Febuary 06 blog
The No B.S. Golf Newsletter
If you find typographical or grammatical errors in this
email, they are here for a purpose. Some people actually
enjoy looking for them and we strive to please as many of
these people as possible.
Richard
=============================================
Give all of your golfing buddies a free gift... forward
them a copy of this newsletter, or ask them to go to
http://www.thinkandreachpar.com/ and sign up.
==============================================
Special Notice
With Spring fast approaching, I was thinking of trying to
have Sensei Mark Anthony do a one hour tele-seminar for us.
We tried a couple of years ago but had trouble with the
service I was using.
If you are interested, just send an email to
Richard@thinkandreachpar.com and in the body put…yes. If
we have enough interest, we will see if he can give us a
few techniques to use.
Just let me know.
Richard
=============================================
Richard's Quick Tip:
Grip Tip
Many weekend golfers lose control of the club at the top of
the backswing because they grip too close to the end of the
handle. When the club is gripped in this way the left hand
is unable to support tit properly with the result that club
is allowed to move out of the correct plane.
So next time you take up your grip make sure there is at
least an inch of the end of the club visible after you
close your left hand around it. By doing this you will
allow the heel of the palm to help support the weight of
the club and give you better control.
===============================================
Golf Quote of the week:
"You don't know what pressure is until you've played for
five dollars a hole with only two in your pocket." - Lee
Trevino
=================================================
Quote of the week: "Beginning today, treat everyone you
meet as if they were going to be dead by midnight. Extend
to them all the care, kindness and understanding you can
muster, and do with no thought of any reward. Your life
will never be the same again." Og Mandino 1923-1996, Author
=================================================
-Embarrassed by having twelve-year-olds out-drive you off
the tee? -Do you dread water, woods, hazards, sand
bunkers and other golf course anatomy? -Ready to give up
because you beat balls for hours and all you have to show
for it is a sore back, blisters on your hands, and a losing
score?
http://www.thinkandreachpar.com/golf_training.htm
==========================================================
Questions and Answers from subscribers by our Teaching Pro,
Mr. Joe DeLorenzo.
Thank you for taking the time to answer these for us Joe.
A Bit Of Golf Trivia: Ben Hogan was know for not speaking
much to others, but Jimmy Demaret said Ben spoke to him on
every hole whenever they played together. What did Ben
usually say to Jimmy? (answer is below)
Joe, I get so frustrated with bad shots. I know I can do
better because I hit good shots most of the time. How can I
succeed in this game? Sedrik
Hello Sedrik, Success can be defined in many ways. If you
expect perfection, golf will always break your heart. Sam
Snead never won the US Open, does that mean he did not have
a successful career? Arnold Palmer never won the PGA, was
he not a success? Golf is a microcosm of life, neither one
offers any guarantees. Golf can be a character builder. It
can teach you how to react to adversity, because there will
always be adversity, and if you can deal with occasional
failure, you can apply this attitude toward other life
situations. Golf puts you in situations where a little
courage is needed. It lets you dream of the possibilities,
so set some personal goals and pursue them, and enjoy the
rush of achievement. Golf lets you get away from it all,
anticipating the next round on new courses. Appreciate the
beauty of nature, and the camaraderie of others. Instead of
reprimanding yourself, be able to laugh at yourself when
strange things happen, because they always will, you just
never know when. Once you understand this, your attitude
will improve, and once you begin seeking continuous
improvement in whatever you do, you are already a success.
Joe
Joe, With all the technology improvements in balls and
equipment, it is said that older golf courses are becoming
obsolete, and people will slowly stop playing them in favor
of newer courses. Do you agree? Aaron
Hi Aaron, No, I do not agree. Whoever says a course is too
short or too easy, ask them if they have ever shot par on
it. Chances are they will say no. In that case they have no
business saying that. While the techno-geeks may prefer
longer courses, there is still a huge base of golfers who
do not benefit so much from new technology, so the older
courses are just fine for them. Also, the greens fees for
older courses are usually lower than fees for the newer
courses, so the more affordable courses will always get
business from those of us who must watch our budgets. Joe
Question for the Evil Twin: Jody, do you agree with others
who say Golf Is Life? Answer: No, I disagree. Golf is
much more complicated than that.
Answer to the above Trivia Question: “You’re away”.
==============================================
Testimonial
I am a 10 handicap LH, and due to back injury had to switch
to RH. It was start all over, or not golf(not an option) I
was horrible, looking for a better way found your Total
Body Golf on line and ordered. In a period of the summer
went from 25 RH to 15 RH now. I believe that with the new
senior cd I will be a nine RH this spring. Thanks so much
for making it simple."
Jim Potts - West Virginia
Get Your DVD Now …and Get Ready For Spring
http://www.thinkandreachpar.com/bodygolf_seniors_adv.htm
======================================
Golf Potpourri
By
Mac Stevenson
Resolve to Tune Out Distractions
With spring just a few weeks off, it’s a perfect time to
make a resolution that you will focus more intently on the
mental part of the game. It won’t always work, but it
won’t hurt to try.
Golf is hard enough without having to deal with a number of
annoying mental and physical distractions that can destroy
a good round.
The number-one cause of aggravation and loss of
concentration among serious golfers is fellow players who
won’t shut their mouths while you’re trying to putt or hit
a full shot.
When confronted, these motor mouths give the excuse that
they’re just out for a good time and anyone who is bothered
by their talking is taking the game too seriously. The
reality is that the talker is either dumber than a pole,
being inconsiderate of the other players, or both.
Some of the talkers will say, “Football and basketball
players have to get used to the noise, why can’t you?”
That’s so dumb it doesn’t merit a reply; the sports are
entirely different.
Way, way too many guys who play golf won’t be quiet while
their fellow competitors are trying to hit a shot. And it
can ruin the round if you’re trying to play your best.
How can you let these non-stop talkers know that you’re
upset without starting an all-out war? The best way is to
step away from the shot or putt and give the guy a direct
look to let him know he’s being a nuisance. This usually
works, but some players are oblivious to everything but
themselves, or just plain stupid.
When you run into a talker that won’t take the hint, you
have a real problem. The next step is to back away from
the shot and say, “Fore please.” That should do it. Of
course by then you’re mad and motor mouth is mad and the
golf is ruined.
There’s just no easy way to solve this problem of rudeness
without a direct confrontation with the compulsive talker.
And then make sure you don’t play with him again.
Two other common and unwanted agitations are cars going by
and honking or players yelling from an adjacent fairway.
In most cases, you can back off from the shot and start
over with no harm done.
Another disturbing habit some players have is standing in
your line—behind the pin—on a chip shot or putt. This is
much like the talker; the only way to solve the problem is
by asking him to get out of the way. Or you can decide
it’s not worth the confrontation and go ahead and putt or
chip. Either way your concentration on the shot is
destroyed. And if you proceed and hit the putt or chip
poorly, then you’re really mad.
One thing you can do in this situation is to tell yourself
that if you’re focused, you won’t be able to see the other
player while you’re striking the ball. But the problem is
that you won’t be concentrating on the shot.
Some players think you should putt those troublesome
two-footers without marking your ball and waiting. That
depends on what you’re comfortable with.
If you hurry a putt and miss it just to get out of the way,
you’ll be so mad at yourself that it will take several
holes to get over it; by that time your score and matches
will be in a state of disrepair.
That’s not to say you should play slow, but some two-foot
putts are tough and it’s perfectly all right to be sure
you’re ready before you putt.
Occasionally during a round you won’t feel right over a
shot for any number of reasons. Most of us go right ahead
and hit anyway—missing it badly.
This disturbing premonition might occur just once or twice
in several rounds, but when it does, it’s important to back
off and start over.
Once in a while you might not feel right about how or where
you’ve teed up your ball to start a hole. If you’re not
comfortable with the placement, take the time to move and
tee it up again. Don’t hit it because you’re afraid of
being portrayed as a slow player. And this doesn’t mean
you should take extra time on every tee. These are
infrequent instances involving an uncomfortable feeling
when you’re not set up correctly on the tee.
Learning how to control your temper and maintain
concentration when one of your playing companions is rude
enough to distract you is vital. And it’s a lot easier
said than done.
==========================================
Attention Left Handed Golfers
If you are tired of watching golf videos and them saying
"If you are a lefty, reverse these instructions" then here
are the DVD's made just for you!!
The Body Golf series of DVD's for left handed golfers! The
only complete set of golf training videos for leftys!!
Order your set now:
======================================
Richard's Thoughts
Know How Far You Hit Each Club
Although it may seem academic, I can’t stress enough the
importance of knowing how far you hit each club in your
bag.
Actually you should know two distances for each club. How
far the ball travels in the air before landing, and total
distance including normal roll. The normal roll on the
green may be very different from normal roll on the
fairway.
You need to know how far your shots carry in order to
properly select the club that will clear water or a sand
trop that lies between you and your target. Always allow
for the wind. Total yardage knowledge is important so you
can decide whether to lay up or go for a pin when no hazard
is in the way. Get a feel early in the round whether the
fairways and greens are soft or hard, since this will also
affect total yardage.
Be realistic about your yardage. Just because you once
killed a five iron over 200 yards doesn’t mean you can
repeat it consistently. In fact it’s probably rarer than
the 75 yard worm burner you undoubtedly hit form time to
time. Assume you are going to hit each shot solidly with
your normal swing and select the club that’s right for the
yardage.
On course practice is the best way to gauge your normal
distances with each club because you have a real target to
hit and hopefully yardage markers that you can rely on.
Practice one club at a time, watch the ball flight and
carry and measure total distance by where the balls come to
rest.
So learn how far you hit each club, and you’ll hit each
shot with renewed confidence.
Until next week...good golfing!
Richard C Myers
http://www.thinkandreachpar.com/
http://www.golfforleftys.com/
02/23/06
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This weeks Tip
One Method of Putting
I used to be an in-and-outer on the greens, but I've
been putting very well, I'd say, since adopting Bill’s
method. Bill is one of the greatest putters any of us
have encountered, and since his method is simplicity
itself, I'd like to pass it along to you.
The fact that underlies Bills method is the necessity
of keeping the face of the putter square to the hole
(or to the point on a rolling green you are aiming at)
throughout the stroke. The position of the left hand
on the shaft is the key to achieving this. At address,
with the clubface square, the back of the left hand
must set up so that it is absolutely square to the
hole. When you take the club back, as the left wrist
breaks, the back of the left hand remains square. On
the forward stroke, you simply let the weight of the
clubhead strike the ball, with the back of the left
hand remaining square to the hole right through to the
finish of the stroke. When the back of the left hand
is square to the hole, the putter face is also square
because they are always at the same angle.
Let me point out again, since it is very important,
that on the forward stroke you don't urge the blade on
with a deliberate action of the hands. You just let
the weight of the clubhead create its own speed. The
ball will be struck true and will roll with perfect
rotation. All in all, it's a method that enables you
to keep your body motionless when you putt and,
moreover, it develops touch.
Until next week, good golfing!
Dr Richard Myers
http://www.thinkandreachpar.com/
http://www.golfforleftys.com/
02/21/06
The No B.S. Golf Newsletter
=============================================
Give all of your golfing buddies a free gift...
forward them a copy of this newsletter, or ask
them to go to http://www.thinkandreachpar.com/ and sign
up.
==============================================
Get Ready For Spring
Talking with Joe DeLorenzo the other day about
his ebook, Joe was telling me how many people
tell him they have improved their game by using
the techniques and advice in his “30
Uncomplicated Ways to Lower Your Golf Score.”
Therefore we decided to offer it to you now so
you can begin practicing as Spring is just around
the corner.
The price of Joe’s book is $19.95. Other ebooks
sell form $39.95 to $69.95, but as a teaching
pro, Joe feels that he would rather sell more
books for less money, so he can help more people.
There is a lot of good golf information in this
book, so get your copy now. Lower your score
now! Go to this address to order your copy!
http://www.thinkandreachpar.com/30ways.htm
(you may have to copy and paste this link in your
browser)
==========================================
Richard's Quick Tip:
Handling The Flyer
“Flyer” is referred to as a lie where grass is
likely to get between the clubface and your ball
at impact. The grass doesn’t allow the grooves
of the club to impart backspin on the ball, and
the ball flies farther and doesn’t stop so fast.
There is not much you can do about the lie. You
certainly can’t tramp the grass down or remove
it-because that is against the rules. The only
real solution open to you is to compensate by
taking less club and aiming short of your target.
If there is trouble in front of your target (a
pond, perhaps, or a large bunker), it is best to
let the flyer carry your ball past the flagstick.
Not such a bad option when one considers that on
most golf courses the trouble is in front of the
green or at the sides.
===============================================
Golf Quote of the week:
“Play the shot you’ve got the greatest chance of
playing well and play the shot that makes the
next shot easy. It is not solely the capacity to
make great shots that makes champions, but the
essential quality of making very few bad shots”.
Greg Norman
=================================================
Quote of the week:
"I know of no more encouraging fact than the
unquestionable ability of man to elevate himself
through conscious endeavor."
Dale Carnegie
1888-1955
Author and Trainer
=================================================
Questions and Answers from subscribers by our
Teaching Pro, Mr. Joe DeLorenzo.
Thank you for taking the time to answer these for
us Joe.
A Bit Of Golf Trivia: What was the one advantage
that the old Featherie balls had over modern golf
balls? (answer is below)
Joe, I think I have a pretty good putting stroke
because I can make straight putts, but I always
mis-read breaking putts. Sometimes I am not even
sure if a putt will break left or right. Is there
anything I can try so I can read breaking putts
better? Elmer
Hi Elmer, Stand on any flat surface (any floor
indoors is usually not sloped), close your eyes
and notice how your heels feel at the same level
as your toes. Also the surface is not causing you
to lean to keep your balance. Then find a sloped
surface like a driveway or sidewalk and do the
same drill. You will probably feel your toes
higher or lower than your heels depending on the
slope. You will also notice you have to lean a
little bit to keep your balance. This also can
work on a putting green to give you an idea of
which way a putt will break if you are not sure.
Another method to try is plumb-bobbing, where you
use your putter’s shaft as a plumb-bob by
dangling it in front of you as you view the cup.
If the cup appears perpendicular to the shaft,
the putt is straight. If the cup is tilted, the
putt should break in the downward direction of
the tilt. Try these and let us know if they
helped. Joe
Joe, Most of the putts I miss are pulled. I do
not want to try anything unconventional to fix
this, so I am really concentrating on a perfectly
squared stance and keeping my stroke straight
back and thru, but unless I try to push it on
purpose, the pull is always there. What can I do?
Pat
Hello Pat, Everyone has natural tendencies. Some
instructors will categorize you as a natural push
or pull in terms of how many inches left or right
(on a 10 foot putt), and then simply tell you to
aim that much away from the hole. If that works
for you, fine, but in many cases I have found
that a squared stance can cause a pull if your
ball position is too far forward. Be careful what
you consider to be unconventional, open your mind
to other possibilities like closing your stance a
little by moving your back foot away from the
line, and allowing your backstroke to be slightly
inside the line. I challenge you to have a
contest using this method against your usual
method. I predict this new method has a good
chance of winning. Joe
Answer to the above Trivia Question: Featheries
could float, so you could play them out of water
hazards.
Question for the Evil Twin: Jody, have you ever
hit a Featherie?
Answer: Yes, but there was still a chicken
attached to the feathers. It did not fly too good
but it ran for 300 yards.
==============================================
Testimonial
I am a 10 handicap LH, and due to back injury had
to switch to RH. It was start all over, or not
golf(not an option) I was horrible, looking for a
better way found your Total Body Golf on line and
ordered. In a period of the summer went from 25
RH to 15 RH now. I believe that with the new
senior cd I will be a nine RH this spring. Thanks
so much for making it simple."
Jim Potts - West Virginia
Get Your DVD Now …and Get Ready For Spring
http://www.thinkandreachpar.com/bodygolf_seniors_adv.htm
======================================
Plan Proper Practice in Early Spring
By
Mac Stevenson
The days are getting longer and the sun has more
authority; before long the birds will be singing
and the 2006 golfing season will be upon us.
Before you start playing this spring, plan your
season strategy for practicing. Give your
practice routine some serious thought and it will
pay off over the upcoming season.
If you enjoy practicing, it will benefit your
golf game if you occasionally take a day off from
your 18-holes routine and devote a full day to
practice. How often you do this will depend on
how serious you are about your golf, and whether
or not you’re having big problems with your game.
Most players go to the practice area for one main
reason: they are playing poorly. A long
practice session will prove to you that you are
physically capable of hitting certain shots the
way you want to. Just knowing that you can do it
is more than half the battle.
Before you embark on a long practice session on
shots you’ve been having trouble with, be sure
you have the proper techniques and fundamentals
clear in your mind. Taking a lesson from your
pro or watching instruction videos should be all
the help you need. It’s counterproductive to
work on a particular shot for a half hour if
you’re using incorrect fundamentals.
How long should a serious practice routine last?
That depends to some extent on your age and
overall physical condition, but 45 minutes to two
hours is long enough for most players. You can
hit just about every shot you’ll encounter on the
golf course while practicing for one hour.
Start your session with short shots that aren’t
tiring and then work on your putting. Finish
with the full shots from the driving range. And
don’t become discouraged if you start hitting
some poor shots because you begin to tire; the
same thing happens during competition.
A word of warning: Just because you hit shots as
well as you’re capable of on the driving range,
don’t expect that to automatically carry over to
the golf course. On the driving range, you’re
relaxed and in a perfect rhythm. This type of
practice will improve your game over the long
haul, but don’t expect any short-term miracles.
Shots you face during serious competition differ
greatly from those you hit on the driving range;
nevertheless, multiple repetitions on the range
will eventually pay off for you when you’re
playing serious golf.
You’ll have unrealistic expectations after you’ve
had a productive session on the driving
range--that’s just human nature. Having those
feelings of confidence, however, is a positive.
If you know that you’re capable of hitting a
certain shot the way you want to, eventually
you’ll start doing it consistently on the golf
course.
Improvement in golf isn’t a rapid process; it’s
an insidious phenomenon that requires a lot of
patience and practice and playing. And even
then, slumps will occur when you least expect
them. But so will periods when you play really
well.
Long-term improvement on the vital short shots is
assured with diligent practice using solid
fundamentals. This is true for all players,
regardless of age, strength, or skill level.
You’ll gain confidence in these shots as you have
success on the practice green and the golf
course.
It’s an added plus that practicing chips,
pitches, and sand shots isn’t as tiring or
time-consuming as the full shots. You can hit
about 60 of these crucial shots during a half
hour of practice, and it won’t tire you out too
much before a regular round of golf. If you’re
limited on the time you can spend practicing,
this is the way to go.
Practice doesn’t help much if it isn’t
accompanied with enthusiasm. If you don’t like
to practice, it won’t be of much benefit to go
through long sessions. But most players enjoy
some practicing; how much depends on your
individual tastes. If you set aside one
day—every three or four weeks—for a long practice
session, your game will improve with time. Just
don’t expect it to happen overnight.
Richard, Love the "tips", been instructing for a
couple of years here in New England, thought this
might help with putting; as you say you must be
over the ball, I have found new players and
seniors don't know that they are over the ball,
many seniors have the toe of the putter up and
make an arc in their stroke. Soooo.... I have
them set up for a putt, and without them moving,
remove the club, and drop a ball from the bridge
of their nose!! They are amazed at where the ball
lands. I learned this from an 11 yr. old student
"Matt". You can teach old dogs new tricks!
Sincerely,
Rick Mackay,
Haverhill Ma.
Richard,
I too was diagnosed with a rotator cuff problem
when I was in my 30's. It got so bad that I
quit playing golf for 16 years. Then I saw an
advertisement in a county magazine by a local
physical therapist specializing in golf related
injuries.
I went to see him and, after checking me out, he
discovered that some of the muscles around my
shoulder had atrophied. This was allowing my arm
to move around in my shoulder socket more that
it should. The net affect was improper rubbing
of the tendons and my rotator cuff.
He put me on an exercise program to strengthen
the muscles around my shoulder. After 3 months
I was able to golf almost pain free. I still get
some occasional pain in my rotator cuff area,
which is probably from tendons damaged while my
shoulder was loose.
You might want to go see a physical therapist.
You've got nothing to lose except the pain in
your shoulder. :-)
Good luck, -- Del
Thanks for the information Del. I have an
appointment with a physical therapist this week.
Will keep you posted. Richard
Hi Richard, thanks for a wonderful Newsletter. Re
your pain problem:- I have had a bad back{ lower
lumbar area] for years, & I also sufferd with
Tendonitis in both forearms for six years, & I
came across a natural element called Glucosamine.
I started by taking 500milligrams twice a day[
with meals ] for a couple of months & I noticed a
huge improvement, I continued with the two a day
for another couple of months, & I am now almost
A1 100%, & only take 1 x 500 milligram capsule
every second day. You may also be a bit low in
Magnesium and/or Potassium, so I would recommend
that you take a MuliVitamin & Mineral
capsule/tablet each day. The big problem nowadays
is that our soils are almost depleted of all the
micronutrients the body needs, & therefore our
foods are not delivering the goodness the body
requires. I hope this info is as helpful to you
as your info is to me.
Give it a go, or go to a Naturopath & get some
expert advice, it will be less costly, in both
money & pain, & you won't finish up with any
impediment. Or perhaps do a Google on
Glucosamine. I have been interested in Natural
Health for 10 to 12 years now, & in that time I
have not even had a cold, not to mention fixing
my Prostrate which the Medicos wanted to operate
on. I hope this info will be helpful to you. Keep
well, From " The Land Of Oz Down Under " P.S I am
67 years of young [going on 35yrs.] & a Leftie,
who 12 months ago played off 29, & now thanks to
your tips, am off 20.
Robert
==========================================
Attention Left Handed Golfers
If you are tired of watching golf videos and them
saying "If you are a lefty, reverse these
instructions" then here are the DVD's made just
for you!!
The Body Golf series of DVD's for left handed
golfers! The only complete set of golf training
videos for leftys!!
Order your set now:
======================================
Richard's Thoughts
I appreciate the folks that emailed me about my
shoulder. I will heed all advice and keep you
posted.
The weather has turned winter here in South
Carolina. But like always I am sure in a day or
so the temp will be in the 60-70’s again.
Finding Time and Keeping Fit
The average golfer has trouble finding time to
play. He also finds it hard to keep fit between
infrequent rounds.
Some of these tips may help:
Make time to play by going out before or after
office hours. One executive plays six holes
before breakfast, uses three balls, feels he’s
played “compact 18”
Entertain clients at golf instead of lunch.
Arrange to play on a business trip when you’ll
wind up by noon. Your club membership or
handicap card will be honored by most clubs if
you’ve no friend to introduce you.
Plan business meetings at one of the growing
number of golf resorts which welcome them.
With longer vacations, you might use some of your
vacation to make long week ends for short golf
trips.
Do house and yard chores during the week when
possible to leave you free for golf on week ends.
Develop a family interest in golf. It will make
it easier for you to get out, either because
you’ll be playing with the family or they’ll be
playing more golf than you-and won’t begrudge
your playing.
On week ends, play early in the morning or in the
afternoon, so that you will have half a day at
home or time to do something with the family.
Teeing off a t 10 or 11 tends to kill the whole
day.
Regulation courses now being lighted may give you
a chance to get in some golf at night. Some
clubs with lights are opening the course to
outsiders at night.
Tips for keeping fit between rounds:
Swing a 22 ounce club every evening. Keep and
use a spring grip in your desk at the office.
Carry and squeeze a small rubber ball. Practice
chip shots in your yard, putting in the living
room. Finger-tip push-ups help strengthen hands.
Patronize practice ranges or make room for a
driving net in your garage.
Until next week...good golfing!
Richard C Myers
http://www.thinkandreachpar.com/
http://www.golfforleftys.com/
02/15/06
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This weeks Tip
The Box Principle in Putting
Putting is the most precise and certainly the most fickle
part of golf. Through the years I have concluded there is a
strong relationship between the psychology, philosophy, and
mechanics of this so-called "other' game.
I cannot overstress the value of a consistent and confident
attitude toward putting. You must be positive, decisive,
trustful and patient: positive in that you think every putt
can be holed; decisive in that you never doubt your plan
once you have made up your mind; trustful in that you
realize that through learning and practice you have grooved
your mechanics; patient in that you recognize that you will
make your fair share of putts in relation to your skill,
touch and intelligent practice. As many putts are missed
through mental errors as mechanical.
Yet, first, there must be a sound mechanical foundation.
This is what can be taught; the rest must be sensed. The
basic point of all putting fundamental is squareness. I
call it the “box” principle. It means simply that the feet,
hips, shoulders, and hands must all be square to the
putting line. The key is the hand position: the back of the
left hand and the palm of the right must always face
directly toward the hole. The principle holds true at every
stage of the putting stroke. You can achieve the square
feeling of the left hand leading the backstroke and the
right hand hitting squarely at and through impact only when
you have mastered the box principle.
Until next week, good golfing!
Dr Richard Myers
http://www.thinkandreachpar.com/
Shorten Your Grip For Straighter Driving
The No B.S. Golf Newsletter
=============================================
Give all of your golfing buddies a free gift... forward them a
copy of this newsletter, or ask them to go to
http://www.thinkandreachpar.com/ and sign up.
==============================================
Richard's Quick Tip:
Shorten Your Grip For Straighter Driving
One of the main reasons why weekend golfers have trouble with
the driver Is because it is the longest club in the bag.
The further they have to stand from the ball, the less confident
they feel. This, coupled with the fact that the driver is
usually the cause of more dropped shots than any other club does
not exactly help to instill a feeling of confidence.
One way to overcome the problem and produce more accurate tee
shots with the driver is to get yourself close to the ball by
holding the club further down the handle than normal.
This will obviously mean adjusting the distance that you stand
from the ball and although you may lose a few yards in length,
you will probably find that you will hit a lot more fairways.
Improved accuracy will result from your shortened grip.
===============================================
A while back, Mark and I were talking and I had asked him if you
were to strip down everything out of most videos and systems,
what would be left. Where would all of the "meat" be?
He quickly replied, "Simple, the driver, the putter and the
wedge. Those are the most-used clubs in everybody's bag."
"You see," he went on, "Most weekend golfers have no idea how to
use these clubs. Unfortunately, these are the clubs that they
tend to use the most and, to their dismay, frustration and
endless aggravation, the ones that cost them the most strokes!"
"Something is definitely wrong here!" "Here's another thing." He
said, "If you were to look at how much information is out there
in the form of magazines, videos, TV shows, etc, this is where
the biggest focus is targeted! How can there be so much
information available out there and still, people are hacking
the ball everywhere with their driver, missing easy putts, and
spraying easy wedge shots all over the place on a regular basis?
Something is definitely wrong here!"
To get the rest of this story…follow this link.
http://www.thinkandreachpar.com/3golfclubs.htm
(If this link is not active in your email, you may have to copy
and paste it in your browser)
This is a good DVD. Not only visual quality, but content as
well.
============================================
Golf Quote of the week:
If you don't succeed at first, don't despair. Remember, it takes
time to learn to play golf; most players spend their entire
lifetime finding out about the game before they give up -
Stephen Baker
=================================================
Quote of the week:
"Keep on going and the chances are you will stumble on
something, perhaps when you are least expecting it. I have never
heard of anyone stumbling on something sitting down." Charles F.
Kettering 1876-1958, Engineer and Inventor
=================================================
Questions and Answers from subscribers by our Teaching Pro,
Mr. Joe DeLorenzo.
Thank you for taking the time to answer these for us Joe.
A Bit Of Golf Trivia: 3 questions - who was the first golfer to
earn more than one million dollars in prize money, and in what
year?
1 – first to earn $1M in a career?
2 – first to earn $1M in one year?
3 – soonest to earn $1M after joining the Tour?
(answers are below)
Joe,
I am 60+ old. Do I automatically get the privilege to play
from the white markers? My handicap is 18. If I am playing
against a player with a single digit handicap then do I get both
privileges i.e. the handicap strokes plus playing from the
white marker or one of the two or none of these? thanks for your
reply,
sincerely, ezhar
Hello Ezhar,
When entering scores for a handicap, today’s
computerized systems always ask which set of tees you have
played, and adjusts your handicap accordingly, so yes, you can
play any set of tees unless you are in a competition. Then the
rules of your competition will dictate which set of tees you
must play. This will clearly be spelled out when you enter the
competition. Usually you will have to play the same set of tees
as your opponent, but in some cases the local rules might allow
you to play a different set of tees, but that would seem
unusual.
Joe
Joe,
Different ads for putters illustrate that some putters have
a little loft to start the ball slightly off the ground while
others are saying it is better to get the ball rolling
immediately. Which way is better? Wayne
Hi Wayne,
In my opinion it does not matter. Sometimes you will
notice the pros on TV will chip from the fringe with the flag
out of the hole because they are trying to hole the shot. That
suggests they could putt almost as well with a wedge as they can
with a putter, so a little loft is not a bad thing, right? So do
you think anyone will design a putter that looks like a wedge? I
think not. Just because a lofted ball might skid, does not mean
it will skid off line unless it hits an imperfection on the
putting surface. Getting the ball rolling immediately and
hitting the same imperfection on the putting surface will likely
have the same effect. I figure this debate is mostly due to
marketing hype trying to sell different types of putters. A
straight putt will stay straight whether it rolls immediately or
skids a little. Rather than worrying about how the ball rolls,
consider most putts are missed due to mis-reads. Any breaking
putt has different lines depending on speed. A putt that dies at
the hole will need more break than an aggressive putt that would
go past the hole. On a breaking putt, even if you have the
perfect putter and you make a perfectly straight stroke on the
perfect line, you still miss it if the speed is a little too
hard or a little too soft because the break will be different.
All you can do is try different styles of putters yourself and
see which design gives you more confidence. It is confidence
that produces the best results.
Joe
Joe,
I am reading in magazines about the “X-factor” where the
shoulders are supposed to turn much more than the hips to get
extra power. If that is true, why do some instructions say to
get a good hip turn, is that not contrary to the X-factor which
says to limit the hip turn? Who is correct?
Tom
Hello Tom,
This is one of many areas where people debate which
is better, and some of it depends on your body build and your
degree of athleticism. Here is my opinion. The X-factor can
create some whipping action only if the downswing move is
executed properly with the lower body going first. However,
rather than limiting the hip turn, I feel you should allow the
hips to turn naturally and compare results. I also feel that you
can generate even more whipping action with a bigger hip turn as
long as your timing on the downswing is correct, again with the
lower body going first, as evidenced by the swings of Bobby
Jones and John Daly, and how about J.B Holmes who was outdriving
everyone in Phoenix recently with a short backswing and big hip
turn? Am I mistaken, or did that look a lot like Sensei Mark in
the Body Golf videos? This is a good experiment for the practice
range, just try varying amounts of hip action and see what works
best for you. Joe
Question for the Evil Twin: Jody, how often do you play?
Answer: I only play on days that end in y
Answer to the above Trivia Question: 1-Arnold Palmer in 1968,
2-Curtis Strange in 1989, 3-J.B. Holmes in 2006.
==============================================
Testimonial
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Get Your DVD Now …and Get Ready For Spring
http://www.thinkandreachpar.com/bodygolf_seniors_adv.htm
======================================
Golf Potpourri
By
Mac Stevenson
Spend Some Time on the Beach this Spring
This spring—when it’s chilly—and you want to practice for just a
short while, spend the time working on your sand shots.
Many otherwise competent golfers become stiff with fear the
moment they step into a sand trap. The reason for the feeling
of dread—which is akin to terror—is that they have not taken
the time or effort to master the fundamentals of the sand shot.
You have to be familiar with and understand the basic
fundamentals of the sand shot. They’re available via Richard’s
short-game videos.
Sand shots—so far as escaping from the trap and getting on the
green—are not difficult. The hard part of these shots is
mental, not physical. You can’t always get up and down in two,
but you won’t hack and chop until you’ve ruined your round
either.
Four varieties of stances and lies cover most of the sand
shots you’ll face:
•When you have a fairly level stance and a good lie.
•When you’re faced with an awkward stance caused by a lie on the up
slope.
•When you have a downhill lie and stance.
•And lastly, when you face the fried egg—the dreaded buried lie.
Don’t despair. You’ll have a level stance and reasonably good
lie on the majority of your sand shots. The basic fundamentals
on the level lie include an open stance with your hands slightly
behind the ball; an open clubface; play the ball off your left
heel; and pick out a spot just behind the ball where your
clubface will enter the sand.
On the standard sand shot, your swing should be upright and
outside-in so it’s easier to slice your clubhead under the ball
and through the sand.
The most important thing about a sand shot is to have a clear
image in your mind of what the clubhead will do.
Your clubface doesn’t touch the ball; it slices through the sand
under the ball and literally throws the ball on the green.
Most fundamental instructions are very weak in one area: They
don’t describe how much you should open the clubface. Simply
put, the clubface should be very open on short sand shots and
just slightly open for long explosions. You will have to
experiment for the in-between distances to find what is right
for you.
And you have to get in a sand trap and hit all four of the shots
described above. Just reading a book or watching Richard’s
video will help, but you have to get in a sand trap and practice
those fundamentals.
Experiment with various clubface alignments according to
different distances until you’re confident with this basic, but
important, concept.
Don’t let a buried lie strike terror into your psyche. This
isn’t a hard shot. Hood your clubface closed and hit behind the
ball and down and through the sand, throwing sand and ball onto
the green. Swing hard and follow through.
On most sand trap shots you’ll use your sand wedge. However, on
long trap shots (over 20 yards), try using your pitching wedge,
nine iron, or even an eight iron. And open the clubface ever so
slightly; you’ll find the ball flies much further with less
effort than the sand wedge requires.
If you don’t have a sand trap on your driving range, you’ll have
to practice on the course. Take five or six balls and work on
the four basic lies and stances. When you catch one of those
days when you have to wait on every tee and there’s no one
behind you, take a few moments to practice sand shots while your
buddies are wasting their time gabbing on the next tee.
Keep your head steady on all of these sand shots. You should
actually see your clubhead enter the sand, and make sure you
swing hard enough to slide your clubhead completely through the
sand.
Another good idea is to write or type the fundamentals on a note
card or two and have them laminated at a print shop. Keep them
in your golf bag for handy reference while you practice.
Like so many things in life, sand-trap shots seem hard or next
to impossible until you have the knowledge (fundamentals) and
confidence (gained from practice) and know you can hit the shot
correctly every time.
Spend some time on the beach and you’ll gain the skill and
confidence needed to get it out and on the green every time.
And if you really work at it, you’ll find you can get it up and
down in two more often than not.
==========================================
Attention Left Handed Golfers
If you are tired of watching golf videos and them saying "If you
are a lefty, reverse these instructions" then here are the DVD's
made just for you!!
The Body Golf series of DVD's for left handed golfers! The only
complete set of golf training videos for leftys!!
Order your set now:
======================================
Richard's Thoughts
For the past couple of years I have been having some rotator
cuff problems. When the pain starts and affects my game, I can
lay off the clubs for a few days, and everything is fine again.
But over the past two years it has been becoming more of a
problem, with more pain.
My doctor has been wanting to operate, but I have been putting
it off as long as possible. It has affected my game, but so far
I have been able to manage, but I am afraid my days are
numbered. I just can’t imagine not picking up a club for at
least six months! That is along time “not” to play golf, but I
must soon face reality.
With all the snow in the Northeast, I hope you have managed to
stay warm and dry this past winter.
Thanks to all of your for your support.
Now for a quick lesson.
Topping and Skying
How To Stop Topping
Topping can result when the ball is played too far forward or
too far back, or when the clubhead is placed too far behind the
ball at address.
Stand closer to the ball. Avoid raising it too soon, coming off
the ball. Don’t chop.
Keep left knee flexed and don’t stiffen knee or shift weight to
your toes.
Don’t try to scoop the ball or lean to the right at impact and
keep your eyes behind the ball.
How To Stop Skying
Skying can result from dropping the right shoulder and lowering
the arc of the swing in anxiety to get more power into your
shot.
This can also cause a fat shot when iron hits ground too far
behind the ball. On the drive, tee the ball lower, and keep
your head on the same level. Do not dip.
Don’t break wrists too early or release too soon, causing a
scoop.
Let your left side lead clubhead through the ball, and don’t let
your right hand or shoulder take over.
Until next week...good golfing!
Richard C Myers
http://www.thinkandreachpar.com/
http://www.golfforleftys.com/
The No B.S. Golf Newsletter
=============================================
Give all of your golfing buddies a free gift... forward them a
copy of this newsletter, or ask them to go to
http://www.thinkandreachpar.com/ and sign up.
==============================================
Richard's Quick Tip:
Wood From The Rough
If you struggle getting out of the rough with your irons then
why not try a 5 0r 7 wood? The actual club you choose will
depend on the distance you need to achieve and the life of the
ball.
For a bad lie in the rough make sure you position the ball back
in your stance but keep your hands ahead of the ball with the
back of the clubhead slightly raised above the ground.
Attempt to swing in a more upright plane to encourage a steeper
angle of attack on the ball.
Feel as if you are chopping down more than sweeping away, as you
would do from a good lie on the fairway with more of your weight
on your left foot.
===============================================
Last Week for the reduced price… ends Feb 12, 2006
Response has bee so good for this DVD, I am going to leave It
at the discount price for a few more days, so don't put off
buying
A while back, Mark and I were talking and I had asked him if you
were to strip down everything out of most videos and systems,
what would be left. Where would all of the "meat" be?
He quickly replied, "Simple, the driver, the putter and the
wedge. Those are the most-used clubs in everybody's bag."
"You see," he went on, "Most weekend golfers have no idea how to
use these clubs. Unfortunately, these are the clubs that they
tend to use the most and, to their dismay, frustration and
endless aggravation, the ones that cost them the most strokes!"
"Something is definitely wrong here!" "Here's another thing." He
said, "If you were to look at how much information is out there
in the form of magazines, videos, TV shows, etc, this is where
the biggest focus is targeted! How can there be so much
information available out there and still, people are hacking
the ball everywhere with their driver, missing easy putts, and
spraying easy wedge shots all over the place on a regular basis?
Something is definitely wrong here!"
To get the rest of this story…follow this link.
http://www.thinkandreachpar.com/3golfclubs.htm
(If this link is not active in your email, you may have to copy
and paste it in your browser)
This is a good DVD. Not only visual quality, but content as
well.
============================================
Golf Quote of the week: Bobby Jones in his book Golf is My Game
said ¡°Considered objectively, it is quite obviously a very
simple matter to propel a ball with a stick across some
specially prepared ground and into a hole which is of sufficient
size to accommodate it by a good margin. Simple that is, provided
there is no limit upon the time or the number of strokes
required¡±.
=================================================
Quote of the week:
"Man often becomes what he believes himself to be. If I keep on
saying to myself that I cannot do a certain thing, it is
possible that I may end by really becoming incapable of doing
it. On the contrary, if I shall have the belief that I can do
it, I shall surely acquire the capacity to do it, even if I may
not have it at the beginning." Mahatma Gandhi 1869-1948, Indian
Nationalist Leader
===================================================
Questions and Answers from subscribers by our Teaching Pro,
Mr. Joe DeLorenzo.
Thank you for taking the time to answer these for us Joe.
A Bit of Golf Trivia: Everyone says today's modern equipment
has made the game much easier. In the last ten years how much
has the average handicap index been lowered for both men or
women? (answer is below)
Joe, Having trouble with my swing plane. Hitting everything off
center towards the toe. Mostly with irons. What drill would you
recommend to correct ? David
Hi David, The recommended drill is the double-clubber as shown
in the Body Golf videos. This drill can help several types of
problems, whether it is swing plane, swing path, weight shift,
etc. In your case, although you think it is the swing plane, it
may or may not be, I would have to view your swing to be sure.
If your plane is too upright, it may cause toe hits, so flatten
it out a little like you do with your woods. However, swing path
could also be your problem, so if the flatter plane did not
work, try to make your downswing a little more inside out
because an outside in path could also cause toe hits. Good luck!
Joe
Joe, A golfer must really have to be good to get a single digit
handicap. I have some buddies who all hit the ball pretty well,
but their handicaps vary greatly. Where is this fine line that
separates them? Steven
Hi Steven, Let's say on every hole, golfer A and golfer B hit
the same number of fairways and the same number of greens. They
each chip and pitch the ball the same also. On each hole they
are both faced with par putts in the range of 6 to 10 feet.
Golfer A is a scratch player because she makes almost every putt
in that range. Golfer B is an 18 handicap because he misses
almost every putt in that range. There is your fine line. Nobody
will ever be a scratch player unless they can get up and down
from anywhere near the green. Even the best pros do not hit
every green in regulation, so they must have fantastic short
games to survive. Yet most golfers think the way to get better
is to spend all their practice time banging balls on the range.
Many golfers already hit the ball well enough to just get near
the green in regulation, but that's where the real scoring
begins. If you cannot make putts consistently in the 6 to 10
foot range, you have simply got to get your chip shots closer to
the hole. Scoring is all about the short game. And as Baretta
used to say for emphasis, THAT's the name of THAT tune. Joe
Joe, What kind of stuff would you like to see in the next golf
movie? Greg
Hi Greg, I would like to see a sequel to ¡°The Greatest Game
Ever Played¡± to capture some of the interesting true stories in
the book that the movie left out, such as the young unknown
Walter Hagen's great effort that came very close to winning the
same 1913 US Open which was the venue for the movie. The book
also had several other colorful characters that could easily
make another movie most interesting. I ask all our readers to
send this request in to Disney, maybe if they see enough
interest, they might do something about it. Maybe they can call
it ¡°Greatest Game ¨C Part 2¡±. Joe
Question for the Evil Twin: Jody, how did Golf get it's name?
Answer: All the other four letter words were already taken.
Actually, I read somewhere that the word was an acronym for
Gentlemen Only, Ladies Forbidden. If that is true, what would
the game be called if Ladies had invented it? Maybe ¡°WOMAN¡±
for Women Only, Men Are Nothing, or ¡°GIRL¡± for Game I Really
Love. The answer I like best, however, I saw on a T shirt in the
gift shop at Marytown in Mundelein, IL, it said Golf Offers Love
& Forgiveness.
Answer to the above Trivia Question ¨C Over the last ten years,
the average men's handicap index was lowered from 16.5 to 16.1,
while the average women's handicap index came down from 30.3 to
29.8. ==============================================
Comments from subscribers
Dear Richard,
I enjoy reading your quote of the week. I helps me in giving
advise to my personnel.
Thank you
Jonathan . Montillo
Richard
I always enjoy your newsletters and value the advice highly.
However I must contest the philosophy for putting off the green
fridge. You will have heard of Mr Shwab's YES putter famed for
its 3-5 deg loft? I have one and a home made 7 deg loft putter,
originally made for putting off the green. It transpires that
from experience, I find the 7 deg putter better on the green as
well. I attribute this to the purer strike which lifts the ball
up out of the influence of irregular ground surface whilst the
club exerts its vector acceleration to the ball. True the
results are disconcertingly faster putts until you are
conditioned to the new loft, but I Perceive better results so
far!
Give it a try with an old putter before putting your best Scotty
Cameron in the vice.
Regards Jim.
when putting, you mention getting your eyes directly over the
ball. Most people don't know what this feels/looks like. They
may even believe they are doing this. A good tip for checking
where your eyes are in relation to the ball when putting: Get
an old CD and place it shiny side up. (Every one gets at least
one or two in the mail from AOL and other internet companies).
Place your ball in the hole and line up to putt. You will see
your reflection in the CD and you can make adjustments to your
stance to accommodate getting your eyes in line with the ball.
Peter Trivanovich
Dear Richard,
Thank you for tip #13. I have always played my best golf when I
have a song in my head which keeps me from thinking through the
shot. My friends think I'm crazy. I'm glad to see I'm not!
Your tip is the first I've read about putting a song in your
head. But, it works!
Thank you,
Lisa 10 Handicap
Thank all of you for sharing with us!
======================================
Golf Potpourri
By
Mac Stevenson
Spring's Biggest Challenge
Early spring of 2006 is fast approaching and a common hindrance
will challenge golfers of all skill levels throughout the
nation: More often than not, the wind will be howling across
your golf course as you struggle to shoot good scores.
When you face gale-force winds, the best and most realistic
solution to the problems it poses is to simply lower your
expectations. If you usually shoot around 80, expect that to
climb to 85 or 86; a high wind is that much of a handicap to all
golfers.
What TV announcers call a treacherous and gusting wind during
PGA tournaments is laughable and bears no resemblance to the
roaring gales that whip across the Central Plains in early
spring.
Winds on the Central Plains in March and April and May often
gust to 40- or 50 mph. That makes it hard to keep your balance.
Make sure you have your feet firmly planted and try and keep
your swing smooth.
Most golfers practice just two types of wind shots: the full
shot with the wind blowing directly in their faces and the
opposite, when the wind is right behind them.
In reality, there are many different wind shots besides the
above-mentioned two. Crosswind shots are just as difficult as
those with the wind blowing toward or behind you. The two most
common problem shots are the left-to-right crosswind and vice
versa.
Crosswinds are treacherous. Most golfers don't realize that a
crosswind will knock your ball down and cause a loss of
distance, similar to a shot directly into the wind. The effect
isn't as extreme, but there is a definite loss of distance in a
crosswind.
Here is the important thing to remember about full shots in a
strong crosswind: It's better to allow a little too much for
the wind than not enough. If the wind is howling from right to
left on a 180-yard par three, you have to start your shot well
to the right of the green. If you don't allow for plenty of
drift, the shot can get completely away from you.
In a fierce wind, the punch shot usually struck with a five- to
eight-iron is a great weapon. Play the ball well back in your
stance, move your hands forward, and strike down on the ball
with an abbreviated backswing and follow through. The punch
shot produces a low, running shot that reduces the wind is
effect. A punch shot is not hard to master, but it does require
practice.
When you hit iron shots into the wind, be sure and use plenty of
club. If it's a shot you would hit with a seven-iron on a
still day, don't be too proud to go down to a four- or
five-iron.
By using more club than you think you need, you can take a
smooth swing and achieve the desired distance.
Playing in a strong wind will also affect your short game.
It's difficult to maintain balance on chips and putts.
Three- and four-foot putts are extremely challenging because
It's so hard to stroke the ball. Just remember that everyone
has the same problem; the wind isn't an obstacle to you alone.
In a gale wind, the best way to handle short putts is to hit
them as quickly as possible without destroying your rhythm and
concentration. You might have to give it a bit of a jab stroke,
but do it quick and you will make some of ¡®em.
It helps to widen your stance, but putting is such an individual
skill that you will have to work out your own method for putting
in a strong wind.
When a fierce wind is at your back on long holes, consider
teeing off with a metal three instead of your driver. The metal
three is a more forgiving club and you'll hit it higher and get
as much distance as you will with the driver.
Playing in a howling gale will challenge your mental toughness
to its limit. If things start going bad, it is easy to become
discouraged and blame the wind. You must resist this form of
self-pity.
You'll become tired much quicker than normal. Playing in a
Central Plains howler for four hours will make you feel like
Someone is been beating on you with a rubber hose.
When fatigue becomes the master, your resolve crumbles and
mistakes become frequent. That is why it is vital to follow the
number-one rule going against the wind: Use more club than you
think you need and swing smooth. Not easy, smooth.
It is excellent practice to hit balls into the teeth of a strong
wind. Your mistakes (slices or hooks) are accentuated by the
wind, and by practicing in it you'll learn how to control your
shots to the best of your ability.
If you want to learn how to play in the wind, come visit Central
Kansas for a week or so in March or April. You'll get a chance
to play in a howling gale almost every day.
==========================================
Attention Left Handed Golfers
If you are tired of watching golf videos and them saying "If you
are a lefty, reverse these instructions" then here are the DVD's
made just for you!!
The Body Golf series of DVD's for left handed golfers! The only
complete set of golf training videos for leftys!!
Order your set now:
02/12/06
Eye Over The Ball When Putting - Categories: The Eye Over the Ball in Putting
It doesn't make any difference if you have an unorthodox grip or stance when you putt, but two things are vital: your eye must be directly over the ball, and you must stroke the ball to make it rotate end-over-end.
You have undoubtedly noticed that manufacturers are now making putters more upright. This is to help the golfer keep his eye directly over the ball. Every great putter I have seen does this. In effect, their eyes act in the capacity of eyes for the ball. The ball can only "see" the line when your eyes are directly over it. If they are not, your eyes will see one line while the ball "sees" another, and I don't think I need to go into the results of that.
When your eyes are over the ball, you have a much better chance of stroking it accurately and imparting end-over-end-rotation. End-over-end rotation means that the ball is contacted so squarely that it rolls "over itself," on the same vertical axis, there being no side-spin as there inevitably will be when the ball is cut or pulled or mis-putted in some other manner. If a putt stroked with end-over-end rotation hits a corner of the cup, it will not spin off and will usually drop. Some people use a little gadget and draws a circle around their putting balls so they can check exactly how the ball is rotating. Just like using a range ball for putting.
Until next week, good golfing!
Dr Richard Myers
http://www.thinkandreachpar.com/
New South Media, LLC
45 Doverdale Rd.
Greenville SC 29615
United States
864.675.0038
02/03/06
If you find a typographical or grammatical errors in this email,
they are here for a purpose. Some people actually enjoy
looking for them and we strive to please as many of these
people as possible. Richard
=============================================
Give all of your golfing buddies a free gift... forward them a
copy of this newsletter, or ask them to go to
http://www.thinkandreachpar.com/ and sign up.
==============================================
Richard's Quick Tip:
Cutting The Ball From Sand
In playing the trap shot, the average player positions the ball
too far back toward the right foot. You should position the
ball opposite the left heel. Your stance should be slightly
open and your feet about a foot apart.
This open stance makes it easier for you to take the sand-iron
back to the outside, the way you should. Essentially, then, the
trap shot becomes a cut shot.
The sand-iron is picked up more abruptly than normal, and then
cut across the desired line of flight on the follow-through.
This abruptness, of course, only applies to shorter trap shots.
On the longer recoveries from sand, your backswing should be
more like that of a normal wedge, although the clubhead is still
taken back toward the outside.
===============================================
Response has bee so good for this DVD, I am going to leave It
at the discount price for a few more days, so don't put off
buying
A while back, Mark and I were talking and I had asked him if you
were to strip down everything out of most videos and systems,
what would be left. Where would all of the "meat" be?
He quickly replied, "Simple….the driver, the putter and the
wedge. Those are the most-used clubs in everybody's bag."
"You see," he went on, "Most weekend golfers have no idea how to
use these clubs. Unfortunately, these are the clubs that they
tend to use the most and.to their dismay, frustration and
endless aggravation, the ones that cost them the most strokes!"
"Something is definitely wrong here!" "Here's another thing." He
said, "If you were to look at how much information is out there
in the form of magazines, videos, TV shows, etc, this is where
the biggest focus is targeted! How can there be so much
information available out there and still, people are hacking
the ball everywhere with their driver, missing easy putts, and
spraying easy wedge shots all over the place on a regular basis?
Something is definitely wrong here!"
To get the rest of this story….follow this link.
http://www.thinkandreachpar.com/3golfclubs.htm
(If this link is not active in your email, you may have to copy
and paste it in your browser)
This is a good DVD. Not only visual quality, but content as
well.
============================================
Golf Quote of the week:
Golf, like the measles, should be caught young, for, if
postponed to riper years, the results may be serious.
P.G. Wodehouse, A Mixed Threesome, 1922
=================================================
Quote of the week:
"I don't believe in pessimism. If something doesn't come up the
way you want, forge ahead. If you think it's going to rain, it
will."
Clint Eastwood Actor and Director
===================================================
Questions and Answers from subscribers by our Teaching Pro,
Mr. Joe DeLorenzo.
Thank you for taking the time to answer these for us Joe.
You Make The Call (true story)
During the 2003 US Amateur, as a golfer addressed his ball, a
swarm of bees suddenly attacked a lady in the gallery. If you
were a Marshall, what would you do, and what do you suppose the
Marshall really did? (answer is below)
Joe,
I'm an older golfer having just taken up golf at 52 about a year
and a half ago. I have some flexibility limitations in the
shoulder and arms (e.g., can't lift arms above head without a
lot of pull on the back). I seem to have a problem I've been
unable to fix with regards to stability and maintaining the
spine angle. Almost every time I do a back swing, when I try to
bring the club around and up, my body lifts up and back in
response to this motion. It's almost like falling away, so I
lose all leverage in returning the club to the ball. I have
begun stretching exercises, but it hasn't really helped yet.
I've tried to manufacture tons of different backswings, but with
not success.
Larry
Hi Larry,
I do not know if you always had these limitations, or are they
due to a recent injury, so for the sake of discussion I will
assume you have always had these limitations. I would recommend
the next time you go to a practice range, try this drill. Take
your setup at a mat with a permanent rubber tee, otherwise just
place a tee in the ground. Instead of concentrating on how you
do the backswing, just assume a comfortable position at the top
and take a downswing. Adjust your position at the top until you
find one that results in better balance and consistently strikes
the tee every time. Once you can do that, all you have to do is
find a backswing that gets you to that same position at the top.
Be careful not to overswing on the backswing or else you will
have your original problem all over again. I hope this helps
you.
Joe
Joe,
12 guys are going on a golf trip to Arizona. Is there any
formula to use to set up the foursomes so we all play together
the same amount of time? thanks
Rich
Hi Rich,
It depends on how many rounds you are going to play.
The easiest way to figure this out is to play 12 rounds (or 6
rounds if you switch every 9 holes). If that is the case, number
your golfers 1-12. For round 1 the foursomes are 1-2-3-4,
5-6-7-8, 9-10-11-12. For each subsequent round, place number 1
at the end of the list and that makes the foursomes 2-3-4-5,
6-7-8-9, 10-11-12-1. Keep repeating this process by taking the
number at the left end of the line and moving it to the right
end of the line. If you are playing less than 12 rounds, there
is probably no way to have it come out exactly even unless you
have teams of twosomes that always play together, then if you
play 6 rounds this example should work if you move two numbers
at a time (3 rounds if you switch every 9 holes). Jody says to
play as a twelve-some, which also solves the problem, but I
doubt if any course will let you do that.
Joe
Joe, I am 77 years old. My score usually is hi 90's or low
100/s.My swing speed with a driver is between 74 and 78. Is it
possible for someone my age to lower my handicap? Sincerely
Florian
Hi Florian,
It is always possible to lower your handicap, just
how much depends on what your current handicap is. It is harder
for lower handicap players and easier for higher handicappers.
It has nothing to do with swing speed. At your age that is not a
bad swing speed, I hope I can do that when I am 77. Ask yourself
these questions: Do you make every short putt? Do you lag every
long putt close to the hole? Do you get your chips and pitches
close enough to the hole to give yourself a chance to one-putt?
Are you aiming properly? Do you have trouble with sand shots?
Are you sure you are using the right grip? Are you sure you are
using the best possible setup, stance, posture, ball position?
Are you satisfied with your mechanics, backswing, downswing,
follow-thru? Are you making the best decisions on club selection
depending on the situation? Are you getting the most out of your
practice sessions? I can give you answers to all these questions
and more, just order the book ¡°30 Ways To Lower Your Golf
Scores¡±, available from the Products link at
thinkandreachpar.com.
Joe
Question for the Evil Twin:
Jody, if trees are 90% air, why not risk hitting right thru the
branches? Answer: Buildings are also 90% air, would you risk
hitting thru them also?
Answer to You Make The Call (above) ¨C The Marshall, obviously a
Purist, raised his hands toward the screaming lady and hissed
¡°Quiet Please!!!¡± while other people came to her aid.
======================================
Golf Potpourri
By
Mac Stevenson
Chart Your Game Before Spring Practice
Very few golfers take the time to seriously analyze their games
before embarking on a vigorous 2006 spring practice schedule.
It is really quite simple to examine your game in minute detail
to determine which shots you should practice the most.
The first thing to do is to sit down and chart a typical, but
hypothetical, round of golf. You will have to use a course that
you play frequently and are quite familiar with. And you have
to be honest with yourself; from memory, chart the shots and
strokes on each hole that you will hit during a typical (for
you) round of 18 holes. It doesn't matter whether you usually
shoot around 70 or 100 so long as the chart is accurate and
realistic concerning your golf game.
The following is my chart on my home course for an imaginary
round of golf when I shoot 80; you can do the same thing with
your game. Of course, this doesn't represent an actual round
of golf, but it will be close enough for you to determine which
clubs to focus on in early spring practice. Incidentally, if
you will allow a brief digression, an old friend of mine once
told me that 80 was the perfect score in golf. He said, ¡°You
can play comfortably with anyone when you shoot 80.¡± Think
about it there is a lot of truth in that.
Chart symbols: (D=Drive) (3-W=3 wood) (4-W=4 wood) (5-W=5 wood)
(P=pitch shot) (C=chip shot) (Pt=putt) (9-I=9 iron) and so on
with the irons.
#1 Par 4--(D) (3-W) (P) (2 Pts)=5
#2 Par 3--(7-I) (2 Pts)=3
#3 Par 5--(D) (3-W) (3-W) (9-I) (3 Pts)=7
#4 Par 3--(4-I) (2Pts)=3
#5 Par 4--(D) (3-W) (P) (1 Pt)=4
#6 Par 4--(D) (5-W) (2Pts)=4
#7 Par 5--(D) (3-W) (8-I) (2 Pts)=5
#8 Par 3--(5-W) (C)(2 Pts)=4
#9 Par 4--(D) (3-W) (P) (2 Pts)=5 Front Nine Score=40
#10 Par 5--(D) (3-W) (7-I)(P) (1 Pt)=5
#11 Par 3--(4-I) (C) (2Pts)=4
#12 Par 4--(D) (3-W)(P) (2 Pts)=5
#13 Par 4--(D) (3-W) (P) (2 Pts)=5
#14 Par 4--(D)(3-W) (P) (1 Pt)=4
#15 Par 3--(5-I) (2 Pts)=3
#16 Par 4--(D)(3-W) (P) (3 Pts)=6
#17 Par 3--(5-I) (1 Pt)=2
#18 Par 5--(D)(3-W) (7-I) (C) (2Pts)=6
Back Nine Score=40
Total=80
Now, to analyze your game for practice purposes, you have to
subtract your putts from the rest of your shots.
In the hypothetical round charted above, I used 34 putts over the 18 holes.
Subtracting the putts (34) from the total score of 80, I
find that I hit 46 shots other than putts.
Keep in mind that I am using my own game just to illustrate this
charting method. Your game will be entirely different, but you
can use the same system.
Here is how the different shots (minus putts) added up over a
typical 18 hole round: Drives Fairway Woods Full Irons
Chips Pitches 12 14 9
3 8
=46
Right away, with my game, it becomes obvious that I'm hitting
more drives and fairway woods than any other shots. Twenty-six
drives and fairway woods out of 46 shots equals 56.5 percent of
the total shots. That tells me right away that the driver and
fairway woods deserve plenty of practice. Incidentally, fairway
woods include everything from the 3-wood to a 7-wood. And full
irons include the 3-iron to the sand wedge, when you take a full
swing. Chips and pitches are self-explanatory.
By using this charting method, you might discover that certain
clubs are more important than you thought they were. And it's
simple to use.
After you start playing regularly in this spring, you can chart
actual rounds and see how close they are to your imaginary
round. Obviously, you won't want to do this for every round;
recording your shots during just one or two 18-hole rounds will
suffice.
Sometimes we can't see the forest through the trees; take the
time to examine your game closely before you begin spring
practice sessions. It will be time well-spent.
==========================================
Attention Left Handed Golfers
If you are tired of watching golf videos and them saying "If you
are a lefty, reverse these instructions" then here are the DVD's
made just for you!!
The Body Golf series of DVD's for left handed golfers! The only
complete set of golf training videos for leftys!!
Order your set now:
======================================
Richard's Thoughts
Using The Entire Tee Box
It may seem irrelevant to many golfers, but knowing where to
place your ball on the tee can make a big difference in where
you hit your drive, Most tees give you ample room between the
markers-five to 10 yards is common.
Most high-handicap golfers automatically tee the ball u near the
middle. Using the entire tee box, however, can provide a golfer
with more options, less risk and a better visual perspective of
the hole.
For example, teeing the ball closer to the marker on the same
side as trouble (woods or water) allows you to aim away from the
trouble more comfortably. If the natural shape of your shot is
a fade (hopefully we don't slice anymore), tee up next to the
right marker and aim toward the left-center of the fairway.
This will give you a greater margin for error than trying to
work the ball from the left marker. If you tend to draw the
ball, do just the opposite.
However, on dogleg holes, teeing up next to the marker opposite
the dogleg will give you a better perspective and actually open
up the hole for your drive. This is one situation where you
might want to hit a draw from the right marker and a fade from
the left.
Par threes give you a unique opportunity to hit an approach shot
to the green from exactly the place you want. Don't waste it!
Look at where the pin is, where the trouble is, and factor in
your normal shot pattern with the club chosen.
Your golf course architect gave you a large tee area to use. So
use it to your advantage.
The After Forty FingerA while back, Mark and I were talking and I had asked him if you
were to strip down everything out of most videos and systems,
what would be left. Where would all of the "meat" be?
He quickly replied, "Simple.the driver, the putter and the
wedge. Those are the most-used clubs in everybody's bag."
"You see," he went on, "Most weekend golfers have no idea how to
use these clubs. Unfortunately, these are the clubs that they
tend to use the most and.to their dismay, frustration and
endless aggravation, the ones that cost them the most strokes!"
"Something is definitely wrong here!" "Here's another thing." He
said, "If you were to look at how much information is out there
in the form of magazines, videos, TV shows, etc, this is where
the biggest focus is targeted! How can there be so much
information available out there and still, people are hacking
the ball everywhere with their driver, missing easy putts, and
spraying easy wedge shots all over the place on a regular basis?
Something is definitely wrong here!"
To get the rest of this story.follow this link.
http://www.thinkandreachpar.com/3golfclubs.htm
(If this link is not active in your email, you may have to copy
and paste it in your browser)
This is a good DVD. Not only visual quality, but content as
well.
This weeks Tip
The After-Forty Finger
The basic principle of good putting is to keep the blade of the
putter square to the hole. When you talk turkey with a
businessman, you must look squarely at him during the entire
conversation. It's the same in putting. When you're talking
turkey on the greens, the face of your putter must look squarely
at the hole throughout the stroke.
Most of the time, when a golfer fails to take the putter back
square to the target, the error he makes is "breaking" his
wrists. This causes him to pull the putter off the line and
eventually to cut the putt off to the right or yank it to the
left of the hole.
To correct this habit of breaking the wrists, I suggest placing
the index finger of the right hand so that it extends directly
down the shaft-behind the shaft.
You can't break your wrists then, and the finger also serves as
a fine guide in making the stroke. I call this the "after-40
finger." since it has been especially helpful in improving the
putting of my friends who are getting along in years, but I
recommended it to golfers of all ages who are erratic on the
green.
posted by Richard Myers at 2:03 PM
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