I read through some golf forums daily and many people are often looking for swing tips. Many are concerned with this position or that position in their golf swing, and some of the tips offered break things into minute detail. While these tips are well intended, they are often reflective the teaching or swing philosophy of the tipper.
From my point of view, many of these tips will not result in much improvement in the golfer. In regard to the full swing, golfers should pay much more attention on improving their fundamentals, such as their set up, how they move the body in the swing, and their swing plane.
With a better player, to get the club on a better swing plane, it may just be a matter of a tweak or two, but for most people it is more of a need for improved fundamentals.
This winter, if you are stuck indoors, work on the basic fundamentals of body movement, and work on improving your swing plane in front of a mirror. Learn to make the movements slowly before you try to do them at full speed. By the time Spring comes around, you'll be way ahead of the game!
Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com
Sunday, November 28, 2010
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
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Golf Tip of the Day - Plan for Improvement
With golf, as we get older, if you aren't getting better, you are likely getting worse. The fact of the matter is, as we get older, we are going to lose distance over time. Sure, you can slow the rate of decline by staying in great shape, but it will happen.
So, if you are losing distance, the golf course can get harder. Of course, you can choose to play from a more forward set of tees so that the course doesn't get harder. Most good players might find that difficult to do.
What is the answer? Make improvements in your swing so that you will be more accurate; make improvements to your short game so that you will leave yourself with shorter putts; and make improvements to your putting so that you can hole more putts. This last item may prove more difficult if our eyesight is declining. Obviously, the other areas may become more difficult to improve on if we develop a physical malady.
However, it is possible to develop a plan. Learn how to plan for improvement. Keep better records during and after your practice sessions and rounds of golf. Find out what your weaknesses are, then find ways to make them better.
The bottom line is that if you don't develop a plan, you won't likely see much improvement, if any, in your game. Always approach each session with a plan of attack. Don't just go beat a bucket of balls and hit a few chips and putts. That is not planning, that is just going through the motions. That may help keep you at your current level, but as your skills erode, practicing without a plan will not help you improve.
Find a good instructor to help you develop an overall plan for improvement and learn to keep better records. If you can do this, you will definitely improve more quickly and stay on top of your game even as your physically abilities may decline.
Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com
So, if you are losing distance, the golf course can get harder. Of course, you can choose to play from a more forward set of tees so that the course doesn't get harder. Most good players might find that difficult to do.
What is the answer? Make improvements in your swing so that you will be more accurate; make improvements to your short game so that you will leave yourself with shorter putts; and make improvements to your putting so that you can hole more putts. This last item may prove more difficult if our eyesight is declining. Obviously, the other areas may become more difficult to improve on if we develop a physical malady.
However, it is possible to develop a plan. Learn how to plan for improvement. Keep better records during and after your practice sessions and rounds of golf. Find out what your weaknesses are, then find ways to make them better.
The bottom line is that if you don't develop a plan, you won't likely see much improvement, if any, in your game. Always approach each session with a plan of attack. Don't just go beat a bucket of balls and hit a few chips and putts. That is not planning, that is just going through the motions. That may help keep you at your current level, but as your skills erode, practicing without a plan will not help you improve.
Find a good instructor to help you develop an overall plan for improvement and learn to keep better records. If you can do this, you will definitely improve more quickly and stay on top of your game even as your physically abilities may decline.
Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com
Monday, November 22, 2010
Golf Tip of the Day - How to Hit a Draw
It's late in the season here in the Mid-Atlantic states, and it looks like today and tomorrow will be the last relatively warm days for a while. As such, many people may hang up their clubs for the winter. However, that doesn't mean you can't work on your golf swing.
One of the best ways to train your golf swing is to simply find a place to swing indoors, any place where you can at least swing a 6 or 7 iron. Get yourself a mirror and start learning how to move the club into the proper positions in the golf swing. You can learn those positions by picking up a copy of my ebook "Fundamentals, Faults & Cures" here.
Now, on to today's topic, how to hit a draw. It is estimated that 80% to 90% of golfers slice the ball. The reason why is that most golfers try to hit the ball with the upper body, rather than simply letting the club swing while the lower body does the work in the down swing. A slice is a result of the club approaching the ball from an outside in swing path with an open club face.
To counteract that swing path, golfers are told to try a takeaway more to the inside, or to swing out to right field in the down swing. Both are terrible pieces of advice. Pulling the club more to the inside on the takeaway will only make the inside takeaway, over the top swing loop even bigger, resulting in a bigger slice. When people try to swing out to right field, they often do it with the arms only. The tendency is to get an early release, or to reach too far and hit the ball on the hosel, which results in a shank.
To hit a draw, you need to think of two things...a flatter swing plane on the downswing and you must initiate the down swing with the lower body. This will allow you to hit the ball from a more inside swing path. If this simply results in a push, check your grip, and make sure it is not too weak.
I've got drills and video to show you how to hit a draw. My ebook "Fundamentals, Faults and Cures" will show you all and again, you can find it here.
Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com
One of the best ways to train your golf swing is to simply find a place to swing indoors, any place where you can at least swing a 6 or 7 iron. Get yourself a mirror and start learning how to move the club into the proper positions in the golf swing. You can learn those positions by picking up a copy of my ebook "Fundamentals, Faults & Cures" here.
Now, on to today's topic, how to hit a draw. It is estimated that 80% to 90% of golfers slice the ball. The reason why is that most golfers try to hit the ball with the upper body, rather than simply letting the club swing while the lower body does the work in the down swing. A slice is a result of the club approaching the ball from an outside in swing path with an open club face.
To counteract that swing path, golfers are told to try a takeaway more to the inside, or to swing out to right field in the down swing. Both are terrible pieces of advice. Pulling the club more to the inside on the takeaway will only make the inside takeaway, over the top swing loop even bigger, resulting in a bigger slice. When people try to swing out to right field, they often do it with the arms only. The tendency is to get an early release, or to reach too far and hit the ball on the hosel, which results in a shank.
To hit a draw, you need to think of two things...a flatter swing plane on the downswing and you must initiate the down swing with the lower body. This will allow you to hit the ball from a more inside swing path. If this simply results in a push, check your grip, and make sure it is not too weak.
I've got drills and video to show you how to hit a draw. My ebook "Fundamentals, Faults and Cures" will show you all and again, you can find it here.
Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com
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
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Golf Tip of the Day - Warm Up and Stay Warm
Not too many people will be grabbing early tee times here in PA and MD over the next few months. Every morning we have major frost on the ground accompanying freezing temperatures. However, by late morning, the temp rises to tolerable levels for some sturdy golfers.
If you are playing golf in colder weather, it is important to get yourself appropriately warmed up and loosened up before you start to play. Cold and tight muscles can lead to injury at some point in the round. Before you play, get the blood flowing by jogging in place, doing some jumping jacks, or possibly some squats while holding a golf club at arms length, one hand at either end, and raising it over head as you squat. As you rise back up, lower the club to chest level.
You should take about 5 minutes to get warmed up, and then do some light stretching. Your focus should be on the hamstrings, back, neck and shoulders. Once you get them loosened up a little, you can start swinging a heavy club slowly, or use a club with a donut weight on the end. Or, simply swing two irons together.
The trick will then be to stay warmed up during the round. In colder weather, we lose our touch, so wear a pair of mittens or carry a hand warmer. Occasionally, you may want to repeat the warm up process, especially if you are riding a cart rather than walking. Continue to keep the blood flowing and do some light stretching. This will not only help your swing during the round, but keep you injury free as well.
Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com
If you are playing golf in colder weather, it is important to get yourself appropriately warmed up and loosened up before you start to play. Cold and tight muscles can lead to injury at some point in the round. Before you play, get the blood flowing by jogging in place, doing some jumping jacks, or possibly some squats while holding a golf club at arms length, one hand at either end, and raising it over head as you squat. As you rise back up, lower the club to chest level.
You should take about 5 minutes to get warmed up, and then do some light stretching. Your focus should be on the hamstrings, back, neck and shoulders. Once you get them loosened up a little, you can start swinging a heavy club slowly, or use a club with a donut weight on the end. Or, simply swing two irons together.
The trick will then be to stay warmed up during the round. In colder weather, we lose our touch, so wear a pair of mittens or carry a hand warmer. Occasionally, you may want to repeat the warm up process, especially if you are riding a cart rather than walking. Continue to keep the blood flowing and do some light stretching. This will not only help your swing during the round, but keep you injury free as well.
Scott Cole
www.howtogolfyourbest.com
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
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