TomTuckerGolf.com
 
Golf Tips Newsletter - Issue 390 - Wed. February 24th, 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: Post Shot Routine
Tour Greens: Tour Quality Synthetic Greens
Tom's Bonus Tip: Toe Up Putter Confusion & Rules Videos
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: Post Shot Routine

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

I learned a lot recently while studying to become certified as a Golf Psychology Coach through the International Golf Psychology Association.

One of the tidbits of knowledge that was reinforced for me was the value of a post shot routine for when you hit a less than satisfactory shot.

Most of us know the value of having and implementing a pre-shot routine, but most players either don't realize the value of a post shot routine or don't know what to do.

This article will explain what to do and how to do it.

After a poor shot we can get pretty angry, which often leads to a lack of concentration on the next shot. Negative thoughts about the last shot may also make you compensate in some way for the next shot, contributing to even more bad play - a pushed drive has led to many snap hooks on the next tee shot.

This cycle can continue for many holes and ruin your round if you allow it to.

One way to snap out of it quickly is with a post shot routine. We all know the value of a pre-shot routine, but what you do following a poor shot can have a massive influence on your game.

While you might not need to use a post shot routine following every shot, a routine following a poor shot will be highly beneficial.

The post shot routine that I studied was based upon a system developed by Jim Loehr as it applied to the sport of tennis, and it translates well to golf.

This post shot routine incorporates the 3 R's: Release, Re-imagine and Re-set.

Following a poor shot,
  1. You must first release the negative energy. This could be accomplished by taking deep breaths. Or, you could make a tight fist for a few seconds. Then as you open your fist, visualize yourself letting go of a negative ball of energy that dissipates into the sky.

    To be perfectly honest, tossing a club or swearing loudly also accomplishes a release of negative energy, but for obvious reasons I don't recommend it. There are better ways.

  2. After the release stage, you need to enter the re-imagine phase. Here, you take a practice swing and see an image of the desired shot. The key is to feel the correct swing and see a positive image of the desired ball flight. You might also want to recall hitting a perfectly struck shot from the recent past. The key is to move forward (literally) with a positive image and feeling.

  3. The last step involves re-setting the mind to focus on only the next shot. Using a self-statement such as "this shot" or "here, now" can be very helpful to remind yourself to stay in the present. When all three stages of the post shot routine are completed, you are ready to move on to the next shot.
Just look at players like Jim Furyk, he does a post-shot routine after almost every shot.

Here's a simple recap of the 3 R's of the Post Shot Routine
  1. Release take 3 to 5 seconds to allow the bad stuff to just be gone
  2. Re-image the right swing with the correction
  3. Re-set for the next shot
When you play without the negativity of the past, you'll be able to focus on what you have to do at the moment.

So now that you know what to do and how to do it, it's up to you to actually do it. If you do, you'll play better golf and enjoy the game more, so why not give it a shot!

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: Toe Up Putter Confusion & Rules Videos

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

TOE UP PUTTER CONFUSION

Last issue, I was expounding the benefits of the new "Toe Up" putter Odyssey is making and how I can't wait to try one out.

I searched on Callaway's website (Callaway Golf markets products under the Odyssey brand) to check out the "Toe Up" line, but it was nowhere to be found. Wanting to get a leg up on the "Toe Up", I contacted Callaway through their on-line contact form and asked "When are you going to start marketing and selling the new Odyssey Toe Up putters?".

Here's their initial reply:

Dear Mr. Tucker,

Thank you for your recent E-mail. We appreciate your taking the time to contact us with your inquiry.

In response to your inquiry, at this time Odyssey has no information regarding the possibility of offering a Toe Up line of putters through our authorized retailers.

If you need any further assistance, please call our Customer Service Department at (800) 588-9836. Our business hours are Monday through Friday, 6:00am to 5:00pm Pacific Standard Time. The Representative you speak with will be happy to assist you.

Thank you,
Customer Service
1(800)588-9836


So...I sent them an email with a link to the website where I saw the prototype putter, and here was their second response on the subject:

Dear Mr. Tucker,

Thank you for your recent E-mail. We appreciate you taking the time to write back.

We apologize for our error. Odyssey’s new Toe Up putter will be available through our authorized retailers beginning April 15th.

If you need any further assistance, please do not hesitate to E-mail us again.

Thank you,
Customer Service
1(800)588-9836


I don't know whether I should be dismayed at the wrong information in the initial response, or satisfied that they corrected their mistake in the second email.

Either way, I can't wait to try out the putter :-)

RULES VIDEOS

I have been receiving the "Rhodes Rules" newsletters on the rules of golf for quite awhile, and I've also purchased some of Barry Rhodes' publications. Barry is an older gentleman from Dublin, Ireland, and he explains the rules in a way that's easy for the average golfer to understand.

Here's a link to five excellent short videos that explain some of the more common rules situations that golfers face but may not understand as well as they should:
  • Relief From Water Hazards
  • Ball Unplayable
  • Relief From Lateral Water Hazards
  • Nearest Point of Relief
  • Provisional Ball
Enjoy: Link To Rules Videos

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