Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Lesson Learned

A tough break for Martin Laird Sunday at the Barclay's.  He needed to two putt from 25 feet on the 18th hole to secure the victory.  Unfortunately, he ran his first putt 7 feet by the hole and then missed the comeback.  Certainly it's hard to tell how severe the slope was on TV.  But it begs the question was he worried too much about the line and not enough about the speed?
Fast forward to the game of golf for everyone that doesn't play on the PGA TOUR.  Putting comes down to distance and direction.  In watching my students, the distance factor is the tougher to master of the two.  To me, once the line is determined your attention should go exclusively to the speed of the putt, the length and pace of your stroke.  Becoming a better lag putter allows you to become a better green reader.
A great lag putting drill is to practice putting to the edge of the green.  Take the hole out of play and just work on distance control.  You can do this exercise from any distance.  The better you lag putt, the better your scores become.

Sunday, August 29, 2010

Having the proper fuel to finish the round

Length of time it takes to play golf requires you to be proactive in hydration and refueling your body with the proper food to continue to keep your energy levels high from the 1st hole through the 18th hole. 
For instance, if you weighed 160 pounds, walked and carried your clubs for 18 holes you would have burned approximately 2000 calories by the end of the round.  If you weigh more you'll burn more.  I would say that's a pretty impressive weight loss program.  What this stat says is that you need to fuel your body before, during and after the round.  Playing a round of golf takes 4-5 hours.  If you're burning 1000 plus calories you're going to need to re-hydrate and re-fuel sometime during the round.  If not you're energy levels and focus are going to be shot before you finish. 
Water has and will always be the king of hydration fluids.  But part of avoiding dehydration is keeping  your electrolyte levels up.  Postassium, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium and Chloride are the key components to maintain your electrolyte levels.  Gatorade has long been the favorite drink to help in this area but it really has way too much sugar and not that much in the way of electolytes to help.  For instance, it would take 2 1/2 servings of Gatorade to match the potassium of one banana.
Trace Minerals is a company found in many health food stores that is a wonderful electrolyte replenishment aid.  Adding a packet to water before, during and after the round will go a long way to staying properly hydrated. 
Great snacks for the course include nuts, beef jerky, fruits and fitness bars.  Just check the labels to minimize sugar and get a good quality of beef jerky. 
Staying on top of your re-fueling and re-hydrating may just be the missing link to finishing off that good round of golf.

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Lessons learned

Busy last few days with lessons.  The summer weather has finally broken in the Dallas Metroplex.  It's much more enjoyable to be out teaching when you're not just worried about  water consumption. 

I'd like to share with you some tidbits from some of my recent lessons.

-  Footwork is important.  At address weight is evenly distributed.  As you approach the top of the backswing your weight has shifted about 75% to the back foot and then it moves almost all the way to the front foot at impact and through to the finish.  If you have someone who's body doesn't allow them to turn, have them concentrate on their footwork.
-  Improving your physical technique is important.  It helps create consistency.  But, you must also have motion and rhythem.  All the technique in the world doesn't work if you don't have rhythem and motion.  If someone starts overloading on technique, get some rhythem back in their swing.
-  Someone that averages shooting 90 typically takes 36 putts a round.  How many times to do you hear golfers that are better than a 20 handicap say they took 36 or more putts a round?  Share the above stat with them and then introduce them to the practice putting green.
-  90 mph is basically eqivaulent to 130 mph ballspeed.  If this is the speed you're dealing with in a driver, eliminate their 4-iron.  They don't have enough speed to sufficiently launch it or stop it.  Get them a hybrid or a very lofted fairway wood.  Additionally, they have no business with a 3-wood in their bag unless they just use it off the tee. 
Even after 26 years of teaching, everday produces something new.

Saturday, August 21, 2010

A New Level of Improvement

Improvement in golf comes in various stages.  Sometimes you improve faster than you think but often times it takes longer than one might expect.  With that being said one of my students, Layne Anderson, has taken improvement in golf to a new level.
Layne has been playing golf regularly for about 2-3 years.  She's going into the 8th grade this fall.  Last year she was a 26 handicap and as late as this past June she sported a 23 handicap.  However, this summer Layne turned up her dedication to the game.  She spent several days each week playing and practicing under the watchful eye of her mom and dad.  This past week her latest handicap read an 11!!  All her scores, tournament or casual, are posted and legitimate.  One of her latest rounds was an 82 on Cottonwood Valley with 36 putts.  So there's definitely room for improvement.
The future looks bright for Layne.  College coaches make a mental note.

Monday, August 16, 2010

PGA - 4th Round

Well, one of the wackiest days in championship golf history.  The ruling was correct but unfortunate.  What would have really been tough to take is if Dustin Johnson had actually made is putt on 18 for the supposed victory.  He would have gone through the high of winning his 1st major to having it be stripped in about 5 minutes time.  Dustin seems to have handled this with absolute class.  He did make the Ryder Cup and should be a force the 1st week of October in Whales.  Hats off to Martin Kaymer for playing fantastic all week and really making a great putt on 18 to get into the playoff and then a huge putt on the 2nd hole of the playoff.  He's going to be around for a long time.
I think the greatest thing that has come from the 2010 PGA TOUR season has been the arrival of a bunch of really, really good players in their 20's or early 30's.  You have Dustin Johnson, Martin Kaymer, Rickie Fowler, Nick Whatney, Rory McIlroy, Bubba Watson, Matt Kuchar, Jeff Overton, etc...All these guys have some great game and some style as well.  Who knows what's in store for Tiger and his game/personal life or Phil Mickelson with his health.  It does look like the future is bright with the above mentioned players.
The Ryder Cup is going to be very interesting with so many new players making their perspective teams.  Some new stars will certainly come out of the matches.

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Training Instructors

Heading to Europe in September to do some training of the golf instructors in Berlin, Hamburg and Copenhagen, Denmark.  This is a very fun part of what I do.  At each location I'll spend the day with 8-12 golf instructors helping them improve their analysis of ball flight, moving students into positions and creating better lesson plans.  They'll also get a chance to work a little on their games as well.  I'm very impressed by the European golf instructors thirst for improvement.  Getting out of the 100 degree Dallas heat will also be a welcome break.

PGA - 1st Round

Well, Tiger's got something going so far in the 1st round of the PGA at Whistling Straits.  He picked up a few birdies on the holes playing downwind after starting on the 10th hole.  He's currently standing on the 18th tee at 2 under par.
Whistling Straits is certainly not a course that you can 'piece' something together to get through the week.  The players who have good 'point A to point B' games will be the ones to survive these next 4 days.
The golf course looks fantastic on TV.  If you didn't know any better you'd think you're watching a European Tour event.  Keep in mind as you watch this week that you can move stones, twigs, etc...out of the bunkers.
Lots of drama surrounding this week.  Who will earn the top 8 spots on the Ryder Cup Team, what will become of Tiger and instructor Sean Foley and will Corey Pavin and reporter Jim Gray kiss and make up.  Stay tuned.

Sunday, August 8, 2010

Article in Avid Golfer


Attached is my instructional article for the August issue of Avid Golfer.  Check it out!

Avid Golfer Article - Feet Support

Saturday, August 7, 2010

Dog Days of August

Some hot days recently on the lesson tee at the Four Seasons/Dallas.  The last 3 days the heat index has approached 110 degrees in the afternoon.  The heat hasn't stopped my loyal students from improving their games.  Since I returned from vacation, the last three days I've had a chance to work with alot of the juniors I teach.  They're all out practicing trying to get better.  I have to hand it to them because it's been hot.
Jordan Frye delayed his return back to Liberty University to work with me Thursday morning, then hopped in the car to drive for two days.  Bryce Brown came down from Lincoln, Nebraska to spend 3 days working on his game for several hours each day.  He's a fantastic talent and is headed to the Nebraska-Kansas Junior Cup Matches tomorrow.  Matt Gilchrest was out, just back from the US Kids Tournament at Pinehurst.  As a 15 year old he shot 73-72 at the US Amateur qualifier two weeks ago.  Saw Deb Mielke Friday.  She's still grinding away at the age of 55 looking to qualify for the US Mid Am and US Senior Am in the next month.  Patrick O'Neil and Phillip Rosengarden were out tuning up for this week-end's Junior Club Championship at the Four Seasons.  These are just a few examples.
Just a big thanks to all my students that are putting in the time during the dog days of August.  You'll be better for it.

Monday, August 2, 2010

Working Vacation

I apologize for the lack of posts over the past two weeks but a much needed vacation has been in the mix.  I took time out yesterday to travel to Fort Wayne, Indiana to watch the #1 ranked junior in the country Anthony Paolucci get some practice in before today's first round of the PGA National Junior Championship.  The event is being played at a Jack Nicklaus designed Sycamore Hills Golf Club.  Every time I see Anthony I'm just amazed at his quality of ball striking at such a young age.  He looked very good yesterday.  We did a little tweaking in his set-up and transition of his downswing as well as some work on his chipping and putting.  The 72 hole event is a tournament he won two years ago.  A spot on the Junior Ryder Cup Team is at stake as well as him solidifying the position as the best junior in the country for 2010.
I also had a chance last Thursday to work with the Grassel family in Chesterton, Indiana.  Kyle is going to be a Sophomore at University of Colorado and his sister Kelly is going to be a Sophomore in high school.  Both very good players.  Kelly won the Indiana State Junior Championship this summer and has had several high finishes in AJGA events.  During our round of golf I asked Kyle was his major was at Colorado.  He told me Molecular Biology.  You can see where his priorities are.  While we were practicing and playing their brother Ryan was battling it out in the State Junior Championships.  He eventually lost 1 down in the finals in his last junior tournament before he heads off to play at Sonoma State this fall.