TomTuckerGolf.com
 
Golf Tips Newsletter - Issue 234 - March 6th, 2013

 

Prepare to play your best golf by doing something now!

In This Issue  

- Tom's Featured Tip: Aggressive or Conservative
- Tom's Bonus Tip: Anger Management
- Lesson Comments: What Students Have To Say
- Sponsors: Batavia Country Club,  Chestnut Hill Country Club
Plum Creek Driving Range and PGA AboutGolf.com Golf Simulator
GCC Golf Management Program,  Provoto Putting Systems

PLUM CREEK DRIVING RANGE IN BATAVIA, NY, IS OPEN ALL WINTER Come on down to play or practice. Call 585-993-0930 or email Mark at plumcreek4@rochester.rr.com to reserve your simulator time! Great money saving monthly specials, check them out here: http://www.plumcreekdrivingrange.com

Buy Gift Certificates for Lessons   Sample Gift Certificate

Indoor lessons are available at Plum Creek, please call me at
716 474 3005, email me at ttucker@rochester.rr.com, or visit my website at   http://www.tomtuckergolf.com/indoor.html   for rates and details.

Indoor or Outdoor Driver Fitting Get the most bang for your buck when you buy a new driver by getting professionally fitted first. Click for details:
http://www.tomtuckergolf.com/indoor.html

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Tom's Featured Tip:
Aggressive or Conservative

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!

Many players never consider aggressive or conservative swing - target combinations when they are setting up for their shot, and it's actually a critical element for low scoring.

Swing - target selection is the art of matching your swing with your target, considering factors such as target accessibility, your comfort level with the club you have selected, your comfort level with the distance of the shot, your comfort level with the shape of the shot you need to execute, your comfort level with the swing effort you need to expend, and your position in your match or tournament.

There are two mind sets involved in matching the correct swing - target combinations: aggressive and conservative.

Furthermore, there four combinations of these mind sets that need to be considered with swing - target scenarios:
  1. Conservative Swing - Conservative Target
  2. Conservative Swing - Aggressive Target
  3. Aggressive Swing - Conservative Target
  4. Aggressive Swing - Aggressive Target
If you develop a mindset that hates bogeys more than you love birdies, you'll be on the right mental track to make good swing - target decisions.

Here are examples of when to use each of the four swing - target combinations mentioned above.
  1. Conservative Swing - Conservative Target
    Match Situation: you are all even on the 8th hole in a match play tournament.
    Shot Scenario: Tee shot on medium length par four, out of bounds on right, average width fairway.
    Action:     select a stock swing 3 wood for your tee shot to keep the ball in play in the fairway.

  2. Conservative Swing - Aggressive Target
    Match Situation: you are one shot behind the leader in a stroke play tournament, 17th hole, final round
    Shot Scenario:     100 yard approach shot, pin tucked in right corner of the green with bunker 25 feet behind the pin.
    Action: select a stock swing knock down PW for shot, a shot that you feel you can control the distance and aim better than any other club in your bag, aim one yard left of the pin

  3. Aggressive Swing - Conservative Target
    Match Situation: you are two up in a match play tournament, 10th hole
    Shot Scenario: 155 yard approach shot, modest breeze at your back, pin slightly left of center in large green.
    Action: select 8 iron (stock 8 iron carry 145 yards) with an aggressive swing, aim for the center of the green, hit the shot hard with draw bias

  4. Aggressive Swing - Aggressive Target
    Match Situation: you are in a stroke play tournament tied for the lead, 14th hole, final round.
    Shot Scenario:     2nd shot on reachable par 5 from the fairway, 255 to the pin, pin left of center on large green, greenside bunker to the right of the green.
    Action: select a 3 wood with aggressive swing (stock 3 wood 235 yards) with draw bias, aim between the pin and the right edge of the green.
These are a few scenarios give you examples of how to think your situation through using swing - target considerations.

Review a few tight matches you lost last year, and think about how things might have changed if you thought your shots through this way.

If you haven't thought this way before, work these considerations into your thought process this year and watch your handicap go down.

Love your practice, enjoy your golf,

Tom


Tom's Bonus Tip: Anger Management

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!

OK - you've chunked a chip, missed a short putt, or drove it into the water.

It happens to all of us at one time or another, and what happens immediately after an event like this can make or break your chances to come back from a mini disaster on the course.

Here's a process for handling this situation that has worked very well for me personally, as well as for players that I've coached and taught.
  1. Ten seconds or ten paces. You are allowed to be upset for ten seconds or ten paces after your mistake. This does not give you carte blanche to act out demonstrably, just inwardly. No club throwing, foot stomping, temper tantrums, or "F" bombs (at least not out load).

  2. After your ten seconds or ten paces, remember this: you are indeed privileged to be playing golf right here and right now, don't let one bad swing diminish that privilege. Heck, there plenty of people around the world that will never be able to afford a set of clubs in their lifetime. Be grateful for the opportunity to make the mistake, it's really a privilege.

  3. Regroup mentally and go forward with a smile on your face, and the mindset that you are going to execute good swings the rest of the day.

  4. Forget about the bad swing.  I know this is easier said than done, I have had lapses myself - but like everything else in golf, if you work at it you will improve.
Love your practice, enjoy your golf,

Tom


Golf Lessons

I conduct lessons at The Plum Creek Driving Range & Practice Facility
there's a link for Plum Creek 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 email me at ttucker@rochester.rr.com
for more information.

Outdoor Lessons Details and Rates:
http://www.tomtuckergolf.com/lessonrates.html

Indoor Lessons Details and Rates:
http://www.tomtuckergolf.com/indoor.html

Driver Fitting Rates:
http://www.tomtuckergolf.com/indoor.html

Testimonials:
http://www.tomtuckergolf.com/testimonials.html


Sponsors

Plum Creek Driving Range and Simulator  Play indoor golf on any of our 40 Simulator Courses. Call 585-993-0930 or email Mark at plumcreek4@rochester.rr.com to reserve time for play or practice!

Provoto Putting Systems   readers get a 30% discount on putting greens. Click on their catalog link, and select the green you want to purchase. After you decide on features, add it to your cart. You'll find the field for "Discount Coupon" near the bottom of the page. Enter PGApro in that field and your product cost will be discounted 30%.

GCC Golf Management Program   click for information on GCC's degreed program for anyone interested in a career in the golf industry or teaching golf.

Batavia Country Club   Course closed for the season, but the Lodge is open with live bands peforming on Fridays. Open Easter and Mother's Day for brunch, reservations required, check website for details.

Chestnut Hill CC   Course closed for the season.


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

"There are no substitutes in the quest for perfection!"
~ Ben Hogan