The Golfing Blog

Better Weight Shift Means Better Golf

Did you know that the average Professional Golfer has the vast majority of their body weight on their targetside foot when the make contact with the golf ball? Normally 75-80%.

Improper weight shift is one of the most common problems among the average golfer which manifests into a variety of problems including: power loss, hitting behind the ball, topping the ball, slicing and hooking. Did I cover everything? You may ask how can not shifting my weight cause all these problems? The explanation is pretty simple, by not shifting your weight properly you are forcing your upper body to compensate and overwork because your body is out of position. Think what it would be like trying to throw a ball as far as you can while keeping all your weight on your back foot, it is the same effect.

Here is a simple instant feedback drill that will help you improve you weight shift.

Find yourself a small slope where you can practice hitting shots from a downhill lie. Setup with the ball aligned with the inside of your higher foot(back foot) and your body tilted with the slope of the the hill. During this setup the majority of your weight will be on your lower foot(front foot).

Your drill is to hit balls while having your club swing down following the slope of the of the hill. When you perform the drill properly almost all your weight will be on your front foot and you will easily walk down the hill in balance.

For more information on improving your game contact Scott at GolfPro.PGA@gmail.com.

The Open Championship: A Viewing Pleasure

It is Thursday and the wind is blowing so hard that the Sea Gulls have given up flying and are walking across St. Andrews Golf Links. Welcome to The Open Championship!

In my opinion The Open Championship is where you will see the most creative shot making in golf which makes it so much fun to watch. Normally when watching a PGA Tour event in the U.S. you will see a player hit a towering drive and a little flip wedge into a green where the ball stops on a dime.

In just 5 minutes today I watched Camillo Villegas hit the perfect drive off the first tee, it never got higher than 15 feet off the ground. Next came Lee Westwood who was next to the infamous Road Hole Bunker on 17 where instead of pulling out a lob wedge to flop the ball over the bunker took out his putter and putted the ball up the slope and along the edge of the bunker to within 3 feet of the hole. Then came Phil Mickelson on the 18th hole where he had hit his drive just past the green and 50 yards left. We all know he is probably the best wedge player in the game but he chose to putt.

When you add in all the tall grass, greens that are a roller coaster ride, bunkers that were originally created by sheep, and weather that changes in a heart beat you have a recipe for watching some of the most entertaining golf you will ever see and some truly humbled players.

So do yourself a favor and give it a viewing, it is well worth your time.

How Tough Is It Playing At The US Open?

When the average player watches the US Open it is hard to get a grasp on how difficult a US Open golf course is the week of the tournament. Please allow me to give you an idea by comparing it to the type of courses we usually play.

The average male golfer will play a course which is between 6300 and 6800 yards in length, this week they will be playing Pebble Beach at almost 7100 yards long. This is actually short for modern US Open courses, the last few have been played between 7300 and 7400 yards long. When is the last time you played a 500 yard Par 4?

Next the average person hits into a fairway which is 30 to 40 yards wide while the US Open participants are staring at fairways with a width of 22 to 29 yards wide on average. These narrow fairways are usually very firm and if it does not rain become very hard which makes it quite difficult to keep the ball in the fairway. A big reason for this is that during the tournament the USGA limits the amount of water that is used to a minimum.

If they stray from the fairway into the second cut of rough they are now searching for your ball in rough that is the length of your lawn, IF YOU DIDN'T CUT IT FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS. They may be 200 yards from the green but they have a Sand Wedge in their hand because they a trying to advance the ball back into the fairway.

The fun does not stop when they get to the greens. The speed of a green during the US Open is usually 30 to 50 percent faster than the speed of the average public course green and on occassion the USGA has let the speed getaway which can make the greens faster than anyone could ever imagine. Even tour players.

The best story I ever heard about how difficult a US Open course is came from Phil Mickelson. Several years ago he was asked "How difficult is it to play a US Open course?".
He told how he played with a friend of his on the Monday after playing in The Open at Shinnecock Hills in the mid 90's. Phil said his friend carried a handicap of 0 at a club in San Diego, a good player who usually shoots around par. That Monday on Shinnecock Hills playing the same course under the same conditions as Sunday, his friend shot 105.

I think that says it all.

2010 PGA Championship Gets Kid and Wallet Friendly

The 2010 PGA Championship will be contested starting August 9th at Whistling Straits in Kohler, Wisconsin which is a short drive north of Milwaukee. As part of its goal to grow the game the PGA has created a program which is kid and parent friendly.

It is possible for 4 kids, age 17 and under to attend any day of the 2010 PGA Championship for free when accompanied by a paying adult. If you are looking for advice for kids getting the most out of the experience I would recommend attending the practice rounds during the championship. During practice rounds, the players are much more relaxed and cameras are permitted on the course which makes for a great experience.

The last time the tournament was held at Whistling Straits it was a sell out so if you are interested in attending the 2010 PGA Championship I would suggest getting tickets early. For more information click here.

Use Your Sand Wedge To Improve Your Putting

When I am helping golfers improve their putting one of the most common flaws I see is excessive hand action at impact. People have the tendency to flip their hands as the putter approaches the golf ball which leads to inconsistent contact. The result is poor distance and directional control. If this sounds like you head over to the practice putting green with your Sand Wedge instead of your putter.

Here Is What You Need:
3 balls and your Sand Wedge

The Set Up:
Using your Sand Wedge, set up to hit a putt as you would normally do with your putter. Next raise the head of the Sand Wedge approximately 3/4" off the ground so that the leading edge of the wedge lines up with the center of the ball.

The Drill:
Start with putts of approximately 3 feet in length. Simply start putting balls by swinging the Sand Wedge as you would your putter but with the focus of keeping your hands as quiet as possible. If you swing the wedge correctly the ball will roll just like a putt. If the ball reacts oddly you will know that the hands are overactive. Continue to perform the drill at 3 feet until you get a consistent roll on the ball. Once you get a consistent roll, repeat the drill at 6 feet, then 12 feet, then 20 feet and longer. The longer the putt the more prone you will be to overuse your hands. If you can putt consistently with your Sand Wedge your confidence will soar when you put your putter in your hands.

Balance & Strength on the BOSU Ball

For some good balance work & core exercise, try this simple but effective exercise at the gym.

You'll need a BOSU Ball (see below) – which looks like half of an exercise ball with an inflated half and a flat half. Do this exercise near a wall or sturdy weight machine, so you can hold on if you lose your balance. Stand on the flat part of the BOSU ball with feet shoulder width apart. From here, slowly squat down halfway, then stand up straight again. Keep your abs tight and your lower back straight – DON'T arch your back. Focus on balancing and keeping the footplate level (don't let the plate tilt forward or backward).

Again, always do this near a wall or sturdy object. Never work on a BOSU ball in the middle of a room. If you do & you fall, you'll probably end up seeing me for physical therapy (not how I like to get new patients!).

This is also a good position to do bicep curls with dumbbells – gets your core and arms working together.

Thanks for reading – more to come!

Warming Up For Your Round: Putting

In my last post I spoke about the order in which I would recommend getting your game ready for the round. In this post I would like to discuss an effective way to ready your putting for the round.

When playing with amatuers, I have noticed that the majority of them throw away shots early in the round on the putting green. The reason for their problem is they lack a feel for the speed of the greens which results in poor distance control. Before beginning your round it is essential that you spend time on the practice putting green where in most cases it is the same speed as the greens on the course.

There is also a specific order in which I recommend you putt to prepare for your round, start long and finish short. Start your warm up session with putts of approximately 30 feet in length, this distance will allow you to gain a feel for the true speed of the greens. Once you are able to gain a feel for the speed gradually work your way closer to the hole. The next important distance from which to practice is 6 feet because the vast majority of your putts will come from within 6 feet of the hole. Finally conclude your session with putts from within 3 feet of the hole. By holing putts within 3 feet you will finish on a positive note and start your round with confidence.

It is important that while warming up confine your putts to flat or slight breaking putts. I strongly recommend not hitting downhill putts during warmups, unfortunately I learned this lesson the hard way. During a tournament I made the mistake of hitting downhill putts during my warm up and left the ball 5 feet short of the hole on the first 4 holes I played, it was an expensive lesson.

To improve your game contact Scott by clicking here.

Getting Ready To Play A Better Round Of Golf

You have put in the practice to play better golf, but did you know there is one more way you can help yourself play better on game day? How you warm up for your round can be as vital as all the preparation you have done while practicing.

On most golf courses the practice putting green is placed near the first tee, as a result most players spend their last few moments before they tee off hitting putts. The problem with this is that the first shot of the day is not a putt. I am going to suggest the next time you play that you change the order of your warm up routine.

After arriving at the course with plenty of time to get ready, go into the clubhouse and pick up a scorecard so you can plan your warm up session. The reason you want a scorecard is that you can take a look at the hole on which you will be starting. In most cases your first hole will be either a Par 4 or Par 5, but if it is a shotgun start you may start on a Par3. Now that you know what your first hole looks like head to the putting green, that's right start with putting. When you feel your putting is ready head over to the range.

At the driving range go through your usual warm up routine with one exception. Complete your warm up session on the range using the club you will be hitting for your first shot of your round. If you will be hitting a driver, hit the driver. But if you are going to be using a different club such as a 3 wood or an iron for your first shot then make that the last club you hit on the range. By using this method, your body is ready to go and you will know what to expect off the first tee which will allow you to plan your strategy.

A positive start can set the tone for your round and make it more enjoyable.

Golf Getaways: Grand Geneva Resort and Spa

The golf season is upon us and if you are starting to plan your golf getaway, I recommend the Grand Geneva Resort and Spa in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.

The Grand Geneva Resort and Spa is a AAA Four Diamond resort tucked away in Southeast Wisconsin and has everything needed for a great golf getaway. For your stay the Grand Geneva has newly designed rooms, several dining options and a Spa with a lap pool.

But the attraction for me is the golf. The Grand Geneva has a very nice practice facility and two distinctly different and fun golf courses. The Highlands is a Links Style 18 hole course designed by Jack Nicklaus and Pete Dye in 1969 and is good for players of all levels.The second course, The Brute, is a striking and appropriately named layout which winds itself through the beautiful rolling terrain of the property. This course gives players the opportunity to test their game.

But the two things that stood out when I played Grand Geneva were their golf staff and the condition of the golf course, both were great. The golf staff was friendly and knowledgeable which set the tone for a terrific day of golf. I then played the Brute which was in wonderful condition, in fact it was in as good a condition as most private clubs I have played and truly enhanced my playing experience.

To make your getaway even better,the Grand Geneva Resort and Spa is offering a special promotion where you can golf for free in 2010. To learn more about planning a getaway at the Grand Geneva click here.

Learn From Other Sports To Improve Your Golf

In athletics, "Cross Training" has proven to help athletes take their abilities to a higher level. In golf, you too can take your game to a higher level by learning from other sports and participating in them. I have heard countless numbers of times "My friends tell me I swing the club like a baseball bat and that is bad!". My response to that statement is "During the golf swing your arms rotate exactly like swinging a baseball bat, so that is good! But your body moves like throwing a ball and that is what you need to learn.". You can learn a great deal by observing players in other sports and how they move their bodies.

Take a look at great athletes playing various sports, they have several things in common. A great athlete is always in good position to execute, they are in balance, they have great timing, and their arms and body move in concert not in opposition. But all these traits are learned. They have ingrained these traits from not only playing their sport, but several sports.

For example, let's take a tennis player hitting a backhand. The player gets their racket and body into position as early as possible, then in order to hit their shot they rotate their core back and through while keeping the racquet in front of their body to execute the desired shot. In fact, there are a lot of similarities between swinging a tennis racquet and a golf club. Tennis is a great cross training sport for golf. Playing tennis will help you become more aware of your balance and how to rotate your body to create better shots. By becoming better at rotating your core with a tennis racquet you can improve your core rotation with a golf club in your hands. By playing other sports, you can improve your game while and not get burned out or bored from hitting too many balls. So mix up your practices to have more fun and you might just be surprised how much you can learn.