YOUR Swing Support Center

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

Golf Digest provided a wonderful Spring Training Tip from Jamie Sadlaowski, two-time long-drive champion.  Jamie said that people expect to see a violent swing from him but his 150 mile per hours of clubhead speed comes in part from good fundamentals and smooth sequencing.  [Jamie Sadlowski hit one 418 yards to win the 2008 Re/Max World Long Drive Championship.]

Body coil is the difference between hip turn and shoulder turn on the backswing.   You can see it clearly in this photo.  As we age we lose flexibility but any amount will help you add distance.

For his drive he keeps his head position six inches behind the ball. If you set your head back and keep it there, you can work your right shoulder under your left coming down and launch the ball on the upswing.  He may have more cocking action in his wrists than most but holding the wrist lag and releasing through impact is where he and Bubba Watson get so much power and distance.

If you are going to work on anything during your Spring preparation make sure that it includes rotation flexibility and strength in your forearms and wrists.

> For Flexibility, lay on your back with your arms extended straight out from your sides.  Bend your knees with your feet on the floor and knees together. Slowly rotate your knees from side to side and keep the back of your arms stretched out and on the ground.  Don’t expect to get full rotation to the ground but over time you will gain more flexibility along your spine.   Build up from 3 repetitions left and right side on your first attempt.

> A simple exercise for wrist strength is to tie a weight (container of juice) to a rope and tie the other end to the center of a bar.  While you watch the Golf Channel (instead of lifting a can of beer) sit forward in your chair, hold the bar with both hands and alternate hands to wind up the rope as you lift the weight.  Repeat this many times or increase the weight over time.

> To incorporate a straight leading arm and body rotation, hold the back of your straight leading arm above your elbow (left arm for right handed golfers).  Gently rotated to simulate your body rotation for a backswing.  You may want to try this wearing your GOLFSTR+ to understand how easy it is to keep your arm straight in the backswing.

Do all of these exercises in moderation or you will strain your muscles.  Make sure that you increase the repetitions over time.   If you have never swung with a straight leading arm you may need 100 or a 1,000 of these stretches over time to achieve your new backswing but you need to do this gradually.

Check out the latest tips on www.golfstr.com and invite you friends to sign up for Swing Tips.

Watching golf tips on TV last week in Florida, I was impressed with a simple solution for a consistent golf swing.  The pro pointed out such a simple fact: The distance from your shoulders to the ball needs to be the same at address as it is at impact.  Change the distance and you will hit behind the ball (fat) or you will top the ball (thin).  It’s that simple.

We are talking about fractions of an inch to make the perfect hit every time you swing.

Swaying back and forth; bobbing your head and shoulders; changing the bend of your knees and bending your leading arm ALL AFFECT THE DISTANCE TO YOUR BALL AT ADDRESS AND AT IMPACT.  For consistent hits you just need to keep the heights and lengths the same AT ADDRESS AND IMPACT. Simple!   LIMIT THE MOVEMENT OF YOUR HEAD.

Unfortunately we are not machines.  Adrenalin, attitude and excitement all affect the tension in our muscles and reaction in our limbs.  The image of Ernie Els’ swing with his limited body motion is a wonderful swing thought.

This slow motion video shows that Ernie keeps his head at the same height with only a slight drift back and then forward as he executes his swing and follow through.

So the more consistent you can make YOUR SETUP and SWING the less chance that tension will destroy your result.   Work on a stable body and consistent follow through.  Just imagine what the pros have to go through when every shot really counts.  Relax and don’t try to kill the ball.

All of this hype about faster swing speed MEANS NOTHING if you can’t make the perfect impact with the ball.   Training with GOLFSTR+ for wrist lag will give you the club head speed you need without trying to pulverize the ball.

Practice with your GOLFSTR+ and develop a straight arm and flat wrist for consistent hits.  Yes, this is just one of the key components but it also help you slow down and swing without extra body motion.  Now that I am hitting in the low 80’s I know that GOLFSTR+ has put me on the right track and it will do the same for you.

NOTE: If you missed the Swing Tip from last week, check it out on YOUR Swing Support Center.  I don’t bother with the DOT any more, I just lineup the Brand Name up the inner quadrant of the ball because I can see it better.  For putting I find it a lot easier to sink putts by looking at a spot in line with 1 foot in front of the ball so that I follow through over that spot.  The putts just drop.  I sank 6 putts of 5 to 15 feet yesterday and shot an 80 with 2  double’s on par 5’s.   Got to love this game!

Tell you friends that they can WIN A FREE GOLFSTR+ by signing up for swing tips.  Recommend it to 3 extra names and get 20 chances to win 1 of 2 GOLFSTR+ swing trainers given away each month. 

Focus on a dot on a dimple on your golf ball and change your game forever.   Such a simple concept and it really works for drives or putting.  Tiger goes into a trance when he sets up to hit and this tip will help you get there.

About 40 golf instructors bought a GOLFSTR+ at the PGA Orlando Golf Show as they were looking for a training aid to build muscle memory to overcome swing problems for their students. We love to hear their enthusiasm.  One pro at Augusta Golf Instruction (near Augusta National), brought my attention to this great tip.

1/ Focus When You Hit with Your Driver
I am the type of golfer who hits 3 or 4 great drives and then my mind seems to take over my body.  I feel like I’m invincible.  I can’t miss.  I’m going to knock the socks off this little ball.  My next killer swing is exactly that.  Over the top I go and there goes a super slice.  What was I thinking?  NOTHING!!!

Staying in focus on every hit is so important to my game.  [The drive and the putt are the only shots where you can position the ball so this tip only applies for these hits.]  In Drives or Fairway shots a straight leading arm is important but you still need to swing on a path from the inside (instead of over the top and crossing from the outside).  Mark 2 dots on dimples on opposite sides of your ball.  Set your golf ball on your tee with a dot visible on the inside quarter of the ball (inside the target line as shown in the picture).  Focus on swinging to impact at that point.  Your brain and straight leading arm swing will do the rest.

2/ Focus on Direction when you Putt
Recently I noticed that I have been watching my putter during the takeaway (to see if it is in line with my target line).  I seem to be making adjustments during the backswing.  What a dumb idea.

I realized it when I read the blog from Augusta Golf Instruction about first practicing by only looking at the hole as I swing.  Then practice by focusing on a target point just in front of the ball (as shown in the picture).  Then practice by lining your ball up with the dot on a dimple along the target line and place it so that you can see it on the back edge of the ball (just above your point of impact)

Setup your putt by choosing the right line and complete a few practice swings for distance.   Your final focus in putting should only be the point of impact (the dot) along the line where you want to hit it.

FOOTNOTE:  Video on US Golf TV
GOLFSTR+  was selected for a review at the PGA Merchandise Trade Show in Orlando, Florida in January.  They shared the video which will be aired on a program called: US Golf TV.   Pass this along to your friends who may want to see more about GOLFSTR+ or click on www.golfstr.com 

The Golf Link Blog by Chuck Cook  this week provided a great drill to fix the early release of your wrist at the top of your swing.  This is the most critical component of your swing to get more distance so you don’t want to miss this one.

You may have heard me say that this is not baseball so don’t bend or collapse your leading arm in the backswing.  Well this is not fishing either, so don’t cast your wrist at the top of the swing and expect any power when you connect with the ball.

Releasing the head of the club too early wastes all of the speed before you get to the ball.  This swing is like throwing your wrist to skip a flat stone along the surface of the water.  You need to snap your wrist just before you release the stone.  The same is true in the golf swing.

If you can maintain the angle in your wrist very deep into the downswing then release your wrist through impact you will hit the ball much farther than if you release at the top of the swing.

A good drill to help you learn how to do this is the Pound Drill.  Make your backswing with a straight leading arm and a 90 degree wrist cock.   Then complete half a downswing with your straight arm and cocked wrists. When you come down you want to feel like you are pounding down with the butt end of the shaft of your club. Try to pound down from the inside so that you don’t start to rotate your hips too early.  Hold your wrist to club angle deep into the downswing.

Practice this motion without hitting a ball.  Then complete the release of your wrist at the bottom of your swing to feel the whipping action as your club whooooshes through the bottom of your swing.   The delayed release of your wrists gives you more clubhead speed and longer shots.

Share this Swing Tip with your friends and check out GOLFSTR+ to help you train for lag in your backswing.  That’s just one of the 6 swing fixes that you can learn with GOLFSTR+.   It helps you feel when your 90 degree wrist cock is ready for release.  Check it out on www.golfstr.com

WIN A GOLFSTR+  Contest rules are on our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/golfstr1  Just enter your name to receive our weekly Swing Tips and enter the names of up to 3 more friends to get up to 20 chances to win for our monthly draw.  Contest ends February 28.

Why not consider taking a more controlled swing with a longer club to hit more greens in regulation?  Golf Digest wrote a great article about how Justin Rose is getting the most out of his 3-Wood.  I just wanted to share the key points.  You may find (like most golfers) that you often need to use fairway woods and hybrids to reach greens and lower your score.

Swinging every club at 80% and in full control with a smooth transition and balanced finish are the key factors to lowering you score.  Too much emphasis is placed on club head speed and distance.  Save that for your driver.   Trying to get the most distance out of every club is for the professional.  Calm down and enjoy the game.

Justin Rose said that his 3 wood is the most important club in his bag.  It sets the tone for his day.  You hit driver on the upswing and catch irons and wedges with a downward blow.   “A 3-wood demands a neutral strike: You can’t be steep or shallow.”

Setup: He takes a very balanced position.  Then he squeezes his shoulder blades together and lets them relax so that they feel very wide.   (Try this as a wake-up call to your brain for your next great swing.)

This is the key move for Justin Rose in his downswing.  FREEZE this key image in your brain.

Key Move: Let the Arms Drop   “When I start the downswing, I let my arms drop halfway down as my shoulders stay closed to the target. I often rehearse this move as part of my pre-shot routine. It counteracts a tendency I’ve had of unwinding my shoulders too early (does this sound familiar?), which forces me to slow down so the club can catch up at impact. The harder I try to rip a shot, the more this problem shows up.

By dropping my arms to start down, my wrists naturally hold their angle with the shaft (in a 90 degree lag position), and it’s easier to approach the ball from the inside. As you can see here, my back is still facing the target. From this point, my hips will whip through in unison with my arms. It’s an incredibly powerful and stable feeling.”

Casting the club from the top is a major downfall for weekend warriors.  Dropping your straight leading arm, holding the lag in your wrist (at 90 degrees) and shifting your weight forward (almost lunging) are so critical to create distance (without trying to kill the ball).

Want to Swing Like Justin Rose?  Use your GOLFSTR+  to train for straight leading arm in the backswing and downswing.  Use it to create lag in your wrist at the top of your backswing and then to hold your wrists in that position as you drop your arms.  GOLFSTR+  can help you with Every Swing in Your Game.  Practice with it and learn to enjoy your game as your scores drop.

We just had a very successful PGA Merchandise Trade Show in Orlando, FL.  Many more golf stores are placing orders and stocking this amazing golf Training Aid.  Ask for GOLFSTR+  at your local golf retailer.  (pronounced Golf-Stir and stands for GOLF STRaight).   Or buy it on-line at www.golfstr.com

Why is it that your practice swing for a chip shot is so easy to make, but you still end up shanking the ball or stubbing the grass behind the ball?  Unfortunately we are not machines.  Repeating the practice stroke should be so simple but our brain is getting in the way.

Chipping is composed of 3 issues: club selection, amount of backswing and cadence (or tempo).  Of course you also need to practice the proper limited wrist lag in the backswing and a flat leading wrist in the follow-through for the perfect direction control.   Practicing with GOLFSTR+ will help you learn these motions.

Club Selection
Choose a club that will get your ball on the green where you don’t have to worry about a bad bounce on the fringe or run up to the green.  You can only determine the distance of the roll based on practice and experience so take some time to get a feel for the percent of your shot that will travel through the air as compared to the distance traveled during the bounce and roll on the green for each club.  [Green elevation and undulation also affect the roll-out.]  Remember that the higher the loft in your club, the shorter the roll out.

Amount of Backswing
The swing always needs to be accelerating (not decelerating) through the point of impact.  Again you need to get a feel for the distance that each club will carry the ball in the air.  Check out the flight distance for each height of backswing FOR EACH CLUB.  Keep the same cadence and acceleration for the practice swing and when hitting the ball.  [SUGGESTION: Focus on 3 clubs (like 7, 9 and pitching wedge) to really feel comfortable with these clubs.]

Consistent Cadence
This is the critical factor causing your mishits.  If you brain is not comfortable with the club that you chose or the backswing needed for the distance that you plan to hit, you will end up shortening the backswing and rushing or decelerating the swing.   RESULT: Fat hits, blading the ball or the dreaded hosel hit.

Without confidence in the club that you chose or the height of the backswing, your brain will try to make corrections for everything that can go wrong.  BINGO!  Your brain gets in the way of your perfect hit.

SOLUTION: Gain confidence with each club so that you can make your chip swing exactly the same as your practice swing.  Revolution Golf suggested using a count of “1” in the backswing and “2” as you swing through the ball.  Make the perfect practice swing and then say  >1>2  to override any panic thoughts during your chip.

Practice chipping with GOLFSTR+  to generate a limited lag with your trailing wrist in the backswing and to prevent leading wrist cupping in the follow-through.   Check out the new video on the GOLFSTR home page to see all 6 uses for GOLFSTR+.

Golfers are always looking for the magic triggers to make the perfect swing.  You want the money shot EVERY TIME.  A few of the blogs that I received this week boil it down to 3 components: setup square, hip shift to start the downswing and finish the swing in balance.

Last week our SWING TIP focused on learning to Swing Like a Pro.  You need to learn the right motion and then practice to perfection with a training aid.  GOLFSTR+  is a great choice to develop your muscle memory for Every Swing in Your Game.

Your setup, timing and balance are all so important to deliver the right motion for the perfect swing.  A lapse in focus or burst of adrenalin will destroy everything.  Your job is to focus on the 3 components:

SETUP SQUARE: For right handed golfers the right hand grips the club lower on the club than the left hand.   This distortion causes your shoulders to open slightly toward the target.  It’s your job to allow your trailing shoulder to drop slightly to compensate for the lower grip and to keep the alignment of your shoulders in the direction of the target.  Shoulders, hips and feet all should line up in parallel lines [unless you are setting up for a draw or fad].

HIP SHIFT: To initiate the downswing you need to start shifting you weight to the leading foot.  Trahan calls it the “bump”; Hogan calls it the “lateral movement”; Dow Finsterwald (1958 USPGA Championship winner) said “you have to move your hips to the left”; Robert Cotter of Instant Golf calls it the KEY and  Andy Anderson of Swing Secrets refers to the “shift” (but never start by turning your hips or you will come over the top and end up slicing or pulling the shot).

Hold your finish in balance and enjoy the view as your ball lands on your target.  The pause that refreshes!

FINISH IN BALANCE:  If you correctly shift your weight to your leading foot during the swing and finish without a left arm “flying” chicken wing, you should be standing in a photo finish position and enjoying the flight of your ball.  Get the right tempo so that you can hold your finish position in balance until the ball lands.

The swing is so easy when you focus on the basics.  You need the mechanics of straight arm in the backswing & through impact, flat wrist in putting, chipping and backswing as well as a controlled lag for chipping, fairway shots and drives.  Training with GOLFSTR+ will help with muscle memory for all of these swings.  Now it’s up to you to execute the timing and proper weight shift.

Ask for GOLFSTR+  (pronounced GOLF-Stir) at golf retailers or buy it on our website: www.golfstr.com.   Now available without shipping and handling charges.

Enjoy