Showing posts with label golf instruction. Show all posts
Showing posts with label golf instruction. 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 16, 2011
Golf Tip of the Day - More Short Game Practice
If this is the year you truly want to lower your scores, you need to spend more time on your short game. At this time of year, it is perfectly ok to get out to the range to focus on the full swing for a few sessions to get the timing back. Also, if you are really interested in making swing changes this year to improve your ball striking, now is the time to do get started.
However, once you have those first few sessions under your belt, you should really focus a lot more attention on the short game. In fact, short game practice should account for at least 50% of your overall practice. Putting should account for 50% of your short game practice.
For a typical practice session, here is what I recommend. Work your way through the three basic shots around the green...chip shots, longer pitch shots, and lob shots. Hit a group of ten shots of each type to a target circle. For chip shots, the circle should be 6 feet in diameter, for pitch shots, 12 feet in diameter, and for lob shots, about 20 feet in diameter. Count how many you get in the target circle for each type of shot, and figure out the average of each. Then hit 10 more of each shot and try to beat your first group of 10 results.
After that, pick one type of shot to focus more attention on, including bunker shots. Focus more attention on measuring your performance with each grouping. Determine where you want to LAND your shots, write down how close you get to the landing spot on each shot, and how close you get to the hole. Hit an odd number of shots, measure the median distance from each group, then try to beat that median with your next group of shots.
The key to your short game practice is to practice with greater focus. Do not just mindlessly hit chip shots. Do your best on each shot, and measure performance. When you do this, you will see faster improvement.
I'll touch on putting in a future post!
Scott Cole
www.scottcolegolf.com
However, once you have those first few sessions under your belt, you should really focus a lot more attention on the short game. In fact, short game practice should account for at least 50% of your overall practice. Putting should account for 50% of your short game practice.
For a typical practice session, here is what I recommend. Work your way through the three basic shots around the green...chip shots, longer pitch shots, and lob shots. Hit a group of ten shots of each type to a target circle. For chip shots, the circle should be 6 feet in diameter, for pitch shots, 12 feet in diameter, and for lob shots, about 20 feet in diameter. Count how many you get in the target circle for each type of shot, and figure out the average of each. Then hit 10 more of each shot and try to beat your first group of 10 results.
After that, pick one type of shot to focus more attention on, including bunker shots. Focus more attention on measuring your performance with each grouping. Determine where you want to LAND your shots, write down how close you get to the landing spot on each shot, and how close you get to the hole. Hit an odd number of shots, measure the median distance from each group, then try to beat that median with your next group of shots.
The key to your short game practice is to practice with greater focus. Do not just mindlessly hit chip shots. Do your best on each shot, and measure performance. When you do this, you will see faster improvement.
I'll touch on putting in a future post!
Scott Cole
www.scottcolegolf.com
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Golf Tip of the Day - Focused Practice
Most golfers head to the range, grab a bucket of balls, and just start hitting away with no real plan in mind. If they are hitting the ball poorly, they try to remember old tips or old feelings that may have resulted in a few good shots at some point.
I've mentioned before that to gain long term improvement in the long run, golfers need to gain an understanding of their own swing, its flaws and how to correct them and build a better golf swing. This takes time, focus and lots of practice.
Another way to zero in even more on the range is to start keeping some statistics while practicing. This takes more time while you are practicing, but is well worth the effort, and it will help you eliminate flaws and make improvements more quickly.
For instance, yesterday I decided to focus on my short iron play on the range. I warmed up with some wedges, then moved up to the 8 iron, 5 iron, 2 iron and driver. I then dropped back down to the 8-iron shot. At our range, we have one green that is essentially in the 8-iron or 9-iron range for me, depending on conditions. Yesterday, it was about 50 degrees and I had a light breeze in my face, so it was an 8-iron shot.
I decided to keep track of 20 shots at that flag. I would mark down what direction in relation to the flag that the ball would start, and its distance and direction from the flag after it landed. My dispersion over the first ten shots was pretty wide as I was struggling with my swing, but I managed to hit a couple decent shots in those first ten. With the second ten I tried to get the same feel I had for those two good shots, and my shot dispersion was much better.
What this type of practice also does is get you to focus on your routine. If you practice as if you are on the golf course trying to hit your best shot, you will go through your on course routine for each practice shot. This will help to reinforce your on course routine, and it will become second nature.
Get more focused in your practice, and I guarantee your scores will drop!
Scott Cole
www.howtgolfyourbest.com
I've mentioned before that to gain long term improvement in the long run, golfers need to gain an understanding of their own swing, its flaws and how to correct them and build a better golf swing. This takes time, focus and lots of practice.
Another way to zero in even more on the range is to start keeping some statistics while practicing. This takes more time while you are practicing, but is well worth the effort, and it will help you eliminate flaws and make improvements more quickly.
For instance, yesterday I decided to focus on my short iron play on the range. I warmed up with some wedges, then moved up to the 8 iron, 5 iron, 2 iron and driver. I then dropped back down to the 8-iron shot. At our range, we have one green that is essentially in the 8-iron or 9-iron range for me, depending on conditions. Yesterday, it was about 50 degrees and I had a light breeze in my face, so it was an 8-iron shot.
I decided to keep track of 20 shots at that flag. I would mark down what direction in relation to the flag that the ball would start, and its distance and direction from the flag after it landed. My dispersion over the first ten shots was pretty wide as I was struggling with my swing, but I managed to hit a couple decent shots in those first ten. With the second ten I tried to get the same feel I had for those two good shots, and my shot dispersion was much better.
What this type of practice also does is get you to focus on your routine. If you practice as if you are on the golf course trying to hit your best shot, you will go through your on course routine for each practice shot. This will help to reinforce your on course routine, and it will become second nature.
Get more focused in your practice, and I guarantee your scores will drop!
Scott Cole
www.howtgolfyourbest.com
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
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
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Golf Tip of the Day - More Thoughts on the Mental Game
Remember that round of golf where everything seemed to go right? Remember those rounds where everything seemed to go wrong? What's the difference?
From my perspective, the main issue that can sabotage a round of golf is keeping an eye on the prize. This can be the thought of winning a tournament or shooting your best score when you are playing well.
The first time this thought sabotaged a tournament for me was in the PA state high school championship. With 8 holes to play, I had a 5 shot lead over one of the best high school golfers in the country, Ted Tryba. I had started the day with a three shot lead, and four over Ted. At this point in the round, I was not playing particularly well, but I remember having this lead because that is exactly when I started thinking about winning.
I subsequently bogeyed the next two holes and my lead was quickly down to three. Ted started to play well and was hitting it close on every hole, but not making putts. I just missed a 10 footer on 17 that would have given me a three shot lead with one to play. I walked up to 18 tee with a two shot lead, and simply choked my guts out, made bogey on an easy par 5 and lost to Ted in sudden death.
A couple years later, I found myself in contention to make it through to the sectional qualifier for the U.S. Open. I was not playing well this day, but I was putting well, and conditions were tough, so the scores were high. Tour player Mark Wiebe finished second that day with a 1 under par total.
I actually shanked two full swing shots that day, one with a 6 iron on a par 3 and one with a 1-iron off the tee. I recovered in both cases to limit the damage to bogeys. I ended up in a 5 way playoff for one spot, and among those players was Stu Ingraham, who would be on the PGA Tour the next year. I was nervous as can be, but somehow managed to execute, made birdie, and won the playoff. In this case, my focus was not so much on the prize, but just trying to not make an ass out of myself.
A couple years after this I remember playing a 36 hole match against a big rival of mine for our club championship. We were both cocky and pretty much hit it 20 yards past everyone else we played with in those days. We were both playing pretty well, and I had a lot of confidence that summer. After a shaky start, I found myself 4 down after 8 holes with some stupid play. Then I just started to play. Over the next 25 holes I played 7 under par, and won the match 3 and 2. In this case, I simply would not be denied. It wasn't the championship I was thinking about, it was just beating my rival. I wasn't worried about what he was doing, just playing the best I could.
We often get too wrapped up in trying to find some secret mental technique to help us with our game. The funny thing is, most of the great players never thought that way. They simply focused on the task at hand. If they were confident, chances are they would win.
In the two examples I presented here where I got the job done, I did it in different ways. In neither case was I focused on the prize. I was simply focused on the task at hand, and I just executed to the best of my ability. Yes, I was very nervous in both cases. But there were no other thoughts sabotaging my round. In one case, I wasn't playing well, so I was just focused on doing the best I could. In the other case, I was playing well, and was focused on beating my rival with good play. In that instance, that might be viewed as a prize in itself, but for me it was motivation. And, since I had already won one club championship before, I was not fixated on that prize.
The bottom line is that you have to just do your best to focus on executing the shot at hand. If you think about a potential prize or you let negative thoughts creep into your head, you will only sabotage your round. Have fun, and just be yourself during the round, and play each shot to the best of your ability. At the end of the day, chances are you will have had a good round.
In regard to golf, it is my thought that keeping things simple is the way to go. There is no magic formula for success.
Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com
From my perspective, the main issue that can sabotage a round of golf is keeping an eye on the prize. This can be the thought of winning a tournament or shooting your best score when you are playing well.
The first time this thought sabotaged a tournament for me was in the PA state high school championship. With 8 holes to play, I had a 5 shot lead over one of the best high school golfers in the country, Ted Tryba. I had started the day with a three shot lead, and four over Ted. At this point in the round, I was not playing particularly well, but I remember having this lead because that is exactly when I started thinking about winning.
I subsequently bogeyed the next two holes and my lead was quickly down to three. Ted started to play well and was hitting it close on every hole, but not making putts. I just missed a 10 footer on 17 that would have given me a three shot lead with one to play. I walked up to 18 tee with a two shot lead, and simply choked my guts out, made bogey on an easy par 5 and lost to Ted in sudden death.
A couple years later, I found myself in contention to make it through to the sectional qualifier for the U.S. Open. I was not playing well this day, but I was putting well, and conditions were tough, so the scores were high. Tour player Mark Wiebe finished second that day with a 1 under par total.
I actually shanked two full swing shots that day, one with a 6 iron on a par 3 and one with a 1-iron off the tee. I recovered in both cases to limit the damage to bogeys. I ended up in a 5 way playoff for one spot, and among those players was Stu Ingraham, who would be on the PGA Tour the next year. I was nervous as can be, but somehow managed to execute, made birdie, and won the playoff. In this case, my focus was not so much on the prize, but just trying to not make an ass out of myself.
A couple years after this I remember playing a 36 hole match against a big rival of mine for our club championship. We were both cocky and pretty much hit it 20 yards past everyone else we played with in those days. We were both playing pretty well, and I had a lot of confidence that summer. After a shaky start, I found myself 4 down after 8 holes with some stupid play. Then I just started to play. Over the next 25 holes I played 7 under par, and won the match 3 and 2. In this case, I simply would not be denied. It wasn't the championship I was thinking about, it was just beating my rival. I wasn't worried about what he was doing, just playing the best I could.
We often get too wrapped up in trying to find some secret mental technique to help us with our game. The funny thing is, most of the great players never thought that way. They simply focused on the task at hand. If they were confident, chances are they would win.
In the two examples I presented here where I got the job done, I did it in different ways. In neither case was I focused on the prize. I was simply focused on the task at hand, and I just executed to the best of my ability. Yes, I was very nervous in both cases. But there were no other thoughts sabotaging my round. In one case, I wasn't playing well, so I was just focused on doing the best I could. In the other case, I was playing well, and was focused on beating my rival with good play. In that instance, that might be viewed as a prize in itself, but for me it was motivation. And, since I had already won one club championship before, I was not fixated on that prize.
The bottom line is that you have to just do your best to focus on executing the shot at hand. If you think about a potential prize or you let negative thoughts creep into your head, you will only sabotage your round. Have fun, and just be yourself during the round, and play each shot to the best of your ability. At the end of the day, chances are you will have had a good round.
In regard to golf, it is my thought that keeping things simple is the way to go. There is no magic formula for success.
Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Golf Tip of the Day - Avoid Information Overload
There is so much golf instruction information available to golfers these days it is easy to see how many can suffer from information overload. Since golf instructors have had a great deal of difficulty in getting their students to improve, many are turning to new technologies and science to find ways to improve their students. Unfortunately, this may also have the effect of complicating things for the golfer.
Consider this…after analyzing the golfers swing on video, the instructor can also turn to 3D analysis systems to dig deeper into the biomechanics of the golfer’s swing, and their kinetic sequence. The instructor might then conduct a physical assessment of the golfer to identify any physical issues that might have a negative impact on the student’s swing. As a result of much of this analysis, the instructor may prescribe a host of exercises and drills on such devices as wobble boards, balance discs, swiss balls, etc., in an effort to get the student to develop greater physical skills.
On top of all this, there are a whole host of golf swing models that are marketed to golfers as the next best swing in golf. These include the One Plane Swing, Two Plane Swing, Peak Performance Golf Swing, Stack and Tilt Swing, The Golf Machine, and Rotary Swing, etc. All are touted as the best golf swing model, one that will add yards off the tee with greater accuracy.
The fact of the matter is that both the instructor and student can suffer from information overload. Let’s face it…some golfers will have more ability than others. It is up to the instructor to help the student maximize their potential. All that is really required is a simple approach where the student learns how to swing the club a bit better, and coaching on how to score better through an improved short game and golf course management.
My teaching philosophy embraces this more simple approach. I certainly enjoy using video analysis, and can see the benefits of some of the other technologies, but there are more simple ways to teach the golf swing. Unless the golfer is truly committed, all the technology in the world is not going to do the job. While these gadgets are certainly fun to play with as an instructor, I question their value.
The key is simply to learn the fundamentals of the golf swing, learn the ball flight laws, gain an understanding of how your swing can affect ball flight, and then properly work to make improvements on your swing and your short game. This can all be done without all the gizmos, gadgets and books.
Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com
Consider this…after analyzing the golfers swing on video, the instructor can also turn to 3D analysis systems to dig deeper into the biomechanics of the golfer’s swing, and their kinetic sequence. The instructor might then conduct a physical assessment of the golfer to identify any physical issues that might have a negative impact on the student’s swing. As a result of much of this analysis, the instructor may prescribe a host of exercises and drills on such devices as wobble boards, balance discs, swiss balls, etc., in an effort to get the student to develop greater physical skills.
On top of all this, there are a whole host of golf swing models that are marketed to golfers as the next best swing in golf. These include the One Plane Swing, Two Plane Swing, Peak Performance Golf Swing, Stack and Tilt Swing, The Golf Machine, and Rotary Swing, etc. All are touted as the best golf swing model, one that will add yards off the tee with greater accuracy.
The fact of the matter is that both the instructor and student can suffer from information overload. Let’s face it…some golfers will have more ability than others. It is up to the instructor to help the student maximize their potential. All that is really required is a simple approach where the student learns how to swing the club a bit better, and coaching on how to score better through an improved short game and golf course management.
My teaching philosophy embraces this more simple approach. I certainly enjoy using video analysis, and can see the benefits of some of the other technologies, but there are more simple ways to teach the golf swing. Unless the golfer is truly committed, all the technology in the world is not going to do the job. While these gadgets are certainly fun to play with as an instructor, I question their value.
The key is simply to learn the fundamentals of the golf swing, learn the ball flight laws, gain an understanding of how your swing can affect ball flight, and then properly work to make improvements on your swing and your short game. This can all be done without all the gizmos, gadgets and books.
Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Golf Tip of the Day - Winter Golf Instruction
We are getting a heat wave here in PA and Maryland toward the end of this week (yeah, over 40 degrees, woohoo!), so some folks apparently broke out the golf clubs yesterday and played some golf. One of my students immediately got in touch with me to set up a lesson.
Let's be realistic. We are only in the FIRST week of winter! We've had a cold December, and some long range forecasts suggest a warmer than average January and February, but please, you know it's generally going to be cold!
Now is NOT the time to get a lesson on your full swing unless you live in a warm climate. In that case, any time is a good time. But, here in PA, most golfers won't get out much until April. As such, a good time to start getting ready for the season with a full swing lesson is some time in March.
Now, if you absolutely have no clue about how to work on your golf swing over the winter months, then by all means, get a lesson. But, this lesson should not involve much ball striking. It should be all about learning the proper fundamentals of the swing. Most improvement in the golf swing comes WITHOUT hitting balls. Now is the time to get in front of a mirror and perform slow swings, and learn what it feels like to be in the proper positions throughout the golf swing.
Winter golf instruction can also focus on improving your biomechanics and fitness. If you have the opportunity, get yourself a physical assessment and get set up on a program to improve your golf fitness so you can be better prepared to improve your swing when the season arises.
If you have the itch to play golf this winter, go ahead! But, if you have not swung a club in a couple months, keep your expectations low. Your timing will likely be off a bit, and this will hamper your swing. However, your mind will likely be uncluttered as well, so you may actually be able to hit some good shots. The bottom line is to just enjoy yourself as always.
Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com
Let's be realistic. We are only in the FIRST week of winter! We've had a cold December, and some long range forecasts suggest a warmer than average January and February, but please, you know it's generally going to be cold!
Now is NOT the time to get a lesson on your full swing unless you live in a warm climate. In that case, any time is a good time. But, here in PA, most golfers won't get out much until April. As such, a good time to start getting ready for the season with a full swing lesson is some time in March.
Now, if you absolutely have no clue about how to work on your golf swing over the winter months, then by all means, get a lesson. But, this lesson should not involve much ball striking. It should be all about learning the proper fundamentals of the swing. Most improvement in the golf swing comes WITHOUT hitting balls. Now is the time to get in front of a mirror and perform slow swings, and learn what it feels like to be in the proper positions throughout the golf swing.
Winter golf instruction can also focus on improving your biomechanics and fitness. If you have the opportunity, get yourself a physical assessment and get set up on a program to improve your golf fitness so you can be better prepared to improve your swing when the season arises.
If you have the itch to play golf this winter, go ahead! But, if you have not swung a club in a couple months, keep your expectations low. Your timing will likely be off a bit, and this will hamper your swing. However, your mind will likely be uncluttered as well, so you may actually be able to hit some good shots. The bottom line is to just enjoy yourself as always.
Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Golf Tip of the Day - Goal Setting
As we approach the end of 2010, it’s time to set goals for the New Year. We should do this in all aspects of our life, but if you are passionate about your golf game, it’s really a great idea.
Let’s take the example of a 20 handicapper. Some people might be happy with dropping their handicap to 15 over a twelve month period. In reality, that would only be within the normal statistical fluctuation of a typical golfer’s scores. Consider this…the typical PGA Tour player is going to shoot a low round of 64 or 65 some time during the year, and under difficult conditions, may shoot a round or two in the 80s. That is essentially one shot per hole. The top players are more consistent and may have a narrower deviation.
With this in mind, the 20 handicapper can expect to shoot anywhere from 85 to 105 during the course of a year. Dropping down to a 15 handicap would only drop those figures from 80 to 100. In reality, dropping down to a 15 handicap only requires a few more scores in the low 80’s and a few less scores above 95. The golfer might get a little more consistent for a season through better putting, or better ball striking, but their overall game really shows limited improvement. The next year, they could be right back up to a 20 handicap if one area of their game falls apart. Therefore, why not be a bit more ambitious in your goal setting? You can be ambitious, but still realistic! I say you shoot for a 50% drop in your handicap.
To really drop your handicap by 50% or more, you have to show improvement in your entire game. To go from a 20 handicap to a 10 handicap will require you to break 80 a couple times, and shoot only a few scores in the 90s. Is this possible? Absolutely. As 12 year old, I dropped my handicap from 25 to 14. When I was 13, I went from 14 to 8, and when I was 14 I went from 8 to 4. After that, my handicap hovered from scratch to 3 for the balance of my amateur career. I plateaued due to lack of adequate instruction, as no one could ever claim I was lazy. I hit more balls than anyone I knew. Ok, so my handicap was dropping about 40% per year, but that was without any instruction. I just went out and played.
So how do you go about accomplishing this goal? You need to break things down in more detail.
First, you should set a goal of improved ball striking by the time the season begins in earnest. Here in Maryland, that is around mid-April. The weather beginning in mid-March is adequate for work on the full swing. Get yourself some instruction on the full swing, and start your practice. If you practice smartly, and keep accurate data, by the time May rolls around, you should already be hitting the ball better than the previous year.
Now its time focus on other areas of your game. In your first few rounds of the year, you should pay attention to your ball flight characteristics, where you are missing your tee shots, where you are missing the green, how many penalty shots you are accruing, how you are missing your putts, etc. If you can keep accurate data, you will learn your tendencies and what areas of your game need the most work. Then you can set goals for your putting, greens in regulation, etc.
If you are an avid golfer and you already keep detailed statistics, it is far easier to develop detailed goals for the upcoming season. Get yourself into this habit, and each year you will find you have the ability to improve, no matter how low your handicap is to start the year.
Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com
Let’s take the example of a 20 handicapper. Some people might be happy with dropping their handicap to 15 over a twelve month period. In reality, that would only be within the normal statistical fluctuation of a typical golfer’s scores. Consider this…the typical PGA Tour player is going to shoot a low round of 64 or 65 some time during the year, and under difficult conditions, may shoot a round or two in the 80s. That is essentially one shot per hole. The top players are more consistent and may have a narrower deviation.
With this in mind, the 20 handicapper can expect to shoot anywhere from 85 to 105 during the course of a year. Dropping down to a 15 handicap would only drop those figures from 80 to 100. In reality, dropping down to a 15 handicap only requires a few more scores in the low 80’s and a few less scores above 95. The golfer might get a little more consistent for a season through better putting, or better ball striking, but their overall game really shows limited improvement. The next year, they could be right back up to a 20 handicap if one area of their game falls apart. Therefore, why not be a bit more ambitious in your goal setting? You can be ambitious, but still realistic! I say you shoot for a 50% drop in your handicap.
To really drop your handicap by 50% or more, you have to show improvement in your entire game. To go from a 20 handicap to a 10 handicap will require you to break 80 a couple times, and shoot only a few scores in the 90s. Is this possible? Absolutely. As 12 year old, I dropped my handicap from 25 to 14. When I was 13, I went from 14 to 8, and when I was 14 I went from 8 to 4. After that, my handicap hovered from scratch to 3 for the balance of my amateur career. I plateaued due to lack of adequate instruction, as no one could ever claim I was lazy. I hit more balls than anyone I knew. Ok, so my handicap was dropping about 40% per year, but that was without any instruction. I just went out and played.
So how do you go about accomplishing this goal? You need to break things down in more detail.
First, you should set a goal of improved ball striking by the time the season begins in earnest. Here in Maryland, that is around mid-April. The weather beginning in mid-March is adequate for work on the full swing. Get yourself some instruction on the full swing, and start your practice. If you practice smartly, and keep accurate data, by the time May rolls around, you should already be hitting the ball better than the previous year.
Now its time focus on other areas of your game. In your first few rounds of the year, you should pay attention to your ball flight characteristics, where you are missing your tee shots, where you are missing the green, how many penalty shots you are accruing, how you are missing your putts, etc. If you can keep accurate data, you will learn your tendencies and what areas of your game need the most work. Then you can set goals for your putting, greens in regulation, etc.
If you are an avid golfer and you already keep detailed statistics, it is far easier to develop detailed goals for the upcoming season. Get yourself into this habit, and each year you will find you have the ability to improve, no matter how low your handicap is to start the year.
Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com
Monday, December 20, 2010
Golf Tip of the Day - How to Improve Your Golf Swing
If you've ever paid much attention to the golf tips I write in this blog, you will notice that I rarely get into specifics about how to swing the golf club, or offer specific ways to putt or hit various shots. There are millions of tips like that on the internet, in books and in magazines. If you read this blog, chances are you've seen a lot of those tips.
Today I offer a very general idea about improving your golf game. If you want to hit the ball better, you need to improve your swing. But, what exactly does that mean and how do you do it? Well, the first thing I will say is that there is no SECRET. Just as there are millions of golf tips to help you improve your swing, there are thousands of ways to swing a golf club relatively effectively.
Consider this...there are over 28,000 PGA professionals (no, I am not one of them). To gain entry into the PGA management program, at some point you must pass a players ability test. Typically, to pass, you have to shoot a couple scores in the mid-70s. I would argue that to do that, you need a reasonably effective golf swing. But, I guarantee, many of those swings are going to look a bit unorthodox.
So, when I say that to play better golf you need to improve your swing, I am not saying you need to go out and try and turn your swing into Ben Hogan's swing. What I am saying is that you should learn about the basic fundamentals of the golf swing and try to apply them to your swing.
Unfortunately, we have some disparity in opinion regarding these basic fundamentals. For instance, the Stack and Tilt swing model will have you set up to the ball with more weight on your front foot and have you feel as if you are keeping more weight on this front foot throughout the swing. That swing will have you finish with definitive tilt in your upper body away from the target.
Other swing models seem to be a response to the Stack and Tilt swing. For instance, CJ Goeck's Perfect Connection model will have you finish in a more upright position that appears to put less strain on the back than the Stack and Tilt swing. Also, there is disagreement among the supposed golf biomechanics as to what model will result in less stress on the body.
So, what does all this mean for the golfer? I strongly believe that the first thing a golfer should do to start making improvements is to get a physical assessment of their body from an experienced trainer or therapist. This will help identify the weaknesses in the body that may be keeping you from making any improvements at all.
Once you identify those weaknesses, work to strengthen them through a training program recommended by your trainer. After that, it is on to the fundamentals.
I believe that the fundamentals of the swing are quite simple. They start with a good grip, good stance and posture, and then you need to train the body how to move properly in the golf swing. Get yourself a video analysis of your swing so you can identify the areas that need most improvement. Then set a goal to improve on those fundamentals. Develop a plan to achieve that goal. This plan should require that you only work on one or two areas of the swing at a time.
Keep this in mind...improving your golf swing is a long term pursuit. If you are simply looking for a quick fix to help you straighten out your slice, don't expect long term improvement in your ball striking. Improving your swing requires knowledge of the fundamentals and the ball flight laws.
One other thing I should add...there is no one golf swing model that is better than the rest. While Ben Hogan had a gorgeous swing, most people do not have the physical capabilities of duplicating that swing. I can't name one player on the PGA Tour who swings like Hogan. None.
There is, however, a golf swing model that will work for best for you, based upon your own abilities. As Hogan used to say, you have to go dig it out of the dirt.
Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com
Today I offer a very general idea about improving your golf game. If you want to hit the ball better, you need to improve your swing. But, what exactly does that mean and how do you do it? Well, the first thing I will say is that there is no SECRET. Just as there are millions of golf tips to help you improve your swing, there are thousands of ways to swing a golf club relatively effectively.
Consider this...there are over 28,000 PGA professionals (no, I am not one of them). To gain entry into the PGA management program, at some point you must pass a players ability test. Typically, to pass, you have to shoot a couple scores in the mid-70s. I would argue that to do that, you need a reasonably effective golf swing. But, I guarantee, many of those swings are going to look a bit unorthodox.
So, when I say that to play better golf you need to improve your swing, I am not saying you need to go out and try and turn your swing into Ben Hogan's swing. What I am saying is that you should learn about the basic fundamentals of the golf swing and try to apply them to your swing.
Unfortunately, we have some disparity in opinion regarding these basic fundamentals. For instance, the Stack and Tilt swing model will have you set up to the ball with more weight on your front foot and have you feel as if you are keeping more weight on this front foot throughout the swing. That swing will have you finish with definitive tilt in your upper body away from the target.
Other swing models seem to be a response to the Stack and Tilt swing. For instance, CJ Goeck's Perfect Connection model will have you finish in a more upright position that appears to put less strain on the back than the Stack and Tilt swing. Also, there is disagreement among the supposed golf biomechanics as to what model will result in less stress on the body.
So, what does all this mean for the golfer? I strongly believe that the first thing a golfer should do to start making improvements is to get a physical assessment of their body from an experienced trainer or therapist. This will help identify the weaknesses in the body that may be keeping you from making any improvements at all.
Once you identify those weaknesses, work to strengthen them through a training program recommended by your trainer. After that, it is on to the fundamentals.
I believe that the fundamentals of the swing are quite simple. They start with a good grip, good stance and posture, and then you need to train the body how to move properly in the golf swing. Get yourself a video analysis of your swing so you can identify the areas that need most improvement. Then set a goal to improve on those fundamentals. Develop a plan to achieve that goal. This plan should require that you only work on one or two areas of the swing at a time.
Keep this in mind...improving your golf swing is a long term pursuit. If you are simply looking for a quick fix to help you straighten out your slice, don't expect long term improvement in your ball striking. Improving your swing requires knowledge of the fundamentals and the ball flight laws.
One other thing I should add...there is no one golf swing model that is better than the rest. While Ben Hogan had a gorgeous swing, most people do not have the physical capabilities of duplicating that swing. I can't name one player on the PGA Tour who swings like Hogan. None.
There is, however, a golf swing model that will work for best for you, based upon your own abilities. As Hogan used to say, you have to go dig it out of the dirt.
Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com
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
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Golf Tip of the Day - Passive Arms
I just read a great interview with instructor Jim Waldron, who teaches in Oregon and Hawaii. I agree with much of what Jim teaches and how he teaches. Jim has a martial arts background as I do, and he employs much of what he has learned in studying the martial arts into his golf instruction, as I do.
One thing he mentions in his interview is that the arms should be PASSIVE throughout the golf swing. Most golfers try to control the golf club too much with the hands and arms, and as a result, they actually lose control of the club. Over active arms throughout the golf swing also results in a substantial loss of power.
Jim refers to the use of the arms in the golf swing as the "Arm Swing Illusion." It appears that the arms control the club throughout the swing, but they actually just follow the body movement. If you employ sound mechanics in your swing, you don't have to worry about what the arms are doing. Furthermore, the arms actually move very little on their own during the swing, it just looks that way.
I often say to students "you have to lose control to gain control." Until you understand that concept, you'll never take your swing to the next level. Learn to develop passive arms throughout your swing, and keep the triangle formed by your arms and shoulders down to the grip of your club in front of your body, and you will become a much better ball striker.
Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com
One thing he mentions in his interview is that the arms should be PASSIVE throughout the golf swing. Most golfers try to control the golf club too much with the hands and arms, and as a result, they actually lose control of the club. Over active arms throughout the golf swing also results in a substantial loss of power.
Jim refers to the use of the arms in the golf swing as the "Arm Swing Illusion." It appears that the arms control the club throughout the swing, but they actually just follow the body movement. If you employ sound mechanics in your swing, you don't have to worry about what the arms are doing. Furthermore, the arms actually move very little on their own during the swing, it just looks that way.
I often say to students "you have to lose control to gain control." Until you understand that concept, you'll never take your swing to the next level. Learn to develop passive arms throughout your swing, and keep the triangle formed by your arms and shoulders down to the grip of your club in front of your body, and you will become a much better ball striker.
Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com
Monday, December 13, 2010
How To Play Golf Without Back Pain
The golf swing is a complex athletic move that involves the use of just about every muscle and joint in the body. As a result, golfers tend to be injury prone when they swing the golf club with some improper moves during the golf swing. One biomechanical trainer who trains a number of golfers on the PGA Tour has suggested that golfers are great compensators. When they struggle to make a proper move at some point in the golf swing, golfers will compensate by trying to counter that move later in the golf swing. Unfortunately, this is often when injuries occur.
Probably the most common injury among golfers is in the back. Back injuries are usually a result of two major faults in the golf swing. The first swing fault occurs when the golfer has difficulty lifting their arms in the back swing. The golfer usually compensates for this by tilting the hips in the back swing, instead of turning them. As a result, the back leans toward the target in the back swing. In the downswing, in order to make some decent contact with the ball, the golfer must thrust the hips forward violently, which tilts the spine back away from the target, and puts significant pressure on the lower back.
The golfer who has some difficulty in lifting their arms in the back swing likely has some shoulder issues that need to be addressed. There is likely some rotational ability that can be addressed with treatment and exercise. Once this is addressed, the golfer should also learn to swing the club without tilting the spine toward the target. Maintaining the spine angle properly throughout the swing will go a long way toward playing without back pain.
The second swing fault that results in back pain is the reverse C position that many golfers end up in on their follow through. Many golfers end up in this position because they do not understand how the golf club functions to get the ball in the air. As such, they try to help the ball in the air with a big follow through that results in them leaning away too much from the target, and this puts significant pressure on the lower and middle back.
The simple solution to this swing fault is to get a better understanding of how the golf club works to get the ball in the air. Consider a pitching wedge. The wedge typically has 47 degrees of loft, and a number of grooves. The loft and the grooves will combine to create backspin, and it is the backspin that lifts the ball in the air. The more spin you create, the higher the ball flies.
Many beginners and average golfers instead try to help the ball in the air by catching the ball on the upswing as they tilt the back too far away from the target. What they should be doing is lowering their center of gravity in the downswing, which will allow the club to catch the ball first, and bottom out past where the ball was sitting. The divot should actually occur past where the ball was sitting. This allows the club to compress the ball and put spin on it to get it into the air. A golfer who understands this knows that they don’t need to tilt the spine so much during the swing.
The key to avoiding back pain while playing golf is to learn the proper fundamentals of the swing. By having a better understanding of the swing fundamentals, the golfer can learn to swing the club properly, and play pain free.
Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com
Probably the most common injury among golfers is in the back. Back injuries are usually a result of two major faults in the golf swing. The first swing fault occurs when the golfer has difficulty lifting their arms in the back swing. The golfer usually compensates for this by tilting the hips in the back swing, instead of turning them. As a result, the back leans toward the target in the back swing. In the downswing, in order to make some decent contact with the ball, the golfer must thrust the hips forward violently, which tilts the spine back away from the target, and puts significant pressure on the lower back.
The golfer who has some difficulty in lifting their arms in the back swing likely has some shoulder issues that need to be addressed. There is likely some rotational ability that can be addressed with treatment and exercise. Once this is addressed, the golfer should also learn to swing the club without tilting the spine toward the target. Maintaining the spine angle properly throughout the swing will go a long way toward playing without back pain.
The second swing fault that results in back pain is the reverse C position that many golfers end up in on their follow through. Many golfers end up in this position because they do not understand how the golf club functions to get the ball in the air. As such, they try to help the ball in the air with a big follow through that results in them leaning away too much from the target, and this puts significant pressure on the lower and middle back.
The simple solution to this swing fault is to get a better understanding of how the golf club works to get the ball in the air. Consider a pitching wedge. The wedge typically has 47 degrees of loft, and a number of grooves. The loft and the grooves will combine to create backspin, and it is the backspin that lifts the ball in the air. The more spin you create, the higher the ball flies.
Many beginners and average golfers instead try to help the ball in the air by catching the ball on the upswing as they tilt the back too far away from the target. What they should be doing is lowering their center of gravity in the downswing, which will allow the club to catch the ball first, and bottom out past where the ball was sitting. The divot should actually occur past where the ball was sitting. This allows the club to compress the ball and put spin on it to get it into the air. A golfer who understands this knows that they don’t need to tilt the spine so much during the swing.
The key to avoiding back pain while playing golf is to learn the proper fundamentals of the swing. By having a better understanding of the swing fundamentals, the golfer can learn to swing the club properly, and play pain free.
Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com
Monday, December 6, 2010
Golf Tip of the Day - Keep an Open Mind
our students. Therefore, it is helpful to learn new ways and new ideas to help make students better.
With that in mind, I picked up a copy of the Stack and Tilt book yesterday to see what all the hub bub is about this swing model. There is practically a cult following with this model, much like there has been with the One Plane Swing. While I do not agree with many of the concepts of Stack and Tilt (or One Plane Swing for that matter), there are some things I found useful. Down the road I will start to conduct full reviews, but keep in mind, these will only be my opinions. That is the beauty of golf though, there are many ways to hit a golf ball, so there will be many opinions!
Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com
With that in mind, I picked up a copy of the Stack and Tilt book yesterday to see what all the hub bub is about this swing model. There is practically a cult following with this model, much like there has been with the One Plane Swing. While I do not agree with many of the concepts of Stack and Tilt (or One Plane Swing for that matter), there are some things I found useful. Down the road I will start to conduct full reviews, but keep in mind, these will only be my opinions. That is the beauty of golf though, there are many ways to hit a golf ball, so there will be many opinions!
Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Golf Tip of the Day - Keep a Journal
In a couple previous posts I have discussed the topic of taking notes. Behavior analysis studies suggest that golfers can improve much more rapidly by taking detailed notes during practice, lessons and their rounds of golf.
Golfers should also maintain a daily journal whenever they do something golf related. During winter, this could mean describing the few indoor swings you took or putts you hit, or your workout at the gym. Otherwise, write down a paragraph or two describing your round of golf, the weather, how you were feeling, what bets you might have had, how you performed, etc.
This journal should be kept in addition to the detailed notes you should start taking regarding your golf game. When you combine the information in the journal and in your notes, you will have a far greater capacity for learning, and this should lead you to improve your scores more rapidly.
Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com
Golfers should also maintain a daily journal whenever they do something golf related. During winter, this could mean describing the few indoor swings you took or putts you hit, or your workout at the gym. Otherwise, write down a paragraph or two describing your round of golf, the weather, how you were feeling, what bets you might have had, how you performed, etc.
This journal should be kept in addition to the detailed notes you should start taking regarding your golf game. When you combine the information in the journal and in your notes, you will have a far greater capacity for learning, and this should lead you to improve your scores more rapidly.
Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Golf Tip of the Day - Indoor Training
I think Mother Nature officially ended the golf season here in the Northeast and Maryland yesterday. The temperature dropped about 20 degrees in a matter of minutes as this cold front blew through. A few hearty souls still managed to find their way to Olney Golf Park, but it was not a comfortable day to work on your game or play golf anywhere.
So, now we are faced with about three months of chilly weather. Sure, there will be a few days where we can practice comfortably, but they will be few and far between. The heaters here at Olney Golf Park will help the avid golfer, but short game practice won't happen much.
How can we stay in touch with our golf swings when the weather gets cold? This is the time to really do some hard work on your swing. Indoor practice can be quite beneficial all year round. This is a great opportunity to work on your fundamentals.
I consistently hammer the point home...get in front of a mirror and work through the various positions of your swing slowly. Study the fundamentals of the full swing, and try to match them in the mirror. Use a face on view at times and a down the line view at times.
Learn how to move the body properly through the golf swing. Learn how to keep the club on plane slowly, and gradually try to build up your swing speed. If you struggle with making these movements, it could be the result of physical issues. Winter time is a great time to address these.
Don't let the cold months go to waste. To continually improve your game, it makes no sense to start again from scratch every Spring. Keep up the work in the winter months and you'll be sure to hit the ground running when Spring arrives.
Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com
So, now we are faced with about three months of chilly weather. Sure, there will be a few days where we can practice comfortably, but they will be few and far between. The heaters here at Olney Golf Park will help the avid golfer, but short game practice won't happen much.
How can we stay in touch with our golf swings when the weather gets cold? This is the time to really do some hard work on your swing. Indoor practice can be quite beneficial all year round. This is a great opportunity to work on your fundamentals.
I consistently hammer the point home...get in front of a mirror and work through the various positions of your swing slowly. Study the fundamentals of the full swing, and try to match them in the mirror. Use a face on view at times and a down the line view at times.
Learn how to move the body properly through the golf swing. Learn how to keep the club on plane slowly, and gradually try to build up your swing speed. If you struggle with making these movements, it could be the result of physical issues. Winter time is a great time to address these.
Don't let the cold months go to waste. To continually improve your game, it makes no sense to start again from scratch every Spring. Keep up the work in the winter months and you'll be sure to hit the ground running when Spring arrives.
Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com
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