Video Analysis - College Player Jordan Frye

Jordan has been a student of mine for 5 years.  He's a senior at Liberty University.  His swing history  is a flat backswing and then a steeper downswing.  Recently he's overdone getting the golf shaft to not be so flat in the backswing.  As a result he's hitting too many cuts and pull cut shots.
Today I had him hit shots on a slope where the ball was slightly above his feet and he was positioned on an uphill lie.  Putting the ball above his feet helped round out his backswing and followthrough.  Additionally getting him positioned on a slight up hill lie allowed Jordan to swing more up the hill, and to the right, in his followthrough.  By doing this it also allowed him to flatten out the start of his downswing as well as angle his swing more to the right.  Have a look.

Jordan Frye Video

2011 Top Ten Videos - #1

The #1 video from my youtube channel in 2011 is a swing analysis of Anthony Paolucci.  Anthony has been a student of mine for 4 years.  He came onto the national golf scene in 2007 by making it to the finals of the US Jr Championships.  A few years later he was AJGA's #1 golfer.  He's currently a freshman at USC.
HIs tendency is to hit hooks and high right shots.  He also struggles with starting the ball too far to the right.  In the video you'll see that he gets the club open in backswing then the face shuts in the downswing. As well he has the club coming too far from inside on the downswing.  Have a look.

Anthony Paolucci Swing Analysis

2011 Top Ten Videos - #2

 The video about hitting too deep into the ground or too far behind the ball was a big hit in 2011.  This scenario goes misdiagnosed too often.  Golfers think that just because they hit the ground that they've hit too deep into the ground.
There's a big difference between hitting too deep into the ground and hitting too far behind the ball.  The link below is from my youtube channel, timcusickgolf.  Enjoy!

Hitting the ground too far behind or too deep

2011 Top Ten Videos - #3

Increasing your distance is something that every golfer would like to do.  My #3 video for 2011 describes five ways to help increase your distance.  Filmed this clip on TPC #11, a short risk/reward hole.  Typical windy day in Dallas/Ft.Worth.  Enjoy!

Increase Your Distance

2011 Top Ten Videos - #4

Sang Yi is a Senior at LSU.  He's been a very good player for a long time.  Below is a link of his golf swing.  He's always struggled with hitting the ball higher in the air.  In the video I point out a few of the flaws that make it difficult for him to get more height.
Wishing all of you a very Merry Christmas!  Enjoy!

Sang Yi swing analysis

2011 Top Ten Videos - #5

Making a proper takeaway is critical to establishing consistency in the golf swing.  Ideally you'd like the club to swing up the angle you set at address.  If you're above or below the angle of the plane you must compensate somewhere in the swing to make the proper impact.
The video, from my youtube channel timcusickgolf, outlines how to make the proper takeaway.  Enjoy and Merry Christmas!

The Importance of a Good Takeaway

2011 Top Ten Videos - #6

Continuing the countdown of the Top 10 videos from my youtube channel, timcusickgolf.  Coming in at #7 is a video analysis of LPGA Tour Player Il Hee Lee.  She's been a student of my for 4-5 years.  Her tendency is to pull her shots or leave them out to the right with the longer clubs.  As you'll see, Il Hee has very good rhythm and tempo.  Overall her swing is very good but the analysis will stress a few areas of improvement.  Enjoy!

Il Hee Lee Swing Analysis

2011 Top Ten Videos - #7

Luke Kwon is currently a Freshman at Southwestern University in Austin, Texas.  He's been a student of mine for 5-6 years.  He was one of the top High School players in Dallas, Texas for 2011.  Below is his swing analysis.  His tendency would be to hit a 'high right' shot.  I was working with him to hit a lower drawing shot.  He can really swing the club.  Enjoy!

Luke Kwon - Swing Analysis

2011 Top Ten Videos - #8

Continuing with my Top Ten videos off my youtube channel for 2011, driving the ball longer and straighter is what everyone wants to do, even Tour Pro's.  I have four keys that help you have the opportunity to hit longer, straighter drives.
Below is an instructional video that outlines exactly what you need to do to improve your driving for 2012.  Enjoy!

Hit longer, straighter drives

2011 Top Ten Videos - #9

Long greenside bunker shots are difficult.  I like to take a less lofted club, a gap wedge or pitching wedge, to play this shot.  Anytime you can stretch the distance to explode the shot vs. making contact with the ball you have a higher percentage to succeed.  Below is a video clip I filmed for my www.youtube.com/timcusickgolf channel that described how to play the shot.  Enjoy!

Long Greenside Bunker Shot

2011 Top Ten Videos - #10

Over the next ten nights I'm going to post my Top 10 videos off my www.youtube.com/timcusickgolf channel.
Number 10 is a video on pitching the golf ball.  This shot is necessary when you're faced with a tight pin, an elevated green or have to go up over an obstacle.  Using the bounce of the club properly is critical in the success of this shot.   Enjoy!

Pitching Video

The Correct Way to Practice

Practice is not just about the time you put in.  It's about the quality of practice you produce.  It's also about repetition and practicing with purpose.
An example that coincides with another sport is Football.  Every summer the NFL starts their training camps.  The players at these camps have played football for 15-30 years.  They're some of the best athletes in the world.  As the teams introduce the playbook, each team conducts walk throughs to start ingraining the movements that each player is responsible for.  As the players become more familiar they start running the plays at regular speed.
This process is no different than working on the golf swing.  You must first know what you're working on, then you must practice it over and over to get the feel.  Going slowly in your practice swings is a good idea.  This allows you to get a feeling of whether you've done it correctly.
Repetition is crucial in implementing improvements in your game.  They can be done with a club or without.  As well, the can be done mentally.  This helps you improve the picture in your mind.   There's no substitute for practice. Practicing correctly gives you an even higher percentage of opportunity to improve.

December Avid Golfer Article - The Belly Putter

The belly putter stole the show in 2011 on the PGA TOUR.  Lots of wins, with the biggest being a PGA Championship by Keegan Bradley.  In past years the belly putter was reserved for the older guys that had the yips.  It was a last ditch effort to salvage some type of game on the greens.  Not so much anymore.  Guys like Bill Haas, Webb Simpson, Matt Kuchar and of course Keegan Bradley made tons of money and collected lots of victories using it. 
I've been experimenting with the belly putter the past month to get a feel for what it's like.  Below is a link to my December article in Avid Golfer Magaizine.  Read my account of testing the belly putter. 

Avid Golfer Magazine, December Issue - The Belly Putter