Monday, February 28, 2011
YouTube Channel
I've started a YouTube channel to host video analysis clips of my students. You see #1 ranked junior player Anthony Paolucci, LPGA Tour player Il Hee Lee and many other swings of top amateur players. Go to www.YouTube.com/timcusickgolf to check it out.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Training Students
Big day today on the instruction front at the Four Seasons/Dallas. I have a group of German PGA Professionals in town for a week's worth of training. Today's itinerary consisted of some video analysis training. I did a comparison of their swings from this past Friday vs. today. Some nice improvement with all of them. Also had a chance today to see them on the course for 6 holes. It's nice to see that their technique is transferring well from the driving range to the golf course.
This afternoon I had training with the High School golfers who are members at the Four Seasons. 7 players went through some very extensive lag putting drills for an hour then LPGA Tour player Il Hee Lee joined us for 9 holes. It was a fantastic chance for the kids to play with a Tour player. Had one player, Ben Baxter, tie Il Hee at even par. Main focus in watching the High School players is to eliminate 3 putts, multiple chips around the green and penalty shots.
This afternoon I had training with the High School golfers who are members at the Four Seasons. 7 players went through some very extensive lag putting drills for an hour then LPGA Tour player Il Hee Lee joined us for 9 holes. It was a fantastic chance for the kids to play with a Tour player. Had one player, Ben Baxter, tie Il Hee at even par. Main focus in watching the High School players is to eliminate 3 putts, multiple chips around the green and penalty shots.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Teaching the Teacher
Finished up the first day of my Teaching the Teacher at the Four Seasons Resort and Club/Dallas. Attendees included pro's from Sweden, Austin, Texas and others from the Dallas area. Great energy amongst the group.
The seminar centered around the for main components I use in my diagnosis of the golf swing; trajectory, curvature, contact on the clubface and impact. We also covered my 'hands on' approach to moving students in positions, specific types of shot mistakes, a 'live lesson' and the attendees got a chance to work on their games as well.
Tomorrow is the final day with an action packed schedule including a 'live lesson' with a Tour Pro. Should be fun!
The seminar centered around the for main components I use in my diagnosis of the golf swing; trajectory, curvature, contact on the clubface and impact. We also covered my 'hands on' approach to moving students in positions, specific types of shot mistakes, a 'live lesson' and the attendees got a chance to work on their games as well.
Tomorrow is the final day with an action packed schedule including a 'live lesson' with a Tour Pro. Should be fun!
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
German Teaching the Teacher
Two of my German Teaching Professional friends, Fabian Buenker and Chris Webers have organized two teaching seminars this coming September in Germany. The Golf Club Rheine will play host to the seminar.
The first seminar on September 17-18 is geared toward the professional who wants to improve his own game. The attendees will get insight of my teaching philosophy and how it pertains to their game. I'll also spend time going over how I fix faults, my 'hands on' approach to teaching as well as insight in my views of the golf swing.
The second seminar is scheduled for September 19. This one day session will be intensive training on my teaching philosophy and techniques. The day will be invaluable for improving your knowledge of the swing and also raising the level of your own teaching abilities.
A link is provided to gain more information on the special three days of training.
Facts: German Teaching the Teacher
The first seminar on September 17-18 is geared toward the professional who wants to improve his own game. The attendees will get insight of my teaching philosophy and how it pertains to their game. I'll also spend time going over how I fix faults, my 'hands on' approach to teaching as well as insight in my views of the golf swing.
The second seminar is scheduled for September 19. This one day session will be intensive training on my teaching philosophy and techniques. The day will be invaluable for improving your knowledge of the swing and also raising the level of your own teaching abilities.
Facts: German Teaching the Teacher
Friday, February 11, 2011
Tempo Teacher Training Device
http://www.tempoteacher.com/
The Tempo Teacher is a new device that allows you to synch up the body with your arms and club. The 18 inch device hooks on to your belt opposite your left hip. It's designed to guide you through impact. As a result you create a much more solid hit which in turn will increase your distance and accuracy.
The beauty of the device is you don't have to think about anything.
The Tempo Teacher is a new device that allows you to synch up the body with your arms and club. The 18 inch device hooks on to your belt opposite your left hip. It's designed to guide you through impact. As a result you create a much more solid hit which in turn will increase your distance and accuracy.
The beauty of the device is you don't have to think about anything.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
What to expect at Impact
To me, the standard shot in golf is one that starts out slightly right of your intended target and then draws into the target. This is due to the fact that you're standing to the side of the golf ball and the club should be swinging on an arc. You see a similar motion when a field goal is kicked in football. The kicker stands to the side of the ball as his leg and foot swings on an arc.
How much the ball curves is largely dependent on which club you have in your hand. When you have more loft on the clubface, short irons and wedges, the tendency will be to hit down and create backspin. The backspin will counteract the sidespin that can be produced on the ball so the curve is minimized. When you have a straighter faced club, like a long iron or wood, you have more potential for curvature.
A draw isn't the only shot nor the correct shot for any given situation. It's the standard shot that's produced with a neutral golf swing. My experience is that when you're able to draw the golf ball correctly it then makes it much easier to play a fade. You make some minor adjustments in your ball position, stance and angle of swing to produce the fade.
How much the ball curves is largely dependent on which club you have in your hand. When you have more loft on the clubface, short irons and wedges, the tendency will be to hit down and create backspin. The backspin will counteract the sidespin that can be produced on the ball so the curve is minimized. When you have a straighter faced club, like a long iron or wood, you have more potential for curvature.
A draw isn't the only shot nor the correct shot for any given situation. It's the standard shot that's produced with a neutral golf swing. My experience is that when you're able to draw the golf ball correctly it then makes it much easier to play a fade. You make some minor adjustments in your ball position, stance and angle of swing to produce the fade.
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Rate your Pin Placements
Not all pin placements are created equal. I ask my students to rate them like a stop light. Each pin is either a green, yellow or red pin placement. A green light pin is typically in the center of the green. Get your yardage and aim directly at it.
A yellow light pin placement moves away from the center of the green. You should be cautious of this pin placement and aim away from impending trouble.
A red light pin placement is tucked behind a bunker, is in the extreme front or back of the green, close to a body of water or on the far left or right side of the green. When faced with this type of pin placement you should act as though the pin is not even on the green and play to the middle of the green.
Being decisive in rating pin placements will help in your decision making process for the shot at hand.
A yellow light pin placement moves away from the center of the green. You should be cautious of this pin placement and aim away from impending trouble.
A red light pin placement is tucked behind a bunker, is in the extreme front or back of the green, close to a body of water or on the far left or right side of the green. When faced with this type of pin placement you should act as though the pin is not even on the green and play to the middle of the green.
Being decisive in rating pin placements will help in your decision making process for the shot at hand.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Video - Playing a low draw
This is a video of Luke Kwon, one of my high school students. He's practicing playing a low draw. It's a shot necessary for the golf course but more important, he's practicing it to improve his ball flight. Luke has a history of hitting shots high and to the right. He's got some technical things to work on but the image of him playing a low draw helps him straighten out his ball flight.
The mistakes that lead him to the high right shot are:
- A backswing that gets too long and laid off. The result is having to turn into the shot with his right shoulder.
- A clubface that gets closed and the result is a block.
- A block impact which forces him to pull his arms and upper body through resulting in a finish that wraps around him.
- When the club gets laid off at the top of the backswing, his tendency is to bring the shaft down too steep leading to a blocked impact.
This might seem like a lot. The mistakes are small and add up to his history of hitting it high to the right. With all this being said, Luke is one of the top ranked players in the City of Dallas. He can really play. Check out the video.
The mistakes that lead him to the high right shot are:
- A backswing that gets too long and laid off. The result is having to turn into the shot with his right shoulder.
- A clubface that gets closed and the result is a block.
- A block impact which forces him to pull his arms and upper body through resulting in a finish that wraps around him.
- When the club gets laid off at the top of the backswing, his tendency is to bring the shaft down too steep leading to a blocked impact.
This might seem like a lot. The mistakes are small and add up to his history of hitting it high to the right. With all this being said, Luke is one of the top ranked players in the City of Dallas. He can really play. Check out the video.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Golf in the Desert
But the main reason is the golf course. The last four holes are simply the most exciting stretch of holes outside of the back 9 at Augusta. Starting with the risk vs. reward par 5 15th hole. An island green tempts the longer hitters to challenge the green for their second shot. Then you move to the greatest hole on the PGA TOUR. The par 3 16th hole only measures 160 yards but when it's surrounded by 20,000 spectators, in a stadium setting, the hole takes on an entirely new dimension. Tiger Woods hole-in-one there in 2008 might be the single greatest scene I've ever witnessed in golf. The 17th hole is a short par 4 measuring 332 yards. Water on the left by the green and a very undulating green make this hole a blast to watch. Then you reach the par 4 18th hole and you must drive it straight to avoid the water on the left and bunkers on the right.
I've seen golfers go through this stretch as much as 5-under par and or have a complete train wreck. Whoever wins, this stretch of golf will be riveting television all four days.
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