Swing Solutions

It’s exciting to start a new golf year watching the Masters.  Wouldn’t it be great if some of those wonderful shots rubbed off on our games?  Dream on!  I have posted 75 blogs using recommendations and comments from professional golfers.  This blog is a summary of tips to lower your handicap.  Now is the time to set your target to cut stokes.  Pick your target for this year.  [I’m dropping 6 strokes.  What’s your target?]

We are all looking for that magic move to instantly cure all of our mental demons.   Peter Kessler recommends pills for “Brain Burnout”.  Just another dumb fix!    It’s not that easy.  Knowing your swing problems and practicing the right motion to build CONFIDENCE are the only way you will lower your score.

Top 10 Tips for your Spring Tune-up (5 this week and 5 to follow next week):

Golf Digest gave us this shot of one HOT Golf Swing but speed is not what we are talking about. Consistency is what counts for the Recreational Golfer.

1/ Look at your score card to determine the weakest part of your game. Where did you lose strokes?  Sort out what you have to do to cut strokes.  Then work on it by practicing both on and off the golf course. [Chipping to 1 putt is my goal.  What’s yours?]

2/ To hit more greens in regulation try clubbing up 1 club, relax your grip to 50% of your “death grip”, swing at 80% with more control and decide where you want to land the ball for your next chip or your uphill putt.  Swing with purpose.

3/ At the start of your round, if you decide to make every shot land in the fairway then you will work on the perfect swing with more control.  You will also pay attention to the impact of your draw or fade and try to do it consistently.

4/ For chip shots, sweep your club back on a low plane and limit your wrist hinge to avoid fat or thin shots.

5/ Use a practice swing exactly the same way you want to hit your ball.   This helps you get a feel for the club you selected, the angle of the ground and MOST IMPORTANT a balanced finish.  Then repeat the same motion when you hit your ball.

Stay tuned for 5 more Spring Warm-up Tips Next week. [Hint: Ways to improve your Focus.]

Summary:
There are lots of crazy quick fix solutions out there but don’t kid yourself, your game will only improve by reducing errors.    If you want to improve your game you need to be in physically good shape, play with a relaxed but focused mind and practice to correct your weaknesses.  The pros do it and you can too.

Why not sort out the right swing and practice with GOLFSTR+  For Every Swing in YOUR Game to gain confidence & make ever swing count.  Relax and enjoy this wonderful game.

It’s a great time to buy a GOLFSTR+ before we add on $10 for shipping and handling.  So click on this site and make it happen:  www.golfstr.com

SAVE $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ TODAY

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I NEED YOUR HELP:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Enjoy

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.