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

Simple Solution for Consistent Hits!

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. 

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The DOT to Save Your Game

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!!!

Dot on Ball for the right focusStaying 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.

start-line for focus on puttingI 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 

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DISTANCE KILLER: Casting from the Top!

 

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 backswingWell 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.

 

Don't Cast at the topSkipping a stone golf swingReleasing 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.

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Rip Your Fairway Woods

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.  Just FREEZE this in your brain.

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

 

 

 

 

 

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Stop Shanking your Chips!

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.

ChippingAmount 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+.

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Show Me the Money!

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 you ball lands on your target.

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

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Hopeless Swing? Take a lesson!

You may not realize this but if you don’t swing like a pro, you will never lower your score.

Recently I have been golfing with many different golfers.  I love to watch how they attack each swing.  Some are crazier than others and I know that I am not close to perfect so I just love to observe and try to keep my mouth shut.

We have all seen Tiger, Phil and Rory with their wonderful swings and we can see that they are all different.   They have conventional golf swings which produce consistent hits.   This video shows Rory McIlroy’s Swing in amazing slow motion .

Jim Furyk is a good example of a pro with a wild backswing.  Nick Price has one of the fastest backswings on the planet.  John Daly has a double jointed backswing.  Steve Stricker has a limited back swing.  I’m listing these examples to highlight that the golf swing can be completed in different ways but it is the downswing and follow through that creates success on the golf course.

If your swing mechanics are wrong, you will never develop a consistent game.  The game of golf is a game of consistency and perfection.  Mishitting one shot on each hole will continue to generate double and triple bogies.

If you don’t have a “square stance”; have the right grip (strong or weak?); understand how to open your club face (just to mention a few) then you should read books on golf swing technique, watch a slow motion video of your swing and take golf lessons from a pro.  Professional Golf Instructors can instantly see your swing faults.

GOLFSTR+ is designed to help you with “muscle memory”.  This will only be useful if you are trying to swing like a pro.  Repeating the correct swing using a training aid that reinforces the correct motion will turn into success on the golf course.  CLICK HERE:  Try it, you’ll like it!

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New Year, New You, New Swing !!!

Happy New Year to All!  This is a good time to look at the big picture.  Success in golf depends on your physical condition and your mental outlook.  I know that these both affect my game.  Of course we should all be doing more exercise to avoid injury and limit our aches and pains when we golf.  But have you thought about conditioning your mind too.

I just played my first round of golf in 2 months with a shocking result.  My first 9 holes were great with 5 pars and a respectable score.  My second 9 holes were awful.  I must have been focused at the start and then I got cocky and was swing harder and faster: expecting even better results.  Get a Life.  What was I thinking?

 

GOLFSTR+ offers you 6 uses to fix 6 golf swing problems.  Why not work on these during the off season?

GOLFSTR+ offers you 6 uses to fix 6 golf swing problems. (CLICK THE PICTURE TO EXPAND)

Come to think of it, my rounds often get worse on the second 9.  You may not have the same problem but this being a NEW YEAR, I’m suggesting that you try to appraise where your game went wrong:

  • Are you getting weaker or tired on the back 9?  Exercise may be the solution.
  • Are you missing more fairways and greens in regulation on the back 9?    Slow down, stay focused and layoff the caffeine and booze.
  • Are you consistently missing drives, fairway shots, chips and putts?  Why not work on your muscle memory?  Improve every swing in your game by practicing and building muscle memory with the right swing.

GOLFSTR+ is designed to help you train your brain with a straight arm or flat wrist of lagging wrist.  Why not check it out today or send this Swing Tip along to others who may appreciate this thought.

It’s a great idea to exercise and train your brain in the off season.

For more details click:  www.golfstr.com .

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BEWARE: Octopus Sighted Wearing GOLFSTR+

It’s a strange looking sight but you must see this Octopus Golfer.  He or She now has a foothold on golf courses, training centers and driving ranges throughout the world.   With 12 hands it looks pretty strange but the first reaction from our customers is GREAT!

Jeff O. from Newport Beach, CA made the following comment:   “Bill,  The new User Guide really puts into perspective all of the benefits of using your training aid.  Additionally, it creates a very simple step by step approach that can be followed not only for training but for warming up before a round of golf.  Great idea and can’t wait to get started!”  [COULDN’T HAVE SAID IT BETTER MYSELF.]

 

It’s the FIRST Golf Swing Training Aid in the world to offer 6 fixes for Golf Swing Problems.  See our NEW User Guide and offer below:

6-in-1 Octopus and  6 UsesGOLFSTR_User_Guide

Xmas GolferBuy a GOLFSTR+ before year end and save $10 per unit Enter Coupon Code: golfstr .  Select the STORE PAGE to enter your order.  Please note that you don’t need a PayPal account to pay by Visa, Master Card or other credit or debit cards.  PayPal just manages the payment on a very secure system.

 

 

 

 

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For Golf Swing Success: Focus & Get a Grip!

A few weeks ago I issued a Swing Tip named Consistent Hits with One Thought.  It was about clearing your mind during the setup to focus on the swing that you want.  Simplicity and focus are the keys to success in this wonderful game.  Golf Swing Secrets Revealed from St. Andrews by Andy Anderson is a blog that gives another twist to this subject.  I just wanted to share some of his observations.

FIRST GOLF FALLACY: Golfers should RELAX.   “Being relaxed is complete rubbish.”  This fallacy comes down to us through generations of golf teachers.   When you swing a golf club you are taking a comparatively violent action.  Is there any other violent action you take while you are relaxed?  Of course not!   It’s impossible.

Ben Hogan had a server rotation and straight arm backswing.  This is not relaxed.

Ben Hogan had a server rotation and straight arm backswing. This is not relaxed.

Did Ben Hogan or Arnold Palmer ever look relaxed when they take their stance or hit those amazing drives?  In their case it was extreme focus and explosion.  If they are relaxed, why are their lips compressed and their features contorted, as countless pictures show they are?

It is easy to see how “Relax” became fixed in the language of the golf teacher.  When inexperienced golfers get on the lesson tee they are so self-conscious and frightened that they tense up to the point, almost, of absolute rigidity.

In order for them to swing the club at all, the pro has to loosen them up to some extent.  He tells them to relax.  If a little is good, he thinks, a lot must be much better. He now makes a fetish of relaxation. Everybody has to relax as soon as he takes hold of a club.

SOLUTION:
“We don’t want a rigidity of the rigor mortis variety. But we do want firmness, a feeling of muscular movement under constant control, ready for instant response.  Nor do we want a mental relaxation either. Don’t get the idea your mind should be a complete blank when you step up to a shot.  If it is, you might as well be asleep.”

 

This shows Hogan with an aggressive thrust through the ball.

Hogan with an aggressive thrust through the ball.

 

So forget everything you have heard about relaxing.  For the purposes of playing good golf it is sheer rubbish.

 

Keeping your Arm Straight or your Wrist Straight to deliver consistent hits only happens if you focus and work on it.  GOLFSTR+ is a great training aid to help you with Every Swing in Your Game (6 uses).  Try it, you’ll like it!

Still $10 off on every GOLFSTR+ that you purchase until the end of this year.  Enter the Coupon Code: golfstr   when you order on our site:  www.golfstr.com

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