2020 February

A recent GOLFERS RX blog suggested turning every putt into a 2 inch putt. I usually love Colby’s ideas but this time the only point that he made correctly is that it is much easier to sink a 2 inch putt than it is to sink a 20 foot putt. The point of this blog was to pick a point 2 inches in front of your ball, directly on your chosen putting line and then putt your ball across that point.

Unfortunately the error in the angle of your putt increases dramatically when you choose a shorter target point. If the point that you choose is off your target line by 1/8th of an inch, by the time your ball rolls 1 foot it is off target by 3/4 of an inch or by the time it rolls 20 feet it’s off target by 15 inches.

You don’t have to be as precise as Camilo Villegas but it helps if you can see the slope change along your putting line.

Ideally you need to line up every putt using the furthest point on your target line. If it’s a straight putt then line it up with the hole. All you have to do is choose your furthest point or your target line where you think your putt needs to start breaking and run your eye back to you ball as you take your putter back on that same line. Then swing directly up that line. ALL IN THE SAME SEQUENCE OF MOTION.

Steps for a Successful Putt (or at least to get it close for a 2 putt)
1/ Study the slope of the green from a few directions (especially from below the slope to prove to yourself that the putt will break left or right or if there is a double break.
2/ Choose your initial straight target line based on the break that you expect in your putt 3/ Practice the amount of swing using your shoulders (to eliminate the impact of your shaky wrists and hands) required to pass your target point by up to 15 inches.
4/ Step up to your ball and STARE AT YOUR TARGET POINT FOR AT LEAST 2 SECONDS TO LOCK THAT DISTANCE and DIRECTION INTO YOUR BRAIN.
5/ Rotate your head back along your target line to your ball as you let your shoulders rock your putter back on that same line and then up your target line IN A CONTINUOUS SEQUENCE OF MOTION.

Good putters practice putting without bending their wrist and only rocking their shoulders to swing their putter straight up their target line. Practice putting by locking your leading wrist using GOLFSTR+. Buy one today at www.GOLFSTR.com

GOLF LAW #19: You can hit a 2-acre fairway 10% of the time, and a 2-inch branch 90% of the time.

So you have been trying to increase your driving distance and consistency for your whole golfing life. How would you like to hit 10 perfect shots in a row with each of your club? Your golden golfing solution is about to be revealed. The good news is that you have known the answer for years but you rarely EXECUTE all 3 of the moves in the same swing.

It’s the reason why you make some perfect shots where your swing is effortless and your ball flies on the perfect path to your target. You only have to make 3 moves in every swing to create more power for more distance, direction control and consistency.

You always knew about these 3 moves but you may not have FOCUSED on making them happen in every swing. Just focus on making the moves happen. Setup with a proper grip and stance “uncomfortably closer to your ball” (as recommended by a scratch golfer). [It may only be 1 inch closer than your normal stance but only you will know the feeling.]

Check out Rory’s flat wrist and then his launch from inside and up his target line. PERFECTION

1/ Straight Arm & Flat Wrist: Take your club back in your backswing keeping your leading arm straight, your leading wrist flat and YOUR EYE ON THE BALL. [Limit your backswing at the point where your leading arm wants to bend as your straight leading arm controls the perfect distance to your ball.]

2/ Graze Your Rib-cage with your Trailing Elbow: Keep your trailing armpit closed during the start of your takeaway to force your shoulders and hips to rotate as your trailing arm passes your body. [That automatically setups you up to swing from the inside and up your target line as you impact your ball.] NOTE: Your driver is a longer club so your trailing arm is further from your body but you should still feel your trailing arm swing down and grazing your rib-cage as you release from the inside and up your target line.

3/ Bend Your Trailing Elbow to Cock Your FLAT Wrist: Bending your trailing elbow, naturally pulls your leading, flat-wristed hand back to create a 90 degree lag angle from your forearm to your club shaft. [Just bend your tailing arm and the lag setups automatically.]

The momentum of the transition at the top of your swing will naturally start the shift of your weight from your trailing foot to your leading foot. Pull your arms down and then whip your wrist from the inside and up your target line to release the power of your club.

Practice your swing at the driving range and take that feeling with you to the golf course. You will know when you have it right when your swing is effortless, impact feels like butter and you finish in balance as you watch your ball float directly at your target. Of course you should practice with your GOLFSTR+ to perfect both your flat wrist and straight arm swing. Buy one today at www.GOLFSTR.com

GOLF LAW #23: A ball you can see in the rough from 50 yards away is not yours.

Non-golfers think you have to be mentally unstable to play this game.  So let’s put the non-golfer thoughts aside for this blog and cover some of the mental problems that we may have with our game. Why are there so many products offering to help you hit 4 yards, 10 yards or 30 yards longer on every drive or the perfect chip for the latest and greatest wedge?

It’s a MENTAL GAME! If you believe in success, you can make it happen. FAT CHANCE!

Advertisers know that every golfer is looking for a new easier way to improve their game. If they can make you believe that they have the miracle cure then they win by making a sale. Fortunately we all want to believe that their offer of new and improved product will fix our game. That’s why we buy the latest and greatest. Of course a small percentage of our perfect shots will prove that we have made the right decision to purchase a new solution for our golf game.

I love those offers for golf socks that are “Scientifically Proven” to improve your game. They add 13 yards for your average driver shot and 6 yards for your average 6 iron shot. High resolution ads with inspiring music (that block out half of whatever the announcer is saying) get you in the mood to make your purchase. Too bad that the socks (in all colors) are regular high cut socks and the demonstration golfer is wearing low cut white socks. The golfer talks about a game of small improvements to help you make your purchase.  Anything to sell the product.

Socks that fit well! Copper infused gloves! Lead lined jockstraps! What’s next? Golfers really are a crazy lot. We will almost try anything as long as it promises to improve our game. Unfortunately ONLY consistent controlled shots will lower your score. Lessons and practice will help you make the perfect layup. Longer controlled shots will happen as your strength and game improve.

Obvious Mental Improvements
Wearing products to make you feel good and playing with clubs that are comfortable for your game are both good ideas for the average recreational golfer. Unfortunately you really should be looking for solutions to improve the CONSISTENCY OF YOUR SWING for driving, approach shots and putting. Looking and feeling good is a nice start but it’s NOT going to lower your score.

Your practice swing with a speed that you can duplicate during your actual swing is so important to your mental success.

Practice with products like GOLFSTR+ to swing on plane with wrist lag, a straight leading arm and a flat leading wrist for more consistent, controlled shots. When you hear that whoosh at the point of impact you know that your swing is in control. Buy one today at www.GOLFSTR.com

GOLF LAW #18: The shortest distance between any two points on a golf course is a straight line that passes directly through the center of a very large tree.

In a recent GOLF CHANNEL BLOG, Rory McIlroy said that he is no longer “Playing it Safe”. He explained this week at Torrey Pines. “I have my own style of play but sometimes I get into situations and I become a little too conservative.” The pros can make decisions, like Rory, in their game but recreational players should NOT be influenced by their comments. The pros play in another world.

When recreational golfers are playing a round of golf, we start to recall that we have seen televised rounds of golf where the risk reward is high and the pros go for it. Shake your head and get back to reality. If your Handicap Index is higher than 10 you really need to “Play it Safe”. Avoid the sand traps, water and bushes.

A classic Rory McIlroy focus on his ball, well after he launches his shot. Focus on hitting the perfect shot to a safe landing area.

Get Smart:
Why do we get so bold when we see the opportunity for an easy par? Yesterday I had a 140 yard shot over a trap to hit a downhill slope on the green and then I bounced into the back end of a sand trap on the far side of the green. I’ve played that hole before and I knew that I had never held that green in the past. Why did I take my second shot (with such a high risk) and end up with a 7 after I hit out of 2 traps on that par 4?  The easy shot was to land on the front of the green in 2 and then 2 or 3 putt for a maximum 5.

This game drives us crazy because the pros put us in a mindset where we think we can make these risky shots. The best solution is to watch LPGA matches where many of the ladies layup on the par 5’s and go for the perfect pitch shot for an easy birdie.

Take a reality check. Before you play your next round of golf, decide to play conservatively. Use your woods and irons off the tee where it makes sense. Go for the easy shots, layup before those long shots over the water and go for the safe shots in the center of the green. Practice with your GOLFSTR+ to improve every shot in your game. Buy one today at www.GOLFSTR.com

GOLF LAW #17: It’s not a gimme if you’re still 4 feet away.