Blog Posts

Simple Backswing Check

6/20/2016

Watch the attached video for a simple way to check your backswing position. Here is what you do:

1. Take your setup
2. Swing halfway back and stop
3. Turn yourself and check the position of the golf club
4. The centered or off-centered backswing shows you a straight back, inside or outside position

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Dynamic Balance - Do You Have It?

4/5/2016

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Do you have dynamic balance?
Can you keep your balance while swinging?
Can you hold your finish?

One of the best ways to improve ball striking is to be aware of and actively work on your dynamic balance. The definition of dynamic balance is to maintain your equilibrium while moving. Although balance tends to worsen as we age, we can make improvements to it on and off the golf course. Here are some tips to help you improve and maintain your balance while swinging:

At the Course:

Narrow stance swings: these swings will help you to maintain your center while turning around your body's axis
Toe tap finish: after the completion of each swing, "toe tap" your back foot three times. This will ensure a full transfer of weight to your front leg and the maintenance of your balance.
Flat footed swings: make swings while keeping both feet flat to the ground. This drill allows you to feel staying "grounded".

At Home/Gym:

Barefoot swings: make barefoot swings on carpet or in the yard to help your balance and increase ankle stability
Balance on one leg: when doing exercises or even brushing your teeth, lift one leg while stabilizing on the other. Practice both sides!
Strengthen your abs and glutes: these areas are critical when supporting your balance. When you strengthen these essential areas, your balance will improve along with your golf game!

Happy Practicing!

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THE MOST SIMPLE AND EFFECTIVE PUTTING DRILL

2/20/2016

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Do you have trouble with your short putts?
Do your friends tell you that you look up when putting?
Do you have trouble committing to your putting stroke?

If you answered YES to any of the questions above, this drill is for you. This drill is very simple to execute and is extremely effective because it applies to all length putts and helps the physical and mental game.

For the Eyes Down Putting Drill (see pictures):
1. Line up several golf balls within 3 feet of the hole
2. Without looking at the hole again after aiming, keep your eyes down until you HEAR the ball go in the hole (you will still see the hole from your periphery vision)
3. Move to the next ball without looking and repeat Step #2

This drill helps transition your "eyes down" commitment to the stroke to all length putts. Get into the habit of waiting to look where the ball goes until AFTER YOUR STROKE IS COMPLETED. This drill exaggerates the "eyes down" position and you will notice more solid contact, more putts made, and an increase in commitment to all strokes.

HAPPY PRACTICING!

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SUCCESS FROM THE ROUGH!

12/15/2015

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Success From The Rough!

Here are some tips to help you escape from the higher grass:

1. Grip the club a bit tighter than normal to prevent the club from twisting at impact

2. Swing slightly faster on the downswing so the club's momentum does not slow when it hits the grass

3. Rehearse your swing before hitting and make sure to practice striking lots of grass

4. Pick the correct club (see images below) based on the percentage of the golf ball that you can see

75% of the golf ball - Fairway Wood or Long Hybrid
50% of the ball - Mid Hybrid or Mid Iron
25% or less - Wedge

May you find all of the fairways but in case you don't, use these tips the next time you are in the rough.

Happy Swinging!

75% or more of the ball

50% of the ball

25% or less of the ball

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Posture, Posture, Posture

10/6/2015

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A MUST for better ball striking is staying in posture throughout impact. This position is consistent with all Tour Professionals. What does "staying in posture" mean? It means hinging from your hips/bending from your pelvis (see pictures). In my latest article on The Golf Channel's Instruction Blog, I mentioned a towel drill for maintaining this hip hinge - http://www.golfchannel.com/news/golf-instruction/tip-week-good-posture-leads-solid-strikes/

To set up this drill:

Roll up a golf or beach towel
Place your heels on the towel (make sure the balls of your feet are on the ground)
Make swings with or without the golf ball maintaining this position.

If you want better ball striking, consistency, and distance, proper hip hinge and maintaining the hip hinge throughout the swing is a critical part of the golf swing.

Happy Practicing!!

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Swing Flat? This Drill is for You!

6/20/2015

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Drills that help golfers to self-correct are the best. Because it can be a challenge to differentiate between a proper and improper swing plane, we need drills like this one to help. If you have a tendency of swinging too flat, this exercise is for you. Find the net on either side of your local driving range and incorporate this drill to help your backswing.

Here is what to do:

Stand 8-10 inches away from the driving range net/fence (see the foot placement in photos above)
Make slow practice swings that incorporate the backswing through impact (avoid the finish)
Be aware if you hit the net in the backswing (especially if you hit the net early in the backswing)
Spend a few minutes several times during your practice doing this exercise

This drill is not just for flat swings. It has multiple purposes some of which includes working on swing plane, posture, and balance. Whether you swing too flat in the backswing or lose posture during the swing, this is a drill that you should use the next time at the range.

Happy Practicing!

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Practice Fairway Bunkers At The Range

2/10/2015

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The fairway bunker shot can be a challenging one to practice. Because most practice areas only have greenside bunkers, we may need a simple way to work on the fairway bunker shot. Here is the exercise:

Place the golf ball on a short golf tee
Grip down slightly on the golf club
Make full swings and hit only the golf ball without striking the golf tee (see picture)

The key to hitting a fairway bunker shot is picking the golf ball from the sand without taking a large divot. Use this practice to help you get comfortable hitting the proper way for a fairway bunker.

Happy Practicing!

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WANT CONSISTENCY? IMPROVE YOUR BALANCE

11/13/2014

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So many golfers have good swings that do not repeat because of extraneous movement. One of the best ways to remove extra moving parts is to correct balance issues. Here is a great drill to help you feel/find your balance.

Place the golf ball on a short tee
Make swings with your feet flat or planted throughout the entire swing (it is okay for your back foot to come up slightly at the end of your swing)
Alternate between flat footed swings and normal swings to get the full effect of the drill

This is a very comprehensive drill because it creates a sensation that you should have on more than just your full swings. Utilize this "flat footed" approach in your putting, chipping, and bunker shots for more consistent contact and better results.

Happy Swinging!

Flat Footed Swings

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Play The Course On The Range

7/20/2014

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There are two distinct ways to work on your game - repetitive and variable practice. Repetitive practice is best when you are working on a swing change or learning a new skill. Variable practice is ideal when you want the game to transition from the driving range to the golf course. When out on the course, you constantly need to switch clubs, targets, and lies. Here is a great drill to help with variability and get your game performing on the course:

Bring your entire golf bag to the range
Use your imagination and picture your home course
Hit different clubs and aim at different targets throughout the practice (ie. driver, fairway wood, pitching wedge, etc)
Play as many holes as time permits
Get creative - hit from different lie (rough, fairway, a divot), play your Par 3's, and drop balls on the side of the range if there are uneven lies

For example, at El Caballero Country Club, the second hole is a Par 4 with "out of bounds" located on the left and right sides of the fairway. When "playing" this hole on the range, aim in between two targets and utilize different clubs to complete the hole.

Utilize this great drill the next time you are practicing at the range and help transition your game to the course. Happy Swinging!

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GET BENCHED!

3/23/2014

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Starting Position

Correct Backswing Position

Correct Impact Position

Get Benched!

Need help staying posture? Here is great drill to help you stay in position throughout the swing. All you need is a bench and a golf club...

1. Find a bench and stand so your backside is against it (as pictured)
2. Maintain contact with the bench throughout the swing
3. In the backswing (for right handed golfers), your right glute/hamstring should be consistently touching the bench
4. In the downswing (for right handed golfers), your left glute/hamstring should be consistently touching the bench

If you have a habit of standing up in your backswing or lifting (early extension) at impact, this drill is definitely for you. Please be aware of your surroundings when doing this exercise! This drill can be used on the driving range or on the golf course. Happy Swinging!