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Thursday, November 4, 2010

GOLF FITNESS -ARE YOU FIT FOR GOLF?

Is being well fit for golf a new thing? I don't think so.


Gary Player was well known for his gruelling golf fitness regimes. Greg Norman and Nick Faldo took being golf fit to another level in the 90's. Now Tiger Woods and a new crop of athletic golfers are proving that golf fitness has a big part to play in being an improving golfer.


Tiger Woods said ' The most important piece of equipment I own is my body'


Our body is tasked with the job of delivering the club head back to the ball at impact with all the correct swing dynamics and speed. It is an athletic movement that requires good hand eye co-ordination, balance, flexibility and stability.

Are we asking to much of our selves to hope that we can do this without preparing our bodies for the movements required for the golf swing?

No matter what swing style you choose. Stack and Tilt,One/two plane or natural golf, a golfers body needs certain levels of fitness.


So what does being fit for golf mean?


For me, its having the levels of mobility, stability, and balance in your body ,that will help you reach your golf objectives and not hinder them.

Too many golfers are trying to make swing changes that their bodies will not allow. Or their body will allow for a short period of time before falling back into time honoured faults.


Being fit for golf does not mean you have to have a physic that would not go out of place on the front cover of a men's fitness magazine. Angel Cabrera the 2007 US Open ,and 2009 Masters champion is one of the fittest and most flexible guy on the tour today.


My job as a golf coach is made measurable easier because I now have the knowledge and understanding of how to screen my players for limitations in mobility,stability and balance. This is due to my training with The Titleist Performance Institute www.mytpi.com. Having this information has allowed me to decide on what swing changes will be possible due to the players limitations. I think this is me being honest and professional in my approach to helping my players improve.


Why is mobility and stability important?


Mike Boyle and Gray Cook noted that "the body works in an alternating pattern of stable segments and mobile areas. If this pattern is altered then dysfunction and compensation will occur."

If there is dysfunction and compensation it will show up as a swing fault or potentially an injury.

If the mobility and stability pattern is dysfunctional there is also going to be a potential loss of energy transfer through the swing. The fact that we have to hit a ball over long distances means that any energy loss during the swing will without doubt make the game harder.


If the bow from a bow and arrow was not stiff and stable the function of the mobile string would not happen as efficiently, and the possibility of creating speed in the arrow would be very reduced.


Why is balance important?


From the posture through to the finish position we having a constant battle against the forces of nature such as gravity and centrifugal force. To help us battle these forces we use all of our human balance systems. But one in particular, the somatosensory system. This balance system uses our bodies proprioceptors to give us spatial awareness. If you have ever been asked by a golf coach to feel the difference between 2 positions or swings, it is your proprioceptors that are giving your brain the information.


Without good balance we would struggle to swing the club around our body at speed and strike the ball consistently.


I hope this has whetted your appetite for more information on being fit for golf.


In my next blog I will show you some screens that I put my players through to establish their levels of golf fitness, and some basic exercises that have helped them.


No exercises I prescribe cannot be undertaken at home with basic equipment.


Happy golfing


Andy

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

GOLF SWING - DANIEL COYLE

If you wan to improve at anything in life and especially in golf you need to read everything by Daniel Coyle

His latest blog is a fantastic read. " HOW NOT TO DEVELOP YOUR TALENT" is linked here.
http://thetalentcode.com/2010/11/03/how-not-to-develop-your-talent-the-3-deadly-habits/

I would also suggest reading his phenomenal book 'The Talent Code'

Enjoy

Andy

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

GOLF SWING - SWING METHODS

If you are thinking about searching for a coach to help your golf swing this winter you maybe be surprised to see many coaches support a specific swing method.

Stack and Tilt
One Plane
Two Plane
Gravity Golf
Natural golf

This is a small list of the many different swing methods being taught and advertised across the world to be the best method for all players.
My question is ,what should I as a golf professional be doing for my players?
Should I be aligning myself with one style or method of coaching and trying to get all my players to fit into that system. One size fits all? Really can it be that easy?

What about facts?

Has one swing method been proven to be more consistent or efficient than any other. I have not seen any evidence to suggest that one is better than the other yet.
As a golf coach I think I must be open minded to all ideas or methods.

The only true method I have seen of judging whether one swing method is better than another is by testing the kinematic sequence of the player. Kinematic sequences are measured using 3-D systems like AMM3D. The Kinematic sequence shows how efficiently the player is transferring energy or speed through the body and then to the club and ball.
For me this is the true method of judging whether a technique is good or bad.

I would like to know if any of the golf Professionals that read this can show me evidence of swing methods that are more kinematically efficient than others.

The Challenenge is set.

What method is more efficient?

Any thoughts please write in the comments box below

Andy


Monday, November 1, 2010

GOLF SWING - SLOW MOTION SWINGS FROM TOUR

Two weeks ago I spent a few days at the CASTELLO MASTERS Tour event here in Valencia. I had the opportunity to get onto the practice ground and film some of the players swings in slow motion.

I just wanted to share some of my thoughts with you.



If you pause the video of Gonzalo Fernandez Castano at impact you will notice that his left arm is slightly bent at impact. This is very uncommon in elite players. Lee Westwood, Retief Goosen are other players that have the same impact position. One thing that is very important though is that the club shaft and left forearm are aligned. The bend is at the elbow not in the back of the wrist.

In the swing of Rhys Davies you will see that he has a glove tucked under his left armpit. This is a common drill that helps the player feel the connection between the upper left arm and the chest in the swing. He may be trying to make sure his left arm does lift any further than he wants through out the swing with this drill.



David Horsey has a very fundamentally sound swing. One thing to notice is the length of his arm swing. If you imagined a large clock face super imposed over his torso,his left arm would only swing to approximately 10.30. This length of swing allows him to be very consistent. He produces power from a good retention of the angle between his left arm and club shaft,during his downswing.

Jamie Donaldson has had his best year on tour in 2010. Notice how he retains the position of his hips during the back swing. He is able to rotate his shoulders over 90 degrees while maintaining limited hip turn. This is a great way of creating energy. This position highlights great mobility in his thoracic spine and hips.



Richard Bland was featured in a Q & A blog a few months ago has enjoyed his most successful year on tour to date. Richard has some classic two plane fundamentals. But I want to highlight his impact position. If you pause the swing at .30 seconds you will see how Richards left arm and shaft are aligned. There is a distinct angle between the shaft and back of right forearm. Post impact you will see a full release of the club, the toe is nicely pointing skyward. Once again classic 2 plane swing motion.

If you have any ideas on the swings you have seen or on my thoughts please post up in the comments section.

Andy

Saturday, October 30, 2010

GOLF FITNESS




As a Titleist Performance Institute level 2 qualified golf fitnesss professional I found the latest interview on the TPI youtube page a great insight into the importance of being golf fit. Even though the interview in its main is about HIP issues, what Lance Gill and Dr. Thomas Byrd discuss in relation to prevention over rehabilitation is important for the whole body.

For four years I have been screening golfers to establish an understanding of how their body is effecting their golf swing. The screens can also highlight which swing technique could be the most suitable for the player. The physical screens encompass stability,mobility and balance.
If through the screening process I find an issue that could present it self as a swing fault or future injury, I am then able to prescribe a fitness programme for improvement or advise my player to seek advice from a medical professional to help.

When I first mention the idea of golf fitness to payers , the instant thought is one of running on a treadmill, stationary bikes, lifting weights etc . These are methods used in fitness but in the whole, the programmes from TPI are designed to be done at home or at the gym with minimal use of equipment.
Through the use of golf specific fitness programmes the player can improve the bodies mobility,stability and balance. Improving your golf fitness can have a huge effect on your chances of reaching your desired golfing goals

Additional distance
Improved ball striking
Less fatigue
Injury prevention
Swing change Sustainability

These are some of the areas that you can improve this winter if you start a golf fitness programme.

Visit www.mytpi.com to find your nearest golf fitness professional or contact me and I will endeavour to find you a professional who can help.

Andy

Friday, October 29, 2010

GOLF SWING - SWING LIKE TIGER WOODS




It still amazes me how many youtube video's on the golf swing claim to help the golfer 'swing like Tiger Woods' or 'build the perfect swing' These pages are getting hundreds of thousands of hits. From this evidence it must be fairy important to the viewers to try and improve their swing and make it look like a tour pro.

With the emergence of computer swing analysis software like GASP or V1 I think the focus of many golf professionals shifted slightly from making the player the best at scoring to the player with the swing that most matched a tour pro.
Most analysis systems allow a split screen mode where the player can be compared on screen to a tour player. I must admit to doing this on many occasions. My only rule to using the split screen was to try and use a tour pro of a similar height and build to my player having a lesson.

I ceased using the comparison mode of my GASP software a while ago, because I felt it had a detrimental effect on my players improvement. I had somehow fallen into the trap of showing the player that they had improved based around the similarities to tour professionals' swings.
What I really should have been doing was showing the player how their swing had changed from lesson to lesson, and highlighting how those changes had effected the ball flight.
I still use the tour player files on the GASP analysis system but only to highlight the different swing models and techniques there are at the highest levels of golf.

So please do not get sucked into the idea that you need to swing like TigerWoods or any other tour pro's. Watch the different styles and methods used.

Once you have got it into your mind that the secret to good golf is not just a good looking swing, you will be well on your way to improving.

Andy

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

ENLIGHTENING


Striking a good golf shot can be simplified by the analogy of striking a matchstick.
When striking a matchstick it is easiest when you have these 3 simple components.


1 Downward pressure.
2 Acceleration.
3 A forward leaning shaft.

If you do not have these 3 components you will find it hard to strike the matchstick.

Firstly if the shaft of the matchstick leans backwards or is vertical you will find it difficult to apply sufficient downward pressure to create enough friction for the match to light. Secondly it will prove very difficult to create enough acceleration.

If the shaft of a golf club at impact is backward leaning or vertical similarly you will not be able to create enough downward pressure. This downward pressure is transferred to the ball which in turn compresses. This compression is vital in maximising initial golf ball velocity. You will also find clubface control very difficult due to left wrist extension. Quality ball striking and thus distance control is almost impossible from these shaft positions.

Now if the matchstick leans forward downward pressure can be applied to cause enough friction to light the match, plus the far end of the match can be pulled at speed. And we have light.

Imagine your golf club is a giant matchstick.
1 Apply downward pressure by striking the ball with a descending clubhead.
2 Acceleration will come from the pivot of the body
3 The forward leaning shaft, make sure the hands reach the impact zone before the clubhead.

Just a thought.

Andy







Do you really want to improve?

I have been having some really good conversations through skype and the social media world with John Graham http://johngrahamgolf.com/blog/ about the future of player development.

We have talked about programmes that can really offer the best service to help our players improve.
As golf professionals do we expect too much from our players to come for a lesson then ask them to go away and practice alone with no further observation until the next lesson?

Golf is a sport that is commonly known for its difficulty, so why is it players only see their coach in frequently. In most other sports the time spent with the coach is normally more than the time spent actually competing. For example in elite level football, basketball, or tennis a player will almost never practice without a coach observing.
This observation time may not be direct coaching but the coach has the opportunity to see if the player is practicing correctly all the required skills needed to develop.

We both agreed the idea of observed practice time, during which skills challenges can be set up for shot making and short game was very important.

One factor that could be prohibitive to observed practice is cost. How about asking 3 of your golfing friends to split the cost of an hour with your coach. One hour per week should cost you the same as as 2 buckets of balls at the range.
During this time your coach could set you shot making or short game challenges. This way you will have the coach keeping an eye on your technique while helping you learn all important scoring skills.

If you really want to improve you will need to make some sort of sacrifice. It maybe financial or it maybe time. But make the sacrifice and improve your golf with the help of your coach.



Andy

Thursday, October 21, 2010

CONTROL YOUR BREATHING



The Grand Slam of Golf has just finished in Bermuda with Ernie Els winning the 4 man event. The event is fairly unique in a number of ways. The most interesting for me is that the players have microphones on full time. So we as viewers could get to hear all the conversations between players and between caddies and players. This gave us a great insight into the workings of the player/caddie relationship.

Graeme McDowell was by far the most vocal of the 4. He allowed us to hear all his thoughts on club selection, line of putts etc. The most fascinating insight for me was his use of breathing control during putting. Once he had gone through his green reading and line up process, he would settle to swing the putter. Just prior to making his stroke he had an obvious long exhalation. It seemed he was emptying his lungs of all the air they held. Then he would swing the putter.
This exhalation is a similar technique used by expert marksmen in archery and shooting. The exhalation relaxes the shoulders and helps maintain stability in the torso and arms. Thus helping accuracy. He showed us perfect diaphragmatic breathing.

Try this little 2 part breathing exercise to help you understand the difference between chest and diaphragmatic breathing.

1 - Stand or sit in a relaxed position and place one of your hands on your chest. Now begin to take some short quick breaths, you will notice that your chest and shoulders rise and drop with each short sharp breath. This is not great for stability during putting plus it also enhances a state of anxiousness. This feeling and breathing pattern we sometimes get when scared or nervous. These two feelings are also common in golf.

2 - Place one hand on your chest and one on your stomach. Now breathe in through your nose keeping your lips closed. As you take your slow deep breathe your chest should remain still and your stomach should expand. Next exhale fully through your open mouth. Really try and feel like you are pulling your stomach in to help empty your lungs. You should very quickly feel more relaxed and less anxious than before. This is correct diaphragmatic breathing.

Being able to control your breathing on the golf course or at home will allow you to reduce anxiety and help you control nerves. Many golfers get nervous when having a good score or bad score. Many of us at work have moments of panic and anxiety when things may not be going well for us.

Many of the elite level golfers will rely on correct breathing techniques in times of pressure to help them maintain a good level of play.

Hopefully this little breathing exercise will help you at home, work and on the golf course.

Good luck

Andy

Sunday, October 10, 2010

A MUST READ

I have recently read a great post at http://johngrahamgolf.com/blog/ titled feedback vs' outcome and it reminded me of one of the most important learning days of my golf coaching life.

A few years ago I came across the work of Michael Hebron. The very instant I read "The club's three elements" I knew I had to change my coaching ideas. I had become so involved with learning the different swing techniques of the day I had forgot the plain and simple truth that the club tells the ball which direction to fly in. Impact factors and laws dictate ball flight.

On Mr.Hebrons' website www.michaelhebron.com there is a fantastic library of articles which over time I printed off, presented to my staff members, and given to pupils. For me the information there is some of the best and most insightful information available today.

Understanding golf clubs part 1 & 2 and understanding golf balls were 3 other articles that had a profound effect on my coaching.

In an era where information from Trackman, video analysis and 3d bio feedback is becoming the norm, I still feel most golfers would benefit from some simple home truths.

Train the club


Training, “The Club”
By Michael Hebron

Golfers can work on their swing and game in a variety of ways, but I would like to suggest
using your training time to develop swings using the 3 elements the club was designed with, not
tips from your friends. Learn the alignments of a golf club’s clubface, head, and shaft for the
variety of shots you will be confronted with on the golf course.

In 1910, champion golfer Harry Vardon said, “The best advice I can give – you must obey the
club and what the club wants you to do – letting the results be natural.” Bobby Jones, a
champion golfer in 1930 said, “Golfers should first and most importantly, learn how the clubface
and ball interact at impact. No one can play good golf until they know all the many ways a ball
can be expected to react when struck in different ways.”

What follows is grounded in the suggestions of Harry Vardon and Bobby Jones. These
suggestions are based on basic core golf knowledge that has been the same since the game of
golf’s inception, over 500 years ago. Every shot in golf (for over 500 years) had some type of
ball flight that was influenced by how the golfer angled the clubface, club head, and shaft of club
through impact (intentionally or unintentionally). Golfers should be focusing their learning
sessions on what to do with the golf club’s shaft, head, and face, instead of focusing on how to
move their bodies.

When working on your game and swing, you can pick one element (face, head or shaft) at a
time to be aware of. It is not difficult to learn where and what the club head, clubface and shaft
are doing at impact. Just let yourself be aware, and don’t fill your mind with swing tips.
Becoming aware of the club’s 3 elements is a much easier skill to learn than learning how to type
reasonably well, much easier! There are only three elements - face, head, and shaft to be
aware of, not the 60+ keys on keyboards to learn. I know a 6 year old boy who more often than
not is aware of what his clubface, club head, and shaft are doing through impact.

When schools offer driver education classes to high school students or adults go to driving
schools – a general description of what they intend to do is – Learn to drive. When driver
education is looked at from a different point of view, we can clearly see students are learning to
influence a steering wheel, and gas and break pedals. When students learn to influence these
three elements of a car they are developing an unconscious foundation for driving a car.


Driving a car is really the end result of learning to influence a steering wheel, gas and break
pedals. Just as an effective golf swing is clearly the end product of learning to influence the
shaft, face, and head of a golf club. My suggestion is do not try to learn the golf swing per se,
but become aware of and learn the required alignments of shaft, clubface, and club head at
impact for the shot at hand.

Where do I want the shaft for the shot at hand? Where do I want the club head for the shot at
hand? Where do I want the clubface for the shot at hand? Be engaged with what you want.
The end product then becomes a golf swing foundation with effective alignment and application
force, just as learning to influence a steering wheel, gas and break pedal is the foundation for
improving driving skills.

I suggest staying away from swing thoughts and tips from your friends, and become more open
and unconsciously aware of ball flight when training and practicing.
• Was the clubface open or closed at impact?
• Was the clubface behind my hands or ahead of them?
• Through impact was the shaft above, below, or on the same lie angle it was on at
address?
• Where was the shaft pointing at the top of the swing?

Your ball flight path can give you the answers to all these and similar questions (nature knows
no other possibilities). Did the ball start right or left? Did the ball have any side spin? Was
impact solid or weak? Did the ball fly too high or too low? It’s the rules for the club that produces
ball fight.

Some general observations about the design of a club are:

• In general: when through impact the shaft and rotational swing forces are not parallel to
the angle the shaft occupied at address, it causes a ball flight the player most likely did not
want.
• When the face of the club is either open or closed to the club head path side spin is
increased. An open clubface, with the club head coming to the ball from outside the target line
increases left to right side spin. A closed face with the club head coming from inside the target
line increases right to left side spin. In both examples there is a misalignment of force.
• When the face of the club is looking in the same direction the club head is traveling into
impact on; i.e. an out-to-in path it pulls the ball left, an in-to-out path pushes the ball off line to
the right. Both of these ball flights are without side spin.
• When the players’ swing shape lets the club go through impact without any changes to its
original angles, the shaft, club head, and clubface are all said to be on plane (with the clubface
behind the grip end). The player has an efficient application and alignment of force, and
straight boring ball flight.
• When players with swings that intentionally alter one or more of the original design angles
through impact, they can intentionally alter the application of force and the flight of the ball
making it go high or low, or give the ball a left to right or right to left side spin for the shot at
hand.
• When the original design angles are changing unintentionally through impact, it produces
thin and fat shots. Shots can also go higher or lower than we want, hooking and slicing out of
control unintentionally. All caused by the original design angles going through impact
unintentionally out of control, causing a misapplication of force.


Any efforts and plans to build effective golf swing force will be less than then they could be when
the design angles of the golf club are not taken into consideration.

Keep in mind every desired ball flight (high, low, left, right, etc.) has a corresponding alignment
and path of clubface, head, and shaft for the shot at hand that must be taken into consideration
before the player swings. It’s only after players are aware of impact alignments for the club’s 3
elements that it possible to build an effective swing. Train so you learn to be unconsciously
aware of where the clubface, head, and shaft are at impact; i.e. a sand shot requires different
alignments than the driver swing. Players should be previewing seeing and feeling impact
alignments before they start their swing.

It’s quite possible no one has ever asked you to become aware of the clubface, head, and shaft
before. But this is the only real key to an efficient swing! Let me ask, If we do not know where
clubface, head and shaft are and what they are doing, how can we change our flight? Becoming
aware of current alignments and angles is the first step to progress.

Any guidelines for golf swings that can produce effective impact force and alignments for the
shot we are playing have the design of the club at their foundation.






Copyright Michael Hebron, 2009 Learning Golf, Inc.
All Rights Reserved
Neuro Learning for golf and Neurogolf Learning are trademarks of Learning Golf, Inc.
.

Thursday, October 7, 2010

MAKING THE RIGHT CHOICE


If you are serious about improving your golf this winter, you need to take some golf lessons.
That's a horrible thought to many. Taking lessons have for sometime come with the stigma of making the golfer worse before getting them better.

Modern golf lessons may not be what you think. They are not hitting the same 7 iron to the same target lessons that were readily seen 10-15 years ago.
Today's golf coaches are highly knowledgeable and experts in instructional techniques.


Finding the right coach for you is important.
Some coaches will teach a specific method. Some will coach you a feel and not a method.
Most coaches will video you and some may compare you to elite tournament professionals on computer analysis programmes.

Any golf coach worth his/her salt has read many more books, watched many more youtube video's than you, and potentially invested thousands of pounds on training courses to help them coach you the golfer better.

In the end knowledge is KING.

But is it?

How about knowledge and communication are KING

As a golf coach it is my job to communicate the knowledge I have amassed into something that the golfer will understand. The information must also be relevant to the individual. This relevance to the individual is where a good golf coach will always be much more helpful than a book or video.

When relaying the information to the golfer the information should be concise and understandable and fact based.

My first professional Alan Bridge from Dibden Golf Centre, explained to me that the best way to coach is to imagine the pupil does not understand any words associated with golf. If, as a coach you have the ability to communicate your thoughts and knowledge using everyday words and phrases you will have greater success.

I still believe in this and it has certainly helped me here in Spain, where language is sometimes a barrier.

My advice is, if you want to improve your golf seek out a qualified golf coach who has good knowledge and great communication skills. Before booking a lesson talk to the coaches and see if you connect with them. Try and converse with some of the other golfers who have already taken lessons and listen to what they have to say.

This is your golf game, take control of your improvement

Knowledge and communication are king






Wednesday, October 6, 2010

THE FUTURE



For most of the northern Europe the climate dictates that we will not be playing and competing much over the Autumn/winter period.

So what should you be doing over this period?

Should you put the clubs away in the garage and wait for the better weather to arrive?
Should you spend hours at the range hoping your swing improves?
Should you buy the latest new golf clubs on the market?

As a golf coach I encourage all of my pupils to meet up to discuss and evaluate the passed season. This evaluation is vital for the golfer and coach. We can get to see if set goals were not reached, reached or surpassed. We can discuss what we both feel has been the positive and negatives of the season.

Any good golf coach should offer constructive and non judgemental praise or criticism of both the golfers and his/her own performance during the year.

The meeting also offers the chance for the golfer and coach to discuss an Autumn /Winter plan of improvement.

I look at six areas of improvement in all of my pupils


  1. Swing mechanics
  2. Shot making ability
  3. Physical conditioning
  4. Equipment assessment
  5. Mental approach
  6. Course management


Each area has equal importance for evaluation and improvement. A small improvement in each of these six area will lead to a larger overall improvement.

Physical conditioning and mental approach may not be key in your thoughts when it comes to improving your golf game, but let me assure you they are as vital as swing mechanics and course management. If your own coach does not posses the knowledge to help you in these two areas, I am sure he will have contacts who will.

Check out these 2 websites for help in these areas.

www.mytpi.com will help you find for a qualified golf fitness professional in your area.
www.am-performancesolutions.co.uk Andy Morrison has a great online mental coaching programme.

If the 2010 season was not what you wanted and you did not achieve your set goals now is the time to make sure 2011 will be.

Take control of your future. Plan now for next season












Tuesday, October 5, 2010

PREPARE LIKE A PROFESSIONAL

Being a club golfer does not mean you cannot be professional in your preperation for the round or the shot you are about to play. I personally do not believe it takes a lot to be professional in your approach to golf.

First of all, are you giving your self the best chance of having a good score?

Ask yourself these questions before playing.

Have I taken on board enough fuel to energise my body for my game of golf?
Have I drunk a sufficient amount of water to remain hydrated?
Have I stretched and mobilised the areas of my body most likely to be involved in a athletic sporting motion?

Have I got the necessary clothing to keep me cool, warm or dry?
Have I got the correct clubs for the course?
Have I got a mental plan of how the course is best played?

Now some golfers may not be in a financial position to have spare clubs that they can swap in depending on the course, but everything else I have listed comes in at a very low cost. Everything I have listed is pre game preparation.

What I would like to talk about is preparation for the shot at hand,and specifically yardages.

If you were lucky enough to watch this weekends Ryder cup from The Celtic Manor resort you would have noticed the time spent between caddie and player discussing yardages or distances.

How far to the bunker? How far to the end of the fairway? How far to the front of the green? How far to the pin? How is the lie going to effect the shot? How will the weather effect the shot? Is it up or down hill?
Most of this information comes from the Yardage books. These yardage books are a vital piece of equipment to the caddie and player.
How many of you club golfers have a yardage book of your own course? Not many I would think. Why not?

In my experience the club golfer plays the yardages on an estimation basis. 'Last time I was here I hit such a club'. 'I normally play such a club from here'. 'I'm about 20 yards from the 150 markers'. And the list goes on
For me this is not good enough preparation and it is not professional.

Most of the players in Ryder cup played the 2010 course maybe 4 times in the run up to the event, Plus the 5 rounds during the match. For every shot , the yardage book came out, they gathered information,they chose the club required for the shot,then and only then did they play the shot.

I believe every club golfer should own a yardage book for their course no matter how well they think they know the course. Play to yardages not to feelings and past events.

There are many more tools available now to the club golfer to help with yardages and distances and course management.Check out these websites for the latest information on rangefinders and GPS systems for golf.

www.bushnellgolf.com
www.skygolf.com

If you do not own a yardage book for your course, purchase 1 today. If the club yardage book is not up to the job write your own distances on it, or make your own book.

Without all the information do not play the shot and be professional in your preparation.

Any comments please post up below

Andy

Thursday, September 30, 2010

THE CHALLENGE IS....



As human beings we are inherent problems solvers.
As coaches we are asked to instruct the golfer on the best way to solve these problems.

I believe self learning and the interpretation of results is always the best method of problem solving.
I give my pupils challenges. These challenges promote self learning and always have results that need interpreting.
These results or feedback may be positive or negative. But the pupil will have learnt something.


These challenges I set, help the pupil learn what will happen to the ball flight if changes in the swing are made. These changes to ball flight are vital. I truly believe as a golf coach, that if the ball flight has not changed for the better I have wasted my pupils time and money.

In this video I took a new pupil who has suffered from a lack of ball flight control and distance for many months. Once we finished our 9 holes we went to the practice ground to help him improve his technique. His previous lessons had been technical and position based.

My direction for instruction was the opposite.

I offered the golfer a challenge, which he accepted. The challenge was. Hit the ball but the club head in the back swing must travel above the alignment stick and in the forward swing must travel under the alignment stick.
Those were the rules of the challenge.

Please watch THE CHALLENGE






From start to finish the changes seen here took 10 minutes.
He is now considerably closer to swinging the club on a more efficient plane for golf.
More importantly the ball flight changed and he realised that something must have changed in his swing for the ball flight to have been altered

We are good at problem solving, I promise you. We do not have to think about positions in the golf swing, let our instincts and natural problem solving ability help us.

Hope this helps
Andy

Monday, September 20, 2010

Laura Davies







Is Laura Davies Britain's greatest female sportsperson?

Or should she also be classed as one of Britain's greatest sports persons full stop?

I can think of very few British sports people who have had such amazing career.

After seeing and reading about her latest victory at the Open de españa, at the age of 46, it got me thinking about here place in Britain's list of sports greats.

Lets look at her career ( according to the Ladies European tour www.ladieseuropeantour.info )

4 major's
ladies European tour wins 41
LPGA wins 20
Plus 14 other wins on various tours
11 times Solheim cup player
7 time LET order of merit winner
1st non American to top the LPGA order of merit

To date Sir Nick Faldo is Britain's greatest golfer.

6 Majors
40 professional wins
11 Ryder cups and the highest point winner in the history of the match.
World number one for 98 weeks

I have no doubt that Sir Faldo will always be considered as one of Britain's greatest sports persons, But I feel looking at the records of both players Laura Davies should also be in the category of greats.

In an era where other leading sports people are lauded for their accomplishments, Laura Davies seems to be forgotten. Presumably its the lack of exposure that ladies golf has in Britain. Plus she may not be seen as the poster child for ladies golf. But this lady continues to play amazing winning golf at the age of 46.

I hope she continues to play high class golf for many years to come. Maybe one day the British press and public will realise what a true champion she has always been. I would be very interested to know how many if any current lady golfers see her as a role model.

If you have any comments please post them up.

Area's for discussion.

Who is Britains greatest female sports person?
Who is Britains greatest sports person?


I look forward to your comments

Andy

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Golf warm up and mobility programme






A perfect all body warm up or mobility programme. In under 8 minutes you can have your body better prepared for your round of golf.
If you feel any pain during any of these exercises please stop straight away.

If you find any of these exercises difficult please visit www.mytpi.com and search for your nearest qualified golf fitness professional.

1 - Reverse toe touch x5
2 - Arms in front deep squat x5
3 - Arms overhead deep squat x5
4 - Club assisted pelvic tilts ( cats & dogs ) x5
5 - Narrow stance lunge with rotation x5 each direction
6 - Assisted hip twisters x5 each direction
7 - Standing helicopter turns x5 each direction
8 - Helicopter turns in posture x5 each direction
9 - Assisted stork turns x10 each leg
10 - Walking knees to chest x10
11 - Ulnar and radial deviation x5 each right hand and left
12 - Standing shoulder rotation x5
13 - In posture shoulder rotation x5

Warm up before you play golf or practice for improved results

Andy

Sunday, September 12, 2010

Catching raindrops


September is here and in some parts of the world this also means the weather may turn, from summer sun to Autumn winds and rain. In the UK it rains a fair bit throughout the year.

So does catching raindrops interest you?

Catching raindrops does not interest too many people, But what if I told catching raindrops could could improve your ball striking and ball fight.

Interested now?
If you are a golfer who is inconsistant with their ball striking and has a ball flight that begins right of the target and finishes further right this is just for you.

Understanding the correct motion of the left forearm and left hand in my opinion is pivotal to good golf.


Lets learn the correct left forearm, left hand and club face movement through impact.
Its a movement based around rotation.

Hold your left arm/hand out in front of you at approx waist level. Imagine shaking hands with someone with your left hand.

Now rotate your left arm from the elbow so your palm is facing the sky. A position where you could catch raindrops.



Now take your left hand grip on a short iron. Once again hold the left arm and now club out in front of you at waist level. If your left hand is well positioned on the handle your palm will face away from the target. The leading edge of the club head should be vertical.

Now begin to rotate from the elbow, again the palm should again point to the sky as if you could catch raindrops, and the club face should point to the ground. Try and keep the relationship between the back of the left hand and left forearm the same. i.e there should be no significant hinging . In reality the back of the left hand and the left forearm should be very nearly aligned together. The rotation movement should be forearm and hand rotating together in unison.

Now your ready for gentle swings.Hold the club in your left hand and at waist level, so the shaft is parallel to the ground. Your spine should be vertical for this exercise. I do not want any forward bend from the hips yet. Gently rotate your shoulders to the right, as if you were making a slow baseball swing. Then stop, you will now rotate your body back towards the target. I would like you to start this rotation with your hips first, then that will pull your torso and and upper body round.
As your upper body begins to unwind start catching raindrops. Remember that it's a rotation of your left forearm and left hand so your palm faces the sky.

Once you have practiced this simple motion a few times and you feel that you have built up a feeling for it, we can progress. Bend forward from the hips until the club head reaches approx shin height.. I would like you to try and retain that relationship of the shaft being at approx 90 degree's to your spine. Then repeat the moving portion of the exercise i.e rotating to the right and un winding to the left. Remember catch those raindrops.


Now you are ready for some small swings. Place both hands on the club and bend forward from your hips until the sole of the club rests on the ground, a gentle flex of your knees should complete your posture position. I want you to hit some shots only swinging the club to about waist high. You should try and feel the same sensations you gained from the one handed exercises, Catching raindrops. In my opinion through impact the left forearm and back of left wirst should remain in the aligned position as I talked about earlier. If this position is maintained the right wrist should be in position of extension. Right wrist extension is shown in the photo below.



If you are able to maintain the 2 positions, catching raindrops and right wrist extension through impact you are well on your way to improving your ball striking.

It will also help if you read my 'Destination impact' blog to pick up a great exercise to help practice impact.


Best of luck with this exercise and post up any comments

Andy


Saturday, September 11, 2010

Destination Impact

In a previous blog 'Golf and language' I spoke about the importance of understanding your impact position, I want to re visit this topic.

First of all think about this idea. If you were planning a trip in your car would you not want to have an idea of what your destination is? Having the destination now allows you to prepare for that journey by finding the easiest most efficient way of getting there. If you dont have a destination whats the point of starting the journey?

Your golf swing has a destination it's called impact, your golfswing also has a journey, thats the backswing and forward swing. Anything after impact is the follow through.

A good impact position should always be your main focus for improvement. If your impact is good the feel of the strike and the desired ball flight will highlight this for you. It will also tell you that what proceded impact was also good.
Next time at the practice area try and work on your quality of impact first.
If you go to the practice ground and you work on your swing and it has no effect on your impact and then ball flight, I will be honest and say you have wasted your practice session.
Getting worse before you get better after a lesson is the worse phrase in golf tuition today.
Rehearse your desired impact postion. Take your address position and then without swinging the club re-position yourself to impact.

Are they the same? If you believe your address and impact position are the same you have been poorly informed or it is something you have never thought about.
Remember don't start the jouney unless you know your destination.

A great practice drill I use regularley during my coaching sessions is the 2 ball drill.

Set up 2 balls on the ground with enough space for a high lofted club to swing through,then take 10 swings. You score a point for every swing made where you miss the balls and strike the ground target side of them.( target side in the photo's is to the left of the yellow golf balls)



Then procede to place a 3rd ball in between the other 2. Take 10 swings, a point is scored when the 2 outside balls are missed and a divot is taken, once again target side of them.



They are the only rules to game. Miss the balls and take a divot target side of them. This is a simple but very effective game which helps you find the centre of the clubface more often and also teaches you about where the low point in your golfswing is.

Enjoy the game and learn from it.

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Increasing your clubhead speed



Try this exercise at home or on the range to help you increase your club head speed. Plus it will also highlight to you where the speed is in your golf swing. In the downswing the club head should be continually accelerating through to impact. The collision between club head and ball will then slow it down dramatically. But the feeling you want to achieve is one of swishing the shaft as fast as possible.

Have fun and swish away

Andy

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Improve your swing plane



This is an exercise that I have had great success with, and one which my pupils have found easy to grasp the concept of.

For me having my pupils make slow deliberate swings to feel change is really important.

This exercise allows the pupil to feel when their club is on plane or not. If the club feels too heavy the shaft is generally too flat or under plane. If the club feels too light the shaft is too upright or above plane.

I also increase the pupils awareness by asking them to do this exercise with their eyes closed. I then ask them to tell me whether the shaft is too flat, too upright or on plane.

Hope you enjoy the video please post any questions you may have.
Golfingly Andy

Saturday, July 10, 2010

How to maintain your posture

A simple exercise and great drill that help you obtain the feeling of maintaining your posture. Throughout the swing it is vital to obtain the posture angles you set at address. This exercise gives you instant feedback if you happen to lose your posture angle during the swing.



If you have any questions about this video please comment and I will get back to you.

Happy golfing

Andy

Thursday, July 8, 2010

Feeling Trapped

A new youtube video for those golfers who have had the feelings of being trapped or stuck in their downswing. These are common feelings of better players who get the clubshaft too far under plane in the downswing.

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

The Pro Claude"Butch" Harmon Jr

I have just finished reading The Pro by Claude "Butch" Harmon JR for the umpteenth time and I felt it was time to write my thoughts about the book and the man.

In November 2008 I had the fortune to spend a week with Mr.Harmon at The Butch Harmon Golf School at Rio Secco GC Las Vegas (www.butchharmon.com).

Mr.Harmon and his team of dedicated professionals were nothing but gracious with their time and advice. From the first day I arrived with fellow professional Katie Dawkins (www.katiedawkinsgolf.co.uk) I was made to feel welcome and ask as much as I wanted. The days were spent watching the team and Mr.Harmon giving schools to golfers of varying abilities, I was also lucky to observe Mr.Harmon coach Natalie Gulbis for an afternoon.

At the end of the week I obtained a copy of Mr.Harmons book "The Pro" which he happily signed.



Mr.Harmons generosity was unreal. Each and every day he invited us to lunch in the clubhouse at Rio Secco and each day he picked up the tab. Never once accepting payment but always acknowledging "it was my pleasure". This sort of generosity was instilled in him at a young age by his father Claude Harmon Sr.
His father famously won the 1948 Masters as a club pro, and was one of the greatest golf coaches of his and this generation. 'Butch' and his 3 brothers Craig,Dick and Bill followed their fathers footsteps into golf. In my mind becoming the greatest family of golf teachers the world is likely too see. Claude Harmon III son of Claude'Butch' Harmon is fast becoming a world great in golf coaching so continuing the great Harmon name. www.butchharmondubai.com

To have an opportunity to observe and talk to Mr.Harmon about golf, his love for American sports and a little politics was unbelievable.
One thing that really made an impression on me was his passion, not just his passion for helping golfers to stop slicing the ball or fluffing bunker shots, but his passion for passing on the knowledge he had gained from his father,his pupils and his peers.

Throughout the book "The Pro" Harmon Sr passes on his wisdom and knowledge to his children, not only about golf but about life. He calls them his "Pearls" Much of the book describes the era in which Mr.Harmon Sr and his young family lived in and the experiences they gained. From growing up as talented if somewhat wayword young golfers to Mr.'Butch Harmon Jr being a Vietnam war veteran.
"The Pro' is a candid and often shocking insight into the world of Mr.'Butch'Harmon Jr and his siblings, and how he grew to become the number 1 golf coach in the world.
There are stories of financial hardship, the fight against alcoholism, more importantly the love and support of the Harmons extended family. Mr Ben Hogan, Dave Marr and others.

The "pearls" that are in the book are fantastic and in a big way offer up an insight into the teaching manner of Mr.'Butch'Harmon Jr. There is no method there is just learning and learning must be centred around the individual.

The week I spent with Mr.Harmon and his team will live long in my memory. I would advise any young teachers or young golfers to read this book. I hope one day to visit Mr.Harmon again and obtain some more pearls.

The last conversation I had with Mr Harmon went something like this. "Mr.Harmon I really appreciate that you allowed me to come and watch you teach this week, I have enjoyed every minute
and I cannot thank you enough" His reply "Trust me I appreciate you more for the fact you flew 3500 miles to come and watch me"

Thank you Mr.Harmon .A true gentleman.





I must also thank Matt Kilgariff, Greg LaBelle, Mr Don Callahan, Shawn Callahan and Jeff Wood.

Book Reviw

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Richard Bland European tour player Q & A




"A solid 2009 campaign, after graduating from the 2008 Challenge Tour, highlighted by three top tens and a consistent end by making the cut in his final six appearances, ensured he finished 112th in The Race to Dubai to keep his card. Bounced back from a disappointing 2007 season by regaining his card through the Qualifying School – Final Stage. A year earlier he completed a personal highlight when he produced his best finish on the Order of Merit – 72nd – one place higher than his previous best finish of 73rd in 2002, when he ran Nick Dougherty close for The Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year award. Has qualified on three occasions for The European Tour through the Challenge Tour, in 2001, 2004, and 2008, the first of those after victory in the season-ending Grand Final, where he finished joint runner-up in 2008. Lives in Southampton where he is a close friend of former Saints soccer star Matthew Le Tissier, who has caddied for him on several occasions. Coached by Sky Sports commentator, Tim Barter."
European tour website www.europeantour.com


Q. what is the best part of playing golf on tour?
A. The best part is that, everyday, I do what I love which is playing golf. I also get to play some of the best courses in the world and against some of the best players.

Q. What is the worst part?
A. The travelling and the jet lag, we play tournaments in all corners of the world, and with that comes being away from your friends and family a lot.

Q. What have been your highlights to date? and low lights?
A. Highlights have to be the play off for the 2002 Irish Open. Sadly I lost in the playoff to Soren Hansen, and in this years Avantha Masters in India I really thought I was going to get my first tour win. On this occasion I came up 2 shots adrift. The experience in India was also one of the low points with not winning. I have also lost my tour card a couple of times, which is never nice.

Q. What's the best golf course you have played on tour?
A. The best course in Europe has to be Loch Lomond, it's just a beautiful place to play golf. I played the 2008 US Open at Bethpage Black which is awesome but it was also just brutal. It was tough, no let up on any hole.

Q. Who is the best player you have played with?
A. The best player I've played with is Ernie Els, he shot 64 that day and made it look so easy.

Q. Do you set yourself short medium and long term goals, and if yes what are they?
A. Short term goals are always to try and win my next event. My medium term goal is to make the "Race to Dubai" which is the end of season event for the top 60 money earners during the year. Long term, I just want to try to keep improving each year and see where that takes me.

Q. What would be your dream 4 ball?
A. My dream four- ball would be Tiger Woods, Ronnie O'Sullivan & Jack Bauer (if he plays).

Q. Do you have any advice to young player's hoping to make it as a tour pro about coaching?
A. My advice would be to get your self a golf coach who you trust and stay with him, even when times are hard. Don't get too many opinions on your swing, getting many opinions on your swing is easy trap to fall into on tour.

Q. Do players on tour get over coached?
A. I think players do get over coached and I have fallen into that on more than a few occasions . Getting coached while warming up on a Thursday morning before teeing off is not good in my eyes. I don't see my coach at events now unless I'm really struggling.

Q. Are you a fan of golf fitness?. Golfers seem to be more athletic nowadays. Maybe because courses are longer?
A. I have been into golf fitness in the past but I always felt that it effected my game and I played my worst, so now, not really. I think it helps some players and some it doesn't.

Q.Are you a fan of sports psychology? if so whats it done for you?
A. I am a fan of the mental side. I work with Jamil Qureshi(www.jamilqureshi.com) He has really helped me with my thinking on the course and how I see myself in the golfing world, and to think more like a winner.

Q. What's your normal schedule at a tour event.. how much practice time, practice rounds on the course?
A. My normal week would be to fly early Tuesday morning to the tournament. Arrive at the course and fuel my self with a lunch. I would then warm up by hitting a few balls. I would then go and play 18 holes. I am normally pretty tired by Tuesday night. Wednesdays are light practise days. I tend to practise around 90 minutes on each part of my golf game, so 90 minutes putting, 90 minutes chipping/bunkers and then 90 minutes hitting balls. Then I am all ready for Thursday.

Q. Do you look at your tour statistics, and does this help you plan your practices?
A. I do look at my stats but some more than others. My stroke average more than anything, then I guess my putting and short game stats. These are the one's that lower the stroke average. I don't pay too much attention to driving stats.

Q. Who are your friends and practice round partners on tour?
A. I hang around a lot with Sam Little, Robert Rock, Jamie Donaldson and Anthony Wall. Most of my practise rounds will be with those guys too.

Q. Any funny stories from tour you want to share?
A. Funny stories? I guess one, I played with David Lynn a couple of years ago and we were both sponsered by Taylormade so both of us had Taylormade tour bags. David was having a bad day and on one hole he got an unlucky bounce and then finished the hole by 3 putting. So he decided to stand on the side of the green and take all his frustrations out on his golf bag. So he kicked it all the way to the next tee. On the next tee he discovered it was my bag he was kicking. His golf bag was still sat on the side of the putting green where his caddy had left it. We both saw the funny side.

Q. How much has equipment technology changed the game?
A. I think technology as helped a huge amount. The ball more than anything. The Taylormade Penta ball I use flies so straight and wind doesn't effect the flight anywhere as much as older balls. Plus it's also designed to give maximum spin & control around the greens.Basically with the change in ball I hit it further and have no problem controlling shots around the greens. Having technology like trackman has also helped get equipment better fitted for us. I wonder sometimes how much further they can push the limits.


Q. What's in your bag?
A. At the moment I carry a Taylormade Super Tri driver, Diamana blue stiff 63 grammes, Callaway Squareway 3 wood, Diamana stiff blue 83 grammes, Taylormade 5 wood Rifle steel 6.5, Taylormade tp R9 irons 3-pw KB tour steel shafts stiff flex, Titleist Vokey wedges 54 & 60 degree's and a Taylormade Daytona putter.

Thursday, April 29, 2010

Alex Noren 'Its all about controlling the clubface'

Check out this little video of European Tour Star Alex Noren.

His famous and very impressive Backflipper golfshots.

I am sure he plays shots like this for fun, but he is also self learning about clubface control.



Amazing skill

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Whats important?

Clubface


How many of you golfers have had advice given to you about your swing with no indication of how that change will effect clubface aim at impact and ultimately ball flight?
For me as a golf coach it is vital to have all my pupils understand, what I am asking them to change, and how will it improve their ball flight.

Why is the clubface so important?

Clubface aim at impact accounts for 85% of the starting direction of the ball flight, the other 15% is club path. So learning how to control the clubface aim at impact is vital. Old ball flight laws suggested the starting ball flight was controlled by the club path. Please forget what you have heard in the past. We are in the present.

Game
Left, right, middle


Pick a target at the practice area approx 50 yards away and take dead aim with your clubface. If you have problems aiming consistently I would suggest laying another club on the ground with the shaft pointing directly at your target. When you address the ball which will be placed close to the shaft make sure the leading edge of the club is at right angles(90 degrees) to this shaft.

1st shot try and hook the ball to the left of the target.(hook to the right for left handers)

2ND shot try and slice the ball to the right of the target.(slice to the left for left handers)

3rd shot try and hit it dead straight at your target.

Repeating this exercise 4 times(total 12 shots) will help you learn better club face control. It takes some shots to get used to but it will be worth it when it leads to better ball flight control.

Play this simple game at some point during each practice session you have. After the game write down in a notepad what you think changed in your clubface aim to hit each different shot.

85% of the starting ball flight is controlled by the clubface aim at impact. learn to control the clubface for a better ball flight.


Coming to this blog soon

What's important.

The 3 Swing planes

Monday, April 19, 2010

Un solo swing que vale por todos

Disculpas por el título un poco engañoso.

¿Existe un swing perfecto?
¿Exise un swing que está garantizado a hacerte millonari@ como un/a profesional de élite?

¿Es 1 plane swing mejor que 2 plane swing? ¿Será Stack and Tilt, la proxima técnica dominanda en tour? ¿Tendrá alguien éxito utilizano el swing "Moe Norman"?

Lamentablemente no, no existe. Much@s golfistas han sido enormemente existos@s, con técnicas que no son muy atractivas para la vista y son consideradas, tecnicamente como "libro de texto".



Muchos campeones como Jim Furyk, Laura Davies, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Ray Floyd, e incluso hasta Jack Nicklaus han tenido sus técnicas consideradas como incorrectas.

Tod@s est@s golfistas y much@s mas, han sido capaces de alcanzar la cúspide de su juego, sin tener bonitos swings, pero teniendo swings que ell@s supieron manejar. Ell@s entendieron que es lo que funciona en su swing, y como conseguir de la manera más efectiva, lo mejor de él.

Tod@s l@s jugadores de élite, tienen la habilidad de enfocarse en una sola meta u objetivo. ¿Como puedo conseguir meter la bola en el hoyo con la menor cantidad de golpes posibles?

¿Que es un buen golf swing? Para mi, un buen golf swing es simplemente uno que es eficiente y uno que se realiza bajo presión. Por favor no malgasten su tiempo tratando de tener un swing "bonito", cuando deberían emplear más tiempo, aprendiendo como mantener una puntuación baja.

Con la nueva temporada de golf por comenzar, es tiempo de perfeccionar su swing, y no reconstruirlo, ahora es tiempo para prepararte para las competiciones que te esperan, esto significa, mucha práctica de tu juego corto y putting.

Durante esta temparada, utiliza estadísticas para ayudarte a entender las debilidades y fortalezas de tu juego.

Deberías practicar 75% en tu juego corto y en el campo; y 25% en tu juego largo.

Buena suerta en esta temporada!

Andy
golfvalencia@gmail.com

Thursday, April 15, 2010

This is what fun is all about

Dont try this on the greens at your own club


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Wednesday, March 24, 2010

sequencing

The importance of sequencing
.
My aim in this article is so find out if your body has the range of motion that will allow the downswing to function correctly and in the right sequence.
The impact position is the most important part of any golf swing. A correct
downswing sequence is paramount to obtaining a good impact position.
From the top of the backswing the sequence of motion to impact should be

1. knee’s
2. Hips
3. torso
4. shoulders
5. hands and club

The major swing fault I see as a coach in regular club golfers is slicing. One of the most common swing faults attributable to slicing is poor sequencing. Often the sequence from top of backswing will be as follows

1. hands and club
2. shoulders
3. torso
4. hips
5. knee’s

This sequence is incorrect, inefficient and will almost certainly encourage a slice.
Can you start the sequence correctly?
Look at the photo’s and follow the exercise called hip twisters






Stand in your 6 iron posture position with your arms crossed against your chest. Now try to rotate your hips from left to right while keeping everything from your belly button up, i.e. torso, shoulders and head as still as you can. If you are unable to make this rotary motion of your hips while keeping your upper body stable you will almost certainly have problems of incorrect sequencing. This exercise is a disassociation test, this highlights your body’s ability to mobilise one part of your body while stabilising a corresponding body part.

Practicing this exercise will certainly help you perform better golf swings and it could also unlock the frustration you may have had in trying to stop a slice.
Remember if you cannot move your hips in a rotary method at the same time as keeping you upper body stationary, you could be helping your slice.

Monday, March 1, 2010

Are you improving at golf?

Simple question but I think it is a fairly important one.

What is the measure of our improvement in golf? Is it about hitting a long drive way past your playing partner? Is it a about hitting a wedge from 140 yards? It could well be the fact that you have not hit it the lake you normally do for the last 5 rounds. Is it changing your swing from a 2 plane method to a one plane method?

For me as a golf coach I measure the success of my pupil’s by

• A reduction in their stroke average/improvement in their stats
• Reaching or surpassing pre set goals/targets
• Have they enjoyed the game more?


I hope you noticed there was no mention of improving how their swing looked, or improving their ball striking.

Having a great looking swing is nice, but that’s about it. It's nice.
My first golf pro told me “a good golf swing is one that works efficiently and repeats under pressure.”

To this day I still teach with this thought in my head, I ask myself, am I making this pupils swing nicer to the eye or am I improving him/her as a golfer?
Keep that in mind also folks, this game is about the score you have and nothing else. It is called a scorecard because that’s where we record how well we have done in the round.

If the scorecard can record our scores and tell us how well we have done why do we not carry scorecards to practice? Is it not important to also study how well we have practiced? Or should practice just be about, did I hit it good or did I hit it badly?

Trying to be subjective about your golf game is difficult. Let statistics be your friend. Score your practice sessions. Check out www.linxtracker.com for more help.

Using a programme like Linxtracker can only help you understand your weaknesses but it also allows you to be honest in your assessment of how you are doing. Using this information and discussing it with your golf pro will allow you to work on the areas of your game that are important, and also help you

• Improve your scores
• reach /surpass your goals
• enjoy your game more


Happy golfing

Sunday, February 28, 2010

Golf swings and language

I have just spent the last four weeks at the amazing Taronja language school in Valencia learning Castellano, or Spanish as most people say.

What has this got to do with golf? I agree not much but it will help with my new life in Valencia. So why write this blog?

Well after 4 weeks of hard study with 3 different professors, and spending time with students from many parts of the world certain things became very apparent. The relationship between language and golf.

Most students at the school spoke English to a decent level. We had students from Korea, Switzerland, Sweden, Ireland, Germany, Morocco, pretty much the world over. So let me now get to my point.
Every one sounded different when they spoke English but everyone understood each other.

Amazing!

Why?

Because their grammar was correct. Their fundamentals were sound and good. They all knew how to create an understandable sentence and where each word should be placed for it to be correct. They had got to speak good English by learning the most important thing is good grammar.

I believe the most important part of learning golf is understanding impact. For me the laws of impact are the same as the laws of grammar. Understand and get great at impact and the game of golf can be a fun and enjoyable one. Have a poor impact position or have no understanding of what it takes to achieve it, is fatal to good, enjoyable golf. Have poor grammar and what you say will almost certainly be unrecognizable.

Accents and how we sound are similar to golf swing shapes and styles. Many accents sound different in the same way many golf swings look different. Some people speak fast some slow. Some golfers swing with quick tempo’s some with slow ones. Accents don’t make language bad and an awkward golf swing style does not make a bad golfer.
Discover the truth to improving your golf game; understand what should be happening at impact. Understand what your impact tendencies are and what bad shots they create. And then work on fixes with your PGA golf instructor.

Gracias Golfers

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

golf is a target sport

We all know golf is a target sport! correct?

I find as a golf coach that the majority of club golfers understand the principle that golf is a target sport.
Sadly some golfers think that golf is a sport where you make a series of complicated swinging actions and you hit the ball, with no concious thought for the actual goals at hand, the target.

Having read a fantastic article by Neil Plimmer @ openmindgolf.wordpress.com on shot selection before club selection it got me thinking about many conversations I have had with pupils regarding specifying your target.



Look at the dartboard above. imagine preparing yourself to throw a dart at the bullseye. What are you be thinking about, what would be your specific target?
Hopefully its the bullseye, and not the dartboard

I am amazed at the idea's that golfers have, and the advice given to them as regards medium to long distance putting. I have heard "I am imagining putting up to dustbin lid" and even " a kids paddling pool sized circle" around the hole. Believing that putting to distances like these around the hole is benefical, to me this is wrong.

Do you think the best darts players like Phil Talor aim at the whole dartboard and hope they hit the bullseye? No way,if Phil Taylor wants to hit the bullseye he will aim for the bullseye

On the putting green you want to get the ball in the hole not in a circle around it. Golf is a target sport, and the ulitmate target is the hole So everytime you are attempting a putt do not think about finding an enlarged target aim for a specific target.

THE HOLE

Friday, January 29, 2010

learning and fun



As a golf coach my job is to help golfers of all abilities improve their golf games. That may mean on occasion improving a swing mechanics problem or it can be a simple as helping a player manage their way round a golf course better. Everything I do is based around one simple fact, my pupils come to me to help them lower their scores. To help my pupils improve i make sure they have a FUN learning experience. Having FUNwhile learning is paramount. I believe we all find learning and understanding more achievable while we are having FUN.
In practice there should always be a strong FUN and game element through out.Practice should never be repetetive swings at the same target. This is not golf. This is not FUN

routine

If you look at the best players in the world they all have good routines. These routines start at home on the practice range where they work with their coaches. At tournaments all players will prepare with range time and practice rounds and maybe some gym workouts.
Do you have routines at home or at work? Why? Generally we have routines to help us work more efficiently. Efficiency in golf means lower scores and more enjoyment.



Tigers famous chip in on the 16th at Augusta. Watch the video, admire the shot then watch it again. Look at the way Tiger first of all evaluates the shot at hand. All the time he is thinking about where the ball should be played too and how it will react when the ball is on the green. When he returns to the ball to prepare for the shot, he continues to visualise the shot at hand. He has 2 practice swings then he executes the shot. This routine is the same he takes on for all shots on the golf course.

Visualisation
Practice swing
Execution


I truly believe it does not take talent, ability or athleticism to be professional in your approach to, and routine in golf.
A simple routine
Begin your routine stood behind the ball looking down your intended ball to target line. In this position begin to visualise the shot you are trying to hit, no matter what your skill level is. From here you should also be picking out your intended target. It may be a tee shot to a fairway or a tee shot to a green. Pick a definitive target. Don’t just except hitting a fairway, visualise and attempt to hit the ball to a specific target.
Once you are happy with your target and you have got a clear idea in your mind of the shot you want to hit, have 2 practice swings. These swings are your only chance to obtain a feel for the shot at hand or to practice a technical thought you may have.
From here step up to the ball take your address position and have a further 2 looks at the target. While looking at the target I would suggest having a couple of waggles to reduce tension. Once you are happy with your preparation execute the shot.

Fail to prepare, prepare to fail