============================================================== [ TomTuckerGolf.com Tips ] Issue 2 - Date 02/29/12 ============================================================== This is a Free Professional Golf Tips Email Newsletter. If you have a friend or relative that plays golf, I would really appreciate it if you would forward this email to them so that they can subscribe to receive future issues: Click here to subscribe - http://www.tomtuckergolf.com/contact.html For a brief bio with my credentials please click 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 Enjoy! Tom ============================================================== I conduct lessons at The Plum Creek Driving Range & Practice Facility there's a link with info on my home page: http://www.tomtuckergolf.com/ In this issue: - Tom's Quick Tip: Golf Ball Compression Video - Tom's Featured Tip: Swing Speed Development - Golf Lessons - Sponsors Unsubscribe instructions are at the bottom of this newsletter. ============================================================== Tom's Quick Tip - Golf Ball Compression ============================================================== This golf ball compression video has been making the rounds, but a comment on the YouTube version stated this: "Non-standard golf ball... Plain and simple. Golf balls deform, but not this much. I teach college physics..... " You decide: http://www.flixxy.com/golf-ball-slow-motion.htm Here's a slow motion video of a driver striking a Callaway golf ball, this one shows more realistic compression: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Y57pw_iWlk Next issue we'll talk about ball compression, and if it's worth it for the average golfer to be investing in premium golf balls or not. ============================================================== Tom's Featured Tip - Swing Speed Development ============================================================== In case you missed last week's tip, it was all about weight training to help you hit the ball further. I laid out seasonal weight training programs here: http://www.tomtuckergolf.com/workouts.html but I pointed out that if all you do is weight training, you'll have a great body and a slow golf swing. I should also mention that there are more exercises you can do in addition to weight training, such as core training, planks, band resistance exercises, etc. to help build your body to generate and support a fast swing. There are a lot of factors involved in getting the maximum distance out of your swing, but swing speed is the main consideration, bar none. With a strong body and a fast swing speed, you'll be able to maximize your distance. Hitting it where you want it to go will be dealt with in future issues. I have a teaching friend who advocates a slow, smooth driver swing. In my educated opinion, smooth is fine, slow is not. Jack Nicklaus said this about a nice slow driver swing - "it produces a nice short drive". Both Nicklaus and Palmer favored an aggressive driver swing, and so do I. Good tempo and rhythm, and also fast. In order to develop a fast swing speed, you need to practice fast training movements. SWING SPEED DRILLS Here are a few very simple swing speed drills that anyone should be able to do that absolutely will produce additional mph in your swing. Every additional mph will yield around 2.5 yards of carry, give or take. I mentioned before that when I put my college team through drills like these (and more conditioning drills) they gained on average 6 mph per player - and one player gained a whopping 11 mph. FREQUENCY Start these drills about four weeks before your season, and do them three times per week for that four week period. That should give you maximum results for your efforts. After the season starts, do the drills once per week to maintain swing speed. After the season is done, I usually do the other workouts listed in the weight training sections here: h ttp://www.tomtuckergolf.com/workouts.html and wait until four weeks prior to the next season for commencement of swing speed drills again in earnest. When you do these simple exercises, always remember to do them once, then to do them again in reverse in order to keep your body development in balance. Also, they should be done in a continuous motion - like a pendulum in that respect - no stopping and re-setting at the bottom. Finish the swing, pull it back all the way to the top, and swing through again to the finish. Repeat the motion until your reps are completed. PRELIMINARY WARMUP DRILL 15 medium speed full swings with a weighted club, then 15 reverse swings. Swing two irons if you don't have a weighted club. When you do the pure swing speed drills below, do reps 1-7 medium speed, do reps 8-14 fast, and do reps 15-21 extremely fast. Don't be overly concerned with anything but maximum speed. Don't swing so fast that you pull a muscle or fall over in your follow through, but do let it rip. PURE SWING SPEED DRILLS - USE AN INVERTED DRIVER OR A TRAINING AID MENTIONED BELOW Left hand only - 21 full swing reps forward, 21 reverse Right hand only - 21 full swing reps forward, 21 reverse Both hands - 21 full swing reps forward, 21 reverse CLOSING DRILL - USE YOUR NORMAL DRIVER Both hands - 15 fast driver swings, but this time you use good technique, finish in good balance, and re-set for each swing. This should be your actual FAST driver swing. Pay attention to technique but make it FAST. Think "swing fast" not "swing hard." It absolutely will change the speed of your swing. If you have the opportunity to actually hit balls with the closing drill, do it - but don't be overly concerned with the ball flight result for now. Your swing will be a bit fatigued at this point. RECOMMENDED TRAINING AIDS FOR SWING SPEED DRILLS I don't make any commission on these training aids, I recommend them because I know they'll get the job done. Momentus Speed Woosh - I use these for my own practice and for lessons. http://www.momentusgolf.com/products/index.asp?id=27740 Hank Haney Swingnature - I don't own one, but it looks like a good kit for swing speed training http://www.swingnature.com/ In fact, I think I'll buy one after I'm through with this newsletter. I have zero sales resistance for anything related to golf, and I just talked myself into buying this training aid after I proofed this issue :-) If I had to choose, I would get the Woosh because the release drill is very useful for most players. If you already release well, the Swingnature is completely bundled for swing speed drills. If you are me, get them both. Enjoy, Tom ============================================================== Golf Lessons ============================================================== 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 - check out their spring rates http://www.bataviacc.com/rates.html ============================================================== 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