============================================================== [ TomTuckerGolf.com Tips ] Issue 16 - Date 06/06/12 ============================================================== IN THIS ISSUE: - Tom's Featured Tip: Putter Head Manipulation - Tom's Bonus Tip: Why We Miss Shots - Lesson Comments: http://www.tomtuckergolf.com/testimonials.html - Sponsors: The Batavia Country Club, Chestnut Hill CC 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/signup.html The Unsubscribe link is at the bottom of this newsletter. My bio is here: http://www.tomtuckergolf.com/ If you wish to comment, respond, or ask a golf related question, please email me directly at ttucker@rochester.rr.com The venue where I give lessons, the Plum Creek Driving Range and Practice Facility, has their new simulator up and running. Rates can be found through a link on my home page here: http://www.tomtuckergolf.com/ WE TAKE CLUBS ON CONSIGNMENT Plum Creek is now accepting clubs, bags, etc on consignment. If you have something golf related in good shape - clubs, bags, balls, etc. - that you want to sell, please contact me directly for details at ttucker@rochester.rr.com. 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 ============================================================== Tom's Featured Tip - Putter Head Manipulation at Impact ============================================================== On the golf channel Monday morning, I heard a commentator stating that a certain teacher's putting stroke method was to open the face of the putter on the way back and close it on the way through impact. Comments like that drive me crazy because: 1) it was incorrect, and 2) if you try that, you will not only miss the line most of the time, you'll miss the lag speed also. In the method the commentator was alluding to - an arcing stroke - which is like the method that I now teach to most of my students, it APPEARS that the putter face is opening and closing minutely, but in reality it's staying square to the putters swing path, which is a little inside to down the line to inside. There's a huge difference in execution if you consciously try to open and close the face of your putter through impact, as opposed to simply allowing it to follow your desired swing path without manipulation. Manipulating the clubhead open to closed will produce a "hit" not a "stroke", and distance control will be gone. Manipulation brings on disastrous results, don't do it. Did I say "impact" with your putter? Yes I did, because it's my passionate belief that certain ball striking principles apply to your putting stroke (swing) as well as they do to other swings. Good impact means a solid strike, and solid putts are generally good putts. The lesson here is don't believe everything you hear from the commentators on TV. Sometimes I truly believe they are talking to fill dead air space, or to promote a training aid or teacher. You are allowed to have a critical viewpoint if you've taken the time to educate yourself. BTW, I emailed the golf channel again like the last time I mentioned an inaccuracy, and once again - no response. Go figure. ============================================================== Tom's Bonus Tip - Why We Miss Shots ============================================================== When we miss shots and feel that our swing needs some sort of correction, often the real culprit is one or more of the following: 1. Poor focus 2. Casual alignment 3. Fear or anxiety Before you start adjusting your swing, take a minute to focus on the target and the shot, find an object in front of your ball to aid with your setup and alignment, and try your best to keep your mind at ease. When you do those three things, your body should respond well. If your next swing result is still way off, then pay more attention to your ball positioning. More often than not, that's the next most likely leak. 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 Testimonials are here: http://www.tomtuckergolf.com/testimonials.html ============================================================== Sponsors ============================================================== Batavia Country Club - http://www.bataviacc.com Need a new pair of golf shoes or a new Callaway Wedge? Great Pricing ! Puma /Callaway /BCC Logo Shirts/Wind/Caps. Chestnut Hill CC - http://www.chestnuthillcc.com Low greens fees, great course! ============================================================== 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 Success Loves Preparation ~ Anonymous