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
Showing posts with label Power Golf. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Power Golf. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Friday, December 17, 2010
Golf Tip of the Day - Training the Hips
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
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
Friday, November 19, 2010
Golf Tip of the Day - How to Increase Your Swing Speed
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
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
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Golf Swing Feeling Tight in the cold weather? Stretch more!
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
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
Monday, May 31, 2010
Tiger returns this week at Memorial
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
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!
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
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
Saturday, May 29, 2010
The Principles of Power Golf
No matter what their skill level or experience, every golfer on the planet will always want to hit increase the power of their golf swing so they can hit 300 yard drives. That is why golfers are bombarded with all kinds of new drivers, golf swing gadgets, and golf fitness exercises that will supposedly allow them to add 10, 15, 25, even 75 yards to their tee shots.
I’ve read and seen so much garbage being sold to the every day golfer, it makes my stomach turn at times. As a professional golf instructor, competitive golfer, athlete and martial artist, I have a pretty good idea of what works and what doesn’t. For instance, if you have never exercised regularly and have a classic over the top golf swing that results in a big slice, doing a few wrist exercises and trunk twists with training bands is not going to let you add 30 yards to your tee shot.
There are essentially four key principles to power golf. The first principle of power golf is golf swing technique. The fact of the matter is that if you have a significantly flawed golf swing, it will drain power from your swing. I’ve had success with teaching students to hit the ball further by improving their golf swing. In one case, the student had a classic over the top swing with an early release of the hands. As a result, this student, who at the time was about 5’9, could barely hit the ball 200 yards with his driver. As this student is still quite young, he has grown a few inches, and improved his swing and now can CARRY the ball 250 yards.
Another student of mine is in his early 40’s and recently visited me in my old indoor teaching studio where we measured his swing speed on my simulator. He is actually a friend of mine with whom I have played with competitively. Standing about 6’1, he weighs about 230 pounds. Over time, his swing deteriorated into a severe inside out swing. He would always fight a big hook, and sometimes would just hit a block if he did not release his hands properly. At the beginning of his lesson, we measured his top speed at 98 mph. By the end of the lesson, he was at over 106 mph, as I had improved his swing path. If and when he gets used to this new swing, he will swing much faster.
So, the first Principle of Power Golf must be technique. If you improve your technique, you can definitely hit the ball further. It just takes good instruction and the desire to improve!
After improving your basic swing shape, the next thing that will help you increase your golf swing power is flexibility. This is the second Principle of Power Golf. I place flexibility above strength in terms of importance because if you have the flexibility to make a bit shoulder turn, you will have the ability to create a bigger arc with your swing, which is key to increased swing speed. I place flexibility above strength in importance because when I was 19, I won my first local long drive contest while weighing about 165 pounds (I am 6 feet tall). I was athletic, and fairly strong, but nowhere near as strong as I am now. However, I had the flexibility to make a big shoulder turn and arc with my swing, plus I have very flexible wrists that allow me to create significant lag in my swing. As a result, I was able to out drive many golfers that were bigger and stronger.
That is not to say that strength is not important. If you really want to take your golf swing power to another level, increased strength will do the job. As a result, strength is the third Principle of Power Golf. However, when I am talking about strength, I am talking about total body strength. If you want to increase your swing speed, you have to work out your entire body.
In my research of golf fitness, I have seen some ridiculous exercises being demonstrated. The idea behind these is that if you do a couple of these exercises for a few minutes, a couple days per week, you will hit the ball 25 yards further. This is utter nonsense. As with any endeavor, if you want to improve your golf game and golf swing power, it will take some work. The added benefit of strength training is that it will make you healthier overall, and more durable. So, to truly improve your power off the tee, be prepared to work your legs, your core, your chest, shoulders, back and arms.
The last Principle of Power Golf is body speed. The truly elite golfers and long drivers have incredible body speed, and this primarily innate. However, elite athletes are learning how to increase their speed through a variety of new exercises. Much of this training involves plyometrics and these types of exercises are generally reserved for athletes who are already in pretty good condition. If you are this type of golfer, training like an elite athlete will take you to the next level in your development.
World long drive champion Jamie Sadlowski exhibits all four of these Principles of Power Golf. He has an exceptionally powerful golf swing with a huge swing arc and tremendous wrist lag. He is incredibly flexible with an amazing shoulder turn and substantial hinge in his wrists. He works out like an elite athlete and is quite strong, even though he only weighs about 165 pounds. And finally, he has incredible body speed. The end result is that he can regularly hit the golf ball over 400 yards in competition.
While it won’t likely be possible for you to hit the ball over 400 yards, if you improve your technique, flexibility, strength and speed, you will definitely have the opportunity to hit the ball closer to, or over 300 yards!
Scott Cole
Power Golf Training
I’ve read and seen so much garbage being sold to the every day golfer, it makes my stomach turn at times. As a professional golf instructor, competitive golfer, athlete and martial artist, I have a pretty good idea of what works and what doesn’t. For instance, if you have never exercised regularly and have a classic over the top golf swing that results in a big slice, doing a few wrist exercises and trunk twists with training bands is not going to let you add 30 yards to your tee shot.
There are essentially four key principles to power golf. The first principle of power golf is golf swing technique. The fact of the matter is that if you have a significantly flawed golf swing, it will drain power from your swing. I’ve had success with teaching students to hit the ball further by improving their golf swing. In one case, the student had a classic over the top swing with an early release of the hands. As a result, this student, who at the time was about 5’9, could barely hit the ball 200 yards with his driver. As this student is still quite young, he has grown a few inches, and improved his swing and now can CARRY the ball 250 yards.
Another student of mine is in his early 40’s and recently visited me in my old indoor teaching studio where we measured his swing speed on my simulator. He is actually a friend of mine with whom I have played with competitively. Standing about 6’1, he weighs about 230 pounds. Over time, his swing deteriorated into a severe inside out swing. He would always fight a big hook, and sometimes would just hit a block if he did not release his hands properly. At the beginning of his lesson, we measured his top speed at 98 mph. By the end of the lesson, he was at over 106 mph, as I had improved his swing path. If and when he gets used to this new swing, he will swing much faster.
So, the first Principle of Power Golf must be technique. If you improve your technique, you can definitely hit the ball further. It just takes good instruction and the desire to improve!
After improving your basic swing shape, the next thing that will help you increase your golf swing power is flexibility. This is the second Principle of Power Golf. I place flexibility above strength in terms of importance because if you have the flexibility to make a bit shoulder turn, you will have the ability to create a bigger arc with your swing, which is key to increased swing speed. I place flexibility above strength in importance because when I was 19, I won my first local long drive contest while weighing about 165 pounds (I am 6 feet tall). I was athletic, and fairly strong, but nowhere near as strong as I am now. However, I had the flexibility to make a big shoulder turn and arc with my swing, plus I have very flexible wrists that allow me to create significant lag in my swing. As a result, I was able to out drive many golfers that were bigger and stronger.
That is not to say that strength is not important. If you really want to take your golf swing power to another level, increased strength will do the job. As a result, strength is the third Principle of Power Golf. However, when I am talking about strength, I am talking about total body strength. If you want to increase your swing speed, you have to work out your entire body.
In my research of golf fitness, I have seen some ridiculous exercises being demonstrated. The idea behind these is that if you do a couple of these exercises for a few minutes, a couple days per week, you will hit the ball 25 yards further. This is utter nonsense. As with any endeavor, if you want to improve your golf game and golf swing power, it will take some work. The added benefit of strength training is that it will make you healthier overall, and more durable. So, to truly improve your power off the tee, be prepared to work your legs, your core, your chest, shoulders, back and arms.
The last Principle of Power Golf is body speed. The truly elite golfers and long drivers have incredible body speed, and this primarily innate. However, elite athletes are learning how to increase their speed through a variety of new exercises. Much of this training involves plyometrics and these types of exercises are generally reserved for athletes who are already in pretty good condition. If you are this type of golfer, training like an elite athlete will take you to the next level in your development.
World long drive champion Jamie Sadlowski exhibits all four of these Principles of Power Golf. He has an exceptionally powerful golf swing with a huge swing arc and tremendous wrist lag. He is incredibly flexible with an amazing shoulder turn and substantial hinge in his wrists. He works out like an elite athlete and is quite strong, even though he only weighs about 165 pounds. And finally, he has incredible body speed. The end result is that he can regularly hit the golf ball over 400 yards in competition.
While it won’t likely be possible for you to hit the ball over 400 yards, if you improve your technique, flexibility, strength and speed, you will definitely have the opportunity to hit the ball closer to, or over 300 yards!
Scott Cole
Power Golf Training
Sunday, May 2, 2010
McIlroy wins first U.S. Tour event
Rory McIlroy fired a spectacular 62 in the final round at Quail Hollow this afternoon to win this week's PGA event going away. McIlroy came on the scene in Europe last year with a couple of wins and then played pretty well here in the U.S. as well. It seemed like he was playing a lot of tournaments and I thought he may be getting burned out as his performance had not been nearly as strong this year. Apparently, a bad back was holding him back, which, at 21 years old, is not a good sign. However, it looks those woes are behind him for now!
McIlroy has a very good swing and hits the ball a long way for his size. I also like how he remains aggressive when he gets into contention. McIlroy is another of those young players that has loads of confidence and plays aggressively, and to win. He, and players like Anthony Kim and Dustin Johnson are the type of players that can start challenging the elite. A bit more experience for all of them, and we'll start to see them challenging for majors.
Scott Cole
www.powergolftraining.net
www.onlinegolfswingcoach.com
McIlroy has a very good swing and hits the ball a long way for his size. I also like how he remains aggressive when he gets into contention. McIlroy is another of those young players that has loads of confidence and plays aggressively, and to win. He, and players like Anthony Kim and Dustin Johnson are the type of players that can start challenging the elite. A bit more experience for all of them, and we'll start to see them challenging for majors.
Scott Cole
www.powergolftraining.net
www.onlinegolfswingcoach.com
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Where is Mickelson?
The PGA Tour is visiting Phoenix this week, and Phil Mickelson is among the top players present this week. Yet, a check of the leaderboard finds Phil 9 shots behind the leader after Round 3, and even behind Champions Tour players Fred Couples and Tom Lehman, and soon to be Champions Tour player Mark Calcavecchia.
There is no doubt that after the way Phil finished 2009, there were high expectations for Phil. These expectations were raised higher since Tiger is nowhere to be found.
A check of the stats for Phil this week indicates one problem is driving accuracy. Once again, Phil can't find the fairway. He is ranked 65th in that stat. In today's round, he had 32 putts.
Not to worry. At some point, Phil will win. But, I don't think we can or should heap as much expectation on his shoulders as we have with Tiger. They are two different people, and two different golfers. Phil is a hit or miss golfer. When he is on his game, Tiger is his only rival. When he is off, he can miss the cut. Tiger was that way earlier in his career. He made the move to Hank Haney so that he could be a more consistent player and that is what he became. But, he was willing to make the changes that Haney suggested he needed to make. Most golfers are not willing to do that.
Watched another Anthony Kim meltdown today. A 76 in the 3rd round with an 8 on a par 5 on the back nine. This kid has the all the talent in the world, but I am not sure how devoted he is. He said in interviews this week that he worked hard in the off-season. He is known as a partier. He'll have a short career if that keeps up.
So, who is going to truly take over leadership in Tiger's absence? Steve Stricker has been on an amazing roll, but lost in the first round of the Match play championship last week. Still, I see him remaining consistent, and he seems to be in a good place mentally. I just don't see him winning a major.
I suspect it will be a European player that takes over the mantle in the short term. Harrington always seems hungry, even as he struggled with some swing changes last year. Ian Poulter just won the Match play last week, and Paul Casey again made a strong showing. Right now, it seems like the top talent is on the other side of the Atlantic, and they may push each other to new heights this year.
It should be an interesting year with some big events coming up in just a few short weeks!
Scott Cole
www.scottcolegolf.com
www.powergolftraining.net
There is no doubt that after the way Phil finished 2009, there were high expectations for Phil. These expectations were raised higher since Tiger is nowhere to be found.
A check of the stats for Phil this week indicates one problem is driving accuracy. Once again, Phil can't find the fairway. He is ranked 65th in that stat. In today's round, he had 32 putts.
Not to worry. At some point, Phil will win. But, I don't think we can or should heap as much expectation on his shoulders as we have with Tiger. They are two different people, and two different golfers. Phil is a hit or miss golfer. When he is on his game, Tiger is his only rival. When he is off, he can miss the cut. Tiger was that way earlier in his career. He made the move to Hank Haney so that he could be a more consistent player and that is what he became. But, he was willing to make the changes that Haney suggested he needed to make. Most golfers are not willing to do that.
Watched another Anthony Kim meltdown today. A 76 in the 3rd round with an 8 on a par 5 on the back nine. This kid has the all the talent in the world, but I am not sure how devoted he is. He said in interviews this week that he worked hard in the off-season. He is known as a partier. He'll have a short career if that keeps up.
So, who is going to truly take over leadership in Tiger's absence? Steve Stricker has been on an amazing roll, but lost in the first round of the Match play championship last week. Still, I see him remaining consistent, and he seems to be in a good place mentally. I just don't see him winning a major.
I suspect it will be a European player that takes over the mantle in the short term. Harrington always seems hungry, even as he struggled with some swing changes last year. Ian Poulter just won the Match play last week, and Paul Casey again made a strong showing. Right now, it seems like the top talent is on the other side of the Atlantic, and they may push each other to new heights this year.
It should be an interesting year with some big events coming up in just a few short weeks!
Scott Cole
www.scottcolegolf.com
www.powergolftraining.net
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Drive For Show, Putt For Dough!
This weekend's results at Riviera underscore how important it is to be able to putt well in this game of golf. Yet, when most people play and try and improve their golf game, they spend far more time on the driving range than on and around the practice green.
Steve Stricker has average power on the PGA Tour...he was 37th in driving distance this week. However, he won because he finished in the top 10 in greens in regulation, and had the fewest putts per round. He has simplified his swing quite a bit over the last few years, after fighting a hook for a long time. With today's win, he has leapfrogged Mickelson as the Number 2 ranked player in the world. Quite an achievement for a guy who struggled to keep his card a few years back.
When you start playing again this Spring, have a plan to make some improvements on your swing early in the season, then focus a lot more of your attention on your short game. The bottom line is that we want lower scores, and the easiest path to lower scores is around the green.
Scott Cole
powergolftraining.net
scottcolegolf.com
Steve Stricker has average power on the PGA Tour...he was 37th in driving distance this week. However, he won because he finished in the top 10 in greens in regulation, and had the fewest putts per round. He has simplified his swing quite a bit over the last few years, after fighting a hook for a long time. With today's win, he has leapfrogged Mickelson as the Number 2 ranked player in the world. Quite an achievement for a guy who struggled to keep his card a few years back.
When you start playing again this Spring, have a plan to make some improvements on your swing early in the season, then focus a lot more of your attention on your short game. The bottom line is that we want lower scores, and the easiest path to lower scores is around the green.
Scott Cole
powergolftraining.net
scottcolegolf.com
Shoveling Out
Snowmageddon hit us hard in Southcentral Pennsylvania, and yesterday afternoon was spent shoveling snow. As I've mentioned before, shoveling snow is a tremendous workout, assuming you are healthy enough to undertake this demanding work. We've all read numerous stories of heart attacks occurring while shoveling snow, so do not attempt to shovel out from a storm like this unless you have a clean bill of health from your doctor.
What are the benefits of shoveling snow? First, there is the calorie burn. A little research online indicated that snow shoveling can burn 100 calories or more in 15 minutes. Second, it is a great total body workout, as you are working the legs, core, arms and shoulders all in one exercise.
Obviously, if done improperly, you can injure your back. It is absolutely critical that you engage the legs, rather than do all of the work with the back. Yes, you still have to bend at the waist, and that will put some pressure on the back. But, if you engage the legs, you will simply get a good workout for the back.
Today, after 2 1/2 hours of shoveling 18 inches of snow from my driveway, I am modestly tender in the lower back, just as I would be in any muscle group the day after a good workout. That 2 1/2 hours of shoveling also indicates that I burned over 1,000 calories! So, not only did I get in a good strengthening workout for some key muscle groups, I contributed to my weight loss goal.
This is just one common sense activity you can perform to contribute to your golf fitness. There is no need to join a gym or buy any fancy equipment. Take advantage of these opportunities when they come along!
Scott Cole
powergolftraining.net
scottcolegolf.com
What are the benefits of shoveling snow? First, there is the calorie burn. A little research online indicated that snow shoveling can burn 100 calories or more in 15 minutes. Second, it is a great total body workout, as you are working the legs, core, arms and shoulders all in one exercise.
Obviously, if done improperly, you can injure your back. It is absolutely critical that you engage the legs, rather than do all of the work with the back. Yes, you still have to bend at the waist, and that will put some pressure on the back. But, if you engage the legs, you will simply get a good workout for the back.
Today, after 2 1/2 hours of shoveling 18 inches of snow from my driveway, I am modestly tender in the lower back, just as I would be in any muscle group the day after a good workout. That 2 1/2 hours of shoveling also indicates that I burned over 1,000 calories! So, not only did I get in a good strengthening workout for some key muscle groups, I contributed to my weight loss goal.
This is just one common sense activity you can perform to contribute to your golf fitness. There is no need to join a gym or buy any fancy equipment. Take advantage of these opportunities when they come along!
Scott Cole
powergolftraining.net
scottcolegolf.com
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Nowadays, with the popularity of golf, even through a global recession, you can find a multitude of golf instruction and golf fitness sites on the internet. Golf fitness has come to the fore as PGA Tour pros have evolved into more fit athletes due to the domination of Tiger Woods. Tiger decided early on that he would train for his profession as a world class athlete. As a result, we see far fewer golfers on tour like Tim “Lumpy” Herron and John Daly, and a lot more athletic looking golfers such as Tiger, Adam Scott and Camillo Villegas. If you want to be the best, you have to train like the best!
Golf instruction is now evolving into a profession that involves far more than just giving a quick fix to a golfer, although that is still what some may want. Some instructors are content with providing this type of service, but the top instructors realize that they actually have far more to offer their students than just a tip or two on how to fix their golf swings.
Due to the increased focus by professional golfers on their fitness, the idea of golf fitness has become more credible. Professional golfers now often employ the services of a fitness instructor along with their golf instructor.
However, some fitness instructors erroneously suggest to the average golfer that the secret to longer tee shots and a more consistent golf swing is fitness alone. Golfers who have been frustrated by their own lack of improvement from golf lessons are easy prey for fitness trainers who want to sell them on a few fitness tips to improve their golf games.
Then there are the “golf instructors” online who will sell the average golfer on the idea that there is an “easy” way to swing the golf club, if you only sign up for their newsletter, or purchase their DVDs. However, all you have to do is get an understanding of how hard Tiger Woods works on his game, and his fitness, to realize that improving your golf swing requires hard work! Tiger works on his golf game and fitness 10 to 12 hours per day when he is gearing up for the majors! There are no shortcuts in golf!
The top golf instructors realize that they are in a position to better serve their students by being able to identify ways for a student to improve their golf swing through both golf instruction AND golf fitness training. Just like the evolution of today’s PGA Tour stars, the new generation of golf instructors understand that they need to be able offer both services in order to remain competitive in the field.
A golf instructor who practices the “hands on” teaching method of Hank Haney, Tiger Woods’ current instructor, can more easily identify the physical issues of a student. A golf instructor who also has significant experience in a variety of physical training methods can then suggest to a student how to achieve their golf swing goals through fitness training.
This type of instructor is extremely valuable to the golf student. In one location, the student can learn all they need to know about the golf swing, and how to address their own physical limitations to accomplish their goals. Compare that to the golf instructors who simply try to make a suggestion as to how to make a quick fix to a golf swing without ever moving the student through the swing. Or, compare the well-rounded instructor to the fitness trainer who really has no experience in golf instruction. They can offer a variety of gimmicky exercises, but they really do not have an understanding of what really drives the golf swing.
Unfortunately, there are not yet that many instructors out there who can offer this well-rounded instruction and training. However, this is the future of golf instruction, so consider seeking out those instructors who are on the cutting edge. Your golf game is sure to benefit!
Scott Cole www.powergolftraining.net
Golf instruction is now evolving into a profession that involves far more than just giving a quick fix to a golfer, although that is still what some may want. Some instructors are content with providing this type of service, but the top instructors realize that they actually have far more to offer their students than just a tip or two on how to fix their golf swings.
Due to the increased focus by professional golfers on their fitness, the idea of golf fitness has become more credible. Professional golfers now often employ the services of a fitness instructor along with their golf instructor.
However, some fitness instructors erroneously suggest to the average golfer that the secret to longer tee shots and a more consistent golf swing is fitness alone. Golfers who have been frustrated by their own lack of improvement from golf lessons are easy prey for fitness trainers who want to sell them on a few fitness tips to improve their golf games.
Then there are the “golf instructors” online who will sell the average golfer on the idea that there is an “easy” way to swing the golf club, if you only sign up for their newsletter, or purchase their DVDs. However, all you have to do is get an understanding of how hard Tiger Woods works on his game, and his fitness, to realize that improving your golf swing requires hard work! Tiger works on his golf game and fitness 10 to 12 hours per day when he is gearing up for the majors! There are no shortcuts in golf!
The top golf instructors realize that they are in a position to better serve their students by being able to identify ways for a student to improve their golf swing through both golf instruction AND golf fitness training. Just like the evolution of today’s PGA Tour stars, the new generation of golf instructors understand that they need to be able offer both services in order to remain competitive in the field.
A golf instructor who practices the “hands on” teaching method of Hank Haney, Tiger Woods’ current instructor, can more easily identify the physical issues of a student. A golf instructor who also has significant experience in a variety of physical training methods can then suggest to a student how to achieve their golf swing goals through fitness training.
This type of instructor is extremely valuable to the golf student. In one location, the student can learn all they need to know about the golf swing, and how to address their own physical limitations to accomplish their goals. Compare that to the golf instructors who simply try to make a suggestion as to how to make a quick fix to a golf swing without ever moving the student through the swing. Or, compare the well-rounded instructor to the fitness trainer who really has no experience in golf instruction. They can offer a variety of gimmicky exercises, but they really do not have an understanding of what really drives the golf swing.
Unfortunately, there are not yet that many instructors out there who can offer this well-rounded instruction and training. However, this is the future of golf instruction, so consider seeking out those instructors who are on the cutting edge. Your golf game is sure to benefit!
Scott Cole www.powergolftraining.net
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Golf Fitness Tip - Charging Horse Stance
If you have read through my site, www.powergolftraining.net you will note that trained in the martial art of Pai Lum Kung Fu for eight years, and still to this day continue to work on much of what I learned. One thing that attracted me to the martial arts was the common sense fitness exercises. You don't need to join a gym and lift heavy weights to develop strong muscles. All of the exercises we performed at the school can be done anywhere.
For leg strengthening, we primarily worked on a variety of stances. One of the best of these stances is the Charging Horse Stance.
In the photo, I am standing in a Left Charging Horse Stance. To get in this position, stand with your feet shoulder width apart, hands on your hips. Take a step forward about one shoulder width, with the left foot. Keeping your back straight, let your body sink down as low as you can go. Ideally, you want to see the lower part of your back leg, in this case, the right leg, parallel to the floor. If you can not go that low, go as low as you can where it takes some effort to maintain the stance.
Hold this position as long as you can, then stand back up, and switch legs, stepping forward with the opposite leg. Start out by holding this position for 15 seconds for each leg, and work your way up to as long as you can, ideally for a minute with each leg. Always remember to keep your back straight!
This stance will help develop the strength of your legs, as well as balance. I also combine this stance with some work with a balance ball, dumbbells and body blades. Incorporating those items while working in this stance helps develop the balance even further by engaging the core muscles with more intensity.
Work this simple exercise into your routine and you will get fabulous results!
Scott Cole
For leg strengthening, we primarily worked on a variety of stances. One of the best of these stances is the Charging Horse Stance.
In the photo, I am standing in a Left Charging Horse Stance. To get in this position, stand with your feet shoulder width apart, hands on your hips. Take a step forward about one shoulder width, with the left foot. Keeping your back straight, let your body sink down as low as you can go. Ideally, you want to see the lower part of your back leg, in this case, the right leg, parallel to the floor. If you can not go that low, go as low as you can where it takes some effort to maintain the stance.
Hold this position as long as you can, then stand back up, and switch legs, stepping forward with the opposite leg. Start out by holding this position for 15 seconds for each leg, and work your way up to as long as you can, ideally for a minute with each leg. Always remember to keep your back straight!
This stance will help develop the strength of your legs, as well as balance. I also combine this stance with some work with a balance ball, dumbbells and body blades. Incorporating those items while working in this stance helps develop the balance even further by engaging the core muscles with more intensity.
Work this simple exercise into your routine and you will get fabulous results!
Scott Cole
Friday, November 20, 2009
Crunch Time For Aspiring Tour Pros
PGA Tour qualifying is under way this week, with the second round of qualifying being held at six locations around the country. The low 20 from each qualifier advance to the finals, which is often considered to be one of the most difficult events in the career of a tour pro. The finals will then be held December 2 to 7, where I believe the low 25 receive their PGA Tour cards. Those that don't make the cut will have some limited Tour opportunities or will play on the Nationwide Tour.
The Champions Tour completed its qualifying today. Only 5 players earned all-exempt status for the 2010 season. Finishers 6 to 12 receive conditional exemptions and the top 30 can compete for qualifying spots where opportunities are available. The list of players not earning their cards for the Champions Tour is dotted with lots of name players did not make the top 12, including Jay Don Blake, Chip Beck, Keith Clearwater, Tom McKnight and Bobby Clampett, among others. To make the top 5, players had to shoot 12 under for 4 rounds.
I always have tremendous respect for pros who endure these qualifiers. Some work their butts off for years before breaking through to the big show! But, it is work that they truly enjoy, just like the rest of us who enjoy this great game!
Scott Cole www.powergolftraining.net
The Champions Tour completed its qualifying today. Only 5 players earned all-exempt status for the 2010 season. Finishers 6 to 12 receive conditional exemptions and the top 30 can compete for qualifying spots where opportunities are available. The list of players not earning their cards for the Champions Tour is dotted with lots of name players did not make the top 12, including Jay Don Blake, Chip Beck, Keith Clearwater, Tom McKnight and Bobby Clampett, among others. To make the top 5, players had to shoot 12 under for 4 rounds.
I always have tremendous respect for pros who endure these qualifiers. Some work their butts off for years before breaking through to the big show! But, it is work that they truly enjoy, just like the rest of us who enjoy this great game!
Scott Cole www.powergolftraining.net
Sunday, November 15, 2009
During the Holidays, Do More Cardio!
The Holidays are fast approaching! That means one big meal after another, and one party after another! When the holidays are over, many of us make a New Year's resolution to lose weight, but it's usually the weight we just put on in the last month!
Don't fall into that trap this year. I am not saying to avoid those parties, and not enjoy those fabulous holiday meals. But, what I am saying is that you should work extra hard to avoid adding on the pounds from those meals by doing more cardio exercise.
If you have never done much cardio exercise, simply start out by walking. If it is cold, or snowy outside, head over to the local mall in the morning join the parade of walkers. Walk for at least 30 minutes, but if you are physically able, walk at least an hour.
If you are used to doing some cardio exercise, add more to your normal workouts. If you jog, swim, bike or do any other exercise that makes you breathe hard, and you do this three days per week, try to add a fourth workout, and start by adding an additional 5 minutes to each workout.
If you can avoid adding on those extra pounds during the holidays, then you won't have to work so hard on your body in the New Year. And, THAT will leave more time to work on your golf game!
Scott Cole www.powergolftraining.net
Don't fall into that trap this year. I am not saying to avoid those parties, and not enjoy those fabulous holiday meals. But, what I am saying is that you should work extra hard to avoid adding on the pounds from those meals by doing more cardio exercise.
If you have never done much cardio exercise, simply start out by walking. If it is cold, or snowy outside, head over to the local mall in the morning join the parade of walkers. Walk for at least 30 minutes, but if you are physically able, walk at least an hour.
If you are used to doing some cardio exercise, add more to your normal workouts. If you jog, swim, bike or do any other exercise that makes you breathe hard, and you do this three days per week, try to add a fourth workout, and start by adding an additional 5 minutes to each workout.
If you can avoid adding on those extra pounds during the holidays, then you won't have to work so hard on your body in the New Year. And, THAT will leave more time to work on your golf game!
Scott Cole www.powergolftraining.net
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Increasing Swing Speed
Tonight I was back in to my golf studio working on my swing around giving a fitness consultation to one of my students. My studio has been set up for about five weeks, and it includes a GSA/GGS golf simulator. Although I only purchased the bare bones simulator system, I have found it to be an incredible teaching tool. The simulator gives me information on swing path, club face angle at impact and swing speed. Based upon these items, and some assumptions on launch angle, it calculates the ball flight and distance, which is reproduced on the projection screen. More accurate feedback would be provided once I add a couple other sensors down the road.
Lately, I have starting lifting weights more heavily to regain some strenght I've lost in the last couple of years. However, I have not had a heavy lifting workout in about six days. I had chopped and pushed around some wood in a wheel barrow a couple days last weekend, but this week had not done any type of workout. Therefore, I was feeling quite limber and loose in the studio tonight.
Now, as of late, my swing speed had been maxing out around 117.5 mph. On Monday night, I started working on a new swing thought after reading a bit more about Hank Haney's work with Tiger, and reviewing my lesson with Hank in February. As such, I started working on a little bit more rotation with my hips in the back swing, as well as my left forearm. This results in a flatter swing, but more on plane, and I noticed, a bit higher swing speed! So, Monday night maxed out at 118.6 mph.
Tonight, I had a good bit of energy and my first swing with the driver was 116, when normally it would be about 114. Then I started hitting 117+ pretty easily, and once I got warmed up, 118.5 was getting to be the norm. This was giving me a carry of about 293 yards on the simulator. I have programmed in a bounce and roll of about 20-25 yards since our fairways tend to be pretty soft here in PA. So, most of my swings on the simulator were resulting in drives of about 315.
I then decided to see if I could crank it up another notch. I hit 119 mph on one drive, then followed that up with 120+. Finally, a couple swings later, I registered just over 121! And the beauty of all this was that these drives were going very straight, usually with a bit of a draw.
The moral to all of this is that 1) I know exactly what I want to work on with my golf swing 2) I get great feedback from the simulator and 3) Increased strength and flexibility is resulting in great results in regard to swing speed.
This is how I can help students in person, and through my online instruction. For more information, visit www.powergolftraining.net
Scott Cole
Lately, I have starting lifting weights more heavily to regain some strenght I've lost in the last couple of years. However, I have not had a heavy lifting workout in about six days. I had chopped and pushed around some wood in a wheel barrow a couple days last weekend, but this week had not done any type of workout. Therefore, I was feeling quite limber and loose in the studio tonight.
Now, as of late, my swing speed had been maxing out around 117.5 mph. On Monday night, I started working on a new swing thought after reading a bit more about Hank Haney's work with Tiger, and reviewing my lesson with Hank in February. As such, I started working on a little bit more rotation with my hips in the back swing, as well as my left forearm. This results in a flatter swing, but more on plane, and I noticed, a bit higher swing speed! So, Monday night maxed out at 118.6 mph.
Tonight, I had a good bit of energy and my first swing with the driver was 116, when normally it would be about 114. Then I started hitting 117+ pretty easily, and once I got warmed up, 118.5 was getting to be the norm. This was giving me a carry of about 293 yards on the simulator. I have programmed in a bounce and roll of about 20-25 yards since our fairways tend to be pretty soft here in PA. So, most of my swings on the simulator were resulting in drives of about 315.
I then decided to see if I could crank it up another notch. I hit 119 mph on one drive, then followed that up with 120+. Finally, a couple swings later, I registered just over 121! And the beauty of all this was that these drives were going very straight, usually with a bit of a draw.
The moral to all of this is that 1) I know exactly what I want to work on with my golf swing 2) I get great feedback from the simulator and 3) Increased strength and flexibility is resulting in great results in regard to swing speed.
This is how I can help students in person, and through my online instruction. For more information, visit www.powergolftraining.net
Scott Cole
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
A different Golf Exercise
Recently, I have been spending more time in the gym lifting some heavier weights, looking mainly to regain some strength I seem to have lost in the last two years due to focusing more on getting a bit leaner. While I was not as successful as I wanted to be in that goal (food is my enemy!), I did seem to improve my cardio health.
One thing I have realized over time is that it's definitely a good idea to break up your exercise routine from time to time. I have been lifting hard for a few weeks, and definitely have made some gains. However, the body will have a tendency to adjust itself to these workouts, making it harder to achieve gains going forward.
This past week, a neighbor of mine decided to cut a tree down and I asked if I could have the wood, and he agreed. So, for a total of about 3 1/2 hours over a couple days time, I chopped wood, loaded it into a wheel barrow, and pushed it up a hill, and then back down that hill before dumping into a wood pile. You want to talk about a total body workout! Well, probably the only muscle group that did not get worked was my triceps. Otherwise, chopping the wood worked most of my upper body, while hauling the wood in the wheel barrow worked my arms, shoulders, core and legs.
Since I was getting such a good workout simply by doing this chore, I didn't see the need to hit the weights, or do any cardio. When the weekend was over, I felt great, and am ready to start pumping some iron again.
So, if you have the opportunity, go and chop and haul some wood just to break up your routine!
Scott Cole www.powergolftraining.net
One thing I have realized over time is that it's definitely a good idea to break up your exercise routine from time to time. I have been lifting hard for a few weeks, and definitely have made some gains. However, the body will have a tendency to adjust itself to these workouts, making it harder to achieve gains going forward.
This past week, a neighbor of mine decided to cut a tree down and I asked if I could have the wood, and he agreed. So, for a total of about 3 1/2 hours over a couple days time, I chopped wood, loaded it into a wheel barrow, and pushed it up a hill, and then back down that hill before dumping into a wood pile. You want to talk about a total body workout! Well, probably the only muscle group that did not get worked was my triceps. Otherwise, chopping the wood worked most of my upper body, while hauling the wood in the wheel barrow worked my arms, shoulders, core and legs.
Since I was getting such a good workout simply by doing this chore, I didn't see the need to hit the weights, or do any cardio. When the weekend was over, I felt great, and am ready to start pumping some iron again.
So, if you have the opportunity, go and chop and haul some wood just to break up your routine!
Scott Cole www.powergolftraining.net
Monday, November 9, 2009
Golf Specific Exercises
I've commented on the topic of Golf Specific Exercises before, but I had the opportunity to see some more stuff on the internet recently, and I felt compelled to to comment. The bottom line is that much of what I see from some of the so-called internet experts is crap. On the other hand, there is some real good stuff out there, specifically the products sold by Golf Gym and Joey D, a renowned trainer to such PGA Tour pros as Vijay Singh.
What I typically see on the internet, however, are exercises that are a complete waste of time. These exercises target small muscle groups, and in my view, are generally only required if you have a specific issue going on with that particular muscle group. Yet, these exercises are hyped as golf specific exercises that will help you had 30 yards to your tee shots!
The bottom line is that performing an exercise such as a wrist rotation with a weighted golf club, or a rotator cuff exercise with a dumbbell, or a tricep extension with tubing will not add a single yard to your tee shot.
If you are a short hitter and you truly want to add distance off the tee you must first be sure to develop a more fundamentally sound golf swing. Sure, if you have an injury or some sort of physical liability that restricts movement, this will prove to be more difficult, but that is where physical therapy comes in, not "golf specific exercises."
Once you have developed a more sound golf swing, if you want to add yards, the first order of business is to work on your flexibility. Lack of flexibility will prevent you from making a bigger, more effortless shoulder turn with significant width in your golf swing. If you want more yardage, you need to create greater centrifugal force, and that comes from flexibility.
Address the flexibility issues and then begin to combine that with strength training. And when I am talking about strength training, I am talking about working the big muscle groups, i.e., the legs, back, shoulders, chest and core. Just have a look at Tiger Woods and you know he works out his entire body, and I suspect he is not wasting time doing single arm tricep extensions!
The fact is, most of us barely have time to work on our golf games, let alone have time to work on improving our fitness. So, we don't have time to waste on gimmicky exercises.
For more info, check out what I can do for you at www.powergolftraining.net
What I typically see on the internet, however, are exercises that are a complete waste of time. These exercises target small muscle groups, and in my view, are generally only required if you have a specific issue going on with that particular muscle group. Yet, these exercises are hyped as golf specific exercises that will help you had 30 yards to your tee shots!
The bottom line is that performing an exercise such as a wrist rotation with a weighted golf club, or a rotator cuff exercise with a dumbbell, or a tricep extension with tubing will not add a single yard to your tee shot.
If you are a short hitter and you truly want to add distance off the tee you must first be sure to develop a more fundamentally sound golf swing. Sure, if you have an injury or some sort of physical liability that restricts movement, this will prove to be more difficult, but that is where physical therapy comes in, not "golf specific exercises."
Once you have developed a more sound golf swing, if you want to add yards, the first order of business is to work on your flexibility. Lack of flexibility will prevent you from making a bigger, more effortless shoulder turn with significant width in your golf swing. If you want more yardage, you need to create greater centrifugal force, and that comes from flexibility.
Address the flexibility issues and then begin to combine that with strength training. And when I am talking about strength training, I am talking about working the big muscle groups, i.e., the legs, back, shoulders, chest and core. Just have a look at Tiger Woods and you know he works out his entire body, and I suspect he is not wasting time doing single arm tricep extensions!
The fact is, most of us barely have time to work on our golf games, let alone have time to work on improving our fitness. So, we don't have time to waste on gimmicky exercises.
For more info, check out what I can do for you at www.powergolftraining.net
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Video is a Great Tool For Golfers
When teaching some of my students, I bring up the possibility of analyzing their swings through the use of video. Surprisingly, some are afraid of the process! They are afraid to see what their swings look like on video. Yet, if there is one tool in my arsenal that I think is the most effective for teaching golf, it is the use of video as a diagnosis tool.
The use of video gives tremendous feedback to the student. Occasionally, while I am teaching and moving a student through their swing the way I would like them to swing, they will say “that doesn’t feel right” or “that feels awkward.” Or, sometimes they will say they thought they really had done what I asked them to do on a particular swing, even though from my vantage point, it was clear they had not. Yet, when they see their own swing video, and then how I want them to swing on video, they know they need to make some changes to get better.
As a result of this, I now insist that the first lesson a student receives from me will involve the use of video. I have set up an indoor golf studio that includes video equipment and a golf simulator. The simulator provides feedback as to what the club is doing at impact. It tells the student whether their swing path is inside out, outside in, or square, and then tells the student about the angle of the club face as well. Is it square, closed or open? An explanation in regard to the physics of ball flight laws will accompany this feed back.
Once we see the overall pattern of the swing path and ball flight on the simulator, I bring in the video camera. I combine this with the analysis software that I use. Analyzing the student’s swing in slow motion will reveal the swing faults of the student. This analysis then helps with developing a plan for improvement.
The advantage to using video over the standard lesson on the driving range is clear. When on the driving range, if a student continues to struggle with their ball flight without seeing their own swing on video, they will tend to dismiss the changes that the instructor is communicating. They simply move on to the next instructor to try and find that magic fix. This is why many instructors simply focus on trying to provide a quick swing fix, rather than communicate a plan for overall improvement in the swing. The problem is, that quick fix will disappear just as quickly as it appeared.
On the other hand, when a student sees their own swing on video, that student receives significant feedback regarding golf swing issues they need to correct. If the student gets a good explanation of cause and effect from the instructor based upon what they see in the video, they will have more confidence in the changes the instructor wants to make.
Not only that, but a student can incorporate the use of video in their own practice. Many of the popular video analysis programs can be purchased for home use at a steep discount to what the professionals pay for higher end programs. A standard video camera and computer are all the equipment that is needed. Once a student understands the swing changes they are trying to make, the use of video can provide them feedback on their progress.
The bottom line is that video analysis is now the single best tool a golf instructor can employ when teaching their students. As such, the serious golf student should eagerly seek out instructors who employ this technology regularly.
Scott Cole www.powergolftraining.net
The use of video gives tremendous feedback to the student. Occasionally, while I am teaching and moving a student through their swing the way I would like them to swing, they will say “that doesn’t feel right” or “that feels awkward.” Or, sometimes they will say they thought they really had done what I asked them to do on a particular swing, even though from my vantage point, it was clear they had not. Yet, when they see their own swing video, and then how I want them to swing on video, they know they need to make some changes to get better.
As a result of this, I now insist that the first lesson a student receives from me will involve the use of video. I have set up an indoor golf studio that includes video equipment and a golf simulator. The simulator provides feedback as to what the club is doing at impact. It tells the student whether their swing path is inside out, outside in, or square, and then tells the student about the angle of the club face as well. Is it square, closed or open? An explanation in regard to the physics of ball flight laws will accompany this feed back.
Once we see the overall pattern of the swing path and ball flight on the simulator, I bring in the video camera. I combine this with the analysis software that I use. Analyzing the student’s swing in slow motion will reveal the swing faults of the student. This analysis then helps with developing a plan for improvement.
The advantage to using video over the standard lesson on the driving range is clear. When on the driving range, if a student continues to struggle with their ball flight without seeing their own swing on video, they will tend to dismiss the changes that the instructor is communicating. They simply move on to the next instructor to try and find that magic fix. This is why many instructors simply focus on trying to provide a quick swing fix, rather than communicate a plan for overall improvement in the swing. The problem is, that quick fix will disappear just as quickly as it appeared.
On the other hand, when a student sees their own swing on video, that student receives significant feedback regarding golf swing issues they need to correct. If the student gets a good explanation of cause and effect from the instructor based upon what they see in the video, they will have more confidence in the changes the instructor wants to make.
Not only that, but a student can incorporate the use of video in their own practice. Many of the popular video analysis programs can be purchased for home use at a steep discount to what the professionals pay for higher end programs. A standard video camera and computer are all the equipment that is needed. Once a student understands the swing changes they are trying to make, the use of video can provide them feedback on their progress.
The bottom line is that video analysis is now the single best tool a golf instructor can employ when teaching their students. As such, the serious golf student should eagerly seek out instructors who employ this technology regularly.
Scott Cole www.powergolftraining.net
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Performance Enhancing Drugs and Golf
The PGA Tour had its first golfer test positive for performance enhancing drugs. Details were not provided due to the tour's privacy policy. The player in question is Doug Barron, not a big name, and a player who has struggled with a variety of health issues over the years. He played little on the tour this year.
Although Tiger Woods has elevated fitness in the minds of many tour players over the last decade, it is really not from the standpoint of hitting the ball further. He was a very long hitter when he first arrived on tour, but decided to approach his profession as a professional athlete, and prepare accordingly. This was to avoid injury more than anything else. Golf can be pretty tough on the body, and we have seen many great players suffer from a variety of ailments over the years.
Can performance enhancing drugs help your golf game? Doubtful. Can it help you hit the ball further? Certainly, if you get a lot stronger. Just look at many of the participants in the world long drive competitions these days. Many are built like NFL safeties or small linebackers. But, in 2008, the World Championship was won by a small Canadian weighing less than 165 pounds.
However, steroids are not going to help your putting or your short game. That is where you score. And the fact is, you really do not need steroids to hit the ball further. Most people need to become more flexible first, so they have a longer, more fluid golf swing. Then a little strengthening and some core work can help add a bit more swing speed.
So, stick with the more natural ways of gaining strength, and you will see a benefit to your golf game.
Scott Cole www.powergolftraining.net
Although Tiger Woods has elevated fitness in the minds of many tour players over the last decade, it is really not from the standpoint of hitting the ball further. He was a very long hitter when he first arrived on tour, but decided to approach his profession as a professional athlete, and prepare accordingly. This was to avoid injury more than anything else. Golf can be pretty tough on the body, and we have seen many great players suffer from a variety of ailments over the years.
Can performance enhancing drugs help your golf game? Doubtful. Can it help you hit the ball further? Certainly, if you get a lot stronger. Just look at many of the participants in the world long drive competitions these days. Many are built like NFL safeties or small linebackers. But, in 2008, the World Championship was won by a small Canadian weighing less than 165 pounds.
However, steroids are not going to help your putting or your short game. That is where you score. And the fact is, you really do not need steroids to hit the ball further. Most people need to become more flexible first, so they have a longer, more fluid golf swing. Then a little strengthening and some core work can help add a bit more swing speed.
So, stick with the more natural ways of gaining strength, and you will see a benefit to your golf game.
Scott Cole www.powergolftraining.net
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