Why are the pros going to the long putters?

Anyone who has watched tournament golf lately has noticed the enormous popularity of belly putters and long putters. In fact Keegan Bradley was the first player to win a major championship using a belly putter. When asked their reason for switching the players all came to the same conclusion. They feel more confident and are making more putts.

The biggest reason for poor putting is a stroke that is too wristy. This not only prevents solid contact with the ball, but also alters the alignment of the putter face at contact. The longer putters create a one-lever system which essentially eliminates the possibility of the wrists breaking down. The putts are hit solid every time creating a better roll. These putters are weighted heavier as well which minimizes the putter head twisting on off center hits.

If you struggle with your putting especially inside ten feet you may want to try a longer putter. We have a large selection of traditional and longer putters at Golf Rx. We can also modify your existing putter into a belly putter that will be custom fit for you for only $45.00.

Just arrived are the Adams Golf Idea Pro and Idea Tech V3 Hybrids and the Ping G20 Driver. Stop by soon and let us know what we can do to help your game.

Four Steps to Improving your Game

At first this may sound like a generalization to improving one's golf game, but speaking from experience I would say these four steps are vital.

Step 1. Evaluating your swing

The vast majority of tour players have instructors to turn to when things begin going wrong. The reason is simple: They can't see themselves and even if they could an experienced and competent teacher is better suited to evaluate the video. Weekend amateurs are certainly no exception to this. Locate a PGA Professional in your area and let him determine what is causing your shot problems, and develop a personal plan to help you correct your swing faults. This way your practice time becomes productive rather than further ingraining the same flaws.

Step 2. Short Game

The fact is whether your handicap is 2 or 32 approximately 65% of your strokes during a round of golf are from inside 70 yards. Again let your PGA Professional help you learn the proper techniques for less than full approach shots, bunker shots, chipping and putting. Then agree to devote two thirds of your practice time to the short game. This is the quickest way to lower your scores.

Step 3. Properly Fitted Equipment

We all have heard the saying, "It's not the arrow, but the Indian", but I can assure you if you're playing with antiquated or ill fitted equipment you're at a distinct disadvantage. Modern day equipment is light years ahead in terms of game improvement design and forgiveness. All major manufacturers now offer custom fitted equipment for the masses. Locate a PGA Professional that offers custom fitted equipment and make an appointment. You wouldn't buy a suit off the rack without trying it on, nor should you invest in new equipment with being custom fit.

Step 4. Course Management / Rules

Even if you could hit it like Jack Nicklaus you would still have to learn to think like him. Make an appointment with your PGA Professional for a 9 hole playing lesson. Not only will this give him an opportunity to evaluate your ball striking, but your decision making as well. I often see weekend players make a big number on a hole not because of a bad tee shot, but because of a bad decision on the following shot. Your professional can help you improve your decision making, strategy and course management skills.

Believe it or not the rules of golf are not designed to penalize a player, but rather to explain the options when in a particular situation. Knowing the basic rules makes the game more enjoyable and will often save you strokes as well as time when on the course. "The New Rules of Golf" by Tom Watson and Frank Hannigan is an excellent book with plenty of photographs and diagrams making the rules easier to understand.

Whatever happened to Customer Service?

When is the last time your called a business and an actual human being answered?

Most likely you got a recorded message followed by options to press 1 or 2 or 3. A computer voice asks your account number and then informs you the approximate waiting time to talk to a customer service representative is 15 minutes. Sound familiar?


When you call Golf Rx you're going to hear, "Golf Shop, this is Steve". That's because I answer every call personally, just like the old days.

You are going to talk directly to me everytime you call Golf Rx. Whether it's to make an appointment for a lesson, club fitting or if you have a question about club repair or your equipment.

Old fashioned customer service is alive and well at Golf Rx. If you're in the neighborhood drop by for a cup of coffee and visit for a while. I look forward to seeing you soon.

Flex your right knee, then coil against it

One of the most common faults I see with players is starting the downswing with their arms and shoulders rather than their lower body. This is often a cause and effect problem with the cause being an out of position right knee. Let me explain.
Regardless of your skill level it is imperative that you coil into the right knee when making your backswing. The right knee serves as the anchor which provides the resistance against the coiling of your upper body in the backswing. If the right knee collapses or straightens the resistance is lost
The two errors are locking the right knee where the left knee moves out toward the ball, and buckling the right knee where the player's weight moves to the outside of the right foot. Both faults lead to a poor turn forcing the player to start down with the upper body.
To correct this focus on flexing your right knee at address then retain the flex all the way to the top of your backswing. A sign that you've done it correctly is feeling some tension inside your right thigh as your trunk coils against it.
A good drill is to turn your right foot in at address about fifteen degrees then make some swings. You'll quickly feel the resistance in your right knee against the winding of your upper body. This in turn creates tremendous power delivered to the club head as your legs and hips unwind in the downswing.

"Hitting from the top"

"Hitting from the top" a fault seen often with higher handicappers is best described as an aggressive or too quick change of direction in an attempt to hit at the ball. Described as "swinging over the top" this jerky swing characterized by an overactive head and right shoulder leads to a loss of power and accuracy. The player lunges forward with their upper body forcing the club to approach the ball too steeply from outside the normal plane often resulting in sliced and pulled shots.

The transition from the top of the backswing into the downswing establishes the rhythm of the swing as is evident when watching a good player. There is no urgency to hit the ball from the top, but rather a smooth coordinated movement of the club and body which allows the acceleration of the club head to peak at impact. Because the lower body initiates the downswing in one synchronized motion it produces a swinging motion of the arms and club which appears effortless.

I would recommend this drill to improve the tempo of your swing during the transition from backswing to downswing. Using a 6 or 7 iron with the ball teed up slightly and your feet only a few inches apart hit a few shots. Swing the club back smoothly and let your lower body unwind to initiate the downswing. Focus on a fluid transition allowing the club to fall before releasing it through the ball. Keep your head steady as your downswing starts which will allow the club to approach the ball from the inside, on a shallower plane resulting in more solid contact with the ball.

After hitting a few balls you will begin to sense the swinging to the club head through the ball rather than hitting at it. Best of all your swing will feel effortless and your shots will fly straighter.

Why Custom Fit Clubs?

Players will often ask me if custom fit equipment will help them play better golf. The answer is always a definite "yes". Consider this example.
Bill and Joe are both wanting to buy new clubs. Bill is 6' 3" tall, has a clubhead speed of 105 mph and is an 8 hdcp. Bill is 5' 8" tall, has a clubhead speed of 83 mph and is a 23 hdcp. There is absolutely no way these two players should be playing the same club. If they are neither player will play up to their potential.
Unfortunately this often occurs because players aren't informed by the sales person that custom fit clubs are available for the same price as off the rack sets. Think about it. You wouldn't purchase a new suit without trying it on first. So why would you invest in new golf equipment without first being custom fit for them?

CUSTOM FITTED EQUIPMENT:

Golf Rx proudly offers custom fit golf equipment from Ping, Callaway, Taylor Made, Adams Golf and US Kids Golf. Steve personally fits each customer to the right specifications to help them play their very best. He determines the correct length, shaft type and flex, lie angle, grip size and set make up for your stature and swing characteristics.
Golf Rx is also an authorized PGA Trade-in Facility which allows you to trade in your old clubs for credit towards your new custom fitted clubs. We also have a great selection of putters and wedges from Ping, Callaway, Odyssey, Taylor Made and Bettinardi as well as bags from Ping and Ogio.
Golf Rx is also a full service club repair facility for re-gripping, re-shafting and loft and lie adjustments.

My Teaching Philosophy

Personally I think many players make the game more complicated than it really is. The only purpose of the golf swing is to move the club through the ball square to the target at maximum speed. How this is done is not that important as long as the method allows it to be done repetitively. This is my number one priority and it is the basis on which I teach the golf swing.

Most players of an earlier era were introduced to the game through caddying. By watching and trying to copy the action of better players they developed their own swing. About the only "static" positions early golf professionals would teach were a proper grip and address posture. The lesson itself was demonstrated in one continuous motion emphasizing a steady head and fast moving arms and hands.

Not until new technology came along were instructors and players able to "freeze" the swing at various not before seen stages and positions. Soon players anxious to improve were pouring over books and magazines attempting to emulate the still positions of touring professionals. In my opinion this is where problems begin for many weekend players attempting to improve their game.

Players should realize the cure is not going to be found in swing “positions”. Rather it is in developing a grip and swing that delivers the clubface square to the swing path at impact. Once players accomplish this their natural adjustments become correct ones. If you do one thing right in the golf swing it will lead to another right thing. Do one thing wrong and it will lead to another wrong

My objective is to help players swing the club head so that at impact it is traveling along the target line and facing the target. Their shots are straight and solid and not a word about “slide the hips”, “stay inside”, “hit late” and so on.