Showing posts with label Golf Swing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Golf Swing. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
What Makes A Good Golf Swing
Some published statistics suggest that the average golf handicap is essentially the same as it was forty years ago. This is in spite of all the new technology in equipment and in the world of golf instruction. How is this possible? One reason is that most golfers, including those who teach the game, do not have an understanding of what makes a good golf swing.
One comment you will often here from an amateur golf when they watch a tour pro or any very good player is that they make every shot look effortless. That is exactly what a good golf swing looks like…effortless.
Indeed, some of the more unusual golf swings on tour, such as Jim Furyk’s or Kenny Perry’s, even Lee Trevino’s, look effortless. All of these players have been great ball strikers with unusual looking swings. With that in mind, the appearance, or shape of a golf swing, has nothing to do with what makes a good golf swing. Unfortunately, that is what most instructors think, and as a result, that is what most amateur golfers think as well.
A good golf swing is one in which there is a clear rhythmic sequence of events taking place. This sequence of events occurs with athleticism and balance. This athletic, balanced and rhythmic swing is what allows a good golfer to repeat the movement over and over again, even as the stakes are high.
How can the average golfer, or worse, learn how to develop a good golf swing? First they must learn the proper sequencing in the golf swing that allows the speed of the club head to increase through impact, and allows the club to be square to the intended target line at impact. This sequence has nothing to do with the position of the golf club during the takeaway, or the swing plane, or the grip or set up. This sequence is actually found in other athletic movements, and this is why some professional athletes who specialize in these other athletic movements, excel at golf.
Consider the other sports, or positions in various sports, where those athletes have a higher likelihood of success at golf. Quarterbacks, pitchers and hockey players are more likely to be good golfers than other athletes. I am talking about scratch golfers, not those that can break 80 now and then. Examples of these athletes are former pitcher Rick Rhoden, former quarterback John Brodie who played on the Champions Tour, Phil Simms, Tony Romo, John Smoltz, and hockey players Dan Quinn, Mario Lemieux and Grant Fuhr.
Have you ever watched a baseball game, or a football game and heard the comment that the pitcher or quarterback “is in a good rhythm?” And we almost always hear that when a golfer is leading a tournament. Good pitchers make pitching look effortless, just like good quarterbacks in a good rhythm make hitting a receiver down field look easy. The funny thing is, just like in golf, these pitchers and quarterbacks look different from one another in how they get the job done.
Think about the movements in pitching and throwing a football. There is a larger or small wind up which results in the back foot acting as a brace, which in turn creates leverage, and then an unwinding of the body that starts with the lower body. This is pretty much the exact opposite of what most golfers do. Most golfers do not create any leverage in the back swing because they do virtually all of the work with the arms, and then they do all of the work in the down swing with the upper body as well. As a result, even large, reasonably athletic and fit people have trouble hitting a driver as far as the average tour pro hits a three-iron.
If you want to begin to build a good golf swing, think of these two athletic movements that most of us have done at one time or another… skipping stones across a pond and throwing a Frisbee. These movements are very similar to that of the golf swing. If you can get your mindset away from trying to control the golf club, and instead focus on developing the proper athletic movements involved in the golf swing, along with good rhythm and balance, then you will be well on your way to building a good, sound, repeatable, effortless golf swing.
www.yourgolfswingfix.com
Monday, July 23, 2012
Learning Golf - The process
I have played very little golf over the last ten years, even after I started teaching a few years ago. That is now changing. I've come to the realization that I can practice all I want and really not get better if I only play once a month. I joined a semi-private club 30 minutes away this year, a brand new facility, due to its value, and to force myself to play. Well, life kinda got in the way in May and June, when I only played once. My game suffered mightily.
Last week I played three times, and showed signs of improvement each day. During that stretch, I have given a few lessons, but have hit very few balls due to a bad left thumb. Today, I played again, and got back to fundamentals. I recognized that I was getting lazy with my posture. My low back tends to be a little rounded so I got back to trying to keep the spine straighter with better posture. The only other thought to my swing was to fire the hips hard in the down swing. The result was the best ball striking round I have had in years. Now it is just a matter of better distance control with the irons, which has been made a little complicated by longer distance than what I am used to.
This is the process that every golfer goes through. There must be a balance between playing and practicing. For me, I have practiced a ton over the last few years as I have worked on improving my swing. The process began with my lesson with Hank Haney in February 2009, and then continued with my ongoing research. During this time I discovered a process in which I employ in my teaching, and the results for those students who employ it are quite dramatic.
I continue to look forward to making more improvements. As I am 46, my goal is to one day play in the Senior U.S. Open. I never reached my potential at my physical peak, but I am smarter now and continue to hit the ball longer than most of my contemporaries. So, there is the goal!
Set goals for yourself, develop your process, and you will get to where you want to be!
Scott Cole
www.yourgolfswingfix.com
Friday, November 18, 2011
Thoughts on the Mental Game of Golf
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
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
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
How to Fix Your Slice
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
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
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Golf Tip of the Day - Pay Attention to the Details
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
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
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Golf Tip of the Day - Keep the Driver in the Bag
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
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
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Golf Tip of the Day - Why Most Golfers Never Improve
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
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
Monday, February 28, 2011
Golf Tip of the Day - Starting the Season
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
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
Monday, February 21, 2011
Tiger Woods Swing Analysis
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
Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com
Aaron Baddeley wins at Riviera
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
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
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Golf Tip - Preparing for Golf Season
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
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
Monday, February 14, 2011
Golf Tip - Early season practice
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
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
Monday, February 7, 2011
Golf Swing Fundamentals
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
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
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Golf Tip - How to Make Swing Changes
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
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
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Golf Tip of the Day - Strength Training
As winter drags on here throughout much of the U.S., many golfers turn to fitness as a way to improve their golf game. There is an entire industry devoted to the subject, and Tiger Woods can take credit for putting fitness at the forefront for golfers.
Most of the fitness related information for golfers is what is called "golf specific." Exercises are developed to help golfers increase range of motion and add some strength in areas where they are weak. Many of the exercises employ the use of training bands, balance balls and such. Traditional strength training is practically non-existent, but is it important?
My opinion is that if you are going to try to improve your golf game through fitness training you should incorporate at least some traditional strength training into your routine. The point is that you are likely performing many other activities outside of golf that require some strength, so why only perform golf specific exercises?
Your golf fitness routines should attack these areas...strength, balance, increased range of motion and speed. Many golf specific exercises will try to attack two or more of these areas at once. Many strength trainers will steer clear of traditional strength training because they feel it only attacks the strength area and may lead to too much bulk.
However, when done properly, traditional strength training will increase your range of motion, and it will help increase the strength of the big muscles a bit more rapidly. For instance, if you are seated on a stable surface, you will be able to handle more weight with a dumbbell press compared to if you are seated on a balance ball. The balance ball will incorporate the core muscles for stabilization, however, you simply won't be able to handle as much weight. If pure strength is what you are looking for in the specific muscle group you are exercising, then you need a stable platform.
With all this in mind, I feel it is a good idea to add traditional strength training into the mix. For myself, this means the use of traditional barbells and dumbbells. I train with these twice each week, and on other days I focus on cardio routines, some yoga, plyometrics and some more golf specific exercises. I believe golfers can benefit by incorporating a little of all of these areas into their routines. Lean, strong and flexible is the goal!
Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com
Most of the fitness related information for golfers is what is called "golf specific." Exercises are developed to help golfers increase range of motion and add some strength in areas where they are weak. Many of the exercises employ the use of training bands, balance balls and such. Traditional strength training is practically non-existent, but is it important?
My opinion is that if you are going to try to improve your golf game through fitness training you should incorporate at least some traditional strength training into your routine. The point is that you are likely performing many other activities outside of golf that require some strength, so why only perform golf specific exercises?
Your golf fitness routines should attack these areas...strength, balance, increased range of motion and speed. Many golf specific exercises will try to attack two or more of these areas at once. Many strength trainers will steer clear of traditional strength training because they feel it only attacks the strength area and may lead to too much bulk.
However, when done properly, traditional strength training will increase your range of motion, and it will help increase the strength of the big muscles a bit more rapidly. For instance, if you are seated on a stable surface, you will be able to handle more weight with a dumbbell press compared to if you are seated on a balance ball. The balance ball will incorporate the core muscles for stabilization, however, you simply won't be able to handle as much weight. If pure strength is what you are looking for in the specific muscle group you are exercising, then you need a stable platform.
With all this in mind, I feel it is a good idea to add traditional strength training into the mix. For myself, this means the use of traditional barbells and dumbbells. I train with these twice each week, and on other days I focus on cardio routines, some yoga, plyometrics and some more golf specific exercises. I believe golfers can benefit by incorporating a little of all of these areas into their routines. Lean, strong and flexible is the goal!
Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com
Monday, January 17, 2011
Golf Tip of the Day - Get a Golf Lesson!
I read a post in one of the online forums about a guy struggling to find his swing. He spent three hours on the driving range and completely lost it, so all of the nearby hitters started sending tips his way.
The author of the post then went on to say he had NEVER had a lesson in his twenty years of playing golf.
Golf is a difficult game, and one that is really never mastered. I often draw parallels between golf and the martial arts. There is a lot to learn, and you must always adjust to varying conditions. Yet, virtually no one who wants to learn the martial arts will try and learn on their own. So, why is this the case with golf?
Admittedly, the cost of instruction in golf is much higher, and that may be the problem with the industry. However, a student should at least get some group instruction to learn the basics. After that, there are plenty of less expensive ways to learn this game, especially on the internet.
Golfers can even receive an online video lesson by sending video of their golf swing to an instructor for analysis. So, after learning the basics through group instruction, an online video lesson could be beneficial and less expensive. Beyond that, there are lots of videos and books that golfers can obtain to further their knowledge. While there are many golf swing theories, that is no different than in the martial arts. Choose a theory or swing style you are comfortable with, and learn it!
The bottom line is if you want to improve your golf game, you need to acquire knowledge and learn how to incorporate that knowledge. A good instructor will help you with this, whether in person or online.
Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com
The author of the post then went on to say he had NEVER had a lesson in his twenty years of playing golf.
Golf is a difficult game, and one that is really never mastered. I often draw parallels between golf and the martial arts. There is a lot to learn, and you must always adjust to varying conditions. Yet, virtually no one who wants to learn the martial arts will try and learn on their own. So, why is this the case with golf?
Admittedly, the cost of instruction in golf is much higher, and that may be the problem with the industry. However, a student should at least get some group instruction to learn the basics. After that, there are plenty of less expensive ways to learn this game, especially on the internet.
Golfers can even receive an online video lesson by sending video of their golf swing to an instructor for analysis. So, after learning the basics through group instruction, an online video lesson could be beneficial and less expensive. Beyond that, there are lots of videos and books that golfers can obtain to further their knowledge. While there are many golf swing theories, that is no different than in the martial arts. Choose a theory or swing style you are comfortable with, and learn it!
The bottom line is if you want to improve your golf game, you need to acquire knowledge and learn how to incorporate that knowledge. A good instructor will help you with this, whether in person or online.
Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Golf Tip of the Day - 5 Keys to a Good Golf Swing
Golf is one of those activities where the participants are often trying to find the best way to achieve their goal. It is similar to trading in the stock market, where individual traders with little experience are constantly trying to find the Holy Grail to riches. In the case of golf, golfers are often trying to find the Holy Grail golf tip or golf swing that will help them break 80 or become a scratch golfer.
An observation of the golf swings of some of the game’s most successful players over the years suggests that there is no one way to play the game best. Probably the three greatest players of all time are Jack Nicklaus, Ben Hogan and Tiger Woods. However, none of their swings looks very much alike. Consider the swings of other top players over time. Bruce Lietzke had a successful career on the PGA Tour, with 13 victories, yet he practiced very little. He has a classic over the top slice move, and that is the shot he favored. On the other hand Kenny Perry has the opposite swing from Lietzke and favors a draw shot. He has won 14 times on the PGA Tour.
There have been many other players over time with what would be regarded as unconventional swings. The 2010 PGA Player of the Year Jim Furyk is probably the most visible example. He has a very unorthodox swing, but is also one of the most consistent players of the last 15 years. Lee Trevino is another such player who was very consistent in his days on tour, but clearly had an unorthodox swing. On the other hand, Adam Scott has one of the nicest looking swings on tour, yet displays very little consistency.
So what makes a good golf swing? What most amateur golfers should strive to achieve is a swing they can repeat consistently. They should strive for a swing that they can repeat consistently, and one that results in consistently solid ball striking and consistent ball flight. This means it really doesn’t matter whether the player consistently slices the ball or hooks the ball. If the golfer has a good idea that will be the case, and they have a good idea how much the ball will curve in that direction, then they have achieved a consistent golf swing.
The first key to a good golf swing is balance. Most golfers who struggle do not have good balance during the swing. Poor balance leads to inconsistent ball striking. Poor balance can mean too much of a sway back and forth from side to side during the swing, or from heel to toe, or toe to heel. No matter what the balance issue, the golfer will struggle.
The second key to a good golf swing is a consistent spine angle from set up to just past impact. A changing spine angle will lead to very inconsistent ball striking. One example of a changing spine angle is one where the golfer’s body rises during the back swing. When this occurs, the golfer then must find a way to sink back down in the down swing, otherwise they will miss the ball entirely. What often happens is that the club attacks the ball from an angle that is too steep, and this can result in a variety of ball flight issues.
The third key to a good golf swing is a weight transfer that goes forward in the down swing and follow through. The conventional swing requires a modest weight shift to the rear foot during the back swing, and then back to the front foot in the down swing and follow through. Some newer swing models, such as the Stack and Tilt swing do not require as much transfer of weight to the back foot. Instead, more weight is kept on the front foot, but in the downswing, this weight still goes forward with a hip thrust. Many golfers often finish their swing with their weight on their back foot, and this results in poor ball striking.
The fourth key to a good golf swing is connection and proper sequence. There must be consistent connection between the upper and lower body throughout the golf swing. If there is any disconnect, such as the arms moving without any move in the lower body, or keeping the head down too long in the follow through, there will be inconsistent ball striking. Furthermore, the body must move in the proper sequence in order to achieve good ball striking. For instance, if the upper body starts the down swing once the back swing is completed, there will be a loss of power. A release of the hands too early in the down swing will also result in a lack of power and consistency.
The fifth key to a good golf swing is tempo and rhythm. Each golfer must find the right tempo and rhythm for their own swing. Some golfers do well with a fast tempo, while others do well with a slow tempo. However, this tempo MUST be faster in the down swing than in the back swing. Too often, in an attempt to hit the ball hard, a golfer will start their swing too quickly, and the end result is a deceleration in the down swing into impact. Furthermore, there must be good rhythm in the swing. There should be no choppiness in rhythm during the swing…it must be one continuous motion with no herky jerky type action in the swing.
What is noticeably absent from this list is the normal list of fundamentals such as the grip, stance and posture, alignment, takeaway, weight shift, swing plane, etc. While it may be ideal to work toward certain goals with these particular fundamentals, it is certainly not required that all be perfected in order to achieve a consistently performing golf swing.
Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com
An observation of the golf swings of some of the game’s most successful players over the years suggests that there is no one way to play the game best. Probably the three greatest players of all time are Jack Nicklaus, Ben Hogan and Tiger Woods. However, none of their swings looks very much alike. Consider the swings of other top players over time. Bruce Lietzke had a successful career on the PGA Tour, with 13 victories, yet he practiced very little. He has a classic over the top slice move, and that is the shot he favored. On the other hand Kenny Perry has the opposite swing from Lietzke and favors a draw shot. He has won 14 times on the PGA Tour.
There have been many other players over time with what would be regarded as unconventional swings. The 2010 PGA Player of the Year Jim Furyk is probably the most visible example. He has a very unorthodox swing, but is also one of the most consistent players of the last 15 years. Lee Trevino is another such player who was very consistent in his days on tour, but clearly had an unorthodox swing. On the other hand, Adam Scott has one of the nicest looking swings on tour, yet displays very little consistency.
So what makes a good golf swing? What most amateur golfers should strive to achieve is a swing they can repeat consistently. They should strive for a swing that they can repeat consistently, and one that results in consistently solid ball striking and consistent ball flight. This means it really doesn’t matter whether the player consistently slices the ball or hooks the ball. If the golfer has a good idea that will be the case, and they have a good idea how much the ball will curve in that direction, then they have achieved a consistent golf swing.
The first key to a good golf swing is balance. Most golfers who struggle do not have good balance during the swing. Poor balance leads to inconsistent ball striking. Poor balance can mean too much of a sway back and forth from side to side during the swing, or from heel to toe, or toe to heel. No matter what the balance issue, the golfer will struggle.
The second key to a good golf swing is a consistent spine angle from set up to just past impact. A changing spine angle will lead to very inconsistent ball striking. One example of a changing spine angle is one where the golfer’s body rises during the back swing. When this occurs, the golfer then must find a way to sink back down in the down swing, otherwise they will miss the ball entirely. What often happens is that the club attacks the ball from an angle that is too steep, and this can result in a variety of ball flight issues.
The third key to a good golf swing is a weight transfer that goes forward in the down swing and follow through. The conventional swing requires a modest weight shift to the rear foot during the back swing, and then back to the front foot in the down swing and follow through. Some newer swing models, such as the Stack and Tilt swing do not require as much transfer of weight to the back foot. Instead, more weight is kept on the front foot, but in the downswing, this weight still goes forward with a hip thrust. Many golfers often finish their swing with their weight on their back foot, and this results in poor ball striking.
The fourth key to a good golf swing is connection and proper sequence. There must be consistent connection between the upper and lower body throughout the golf swing. If there is any disconnect, such as the arms moving without any move in the lower body, or keeping the head down too long in the follow through, there will be inconsistent ball striking. Furthermore, the body must move in the proper sequence in order to achieve good ball striking. For instance, if the upper body starts the down swing once the back swing is completed, there will be a loss of power. A release of the hands too early in the down swing will also result in a lack of power and consistency.
The fifth key to a good golf swing is tempo and rhythm. Each golfer must find the right tempo and rhythm for their own swing. Some golfers do well with a fast tempo, while others do well with a slow tempo. However, this tempo MUST be faster in the down swing than in the back swing. Too often, in an attempt to hit the ball hard, a golfer will start their swing too quickly, and the end result is a deceleration in the down swing into impact. Furthermore, there must be good rhythm in the swing. There should be no choppiness in rhythm during the swing…it must be one continuous motion with no herky jerky type action in the swing.
What is noticeably absent from this list is the normal list of fundamentals such as the grip, stance and posture, alignment, takeaway, weight shift, swing plane, etc. While it may be ideal to work toward certain goals with these particular fundamentals, it is certainly not required that all be perfected in order to achieve a consistently performing golf swing.
Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Golf Tip of the Day - Quit Searching for the Holy Grail
I read a post on one of the golf forums the other day. This typifies the approach most golfers take when they go to the range. This particular golfer is a 9 handicap.
The golfer indicated that he had gone to the range one day, and hit the ball horribly. He even hit a few shanks with his wedges. He left the range completely demoralized. He went back home, looked at his collection of golf books, remembered one that had captured his interest, and re-read part of it. He took one of the tips with him to the range the next day, and started to hit it well.
He inquired on the forum if anyone else had an experience like that with that particular tip, and he wondered if this would carry over in the long run. He had also mentioned that he had tried the Stack and Tilt swing a while back, but had since gone back to what he was doing before. Naturally, since I am opinionated, I responded to his question, and suggested that it would last a week or two. He had not really changed anything in his swing.
The fact is, you can not improve your game without improving your golf swing. Small tips like this may occasionally help in the short run, but they NEVER have a lasting effect. If you want to improve your golf swing, you have to improve your fundamentals…grip, stance and posture, takeaway, shoulder turn, swing plane, weight transfer, impact position, and follow through. It’s a process that can not be achieved over night, and not without hard work.
If you are unwilling to make major changes to your swing, short game or putting, then you can forget about making long term improvements. That’s not how you improve in any sport, business or hobby. There are no shortcuts, and there is no Holy Grail in golf.
Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com
The golfer indicated that he had gone to the range one day, and hit the ball horribly. He even hit a few shanks with his wedges. He left the range completely demoralized. He went back home, looked at his collection of golf books, remembered one that had captured his interest, and re-read part of it. He took one of the tips with him to the range the next day, and started to hit it well.
He inquired on the forum if anyone else had an experience like that with that particular tip, and he wondered if this would carry over in the long run. He had also mentioned that he had tried the Stack and Tilt swing a while back, but had since gone back to what he was doing before. Naturally, since I am opinionated, I responded to his question, and suggested that it would last a week or two. He had not really changed anything in his swing.
The fact is, you can not improve your game without improving your golf swing. Small tips like this may occasionally help in the short run, but they NEVER have a lasting effect. If you want to improve your golf swing, you have to improve your fundamentals…grip, stance and posture, takeaway, shoulder turn, swing plane, weight transfer, impact position, and follow through. It’s a process that can not be achieved over night, and not without hard work.
If you are unwilling to make major changes to your swing, short game or putting, then you can forget about making long term improvements. That’s not how you improve in any sport, business or hobby. There are no shortcuts, and there is no Holy Grail in golf.
Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com
Monday, January 10, 2011
Golf Tip of the Day - How to Add Yards off the Tee
I’ve been watching the first PGA event of the season in Hawaii this weekend and am amazed at how far Robert Garrigus hits it. He is basically about my size…5’11, 190 pounds. I am a little bigger, and I think I am stronger, but he is the longest hitter on tour.
How does he do it? Its all in his lower body. His hips are practically square to the target at impact. If you note in his back swing that his club stays well short of parallel, it is even more amazing how far he hits it.
So, keep this thought in mind if you want more distance off the tee. You have to swing from the ground up to start the downswing. If you try to hit the ball with your arms, you will lose speed. I would even go so far as to say forget about trying to make a big shoulder turn and quit trying to get the club parallel to the ground your back swing. It’s not necessary.
What is necessary is to get yourself properly leveraged in the back swing. Your back leg should be used as a brace from which to push off in the down swing. Find that power from the ground up. Try to get as much hip rotation as possible in the downswing. If you have limited mobility in the hips, visit a trainer to learn what you can do to achieve more mobility.
If you are looking for a swing that suggests you don’t need a big back swing to achieve power, Robert Garrigus has it.
Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com
How does he do it? Its all in his lower body. His hips are practically square to the target at impact. If you note in his back swing that his club stays well short of parallel, it is even more amazing how far he hits it.
So, keep this thought in mind if you want more distance off the tee. You have to swing from the ground up to start the downswing. If you try to hit the ball with your arms, you will lose speed. I would even go so far as to say forget about trying to make a big shoulder turn and quit trying to get the club parallel to the ground your back swing. It’s not necessary.
What is necessary is to get yourself properly leveraged in the back swing. Your back leg should be used as a brace from which to push off in the down swing. Find that power from the ground up. Try to get as much hip rotation as possible in the downswing. If you have limited mobility in the hips, visit a trainer to learn what you can do to achieve more mobility.
If you are looking for a swing that suggests you don’t need a big back swing to achieve power, Robert Garrigus has it.
Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Golf Tip of the Day - Learn the Ball Flight Laws
As a scratch player, I really had no clue about the ball flight laws. In fact, according to recent data, no one did. Since the Trackman launch monitor was developed in the last few years, the assumptions that initial direction was caused by swing path were all wrong. We now know that the initial flight of the ball is caused by the angle of the clubface at impact. The curve is then dictated by the swing path's relation to the clubface angle.
Nonetheless, the general idea that the relationship between clubface angle and swing path caused the overall ball flight was known to most people. Swing the club inside out with a closed clubface and you would get a hook or draw. Swing the club outside in with an open clubface you would get a slice or fade.
I knew these general thoughts, but I really did not know the swing thoughts that corresponded with these general ideas. I would venture to guess that most people don't and that is why they struggle to improve.
Here's a quick refresher...
1. Slices are caused by a clubface that is open relative to the swing path of the club. The general causes of an open clubface are a weak grip and/or a swing path that is too steep and outside to in.
2. Hooks are caused by clubface that is too closed relative to its swing path. The general causes of a closed clubface are a strong grip or a swing path that is too flat and inside to out.
With this understanding, go to the range and pay attention to your ball flight. Does it start left of your target and then curve to the right of your target? If you are right handed, that suggests that your clubface is closed to the target line, which is why it started to the left. However, the clubface angle was actually OPEN compared to the swing path. The outside in swing path imparted the sidespin on the ball, and that is what caused the ball to finish with a slice. If the clubface angle matched the swing path, you would have just pulled the ball.
Now, as I said, however, the shape of the swing can impact what the clubface is doing at impact. A steeper swing makes it harder to release the hands and square the face at impact. A flatter swing makes it easier to do this. So, this is where you should focus your attention in regard to corrections to your swing.
So, if you are hitting a bunch of pull slices on the range, your swing path is too much outside in and steep...my first correction would be to get you to swing the club on a flatter swing path. If there are no other issues, this should help you hit a draw right away.
If you tend to hit a lot of hooks, I will first try to get you to swing the club on a steeper swing path with the arms more in front of the body on the down swing. This will help you to delay the release of the club a little longer, which will help you hit the ball a little straighter.
Next time you head out to the range, keep these thoughts in mind!
Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com
Nonetheless, the general idea that the relationship between clubface angle and swing path caused the overall ball flight was known to most people. Swing the club inside out with a closed clubface and you would get a hook or draw. Swing the club outside in with an open clubface you would get a slice or fade.
I knew these general thoughts, but I really did not know the swing thoughts that corresponded with these general ideas. I would venture to guess that most people don't and that is why they struggle to improve.
Here's a quick refresher...
1. Slices are caused by a clubface that is open relative to the swing path of the club. The general causes of an open clubface are a weak grip and/or a swing path that is too steep and outside to in.
2. Hooks are caused by clubface that is too closed relative to its swing path. The general causes of a closed clubface are a strong grip or a swing path that is too flat and inside to out.
With this understanding, go to the range and pay attention to your ball flight. Does it start left of your target and then curve to the right of your target? If you are right handed, that suggests that your clubface is closed to the target line, which is why it started to the left. However, the clubface angle was actually OPEN compared to the swing path. The outside in swing path imparted the sidespin on the ball, and that is what caused the ball to finish with a slice. If the clubface angle matched the swing path, you would have just pulled the ball.
Now, as I said, however, the shape of the swing can impact what the clubface is doing at impact. A steeper swing makes it harder to release the hands and square the face at impact. A flatter swing makes it easier to do this. So, this is where you should focus your attention in regard to corrections to your swing.
So, if you are hitting a bunch of pull slices on the range, your swing path is too much outside in and steep...my first correction would be to get you to swing the club on a flatter swing path. If there are no other issues, this should help you hit a draw right away.
If you tend to hit a lot of hooks, I will first try to get you to swing the club on a steeper swing path with the arms more in front of the body on the down swing. This will help you to delay the release of the club a little longer, which will help you hit the ball a little straighter.
Next time you head out to the range, keep these thoughts in mind!
Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com
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