==================================================== BCC Golf Newsletter - Issue 170 Date 06/02/11 ==================================================== ==================================================== Equipment - Books - DVD's - Instruction ==================================================== One item reviewed this week ... please keep in mind that these reviews are objective, and that I receive no monetary gain from any sales that may result from these reviews. The Golf Green Speed Reader - http://www.greenspeedreader.com/ For my GCC Golf team, I used this product with my long indoor roll out putting carpets, and at the Batavia Country Club. Even as our season progressed, we still did a lot of indoor practice due to a record setting rainy spring. For my players, the usefulness was mainly to get the green speeds for each surface as a mental reference. I took a Green Speed Reader to tournaments and was able to get a quick reading from practice putting areas, then confirmed that the playing greens were cut approximately the same. I believe it helped our team make adjustments for green speed against what we practiced on, especially for the first several holes of each tournament. I think that detail helped us. When I give lessons, about 20% of my students have problems developing "feel" for lag putting. The Green Speed Reader comes with instructions on a backswing guide method for developing strokes for different distances. I utilized this method with a 52 year old student that was lag putting all over the place. After about 30 minutes of instruction with the Green Speed Reader backswing guide method, the student was able to stroke lag putts reasonably close to the hole on a consistent basis. I definitely see an application for this product if someone just can't get a feel for lag putting. I give this product two thumbs up for functionality. The owner of the product also offered to give anyone hearing about the Green Speed Reader through me a 25% discount. To purchase one with the discount, go here: http://www.greenspeedreader.com/buy.php click on "yes" for the coupon code, then enter tucker lower case only, and your order will get a 25% discount. Enjoy, Tom ==================================================== TCT Quick Tip - Rhythm and Stroke Length ==================================================== I teach and favor a pendulum pure in line stroke, but this tip applies to any type of stroke powered by shoulder movement. The only difference between a long and a short putt is the distance you take the putter back on the backstroke. The rhythm stays the same. Enjoy, Tom ==================================================== Golf Tip: Insane Practice ==================================================== I'm sure you've probably heard this definition of insanity before... DOING THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER AND EXPECTING DIFFERENT RESULTS And a lot of us golfers are creatures of habit. Think about it ... -you probably drive to the course using the same route every time -you probably lace up your shoes the same way every time -you probably have the same drink of water or Gatorade or soda every time -you probably grab a bucket of balls and pound them out into the range the same way every time and then you go play a round or head home. Now, sometimes "doing the same thing over and over" is fine. Because we do NOT WANT DIFFERENT RESULTS. You drive the same route each time because it's the fastest way to get there. If you drove a different way you'd be wasting time. You have same drink every time because you like that drink and your brain has better things to do than spend 10 minutes every day debating the pros and cons of Coke and Gatorade. But, slapping a bucket of balls into the range the same way every time? Do you want better results there? If you do, something has to CHANGE. Next time you go to the range, try "Random Block Practice". Here's an example ... -hit 5 balls working on one distance key -then immediately switch and hit 5 balls working on a DIFFERENT distance key -switch again and hit 5 balls working on a third key A variation would be to play the course, shot by shot (except for putts) on the range - a different shot and club each time. Try these practice variations out next time at the range and I think you'll love the results. Enjoy, Tom