A Simple Fix to a Common Problem

One of the more common faults I see with many of my students is a lack of arm, hand and wrist action, combined with too much body action. The player lacks a gifted player's natural clubhead speed, and tries to make up for it by copying his body action. This invariably leads to a hectic and unbalanced movement. Rather than swinging the clubhead into the ball they are throwing their body at it.

When this occurs the results are a lot of sliced shots and topping or thining others. The player is using too much body action in the downswing, relative to their arm and hand action. The fault generally begins at the moment the player transfers from the backswing to the downswing. It is caused by uncoiling the body too fast almost violently, in relation to their arm and hand action.

The effect of this excessive unwind of the body is to delay your arm and hand swing so the clubface arrives open at impact, and on so steep a plane that it only hits the upper portion of the ball. The player has hit too late with their arms, wrists, hands and clubhead, and too early with their body.

If you are slicing or topping shots, simply slow down your body unwind and increase the use of the clubhead by increasing the speed of your arm swing. In other words hit earlier with the clubhead and later with your body, until the flight of the ball tells you that your timing is better coordinated.

Visualize the motion of swinging the clubhead down and through the ball with your arms before the shoulders unwind. An excellent drill to capture this feeling is to hit balls using a five or six iron with your feet together. Tee the ball up slightly and swing about eighty percent of your normal speed.

With a little practice you'll be amazed how solidly you'll strike the ball and the distance the ball will go.

Attending PGA Merchandise Show

This week I will be attending the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando. The week provides a great opportunity for PGA Professionals to see the latest golf equipment, trainng aids and other products for the golf industry.

During the Demo Day at Orange County National Golf Club I will have the opportunity to hit and evaluate all the new clubs from virtually all the major manufacturers.

I have also registered for a number of classes and seminars to increase my knowledge and expertise in the areas of shaft fitting for steel and graphite shafts, club repair and teaching.

The new season is almost here and our new demo clubs are now arriving from Ping, Taylor Made, Callaway and Adams Golf. I will learn more about their new features and improvements at the show.

Keep in mind that our golf simulator is available for rent for you and your friends. You can choose to practice or play your favorite golf course. For more information on any of our products or services please give us a call at (615) 480-7829.

Winter Golf Program

We are offering a Winter Golf Program this year at Golf Rx. This service allows you continue improving your game during the winter months rather than hanging up your clubs until Spring.

For the months of January, February and March you will have full access to our Full Swing Golf Simulator for three hours each week. You can use this time to hit balls on the various practice range modes, or play one of thirty golf courses including Bay Hill, Pinehurst and Firestone. Also included is an initial one hour lesson with Steve and a full club fitting evaluation.
The fee for the entire three month program is $300.00.

This is a great opportunity to keep your momentum going during the off season. Remember too you can rent our simulator for play or practice at $30.00 per hour.

For more information call Steve at Golf Rx or come by anytime.

Observations about the golf swing

Here are some of my thoughts regarding the golf swing that may be of benefit to you as the new golf year approaches.

We call it a golf swing because that's what it is. Regardless of what you may think you swing the club with your arms.

The arm swing is allied to the shoulder windup in the backswing and the hip unwind in the downswing.

The shoulders should turn 90 degrees during the backswing.

In beginning the backswing "One Piece" simply means nothing working independently. It is a correlated movement - The shoulders turn smooth and the arms swing freely.

The two most common faults of the backswing are:

1. Picking the club up by lifting your shoulders.

2. Using independent hand action to either roll the face open or hold it shut.


"Hitting from the top"is a common flaw in the downswing that prevents the arms from working and swinging. It results from one of two faults:

1. Prematurely turning or spinning the shoulders into the shot. Also known as the "shoulder heave".

2. Prematurely uncocking the wrists - A jerking attempt to force the clubhead to the ball with the hands.

Both result from insufficient or "late" arm swing on the way down.


Players suffering from a lack of power or poor balance should have one simple thought at the top of the backswing: "Start down with your arms, make your arms swing the clubhead down and through the ball.."

Best wishes for a Merry Christmas and a better golf game in 2012.

Steve K.

Understanding the importance of the arms in the release

The better your "release" the more powerful, solid and accurate your shots. You hear the term used constantly in golfing circles and by television commentators. So what exactly is the "release?"

I would best describe it as a free and fast swinging of the clubhead through the ball by the hands, wrists and arms with the emphasis on "the arms". The reason the arms must swing freely is simple. When they do we are able to apply the clubhead to the ball at our maximum speed. When they don't we are generally forced to apply ourselves to the ball; the free and fast swinging of the arms is replaced by a heave of the shoulders. It is this shoulder heave, a hurling of the torso into the shot that limits so many players from reaching their distance potential.

Here is a simple drill that I have found helps more than any other to promote the feel of a free arm swing and a proper release. This drill is to hit balls with your feet together. In this position it is practically impossible to make a shot other than with a free swinging of the arms, hands and clubhead, because any excessive use of the body leads to complete loss of balance.

Tee the ball up slightly and use a five or six iron. You'll be amazed how solidly you'll hit the ball and the distance the ball travels. This drill will help you develop the proper action of the arms and hands which is present in every good golfer's swing.

The Pocket Caddy makes a great stocking stuffer

Steve's latest book, "The Pocket Caddy" makes the perfect stocking stuffer for the golfer on your list this Christmas. This handy quick reference manual discusses twenty of the most common faults and shot problems of the weekend player.
Steve begins each topic with a simple and clear explanation of the cause of the fault. He then explains how to correct it accompanied by detailed pen and ink illustrations and diagrams. "The Pocket Caddy" guides players through common faults and shot problems right on the course or practice tee, and will be a welcome addition to their golf bag.
To order copies of "The Pocket Caddy" call Steve at Golf Rx at (615) 288-4539 or email him at stevejkirkpatrick@comcast.net. Steve's first two books, "The Dimpled Sphere" and "Why Bad Swings happen to Good People" are also available at the store or online at Amazon. com.
Golf Rx offers gift certificates as well for instruction, equipment and club repair services and can purchased at the store.

The New American Christmas Tradition

As the holidays approach, the Asian factories are busy providing Americans with monstrous piles of cheaply produced goods -- merchandise that has been produced at the expense of American labor.
Wouldn't it be nice if this year we all gave a gift produced by American hands? "But what's American made?" you say.

Well, everyone gets their hair cut. How about gift certificates from your local American hair salon or barber?

Gym membership? It's appropriate for all ages who are thinking about some health improvement.

Who wouldn't appreciate getting their car detailed? Small, American owned detail shops and car washes would love to sell you a gift certificate or a book of gift certificates.

Perhaps that grateful gift receiver would like his driveway sealed, or lawn mowed for the summer, or golf lessons from a local PGA Professional.

There are tons of owner-run restaurants -- all offering gift certificates.
Remember, folks this isn't about big National chains -- this is about supporting your home town Americans with their financial lives on the line to keep their doors open.

How many people couldn't use an oil change for their car, truck or motorcycle, done at a shop run by the American working guy?

Thinking about a heartfelt gift for mom? Mom would LOVE the services of a local cleaning lady for a day.

My computer could use a tune-up, and I KNOW I can find some young guy who is struggling to get his repair business up and running.

Musicians need love too, so find a venue showcasing local bands.

Honestly, people, do you REALLY need to buy another ten thousand Chinese lights for the house? When you buy a five dollar string of light, about fifty cents stays in the community. If you have those kinds of bucks to burn, leave the mailman, trash guy or babysitter a nice BIG tip.

You see, Christmas is no longer about draining American pockets so that China can build another glittering city. Christmas is now about caring about US, encouraging American small businesses to keep plugging away to follow their dreams. And, when we care about other Americans, we care about our communities, and the benefits come back to us in ways we couldn't imagine. THIS is the new American Christmas tradition.