The Golfing Blog

Hit The Books To Improve Your Golf Game

The temperature here in Northern Illinois is falling and people have begun to put their clubs away for the season. If you are one of those people you can still improve your game this winter by hitting the books instead of golf balls.

The drill I am going to give you today will focus on the back-swing portion of your swing and the only thing you are going to need is a book.

First, set up as if you are going to make swing, but instead of holding a club place a book between your hands so your palms are facing each other.

Now perform your back-swing while you looking at the book during the motion. This helps you move your core and arms in unison during the motion. Next, come to a stop once you have completed your back-swing. At this point if you are in the correct position, the book will be on an angle of approximately 45-degrees, you will now be able to remove your top hand of the book, and the book will not fall.

By spending 10-15 minutes a day doing this drill for several weeks you will create a better back-swing which will help you start to develop a more consistent swing.

Want to improve your golf game this winter? Let Scott help you in person or online.

Drill: Keeping quiet will improve your putting

A key thought to keep in mind when putting is, "The quieter I keep my putting stroke, the better putter I will be". Because of the advancements in golf course grooming the mechanics of the modern putting stroke have evolved from "hitting the ball" to "swinging the putter and allowing the ball to be in the way". This means that I like to see very quiet hands and wrists in my students while they are putting. By having quiet hands and wrists the putter swing has a constant bottom and the putter face is consistently in better position when it makes contact with the ball.

Here is a simple instant feedback drill which will help you create quiet hands and wrists which means a better putting stroke.

What you need:
All you need for this drill is your putter, 4 golf balls and an area in which to putt.

Here's the drill:
Select a target at which to putt. Go through your normal set up routine with one exception before before you begin to putt place a golf ball so that it is between your wrists then apply light pressure to hold the ball in place.

Once you have got the golf ball between your wrists begin putting balls toward your target 3 balls at a time. During the drill, focus on keeping your hands and wrists quiet throughout the putting stroke. If your hands or wrists become overactive during the motion the ball between your wrists will either move or fall out.

By keeping the golf ball between your wrists in place you should quickly see an improvement in your ball contact and performance.

If you would like Scott to help you with your putting performance click here.

A Putting Drill: Knowing Your Distances

Having a fundamentally sound putting stroke allows you to be a good putter but does not guarantee success. There are two equally important components in putting, distance and direction. You cannot succeed without both but knowing your distances can make your golfing life simpler and reduce the likelihood of three-putting.

This putting drill will help you learn your putting distances in a simple and systematic way.

What you need:
For this drill you will need your putter, golf balls, a tape measure (12 foot or longer), (4) ball markers and a putting green. In order for this to be an effective drill it is important that you drill on the same putting green each time you practice.

The set up:
To set up for the drill select a flat spot on the putting green where you can roll a putt up to 12 feet in length. If you can putt to a hole, that's great otherwise simply place a tee in the ground towards which you can putt. It is important to always have a specific target. Now measure off a 3 foot putt and place a ball marker then do the same from 6, 9, and 12 feet away from your target.

The drill:
The drill is very simple, start putting from 3 feet away from your target while focusing on feeling the length of your stroke. Focus your attention what distance is produced by each length swing. Your goal is to find a length swing which will consistently produce a 3 foot putt. Once you are successful from 3 feet away progress to 6, 9, and 12 feet away. Do this drill during every practice session until you can consistently roll the ball the distance you desire.

Taking it on the road:
Once you have honed your distance control on your home putting green it is time to take the show on the road. The next time you play away from your home course give yourself plenty of time to warm up and the first thing you want to do is head for the putting green to learn your distances. Once at the putting green measure out your 3, 6, 9, and 12 foot putts. Start at 3 feet, make your normal 3 foot stroke to get a reference point to see how far the ball rolls. The odds are that your ball will not roll the same distance as on your home green which will require you to slightly shorten or lengthen your putting stroke. By performing this drill you will quickly know how to putt the greens on that day.

By having a putting distance system you can become a more consistent and successful putter, no matter where you play.

A Drill Which Will Impact Your Golf Game

When watching the PGA Tour you are seeing the best players in the world and a vast variety of swings. From the conventional and rhythmic swing of Ernie Els to the multi-plane and power swing of Bubba Watson; and everything in between. Though these players take different paths to the ball their positions at the moment of impact though not identical are quite similar.

Here is a simple instant feedback drill which will help you ingrain a more effective motion through the crucial impact zone. To get the most out of this drill it is important that the drill is deliberate and focused.

What you will need for the drill:
A Smash Bag, an iron, and a mirror.

Setting up for the drill:
To set up to perform the drill place the back Smash Bag on the floor aligned with the center of the heel of your target side foot (left foot for right handed golfers) and have the front of your body facing directly into the mirror. Next set up as if you are going to hit a shot with the club placed in the position of a normal shot but hover the club six inches above the ground.

Performing the drill:

From your set up position swing back to the top of your back swing and come to a complete stop. Now we will perform the crucial part of the drill. From the top of the backswing you will perform your swing through the impact zone in slow motion, approximately 10% speed. You will focus on creating a swing where the body and arms move together in a coordinated motion while your weight transfers from your back to front foot. Come to a stop and hold your position when you gently make contact with the Smash Bag.

If you have performed the motion properly, in the mirror you will be able to draw a straight line through the left side of your body (right handed golfer) from your left shoulder to your left heel and your left arm and club will lay on that line. (See photo)

Your next check point is that the majority of your weight is over your target side foot, your hips are rotated open toward your imaginary target, and your chest is facing toward the back of the Smash Bag.

Throughout the drill focus on what the proper motion and Smash Bag position feels like while performing the drill in the mirror. With practice you will be able to create the proper position by feel which is of utmost importance to better performance on the golf course.

If you want to play your best golf this season contact Scott by clicking here.

A Golf Drill for Better Balance and Better Golf

When I am training golfers one of the common problems I see is poor balance, even as early as during the set up. Unfortunately, many golfers are unaware of the fact that their balance is poor because they have become accustom to making subtle adjustments in the setup and throughout the swing. Most times they only realize it is if I ask them to hold their position of the top of the backswing or in the finish position at the completion of the swing.

An important point I try to stress to all my students is that effective practice contains 3 elements; it is focused, deliberate, and provides instant feedback. The drill I am about to provide contains all those elements.

This balance drill requires that you practice on an unstable surface in order to get the feedback needed to help you improve and strengthen your core in the process. I am currently reviewing several products on the market and will keep you informed as my research continues. For the purpose of this drill I am going to suggest 2 VersaDiscs. A VersaDisc is an air filled disc which will challenge your balance and help you strengthen your core.

The Set Up Drill

The foundation of a good golf swing is a fundamentally sound and balanced set up. For this drill you will need an iron, 2 VersaDiscs, and an area with plenty of open space. You do not want to risk falling over anything.

To perform the drill, place the 2 VersaDiscs on the floor shoulder width apart with the small nodules of the discs facing the floor. Next carefully step up onto the VersaDiscs one foot at a time. Once you have established your balance on the discs in a standing position slowly lower yourself into the "Set Up" position with your clubhead level with the top of the discs. Try to hold your "Set Up" position for as long as you can (up to 20 seconds) then carefully step off the discs. Do one set of 10 repetitions. As your balance improves increase the number of sets in each practice session until you can do 3 sets. Once you have developed a balanced set up on the discs we will be able to progress to more advanced drills.

The Set Up Balance drill is not easy but a very rewarding one. For help with your golf game contact Scott today.

In Golf, More Stability Means More Power

In golf there is a lot of talk about increased power through more stability and turning your core. But how do you remain stable? How do you turn? What do you turn?

When most people think about turning during the backswing they focus on turning their entire body as much as they can because they think the more they turn their body the more power they will create. Unfortunately the golfer over rotates their entire body and their weight ends up on the outside of their back foot(right foot for right handed golfer). The result of this action is a golfer with a swing which is weak, out of balance and inconsistent.

It is important to understand that one of the key elements to creating power in the golf swing is body tension. Body tension is created by the difference between how far the upper body turns compared to the lower body during the backswing. It is like shooting a rubber band, the farther you seperate your hands the farther the rubber band will travel. And lower body stability is the best way to create a repeatable and more powerful swing.

One of the most effective drills I have found to better lower body stability and more power is the "Physio Ball Drill". A Physio Ball is a large exercise ball filled with air. The drill is very simple, while holding the Physio Ball between your knees set up like you are going to hit a golf shot. Next make your backswing using your chest and shoulders while holding the ball in place and your lower body still as in the photo. Once you have reached the top of the backswing hold the position for 10 seconds feeling the stretch in your body. It is important that when you are holding your position at the top of the backswing your body weight is on the inside of the back foot. Start with 15-20 repetitions and gradually increase the number of repititions.

The Physio Ball Drill can initially be a workout in itself but by sticking with it your golf game will reap the rewards.

Better Wedges Come From A Balanced Attack

When I observe the average player attempt to hit wedge shots, I usually see a swing which is out of balance. What I mean by that is the one side of the body is overpowering the other side of the body. To be a better wedge player both sides of the body need to work in harmony. In order to achieve this harmony it is necessary to train both sides of the body equally then put them back together so that the body works as one balanced unit during the swing.

Here is a drill to help you create a more balanced wedge game.

Take your normal set up with your wedge then remove your left hand from the club so that you are only holding it with only your right hand (right-handed player). When you are holding the club properly there will be a cupping in the back of the right wrist. Now, start with small swings and hit balls while focusing on maintaining the cup in the right wrist through impact with the ball (as in picture). Initially make your longest swing from knee high in the back swing to knee high at the finish. Practice as many swings as you wish as long as you can maintain a good focus.

The second half of the drill is to take your normal set up then remove your right hand from the club. When you remove your right hand you will find that the back of the left wrist will be flat. Now repeat the same drill you performed with the right hand on the club but this time the focus will be to keep the left wrist flat through impact (as in picture).

It is important to know that you will not become proficient at this drill in just one session so keep at the drill until you can perform the drill with both sides consistently . Once you can successfully perform the drill with either hand it will then be time to practice with both hands on the club.

If you want to become a better wedge player contact Scott by clicking 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.

The "Tale of the Tape" Golf Drill

If you practice on a mat here's a great to practice drill using masking tape.

Here's what you need:
Your club and a roll of masking tape.

Here's the drill:
Place a one inch piece on the mat where you would normally place the ball and then make practice swings using an iron with the focus of removing the tape.

When you can consistently remove the tape, place a ball on the mat and a strip of tape on the mat,the place a ball behind the tape so the ball sits between the tape and your clubface. Now make a swing while still focusing on the tape. If you strike the ball and remove the tape with the club you will hit solid shots. And when you get really good the tape will stick to the face of the iron.

For more information on improving your game contact Scott today.

Consistent Rhythm, Consistent Putting

Golf and how it is taught has evolved over the years but when something is good it withstands the test of time. Eighteen years ago I attended a PGA Teaching Workshop where we discussed putting. As PGA Professionals we all understood that one of the keys to good putting was having a good rhythm, but how could we practice it and how could we help our students achieve it? The reason this can be difficult is because everyone is an individual who moves at a different pace in their lives which means there is not one pace for a proper putting stroke but many.

That is when the lead instructor of our group opened his bag and pulled out a Metronome which is a practice tool used by musicians which helps them with rhythm. We then spent the rest of the session working with the metronome and found how we were able to improve our own putting consistency. The metronome we used back then had a wood base and was about ten inches tall with a swinging arm, today the metronome I carry in my bag is digital and about the size of a credit card.

Here's how to practice with a metronome:
Start by setting the metronome at 66 beats per minute and listen to the beeps of the metronome for a little while.

Once you get a sense of the rhythm of the beats start hitting putts(10 feet). Start your putter back on the beep and make a normal putting stroke. Then listen for both the beep of the metronome and the putter making contact with the ball, do this several times. If the sound of the metronome and putter contact sync up you have found your rhythm. If the metronome beep and putter contact do not sync up start adjusting the metronome until the two are in sync. It is actually that simple.

Notable putting expert Dave Pelz, has written that the elapsed time of the putting stroke will remain the same no matter what the distance of your putt.

The metronome will give you instant feedback and help you find your personal rhythm. If it works for the pros it can work for you.

To improve your putting contact me at 312.719.7268 or click here.