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============================================================== [ TomTuckerGolf.com Tips ] Issue 35 - Date 10/17/12 ============================================================== IN THIS ISSUE: - Tom's Featured Tip: Chipping - Tom's Bonus Tip: Your "Go To" Swing - Lesson Comments: http://www.tomtuckergolf.com/testimonials.html - Sponsors: The Batavia Country Club, Chestnut Hill CC, Plum Creek Driving Range and PGA Golf Simulator Click here for details about the October 50% off sale for simulator time at Plum Creek: http://www.BataviaGolf.com If you want to respond to this newsletter, PLEASE DO NOT hit reply, email sent via reply gets auto-deleted. Instead, please FORWARD your reply to ttucker@rochester.rr.com and I'll get it directly. It's set up this way to avoid spam replies, which were clogging up my mailbox. Thanks! Tom Tucker http://www.tomtuckergolf.com/ 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. ============================================================== Tom's Featured Tip: Chipping ============================================================== 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 :-) In my email today I received my RDGA GHIN Handicap Revision Update, as well as a chipping tip from a high profile golf instructor. In the tip, he said that for tight lies play the ball back in your stance to insure that you don't hit it fat. Then I saw another article from another professional instructor claiming that this tip was dead wrong. He took issue with the positioning of the ball and the resultant forward lean of the shaft, because in that instructors opinion, it would cause the leading edge of the club to dig into the ground do to the extreme shaft lean. Both of these guys are famous teachers, one is old school, one is of the more modern variety. You'd recognize at least one of the names - but I'm not giving either of them up. Here's my take on this chipping method cyber-disagreement. First of all, it's probably wrong to absolutely characterize a tip as "wrong" because of the many different methods used to swing the club. As I've said many times before in this newsletter, there are a lot of ways to skin the cat in golf. Personally, I think that you only should play the ball way back in your stance if you have a terrible lie. If, however, you decided to play the ball back in your stance, you should not blame a fat hit on the leading edge of the club digging into the ground. That's a faulty stroke issue - most likely a weight distribution problem, or possibly a premature release of the impact angles in your hands and wrists, which would make the club long prior to impact. If your weight is forward and your stroke is good, your strike should be good - period. Extreme forward or rear ball positioning is unnecessary except for extremely unusual lies. Here's the simple chipping method that I teach. First of all, I have the student set up in a narrow, slightly open stance, weight well forward, and hands forward - as in over the front thigh. Then I have the student take several short chipping stroke practice swings to see where the club is brushing the grass. Then I have the student position the ball just about where the club was first touching the grass, which is usually just about the center of their open stance. This ball position allows for "ball first" contact. Then I have the student rock the club back, up, and slightly inward, then turn their body to initiate the gentle but firm downward, forward pull and turn through the shot, with firm hands. The hands and wrists stay in the impact position through and beyond the strike. If the student needs to hit the ball lower they can play it back further in their stance. If they need to hit it higher, they can move it forward in their stance (lie permitting), open their stance slightly, and open their clubface slightly. The swing method remains the same, and their setup remains the same, especially their weight being well forward. This is simple and it works, give it a try - you'll like it. Enjoy your golf, Tom ============================================================== Tom's Bonus Tip - Your "Go To" Swing ============================================================== Everyone needs a "Go To" swing that they can repeat with each club in their bag. This is fundamental to good scoring because this swing produces a shot for each club that: 1) carries a consistent distance 2) flies with a consistent trajectory 3) and has a consistent curvature If 1, 2, and 3, are not all present in your own "Go To" swing, guess what - you don't have one. Keep practicing, a "Go To" swing is perhaps the most important component of your game for low scoring, so don't quit, keep working on it! Enjoy your golf, 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. Rates: http://www.tomtuckergolf.com/lessonrates.html Testimonials: http://www.tomtuckergolf.com/testimonials.html If you want to test your putting stroke preference compatibility with various hosel styles and shaft placement options, please contact me to set up an appointment. I have the three basic hosel styles available in a putter head with the ability to adjust the shaft placement from heel to mid to center. Call my cell (716 474 3005) or email me at ttucker@rochester.rr.com for details or to make an appointment. It can be done indoors or outdoors, so weather conditions are not a factor. ============================================================== Sponsors ============================================================== Batavia Country Club - http://www.bataviacc.com The best greens in WNY Chestnut Hill CC - http://www.chestnuthillcc.com Low greens fees, great course! Plum Creek Driving Range - http://www.BataviaGolf.com Play golf all winter on the indoor simulator. Courses, leagues, lessons, and personal available! ============================================================== 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 |