"It is not the will to win that matters, everyone has that.
It is the will to prepare to win that matters." - Paul "Bear" Bryant
Tom's Featured Tip: More on Instinct Putting
Lesson Comments: What Students Have To Say
Sponsors & Affiliates:
Batavia Country Club
The Divot Board
The Impact Snap
The Rypstick
SuperSpeedGolf.com
Club Champion
Buying a sponsored product through any of my affiliate links helps support this free newsletter, and I only affiliate with excellent products that I use myself. Thanks, Tom
TourGreens & VersaCourt
If you're interested in an artificial turf outdoor or indoor putting green, bocce court, sport court, cornhole court, pet grass, large or small,
contact me, Tom Tucker, at (716) 474 3005 or email me at TomTuckerGolf@gmail.com for details and pricing. I'm an authorized New York State sales rep for TourGreens and VersaCourt.
Buy Gift Certificates for Lessons Sample Gift Certificate
Outdoor Golf lessons are available at The Batavia Country Club. Please call me (Tom Tucker) at 716 474 3005, email me at TomTuckerGolf@gmail.com, or visit my website at http://www.tomtuckergolf.com/lessonrates.html for details.
Subscribe - http://www.tomtuckergolf.com/signup.html If you like this newsletter, please do me a favor and forward it to your friends so that they may subscribe, thanks!
The Unsubscribe link is at the bottom of this newsletter.
For photos and stories from the 2021 Junior Golf Camp at BCC, click here:
2021 BCC Junior Golf Camp
For details on the 2022 Junior Golf Camp at BCC, click here:
2022 BCC Junior Golf Camp The Junior Golf Camp sold out quickly in 2021, so get your junior golfer registered soon. Call BCC at (585) 343-7600
More on Instinct Putting
For simplicity, all advice on actual swings or drills is provided from a right handed perspective.
Two Great Training Aids For Indoor or Outdoor Practice
The Divot Board
This is the most useful ball striking development training aid that I own.
Click here ImpactSnap.com to buy now. Start using the ImpactSnap training aid indoors or outdoors to make you instantly aware of proper hand action, which is second only to low point awareness for great ball striking.
More on Instinct Putting
Last week's issue dealt with heads up putting, which I will refer to as instinct putting in todays newsletter.
I received several questions as a result of last weeks article, some of which were:
- Is instinct putting really a good way to putt?
- How do I know if it would be good for me?
- If it's good, why aren't more pro's doing it?
- and a few more misc questions.
I'm in Florida for a couple weeks and I've been reading a book I mentioned in last week's article called Instinct Putting Revisited. I'm not quite through with it, but it's a great read so far.
It answered the questions asked and more ie:
Is instinct putting really a good way to putt?
Statistically, the answer is yes - they conducted a myriad of research based tests and arrived at some interesting conclusions, including the answer to the next question:
How do I know if it would be good for me?
The authors state that it may not be for everybody, but it would be for you if:
- You regularly three putt more than twice per round, or
- You regularly leave your long lag putts very short of the hole, or:
- You have a general lack of distance control on lag putts.
- Take two balls and putt to 18 different length putts on a practice green.
- For the first putt on the first hole, stroke the putt heads down - looking at the ball like you usually do.
On the 2nd putt, stroke the putt while looking at the target, the instinct putting method.
- On ensuing holes, keep switching the sequence of which method goes first.
- On each hole, note which ball was closest to the hole - that putting method wins the hole, ties are ties.
- At the end of the 18 th hole, add up the score and see which method won.
Or you may find that you were better at either shorter or longer putts when looking at the hole. In that case work it into your game accordingly - instinct putting for distances where that is better, traditional putting for distances where that is better.
That's actually what some pro's on tour do now, and it seems that the long lag putts are where some players find their distance control to be superior with instinct putting than with traditional putting.
If it's so good, why aren't more pro's using it?
That's a good question, because some pro's aren't actually great putters believe ir or not. There are a few notables that use instinct putting off and on - Louis Oosthuizen and Jordan Spieth being two of them. My guess is that a lot of pro's fear going against convention. I would ask why most pro's remove the flagstick when they are putting, when the overwhelming evidence supports leaving it in. The only pro I see leaving it in all the time is Adam Scott.
Sometimes the fear of going against convention can be overwhelming, even when evidence supports a change.
There was one study that provided astounding evidence in support of instinct putting.
That study revealed that traditional putters as well as instinct putters showed vast improvement when they practiced using the instinct putting method in their putting practice sessions.
For years I have recommended practicing putting while looking at the hole for my students that leave their long putts consistently or egregiously short of the hole, and they have improved in direct proportion to how much practice they put in.
As a result of the research I saw, I'll be recommending that all of my students use the instinct putting method for about 80% - or more - of their putting practice.
I'll close with an interesting putting drill that Sergio Garcia swears by when he practices his putting:
For any given length putt:
- Putt a 1st ball with heads down putting (traditional).
- Putt a 2nd ball with your eyes closed.
- Putt a 3rd ball with heads up putting (instinct putting).
Try it, you'll like it.
Comments: TomTuckerGolf@gmail.com
Love your practice, own your swing, own your health,
Tom
Golf Lessons
I am now conducting lessons at The Batavia Country Club
Lessons are available for all ages and skill levels, please contact
me - Tom Tucker - at (716) 474 3005 or email me at TomTuckerGolf@gmail.com
for more information.
Outdoor Lessons Details and Rates:
http://www.tomtuckergolf.com/lessonrates.html
Testimonials:
http://www.tomtuckergolf.com/testimonials.html
Sponsors and Affiliates
Buying a sponsored product through any of my affiliate links helps support this free newsletter, and I only affiliate with excellent products that I use myself. Thanks, Tom
Batavia Country Club (585) 343-7600 www.bataviacc.com
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.
FISH FRYS AT BCC and other delicious dinner specials with soup and salad bar - Fridays, 4pm - 9pm
Train with a Rypstick to improve your swing speed and gain more distance off the tee. If the versatility of three different swing weights in one club appeals to you, this is your swing speed training aid of choice.
.jpg)
Click here Rypstick.com to buy now, and make sure that you enter TOMTUCKERGOLF (case sensitive) in the Discount code box when you check out to receive a 5% discount.
Click here to buy your Divot Board to drastically improve your ball-striking. Combine your Divot Board practice and putting practice with the included putting lesson drills, and watch your scoring improve1.
Use your club or hand to re-set the board after your strike
Click here to buy now for outstanding Ball-Striking practice feedback
BONUS: when you buy through the newsletter link above, you'll also receive free access to my Putting Lesson Videos ($50 value) which cover: The Elevated Aimline Drill, The Squareness Awareness Drill, The Aimline Accuracy Drill, The Stock Putting Stroke Drill, The Barrier Drill, The Short Putt Channel Drill, and more.
Train with the Impact Snap training aid to improve your hand and wrist coordination for a powerful strike. A Golf Digest 2021 Editors Choice Training Aid
Click here ImpactSnap.com to buy now and start using a great training aid that can be used indoors or outdoors.
Click here SuperSpeedGolf.com to buy this swing speed training aid and increase your distance off the tee.
SuperSpeedGolf.com Buy now and get to work on increasing your swing speed now.
Club Champion Don't waste another dollar on clubs until you've gone through a fitting at Club Champion, 1669 Pittsford Victor Rd., Suite 400, Victor NY 14564. Call Master Fitter & Builder Jeff St. John. PGA work: (585) 978-8513, cell: (585) 831-2292 to schedule your fitting today1 Mention my name and you'll get special attention.
All the best,
Tom Tucker
Teaching Pro, Plum Creek Driving Range & Practice Facility
WGTF ' "Top 100 Golf Teacher"
USGTF Class "A" Teaching Professional
IGPA Certified Golf Psychology Coach
Cell: (716) 474-3005
Email: TomTuckerGolf@gmail.com
http://www.TomTuckerGolf.com
"There are no substitutes in the quest for perfection1"
~ Ben Hogan