TomTuckerGolf.com
 
Golf Tips Newsletter - Issue 383 - Wed. January 6th, 2016
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Prepare to play your best golf
by doing something now!

To comment or respond to this newsletter, please click here ttucker@rochester.rr.com

In This Issue


Tom's Featured Tip: Swing Sequence Practice
Tour Greens: Tour Quality Synthetic Greens
Tom's Bonus Tip: Competitiveness and Wagering
Lesson Comments: What Students Have To Say
 Sponsors: Plum Creek Driving Range 
Batavia Country Club
Tour Greens Western New York 
Genesee Community College Golf Management Program 


Click here:  INDOOR GOLF LESSONS  for details on how to improve your game over the winter.

PLUM CREEK DRIVING RANGE IN BATAVIA, NY, IS OPEN ALL YEAR
Check out Plum Creek's Simulator Course Play Specials: http://www.plumcreekdrivingrange.com Call 585-993-0930 or email Mark at plumcreek4@rochester.rr.com to reserve your simulator time!

Buy Gift Certificates for Lessons   Sample Gift Certificate

Golf lessons - Outdoor and Indoor - 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/lessonrates.html   for details.

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Tom's Featured Tip: Swing Sequence Practice

For simplicity, all advice on actual swings or drills is provided from a right handed perspective.

This is part 3 of a 3 part series on winter practice - swing sequence.

This topic will be dealt with very generally in this issue, but there are books, DVD's, and free YouTube.com video clips around to help you to educate yourself with more details, so that you can define in your mind how you want to swing the club.

Knowledge is Power

Another learning option is to have a good instructor help you define a suitable swing method and the components that need to be practiced.

In any event, make sure that you identify exactly how you want to swing the club before you start practicing components that might not fit well together.

After you decide on your swing method, break it down into small segments and practice the motions over the winter in preparation for the upcoming season.

Here are the very basic components of everyone's swing sequence:
  1. Backswing
  2. Transition from backswing to forward swing
  3. Forward Swing
  4. Impact
  5. Follow Through
One of the things that varies the most in swing sequence from method to method is how the weight shifts during the backswing and how it transitions into the forward swing.

I'll cite some examples from the three basic swings, a Traditional swing method, a Centered Pivot swing method, and a Forward Side Pivot swing method.

In a Traditional swing method, there is quite a bit of lateral weight shift to the rear side during the backswing, which also requires a lot of weight shifting forward in the downswing to get the weight seated on the forward side prior to impact. There is some lateral head movement to the rear side during the shift, but the head does not travel past where it started from when the weight shifts laterally forward prior to and during the downswing. This is a great swing if you can do it, and personally I found the method fine for driver swings when the ball is teed up, but I tended to occasionally hit the ground before the ball when I used this method with my irons. It requires a lot of timing to get it right.

A good book that defines the components to a Traditional swing method is The 8 Step Swing by Jim McLean, and you can also find some video for it at YouTube.com

In a Centered Pivot swing method there is minimal lateral weight shifting in either direction, although there is a slight "bump" - a slight lateral shift of weight forward to initiate the transition. This type of swing is often described as a "swing in a barrel" swing style, or a one plane or rotary swing style. There's lots of video at YouTube.com as well as books written on "The One Plane Swing" and "The Rotary Swing".

In a Forward Side Pivot swing method, there is virtually zero weight shift to the rear side in the backswing, but a definite downward pressure on the front side during the backswing accompanied by a definite "bump" - a very deliberate lateral shift of weight forward to initiate the downswing transition. The Stack and Tilt swing is a forward sided pivot method.

Here are a few caveats for the swing sequence mentioned above:
  1. Backswing

    Regardless of your method, having weight get to the outside of your rear foot in your backswing is always a mistake. You can practice avoiding this mistake and ingraining the proper weight position feeling by practicing your backswing with a book or a few magazines positioned under the outer edge of your rear foot.

  2. Transition from backswing to forward swing

    Practice pressuring down on a flat forward foot accompanied by a deliberate "bump" - a lateral shift of weight forward to initiate the downswing transition. How much and when you start your hip rotation is different from method to method, so figure out what method works for you and act accordingly.

  3. Forward Swing

    You either need to drop your elbow "into the slot" if you favor a Traditional method, or simply to make sure that your right elbow stays relatively close to your side during the initial stages of your downswing before the right arm begins to unfold for impact.

  4. Impact

    Your weight should be 80% or more on your forward side - again depending on your method - and your left wrist should be flat at the strike. Wrist manipulation at impact also depends on your method, as does how definitively your left leg straightens at impact.

  5. Follow Through

    Some methods advocate a strong swing to the left post impact, others advocate trying to maintain the feeling of swinging down the line longer. Do whatever your method says to do.
Here are a few more snippets of general advice:
  1. Don't allow your weight to get to the outside of your rear foot in your backswing

  2. Keep your head still, which means no lateral movement - especially in your forward swing. Rotation is allowed and is in fact desirable to avoid neck injury.

  3. Have the majority of your weight seated on your forward leg at impact

  4. Know where the bottom of your swing is located. All top level players have this knowledge and use it in conjunction with their ball placement to become expert ball strikers.
I hope this was helpful, now set your practice schedule and get at it!

Comments: ttucker@rochester.rr.com

Love your practice, own your swing, own your health,

Tom




Tour Greens: Tour Quality Synthetic Greens For Superb Short Game Practice

Would you like to be able to practice with purpose in your own back yard?

Would you like your short game to progress from bad to good, or from good to great?

Would you like to get the ball up & down with more frequency?

Would you like to have a short game practice area in the privacy of your yard for practice and for friendly competition with your kids, your wife, and your friends?

Click here TourGreensWNY.com  for photo galleries and more information.

If the thought of having a beautiful tour quality practice green in your yard appeals to you, you're in luck.

In addition to my golf instruction business, I am also the exclusive Western New York sales associate for Tour Greens Western New York.

With Tour Greens you can experience the ultimate home short game practice solution.

Click here to read what Tour Pro's Fred Couples, Rich Beem, Boo Weekly, Blake Adams, and Chris DiMarco  have to say about their Tour Greens.

You all know me well enough to know that I don't affiliate with any product that I don't have a passionate belief in. These greens are the real deal. They are extremely durable - and they LOVE Western New York weather!

For more information please click here: TourGreensWNY.com, or feel free to call, text, or email me to discuss your needs.

Comments: ttucker@rochester.rr.com

Love your practice, own your swing, own your health,

Tom




Tom's Bonus Tip: Competitiveness and Wagering

For simplicity, all advice on actual swings or drills is provided from a right handed perspective.

When I play golf with my family or my buddies, we always play for some sort of wager.

So the question is "do you always have to have a wager on the game to satisfy your competitive urge to win?"

My son shared a quote attributed to Steve Spurrier that put the question in perspective. Spurrier said:

"The guys I play golf with, we don't play for money. Beating someone who cares about winning as much as I do is reward enough."

Food for thought.

Comments: ttucker@rochester.rr.com

Love your practice, own your swing, own your health,

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  Outdoor range and 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 simulator play or practice!

Batavia Country Club   Great rates, the best greens in WNY. Golf Digest Four Star rating for public courses to play in New York State. Tee times online or by phone in season. Early deep discount membership deadline has expired, but great discounts are still available until April 1st. The earlier you pay the larger the discount. Check website for specific rates then call or stop in to purchase your 2016 membership.
www.bataviacc.com  (585) 343-7600

Tour Greens Western New York  Practice with purpose in your own back yard on your own synthetic practice green. Our greens LOVE Western New York weather!

Genesee Community College Golf Management Program   Click on link for more information if you or anyone you know is interested in a dynamic career in the golf industry, or in teaching golf.

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