Statistics show that 65% of strokes during a round of golf occur from inside 100 yards of the green. With that said it makes sense the quickest way to improve your scores is to improve your short game. This includes putting, chipping, bunker play and pitch shots.
The best players in the world average hitting around 11 to 14 greens in regulation per round, and yet they generally average par or better scores. This shows how good their short games are.
Try restructuring your practice time to put more emphasis on this part of your game. If you have an hour to practice spend 15 minutes on your full swing and 45 minutes on your short game. It may not be as much fun as hitting full shots, but stay the course and you'll soon see your scores improve.
Thursday, May 26, 2016
Thursday, May 19, 2016
Lighter shafts don't necessarily mean more distance
I often have customers requesting a lighter shaft be installed in their clubs thinking it will give them more distance. The thought is the lighter the club the faster the clubhead speed, therefore more distance. In theory this sounds logical, but it's not always the case.
Each player's swing is different including their tempo. Tempo is the pace of a player's transition from backswing to forward swing. (i.e. Fred Couples has a slow tempo - Nick Price has a fast tempo)
The majority of amateurs that I fit have a faster rather than slower tempo. When these players change to a lighter shaft it often affects their timing and release point which can cause and toe and heel shots. An extra 3 to 5 MPH due to a lighter shaft is of no benefit if the player is not able to hit the ball consistently in the center of the clubface. In most cases this will lead to a loss of distance.
The best way to determine the right shaft is to schedule a fitting where the fitter will have you try a number of shafts that vary in flex and weight. By using impact tape on the face he will be able to determine which shaft results in the most consistent center face contact, as well as launch angle and ball speed.
There is also a subjective factor when it comes to fitting shafts. I will often give a player a club with shafts that vary in weight. After a few minutes they will tell me which shaft feels the best. This too is an important piece of the puzzle in correct shaft fitting.
Each player's swing is different including their tempo. Tempo is the pace of a player's transition from backswing to forward swing. (i.e. Fred Couples has a slow tempo - Nick Price has a fast tempo)
The majority of amateurs that I fit have a faster rather than slower tempo. When these players change to a lighter shaft it often affects their timing and release point which can cause and toe and heel shots. An extra 3 to 5 MPH due to a lighter shaft is of no benefit if the player is not able to hit the ball consistently in the center of the clubface. In most cases this will lead to a loss of distance.
The best way to determine the right shaft is to schedule a fitting where the fitter will have you try a number of shafts that vary in flex and weight. By using impact tape on the face he will be able to determine which shaft results in the most consistent center face contact, as well as launch angle and ball speed.
There is also a subjective factor when it comes to fitting shafts. I will often give a player a club with shafts that vary in weight. After a few minutes they will tell me which shaft feels the best. This too is an important piece of the puzzle in correct shaft fitting.
Tuesday, May 3, 2016
Golf Rx welcomes Mizuno
We are excited to announce the addition of Mizuno clubs to our custom fitted brands at Golf Rx. From some of the best players in the world to avid golfers of every skill set, Mizuno irons and wedges are world renown for their quality and unique feel.
Mizuno's Performance Fitting System is great for identifying the correct shaft, shaft flex, iron model and set make-up to match your individual swing. An added value if there is no upcharge for custom shafts and grips. Call or come by to schedule your fitting.
Mizuno's Performance Fitting System is great for identifying the correct shaft, shaft flex, iron model and set make-up to match your individual swing. An added value if there is no upcharge for custom shafts and grips. Call or come by to schedule your fitting.
Friday, April 15, 2016
Jordan Speith
You could see the shock and disbelief on Jordan Speith's face after hitting his ball in Raes Creek for the second time. He probably knew at that time he would not win the tournament. However, he gathered himself making birdies on 13 and 15 in a valiant effort to get back in contention.
What struck me about the 22 year old was how he handled things after losing. Maintaining his composure while meeting with the media and during the ceremony was probably the hardest thing he has ever done. He made no excuses and congratulated the winner, Danny Willett.
Speith may not have won the tournament, but he showed his true character in the way he handled his loss. I hope thousands of youngsters were watching last week. If so they learned a lesson in character and sportsmanship. .
What struck me about the 22 year old was how he handled things after losing. Maintaining his composure while meeting with the media and during the ceremony was probably the hardest thing he has ever done. He made no excuses and congratulated the winner, Danny Willett.
Speith may not have won the tournament, but he showed his true character in the way he handled his loss. I hope thousands of youngsters were watching last week. If so they learned a lesson in character and sportsmanship. .
Thursday, March 31, 2016
New Ping product has arrived
Ping has introduced a number of new clubs for 2016, and they are now at Golf Rx. Models include the new Ping G and Ping G Max irons as well as the new Ping Crossovers. The G iron is visually appealing to players wanting a thinner top edge. The Ping G Max is Ping's longest and most forgiving iron. The new Ping Crossovers give you the control or an iron and the forgiveness of a hybrid. They are available in 3,4 and 5 iron lofts. Come check them out at Golf Rx.
Thursday, March 17, 2016
Tension will sabotage your swing
Golf is a perplexing game that often requires us to do the opposite of what our instincts tell us. Take for instance, club head speed and distance. Most players think that the harder they try to hit the ball the farther it will go. The truth is the more you try to hit rather than swing, the more tension it creates, and the less freedom you will have in your hands and arms. Anything that creates tension in your body not only slows the chub head down, but will also sabotage your swing.
The 2 keys to swinging rather than hitting:
1. A Proper Grip
A proper grip allows the freedom of your wrists to cock and re-cock during the golf swing. In your left hand make sure to place the club in your lower palm so that it is nestled under the heel pad. If you have been gripping the club high up in your palm - as many players do - you'll now notice your wrist cock is much greater than it was. Place the club in the fingers of your right hand rather than grabbing it down in your palm.
2. Light grip, relaxed wrists and arms.
I can't emphasize enough the importance of secure but light grip pressure in the golf swing. A correct grip pressure allows you to feel the weight of the club head, and for the golf club to utilize centrifugal force and inertia. The correct grip pressure - Fingers secure, arms relaxed - allows the club head to build up speed and square itself at impact.
Tension is the number one enemy of the golf swing and it dramatically reduces club head speed. This" tightening up" is caused by trying to overpower the ball and over control the club head. The less tension in your arms and shoulders the faster the club head will be moving resulting in straighter and longer shots.
We often hear players saying, "Oh yes, I play golf to relax." In my opinion players need to relax in order to play good golf.
Steve Kirkpatrick
Monday, January 25, 2016
Timing - coordinating clubhead and body action
Timing is a common word when discussing the golf swing, yet many players aren't quite sure what it means. They know it relates to coordinating all the movements that comprise the swing, but that doesn't explain what those specific movements are. I hope to clarify that in this article.
The golf swing is a combination of two distinct physical movements. One is body action and by body I mean the upper torso, hips and legs. This unit generates power by coiling and uncoiling. Maintaining an axis anchored at each end (by a steady head and anchoring your feet) you coil to the right on the backswing, then uncoil to the left and the downswing.
The other unit is the arm, wrist and hand action that combined work as a swinging action, and supply some power to the shot. Their primary function, however is to transmit to the clubhead the much greater power generated by the winding and unwinding of the body.
A properly timed golf swing is one in which the coiling and uncoiling actions of the body mate perfectly with the swinging action of the arm, wrist and hand unit - to deliver the clubface squarely to the ball with maximum clubhead speed at the moment of impact. Once you understand how the body pivot and arm-and-hand action interrelate it becomes easier to diagnose and correct poor swing coordination. The way your shots fly tells you whether the two are in sync or not.
If you are slicing or topping shots you want to slow down you body unwind and increase the use of the clubhead by speeding up your arm swing. Think of swinging the clubhead down and through the ball before your shoulders unwind. The flight of the ball will tell you when you've struck a balance.
If you are hooking or hitting shots fat you have the opposite problem. Your arm and hand swing is ahead of your body unwind. To correct this speed up your leg and hip action relative to the movement of your arm, wrist and hand unit. Focus on starting your downswing by unwinding your left hip and keep it moving to the left while delaying your arm and hand swing. Solid, straight shots will tell you when you've got the correct balance.
There has always been debate as to playing golf with a "body" method or a "hands" method. As John Jacobs said is his book, Practical Golf , "The good golf swing is neither primarily body action nor primarily clubhead action: it is a perfect blend or balance of both. And the word for that is timing".
The golf swing is a combination of two distinct physical movements. One is body action and by body I mean the upper torso, hips and legs. This unit generates power by coiling and uncoiling. Maintaining an axis anchored at each end (by a steady head and anchoring your feet) you coil to the right on the backswing, then uncoil to the left and the downswing.
The other unit is the arm, wrist and hand action that combined work as a swinging action, and supply some power to the shot. Their primary function, however is to transmit to the clubhead the much greater power generated by the winding and unwinding of the body.
A properly timed golf swing is one in which the coiling and uncoiling actions of the body mate perfectly with the swinging action of the arm, wrist and hand unit - to deliver the clubface squarely to the ball with maximum clubhead speed at the moment of impact. Once you understand how the body pivot and arm-and-hand action interrelate it becomes easier to diagnose and correct poor swing coordination. The way your shots fly tells you whether the two are in sync or not.
If you are slicing or topping shots you want to slow down you body unwind and increase the use of the clubhead by speeding up your arm swing. Think of swinging the clubhead down and through the ball before your shoulders unwind. The flight of the ball will tell you when you've struck a balance.
If you are hooking or hitting shots fat you have the opposite problem. Your arm and hand swing is ahead of your body unwind. To correct this speed up your leg and hip action relative to the movement of your arm, wrist and hand unit. Focus on starting your downswing by unwinding your left hip and keep it moving to the left while delaying your arm and hand swing. Solid, straight shots will tell you when you've got the correct balance.
There has always been debate as to playing golf with a "body" method or a "hands" method. As John Jacobs said is his book, Practical Golf , "The good golf swing is neither primarily body action nor primarily clubhead action: it is a perfect blend or balance of both. And the word for that is timing".
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