============================================================== [ TomTuckerGolf.com Tips ] Issue 15 - Date 05/30/12 ============================================================== 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/ WE TAKE CLUBS ON CONSIGNMENT Plum Creek is now accepting clubs, bags, etc on consignment. If you have something golf related in good shape - clubs, bags, balls, etc. - that you want to sell, please contact me directly for details at ttucker@rochester.rr.com. IN THIS ISSUE: - Tom's Bonus Tip: Swing Practice Sequence - Tom's Featured Tip: Putter Head Weight - Golf Lessons - Sponsors: The Batavia Country Club, Chestnut Hill CC 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 :-) ============================================================== Tom's Bonus Tip - Swing Practice Sequence ============================================================== Practice short to long swings at every range practice session in this order: 1 - Chipping 2 - Pitching 3 - Full Swing The better our chipping gets the better our pitching gets. The better our pitching gets the better our full swing gets This is how to build a quality golf swing. ============================================================== Tom's Featured Tip - Putter Head Weight ============================================================== Editors note: I drew heavily on material from Geoff Mangum as well as other expert sources for this research. I saw this Q & A on a golf forum: "Does the weight (or mass) of the putter head matter?" "In addition to effecting swingweight, the putter head mass matters since two putter heads with differing mass impacting the same ball on the same green at exactly the same impact velocity will send the ball two different distances. The more massive / weightier putter having greater momentum and force at impact. However, this hardly matters unless the golfer switches putters often, because basic familiarity with the heft and swingweight of your own putter is all that you need for instinctive use." My take on this would be just about the same, but instinctive use also requires a mastery of the "core" putting stroke. My experience is also that without question, a heavy headed putter - or even a heavy hefted putter - helps solve the "yips" for players of any age. The "yips" and my personal preferences (heavy headed putter) notwithstanding, standard weight putters are usually sufficiently well weighted for a short, gravity-assisted putting stroke ... including the necessary force for the backstroke and stop reversal. One theory is that the heavier weighted putter heads - including the branded "Heavy Putters" - substantially increase the inertia that must be overcome. This can create added stress to the hands and arms during the stroke which substantially slows down the normal putting stroke. The player then has to generate additional force to move the heavy putter, otherwise their putts are short. This upsets consistency substantially. For some players, the adaptation to convert from standard weight to heavy weight putters creates a compromise to "feel" and "touch". For others it's the magic cure. I do agree that one should not go back and forth between standard and heavy putters; too much neuro-muscular difference in their respective putting stroke mechanics. I can personally attest to this because I've been doing it for the last few rounds to test different putters in actual play, and it has affected my lag consistency - that's where it's noticed most. Some putter designers, however,disagree about any heft issues in backstroke management. Timothy Winey for one, believes that a bit of extra heft that challenges the neuro-muscular system in the backstroke substantially sharpens up touch. There is a limit, though. In comparison to a putter that is way too light, a "heavier" mass is better for touch consistency. Conversely, a putter that is way too heavy causes muscle tension and stroke inconsistency. Winey's point may lie between just heavy enough and too heavy. On another point, a bit of aggression in the back-and-thru stroke action helps the body hit the timing of touch with a little sharper precision and consistency. An indifferent impulse in the making of the backstroke doesn't seem as sharp and accurate to size the stroke as this sort of aggression at the initial starting back of the stroke. Putter head weight comparisons: Standard putter - generally the lightest Belly putter - generally heavier than standard Broomstick putter - generally the heaviest You can usually find out the weight of the putter head on the manufacturer websites, just keep digging through the "specs" tabs. If you like a heavier putter headweight, you can always buy a belly or broomstick putter, cut the shaft or reshaft the club, and re-grip the club. Try to get a light weight grip if you do this, the Tiger Shark Super Stroke Lite is an excellent choice. If you do this, you may possibly need to tweak your swingweight a bit. When I shortened my standard size two ball putter by five inches to accommodate my PILS Stroke, I had to add 60 grams to the head to capture the same feel that I had at 35". Just know what you are getting yourself into before you break out the hacksaw or the tube cutter and start cutting away. 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? 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: Motivation Without Knowledge Leads To Frustration 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