============================================================== [ TomTuckerGolf.com Tips ] Issue 20 - Date 07/04/12 ============================================================== IN THIS ISSUE: - Tom's Featured Tip: Posture and Spine Tilt - Tom's Bonus Tip: 6 Reasons For Hitting It Fat or Thin - and the Cure - Lesson Comments: http://www.tomtuckergolf.com/testimonials.html - Sponsors: The Batavia Country Club, Chestnut Hill CC 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 Plum Creek Driving Range and Practice Facility, simulator 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. 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 Featured Tip - Posture and Spine Tilt ============================================================== This tip pertains to spine angle as viewed from a down the line angle, not radial spine axis tilt viewed from a face on view. Most of my students come to me with a gross misconception of how their setup posture relates to the changing positions of the spine during the golf swing. It's readily apparent that they have been told, or have read, that they should maintain good posture throughout the swing - without having that explained. Without having it explained, one may surmise that they should try to maintain a forward waist bend throughout their swing. This produces some big leaning away from the target back during the backswing, some off balance finishes, some very poor shots, and a lot of frustration - because the student thinks they are doing the right thing. Think Forward Torso Inclination NOT Forward Bend at The Waist. What you should try to do is to maintain forward upper torso inclination throughout the swing. That's a lot different than maintaining a forward bend from the waist. This means that if you set up with a 30 degree forward bend at address, there should still be a 30 degree forward upper torso inclination towards the ball in your backswing and through swing. In order for this to happen, your spine must tilt to the side as your body turns back, then tilt again as it turns forward. The shoulders turn at a 90 degree angle to the spine, so yes - they do dip and rise. How much or how little depends on the swing method you are using.  Some methods actually employ a flatter turn than 90 degrees to the spine, but they still move up and down to a degree. As the spine it tilts to the side, it also straightens, so don't fight it - let it happen. This is not exclusive advice for those followers of the Stack & Tilt Swing, every excellent golfer does this regardless of their swing method. The difference between methods would be in the degree that the spine straightens towards the target in the backswing, how the weight shifts, and the plane of the shoulder turn. Notice how better players are always seeing the results of their shots with an angled (tilted) eyeline. It's because their upper torso remained forward tilted into their follow through, which is evidence of a good forward spine inclination (tilt) through the strike. So ... if you find yourself leaning into your backswing to maintain forward bend from the waist, tilt to the side instead and enjoy the results! Think Forward Torso Inclination NOT Forward Bend at The Waist. Enjoy, Tom ============================================================== Tom's Bonus Tip - 6 Reasons For Hitting It Fat or Thin ============================================================== 1) Breakdown of the left elbow 2) Weight on right side at impact, sometimes caused by reverse weight shift 3) Lack of hip and/or torso rotation 4) Right arm straightening too soon in downswing 5) Breakdown of the right wrist prior to impact - the "hit" impulse 6) Coming out of torso inclination too early THE SOLUTION The grand-daddy cure-all drill for fixing fat hits is the Toe Up to Toe Up Drill: http://www.tomtuckergolf.com/drillimpact.html it's a good drill that fits any swing method. Try it, you'll like it. ============================================================= 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. Rates: http://www.tomtuckergolf.com/lessonrates.html Testimonials: http://www.tomtuckergolf.com/testimonials.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, 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 Success Loves Preparation ~ Anonymous