"15 Minutes of Body Action Drills Are More
Important Than Hitting 200 Balls"
Tom's Featured Tip: Concepts For Lower Scores
Lesson Comments: What Students Have To Say
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Concepts For Lower Scores
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The Divot Board
This is the most useful ball striking development training aid that I own.
Concepts For Lower Scores
For simplicity, all advice on actual swings or drills is provided from a right handed perspective.
Today's article is about one practice - perhaps controversial - concept, and one important equipment consideration that can put you on track to lower scores.
PRACTICE
I see quite a few players, especially older players, spending a lot of their practice time on their short game. I define short game practice as wedge play and short shots around the green, pitches and chips, and of course, putting.
A good short game is a bit of an insurance policy. You want it there when your driver and irons are less sharp.
Getting good at it results in:
- Reducing skulls and chunks
- Less three putts
The fact of the matter is that you simply cannot make significant strides in your game if your tee shots and approach shots are well below average. It's just too much to overcome.
That means doing all that you can to squeeze every extra yard out of your driver, see Issue 805 - Increasing Your Swing Speed
It also means getting better on your approach shots, which generally covers these three areas:
- Improving technique - correct practice reps and methods (variable and block practice)
- Selecting the right club - this relates to knowing your gapping from club to club (the carry distance for every club in your bag). This is best accomplished on a simulator
which will show you accurate carry distances. Leave your ego at the door when you do this, because you probably aren't carrying the ball as far as you think you are. 😊
- Having the right mindset for your game. For example, I like to play my approach shots with a little release, but finishing below the hole. I played a week ago Tuesday and my below the hole approach shots were too far below the hole. So for at least the early part of this season, I'm going to experiment with trying to hit the ball slightly past the hole, see what happens, and adjust my mindset from there.
Continue to spend time with your wedges and putter, but also consider spending more practice time with your driver and irons.
EQUIPMENT
For years I have recommended to every student that takes a putting lesson from me to use a mallet putter rather than a blade putter. It's so forgiving on mis-hits that it's worth the switch, even if it takes some getting used to the visual aspect. I also find it easier to aim due to the larger surface on the rear of the putter.
I use an Odyssey Ten Two Ball putter and you couldn't pay me to change.
But here's all you might need to know about the subject.
Scottie Scheffler won the Arnold Palmer Invitational last weekend.
For the first time ever, he played a mallet putter. He switched from his blade to a TaylorMade prototype mallet putter and managed 4.347 Strokes Gained putting for the week. That was good enough for 5th. Not bad for the guy who ranked 144th in the world for the same metric last week.
He also led the field in Strokes Gained off the tee and around the green - all in a week where his approach play (12th) was arguably not at its best.
That's total validation for mallet putters in my book.
Try it, you'll like it.
My winter indoor lessons schedule is: Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 8am, 9am, 10am, and 11am, lesson details are here: Indoor Lesson Details - lessons by appointment only.
Email Comments: to TomTuckerGolf@gmail.com
Mike Bennett and Andy Plummer, The Stack and Tilt Swing
Love your practice, own your swing, own your health, and remember that golf is a game of discovery. Dont be afraid to experiment when you practice, it's good for your golfing brain.
Tom
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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
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Use your club or hand to re-set the board after your strike
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BONUS: when you buy through the newsletter link above, you'll also receive free access to my Putting Lesson Videos ($60 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.
Click here to buy your Fiberbuilt Golf Flight Deck Practice Station. (Editor's note: Order through Amazon Prime instead of through the manufacturer's site and you'll save around $100)
If you are looking for the most robust portable hitting station that money can buy, the Fiberbuilt Golf Flight Deck Practice Station fits the bill.
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.
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.
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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.
All the best,
Tom Tucker
Teaching Professional, Batavia Country Club
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