==================================================== Newsletter - Issue 133 Date 04/05/10 ==================================================== ==================================================== Equipment - Books - DVD's - Instruction ==================================================== Three items for review this week, they all get two thumbs up for value and performance, as usual I do not get any benefit from sales that may result from these reviews. 1) Accuputt - http://www.accuputt.com/ On my college golf team, I saw several variations of putting strokes, straight back and through, inside - out arcing, outside - in arcing, etc. For lag putts, I allow students to use their natural stroke if it produces good results. However, for short putts, I insist that my students use a straight back and through stroke with the clubface held square to the target line throughout the stroke. It's been proven exhaustively, without doubt, that this stroke produces the best results with short putts. Period. The AccuPutt is a training aid that really allows you to monitor a straight back and through stroke as well as whether your clubhead is closing through impact or staying square. Click through to read the details on their site, I believe that if you used this tool regularly that you would increase the percentage of putts made, especially those dicey short ones. It's easy to use and you can use it in the comfort of your home. Two thumbs up for value and performance. 2) Perseus Athletics - The Anchor - http://www.perseusathletics.com/ I got one of these training aids because very often I have students that straighten their rear knee on the takeaway and backswing, setting themselves up for a reverse weight shift and a bad swing. Very often the student doesn't feel this happening. The Anchor allows them to feel the tendency to straighten their rear leg, and makes them keep some flex in their back knee. It works wonders. After about three workouts of 35 repetitions each, I was able to convert students from reverse weight shifters - "rockers and blockers" - to a nice stable takeaway and proper weight shift. It took a few tries before I was comfortable fitting students to the device, but after that it was a piece of cake. If you decide to order, make sure that you get the right size. Take care when measuring your knee, follow the instructions on the site. If your size falls between the lines, get the smaller one. This thing works. Two thumbs up for value and performance. 3) Zero Friction Tees - http://www.excelgolfproducts.com/ Todd Mrowice suppled my golf team with Zero Friction tees and the team loves them. In a study done by GolfTestUSA.com, these tees were rated as allowing for the longest distance drives. That pretty much speaks for itself. Two thumbs up for value and performance. Enjoy, Tom ==================================================== TCT Quick Tips - Visualize A Successful Putt ==================================================== Being able to visualize and create a picture of the ball falling in the hole is very important to your success on the green. This picture should be as complete as possible, where you feel the balance and stability of your putter, you see the ball rolling smoothly on the green on your pre determined line and hear the sound of it falling into the hole. Practice this in your mind and then integrate into your play. Enjoy, Tom ==================================================== Golf Tip: Clubhead Lag ==================================================== This is kind of a long tip this week, but it's an important subject as it relates to consistency as well as swing speed. A lot of this information comes from a book that I refer to on occasion, The Golfing Machine, by Homer Kelley. His material is interesting, but I would only recommend the book for those of you that are very technically oriented and detailed. If you have an engineering mindset, you would probably like it. I'm not one of those guys, but every now and then I force myself to read a chapter because it is good info. I treat it as a reference book rather than a good read. CLUBHEAD LAG The Golfing Machine, by Homer Kelley, describes "clubhead lag" as simple, elusive, indispensable, without substitute or compensation, and always present. Lag can be defined as "trailing" or "following" - this means that the clubhead is behind the hands coming into Impact. Clubhead lag is simple because every club is designed to lean forward, with the grip end ahead of the clubhead. When an iron is soled correctly, with both the leading and trailing edges on the ground, you will see that the shaft leans forward. If soled incorrectly, the shaft will lean either backward or too far forward. When a club shaft leans too far forward, the clubface loses its correct loft - but it is better to err on the side of too much forward lean rather than not enough or none at all. Clubhead lag is also elusive as it is not only the hands leading the club head, it's also the bending of the club shaft during start down. The initial force of the hands and arms moving toward the ground bends the club shaft. According to Kelley, "clubhead lag promotes even and steady acceleration, assuring dependable control of distance - any amount of deceleration during the down stoke dissipates clubhead lag." Therefore, constant acceleration is needed to ensure a lagging clubhead through impact. So the old "low and slow" is a horrible mistake if you want acceleration and thus good clubhead lag in your swing. In every good swing at the moment of Impact the club shaft feels like it is leaning forward (toward the target). The hands are in front of the ball and clubface, effectively de-lofting an iron. When the club shaft is stressed and constant acceleration is used, the player gains control of the height and distance of all their clubs. Once this technique is properly applied, it becomes indispensable. The player can then rely on his ability to use the proper amount of lag pressure at any time. The average player arrives at impact with the hands behind the ball and the club shaft leaning backward. This effectively adds loft and turns that 6-iron into a 7- or 8-iron. If you play golf with someone that is always complaining that their irons all go the same distance, that player has a backward leaning club shaft. Clubhead lag is always present once the down stroke has begun. Good players use steady acceleration. Poor players over-accelerate, the hands reaching maximum speed before impact, thus losing the "lag". I always ask my students to imagine their swing speed accelerating smoothly on the downswing, then maxing out just PAST impact. That seems to help them lag correctly. According to Kelley, "any over-acceleration or pushing away of the club will eliminate the lag, never to be re-attained for that shot." Therefore, resist any attempt at throwing the hands at the ball or "flicking" the wrists near impact. Remember - the hands lead and the clubhead trails. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Drills and Training Aids ------------------------------------------------------------------------ What does "lag" feel like? It feels exactly like dragging a wet heavy string mop through impact. Swing Fan One of the best training aids that I use to teach this feel is a swing fan, here's what one looks like: http://www.golftrainingaids.com/powerswingfan.html Towel Drill You can also use a towel - wrap the towel around the hosel of your club and place the clubhead on the ground, just outside of your trailing foot. Now try to use just your wrists to take the clubface to the ball. This move is difficult at best and the shaft will be leaning backward. Now replace the club, but this time rotate your hips, sternum and the trailing shoulder toward right field. You will notice a distinct sensation of dragging and a heavy pressure through the ball. Swing The Rope Take a piece of rope and hold it like a club. Go the top of the swing and allow the rope to rest on the top of your right shoulder. As you start down, you will "feel" like the rope stays on the shoulder as you take your hands directly downward to the ball, or at the "aiming point." This is called, "rope handle technique" in The Golfing Machine, the "end" of the rope lags in your hands. The majority of golfers do just the opposite. They try moving the clubhead with the wrists. This produces a "quitting" motion and the club moves upward toward Impact instead of downward. A properly lagging clubhead produces a strong downward thrust, which adds distance, trajectory, and consistency. Try out a couple of these drills to get the "lag" feeling, and keep an eye out for my new CD : "You've Lost That Lagging Feeling" - I'm trying to see if the Righteous Brothers are still alive for the production Sorry, couldn't resist :-) Enjoy, Tom