============================================================== [ TomTuckerGolf.com Tips ] Issue 12 - Date 05/09/12 ============================================================== 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 up and running. Rates can be found through a link on my home page here: http://www.tomtuckergolf.com/ BIG NEWS - BIG NEWS - BIG NEWS Plum Creek is going to expand their goods and services offered to include used golf goods, and is now accepting clubs, bags, etc on consignment. Please Note: we don't want junk, and it will be necessary to commit to a 30 day agreement to protect all parties. If you have something golf related that's in good shape that you want to sell, contact me directly for details at ttucker@rochester.rr.com. IN THIS ISSUE: - Tom's Bonus Tip: Focus on The Target - Tom's Featured Tip: Rock Solid Putting - Golf Lessons - Sponsors: The Batavia Country Club, Chestnut Hill CC ============================================================== Tom's Bonus Tip - Focus on The Target ============================================================== One real simple thing to do to improve your putting is to really focus on your target when you putt. Your target would be the hole on non breaking putts, and your aimline for breaking putts. Really stare it down on your last look before your stroke and good things will happen ============================================================== Tom's Featured Tip - Rock Solid Putting ============================================================== 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 :-) I did an indoor putting stroke lesson yesterday for an 8 handicapper from the Rochester area who was in search of a better putting stroke. Now this gentleman was what I would call an ideal student. As we chatted during my evaluation of his current stroke, I discovered that he had read many of the same golf instruction books that I had read, some of which would be off the radar of your average golf enthusiast. For a minute I thought I had a golf spy in there checking out the competition, but the fact that he was a doctor - and that his beeper went off a couple times during the lesson - allayed those concerns. In a nutshell, the problem was weak compression at impact on his putts, because his swing path and release were not compatible. BTW I often may use the word swing interchangeably with stroke, because the putting stroke is still a swing, albeit a short one. For various reasons identified during the evaluation, he was not a good candidate for a straight back and straight through pendulum stroke, so we worked an arcing stroke method that actually feels a bit inside out due to setup nuances.  It's a stroke that I find myself teaching more and more because of the consistently solid feel it produces at impact. One key ingredient that I'm passing on to you now is maintaining a flat left wrist throughout the stroke. I'd even go so far as to call it a secret if that floats your boat. It produces a rock solid strike each and every time. If you are not 100% happy with the way your putting stroke feels when you strike the ball, try this: When you set up for your stroke sequence, flatten your left wrist with a slight forward press - which also may require lifting your left shoulder a bit. Positioning the ball a little more forward in your stance than usual will also be helpful in getting your wrist comfortably flat. Once the left wrist is flat, freeze it that way through your entire stroke sequence. You'll be amazed at the solid feel you'll get every time. By sheer happenstance, I viewed a video on youtube of Ben Crenshaws' putting stroke just before I wrote this issue and he putts almost exactly the way I teach the stroke method mentioned above.  Dang it, I thought I had something relatively original! Here it is if you want to take a look, pay particular attention to how firm and straight Ben's left wrist stays throughout the stroke: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sev-FOV3fwY Also, if you want to build a new putting stroke or improve an existing one, give me a call for a lesson (716) 474 3005 or email me at ttucker@rochester.rr.com 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