============================================================== [ TomTuckerGolf.com Tips ] Issue 5 - Date 03/21/12 ============================================================== 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/contact.html If you wish to Unsubscribe from this newsletter click here. For a brief bio with my credentials please click here: http://www.tomtuckergolf.com/ If you wish to comment, respond, or ask a golf related question, please email me - Tom Tucker - directly at ttucker@rochester.rr.com The venue where I give lessons, the Plum Creek Driving Range and Practice Facility, is now open for outdoor lessons, weather permitting. The new simulator should be installed indoors within a couple of weeks, I'll keep you posted. There's a link to Plum Creek here: http://www.tomtuckergolf.com/ IN THIS ISSUE: - Tom's Quick Tip: One Roll Of The Ball - Tom's Featured Tip: Coiling For Distance - Golf Lessons - Sponsors ============================================================== Tom's Quick Tip - One Roll Of The Ball ============================================================== How many times have you heard a TV announcer say, "Wow, one more roll of the ball and he would have made the putt" when someone hangs a putt near the edge of the hole in a televised tournament? Actually, they need substantially less than one roll. In one roll, a golf ball will travel 5.278", which is about 1 1/4 times the diameter of the hole! So feel free to email them during a telecast and let them know next time you hear it :-) ============================================================== Tom's Featured Tip - Coiling For Distance ============================================================== 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 :-) One gets distance with a golf shot by using the hands, the arms, the body, and a weight shift (bump), and coil, correctly. We talked about the bump last week, this week I'd like to talk about the coil, which is how we get a little more power into our swing for more distance. If you were to imagine your body as a spring, it would coil on the takeaway and backswing, then uncoil on the downswing and forward swing. Generally speaking, we coil from the top down, and uncoil from the bottom up. A lot of attention is paid to getting a good shoulder turn, but I think that developing great hip speed and turn is a rather neglected aspect of body coil. Any gain in hip speed is magnified about 25 times at the clubhead, so it's worth paying attention to. Consider that the average golfer's driver swing speed is anywhere from 90 - 100 mph, for around a 220 yd carry, and top level pros swing at 115 - 125 mph. Here's the kicker - the average golfer turns his hips at 1 mph, and the top level pros turn their hips at 2.4 mph. That translates into the huge difference in swing speed, and the resulting difference in distance. I'm going to give you two simple exercises that will help you get more shoulder turn and a faster hip turn, for more distance. And this is important - you max out on the full effect of uncoiling (which generates speed) when you start it with the hip rotation immediately following the weight bump to your forward side. If you have any sort of back or hip problems, consult with your physician before doing these - or any other - exercises. Here's a simple exercise to develop more shoulder turn and separation from the hips (referred to as the X Factor) : While seated in a flat back chair, place a broomstick or even a weightlifting bar with no weight on it across the back of your shoulders, hang your arms over the stick or bar, and turn slowly one way then the other while seated very upright, eventually getting to your maximum turn range. Do a total of 21 reps, first third slowly, middle third a bit faster, final third a little faster, but without overextending yourself.  21 reps 2 times per week, not on the same day as the hip turn exercise. You will eventually notice an enormous gain in your shoulder turn range. After you complete the seated portion, stand in golf posture with your arms folded across your chest, and make full swings to a full finish with a rapid shoulder turn. Finish in balance for 10 good reps. Here's a simple exercise to develop more hip turn and speed: Stand in a doorway, feet spread apart a little wider than your shoulders. Now extend your forearms sideways to brace your upper body within the doorway frame, and start turning your hips. Turn them back, around, and hold, then forward, around, and hold. Don't let your upper body move during this exercise, it's hips only. Do a total of 21 reps, first third slowly, middle third a bit faster, final third a little faster, but without overextending yourself. 21 reps 2 times per week, not on the same day as the shoulder turn exercise. After you complete the doorway portion, stand in golf posture with your arms folded across your chest, and make full swings to a full finish with a rapid hip turn. Finish in balance for 10 good reps. You can get creative and add a little resistance to the doorway type exercise with resistance bands, and there's even a power hip trainer on the market, but I  kept it simple because I actually want you to give this a try - so JUST DO IT! Enjoy, 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. Lesson rates are here: http://www.tomtuckergolf.com/lessonrates.html ============================================================== Sponsors ============================================================== Batavia Country Club - check out their spring rates http://www.bataviacc.com/rates.html ============================================================== All the best, and remember: Victory Loves Preparation ~ Anonymous 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