The Golfing Blog

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.

Low Country, High Enjoyment

I recently spent a few days down on Hilton Head Island in South Carolina after having not visited for several years. Within a few hours of being on the island I asked myself "Why haven't been back sooner?" The only reason I could come up with is that I am an idiot.

What's not to like about Hilton Head golf? It has plenty of terrific golf, wonderful food and a laid back atmosphere. It is only a 45 minute ride or a 2 hour ride from Charleston and as you drive across the bridge onto the island you feel the stress disappear.

I am sure you have seen the lighthouse on television but it is truly a special feeling the walk down the 18th hole at Harbour Town Golf Links which is one of my all time favorite places to play. The home of "The Heritage" is unlike a lot of the courses on the tour where you lace up your shoes tight and hammer at the ball. There you have the opportunity to use all the clubs in your bag and play a variety of shots. The 18th hole is the signature hole at Harbor Town but depending on the way the wind is blowing the Par 3 Seventeenth Hole can give all you can handle. The first round I hit an 8 iron into the green but on the very next day with the wind coming in off Calabogie Sound I needed to hit a 3 iron from the same tees. It is just a special place to play and incredibly fun. But Harbour Town is not the only place to play on the island. I have played and enjoyed the 2 other courses at Sea Pines Plantation as well as the courses at Palmetto Dunes which has courses designed by Robert Trent Jones, Arthur Hills and George Fazio. After you have decided which of the many courses you wish to play you can easily book your tee time with a few clicks by using the golf course directory.

If you are a member of a private club it would be worth asking your pro to see if they could get you on one of the private clubs like Long Cove Club which is fantastic.

When it comes to eating after golf, head on over to The Salty Dog Cafe which is an island institution. The Gumbo they serve up at the Salty Dog is excellent. But if you are a fan don't even think about leaving without having a slice of their Key Lime Pie. I have had a lot of Key Lime Pie in my life but the Key Lime Pie at The Salty Dog Cafe is the best I have ever had (Sorry, Jane).

There is one more reason I like Hilton Head Island so much is the people. The people down on Hilton Head are relaxed and welcoming. It is nice to go to a place where you feel the locals want you to visit them. So if you have not been to Hilton Head Island "Go" and if you have "Go back soon" it is definitely worth the visit.

The Best Golfer To Never..........

The 2011 United States Open is now in the books with a sparkling performance by Champion, Rory McIllroy. As usual during every championship week the media speculates as to who is the best player to never win a major. Many names are offered up, all of them are valid but it is only current players who are mentioned.

Here is a question I would like to ask (it has two parts), "Who is the best golfer in history to never win a major and why would you select them?".

Play Golf The Way The Pros Do

For a long time I have discussed with my students about choosing the correct set of tees they should play in order maximize their enjoyment of the game. In my opinion most players play from the wrong tees and play a golf course which is too long for their capabilities which also contributes to slow play.

One of the questions I ask my students is "How far do you hit your driver?". The standard response from the men is "250 yards", for some of them that may be the case but statistics show that the average male golfer drives the ball closer to 225 yards. This is where the problem begins and should end.

If you have not heard the terms yet, in the very near future you will be hearing about "Tee It Forward" or "Tour Equivalent Tees". They are programs being brought forward by the PGA of America and the USGA which based upon your driving distance will help you select a length golf course which will allow you to play a course the way tour players do. These programs are a result of research that was provided by Barney Adams, Founder of Adams Golf who studied the length of tee shots and how they related to a player's approach shot into the green.

For example, according to statistics if you hit your tee shot 225 yards the proper length course you should be playing would be 5800 to 6000 yards long. If you are playing a course 6400 yards long that is the same as a tour player who is playing a course that is 8000 yards long. I don't know about you but I wouldn't find that to be any fun and isn't that why we play golf, to have fun?

Below you will find a chart that will help you choose a course length that will allow you to play the course the way the tour players do and have more fun.

Driver Distance Recommended
18 hole Yardages
PGA Tour Professional 7,600 to 7,900
300 yds 7,150 to 7,400
275 yds 6,700 to 6,900
250 yds 6,200 to 6,400
225 yds 5,800 to 6,000
200 yds 5,200 to 5,400
175 yds 4,400 to 4,600
150 yds 3,500 to 3,700
125 yds 2,800 to 3,000
100 yds 2,100 to 2,300

Growing Your Business Through Golf Entertainment

Even though golf has had its ups and downs in this economy it seems to still be one of the business tools preferred for entertaining clients. For several years I have served as the Teaching Professional for VIP Sports Marketing at amazing golf events such as the Masters, U.S. Open, and the Ryder Cup. During those events I have had the opportunity to teach people from all over the world who have brought to the event as a guest.

With the U.S. Open only a few weeks away I sat down with Alex Pramenko the President of VIP Sports Marketing to ask him a simple question.

Scott: Why should you entertain clients or reward your staff at premiere sporting events such as The Masters Golf Tournament, US Open, Ryder Cup Matches?

Alex: Entertaining at these events truly shows the appreciation you have for your client or staff. The Masters is ranked as the toughest ticket to get for any sport and only a small percentage of people each year are lucky enough to attend. These events leave a life-long memory that for most is a once in a lifetime opportunity. When you take a client or potential client to a premiere event they are going to remember you anytime they do business that is associated with what you do. That memory can and will push you over your competitors. The same is true if you run an award incentive for your sales staff. An award to the person that meets your incentive criteria will make everyone work harder to achieve the goal of attending the prestigious event. Above all, the most important reason to do this is a good Return On Investment (ROI). These events have a cost, but you will make up this cost and earn money in the process.

Scott: Thank you for your time Alex.

If you would like to know more about this special way to entertain clients or staff click here and tell them Scott sent you.

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.