Showing posts with label golf lessons. Show all posts
Showing posts with label golf lessons. 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
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
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Golf Tip of the Day - Why Most Golfers Never Improve
Most golfers never improve. That's just a fact. The average handicap, in spite of all the technological improvements in the last 30 years, has not budged. Why? There are several reasons...First, most golfers never receive quality instruction that allows them to gain an understanding of their own swing faults, how to improve them, and how various swing faults affect ball flight. Second, most people don't spend much time working on their short game. Most golfers spend far more time trying to find a swing that works on the driving range rather than on the most important part of the game, which is putting. Finally, most people don't know how to measure performance properly so that they can understand what is holding them back.
Since golf season has essentially arrived, make this the year that you gain a better understanding of your golf swing, and be accountable for it! Forget all the meaningless golf tips you hear on the range or from your golf partners. Get some good instruction and develop a long term plan for improvement. Learn how to keep better track of your performance so you can identify the areas of your game where you are losing the most shots. Finally, learn how to practice more intelligently! Don't just go beat balls on the driving range and then hit a few putts. Develop a plan of action before you head to the range or golf course, and stick with your plan!
Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com
Since golf season has essentially arrived, make this the year that you gain a better understanding of your golf swing, and be accountable for it! Forget all the meaningless golf tips you hear on the range or from your golf partners. Get some good instruction and develop a long term plan for improvement. Learn how to keep better track of your performance so you can identify the areas of your game where you are losing the most shots. Finally, learn how to practice more intelligently! Don't just go beat balls on the driving range and then hit a few putts. Develop a plan of action before you head to the range or golf course, and stick with your plan!
Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com
Monday, February 28, 2011
Golf Tip of the Day - Starting the Season
On these nice warm days, as few as they've been, that we've experienced this winter, many golfers head out to the range, itching to swing their clubs. Unfortunately, after hitting a few wedge shots to get warmed up, most go to the driver, hoping to find some magic.
What most people should do before stepping on the range is go over to the practice green and hit some chip shots and pitch shots. This will help reinforce the idea that you must learn how to hit the ball first, and then the ground, in order to get the ball in the air. I see too many people trying to lift the ball in the air using their arms.
Yesterday, I was standing next to a guy on the range...same basic build as me, although I may outweigh him by twenty pounds. He couldn't hit a driver as far as my 8 iron. Why? Because he does all the work with his arms, and creates no leverage in his swing.
Understanding that you need to learn how to hit the ball first before you hit the ground is the first step toward learning how to swing the club properly. Learning how to compress the ball is of utmost importance in trying to hit the ball further. This starts around the practice green.
Come see me at the Olney Golf Park in Olney, Maryland so I can get you started!
Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com
What most people should do before stepping on the range is go over to the practice green and hit some chip shots and pitch shots. This will help reinforce the idea that you must learn how to hit the ball first, and then the ground, in order to get the ball in the air. I see too many people trying to lift the ball in the air using their arms.
Yesterday, I was standing next to a guy on the range...same basic build as me, although I may outweigh him by twenty pounds. He couldn't hit a driver as far as my 8 iron. Why? Because he does all the work with his arms, and creates no leverage in his swing.
Understanding that you need to learn how to hit the ball first before you hit the ground is the first step toward learning how to swing the club properly. Learning how to compress the ball is of utmost importance in trying to hit the ball further. This starts around the practice green.
Come see me at the Olney Golf Park in Olney, Maryland so I can get you started!
Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Golf Tip - Preparing for Golf Season
It's the middle of February and we just got a taste of Spring, so I am sure many golfers took the opportunity to head to the driving range or even the golf course. I know I did! This a great time to get started on making some improvements to your golf swing so you don't need to worry about your swing so much during the heart of the season.
Swing changes take time and effort. If you've been watching the latest Haney Project with Rush Limbaugh, you know that Hank asked Rush to make 100 practice swings each day. It really doesn't take that much time. Ideally, these will be 100 FOCUSED practice swings. I like them to be performed in slow motion first, and preferably with a weighted club. Focus on the changes you want or need to make.
Patience is truly the key. If you are serious about making changes to your golf swing, you should know that even a minor change will take weeks before it will be ingrained in your swing. That means weeks of focused practice and lots of repetitions. That is why it is best to get started now. If you need a lesson, see your pro to develop your plan for improvement. If you have that plan in place, get to work!
Scott Cole
www.scottcolegolf.com
Swing changes take time and effort. If you've been watching the latest Haney Project with Rush Limbaugh, you know that Hank asked Rush to make 100 practice swings each day. It really doesn't take that much time. Ideally, these will be 100 FOCUSED practice swings. I like them to be performed in slow motion first, and preferably with a weighted club. Focus on the changes you want or need to make.
Patience is truly the key. If you are serious about making changes to your golf swing, you should know that even a minor change will take weeks before it will be ingrained in your swing. That means weeks of focused practice and lots of repetitions. That is why it is best to get started now. If you need a lesson, see your pro to develop your plan for improvement. If you have that plan in place, get to work!
Scott Cole
www.scottcolegolf.com
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 9, 2011
Golf Tip of the Day - Learn the Ball Flight Laws
As a scratch player, I really had no clue about the ball flight laws. In fact, according to recent data, no one did. Since the Trackman launch monitor was developed in the last few years, the assumptions that initial direction was caused by swing path were all wrong. We now know that the initial flight of the ball is caused by the angle of the clubface at impact. The curve is then dictated by the swing path's relation to the clubface angle.
Nonetheless, the general idea that the relationship between clubface angle and swing path caused the overall ball flight was known to most people. Swing the club inside out with a closed clubface and you would get a hook or draw. Swing the club outside in with an open clubface you would get a slice or fade.
I knew these general thoughts, but I really did not know the swing thoughts that corresponded with these general ideas. I would venture to guess that most people don't and that is why they struggle to improve.
Here's a quick refresher...
1. Slices are caused by a clubface that is open relative to the swing path of the club. The general causes of an open clubface are a weak grip and/or a swing path that is too steep and outside to in.
2. Hooks are caused by clubface that is too closed relative to its swing path. The general causes of a closed clubface are a strong grip or a swing path that is too flat and inside to out.
With this understanding, go to the range and pay attention to your ball flight. Does it start left of your target and then curve to the right of your target? If you are right handed, that suggests that your clubface is closed to the target line, which is why it started to the left. However, the clubface angle was actually OPEN compared to the swing path. The outside in swing path imparted the sidespin on the ball, and that is what caused the ball to finish with a slice. If the clubface angle matched the swing path, you would have just pulled the ball.
Now, as I said, however, the shape of the swing can impact what the clubface is doing at impact. A steeper swing makes it harder to release the hands and square the face at impact. A flatter swing makes it easier to do this. So, this is where you should focus your attention in regard to corrections to your swing.
So, if you are hitting a bunch of pull slices on the range, your swing path is too much outside in and steep...my first correction would be to get you to swing the club on a flatter swing path. If there are no other issues, this should help you hit a draw right away.
If you tend to hit a lot of hooks, I will first try to get you to swing the club on a steeper swing path with the arms more in front of the body on the down swing. This will help you to delay the release of the club a little longer, which will help you hit the ball a little straighter.
Next time you head out to the range, keep these thoughts in mind!
Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com
Nonetheless, the general idea that the relationship between clubface angle and swing path caused the overall ball flight was known to most people. Swing the club inside out with a closed clubface and you would get a hook or draw. Swing the club outside in with an open clubface you would get a slice or fade.
I knew these general thoughts, but I really did not know the swing thoughts that corresponded with these general ideas. I would venture to guess that most people don't and that is why they struggle to improve.
Here's a quick refresher...
1. Slices are caused by a clubface that is open relative to the swing path of the club. The general causes of an open clubface are a weak grip and/or a swing path that is too steep and outside to in.
2. Hooks are caused by clubface that is too closed relative to its swing path. The general causes of a closed clubface are a strong grip or a swing path that is too flat and inside to out.
With this understanding, go to the range and pay attention to your ball flight. Does it start left of your target and then curve to the right of your target? If you are right handed, that suggests that your clubface is closed to the target line, which is why it started to the left. However, the clubface angle was actually OPEN compared to the swing path. The outside in swing path imparted the sidespin on the ball, and that is what caused the ball to finish with a slice. If the clubface angle matched the swing path, you would have just pulled the ball.
Now, as I said, however, the shape of the swing can impact what the clubface is doing at impact. A steeper swing makes it harder to release the hands and square the face at impact. A flatter swing makes it easier to do this. So, this is where you should focus your attention in regard to corrections to your swing.
So, if you are hitting a bunch of pull slices on the range, your swing path is too much outside in and steep...my first correction would be to get you to swing the club on a flatter swing path. If there are no other issues, this should help you hit a draw right away.
If you tend to hit a lot of hooks, I will first try to get you to swing the club on a steeper swing path with the arms more in front of the body on the down swing. This will help you to delay the release of the club a little longer, which will help you hit the ball a little straighter.
Next time you head out to the range, keep these thoughts in mind!
Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com
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 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
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Golf Tip of the Day - Learn Your Tendencies
Golfers can make significant improvements to their game by keeping track of some specific statistics. Unfortunately, most golfers do not keep any records, or pay attention to these statistics, and therefore, they have no idea how they should focus their practice.
Some avid golfers do keep track of some statistics such as greens in regulation, fairways hit, putts per round, penalty shots, etc. However, this does not reveal a golfers tendencies. For example, you may keep track of how many fairways you hit in a round of golf, but did you pay attention to where your misses landed when you did miss a fairway? What about when you missed a green? Or a putt?
It is possible to break the game down several levels to reveal a golfer's tendencies, particularly when it comes to putting and the short game. For instance, a golfer can learn whether they tend to miss short putts to the right or left, short or long, etc.
Amazingly, it really doesn't take too many rounds of golf with solid record keeping to identify your tendencies. Once you do, you can develop a plan for improvement. Developing a plan is key to making improvements and lowering your scores.
In coming weeks, I will be employing these ideas in my own instruction and I will be offering a private membership area on this website that will discuss in much more detail how a golfer can keep track of their performance and plan for improvement.
Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com
Some avid golfers do keep track of some statistics such as greens in regulation, fairways hit, putts per round, penalty shots, etc. However, this does not reveal a golfers tendencies. For example, you may keep track of how many fairways you hit in a round of golf, but did you pay attention to where your misses landed when you did miss a fairway? What about when you missed a green? Or a putt?
It is possible to break the game down several levels to reveal a golfer's tendencies, particularly when it comes to putting and the short game. For instance, a golfer can learn whether they tend to miss short putts to the right or left, short or long, etc.
Amazingly, it really doesn't take too many rounds of golf with solid record keeping to identify your tendencies. Once you do, you can develop a plan for improvement. Developing a plan is key to making improvements and lowering your scores.
In coming weeks, I will be employing these ideas in my own instruction and I will be offering a private membership area on this website that will discuss in much more detail how a golfer can keep track of their performance and plan for improvement.
Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Golf Tip of the Day - Take Notes, Keep Stats
One way to really learn how to play better golf is to take notes. You should take notes when you practice, when you play and during a lesson. You should then keep tab of some important statistics.
When you receive a golf lesson, you should take notes during the lesson. I have often told students to at least take notes afterward, or as soon as they get home, but this does not work well either. So, from now on, my students will be encouraged to take notes during a lesson. The student should bring a bound notepad of some type, a pen, and a plastic bag to keep the notes dry. These notes should be kept in their golf bag for reference when they play and practice on their own.
Students should keep notes when they practice. They should pay attention closer attention to where the ball lands in relation to their target with each club so they can get a feel for their shot patterns. I ask all students before a round of golf if they can describe their critical ball flight error, and many don't even know if they slice, hook, pull, or push their shots. Students can prepare better for a lesson by paying more attention to their ball flight.
Some students actually do keep some statistics such as fairways hit, greens in regulation, putts per round, sand saves, etc. However, to really learn about their own game, they should keep more detailed statistics. For instance, when you miss a green, keep track of whether you missed short, long, left or right and by how far from your target. In regard to putts, pay attention to the distance of the putt, how you read the break, and whether you missed long and low, short and low, long and high or short and high. You can also do the same for short game shots.
Behavioral research has shown that when you get a better understanding of your game by keeping better notes and statistics, you can improve significantly faster.
Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com
When you receive a golf lesson, you should take notes during the lesson. I have often told students to at least take notes afterward, or as soon as they get home, but this does not work well either. So, from now on, my students will be encouraged to take notes during a lesson. The student should bring a bound notepad of some type, a pen, and a plastic bag to keep the notes dry. These notes should be kept in their golf bag for reference when they play and practice on their own.
Students should keep notes when they practice. They should pay attention closer attention to where the ball lands in relation to their target with each club so they can get a feel for their shot patterns. I ask all students before a round of golf if they can describe their critical ball flight error, and many don't even know if they slice, hook, pull, or push their shots. Students can prepare better for a lesson by paying more attention to their ball flight.
Some students actually do keep some statistics such as fairways hit, greens in regulation, putts per round, sand saves, etc. However, to really learn about their own game, they should keep more detailed statistics. For instance, when you miss a green, keep track of whether you missed short, long, left or right and by how far from your target. In regard to putts, pay attention to the distance of the putt, how you read the break, and whether you missed long and low, short and low, long and high or short and high. You can also do the same for short game shots.
Behavioral research has shown that when you get a better understanding of your game by keeping better notes and statistics, you can improve significantly faster.
Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com
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
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Top 10 Best Golf Tips
These are the Top 10 Best Golf Tips I can give to any student...
1. Learn to hit your putts more solid – The average number of putts per round for a PGA Tour pro is about 29. The best putters average just under 28. I would venture to guess that most beginners average well over 40 putts per round. The average 90 shooter probably averages about 36 putts, while the average 80 shooter about 32 to 33 putts. If you want to lower your scores quickly, become a better putter. This starts with learning how to hit your putts more solid. You need to develop a better stroke, which may be a function of your setup. Then you need to practice. At least 50% of your practice should be on your putting.
2. Practice your lag putting – This is directly related to the first tip. To be able to control your speed on the greens, you have to learn how to hit your putts consistently solid. Once you do that, you need to practice your lag putting before every round. Get yourself used to the speed of the greens so that you will not have trouble getting the ball close with your long putts. Good speed is far more important that getting the direction right.
3. Practice your chipping and pitching – So that you don’t throw shots away during the round, learn how to hit the basic chip and pitch shots, and practice them diligently. Many people don’t even know the proper technique or which club to use. Learn that, and practice the proper technique. If you combine this with improved putting, your scores will drop like a stone.
4. Learn how to hit a bunker shot – Most people fear the sand, but the pros surely do not. Hitting bunker shots is all about technique. Learn the proper technique, and you will be able to get the ball onto the green consistently. That should be the first goal. With practice, you can start going for the pin to give yourself a better chance at par saves.
5. Keep your driver in the bag – Most people slice the ball. The driver, because it has less loft than any other club, creates more side spin when it strikes the ball improperly. Most people will pull out the driver on every long hole. It is far more important to keep the ball on the fairway than to hit the ball long. When faced with trouble in the direction that your ball normally curves (i.e., water to the right when you normally slice it as a right hander), keep the driver in the bag. You will have a better chance at keeping the ball in play by using a club that has more loft to counteract the side spin.
6. Hit one extra club into every green – Most golfers consistently under club themselves going into every green, because they usually do not hit the ball very solid and on the sweet spot. They usually have only a general idea of how far they hit a ball with each club, and due to ego, will always take out less club than they need. Hit one more club than you think. If you happen to hit it very solid, you might go over the green, but more often than not, you won’t hit the sweet spot, and your ball will get closer to the green or you will hit more greens by taking one more club.
7. Learn the proper set up – Many swing faults are a direct result of a poor set up, whether it is simply the alignment, or possibly posture issues. For instance, if you tend to squat in your stance with little bend in the hips, you will tend to change your spine angle during the swing, and pull the club to the inside too much. This will often lead to an over the top move in the down swing, and a pull or slice. Work on a better set up to improve your overall swing.
8. Learn a set up routine – Many golfers may have a decent set up, but they have a poor routine, and they do not get themselves aligned properly, or they may stand too close or too far from the ball. By developing a proper set up routine, you will eliminate these errors and you will hit more shots on the intended line.
9. Learn the ball flight laws – Most golfers have no clue what causes a slice or a hook, or how the golf club and golf swing combine to get the ball in the air. This lack of understanding leads to many swing faults and poor tips on how to correct those swing faults. If you learn the ball flight laws, you will be on your way to having a better understanding of how to correct your own swing faults.
10. Learn how to fix your slice the right way – Most people slice the golf ball, and they read tip after tip on how to correct it, or they buy a $500 driver to help correct it. The slice can be fixed if you learn what it takes to hook the ball. Most people say they just want to hit the ball straight. That can’t be done until they learn how to eliminate the faults that cause the slice. Learn how to fix your slice the right way buy learning how to swing the club on a better swing plane, and you will be on your way to fixing your slice.
If you notice, the first few tips all had to do with the short game. Improving your short game will lower your scores faster than anything else you can do with your golf game. Notice how it wasn’t until the last tip was mentioned that there was any tip involving the swing itself. The fastest way to improvement is the short game and learning the set up fundamentals. Spend more time on these areas, and you will become a much better golfer. After that, it will likely require some instruction on the full swing to help make improvements there. By understanding the ball flight laws, you will be able to make these improvements in your swing more quickly.
Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com
1. Learn to hit your putts more solid – The average number of putts per round for a PGA Tour pro is about 29. The best putters average just under 28. I would venture to guess that most beginners average well over 40 putts per round. The average 90 shooter probably averages about 36 putts, while the average 80 shooter about 32 to 33 putts. If you want to lower your scores quickly, become a better putter. This starts with learning how to hit your putts more solid. You need to develop a better stroke, which may be a function of your setup. Then you need to practice. At least 50% of your practice should be on your putting.
2. Practice your lag putting – This is directly related to the first tip. To be able to control your speed on the greens, you have to learn how to hit your putts consistently solid. Once you do that, you need to practice your lag putting before every round. Get yourself used to the speed of the greens so that you will not have trouble getting the ball close with your long putts. Good speed is far more important that getting the direction right.
3. Practice your chipping and pitching – So that you don’t throw shots away during the round, learn how to hit the basic chip and pitch shots, and practice them diligently. Many people don’t even know the proper technique or which club to use. Learn that, and practice the proper technique. If you combine this with improved putting, your scores will drop like a stone.
4. Learn how to hit a bunker shot – Most people fear the sand, but the pros surely do not. Hitting bunker shots is all about technique. Learn the proper technique, and you will be able to get the ball onto the green consistently. That should be the first goal. With practice, you can start going for the pin to give yourself a better chance at par saves.
5. Keep your driver in the bag – Most people slice the ball. The driver, because it has less loft than any other club, creates more side spin when it strikes the ball improperly. Most people will pull out the driver on every long hole. It is far more important to keep the ball on the fairway than to hit the ball long. When faced with trouble in the direction that your ball normally curves (i.e., water to the right when you normally slice it as a right hander), keep the driver in the bag. You will have a better chance at keeping the ball in play by using a club that has more loft to counteract the side spin.
6. Hit one extra club into every green – Most golfers consistently under club themselves going into every green, because they usually do not hit the ball very solid and on the sweet spot. They usually have only a general idea of how far they hit a ball with each club, and due to ego, will always take out less club than they need. Hit one more club than you think. If you happen to hit it very solid, you might go over the green, but more often than not, you won’t hit the sweet spot, and your ball will get closer to the green or you will hit more greens by taking one more club.
7. Learn the proper set up – Many swing faults are a direct result of a poor set up, whether it is simply the alignment, or possibly posture issues. For instance, if you tend to squat in your stance with little bend in the hips, you will tend to change your spine angle during the swing, and pull the club to the inside too much. This will often lead to an over the top move in the down swing, and a pull or slice. Work on a better set up to improve your overall swing.
8. Learn a set up routine – Many golfers may have a decent set up, but they have a poor routine, and they do not get themselves aligned properly, or they may stand too close or too far from the ball. By developing a proper set up routine, you will eliminate these errors and you will hit more shots on the intended line.
9. Learn the ball flight laws – Most golfers have no clue what causes a slice or a hook, or how the golf club and golf swing combine to get the ball in the air. This lack of understanding leads to many swing faults and poor tips on how to correct those swing faults. If you learn the ball flight laws, you will be on your way to having a better understanding of how to correct your own swing faults.
10. Learn how to fix your slice the right way – Most people slice the golf ball, and they read tip after tip on how to correct it, or they buy a $500 driver to help correct it. The slice can be fixed if you learn what it takes to hook the ball. Most people say they just want to hit the ball straight. That can’t be done until they learn how to eliminate the faults that cause the slice. Learn how to fix your slice the right way buy learning how to swing the club on a better swing plane, and you will be on your way to fixing your slice.
If you notice, the first few tips all had to do with the short game. Improving your short game will lower your scores faster than anything else you can do with your golf game. Notice how it wasn’t until the last tip was mentioned that there was any tip involving the swing itself. The fastest way to improvement is the short game and learning the set up fundamentals. Spend more time on these areas, and you will become a much better golfer. After that, it will likely require some instruction on the full swing to help make improvements there. By understanding the ball flight laws, you will be able to make these improvements in your swing more quickly.
Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com
Golf Tip of the Day - Plan for Environment
This particular post is geared mainly toward golfers who play a little competition now and then. If you play competitive golf, then there will be days where the weather is not so nice, but you still have to play. With that in mind, it's a good idea to be prepared.
When I was a sophomore in high school, I won my conference championship. The following week, we were playing the district championship on the same course. The district tournament at the time was 36 holes played in one day. Since I was conference champion, I was paired with other conference champions in the district. One these was Emlyn Aubrey, who played some on the PGA Tour. Another is noted long drive, trick shot artist and instructor, Ben Witter.
On that day, it rained buckets. I was unprepared. My golf bag was a small nylon carry bag. My grips were wet immediately, as were my towels. As my swing is a little handsy, I had trouble holding onto the club. I shot 51 for 9 holes and walked off the course.
Emlyn Aubrey went on to win the tournament with a pair of 72s. Obviously, he was just a better player, but he was also prepared. Fast forward two years later to the PA state championships where under cold and wet conditions, I finished 2nd, losing in a playoff to future PGA Tour player Ted Tryba. I was carrying a similar bag, but I had covered most of it with some sort of plastic. It kept everything dry and I had no issues.
The moral to this story is that you have to learn to play in lousy weather if you compete at all. Even if you are just playing in the 4th flight of your club championship, you need to experience playing in rain, wind and cold. With that in mind, when the weather is bad and you planned to play that day, go ahead, if the course is still open. You will learn to be a little more patient and learn how to deal with various conditions.
Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com
When I was a sophomore in high school, I won my conference championship. The following week, we were playing the district championship on the same course. The district tournament at the time was 36 holes played in one day. Since I was conference champion, I was paired with other conference champions in the district. One these was Emlyn Aubrey, who played some on the PGA Tour. Another is noted long drive, trick shot artist and instructor, Ben Witter.
On that day, it rained buckets. I was unprepared. My golf bag was a small nylon carry bag. My grips were wet immediately, as were my towels. As my swing is a little handsy, I had trouble holding onto the club. I shot 51 for 9 holes and walked off the course.
Emlyn Aubrey went on to win the tournament with a pair of 72s. Obviously, he was just a better player, but he was also prepared. Fast forward two years later to the PA state championships where under cold and wet conditions, I finished 2nd, losing in a playoff to future PGA Tour player Ted Tryba. I was carrying a similar bag, but I had covered most of it with some sort of plastic. It kept everything dry and I had no issues.
The moral to this story is that you have to learn to play in lousy weather if you compete at all. Even if you are just playing in the 4th flight of your club championship, you need to experience playing in rain, wind and cold. With that in mind, when the weather is bad and you planned to play that day, go ahead, if the course is still open. You will learn to be a little more patient and learn how to deal with various conditions.
Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com
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