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What can video do for you?

Michael — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 06:37:58 +0000

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How can video help your game of golf? Since you can’t see yourself, video lets you see yourself.

The golf swing can be an intricate action and video connects the gap between fact and feel. You can trust you will improve even though it feels incorrect or wrong because of this visual feedback. Also, when used correctly, video can be used to pinpoint the motor skill that needs the most work.

Video can also give the golfer an opportunity to alter their belief system so they can have the maximum impact on changing their feel. Video can then prioritize on first getting you to strike the ball solid, then second, to have directional control of the of the ball.

Clubhead Lag

Michael — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 01:57:12 +0000

One of the best tips to hitting efficient powerful shots is to keep the club head lagging behind your hands in your forward swing down through the ball. The longer you maintain this lag, the more velocity you can produce and the farther the ball will go when you do release the club through impact.

How is lag created and then maintained? Think of your left arm as one lever and the shaft as another. In your backswing, hinge your left wrist to create at least a 90° angle between the forearm and shaft. When you swing down, retain that angle for as long as you can. When you release it, the club head will speed up.

Many recreational players let go of the lag too early by unhinging their wrists to soon in the downswing. One drill to prevent this is to swing back with your left arm only, and as you start down, grab the shaft with your right hand and resist the unhinging of your left wrist. Repeat this feeling and incorporate it into your swing. In your regular swing, your wrists unhinge naturally at the bottom of the arc.

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Have you ever broke 90?

Michael — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 23:08:16 +0000

During the initial discussion at the beginning of a lesson series, I often hear that a student would see considerable improvement in their scores by getting more distance out of their clubs. The average student making this statement shoots between 90 and 110. If you have taken any lessons from me in the past, you should know that I am a firm believer in the chip shot. There are two reasons for this, one, chipping is a very important part of the golf game. If you aren’t hitting greens or getting it close to the flag inside 60 yards, then your score will definitely improve with better chipping. The other primary reason is that chipping is the small version of the full swing. If you rely on bad mechanics in the short game, you are likely to see it in a bigger version when the full swing takes place. Have you noticed that in most cases, golfers with great short games have pretty good swings and have lower handicaps? The second thing I like to work on during lessons is the 150 yard shot and in. If you can hit a 150-yard shot consistently, then you can break 90.

Here is an idea I would like for you to consider. If you take an average white tee golf course’s yardage of 6,500 yards and divide it by 150-yards you get a total of 43. I know that you won’t hit it in the hole every time, so if we add a 2 putt on every hole then we get a total of 36 putts. When you add the 43 golf shots and 36 putts you would end up with a score of 79. Now I know that there may be some water hazards and obstacles you may have to go around with only having a 150 yard shot, so we will add another 9 strokes for those situations and maybe missing a few greens on the approach. When we add 9 more strokes we get an 88. Remember, that is from the middle tees so if you are playing the front tees, the score could be even lower. Also note, this is without using a driver, 3 wood and possibly those dreaded long irons. Those are usually the clubs that mess with the swing and drive your score up.

I challenge you to try this sometime. Go play nine holes with the clubs you hit 150 yards and less, then see what you shoot. Keep track of where you lose shots and I bet it won’t have anything to do with loss of distance. If you consistently score under a 45 then it’s time to add some more yardage.

Back to work at Torrey!

Michael — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 11:29:33 +0000

Well as golf fans and students that take lessons from me at Torrey Pines, I’m sure we all agree that it was an exciting and successful 108th US Open Championship. Tiger wasn’t going to be denied at Torrey Pines. What a machine. As most fans were heard saying, “He’s unbelievable”.

Here’s the course of action:

Lessons: Now that the US Open is over my lesson schedule will start on Thursday June 19th when the courses re-open for public play. My playing lessons schedule will start Monday June 30th, South Course only. I’m not sure how difficult it will be going standby that first week for playing lessons as I don’t know what effect the Open will have on playing demands. Later in the day is better. Remember that I do encourage referrals. For anyone that signs up for a lesson series, I will give a half-hour complimentary lesson to the student that referred them.

Summer Camps: I will be directing the US Sports Nike Day Camps again this summer starting June 23rd. Camps are from noon to 8pm. They will run every other week until the last week of August 18th through the 21st.

South Course: The South Course is scheduled to reopen on Thurs., June 19, 2008. There will be no early morning walk up times on June 19th or June 20th. Standby play will be accepted throughout the day. Twilight will be available at 2 p.m. starting June 19th. New rates for the courses go into effect on July 1, 2008 and twilight will be starting at 3:30 p.m.

North Course: Due to preparations for The 2008 U.S. Open, the North Course is currently closed for public play and is scheduled to reopen for 9 hole play on Tues., July 1, 2008. New rates go into effect on July 1, 2008.

Walk up play: There will not be any walk up play available in the morning until Sat., June 21, 2008.

Respond to this email or give me a call at (619) 322-8333 to schedule a lesson.