I want to be more consistent...

      The most common request I hear from all my new students is "I want to hit the ball more consistently." In regards to the full swing this means controlling the flight of the ball, it's trajectory and the distance it travels. This may sound simple but even the game's most talented players struggle to maintain consistency.
      Imagine you need a par on the last hole to shoot your lowest score ever or to win your member event. After a good drive you are 175 yards from the green and select a 5 iron. With bunkers surrounding the narrow green the task is challenging but not impossible, right?
     But look at it from this perspective. With a hitting area on the clubface of only 2 inches, you have to strike a ball only 1.67 inches in diameter. The 15 ounce club, which builds up a dynamic pulling weight of nearly 100 pounds during the 1.5 second swing, has to be swung at a speed close to 90 miles per hour through an arc of 16 feet. The ball is only on the clubface for 0.00035 of a second, and to be hit the desired distance and direction it needs to be launched at an angle of 42 degrees.
     You can now see why consistency is a problem no matter how talented or gifted the player. If you add outside factors such as wind, the condition of the lie and the player's level of confidence to the equation, it shows how precise the swing has to be.   
      It is my opinion that the root cause of inconsistent ball striking is poor fundamentals that result early on in players developing bad swing habits. All too often these players then move from one tip to the next trying to find the key to great golf. In almost every case players seeking a short cut to a better game with quick fix solutions find they don't last more than one round.
     As a PGA Teaching Professional I use my 25 years experience and ability to diagnose the cause of a problem and quickly demonstrate the proper cure.  Rather than to try "changing" a person's swing, I point out what is causing their shot problem and explain how to correct it in a simple and concise manner. My goal is to help students achieve long term improvement that in turn rewards them with what they are seeking - A better golf game.

All putters now 20% Off

       During the month of June all in-stock putters at Golf Rx are 20 % off. We have a great selection of putters from Odyssey, Ping, Taylor Made, Yes and Bettinardi all 20 % off the regular price. We have a good selection of Belly Putters as well.  
       If you're in the market for new equipment we proudly custom fit Ping, Callaway, Taylor Made and Adams Golf Equipment. We also offer same day service on re-gripping and next day service on re-shafting. Loft and Lie adjustments are ready within an hour.
      If the problem is the indian rather than the arrow then schedule a lesson with Steve. An award winning instructor and author of three instructional books, Steve will quickly diagnose your problem and explain the cure in an easy to understand manner.
       Golf Rx offers gift certificates for any and all products and services. Call, stop by or visit our website at www.kirkpatrickgolf.com.

Transition in the golf swing

         One of the most common faults I see with weekend players is in the transition from backswing to forward swing. Watch any tour player's swing in slow motion and you will notice that their change of direction from backswing to forward swing begins from the ground up with their feet and knees. Most amateurs however start the forward swing with their upper bodies either by heaving their shoulders or a jerky attempt to force the club towards the ball with their hands. Both movements result in a significant loss of power, poor contact with the ball and misdirected shots. 
         To help my students feel the proper transition movement I use two drills. The first is to have the student go back to his baseball or softball days. I'll have them pretend they're at the plate and swing as they did when hitting a baseball. They naturally begin their swing into the ball from the ground up using their feet and knees. It's fun to watch their expressions when the "light bulb goes off" as they sense the movement and then relate it to their golf swing.
     The second drill is to have my student swing the club to the top of their backswing then hold that position for four or five seconds. This allows them to feel their feet and legs resisting the coiling action of their upper body. The deliberate pause also enables the student to trigger the downswing as a reflex uncoiling action with their  feet and legs.

Come try all the new equipment

      If you're in the market for new golf equipment Golf Rx is just the place for you. We have all the new clubs from Ping, Taylor Made, Callaway and Adams Golf . We have demo clubs you can try on our simulator or take to the range or course.
       We also offer professional custom fitting of all the lines we carry including wedges and putters. Custom fit clubs cost no more than off the rack sets while allowing you the benefit of choosing only the clubs you need.
     We can also evaluate your existing clubs to make sure they are right for your individual size and swing. If adjustments need to be made such as length, lie angle or grip size we can do the work in house, and have your clubs ready the next day.
       If you are considering new equipment this year or have questions about your present equipment give Steve a call and he'll be happy to answer your questions.
     Golf Rx is a locally owned full service golf facility offering PGA instruction, professional custom fitted equipment and club repair services including re-gripping, re-shafting and loft and lie adjustment. We specialize in personal and professional service for our customers.

When to take a lesson

As a PGA Teaching Professional with over 25 years experience I truly understand the frustration and confusion players experience trying to figure out what is causing their shot problems. Other times most everything is going well with a player's game except for one part such as pitching or chipping. Another situation is the novice player that is getting all kinds of advice from well meaning friends and family members.

All the above mentioned are good candidates for taking a golf lesson. Experiencing the same shot problem over and over such as slicing your driver or hitting your wedges fat or thin can quickly take the enjoyment out to the game. An experienced and qualified PGA teaching professional will quickly identify the cause of your problem and demonstrate to you how to correct it.

Any player who is new to the game will benefit greatly by taking lessons early. They will progress much faster by learning proper fundamentals and the correct way to swing a golf club.

The most common reason people give for not taking lessons is they are afraid the instructor will want to change everything about their swing. An instructor that is truly good at what he does will focus only on the primary cause of your shot problem rather than trying to convert you to a rigid method or swing model. "Less is More" is the advice I always give young inspiring teachers. Keeping it simple means the less you're thinking about during the swing.

Choosing to take a golf lesson whether you're a seasoned player or a novice will clear up your confusion, and answer your questions. As a result you'll be hitting better golf shots and having more fun on the course.

Have more fun on the course this year

If your game has been stuck in the same place for the past number of years now is the time do something about it.

Rather than camping out on the range ingraining the same bad habits give yourself the gift or better golf this year.

As an experienced and award winning instructor I will explain the cause of your shot problem, and how to adjust your stroke to cure your faulty shot. Better shots mean lower scores and more fun on the course. Call today to make an appointment.


Golf Rx is a PGA full service facility that offers indoor and outdoor instruction, custom fit golf equipment from Ping, Taylor Made, Callaway and Adams Golf and club repair services. We specialize in personal and professional service for our customers.

Don't neglect 40% of your score

Whether your handicap is 2 or 22 it is a fact that 40% of your strokes during a round of golf are with your putter. Doesn't sound possible does it? To prove my point track your number of putts during your next round of golf and divide it by your total score.

With putting being such a significant part of your score it makes sense to invest in a putter that is custom fit to your stature and stroke type.

Putter designs basically fall into three different categories: Face Balanced, Mid Hang and Toe Down which correlates to one of three stroke types: Straight, Slight Arc and Strong Arc. Results from years of testing prove that golfers putt more consistently when their putter balance matches their stroke type. The goal isn't to change your putting stroke, but to change your putter to a model that helps you be more consistent and make more putts.

Using the new iPing Putter App on our iphone we can now identify your type of stroke. Based on the results we can offer a list of putters matching your stroke type. A face balanced model for a straight stroke, a mid hang model for a slight arc and a toe down model for strong arc. We can also offer recommendations for length, lie and loft.

To schedule your putter fitting call Steve at Golf Rx.