www.onlinegolfswingcoach.com

Golf Tip - Lower Your Score Today

2010-10-09T05:14:00.000-07:00

It's getting a little late in the season to be working on major swing changes, or that new swing you read about that will magically help you hit the ball farther and straighter. So, here's a quick tip that will help you chop a couple strokes of your score, today!

Before you tee it up today, get on that practice putting green with purpose! First, work on your speed control. Lay down a club on the green, then drop ten balls about 20 feet away. Hit all ten putts and try to get as close to that club as possible without going past it. Do this again from 30 feet and from 40 feet. Once you've done this and you are comfortably getting within two feet of the club, set up two tees, two feet apart, and about two feet in front of the club. Now hit ten putts from 30 feet and try to get each putt in between the two tees, and still short of the club. Now, you should have a good feel for the speed of the greens today.

Next, set up two tees, one about 1/4 inch off the toe of your putter, and the other 1/4 inch off the heel of your putter. Be sure you set this gate up about 4 feet from a hole, and be sure it is a straight put. Have the gate set up square to the hole. Set your putter between the gate, and a ball in front of your putter. Try to make as many putts as you can without missing, and without hitting the tees. Once you miss one, start over, and try to beat that streak on this try. You should make at least 10 in a row with this drill. When you do, you will have more confidence on your short putts heading out to the course.

So, now you have the speed of the greens down, and some confidence with your short putts. This should lead to more made putts! Now, go enjoy your round!

Scott Cole, Hank Haney Pro Instructor, Olney Golf Park, Olney, MD
www.onlinegolfswingcoach.com

Golf Tip

2010-10-07T19:48:00.000-07:00

I would say that 90% of the students who come to me for a lesson have a lousy grip. Now, in some instances, I may not change that grip. For example, if a student is slicing every shot, but has a strong grip, I won't change the grip. As Hank Haney would say, "they have more slice in their swing than hook in their grip." So, I won't change the grip until they are hooking the ball.

For many students though, I just wonder who they were watching before they put their hands on the club. When I see a student with a horrible grip, I will demonstrate that grip to them, then ask one question..."Have you ever seen a player on the PGA Tour hold the club this way?" That's a rhetorical question of course. While some tour players, such as Fred Couples, do not have the nicest looking grip in the world, their grips are still way better than most golfers.

So ask yourself this question next time you are watching some golf on TV..."does my grip look like that?" Well, I will make it easier for you...just go to this page to see a good grip!

The moral to this story is this...the greatest golfers on the planet play on the PGA and European tours. To improve our own game, shouldn't we try to imitate them? While we may not be able to swing the club like them because of physical limitations, chances are we can at least hold onto the club like them, and stand up to the ball like them.

If Tiger Woods is always trying to improve his swing, don't you think you might want to improve on some things as well in order to get better? While I may not agree with what he may be trying to work on now, at least he is still striving to get better!

As the golf season here in Maryland begins to wind down, we still can have all winter long to work on the fundamentals, and the most basic fundamentals are grip and set up. Get to it and I guarantee you will be a better golfer next year as a result!

Scott Cole
www.onlinegolfswingcoach.com
www.powergolftraining.net

Europe Wins Ryder Cup

2010-10-04T08:17:00.000-07:00

Europe held off a hard charging U.S. squad to win the Ryder Cup today 14.5 to 13.5. The Americans needed just 14 points to retain the cup, but came up a little short. Phil Mickelson finally came to life, and Tiger Woods played well, but the effort was not matched by the rest of the squad, except for Steve Stricker.

One other bright light was the late charge by Rickie Fowler to get a half point in his match against one of the Molinari brothers. Fowler won 4 of the last 6 holes, including the last three with birdies, to get the half point.

Unfortunately, Hunter Mahan was not up to the task today, as he made only one birdie. Still, he was just 1 down with three to play, but Graeme McDowell closed him out with consecutive birdies on 16 and 17.

Overall, the U.S. performed a bit above expectations and gave the favored European squad all they could handle. Pavin's decision to bury Woods and Mickelson into the depths of the singles lineup may come into question, as they U.S. needed early momentum. Stricker provided some with his victory of Lee Westwood in a match of top 5 players. Unfortunately, it was not enough to get the ball rolling for the U.S.

Scott Cole
www.onlinegolfswingcoach.com
www.powergolftraining.net

Golf Tip - Cure Your Reverse Pivot

2010-10-03T11:44:00.000-07:00

Ryder Cup - Session III

2010-10-03T11:42:00.001-07:00

Wow, Europe has asserted its will in Session III of the Ryder Cup, winning 5 1/2 points out of 6. Lee Westwood and Luke Donaled trounced Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker in the opening match, 6 and 5, and it was all downhill from there. The U.S. should be happy they even picked up a 1/2 point as they were down in all six matches for much of the day.

Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson continue to be the weak links of the squad, as both have lost all of their matches, two while playing together. I have not seen much of the matches, but from what I have seen, Tiger Woods has not helped Steve Stricker much. In the one four ball match, I noted that Tiger's score counted five times and Stricker's score counted 12 times. That does not mean much, but it does say that Tiger was not making many birdies. One shot Tiger hit sticks in my head. He hit a wedge or short iron about 30 yards too long on one shot. That is a fault he had in the two years he spent between working with instructors Butch Harmon and Hank Haney. Looks like distance control is back to being an issue.

Overall, the other players on the U.S. squad have played fairly average. The Europeans seem to have more energy and determination. This is a reflection of the two captains. Pavin has been stoic, Monty has been expressive.

Tomorrow, the U.S. squad will need to pull off their second biggest comeback in history if they want to retain the cup. They need 7.5 points out of 12 to reach 14 points. It is doable, but with Mickelson and Woods not on their game, not likely.

Scott Cole
www.scottcolegolf.com
www.onlinegolfswingcoach.com

Ryder Cup

2010-09-28T19:48:00.000-07:00

The Ryder Cup matches between the U.S. and Europe begin Friday with the Europeans a heavy favorite to win back the cup. I have to agree with the consensus in that regard. One of the big wild cards of course is whether Tiger has found his game over the last two weeks while continuing his work with Sean Foley. He spoke positively at his news conference today.

The European side looks loaded, but with the glaring exception of Phil Mickelson, the American side is entering the event in pretty good form. Home field advantage to the Europeans though.

On another note, in recent weeks I have been trying to simplify my own golf swing a little bit by simply focusing on what my body is doing during the swing, and forgetting about takeaway positions and the position of my hands at the top. I am trying to swing the arms more behind my body, and then I am trying to be more aggressive with my lower body in the down swing by turning the hips a little more aggressively. The end result has been that I am striking the ball better than I ever have, EVER!

One key test of this swing will come tomorrow. I have not touched a club in a week due to a little time off. I am back at Olney Golf Park tomorrow to practice and give instruction. Normally, I would expect to be a bit off with my ball striking after a little lay off, just due to timing. But, I think I grooved this swing pretty well this time, so we'll see.

Scott Cole
www.onlinegolfswingcoach.com
www.scottcolegolf.com
www.powergolftraining.net

Furyk wins Tour Championship/Fedex Cup

2010-09-26T19:01:00.000-07:00

Jim Furyk likely clinched player of the year honors today with his win in the Tour Championship and Fedex Cup. This is the third win of the year for Furyk, most on tour.

Furyk's win allows me to again bring up the point that you can play great golf with any kind of golf swing, as long as you learn how to hit it solidly, and you can repeat it. Do we want to try and teach Jim Furyk's swing? No. However, Jim's dad is a professional who showed him how to play, and once Jim demonstrated his ability to hit the ball consistently and repeatedly, his father did not see the need to change his swing.

Ideally, I would have liked to see Furyk make some changes to his swing over the long run to try and find some extra distance. And, in certain situations, I see some bad shots come out of the swing when the heat is on. Overall, though, Furyk is one of the game's most consistent players, and he does it with a very unorthodox swing. And, over his entire career, he has worked with one coach, his dad.

It is my view that a good golf coach/instructor is one that can guide the student down the path toward improvement, by getting them to understand the fundamentals, and how the golf swing works. Then, it is a matter of showing the student how to get the most out of their own physical abilities based upon how much time they have to practice.

Scott Cole
www.onlinegolfswingcoach.com
www.scottcolegolf.com

Golf Swing Models

2010-09-22T07:56:00.000-07:00

Over the last 25 years or so, there has been a lot of focus on whether one swing model may work better than others. This is due to the emergence of top instructors such as Jimmy Ballard and David Leadbetter in the 1980's, Butch Harmon and Hank Haney in the 1990's, and now such instructors as Sean Foley, Jim Hardy, and Brian Mogg, among others, in more recent years.

These instructors above became popular due to the success of some of their PGA Tour students. Jimmy Ballard worked with Curtis Strange. Leadbetter notably helped Nick Faldo become a dominant player. Butch Harmon worked with Greg Norman in the 1990's and Tiger Woods soon after. Hank Haney gained fame as Mark O'Meara's instructor, than worked with Tiger for six years. Now, the torch has been passed on to these younger instructors.

Throughout this period, we have seen a variety of swing models espoused by these instructors. Jimmy Ballard was noted for emphasizing a bit of a sway in the golf swing to help increase power. Haney brought a new emphasis on the swing plane by taking Ben Hogan's thoughts a little bit further. Harmon is noted for mainly working with a player's strengths and eliminating his weaknesses. Since then, we have also heard of Stack and Tilt, One Plane vs. Two Plane, Natural Golf, Peak Performance, etc.

The question is, are any of these swing models superior to the rest? Unfortunately, I don't believe there is any one particular model that can work for everyone. The reason is simple...every golfer is different! We come in all different shapes and sizes, athletic backgrounds, physical abilities, etc.

The key then is to find a swing that can work for you personally. With that in mind, I believe it is not a good thing for an instructor to simply focus on one particular swing model and try to fit it to all of his students. I believe it is necessary to develop a strong foundation of fundamentals, but ultimately, the instructor must also work with the physical abilities of his students.

Here at Olney Golf Park in Maryland, I have the good fortune to work with PGA instructor and former tour player Jim Estes. Jim is a co-founder of the Salute the Military Golf Foundation. As such, he teaches many military veterans, many whom have physical disabilities due to their service to our country.

Working with these golfers and other folks I have taught previously has helped me immensely in realizing that to be the best instructor possible, it is necessary to identify a golfers strengths and weaknesses, help them learn the fundamentals of the swing, and to improve their body so that they can more easily improve on these fundamentals.

The bottom line is the golfer wants to be in the best position possible at impact, according to their own abilities. As their physical abilities improve, so will their ability to get into this position. No one particular golf swing model will get a golfer in this position any better than the others.

With all this in mind, golfers should strive to find an instructor who has a good grasp of how the body works, how to improve the body to make it work better, and who has a tremendous grasp of the fundamentals of a good golf swing.

Scott Cole
www.scottcolegolf.com
www.onlinegolfswingcoach.com

Tiger Woods and Sean Foley Part 2

2010-09-14T11:47:00.000-07:00

Ok, for the second time in a couple weeks I've read some remarks online from Sean Foley, trashing Hank Haney's teaching philosophy. He indicates that Tiger was not happy with how he was hitting the ball the last couple years.

Well, let's look at the record. After dumping Butch Harmon in 2002, Woods started under Haney in 2004. In 2005, he wins The Masters and the Open Championship. In 2006, his dad dies, so he misses the cut at the U.S. Open, then wins the Open Championship and PGA. In 2007 he finishes 2nd at Augusta and the U.S. Open, then wins the PGA. In 2008, playing on a bum leg, he wins the U.S. Open. After the win, he does not return to the tour until March 2009. He wins 7 tournaments in 19 starts, won the Fedex Cup, but blew a 54 hole lead for the first time in a major at the PGA. He won all these tournaments in 2009 while learning how to play with a solid knee for the first time in years.

Now, I have seen some good commentary about Sean Foley, but I don't see other instructors publicly dissing another instructor like Foley has with Haney. With that in mind, I can't say I have much respect for the guy.

As for Hank Haney, I have tremendous respect for him. He consistently acknowledges the instructors who helped get him where he is, particularly John Jacobs and Jim Hardy. His senior instructors are extremely loyal to him. Some have been with Hank for over 20 years. And, while he has had success teaching professional golfers, I have seen him work magic with average golfers in as little as 5 minutes. And, I personally have a much greater understanding of the golf swing due to my own lesson with Hank, and due to his instructor program.

Bottom line is Sean Foley should keep his mouth shut. When he has coached two players to major championships like Hank Haney has (Mark O'Meara won two in 1998), then he can start talking. All he has now are a few good young players under his wing, but they have still only won a handful of tournaments among them...about as many as Tiger won in 2009!

Foley should give Hank his due, and Butch Harmon for that matter. Coaching the best player in the world is no easy task, yet both succeeded.

As for Tiger, I really don't understand his need for an active coach anyway. The legends of the game didn't have a coach at their side all season long. The best players grooved their swings on their own, with maybe the occasional review of fundamentals from a mentor or help from a friend. Tiger has said he wants to own his swing like Hogan did. Well, doesn't seem like he has taken those steps yet.

For many of today's tour players, I think having an active coach is just a crutch. As much as they play and practice, they should all be able to get things figured out on their own, with maybe a second pair of eyes helping once in a while. The bottom line is winning, not how pretty your swing looks. But, in this age of huge paychecks, most of them are just comfortable making a living. While there may be many more good players on tour compared to 30 years ago, there aren't as many that know how to win.

Just my two cents.

Scott Cole
www.scottcolegolf.com
www.onlinegolfswingcoach.com

Tiger Woods and Sean Foley

2010-09-13T20:00:00.000-07:00

It looks like Tiger is about to make it official that Sean Foley is his new golf swing coach. I can understand that he is making this move after his split with Hank Haney. However, I felt that Hank certainly received a lot more criticism than he deserved. All you have to do is look at Tiger's track record from 2005 to 2009 and see that Hank made a difference for the better with Tiger. Tiger and his caddie Steve Williams acknowledged that his distance control and ability to shape shots certainly improved under Hank. After major knee surgery and a nine month layoff, Tiger won 7 times in 2009 with 17 top tens out of 19 events, and the Fedex Cup title. Obviously though, he tuned Hank out starting at Augusta, and I am convinced it is because his friends, Hunter Mahan and Sean O'Hair had gotten into his ear about Sean Foley while he was taking time off after his scandal.

But, here is my thinking. Coaches like Foley and the Stack and Tilt guys, and One Plane/Two Plane Swing coach Jim Hardy are simply just marketers. The general fundamentals of the golf swing are the same. Ultimately, it is up to the individual golfer to identify what works for them, and then take ownership of their golf swing.

I find it humorous that a guy like Hunter Mahan touts Foley's methods as "science." As if it were possible to turn a human being into a robot swinging a golf club! Mahan has all of three tour wins in his young career. He is almost 28. Tiger won four consecutive majors at the age of 24. Nicklaus had won quite a few majors before he was 28 as well. How many events has O'Hair won?

Sure, O'Hair, Mahan, Stephen Ames and Justin Rose, all Foley students, are pretty good golfers. But, I would take Mickelson, Westwood, Harrington, Els, etc., over these guys any day. Maybe they have a lot more wins in them under Foley, but it won't be because of the coach. Great players find a way to win even when they are not hitting it their best.

In this day and age, it is clear too many golfers are trying to find that magic potion. I equate this to my time trading in the financial markets. All the newbie traders and millionaire wannabes, myself included, were trying to find that Holy Grail of trading systems. Golfers are a similar breed.

Great golf takes hard work and practice. The great golfers all work extremely hard at their craft. Players like Woods, Vijay Singh and Ben Hogan are all known for their work ethic. You see that in all sports.

In golf, you must master some important fundamentals. After that, you can pretty much swing the golf club any way you like and be successful. While Ben Hogan had a beautiful swing, I recall that Lee Trevino had a pretty successful career as well. Same with Nicklaus, Player and Palmer, all of whom had very different golf swings.

The key is to find a swing that you make that results in a good solid golf shot, and learn to repeat it. That requires a good grip, solid balance, good lower body work, and the ability to get the club on a decent swing plane at impact. Learn how to do this and you will be on your way and it does not require some particular swing model or another.

Scott Cole
www.scottcolegolf.com
www.onlinegolfswingcoach.com

Golf Clinics

2010-09-02T16:29:00.000-07:00

Greetings golfers! I will be conducting a series of clinics on Wednesday afternoon and evenings at Olney Golf Park, starting next week, September 8th.

On Wednesdays, I will be conducting full swing clinics for junior golfers, ages 10 to 17, from 3:30 to 4:30. The cost is $15, plus your range balls. Also on Wednesdays, I will be conducting Vital Signs putting clinics from 5:30 to 6:30. The cost of this clinic is $15.

Next Saturday, September 11th, I will be conducting a Fix Your Slice clinic from 3 pm to 5 pm for $20. This clinic is limited to twelve participants.

To sign up ahead of time, call the Olney Golf Park pro shop at 301-570-6600. See you there!

Scott Cole
www.scottcolegolf.com

Meet Me At Olney Golf Park in Maryland

2010-08-27T16:42:00.000-07:00

Greetings! I will be spending my first full weekend at Olney Golf Park in Olney, Maryland this weekend. My first order of business is to assist Jim Estes with his soldier clients in the Salute Military Golf Association (SMGA). Jim created this foundation to introduce the game to military vets, including our wounded warriors. I look forward to helping Jim teach this great game to the men and women who serve our country in the greatest capacity.

After Saturday morning's work with the veterans, I will be on hand to give lessons and tips while at the same time I will be working on some videos and such for my website. If you have the opportunity, come and check out the Olney Golf Park this weekend, and be sure to say hello!

Scott Cole
www.scottcolegolf.com

Olney Golf Park in Maryland

2010-08-16T14:35:00.000-07:00

This week I start offering my instruction at Olney Golf Park in Olney, Maryland. This is a full scale practice facility where you can work on every part of your golf game. Today, I spent three hours in the heat and humidity working on my full swing, wedge game, pitch shots and putting. I was drenched, otherwise, I would have spent more time, as I have not had this opportunity to work on my game in years.

Olney Golf Park has a terrific driving range complete with covered and heated stalls, higher quality mats, grass tee area, target greens, and pitch shot greens. We also have a two bay indoor teaching studio where we conduct video analysis and club fitting.

The practice putting green is massive and and rolls very smooth. You can work on every short game shot imaginable, except your bunker play. However, there is a separate wedge game area where you can work on this part of your game, as well as wedge shots up to 70-75 yards.

Finally, there is a fully stocked pro shop and a terrific staff. Jim Estes is the Director of Instruction, and there are several other instructors, including myself, that can help you with your game.

Olney Golf Park is located about 10-15 minutes from Rockville, and 30 to 45 minutes from DC. Come check us out!

Scott Cole
www.scottcolegolf.com

What's Wrong With Tiger?

2010-08-07T12:39:00.000-07:00

I just saw that Tiger Woods shot 75 in the third round of the Bridgestone tournament, after opening rounds of 74 and 72. Tiger has won this event at this golf course seven times. That means its basically like his home course. Yet, after three rounds, he stands 11 over par.

He indicated lately that he is not practicing. I think he could still shoot 68 on this course without practicing.

I have another theory. After the PGA Championship next week, his season is done. There is no way he gets his game turned around in time to compete, let alone win, at Whistling Straits, one of the most difficult golf courses in the country.

I think Tiger does not want to play the Ryder Cup. With this performance, why would Corey Pavin want him on the team? While he will still sit pretty high up the rankings, he likely will need a top 3 finish next week to play his way onto the team. I just don't think he wants to go. We'll certainly find out next week.

Moving to Maryland

2010-08-02T20:51:00.000-07:00

I am very pleased to announce that I will be moving my instruction business to Olney Golf Park in Olney, Maryland, which is about six miles northeast of Rockville. Olney Golf Park is a full service practice facility with an excellent driving range, very large practice green and a separate practice green for the wedge game and bunker practice. I will be making this move in mid-August.

If you are an existing student here in PA, I will continue to have some limited availability as I will continue to travel between the two locations often. PA students may schedule appointments by email... scottcolegolf@aol.com

I wish you all tremendous success in pursuit of a better golf game!

Scott Cole

McIlroy Leads Open Championship, Woods in Hunt

2010-07-15T12:49:00.000-07:00

Rory McIlroy took advantage of calm morning conditions to fire a 63 at St. Andrews Thursday, and leads by two shots. Tiger Woods also was among the morning group that benefited from a lack of wind, and fired a 67. John Daly is also a surprise contender after a 66.

Conditions at St. Andrews were unusually calm this morning, which allowed the players with early tee times to get a jump on their competitors. Phil Mickelson was among those unfortunate enough to have an afternoon tee time, and he stumbled to a 73. Still, some players who played late in the day were able to shoot decent scores. Mickelson still seems unable to solve the riddle of links golf.

Weather for the rest of the tournament is expected to be a bit rough, so it is unlikely scores will be nearly as low as today. There were 16 scores of 67 or better today, although only a handful of those players, such as McIlroy and Lee Westwood would be considered contenders for the title against tourney favorite Tiger Woods. Ernie Els did manage to fire a 69 and Vijay Singh shot 68.

From my point of view, the tournament is Tiger's to win. He apparently is on form with his swing, and if he putts well, I only see McIlroy and Westwood as having a chance.

Scott Cole
www.onlinegolfswingcoach.com
www.powergolftraining.net

Weekend Golf Re-Cap

2010-07-12T06:10:00.000-07:00

This weekend surprisingly displayed some exciting golf in spite of their not being a major men's professional tournament. Paula Creamer tamed a difficult Oakmont course over the weekend for her first major. She displayed some clutch shot making on the back nine to win going away. I applaud the USGA with softening up the course for Sunday's round. Oakmont can easily humble anyone as displayed in the 2007 U.S. Open, when Angel Cabrera won with a 6 over par total.

In Illinois, Steve Stricker held off Paul Goydos, the new Mr. 59, to win by two at the John Deere Classic. While I was glad to see Goydos push Stricker to the end, I really do not like watching putting contests on TV. This golf course required little imagination in any part of the course, so it will be nice to watch the Open Championship this week as it returns to St. Andrews.

Scott Cole
www.scottcolegolf.com

Michelle Wie - How NOT To Develop a Junior Golfer

2010-07-11T05:56:00.000-07:00

Michelle Wie appeared on the golf scene 6 or 7 years ago as a teenage, can't miss phenom who could hit with the big boys on the PGA Tour. Because of her prodigious length off the tee and beautiful golf swing, her father consistently entered her in men's amateur events, and she even played in a couple of the PGA Tour events in Hawaii. Unfortunately, she never learned how to win, and since joining the LPGA Tour officially a couple years ago, she has only one victory.

This week at the U.S. Women's Open at Oakmont, Wie missed the cut with rounds of 82 and 76. Meanwhile, 15 year old prodigy, Alexis Thompson, who has dominated junior girls and women's amateur golf, stands in a tie for 6th, after firing the low round of the 3rd round yesterday.

Wie, who is now a student at Stanford, has clearly regressed as a golfer. She once fired a 68 in a PGA event in Hawaii, and now clearly has lost all confidence. While she has one of the beautiful swings in the women's game, she is inconsistent and wild. Her putting is mediocre.

The development of Tiger Woods as a golfer is the blueprint many will try to follow. Obviously, that has worked out, although his development as a person has not. Woods competed at all levels of the game until he dominated. While still a junior golfer, he did compete in a PGA event or two, because he qualified. But, he still played junior golf, then men's amateur golf and college golf, before taking his talents to the professional level. He dominated every level and learned how to win, and win often. He came to the PGA Tour with no fear.

Michelle Wie never even won the USGA Girls Junior Championship. One of her rivals, In-Bee Park won it once, was runner-up once and medalist twice. She has had far more success on the LPGA Tour than Wie. Alexis Thompson won the event in 2008. However, I believe Thompson is jumping the gun as well at 15. She, like Wie, is a great player at this age, but needs to win more. She never won the U.S. Women's Amateur, so why turn pro now?

It seems that women's golf is becoming more like women's tennis. They turn pro at a very young age and this can lead to early burn out. Let the kids grow up a bit and enjoy their youth a bit. What's the rush?

Scott Cole
www.powergolftraining.net
www.onlinegolfswingcoach.com

PA Junior Golf Championship

2010-07-08T13:58:00.001-07:00

Congratulations to Jonathan Heydt of Moselem Springs, who withstood the 100 degree heat for two days and fired rounds of 69 and 70 on the vaunted Hershey East Course to win the PA Junior Golf Championship by 5 strokes.

I wanted to take the time to comment on this tournament because I noticed some very strong play, particularly on the first day. There were five scores of par or better in round one, and several one over par scores as well. Heydt was the only player to maintain form for in second round among the leaders.

What I did notice in this tournament is that most of the kids finishing in the top 20 play out of some of the best clubs in the state. In fact, four of the kids in the top five play at clubs that have held State Amateur and State Opens. Two of these kids play out of Merion and Oakmont. You just can't give a kid a better opportunity to develop his game.

However, I see a need for kids such as several of my students to have the opportunity to play at some of these facilities. In the current economic environment, many kids just don't have the opporunity to play or practice every day, much less play or practice at a U.S. Open caliber golf course. As a result, they find themselves at a distinct disadvantage.

I think it is time for a program to be developed to allow these kids more opportunity, so they are not at such a disadvantage when it comes to competing in these events. This is something I intend to work on over time, and if anyone else out there has some ideas, I welcome them.

Scott Cole

Goydos Fires 59 in John Deere Classic

2010-07-08T13:24:00.000-07:00

Paul Goydos fired the 4th 59 in PGA Tour history in the first round of the John Deere Classic today! Great going Paul! One of the good guys on tour, Goydos carded 12 birdies in his round, including 8 on the back nine. Not known as a long hitter, Goydos kept the ball in play, and obviously had the flat stick working today. Great to see from one of the real nice guys on tour.

Scott Cole
www.powergolftraining.net

Bubba Watson Wins Travelers

2010-06-30T20:11:00.000-07:00

Bubba Watson, one of the longest hitters on tour, won his first tournament as a professional this past Sunday, beating Corey Pavin and Scott Verplank in a playoff. It is surprising that it took Watson this long to gain his first victory on any tour, due to his length and talent.

More surprising to me was that Corey Pavin, at age 50, and probably the shortest hitter on tour, is able to compete with players like Watson on select venues. I think most golfers should pay attention to Pavin and how he gets around a golf course.

Pavin does not have a pretty swing, but he is able to work the ball right to left and left to right, pretty much at will. He has an excellent wedge game and is a great putter. In the final round, on the 18th hole, Pavin hit is tee shot about 240 yards, while Watson hit his 390 yards. The hole is 444 yards. That is an unfair fight, yet the two were tied at the end of 72 holes. Watson should study Pavin's game if he wants to win more.

While Pavin is not a long hitter, he is in control of his swing. He does not have a pretty swing, as I said, but he does not have the flaws of the typical golfer such as an over the top downswing, a reverse pivot backswing, or a reverse weight shift on the down swing. Since he does not have these flaws, he is able to work the ball, which he needs to be able to do, since at his low ball speed, he can not hit the ball very high.

It is amazing to me how long some of these players like Watson, Dustin Johnson and J.B. Holmes can hit the ball, but they do not win much. Even the pretty swingers like Adam Scott and Luke Donald do not win as much as they should. It appears that they still need to learn how to manage their game properly and quit worrying about making a perfect swing.

While it is ideal to have a nice swing that is on plane, it is more ideal to have the ability to get it in the hole quicker than the other guy. Corey Pavin, at age 50, showed them how to do that this weekend.

Scott Cole
www.powergolftraining.net
www.onlinegolfswingcoach.com

My Golf Game Continuing To Improve

2010-06-25T21:27:00.000-07:00

It has now been about 16 months since I attended my first Hank Haney Teaching the Teacher seminar, where I received a lesson from Hank himself. During that lesson, Hank worked on improving my posture, my takeaway, a better position at the top of my backswing, a better position in the downswing, and a better follow through. For many students, this would be quite a lot to work on, and admittedly, I often give students quite a bit of information during that first lesson. My thinking is that if I can do it, anyone can.

Improving your golf game is a process. Not all of the improvements will come at once. It is important to focus on one or two things at a time, and then when you have made improvement to them, work on the next couple of things. I feel that the student can progress much faster if they take notes as well.

Anyhow, after 16 months, I feel like I am getting very close to my best golf, even while I only play once or twice per month. I have learned so much about the golf swing and golf course management, that I don't need to play every day like I used to growing up in order to play well.

Today I played a nice golf course in Maryland, and played my best round since my lesson with Hank last year...an even par 72. While I did make two long putts, I did have several three putts and missed another short putt for birdie. I also had a couple unforced errors with wedges. This course is more difficult than most I usually play locally, so I feel pretty good about the score. If I were playing more regularly, there would not be as many three putts or missed greens with a wedge in my hand.

Last year when I went to Dallas to attend that seminar, I really had no clue with my golf game. Now, I realize that if I actually find more time to play and practice, I can probably be a better golfer than I have ever been.

I am writing this post because I think it is necessary for students to track their results and performance. If I can improve after one lesson with Hank, and some follow up feedback at this year's seminar from two of his senior instructors, Brian Mahon and Doug Alexander, then any student can improve. However, it requires time, patience, effort, and a willingness to make changes. If you have some of that going for you, the sky is the limit!

One final word...just like Ray Romano on the Haney Project, I find that many students think they will get worse before they get better following a lesson....that is utter nonsense. Get that out of your head. If you will do what your instructor tells you to do, assuming they are a good instructor, you should see improvement right away. But, you must keep an open mind. I started improving from Day One. You can too.

Scott Cole
www.powergolftraining.net
www.onlinegolfswingcoach.com

2010 U.S. Open - Coulda, Shoulda, Woulda

2010-06-20T17:54:00.000-07:00

I just witnessed a debacle of a final round at the U.S. Open, where it was clear no one was willing to reach out and grab their destiny. Starting with Dustin Johnson, on down to Phil Mickelson, and even Tiger Woods, it was clear the best players just didn't have the game to go out and win this golf tournament.

So, the tournament came down to a couple Europeans. One, a solid player from Northern Ireland, Graeme McDowell. The other, an unknown Frenchman, Gregory Havret, ranked 391 in the world. Havret played the steadiest golf of anyone in the final groups.

At one point in the round, Ernie Els looked like the man to beat, as he got it to -3 early. This was as Dustin Johnson decided he had no business competing for the title, and played himself out of the tournament with a triple bogey and double bogey early, on his way to a round in the 80s. He clearly didn't believe he belonged.

I have to say that this generation of golfers, while clearly having more depth, it's stars, except Tiger Woods of course, rarely show up and win...they typically back into winning these majors when Tiger has shot himself in the foot. Occasionally, we've seen some good golf to win, usually at the Masters or the British Open. Never have we seen any big head to head duals involving Tiger Woods and any of his chief rivals. The usually scenario was that he would make a birdie or two early and the others would wilt away. While I view Tiger as the most talented golfer the game has seen, Nicklaus had to fend off far more quality challengers such as Palmer, Player, Watson, Trevino, Casper, Miller, etc. Have we ever seen a true Woods-Mickelson dual in a major? Never. What about Woods-Els? Nada. How about Woods-Singh? Nope.

Greatness is evident when a player reaches out and grabs the tournament, or survives a tough challenge from a gritty competitor. Tiger has been great many times, but he was never challenged when he had his A game.

Today, there were four 68s and a 69 at Pebble Beach, but no one close to the lead even came close to breaking par. The winner, Graeme McDowell, backs into the win with a 74. Congratulations to him, but just once I would like to see the best players in the world all playing well at once in a major. Today, the best man did not win, but the last man standing simply choked the least.

Tiger Makes Presence Felt at Pebble Beach

2010-06-19T19:05:00.000-07:00

Tiger Woods' golf game has apparently returned today, with a 66 in the third round of the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach. In a stunning display of ball striking and clutch putting, Tiger should be a force on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Phil Mickelson was unable to follow through on his second round 66. Struggling from the start, Phil is fighting just to stay in contention. Ernie Els seems unable to make a putt, otherwise he would still be about even with Tiger.

So far, the leaders remain Graeham McDowell and Dustin Johnson. Which means, Tiger will be favored to win on Sunday.

Scott Cole
www.powergolftraining.com

The U.S. Open

2010-06-17T09:31:00.000-07:00

Looking forward to the U.S. Open, which starts today at Pebble Beach. This is my favorite tournament of the year as it is more a battle for survival. This year it is played at probably the most scenic golf course in the world, and the USGA can jack it up to play quite difficult. I look for the best shot makers to rise to the top in this tournament. It seems like Phil Mickelson is everyone's favorite, but look for an unexpected winner, but someone who is still a solid player. Jim Furyk is also a popular pick here, but I will also mention Mike Weir as a possibility as well. I don't see any Europeans winning at Pebble Beach. Should be fun to watch!

Scott Cole
www.onlinegolfswingcoach.com

Golf Course Management

2010-06-13T17:44:00.000-07:00

Today I watched the end of the St. Jude Classic PGA event, and watched in horror as Robert Garrigus had an 18 hole meltdown that almost rivaled that of Jean Van de Velde in the 1999 British Open. Heading to the 18th tee, Garrigus had a 3 shot lead over Lee Westwood and playing partner Robert Karlsson. The 18th was a dog leg left par 4, fairly long, with water along the left side of the fairway.

Garrigus, in spite of a not so great golf swing, was playing well all day, and his back nine surge put him in position to win. Basically, all he needed was a bogey to win, and even a double bogey would force Karlsson to make birdie on one of the most difficult holes on the course.

So, Garrigus makes his worst swing of the day and hits his tee shot in the water left. He was forced to drop short of the hazard. He then proceeded to try a heroic shot toward the green with a mid-iron, and pulled it into a tree. This forced him to chip out and he ultimately made triple bogey and fell into a playoff, which he lost.

First and foremost, Garrigus does not have a great golf swing that can hold up under this type of pressure, that is clear. If he wants to take his game to the next level, he needs to change his swing. Most tour pros are unwilling to do that since it takes time and effort, and they worry more about making a living. The better players are able to do it because they can still compete when they don't have their best game.

Secondly, with the water hazard to the left, Garrigus should be aiming well to the right, even if it means missing the fairway into a fairway bunker. With a 3 shot lead, he might even consider an iron off the tee, or just blasting a driver as far down the fairway and to the right as possible. The fairway opened up past the curve of the dogleg and driver may have taken the water out of play.

But, Garrigus chose to play a 3 wood, and made a poor swing. It was his next shot that made the difference. Hitting 3 after his drop, all he needed to do was hit a wedge somewhere up the fairway, hit another wedge on and two putt for 6, which would have forced Karlsson to make birdie (Westwood was already in the clubhouse). Instead, he tried a more heroic and stupid shot, and paid the price.

This is why most golfers shoot higher scores than what they are capable of. They throw away shots all over the golf course with penalty shots, poor short game shots and 3 and 4 putts. Since most people are unwilling to put in the work to really improve their golf swing, they should learn to manage their game on the golf course. If they learn how to play within themselves and score better with the short game, they will see much lower scores.

Next time you are faced with a situation on a golf course similar to what Robert Garrigus faced, play within yourself. Making sure you make 5 will save you many strokes. Trying a heroic shot that is likely beyond your ability will only bring 7 and 8 into play.

Scott Cole
www.powergolftraining.net

Tiger returns this week at Memorial

2010-05-31T19:10:00.000-07:00

Tiger Woods returns to the PGA Tour for his first event since the TPC at Sawgrass and his first event since his split with long time swing coach, Hank Haney. Tiger obviously is trying to gear up for the U.S. Open, and has enjoyed tremendous success at The Memorial, hosted by Jack Nicklaus. On Wednesday, Tiger will be playing in a pre-tournament skins game of sorts that I believe will be covered on Golf Channel.

No doubt Tiger will be asked about any new swing coaches and such. It will be interesting to see what kind of form he exhibits on a golf course he clearly loves. If his misses are only going to the right, then he will have made progress. However, I suspect his putting might be a bit off no matter what as the greens at Muirfield Village are quick!

Scott Cole
www.onlinegolfswingcoach.com
www.powergolftraining.net

Golfers, Learn Better Short Game Technique And Take Notes!

2010-05-31T07:00:00.001-07:00

I give quite a few golf lessons involving the short game. With most people, if they have been playing the game for a while, I watch them hit a few shots first. The first shot I watch them hit is where they are just a few feet off the edge of the green, maybe on the fringe or in the short rough, and they have about 40 to 50 feet of green to work with. In 90% of the cases, the student will pull out a sand wedge or pitching wedge and try to fly the ball halfway to the hole. They have trouble getting it within 15 feet.

I calmly step up and chip the shot with a 7 or 8 iron and with the first second ball, I am within 2 feet.

We have all this information out there regarding the golf game from the internet to the major magazines, to a tv channel devoted to the game, and yet most people show no improvement. Are they not paying attention?

Yes, there is an awful lot of information about the game to assimilate over time. So, my best advice to the golfer who wants to improve is to take notes!

I studied Pai Lum Kung Fu for 8 years, and I have a notebook that is three inches thick full of typewritten notes on all the forms, techniques and details how to perform each. Golf is similar in that there is a lot to learn. But, how can you improve if you don't remember the proper technique?

You see, if you want to make improvements, you have to take accountability! As a teacher, I can only bring the horse to water, but I can't make it drink!

From now on, take some notes, and when you go practice, take them with you! I guarantee you will start to see better results.

Scott Cole
www.onlinegolfswingcoach.com
www.powergolftraining.net