2014 March

I hope you love watching  The GolfFIX by Michael Breed, live on the GOLF CHANNEL, as much as I do.  He is always using common items from around the home to demonstrate a SWING FIX.  Recently he showed a solution to keep your wrist flat in the backswing.

He was commenting on Matt Every’s perfect swing.  If you missed it, Matt won the Arnold Palmer Invitational.  Michael was impressed with Matt’s flat wrist in the backswing.  He was highlighting the fact that if your wrist is flat and the head of your club is also flat on the same swing plane at the top of your swing, then you have more control in your swing.   Arching and cupping your wrist is just not the best approach.  FLAT IS A WINNER.

Michael used a plastic hanger to demonstrate how you can keep you leading wrist flat.  He gripped the hanger along the inside of his leading hand on the grip of the golf club with the loop of the hanger pointing up.  In his backswing as he cocked his wrist for lag the loop of the hanger was resting on the inside of his leading arm [proving that his wrist was flat and on the same plane as his forearm].

This is a pretty awkward way to practice with a flat wrist backswing.

SOLUTION   
Fortunately for you, one of the 6 GOLFSTR+ swing fixes is designed to help you train for a flat wrist backswing (without holding a hanger on the grip of your club).   Just mount GOLFSTR+ on the lower part of your arm (above your wrist) so that the curved end nests against the back of your hand when you grip your club.  [When you hold a club the knuckles on your fist naturally rise up and your rolled fingers line up with the flat of the underside of your wrist.]  GOLFSTR+ is a flat wrist trainer without holding a hanger on the grip of your club.

Of course there are 5 more swing fixes that you can learn with your GOLFSTR+.  Check out all 6 Swing Fixes by watching this video: US Golf TV production at the PGA Show.

To see all of the Swing Fixes click here to check out the GOLFSTR+ website.

I NEED YOUR HELP:

I have been trying for 2 years to get the attention of Michael Breed but he likes to CREATE TRAINING AIDS with his exercise balls, Popsicle sticks, Hoola-hoops, hangers and tape.  For $29.99 wouldn’t it be much easier to buy GOLFSTR+ for 6 swing fixes?   It’s great for EVERY SWING IN YOUR GAME!

I’m now asking readers of this blog to UNITE.  Please send this blog to Michael Breed so that I can finally get his attention?  Help me get GOLFSTR+ on The Golf FIX program presented by Michael Breed on the Golf Channel.  Click and copy the URL at the top of this page and paste it on an email to either or both of the addresses below.
michael@michaelbreed.com
thegolffix@golfchannel.com
Tweet:  #thegolffix

Glad to hear that you are enjoying GOLFSTR+ as it lowers your scores.  Keep sending in those testimonials.

Over the past year we have had a number of Professional Golfers test GOLFSTR+.   They purchased it and have been using it in their daily lessons.  I am only receiving positive feedback.   BJ Hathaway at Augusta Golf Instruction  bought a GOLFSTR+ so I hope the pros are dropping in for a quick tune up before THE MASTERS 2014.  [BJ’s blogs are the best so I recommend you subscribe.]

Now that we are heading for 5,000 units sold, we are preparing for major retail sales.  Video training for all 6 of the Swing Fixes has been requested by many of our customers.  We know that our weekly Swing Tips are used by many but we realize that you may want to hear this from a pro.  And that is exactly what we are doing.

Will Curry, the inventor and developer of GOLFSTR+ was at the PGA Show presenting the 6-in-1 Golf Swing Training Aid.

PGA Merchandise Show 2014
Mike O’Leary, Master Golf Instructor, with 30 years of experience saw GOLFSTR+ in our booth at the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando January 2014.  The first words out of his mouth were: “You don’t have to sell me, I get it and I think this is a great training aid.”

After Mike tested it out with some of his students he offered to work with us to promote GOLFSTR+.  I have loaded his first video on our website and wanted to share this with you.   I asked him to create a training video to help others see how easy it is to use for each of the 6 swing fixes.  The TRAINING VIDEO will also be loaded on our site for your FREE access this Spring.

SUGGESTED CHANGE:   Flat Wrist Putting, Chipping and Backswing:
I would like to highlight one change that Mike helped us understand about the fit on your arm for these uses.  When you form a fist (as you hold a golf club) your knuckles and back of your hand rise away from the flat surface of the back of your arm.  The contour of the bend on the plastic plate fits the shape of the back of your fist.  It really is more comfortable and we encourage you to wear it this way.

NEW ASSEMBLY VIDEO:  Showing the 2 ways to assemble GOLFSTR+ for all 6 swing fixes.

Please share this GOLFSTR+ demonstration video with your friends and keep checking our website for the NEW FREE 20 minute Training Video.

Enjoy

Golf is both Physical and Mental.  When playing a round of golf don’t forget to bring your mental game too.

Your mind has to be at ease when you play golf.  Arrive at the course in advance with a relaxed state of mind, stretch out and hit a variety of shots to gain mental confidence before you reach the first tee.  For each shot you need to set your plan, take a practice swing to get a feel for your selected club and step up to the ball.  And Now the NEW YOU. . . .

All of your preparation is wasted if you don’t focus 100% on the shot.   How do you block out all other thoughts?  Thousands of books and blogs have been written about this subject.   I discovered the simple fact that you can’t think or say 2 words at the same time.  What you say is what you think for that instant of time.  For example you can’t mentally say “happy” and think “sad” at the same time.  USE THIS FACT TO IMPROVE YOUR GAME!

Mentally say a simple swing thought as you prepare and make your swing.  The words can be different for every golfer and for each type of shot but you need to say your mental words to block out every other thought as you make your swing. 

Some see this as an amazing sunrise.  Others let their imagination run wild & see a dove or a witch.  When golfing, don’t let your mind wonder.  Enjoy the moment, focus and make every swing count.

For putting and chipping I use the words: Follow through . . . 1 . . . 2   (“Follow through” are the words I use to remind me to finish my swing on the line that I want to hit the ball,  “1” starts my back swing and “2” starts my forward swing.)  The cadence changes based on the distance that I want to hit but the words block out any other thoughts.

For all other shots I use the words: Straight arm,   sweep in and finish   (“Straight arm” is my final reminder to limit my back swing & keeping my leading arm straight, “sweep in” starts my sweeping take away to coil my shoulders and hips in preparation to swing from the INside and impact the ball on the INside quadrant, “and” is my transition word to limit my speed and “finish” is my point of impact to a balanced finish as my ball float to its target.

GOLFSTR+ was developed to train for more consistent, straight hits.  Fortunately professional golfers and users of GOLFSTR+ suggested 5 more uses for every swing in your game.  You should practice all 6 of the GOLFSTR+ swing solutions.  The payoff will only come when you learn to control your mental game too. 

For more swing tips click:  YOUR Swing Support Center.  Sign up to win a Free GOLFSTR+.  Why not send this tip along to your friends!

Where should you focus your effort to improve your game?  Golf Digest published an article quoting a Columbia University professor Mark Broadie who presented the case that “putting has been overvalued for far too long”.  He points out that the top tour pros in a tournament putt within 1 stroke of each other.  “The long game explains two thirds of scoring.”

In support of the professor’s comments at the same MIT Sloan Sports Analysis Conference,  Tiger Woods, Justin Rose and Hunter Mahan’s swing instructor, Sean Foley said, “Distance is far more of an indicator [of success] than accuracy,”

DON’T LET STATISTICS FOR THE PROS DISTORT YOUR GAME!   What may work for the top fraction of golfers has no relevance for your game.  The professor sited comments in his book:  EVERY SHOT COUNTS.  Guess what, every shot does count!

If you are in the other 99% of golfers, you SHOULD spend time working on EVERY swing in YOUR game.

  > Body rotation, wrist lag and delaying the release all come into play to increase club head speed and to gain more distance.

  > A controlled transition, consistent swing plane, relatively stable head position and straight arm swing are so critical for consistent impact with the ball.

  > Choosing the right swing (ie to pitch or chip) and right lofted club are so critical for distance control.

  > Learning shots out of the ruff and traps to build confidence and get the ball close for a single putt.

Patrick Reed shows off his Straight Arm Swing as his driving AND putting paid off at the WGC Cadillac Championship at Trump Doral, Florida

Case in point: Justin Rose is currently the best ball striker.  Why isn’t he winning every tournament?
Focus on the weakness in YOUR GAME.

That’s why we developed GOLFSTR+, to help you with Every Swing in YOUR Game.  It helps you with 6 swing corrections to overcome 6 swing problems.  Practice with GOLFSTR+ and prefect your game.

Master Golf Instructors are using GOLFSTR+ to help students change bad swing habits.   THIS MONTH we plan to release a 20 minute GOLFSTR+ instruction video which was prepared by one of these instructors for his students .

Keep checking www.golfstr.com for the latest developments and LIKE our Facebook Page   for the latest tips and comments from other GOLFSTR+ users.

2010 Ryder Cup, Hunter Mahan hits a FAT chip and loses the match as well as the Cup.  Heart breaker!  OMG what an embarrassing moment for Hunter.  The pressure of that moment and the memory of that failed chip are branded in our memories.  Why is it that so many of us hit a few fat chips (stubbing the ground before the ball and coming up short) and lose unnecessary strokes in every round of golf?

Last night as I watched an LPGA match in Singapore they showed one of the players hitting a fat shot.  It reminded me that the TV crews rarely show us the fat shots that the pros make.  Fat chips are really common for all golfers and we should pay more attention to this shot.

Answer:  The chip is a different swing than the pitch.  Using a soft pitch shot, when you should be chipping, is the root of your problem.  You need to learn the difference and commit to the right swing for the right situation.

Solution: A pitch is completed like a normal full swing by opening the club face and cocking the wrists in the backswing.  A chip is completed by LIMITING the opening of the club face and the break of your wrist in the backswing and ELIMINATNG wrist break in the follow through.  (Higher handicappers should learn the chip with a sweeping motion rather than a wrist hinge in the backswing to eliminate the FAT HITS. )

• >Sweep back and through the ball, without any change in tempo.
• >You may want to count: 1. . . 2.
• >Avoid rushing and limit the acceleration in your swing.
• >Phil Michelson finishes by holding the club face open and pointing the shaft in the direction of the hit. (NOT over your shoulder)
• >If you open your stance it will cause a higher attack angle and a greater chance for a fat hit.
• >For more distance increase the height of the backswing and/or change your club to a lower lofted club.

A chip can be used from the edge of the green to about 30 yards off the green (depending on the cut of the grass between you and the green).  Club selection is critical as you need to select the right loft to reach the green with the right amount of carry as your ball bounces along the fairway, fringe and/or green.    To learn this shot you need to practice with a variety of higher lofted clubs starting with the 7 iron up to the 60 degree wedge.  Experiment with them all as you will need every combination of ball flight and carry on the green.

Start close to the green hitting 10 perfect chips with different clubs to gain confidence that the sweeping action is all that you need to get the ball moving in a straight line and over the fringe.  Gradually move back hitting 10 more perfect shots (without stubbing the ground) because you are not cocking your wrists and adding the extra confusion caused by releasing your wrists as you swing through the ball.

Tiger made a wonderful controlled chip on the 18th green in the Honda Classic on Friday from a deep ruff lie, from 3 feet off the green using a 9 iron or PW without resorting to the flop shot as he needed control to avoid carrying his shot across the full length of the green and into the water.

Learn to chip using GOLFSTR+ with a limited lag on your trailing wrist & flat wrist on your leading wrist as you sweep through the ball.

GOLFSTR+ is the perfect training aid to learn to control your flat leading wrist (avoid cupping through impact) and limited lag in your trailing wrist (to prevent wrist cocking).  These are 2 different applications for GOLFSTR+ to help you learn a consistent chip shot (example image shows both applications but most users only have 2 GOLFSTR+).

The correct chip with good distance and direction control will give you a 1 putt green every time.  How many shots will this practice with GOLFSTR+ save you in every round of golf?  Could be 5 to 10 shots and there are 4 more swing fixes for this amazing golf training aid.  You may NOT want to share this tip with your golfing buddies but please suggest GOLFSTR+ to struggling golfers everywhere.

FOR EVERY SWING IN YOUR GAME check out: www.golfstr.com