Welcome to YOUR Swing Support Center, a blog with tips to help you transition to your new straight leading arm back-swing. This blog allows us to share information which we find in articles by golf professionals or success stories submitted by GOLFSTR users. These tips have helped me and I hope they help you too.

Bill Curry, inventor of GOLFSTR

Archives for the ‘Swing Solutions’ Category

Break the Swing Rules & Fire UP YOUR Game

Is there really a perfect golf swing? We all try to improve our game by taking lessons and watching the pros perform their magic on TV. In general, every golf instructor presents the same golf swing with a standard setup, a controlled back swing, a weight shift downswing and a balanced finish. Have you ever asked why you should conform? Have you ever considered that your body and brain can perform better shots when you try to step out of the box?

If you watch the pros long enough on TV you will recognize them by their size and walk and even their different swings. Yes, they ALL have a different swing.

Jack Nicklaus, the most accomplished player in golf has a stooped putting stance (which Michelle Wie exaggerates) and he also lifted the heal on his leading foot in his backswing for ease of rotation and timing.

Arnold Palmer used more upper body bend at the waist than others and he had a lunging finish to his swing as if he was throwing his body into the finish of his swing..

Jordon Spieth rolls his ankles. John Daly has a crazy over swing in his backswing. Phil Michelson has another version of an exaggerated backswing. Nick Price’s back swing was almost as fast as his forward swing. Ernie Els is so graceful until this gentle giant unloads.

Each of the great players adapted to something that worked for them. You should experiment to find your trigger or your relaxed mind or your body rotation to generate a consistent swing with a wonderful result every time.

Example of My Breakthrough
One of Arnold Palmer’s swing tips was to grip your club with both hands and don’t lose contact throughout the swing. Finally I realized that I was swinging with a very loose grip on the practice range for wonderful results. Unfortunately Arnold’s tip about a firm grip with both hands took hold of my mind as I played most rounds of golf. I could never understand why my relaxed days of golf were my best rounds of golf. It was all cause by my loose grip.

Experiment to find your breakthrough. Loosen your trailing hand to allow your leading hand to control your swing.

Experiment to find your breakthrough. Loosen your trailing hand to allow your leading hand to control your swing.

A few years ago I learned that old injuries to my body were limiting my rotation and flexibility. Stretch exercises were helping my game but I finally recognized that I need to break Arnold’s rule to always maintain full contract with the grip of both hands throughout the swing.

Bingo, Breakthrough, Wakeup Call, New Beginning and Hallelujah. I broke the grip rule.

I now golf with a firm leading hand grip and a very loose grip with my trailing hand. [So loose that only my fingers are wrapped around the club and the base of my thumb is separated from my leading hand. This allows me to keep my leading arm straight in the backswing, hold my lag in the downswing and whip my club through impact with more power AND BETTER DIRECTIONAL CONTROL.

Break the swing rules to find your magic swing fix. My trailing arm was killing my swing. This may help you too but I hope it has inspired you to experiment to find what causes your amazing shots. Practice with GOLFSTR+ to understand the impact of a straight arm, straight wrist and lag in your backswing. Buy one today at www.golfstr.com

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Put More Swing Into Your Swing

These are the words that David Leadbetter uses to describe his current theory to improve your golf swing. He seems to be talking about using rhythm in your swing to help you accelerate though the ball. To do this properly you need relaxed hands, arms, hips and legs. For today’s Swing Tip I found a few examples of different golfers using rhythm and power but NOT brute force the way an amateur golfer tries to muscle his way through a shot.

Ernie Els: I found it interesting to see that David Leadbetter is currently instructing the Big Easy, Ernie Els, one of the game’s smoothest swingers. He’s a great role model for a golf swing: wide takeaway, smooth transition, powerful whipping action through the ball and a balanced finish. It’s surprising that even Ernie is trying to put more swing in his swing by taking lessons from Leadbetter (take note for all of you want-to-be golfers).

Martin Chuck: He is the inventor of Tour Striker which is a very unforgiving club with a rounded leading edge which forces you to lead your swing with your hands as your club lifts your ball. The surprising thing about Martin’s swing is that he starts the rhythm of his swing with a slight forward press using his hands and hips. He NEVER comments about this motion but it helps him get into the sway and rhythm of his swing. His body rhythm must be saying 1, 2, 3 (1 is the press, 2 is the back swing and 3 is the impact)

Albert Einstein: As legend has it, Albert Einstein once gave golf a try, “but I gave it up,” he said because it was “too complicated.” While one of history’s greatest geniuses created the equation for energy, he couldn’t figure out how to organize his expenditure of energy into the makings of a good golf swing.  Intensive mechanical and scientific planning for your swing does not pay-off.  You gotta have rhythm too!

Jamie Sadlowski: He is a recent two-time REMAX World Long Drive Championship winner. This year he also won a US Open qualifier with Gary McCord on the bag in Scottsdale AZ. The surprise here is that he is only 5 foot 11 inches tall (the same height as John Daly) but about half John’s weight at 170 pounds. Jamie can crush a golf ball more than 400 yards and also demolished a swing simulator projector screen with his first shot at the Golf Channel’s studio. Strength is important but rhythm and timing make all the difference even for a short and slight guy.

Timing and rhythm are important but your effort is wasted if you can’t keep you arm or wrist straight or flat for more consistent controlled hits.  GOLFSTR+ is a training aid with 6 swing fixes that will help you lower your scores.

We would all like to hit 300 yard drives down the center of every fairway. Learning the right relaxed grip, timing and swing rhythm are all important for more consistent and longer drives. Why not practice with GOLFSTR+ to learn your wide straight arm takeaway and to hold lag with a 90 degree bend in your trailing arm to generate power as you whip your club through impact.

Buy one today at www.golfstr.com

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Is Your Body Wrecking Your Golf Game ?

Is your handicap going up and you don’t know why?  [ THIS MAY BE THE BEST SWING TIP YOU EVERY RECEIVE.] I’ve been suffering from painful ankle tendons each time that I played golf or tennis over the past 2 years. Fortunately during a tennis match (as my ankles started to ache with every step), I strained my left calf muscle. Yes, I said “fortunately” because it forced me to find a Registered Physiotherapist (corrected after publication: an Athletic Therapist does not require the  qualifications of a Registered Physiotherapist) to understand the cause of my problem.

Don’t take pain for granted.

When your aging doctor tells you that it’s just old age (like mine did), either tell him you want a referral to a Registered Physiotherapist or find one yourself at qckinetix.com/birmingham/homewood-al. Don’t ignore persistent pain. There is a reason for it and your body and golf game are suffering as a result of it. I was just too stupid or too stubborn to find the right solution, so I paid for it with a higher handicap and more pain. Fortunately I did not tear my Achilles tendon as my therapist pointed out was most likely my next step. Learn how to handle shoulder pain in here with the help of the best chiropractors available here in town.

The mobility of my left hip was tight as a result of an old injury. It caused my ankle tendons to inflame and tighten up. Sounds crazy but my new flexibility is improving my hip rotation and my golf scores are already dropping.

After you get your hips moving make sure you exercise to keep them moving.

After you get your hips moving make sure you exercise to keep them moving.

Long story short: My Physiotherapist determined that my SI Joint (Sacroiliac joint) which joins the sacrum to the pelvis was not bending properly. After therapy and simple exercise my tendonitis in my ankles has gone away and my golf swing is improving with every round. My therapist NEVER touched my Achilles tendons but she has manipulated my leg and hip and back with amazing results.

Strengthen your Glutes by pulling your belly button toward your back and lift . (as you strengthen go to 1 leg)

Strengthen your Glutes by pulling your belly button toward your back and lift. As you get stronger lift with one leg and the other off the ground.

NOTE: During my search to find a good Therapist I learned that there are different services offered but I really needed a qualified Registered Physiotherapist to correctly diagnose my problem. If you suspect that you have a physical limitation or if you find that golf is causing pain, find a specialist before you really suffer a major setback.

Slow stretching with a single straight leg then bend it for lower calf and tendon stretch.

Slow stretching with a single straight leg then bend it for lower calf and tendon stretch.

Unfortunately my Physiotherapist did not have a solution to help me perfect my chipping and putting. I suspect that I need Psychologist or a brain transplant for that.

Postscript: Don’t get back to your active sports until you’ve had time to heal. I tried tennis too soon and had to cancel golf again this week.

Golf Digest and many others highlight that hip mobility and leg strength are the basic building blocks for longer drives. Recent articles about Jason Day focus on his power but it all starts from his legs and hips. If you spend a lot of your time like I do sitting and working on a computer, work on your mobility with simple exercises before you hit the range or golf course. And practice the right swing motion with your GOLFSTR+ for every swing in your game. Buy one today at www.golfstr.com

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Nuggets from the Pros

Now that The Masters and The Players have whipped up your passion for golf, I’ve found a number of golf tip nuggets from the pros. These are all just handy tips that you should take with you to the range or for your early Spring rounds.

1/ Slow Motion Practice: Ben Hogan said “”Whenever I am working on something I always do it in slow motion.” He did this to link each position of his swing to the next position. He did this like a muscle memory exercise by taking a minute to complete a full swing and repeating it 3 or 4 times daily. This muscle training exercise locked each position in his mind.

2/ Sequence of the Swing: Martin Hall on the Golf Channel said that the best advice he ever received was to learn the SWING SEQUENCE: swing, turn, shift and shift, turn, swing. It’s a great idea to practice this with Ben Hogan’s slow motion practice.
BACKSWING: SWING your arms and wrists back, TURN your hips and shoulders as you SHIFT your weight to your back foot. Then reverse the process.
DOWNSWING: SHIFT your weight to your forward foot as you TURN your hips and your shoulders and finally SWING your arms & wrists through the ball.

Pressure increases exponentially when a green is surrounded by water and thousands of blood thirsty fans are watching in silence.

Pressure increases exponentially when a green is surrounded by water and thousands of blood thirsty fans are watching in silence.

3/ Stick the Finish: Martin Hall called it “tying the knot”. Focus on finishing the swing in a controlled balanced position with the butt of your club facing the target as you admire your shot. Your down swing is a split second so focus on your deliberate back swing and  focused finish for more control .

4/ Tempo and Direction: Blair O’Neil (Golf Channel winner in one of the Big Break Series and eye candy replacement for Holly Sommers) said: “Speed of the swing is the glue for a successful swing.” You need good tempo to accelerate through the ball with a good finish. She suggests placing a tee 3 feet up your target line. Then swing through the ball pointing up the line made by your target tee as you finish your swing.

5/ Practice by Building up Your Speed: Jeff Ritter, a PGA Pro advised that you should start every practice by swinging slowly to learn direction control and to build confidence. Then build up your tempo. Use each club to hit a ball at 10%, then 30%, then 50% and 80% to understand that you can control your swing and ball direction.

6/ Tricks for more Back Spin: Andrew Rice (PGA Pro on Revolution Golf) offered these tricks to hit wedge shots with one hop and stop. Don’t clean the club face if you have sand on it. That grit will help grab and spin the ball backwards. Morning dew and water on the club face will do the opposite so keep your club dry or play in the hot afternoon sun when the fairways are dry.

7/ Play with a Happy State of Mind: Jason Day was asked how he started to win tournaments. He recalled the day that he shot an 80 on the final day of a tournament after he broke up with a girlfriend on the night before. “Your mind has to be in a good and happy state.”  Bad thoughts outside of the game will not help your game.

Practice with these tips for a great summer of golf. GOLFSTR+ is also a great training aid to keep you focused on 6 swing solutions for 6 swing problems. So learn to swing like a pro and buy your GOLFSTR+ today at www.golfstr.com

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How Sweet It Is !

Jackie Gleason was known for his one-liners on the Honeymooners and according to Jack Nicklaus, he was a great recreational golfer. He must have been thinking about his golf game when he released his album “How Sweet It Is”.  It’s a great line that he used many time on the Honeymooners and he musts have used it on the golf course when he hit it flush. He knew that he had to find the SWEET SPOT for great golf shots.

Golf Digest found that when your point of impact is 1 inch off the center-line of your driver club face, with an impact speed of 100 MPH, you lose 31 yards. If you want to lower your scores you can’t afford to lose 12% of your driving distance.

 

Jackie Gleason, as Ralph Kramden, always used that famous line: "How Sweat It Is" and "Awaaay we go!"

Jackie Gleason, as Ralph Kramden, always used that famous line: “How Sweat It Is !”

For more consistent longer hits you should consider these swing thoughts:

  1. To hit longer shots with any club you only have 3 variables to work with: club head speed, forward angle of the club shaft at impact and impact on the sweet-spot.
  2. Depending on the iron you are using, your ball should be at the center line or slightly forward in your stance. Lead your swing with your hands and your body to allow the club to hit down through impact and take your divot after the ball position.
  3. For putts, setup the ball slightly in from of the center line between the spread of your legs to ensure that you are swinging up on the ball for a more consistent roll and to avoid skidding and bouncing the ball forward. Your putter should always swing directly up your hitting line and impact on the sweet spot on the center-line of the face.
  4. With your driver, place the ball on a raised tee, directly off the heal of your leading foot. Your shaft should be lined up pointing at your belt buckle during your setup. Don’t lead your swing with your hands during the swing (as you should with an iron). Impact the sweat spot slightly above the center line of the face of your club.
  5. I have seen pros and Ben Hogan say that you should practice your swing in slow motion to ingrain the feel for the swing in your mind. This may be helpful but it will not help you find the sweet spot on your clubs. When you swing at any speed, the force in your club head (weight X shaft length) causes your arms and muscles to stretch and tighten. Everybody has a unique muscle structure and will react differently. You need to sort out YOUR ideal setup for each club to ensure that your impact is on the Sweet Spot.

 

Critical Step in Finding Your Sweet Spot
Use a wide black powdered marking pen or spray white Dr. Scholl’s Foot Powder to mark the face of your club. Test your driver, woods, hybrids and irons as you will find that your arms will stretch differently based on the weight and length of each club as well as the speed of your swing.

Once you determine the right setup to hit each club on the sweet spot, you need to practice for a consistent speed and tempo. Changing your swing speed will change your impact point as your arms tighten and stretch. Work on a consistent speed and tempo and you will soon be saying “How Sweet It Is”.   Practice with GOLFSTR+ to learn consistency for every club in your bag. Buy one today at www.golfstr.com

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Talk Yourself into the Perfect Swing

Wow, doesn’t that sound easy. Training to complete the perfect swing is a great starting point for your game but positive “self-talk” can make all the difference in your success. I came up the title for this Swing Tip after reading a recent article by Michael Hebron, the 23rd PGA of America Master Professional. [Credit goes to my buddy B. J. Hathaway, the head instructor at Augusta Golf Instruction, for including the article in his monthly blog.]

I had to google Michael Hebron to learn that he is a well-respected PGA instructor who must know what he is talking about. Your success is based on your physical conditioning, your knowledge about the correct swing and some practice to hone your skills. Then you need to apply them to every club for the results that you want. You would think that hitting 10 perfect shots with each club in your bag at the practice range would be sufficient preparation for a great round of golf.  Unfortunately, this is a Head Game!

When you get on  the course you need to get your head in the game or you might as well hang up your clubs for the day.

This is not a Positive Mental Attitude.   A simple positive thought is all you need.

This is not a Positive Mental Attitude. A simple positive thought is all you need.

Knowledge alone won’t fix your slice/hook/shank, etc. As it turns out if you don’t bring along positive self-talk your game is going down hill. According to Michael Hebron it may be the INTANGIBLES that have more impact on your game than your skill to swing the club. As it turns out words and thoughts are intangibles that “clearly are a performance influencing drug. They cause the release of the kind of chemicals into our nervous system that support or suppress workable outcomes of our golf swings.”

Be careful what you say to yourself as you prepare for each hit. Your personal perception of a golf situation might be: safe, unsafe, good, bad, hard or easy? Other word in our minds might be, “I can do it, I can’t do it, I like it, I don’t like it.”

Whether you know it or not, these are statements that emotionally release the kind chemicals into our brain and entire nervous system that influence how we perform on the golf course. A positive mental attitude is a great starting point. Use positive words and thoughts aimed at YOUR internal emotional self and not YOUR external physical self.

Ben Hogan Food for ThoughtWords and thoughts can help or hurt performance:
-They can cause every kind of emotion;
-They build or destroy confidence;
-They construct thoughts and answers;
-They make sense or create confusion;
-They are proactive or reactive;
-They are ours or someone else’s;
-They are meaningful or not

Self-talk is the most powerful performance enhancing drug that you carry with you for every round of golf. Use it in small doses when you practice and play. Build confidence when you practice with your   GOLFSTR+ and use the same positive thoughts when your play each round of golf. Buy one today at   www.golfstr.com

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The Baseball Swing is NOT a Golf Swing

Ben Hogan was not instantly a great golfer. It took him years to figure out a golf swing that would give him a winning game. He also practiced until his hands bled. His frustration started with our natural tendency to swing a golf club the way that we swing a stick to hit a stone or a bat to hit a ball. After he figured out how to consistently hit a golf ball and to control for direction and distance, he knew it was not a natural swing.   The golf swing had to be learned and practiced before anyone can ever become a good golfer. That’s why he made this famous quote:

“Reverse every natural instinct and do the opposite of what you are inclined to do and you will probably come close to having a perfect golf swing.”

Focus on these changes to become a better golfer:
Remain square over the ball during the backswing with your feet firmly planted. In baseball the body shifts back to build momentum as it shifts forward during the hit. This motion in golf will just create inconsistent hits.

Your leading arm should be straight during the backswing and down through impact to keep a consistent distance from your shoulders to the ball. In baseball both arms are bent to create more power as they straighten during the swing.

In baseball you fall back to finish your swing

In baseball you fall back to finish your swing

Power in golf comes from cocking your wrists in the backswing (creating lag) and releasing them at the bottom of your forward swing.

In golf you shift forward to a balanced finish over your leading leg.

In golf you shift forward to a balanced finish over your leading leg.

Power in golf also comes from a fluid motion from your backswing to your forward swing as you press with your trailing foot, rotate your hips, drop your arms and FINALLY  release your wrists. In baseball your bat rests over your shoulder. It’s much heavier than a golf club so you swing it with your arms and shoulders AT THE SAME TIME AS you push through the swing with your feet.

In golf you have the opportunity to practice the perfect swing because that little ball is not moving. Then step forward and repeat the exact same swing.

In golf you need to finish your swing in a perfect balanced position on your leading foot  as there are no adjustments needed to compensate for the ball position.  In baseball the full swing pulls your body back on your trailing foot.

Your grip, relaxed mind, relaxed muscles and quiet environment really set the tone for a different game. So each time that you setup to hit a ball, realize that you are only playing this game against yourself. Take control of every swing and think of Ben Hogan preparing to make a real golf swing.

Practice with GOLFSTR+ to change your swing from a baseball swing to a golf swing for every swing in your game. Learn to swing like a pro. Buy your pocket pro today at www.golfstr.com

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BEWARE: Hogwash Sells Golf Training Aids

We are all looking for information and products that will improve our games. That’s why I developed GOLFSTR to help me learn a straight leading arm golf swing. [My transition from a bent leading arm baseball swing was killing my game.] There are hundreds of Golf Training Aids that promise to help you improve your swing. Are you wasting your money on hogwash stories for products that have no impact on improving your game?

Don’t be fooled. Companies with deep pockets can create wonderful ads with endorsements to generate huge sales for products that really have limited value for your game. I have recently seen a few examples of major advertising campaigns on products which have limited value for your game.

Example #1: A putter with a .8 inch raised white bar on Its center-line: This product was advertised by a well-recognized promoter of golf products. Their story was all BS from an engineering point of view. The ad claimed that lining up your eyes with the straight wall of the white bar on the putter would keep your head lined up exactly over the putter. Unfortunately for this to be true your head (about 4 feet above your putter) would have to be at least 10 degrees off line from directly above the putter if you could actually see that far. Hogwash!

Example #2: A Wide Based Wedge: There are a number of ads being run showing recognized trainers praising this amazing product. I saw one of the first training videos released as a blog showing Hank Haney trying to teach a golfer how to use the wide based wedge. He only hit 1 good shot out of the 10 swings that were shown in the video. It really was a mistake releasing this blog as it proved that it is not as easy to use as it appears.

The fact remains that you have to fit the leading edge of the club under the ball every time to create lift. If you don’t have a perfect swing every time you will shank the ball or dig your club into the ground. Conventional wedges can be used to open and close the face of the club to control trajectory and spin. That was my first clue that the wide based wedge was not going to be the great solution that they claim. I suspect that thousands of these clubs will be sold and stored in basements around the world. Isn’t advertising wonderful?

Transition to the correct swing requires stretching exercise and patience. Learn it in slow motion and then make it happen.

Transition to the correct swing requires stretching exercise and patience. Learn it in slow motion and then make it happen.

GOLFSTR+ Is a Game Changer
This Training Aid will only help those who WANT to improve their game by swinging like a professional. It was developed to help me learn to swing with a straight leading arm. Then 5 different professionals (including Michael Breed, Golf Channel PGA Instructor) made suggestions and inspired me to offer GOLFSTR not only with 1 but 6 swing fixes. Hence the name: GOLFSTR+.

Some of the GOLFSTR+ swing fixes lock your wrist and others act as a reminder. It takes practice and stretching exercises to allow your body to correctly swing a golf club. It will change your game forever. Buy one today at www.golfstr.com

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Small Changes Can Fix Your Game

Do you realize that slight changes in your setup or swing can result in drastic improvements in your game?  On the other hand, small changes can also destroy your game.  Every golfer wants to improve their game or they would not be playing this challenging sport.  That’s why we watch the Golf Channel and weekly golf tournaments on TV. There’s nothing like The Masters to get your golf juices flowing for the start of your new golf season.  When you start your Spring Practice at the Driving Range make sure that you test out the impact of slight changes to see how they affect your ball flight:

Test out a slight grip change by rotation of the leading or trailing hand both stronger and weaker. Jordan Spieth has been moving to a weaker (rotated forward) leading hand and stronger (rotated back) tailing hand.  Every person has different strength so you need to find the right setup for YOUR BODY  but try to learn to swing like a pro as they have set the standard for success.

Swing with a relaxed grip for more distance.  Try gripping and ripping it and then try with a looser grip.  This is not baseball so relax your grip to improve your release at the bottom of your swing.

Tension in your grip for your short game will create fat shots every time.

A light grip is also important for putting.  Ernie Els made 6 putts within 3 feet for a 9 on the first hole of day 1 at The Masters on April 7, 2016. On a steep side slope of a green, you have to let the ball die into the hole from above the hole.  If it misses at least you have an uphill putt which is easier to sink.  A firm putt in the hole was not the solution for Ernie.  Sorry Ernie but I had to show this.  We agonize with you:

 

Eliminate the sway in your backswing. Rotate your spine in your backswing without swaying back to ensure that you don’t fall back during your downswing.

Watch for the special tips by Michael Breed on the Golf Channel to keep your mind tuned in to the perfect swing.

Focus only on the shot that you are making.  During The Masters Jordon Spieth said that he was on the clock. He rushed his preparation. His focus turned to what the consequences of a bad swing would be, rather than what he actually wanted to do, which was hit the ball to the middle of the green. He hit it into Raes Creek twice. Don’t let your mind wander over the ball.

I found this You Tube video of 9 Tour Players using practice drills provided by Golf Monthly. It also includes tips from Jordan Spieth as well as our new Masters champion Danny Willett.

 

Warm up for your season with GOLFSTR+ for every swing in your game.  Learn to swing with a straight leading arm, a flat leading wrist for putting, chipping and backswing.  It’s also ideal to develop a lagging wrist on your trailing hand for chipping and to create lag in your backswing.  That is 6 swing solutions in 1 great training aid.   Buy one today at www.golfstr.com

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Why Do Perfect Shots Come and Go

Golf is a strange game of perfection. Unfortunately you need to put at least 3 great shots together to par or birdie a hole. And you have to repeat this success 18 times to score well. The worst part is that you may be having the round of your life and your golfing partners want to talk about Donald Trump’s comments from last night and it throws your whole game off. Why isn’t muscle memory enough to control your game?

I found a few examples that may help your keep your game under control.

Your Setup is 90% of your Swing
That’s right. I was reminded of this problem on a recent round of golf. My shots at the driving range were wonderful. I felt great until I stepped up to the first tee and hit a long drive into a fairway sand trap. For my next shot I had a bad stance and hit a weak shot and then started to play catch up golf. The harder I swung the worse the result. It took me 9 holes before I figured out that I had changed my trailing hand grip to a strong grip (rotated slightly back for more power) and was causing a duck hook. When the rails are coming off: Check your setup.

Fear and Tight Muscles Will Kill Your Shot
I have seen this written many times: Tight muscles shrink in length. The results can be disaster. If you are a right handed golfer and you fear that your shot will land in the water on the right, the odds are that you are headed for the water. Even if you aim for the left side of the fairway if you don’t relax your arms and shoulders your muscles will tighten and shorten. The tighter you hold your club the shorter your arms become. This almost guarantees any combination of these 3 problems: topping the ball, impact at the toe and hitting with an open club face. Relax your muscles and shoulders for better results.

Can you image trying to hit this green at Augusta National. It's on 155 yards and it scares the pros too.

Can you image trying to hit this green at Augusta National. It’s on 155 yards and it scares the pros too.

Don’t Feel Bad the Pros Do IT Too
It should be easy for a professional to hit the green on any short par 3 hole. During the final round of The Masters in Augusta National Golf Club 2015 on the 12th hole, a 155 yard par 3, there were a pile of bogies, 5 double bogies and 1 triple bogie.  In 2016 Jordon Spieth was under the clock, lost his focus and made a quadruple bogie 7 at this hole to lose his lead.

Wind, tension, tight muscles and large crowds (or buddies with encouraging comments) can really turn an easy hole into a pressure pot. Treat it like any other hole. Block out the noise, relax your hands and shoulders, focus on the right setup and make that easy shot. They can all be that easy if you just take control.

Love this final thought from Andy Schwabe (a Canadian GOLFSTR follower). Do you ever get that feeling that something is not right and you hit the shot anyway? He calls it his “anyway shot”. “I know something is not quite right, (it could be a pebble or a buried tee under my foot, a person standing in my backswing view, a bird chirring over my head, a gust of wind) but I go ahead and hit the ball anyway. Usually ends up bad. Shoulda step away, restarted or even re-tee, but I didn’t.” Get rid of your distractions and focus 100% on your shot.

Take your mind back to those perfect practice swings on the driving range with your GOLFSTR+. Good thoughts with this training aid for every swing in your game will give you the positive thoughts that you need when you play on the course. Buy one today at www.golfstr.com

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