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============================================================== [ TomTuckerGolf.com Tips ] Issue 10 - Date 04/25/12 ============================================================== If you like this newsletter, please do me a favor and forward it to your friends so that they may subscribe: Subscribe - http://www.tomtuckergolf.com/signup.html The Unsubscribe link is at the bottom of this newsletter. My bio is here: http://www.tomtuckergolf.com/ If you wish to comment, respond, or ask a golf related question, please email me directly at ttucker@rochester.rr.com The venue where I give lessons, the Plum Creek Driving Range and Practice Facility, has their new simulator installed, and it will be available to the public as soon as the indoor remodeling is complete - very, very soon! There's a link to Plum Creek here: http://www.tomtuckergolf.com/ IN THIS ISSUE: - Tom's Bonus Tip: The Core Putting Stroke - Tom's Featured Tip: "Stroke" Don't "Hit" - Golf Lessons - Sponsors: The Batavia Country Club, Chestnut Hill CC ============================================================== Tom's Bonus Tip - The "Core" Putting Stroke ============================================================== The "Core" putting stroke mentioned in the featured tip this issue is a concept that I learned from Goeff Mangum's work. Note that Goeff emphasizes having a clear mind when you practice and play to allow your brain to make the complex calculations necessary for executing a putt at the correct pace for the distance involved. Here's how Goeff explains the "Core" putting stroke: Address the ball and make a very simple stroke to nowhere in particular -- the simpler the better, as few moving parts as possible -- as follows: initiate the backstroke with a little pushing off from the left shoulder rolling back to move the putterhead. When you first sense that taking the putterhead back any farther or higher will require some effort on your part by pushing or lifting as you feel the weight of the putterhead, just quit going back and relax. Now let the putterhead fall back forward through the ball and roll the ball with good level contact just to see how far it will go. Simple. The "Core" putting stroke is a fundamental that absolutely needs to be acquired in order to become a great putter. Try it, you'll like it. ============================================================== Tom's Featured Tip - "Stroke" Don't "Hit" ============================================================== For the sake of simplicity, all advice on swings and drills is provided from a right handed perspective; lefties .... well, you know what to do :-) When I coached college golf, I used to monitor my golf team's putting strokes during "silent" practice. "Silent" practice is when a group of players (or an individual) simply practice in silence. In this case the group practiced their "core" putting stroke, with the emphasis on a good "stroke", not a "hit". After each "group" stroke, I would simply say "yes" or "no" to the group. There was no more conversation, just "yes" or "no". "No" meant that someone "hit" their putt rather than "stroked" it, usually by having over-active hands or too much body movement. The offender immediately knew who he or she was, and through this process some very good "strokes" were developed. We would do this for an hour at a time - with an occasional break for back stretches - and one student reduced his total putts per round so dramatically that I'm reluctant to tell you the percentage, it was unbelievable. He also played hockey, and he had been putting a slap shot "hit" on his putts until we drilled it out of him. All students' strokes improved to one degree or another. I developed a drill called the Ten Ball "Core Stroke" drill, and it will improve your putting faster than any other drill that I know of. Line up ten balls on a flat putting green or flat putting surface, then in silence - no ear buds , music, etc., execute ten "core" putting strokes in a row. After each putt say to yourself either "stroke" or "hit", you'll be able to feel the difference. You'll also notice that your "hits" have an inconsistent roll out distance. Stroke - observe - stroke - observe, for ten consecutive strokes at a time. Don't break the silence, don't break the rhythm. When your stroke becomes consistent, your putts should all be rolling about the same distance. When that happens, you've established your fundamental "core" stroke. Pay particular attention to the distance that the ball rolls out, it's the basis for your mental calculations for your stroke for different distances. Do this for as many sets of ten as your practice time permits. After the first few sets you should be "stroking" eight or nine out of the ten balls. Eventually you'll be "stroking" them all. After you've "got it", continue to do this drill every other week for as many reps as it takes to do two sets of ten balls with all "strokes" and no "hits". The ball should also be rolling out the same approximate distance for each stroke on that particular green or practice surface. BTW, the reason for silence is that it puts your mind into a state of deep practice, which is when you build effective brain - body connections (neural pathways) for whatever you are practicing. Enjoy, Tom ============================================================== Golf Lessons ============================================================== I conduct lessons at The Plum Creek Driving Range & Practice Facility there's a link with info here: http://www.tomtuckergolf.com/ Lessons are available for all ages and skill levels, please contact me - Tom Tucker - at (716) 474 3005 or at ttucker@rochester.rr.com for more information. Lesson rates are here: http://www.tomtuckergolf.com/lessonrates.html ============================================================== Sponsors ============================================================== Batavia Country Club - http://www.bataviacc.com Need a new pair of golf shoes or a new Callaway Wedge to get the season started right? Great Pricing ! Puma /Callaway /BCC Logo Shirts/Wind/Caps. Chestnut Hill CC - http://www.chestnuthillcc.com Low greens fees, great course! ============================================================== All the best, and remember: Victory Loves Preparation ~ Anonymous Tom Tucker Teaching Pro, Plum Creek Driving Range & Practice Facility WGTF "Top 100 Golf Teacher" USGTF Class "A" Teaching Professional Cell: (716) 474-3005 Email: ttucker@rochester.rr.com http://www.TomTuckerGolf.com http://www.usgtf.com/top_100_wgtf.html |