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.

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.