April is PGA Free Fitting & Trade-Up Month. As a participating facility Golf Rx will be offering free 15 minute clubfittings. This is a great opportunity to receive expert advice on how to modernize your golf equipment while trading in your obsolete clubs. By getting fit in April you will also be eligible to win a trip for two to the 2010 PGA Championship at Whistling Straits Golf Club. Learn more at PlayGolfAmerica.com/FFT. At Golf Rx we offer custom fit golf equipment from Callaway, Taylor Made, Adams Golf and US Kids Junior clubs. For more information on the services at Golf Rx visit www.kirkpatrickgolf.com or call us at 615 288-4539. I look forward to seeing you in April.
Steve Kirkpatrick
Owner and PGA Professional
Golf Rx
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Information Overload
During a lesson with one of my students I couldn't help but notice a distinctive change in his rhythm. He was also taking the club too far inside creating a too flat swing plane for his 6 foot 2 inch stature. He was complaining of hitting fat shots that were going right of the target. After inquiring he confessed reading an article that convinced him he wasn't coiling his shoulders enough during his backswing. Aha ! Now I knew the reason for this contorted movement he was attempting to make. Forty five minutes later we had his swing path and plane corrected and he was hitting straight, solid shots once again.
Just out of curiosity I picked up the lastest issue of a golf magazine and read no less than nineteen swing tips to help you play better. Now imagine I wanted to learn how to throw a baseball or shoot a basketball, but first I'm given nineteen different directives on how to do this correctly. The last time I put a stopwatch on a baseball pitcher, a basketball player or a golfer it took about one and 1 /2 seconds for them to complete their throwing, shooting or swinging motion. Can you imagine what they would look like if I gave them multiple directives to perform during that short time?
Unfortunately this is exactly what is happening to many golfers after a winter of reading their favorite publications loaded with all the latest breakthroughs in the golf swing. The golf swing hasn't changed over the years - only the amount of information available to golfers.
My first recommendation is to put the instructional magazines down. My second is see you golf professional and let him or her determine what areas of your game need attention. One thing I have learned through years of teaching is the less thinking we do during the swing the more success we have.
Just out of curiosity I picked up the lastest issue of a golf magazine and read no less than nineteen swing tips to help you play better. Now imagine I wanted to learn how to throw a baseball or shoot a basketball, but first I'm given nineteen different directives on how to do this correctly. The last time I put a stopwatch on a baseball pitcher, a basketball player or a golfer it took about one and 1 /2 seconds for them to complete their throwing, shooting or swinging motion. Can you imagine what they would look like if I gave them multiple directives to perform during that short time?
Unfortunately this is exactly what is happening to many golfers after a winter of reading their favorite publications loaded with all the latest breakthroughs in the golf swing. The golf swing hasn't changed over the years - only the amount of information available to golfers.
My first recommendation is to put the instructional magazines down. My second is see you golf professional and let him or her determine what areas of your game need attention. One thing I have learned through years of teaching is the less thinking we do during the swing the more success we have.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Get a grip on your game
I am surprised how many players are not aware that golf grips are available in different sizes. This is an important component of the clubfitting process because the player's only physical contact with the club is through the grip. A properly sized grip provides a player the right "feel" at address and consistent control during the swing.
A grip that is too small, too large or slick and worn can negatively affect a player's confidence due to poor feel. Generally a too large grip reduces wrist action causing pushed shots. The player will often choke down on the grip where the diameter is smaller and feels better. This reduces swing speed because of a shorter swing arc. A too small grip often increases wrist action resulting in pulled shots. To improve the feel players will hold the club too far out on the end because the diameter is larger. This often causes the player to lose control of the club at the top of the backswing.
A grip is properly sized when the middle two fingers of the left hand just touch or almost touch the heel portion of the palm. The grip is too small if the fingers dig into the palm. The grip is too large if the gap between the fingers and the palm is 1/4 inch or more.
Whether you're in the market for a new set of clubs or your existing one's are in need of new grips it is important to consider the many variations of grip sizes, shapes and materials available. Properly fitted grips will certainly give you a better grip on your game. At Golf Rx we offer same day service on in stock grips.
A grip that is too small, too large or slick and worn can negatively affect a player's confidence due to poor feel. Generally a too large grip reduces wrist action causing pushed shots. The player will often choke down on the grip where the diameter is smaller and feels better. This reduces swing speed because of a shorter swing arc. A too small grip often increases wrist action resulting in pulled shots. To improve the feel players will hold the club too far out on the end because the diameter is larger. This often causes the player to lose control of the club at the top of the backswing.
A grip is properly sized when the middle two fingers of the left hand just touch or almost touch the heel portion of the palm. The grip is too small if the fingers dig into the palm. The grip is too large if the gap between the fingers and the palm is 1/4 inch or more.
Whether you're in the market for a new set of clubs or your existing one's are in need of new grips it is important to consider the many variations of grip sizes, shapes and materials available. Properly fitted grips will certainly give you a better grip on your game. At Golf Rx we offer same day service on in stock grips.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
