The Golfing Blog

SeeMore Putter RST: Rifle Scope Technology or Real Simple Technique

If you are unfamiliar with SeeMore Putters', "Rifle Scope Technology" the first question will be "Where have you been?".

But seriously,The patented RST, known by a visible gun sight on the top line, allows the golfer to set up the putter perfectly each and every time in relation to the intended target line.

Simply line up the black bottom portion of the shaft between two white lines and hide the signature red dot on the heel of the top line.

The two parallel white sight lines frame the shaft and serve as an indicator that the golfer is in perfect position to make a consistent and reliable stroke.

From this position if you can hide the red dot during the swinging of your putter you a keeping the club face square to the path of the putter and the putter face in the proper position at the moment of impact. Hiding the red dot also helps you develop a very simple and consistent putting stroke while under pressure.

You may say "But I don't look at the putter during my stroke, I look at the ball". But during your practice sessions (remember those), you can swing the putter without a ball or look at the putter while swinging to develop a feel which you can take out to the course. With RST you can see and feel the proper motion during practice at the same time so that you will be able to play by feel during your next round.

It doesn't matter what style of head or weight of putter you prefer, if you can use this Real Simple Technique you can become a better putter which means lower scores which means more fun.

If you are looking to learn more about

Having A Putting System, Part 1: Aiming

Are you having difficulty with your putting or it is not at the the level you wish it to be? It is time to develop a more systematic approach. There are two elements involved in putting, direction and distance. In this post I will be discussing proper aim.

Putter companies like SeeMore Putters have gained success with their Rifle Scope Technology which is a system to help the golfer know that they have aimed correctly.

If you don't have a SeeMore Putter you can improve your aim by using the name on the golf balls as a part of your aiming system. Once you have determined the line on which you want your putt to start, point the name on the ball along that line. Next, double check your line by looking at the putt from 6-8 feet behind the golf balls, if the name is pointed along your intended line you are ready for the next step.

Next, make sure the face of the putter is perpendicular to the name on the ball. Now that the name on the ball and the putter face form a "T" you have aimed correctly. With practice you will be able to quickly and correctly start your putts on their intended line.

In the next post I will discuss the distance control portion of your Putting System.

To improve your putting contact Scott by clicking here.

Practice Smart This Indoor Season and Play Better Next Spring

The Golf Season up north is starting to wind down but that doesn't mean it is time to put the clubs away, it is actually the time to plan and implement how to improve your golf game. The indoor season is a time to focus on your fundamentals and with the help of a PGA Golf Professional you can learn how to take your game to a new level.

In the Chicagoland area we have golf domes which are the perfect place to work on Finesse Wedge shots which can help you quickly lower your scores.

The best way to become a better finesse wedge player is by improving your distance control that the ball travels in the air. From course to course how far a ball rolls will vary but the distance the ball travels in the air (carry) can be controlled by the length of your swing. With your wedge in hand, focus on trying to create a specific and consistent length swing and see how far the ball carries.

Once you have found 3-4 specific length swings you can repeat consistently, practice those swings with your different wedges and chart the distances the ball travels in the air for each one. Be systematic in your practice during the indoor season and you will play better golf next season.

If you would like to become a better wedge play contact Scott by clicking here.

Having a Putting System, Part 2: Distance Control

In the last blog post I discussed the aiming component of your Putting System to improve the accuracy of your putts. In this post about your Putting System, I will be discussing how to practice in order to improve your distance control which will help you make more putts.

One of the keys to improving your distance control is to practice on the same putting surface each session. The reason for using the same putting surface each time is because the speed will be approximately the same each time you practice.

What you will need to practice:
3 balls, 4 ball markers and your putter. If you are practicing at home on carpet consider getting a garbage disposal gasket which can serve as your hole.

The set up:
Start at the hole then step off 1 pace from the hole and place a marker at that point, then do the same at 3 paces, 5 paces, and 7 paces from the hole. Using your own length of stride will give you a consistent system of measurement to use when setting up your drill and ultimately when determining the length of your putt on the course.

The drill:
Start by putting at a distance of 1 pace. Practice putting at this distance until you can determine what length of swing is needed to consistently produce a 1 pace putt. Next move back to the 3 pace distance and repeat the drill until you can produce a consistent 3 pace putt. Once you have accomplished the 3 pace putt repeat the process at 5 and 7 paces. This drill should be a part of every practice session.

To the course:
Since different courses have different speed greens it is important that on the days you play always use the practice putting green before your round. When you get to the practice green step off 1, 3, 5, and 7 pace putts and rolls some putts. By using this System you will be able to quickly determine the speed of the greens you will be playing that day. Once on the course get into the habit of pacing off your putts which will automatically allow you to systematically determine what you will need to do to sink that putt.

By having a Putting System you will become a better and more confident putter allowing you to sink more putts and shoot lower scores.

If you want to become a better putter and shoot lower scores contact Scott by clicking here.

Become a better shot maker 3 clubs at a time

Every golfer wants to become a better and more creative shot maker but it requires more than just practice, it also requires you to be able to take it onto the course.

You can become a better shot maker and add fun to your game 3 clubs at a time. The next time you play, limit yourself to using only 3 clubs for the entire round; for me one round it was my 5 iron, Wedge and Putter. Then during another round I would select 3 completely different clubs which would mean I would not use my putter and putt with another club like my Sand Wedge.

By limiting my club selection I learned how to be more creative in my thought process.

Once I became more creative in my thought process it enabled to achieve several things:

I learned how to better manage the golf course and my game,

I learned how to better visualize the type of shot I needed to hit because of the position in which I may have put myself, and

I learned through trial and error how I could create shots I never knew I could hit, which ultimately made the game more fun to play.

So if you truly wish to become a better shot maker and have more fun playing golf get more creative.

To let Scott help you become a better shot maker you can reach him by clicking here.

Putting: Distance control and what you need to know

There are two main controls in putting that need to be mastered to be an excellent putter, they are controlling your direction and controlling your distance.

According to the rules of golf the diameter of a golf ball is 1.68" and the diameter of the hole is 4.25" and when you ask most golfers they will tell you that these a two constants that never change. It is true that the size of the ball does not change but did you know that depending on your distance control the size of the to which you putt DOES change.

There is now extensive research provided by Aimpoint Golf that shows the effective size of the hole to which you putt has everything to do with what they call "capture speed". "Capture speed" is the pace at which the ball is rolling at the hole. And that "capture speed" determines the "Effective Size" of the hole which is the amount of hole you have that will allow 1/2 of the ball to fall below the top of the hole. You need to have at least 1/2 the ball to fall below the top of the cup for the ball to have a chance of going in.

According to Aimpoint's research a ball which is rolling at the optimal capture speed will come to rest 6-12" past the hole if it does not go in.

Here are some interesting numbers when it comes to capture speed and the size of the hole to which you are putting:

When a putt finishes 6-12" past the effective hole size where 1/2 the ball can fall below the top of the hole goes from 4.25" to 3.9" in diameter,

When a putt finishes 24" past the hole the effective size of the hole shrinks to only 1.9",

And if you roll the ball at a speed where it finishes 48" past the hole the effective size of the hole is only 1".

If you are interested in dropping more putts and seeing scores drop contact Scott by clicking here.

Steady As She Goes For Better Putting

THE PROBLEM
This season during my Putting Schools I have noticed a trend among the students and it is not a good trend. It has become very common for golfers to look to see where their putt is going before their putter makes contact with the golf ball. There is no reason to prematurely look to see where the ball is going because there are only 3 places the ball can finish: on the green, in the hole or off the green.

When a golfer looks for the ball prematurely the tendency is for them to leave their preset posture by rising up which alters the bottom of their putting arch and they will usually compensate with their hands. The result is inconsistent contact which leads to poor distance and directional control.

Unfortunately, once it has become ingrained it can be very difficult to feel yourself make this mistake. An easy way to check is to set up to putt with a small mirror on the ground so you can see yourself in it. Next, putt a ball and hold your finish position. Now while holding your finish position look back into the mirror to see if your head is still in its original position. If it is not it is time to get to work.

THE CURE
Making your head more steady during the stroke is a 3 step process.
Step 1:
Once again set up with a small mirror on the ground, next make practice strokes while staring into the mirror. Continue to practice in this manner until you can match a feeling while seeing in the mirror that your head remains steady throughout the putting stroke.

Step 2:
Now it is time to putt balls. Set up focus on the ball, make your putting stroke but keep your eyes focused on the original spot of the golf ball. Do not let your eyes follow the ball and hold your finish position for 5 seconds. After 5 seconds check the result of your putt.

Step 3:
This time putt the ball and keep your eyes focused on the original spot of the ball until the ball has left your peripheral vision. Once the the ball has left your field of vision rotate your head to follow the ball while holding your finish position.

A steady head leads to more putts made. If you want to become a better putter contact Scott today by clicking here.

Sweep Away Fairway Metal Problems

Are you having problems consistently striking your fairway metals crisp and clean?

Maybe you are using the wrong approach. Unfortunately most amateur golfers who are unsuccessful with fairway metals use one of two approaches, they either try to strike the ball with a descending blow or lift the ball off the ground. It is actually very simple to become a better fairway metal player.

THINK SWEEP! First make several practice swings while focusing on lightly brushing the turf. You should hear a "swoosh" as the club head sweeps across the top of the turf. If you make heavy contact with the ground or do not make contact with the ground, continue practice swings until you can consistently brush the turf.

Once your practice swings become consistent it is time to add the ball. Start by positioning the ball so it is aligned within a few inches of the inside of your target side heel. Make one more practice swing, if it feels right step in and SWEEP the ball away.

If you are interested in playing better golf contact Scott by clicking here today.

2011: The Year of the Golf Team

Golf by its nature is an individual game. But if you want to play your best golf consider putting together your own professional golf team. The key elements of playing good golf are the fundamentals, the mind, the body, the equipment, and having a way to measure your game.

The Fundamentals
Your golf game should be fundamentally sound and be developed in a logical manner to best fit you. For most golfers there is a large gap between perception and reality when it comes to there golf game so it is important to have the trained eye of a PGA Golf Professional to guide your game. Your professional cannot only help you with your fundamentals but also how to effectively practice and play the game.

The Mind
Having the proper mindset is important when you practice and play. Your PGA Professional has already been through the process of honing their own games and there is no substitute for experience. You can also consider a sports psychologist for helping you with your mental approach.

The Body
Your golf game can only become as good as your body will allow it. This is why a fitness or health professional who understands how the body works in golf is an important member of your team. In the Chicago Area my professionals are Body Balance for Performance and Praxis Physical Therapy and Human Performance. I have chosen to work with these professionals because they understand the game of golf and have been very effective in helping my students. Start your work with these professionals by have a stability and mobility evaluation to give yourself a smart starting point.

The Equipment
You can be golf fit with a fundamentally sound swing and still not play your best golf because of ill fitting equipment. That is the reason you need to have your equipment evaluated by a professional club fitter. With all the styles of clubs and types of shafts on the market club fitting has become very sophisticated which is why I recommend finding a professional club fitter such as Club Champion with the latest and most advanced technology. These club fitters can accurately evaluate your equipment while you are using it and make recommendations on what will help you play your best golf.

Measuring Your Game
Now that you have assembled your team you need a way to track your game, your practice and have a means of measuring your progress. You can find what you are looking for on your computer at EGolfPlan. EGolfPlan is a program which allows you to set goals, set timetables, and track your game. And it costs less than $30.

If you a looking to form your own team or have questions you can contact Scott by clicking here.

To Improve Your Golf, Make A Schedule Not Excuses

During the winter it is easy to let your game to go into hibernation. There is always an excuse not to do something but I am going to ask you to do something different. This winter try to do one thing each day that will help you become a better golfer.

If you want to have a better golf game make practice part of your daily routine and instruction a part of your schedule. Believe it or not you should be able to find 10-15 minutes during the day that will allow you to have a more enjoyable 2011 season.

To help you create the improvement habit pull out your smartphone put your personal practice session on your calendar and set the reminder alarm. Then when the alarm goes off, keep that appointment. What you practice during that appointment is up to you, my suggestion would be to start with the weakest part of your game and build from there. But do something positive.

Follow up your daily routine with a session with a PGA Golf Professional every 2-4 weeks and make sure you get it on the calendar just like your daily sessions.

You will be amazed at home much you can improve with only 10-15 minutes of practice a day.

For more ways to improve your game contact Scott by clicking here.