There's No Second Serve In Golf

"Golf is like tennis. The game doesn't really start until the serve gets in."

-Peter Thomson

Shallow Out The Path

I had an opportunity to spend a little time with a great instructor and coach, Nick Dentino. Nick teaches at Little Mill Country Club. He and I often discuss the golf swing and compare notes regarding our students. On this day I checked in with him regarding my own swing.

I, like many others, have a tendency to swing across my body, starting the ball left of my target. If I typically faded the ball that would be okay. But I do not. My typical ball flight is a draw, therefore most shots that start left will continue on and go further left.

Nick picked up on this quickly and we began working on a process to shallow my path into the impact zone. I have a tendency to be steep, resulting in deep divots and the occasional fat shot. The process involved creating a more laid off angle for the shaft. This puts the club head a little further behind me during the downswing, which also requires me to use my hands and arms a little more aggressively throughout the swing. This is good news. Being aggressive with my hands has always been easy. What has typically been troublesome for me is to speed up my lower body and turn faster. This alternative approach has had great results.

Below are a couple videos from that session using the tall pylon as a gauge for the takeaway.

In the "face-on-view" notice how the force driving toward the target shifts my weight to such a degree that I simply miss the pylon on the downswing. The three reps prior to hitting the ball are a great example of how to exaggerate the proper driving motion toward impact. The lower body (hips) presses forward while the head and shoulders hang back. There is a lot of focus on the right shoulder going down or under and allowing that to initiate the downswing.

Worth noting in the "down-the-line" view is that during the takeaway the club head passes outside the pylon. This is an area that I work with my students often. The shoulders and arms turn under, but the club head remains relatively away from the body, an element of a one plain swing.

My goal during this process and future practice sessions is to ensure the ball starts to the right of my target.

"The Beautiful Struggle"

"I don't love the game of golf. I like the beautiful struggle it creates. People say golf makes people crazy. No. People make people crazy. People say 'the seventh hole always gets me.' No. The seventh hole has no idea who you are."

Sean Foley

Power of Positive Thinking?

Original image at...
http://goo.gl/M7D8Qq

The phrase, "Power of Positive Thinking", seems overused. I know it's a movement of sorts and there is significant science dedicated to its understanding. But, when discussed with some of my students, it seems to fall on deaf ears. Not that they don't believe in the power of positive thinking, but because it is so obvious. Almost as if they are accepting defeat in that category, a burden they have to carry around the course with them. Or, maybe they don't believe in it.

The idea of pumping ourselves up seems to rely on past experience. When applying this to golf, a game rot with failure and deflation, it's tough for many players to pull on that past experience to help improve their state of mind and build up their confidence. The most recent experience typically overwhelms the thought process. If I pull my drive into thick rough under the trees, exactly where I did not want to be, it is difficult to keep that out of my mental state over the next few minutes. In some cases it can last for the remainder of the round. We hear negative self talk all the time from ourselves and overhear it across the fairway from playing partners. The language used on the golf course is not for the easily offended.

If you tell yourself that you stink at golf over and over you will reek, until you get lucky.

I recently read an article in Golf Digest titled, "Make The Turn Challenge 8: Fire Up Your On Switch." I almost dismissed it as just another mental game approach. But its simplicity got me thinking. Jeff Ritter asks, "What is it that makes one shot agony and the other pure ecstasy?" If we rule out luck, then in either case there is often the feeling of, "I knew that was going to happen!" Ritter goes on to suggest that, "the secret to your success might be in your ability to capture or better yet consistently 'produce' that can't-miss feeling." The goal is to produce an elevated mood. How we go about it is up to the individual.

Ritter says that the key to understanding high-level mental performance, or the "coolness" associated with it, is to embrace the fact that the feeling "is entirely controlled by you." I have always felt that champions had a "coolness" to them. Great players, whether club champions or PGA Tour winners, have a very level persona about them. They are confident for many reasons. It might be their experience of winning. Or of hitting the ball at the hole often. Or making clutch putts. They have been there before, therefore they are comfortable. While this may be true, Ritter suggests that because our feelings can be controlled by ourselves then it makes sense that we can build ourselves up, EVEN IF THE THOUGHTS ARE NOT ROOTED IN REALITY.

If the thoughts don't have to be rooted in reality then I can tell myself anything. This is what got me!

I have always taught students to be positive. Focus on where they want to hit it, not where they don't want to hit it. To have a sound pre-shot routine. To act confident. To commit to the shot. To have a big broad thought about their swing (ie. tempo). To visualize their success. The list can go on.

On a much more basic level, the idea of flooding my head with positive thoughts, even if completely unrealistic, means that I can have a conversation with myself for 18 holes where I am the star of the show. This is very liberating. To embrace the idea that my goal is to elevate my mood for every shot means I can think about anything. Even when the shot goes awry. That is the challenge!

During a recent tournament round I took the challenge. It actually started several hours before my tee time when I popped in some great music during the drive. I committed to elevating my mood for the entire day. My drive to the course was filled with absurd thoughts of how well I hit the golf ball, how perfect the weather was, and how much I liked the course. I thought back about recent great shots, even if at the time they seemed like "luck". I even recalled several of my best rounds of golf. Many of them nearly 20 years ago. I thought about how perfect the tee time was and that I would be able to get home in time to see my family for a full evening. I decided to embrace every emotion or thought as long as it was positive, even if those thoughts made me nervous or elevated my heart rate, both associated with winning.

The result of the challenge was remarkable. Let me start by saying that I did not score well. But that was not the challenge. The challenge was to elevate my mood and to sustain it throughout the round, which I was able to do. I felt like I owned every shot. I will spare the details of my internal conversation, except for the fact that I was a star no matter what happened. I accepted each shot as a continuation of the overall challenge and began building myself up immediately after every shot in preparation for the next. I looked forward to every swing.

An example of my success began on the second hole. I lost a ball after an approach shot into a par four. Not because of an errant shot, but because I was so jazzed up that I hit a six iron 15 yards further than normal. It was dead on the pin and I never found it. Returning to the original spot to hit a second ball, I clubbed down and nearly holed it out on the fly. I would follow up on the next hole, a par three, hitting a seven iron to six feet and making birdie. I may have lost a couple of shots but I hit three near perfect irons in a row. My accuracy continued throughout the round.

At the end of the day I hit 13 greens in regulation and averaged about 15 feet from the hole including two 40 footers. If I take those out, I was within 12 feet for eleven holes. This is well above my normal performance. On the eleventh green in regulation one of my competitors said, "Man, your are really on right now." My response was, "I know! I am really good." The words just flowed out. I never talk about myself like that on the golf course. I struggle with confidence just like the students I teach. But it was exactly what I was thinking. I had been thinking it all day.

Someone might ask why I didn't score well. It's probably obvious that my putter was not working well. I found that the way in which I handled the challenge really pumped me up. I hit the ball well off the tee and my iron game was as good as it could be. My full swing has a flow to it that has a similar start and end regardless of the club. But the short game is different. I did not chip and pitch very well when needed, and apparently this bolstered self confidence was more pumped-up instead of comfortable. Pumped-up is not how I want to feel over a 15 foot putt. Hello 6-footer coming back!

Click here to go to the original article.

Philadelphia Golf Show (February 7 - 9)

The North Coast Golf Show comes to Philadelphia

The Philadelphia Golf Show takes place February 7 - 9 at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center.

I will be providing free instruction on Sunday, February 9, from 10:00 - 1:00. You can sign up when you arrive at the show.

The Packed Parking Lot

As we drove around the corner leading into our favorite course my wife said, "Oh jeez, look at all the cars in the parking lot." The adjoining driving range was closed for the season, but because of the unseasonably warm weather the course was hopping. She went on with concerns about a tournament and wondered if we could get out. Drawing on my experience of managing high volume golf courses, I assured her that there would be no problems. We were a foursome that included our two boys, ages five and two. This was our family outing for the week and we were not going anywhere else.

We grabbed our gear, snacks and drinks and started toward the group of people collecting behind the 18th hole. The variety of people made the atmosphere inviting. There was a lot of jabbing while others told tall tales of high flying shots and low roped bullets. A clank at the 18th sounded like chained tires in the snow as the crowd stirred in disbelief at the hole-out from some 30 yards. As we made our way through I could see the first tee. There was a single player loosening up posing like a windmill as he stretched his back. Once I got through the crowd I could see his approach.

The first is a short par 3 down a subtle slope to the left. He needed only to manage a smattering of trees that were widely scattered between he and the hole. Then he made his move. He started from well behind the tee markers side stepping toward the line. He was right handed as he wound up turning his upper body away from the target. Once his momentum reached max speed toward the target his lower body came to a screeching halt as his whirling arm and hand released a stinging disc down the right side. It bent around the first set of trees on the right with a gentle bend to the left landing within scoring distance. He had a great start. This wasn't his first day at the Sedgley Woods Disc Golf Course.

We play disc golf almost every weekend, spring through fall. Today, just several days before New Years in Philadelphia the temperature was above 50 degrees. My experience is always the same. Complete satisfaction! A perfect blend of exercise, sport, exploration, and child rearing. I have skied and golfed since I was five years old. I have done a little backpacking and even bagged a few "fourteeners" while living in Denver. Throw in a mountain bike and a pair of trail runners and I'd say I've dabbled with a fair share of outdoor sports. Disc golf fills the void for outdoor activity with an edge.

Complete satisfaction!

A perfect blend of exercise, sport, exploration, and child rearing

Maybe it's the desire to lower my standards regarding course conditions. Maybe the time needed. Maybe the cost. Maybe the thrill of the hike or jog which is more exploratory than ruled by etiquette. It's okay to be loud. It's okay to run on the greens (there are none). There is no pressure from behind. There is rarely any wait despite the course being full. And while my two year old was slung on my back for 12 holes, he trailed and wandered along with us for the final six. It was muddy. Boots and sneakers were a mess. The atmosphere was completely relaxing, aside from the occasional stress of losing a disc, which is only slightly more expensive than the Titleist balls in my golf bag. The time was almost thoughtless. If nothing else, I was mindful of where my kids were, never out of sight and most often out of danger of a high flying arrant disc.

Yes, there are disc golf professionals, and serious tournaments that mirror the regional golf pro ranks. But, even that group is completely inviting for a family of four to take part during the day. There is no worry of un-raked bunkers, missed pitch marks on the green, and no worry of waiting. The emphasis is not particularly on the length of time. It is on the amount of time we need to play. Playing through a group or vise-versa has no stigma on a disc golf course. Not once in seven years playing at the same course have we encountered any stress related to the pace, regardless of whether we were slow or fast. And we've been both. 

This idea makes me think about recent efforts by the PGA of America and golf associations to pick up the pace at your club. I wonder if that is actually hitting at the core. I agree the pace needs to increase. But does that mean the experience should be better for some and not for others. Should a foursome of friends that know they will play comfortably in four and a half hours be pushed, ridiculed or reported. If the foursome behind typically play in 3:45, this is a recipe for disaster, conflict, and ill feelings. I, for one, don't like conflict.

The PGA tour is partially at fault. I know, I know... they are playing for a gazillion dollars. But I don't think that should factor in at all. None. The game has a time limit and that rule is broken every weekend. If it seems like a gray rule, they simply need to enforce it. What if my free throw routine was three minutes long? I would never run the court. Or my pitching routine was five minutes? I would never play in any league. 18 holes of golf was never meant to be played in six hours. Or even five, but I've played courses that warranted that amount. So, again, it's not simply about the time allotted. It's about the time my group needs to finish the round, within reason. There's that gray color again. Where is the line drawn?

The reason there is no pace of play issues at my local disc golf course on a packed Saturday afternoon is because everyone is cordial. There is no stigma with letting someone play through. Those that are playing through are patient. It happens fast and early in the round if necessary. It is seamless because all players involved play together for a short time moving their disc forward, a process I have always suggested on the golf course. It's a version of "ready golf" for about two minutes. Too often the slow group stops to wait, further slowing themselves down and increasing the backup behind them. Is simply pushing people to play faster really the answer?



Do you have thoughts about the pace of play at your club? How about the PGA Tour? Do you play disc golf? Leave a comment and let's chat about it. HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Low-Straight-Push

The proper bowing effect of the hands and wrists combine into a feeling of downward extension at impact. This is essential for solid ball striking. This is true for a chip, pitch, punch or full swing. At the core is the ability to delay the hands as long as possible. And when the hands become active they unload in a de-lofting fashion. Think about how the club face "opens" away from the target when the swing starts. The club must "close" in order to be square at impact. But simply closing the club face, by itself, does not accomplish the proper angle of attack into impact. Loft must be reduced resulting in the club head remaining low after impact.

The unloading act leading into impact has the effect of compressing the hands, especially the right palm as it braces for impact. A reasonably proper grip places the palm of the right hand more on top of the handle and the pressure is downward keeping the hands relatively low through impact.

TEST IT

While holding a club with a generally good grip take the set up and simply apply more pressure with the pad of the right thumb. Don't swing it. Simply apply the pressure. The toe of the club will naturally move a little left and the hands will press forward, de-lofting the club. 

Zach Johnson

If you are going to have a fault, be ahead of it and de-loft the club. The ball will launch low. De-lofting the club requires the opposite action of flipping the hands, typical of the average golfer. Learn to de-loft the club head regardless of where the body's overall weight is. It is very difficult to hit a ball hard and low when the weight is too far back or away from the target. Maybe even impossible. I find most students can resolve this fact by reacting to the feedback from each shot. The pattern of the ball flight's trajectory will represent the success. Don't sneak onto your back foot and try and add loft. That process is counter to solid ball striking. While practicing this approach I would expect a lower ball flight that is either perfectly strait or a low strait push shot.

Below are two related posts and the original Golf Digest article featuring Zach Johnson.

Punch It
Anchor The Turn
Zach Johnson How To Get Back To The Ball

Wild Bill Mehlhorn

I received a signed copy of Wild Bill Mehlorn's book, Golf Secrets Exposed in 1985, from a college recruiter. He was recruiting players for Florida International University. At 16 years old I had no idea who Wild Bill Melhorn was. Back then Florida seemed like a foreign country.

"Whether you are young or old, thin or fat, whether you move fast or slow, if you walk, run, dance, or swim, whether you throw a ball or hit one. Whether you swing an ax or cut grass with a grasswhip you never think of how you move any part of your anatomy. Why should golf be any different."
  - Bill Mehlhorn

"The best I ever saw from tee to green was Bill Mehlhorn"

  - Ben Hogan, Golf Magazine January, 1975

Face Angle and Swing Path

To change the typical shot pattern or curvature of the flight of your ball, first learn the combination of face angle and swing path that typically creates the curvature. This is the beginning of understanding your own swing. The next most important factor is to understand the relationship of the initial starting direction of the ball. The initial direction of the ball flight is directly related to the club face angle at impact. Generally, where the club is aiming at the moment of impact is the direction the ball starts. How it then curves is the relationship of the path to that club face angle. While the intended target and your success in aligning toward it is also imperative, the beginning of your understanding of your swing starts with path and club face.







Understand and embrace your golf swing. Own it. Even if it's peculiar, quirky, or eccentric.

Skiing From The Back Tees

I stood at the top looking down the chute. We had crossed the rope 100 yards back leaning into the wind. It was windy all day until we cut through the trees off the top of the Four Points lift. It was my third experience crossing the boundary line at this mountain. Unfortunately, it would prove to be just as disappointing as the first two. Skiing out of bounds at Steamboat Springs was legendary within my circles. But I must have missed those opportunities.

The trek was more pulling versus skiing. As we rounded the bend, we were reminded of the importance of being quiet and to tread lightly on our skis. Avalanche danger was real and we were on top of the massive snow pack that overlooked our destination, like a large white orb that blocks and skews the horizon line.

All photos in this article were pulled from
http://www.onthesnow.com/colorado/steamboat/ski-resort.html

The disappointment did not set in until we traversed down to the top of the "Chutes". Even though it was beyond the ropes it had a name, however ominous it was. Our intended path was looking straight down a massive 300 foot dropping slope that appeared like a large ice slick made for a sled. Straight down hill and no powder to speak of. We trudged through mounds of snow getting to the outcropping that would act as our starting gate. The whipping wind slowed. There was simply less snow on that side of the mountain, contrary to all the tall tales around the fire at the lodge. "Best powder ever. It's always deep and light."

Since my early experiences skiing at Steamboat, the Chutes
are no longer out of bounds. 

Not today. Fast and furious with nothing to pad the skis in to. The goal today was to keep upright for 300 feet. The trees at the bottom would slow things down. Or at least the powdered tree wells would provide a backstop, but only if there was others to pull you out of the hole that was more like freezing quicksand.

Powdered tree well danger. That is another story.

"Skiing from the back tees," was a phrase coined by a friend of my father's. In our circles growing up it seems everyone skied and golfed, all at a better-than-average ability. Competition was just as great on the slopes as it was on the golf course. What began as a description of always demanding the toughest black diamond slopes, soon became double diamond. Usually steeper with unending moguls. But as I have aged and changed so to have the back tees. Slopes are steeper. Cool is being dropped off by helicopter. Golf courses are longer. Technology has advanced. Physical fitness is more priority. At the top levels, airtime is the preferred extreme.

I grew out of the "X" generation, always thinking that we were so extreme. Then came the "Y" generation that simply asked, why not fly further? Why not question everything and force the extremes of previous generations. In the two recreational activities that I grew up immersed in, the levels at the top have continued to expand, as has most everything else.

The PGA suggests a "Tee It Forward" program to help promote and increase the pace of play. Not to mention, that if most check their bravado at the door, they will have more fun. But I can not help but think of how many times my father and I played a new course and demanded the back tees. We wanted all it could dish out. Occasionally we were throttled by the demands of an unfamiliar mountain course. Just as the outer bounds of a ski mountain had the upper hand on most days. Thankfully, both experiences were always worth the pain. both mentally and physically. 

Good Vision

A contradiction occurs at impact because of the momentum of the body's uncoiling motion combined with the extension of the arms, hands, and club. One pulls away from the other. Taking advantage of the energy requires good vision. See the impact!

Check this previous post http://fintusgolf.blogspot.com/2012/04/see-impact.html

Notes About A Centered Golf Swing

For most golfers the hands must stay relatively low and the club head relatively high when the swing starts.

More golfers should practice hitting punch shots to encourage the body to move toward the target and the club head to remain low after impact.

Compress The Divot Pattern At The Driving Range

We have all seen it. We walk onto the driving range grass tee and see a massive pocked area full of divots. We all want to hit off grass versus the mats. But are we doing our part? Take a look at this short video aimed at spreading a new initiative at Little Mill Country Club and beyond.

New Views At Little Mill

Bank It Off The Backboard (Practice Creativity)

Creativity during a short game practice session can be the difference between a productive hour versus beating balls around the practice green. When chipping, pitching, and working in the sand one must determine what the goal is for the time allotted. Specifically, if practicing a new method that requires a fair amount of thought and repetitive motion, choosing a fixed target is important. Hitting to the same target, involving a consistent distance and landing area, helps build muscle memory. However, if preparing for on-course conditions, choosing many different targets and terrain becomes more important. A student in this scenario is better off hitting an individual shot every few minutes to different targets and from different ground conditions. While someone building muscle memory might hit four or five shots in a minute.

Track Results

A good practice session for muscle memory includes a simple tracking method for your results. Choose one target and 11 balls. After hitting all the balls to your target remove the five closest and the five furthest from the hole. Place a marker at the eleventh ball. This is your median point. Now you can measure the distance and come back another day or reload and start the process again trying to better your previous results. This is also a fun way to compete with your friends. You do not have to use eleven balls. It is only important to use an odd number in order to find the median distance.

We experience a host of different conditions on the course. I give many short game lessons where the goal is to instill a solid and basic understanding of how to hit a chip shot. We hit balls from the edge of the green because that is the most often condition we face whether from long grass or a tight lie in front of the green. The ability to hit a chip shot and to understand the way a ball responds to impact and the green is important. Preparing for on-course conditions requires that we move around the practice green hitting long, short, high, and bump-and-run shots. We may use different lofted clubs with the goal of making the same swing for either a chip shot, pitch shot, or some variation regardless of the club we choose.

Be Creative

This process reminds me of a basketball practice from my youth. Several practice sessions included two hours of spinning a basketball off the backboard from anywhere inside the paint. We used both hands with the goal to understand the way the ball spins and how we could affect how much it spins. While the act of shooting a basketball and making quick choices under pressure is obviously more reactive than the act of hitting a golf ball, the process has stuck with me. During this session we worked on banking the ball off every spot on the backboard. Even high in the corners and low shallow angles from the side. Regardless of where we stood we had to figure out what action to put on the ball to make it drop. It forced us to be creative in our execution.

Practicing the short game and creating on-course conditions requires a lot of creativity. There are an endless number of conditions. So the next time you are practicing at the short game area move around and hit many different shots. Even when the shot requires a low bump and run, try to loft it up. And when you think it requires a lofted shot, try bumping the ball through the rough or into the bank. Be creative. There are different ways to get the ball close to the hole. Try landing the ball high on the fringe so that it takes a completely different track to the hole using the slope of the green. It might be necessary to throw a ball under hand at the trajectory you think it should land. This will also provide helpful feedback.

Whether you are trying to practice your bread-and-butter shot through repetition or creating numerous on-course conditions, be creative and make it fun.

The Unsung Hero

It is true that 27 holes of golf at Little Mill Country Club is much like playing 27 different games. The fourth hole on the Red Nine (Devils Glen) follows the same cue by presenting itself in a different light, or should I say color, than the rest. Very few tee shots at Little Mill are a forced carry challenge with a driver in hand. And no others are as visually daunting, with the yellow native grasses and sand dunes that create a trough to collect balls. It's the one hole that reminds us that we are only an hour from the shore but still trapped among the pines. So well beaten are the outskirts of the dunes that down trodden travelers have created their own path up the left side. Maybe it's the ticks and chiggers, but rarely do we see wary golfers hiking the trough in shorts. If we do we think, "He doesn't know." Or, it's a $4 golf ball hiding in the wispy grass.

Once the ball is in play the hole has a similar goal regardless of the golfers length: position your second shot for a clear view from 100 - 150 yards. The big hitters rarely "go-at-it" unless they are fortunate to have bombed the drive. But even then it is a blind shot to a well protected green.

The hidden green is tucked back and further left than we ever think. It is not until we see the aerial view that its dogleggedness is revealed. A front pin is tempting with the tiered backstop. But the front bunker, appearing more like a waste area, catches most misses. In fact, the entire green is very elusive with subtle breaks and bounces that launch the ball away from the pin.
Putting on the lower tier is confusing when the ball breaks toward the back of the green. Or like many greens at Little Mill, rolling the ball up the slope or a simple tap to get it moving down the hill can make anyone a head-scratcher.

Four Red, the unsung hero, is rarely discussed. It's nestled furthest away from the clubhouse and in the middle of the nine. It is never regarded as a game changer. But only because the round rarely ends there. One thing it has going for it is its expected five shots to complete it. Which it usually takes for even the best.

Swing Easy Into The Wind

Image Credit

Most people swing too hard when faced with a shot into the wind. I think it's a natural tendency. When you swing hard, or harder than normal, the chances of increasing the spin on the ball go way up. Spin is your enemy in the wind. Use more club and swing easy. If hitting a driver, focus on swinging with a smooth tempo and test out different teeing heights. It may seem obvious to tee it lower. But in reality the ball spins less when hit high on the face of the club. Overcoming the natural tendency to swing hard into the wind is a great step to lower scores.

Weather Forecast: Open Face With A Slight Chance Of Draw Spin

Doppler radar is now used extensively to track the golf swing and the flight of the ball. The ability to see impact in great detail is moving golf instruction and its students forward at a pace never seen before. It has been in use for several years. It is only recently that those studying and translating the data and helping to refine the technology are ready to share the information. Its use is beginning to hit the general public. While recent articles subtly suggest that the information is so revolutionary that students of the game may have been misinformed in the past, I do not believe that to be true. However, the data is refined to the nearest 10th degree in some cases, just a little better than my eyes can see at 110 mph with or without video. Below are a few factual points that I pulled from recent seminars.

O N E

Where the club face is aiming at impact has a 75 - 85% affect on the ball flight direction. For example, when a solid struck ball starts left and slices to the right, the club face is aiming left at impact. The left to right curve on the ball means that the path was even further left of the intended target. Understanding the relationship between face angle and path is not new. What seems to be alarming many students of the game is the fact that in the scenario above the club face is absolutely aiming left at impact.

Image Credit

T W O

In order for a right handed golfer to hit a nice little draw with a six iron, the swing path must be 4 degrees to the right of the target, while the face angle is 2 degrees right of the target. The face of the club needs to be open to the target (aiming right) at impact in order to hit a right to left curve at the target. And the swing path must be aiming further right. This 2:1 ratio seems to be consistent for the mid irons regardless of who is hitting the shot. The ratio becomes slightly more extreme for a driver. About 3:1.

T H R E E

Gear effect has a greater impact on the curvature of the flight than originally thought. Gear effect is the phenomena that occurs when a shot is mishit. If impacted on the toe of the club the ball flight DRAWS back. If hit off the heel, the ball flight typically FADES back toward the intended target. In many ways mishit shots tend to trump good swing path or good face angle. Which also means that mishits can correct or confuse bad swing path and bad club face angle, launching the ball toward the target even when the shot felt bad and clunky.

F O U R

The effective loft at impact has the greatest amount of influence on the trajectory of the ball flight. That might seem pretty obvious. Hitting the ball low has always been the core of my personal golf swing philosophy. I used to think that the idea of a punch shot or low trajectory ball flight was rooted in learning to play golf in the high winds of Wyoming. Years later I now understand that a sound impact position is simply a moment in time where the dynamics of the swing is reducing the loft of the club face. It is not really the effect of trying to hit it low. In fact, the downward angle at impact spins the ball creating lift and the proper trajectory. When teaching the proper impact position, the masses are mostly on the other end of the spectrum. They flip the club through impact adding loft which is the opposite of hitting down on the ball. This flipping motion usually results in short weak shots. So in essence, I spend a lot of time teaching people to hit it low. Or at least lower than they usually hit the ball. What is now understood better about the trajectory is that the angle of attack leading into impact has very little to do with the trajectory of the ball flight. Playing the ball further back in the stance may have the affect of reducing loft, but the steepness of the swing does not play much of a factor.

Our understanding of the golf swing is improving faster than ever through the use of swing and ball flight tracking devices. Over the last year I have had the opportunity to sit with many leading instructors. All of which are using some sort of today's Doppler radar technology. Their understanding and translation of the data is key to the fast paced learning curve of the game of golf. It almost seems a bit ironic to suggest that golf's learning process would be fast. But examples are showing more and more that students of the game are starting to understand and own their golf swings and game improvement is faster.

SCHEDULE YOUR GOLF SWING ANALYSIS NOW AND LET'S MAKE A FAST PACED PLAN TO IMPROVE

High Winds Of Wyoming

Hitting the ball low has always been the core of my personal golf swing philosophy. I used to think that the idea of a punch shot or low trajectory ball flight was rooted in learning to play golf in the high winds of Wyoming. Years later I now understand that a sound impact position is simply a moment in time where the dynamics of the swing are reducing the loft of the club face. It is not really the effect of trying to hit it low. In fact, the downward angle at impact spins the ball creating lift and the proper trajectory.





The excerpt above is a quote from an article written about the details of impact and launch angle. Follow the link below for the full article.

 Weather Forcast: Open Face With A Slight Chance Of Draw

Sean Foley Profile

I wish I knew more about Sean Foley before he started working with Tiger. It would have seemed less trendy for me to comment on his successes. As I read and watch more about his approach to teaching, what he teaches, and how he balances his life, I am continually impressed. I agree with almost every basic swing outline and coaching method that he exhibits. It is refreshing to know that where many of my swing thoughts and methodology have often seemed counter to the mainstream, they are now moving to the forefront of swing coaching and instruction. I was relieved to hear that he does not immerse himself in golf swing research. Rather, his studies are very wide giving him a balanced approach toward communicating with people. Half of the battle to being an effective teacher is creating an atmosphere on the lesson tee that makes individuals feel confident in their abilities. I have always said to younger professionals that are entering the business or recently finishing up their studies, that to be a successful teacher has as much to do with effective communicating and making people feel confident as it does with their knowledge of the golf swing. People will always perform better when they feel good and confident. Many of my students comment on their ability to hit solid shots while I am watching, as if they would rather it be broken giving us good reason to fix it. But in reality they are comfortable and focused. There is a lot to be learned from that experience.

Enjoy this short profile video about Sean Foley.

What... I have to choose?

I am often asked about my swing methodology. The question is posed as a selection between the "Traditional" method versus the opposing "Stack and Tilt" method. Recently, the "Foley" method is among the choices. Thank you Tiger. I am always taken back by the specifics of the question. As if there are two or three ways to swing a golf club and that I must fall into one of these categories. No one ever asked if I taught the Harmon method, or Leadbetter method. How did we get to Traditional, Stack and Tilt, or Foley? Maybe I didn't care as much when Harmon and Leadbetter were mainstream. Oh yeah, they are one of the top five instructors on pretty much any list. Are they the "Traditionalists"? If they are, they are not talking much. And what about Ben Hogan and Sam Snead? I am sure if I simply stuck to Hogan's Five Lessons and advocated hitting balls with bare feet I would have covered just as much ground.

The Blank Canvas

A freshly prepared canvas, smooth and white. An invitation for expression, color, or merits, as in a football helmet plastered with stars. That is how I saw the white club-head invasion into the golf industry several years ago. Maybe it's my artistic prowess or the multitude of stickers in my two-toddler house. But it only seemed like a matter of time before a new product would come out to fill the blank canvas on our driver.

I recently played in the PGA Magazine Pro-Pro event on the Nicholas course at Reunion Resort in Orlando. One sponsor for the event was a small company called Club Crown. I found their product to be fascinating. They had a wide selection of designs created to be overlaid on any driver or fairway wood. I took a few pictures to show the wide selection that was so simply arranged on the table. The colors were great, and it made for a dynamic presentation.

Considering I possess the unique combination of artist and golf aficionado it is fitting that I combine my creativity with the blank white club-head. Below are a few of my pieces and how they would present themselves on a driver. Interesting, if nothing else. View more artwork at www.fintus.com.

Balancing Bird

Masquerade Party for Him

Masquerade Party for Her

Cross-Handed Putting Grip

I changed my putting grip and reduced the amount of three-putts per round. I looked at the number of putts, and kept in mind the short putts under pressure that dropped. In 2012, I can recall numerous rounds without a three-putt.

I have given many putting lessons and discussed every type of grip. Aside from a short bout with a long putter I have never made a dramatic change to my putting grip. So in 2012, I changed to a cross-handed style. My new grip positions the left hand low and the right hand high. For me, the right hand settles more securely on the putter and gives me a better sense of connection to the putter head. The overall position forces the body to tilt more toward the target line. This repositioning compliments an open stance and squares the upper body. It also helps alignment for shorter putts by aligning the shoulders more parallel to the ground.

Because it is different, and the dominant hand is now at the top of the grip, essentially a weaker position, the sensation is a lack of feel. Initially longer putts are tougher to gauge. There might be an up side to this lack of feel by simply creating a softer impact on the ball. A cross-handed grip provides for better alignment, but the lack of feel results in a loss of power. Think about a baseball player hitting a bunt. He places his hand further toward the middle of the bat giving it stability. There is very little "swing" during a bunt. So the stability gives the batter control by leveraging the bat closer to the middle. This analogy is akin to a conventional putting grip. In my case it would be my old grip, left hand high. My right hand would be further down the shaft adding stability to the back of the putter (shaft). With stability lower on the shaft the impact is more solid.

Considering my tendency to hit mid and long putts too hard, I do not need more solid impact. This does not diminish the importance of striking the ball in the middle of the putter's face. It is the difference between hitting a ball with a 2x4 versus a 1x2.

Also the distance from my dominant (right) hand to the putter head has increased with the new cross-handed grip. This in turn increases the overall distance from my right shoulder to the putter head. The increased length, acting like a lever, creates a small amount of additional lag in the putter head. Although tough to see and feel, there is lag and release in a proper putting stroke. The lag creates a softer feel during impact. A small amount of give or shock absorption in the hands. I think it depends on the individual and their tendencies. If someone generally needs to hit putts softer, increasing this length will increase the lag, thus softening the impact on the ball.

There are many benefits to a cross-handed putting grip. Much of them outweigh the downside. And if you have similar tendencies as me, that is to say you would like to make more short putts and you often hit your longer putts well beyond the hole, there may be no downside. Enjoy making more putts!

Green Side Bunker: The Love-Hate Relationship

The choice between a green side bunker and heavy rough can be the difference between par and double bogie depending on which side of the coin you fall on. Occasionally, I find myself aiming for a green side bunker after hitting an errant drive into the trees. For those of you that have seen my game, you know that I like to play the Little Mill chimes at least once during a round of golf. Okay, maybe three or four times. I guess I like to play music. The reason I will shoot for a bunker is simple. I do not have a direct line to the green and my options in thick rough will limit my control of the next shot. I am comfortable in the sand and feel that I will be able to execute a shot that gets me near the pin even if it is cut close to the bunker. For others, their chances would be better left to a flip of a coin as to whether they simply get out. There is no quick trick. But once you get it you will be aiming for the bunker.

There are several key elements to playing a successful shot from a green side bunker.

ADDRESS POSITION
1. The alignment is open to the target compared to a full swing from the fairway. This means for a right handed golfer the feet will aim as much as 20-30 feet (15-20 degrees) left of the target for a mid length bunker shot.

2. The ball position is forward as it relates to the target line, positioned just inside the front foot.

3. The club face alignment is open aiming almost in the mirror opposite of the feet and body. For a right handed golfer the club face is aimed well right of the target. The club face alignment changes slightly depending on the condition of the sand.

4. The grip should be choked down on the club making it shorter. And the arms should hang lower making the hands feel slightly closer to the body. The butt end of the club will point toward the font leg.

5. THE LOWER-BODY WEIGHT MUST BE HEAVY ON THE FRONT FOOT. That is the left foot for right-handed golfers. And the right foot for left-handed golfers.

6. The feet should be settled into the sand for better traction. While testing the sand and building a stance is forbidden under the rules, there is still a lot to be learned when settling the feet into position.

THE SWING
1. If we can visualize a full swing from the fairway as having a 'U' shape. A green side bunker shot is executed more in the shape if a 'V'. The swing is initiated more with the hands than with the body. In fact, one good reason the stance is so open to the target is to help stabalize the lower body and to reduce the amount of weight that moves away from the target. Compared to a full swing from the fairway the club head will feel like its being picked up as the swing starts. This is a factor of the open stance. As a good bunker player I feel like the downswing is somewhat left of my target (I swing right handed), mainly because it is steeper than other swings. 

2. Hold the lower body extremely firm so that a heavy amount of weight remains on the front foot. The weight must stay on the front foot and drive even further toward the target. THIS IS THE NUMBER ONE FAULT OF THE AVERAGE GOLFER. If the weight hangs back the club will either dig leaving the ball in the bunker or the club will bounce off the sand striking the ball thin sending it flying over the green. Most good bunker players feel that the lower body is very stable with little turn. More hands and arms than the standard full swing.

3. The eyes should focus slightly behind the ball. The amount behind the ball is generally determined by the condition of the sand. Packed sand requires impact to be a little closer to the ball. And fluffy sand requires impact be a little further behind the ball. The difference is typically one to five inches.

Green Side Bunker: Variations

We can face a wide variety of conditions in a green side bunker. Whether it's the sand, the specific lie or the level of the ball related to the feet, the conditions are endless. The ball can decide to lodge in the face of the bunker, maybe under the lip. Or, on the edge of the bunker raising the question as to whether it's in or out of the hazard line. A green side bunker is treated as a hazard with the distinct restriction of not allowing the golfer to ground the club at address. As I have described in a different post, you probably either love them or hate them.

SAND CONDITIONS
Packed sand requires the club face to be LESS open and a smaller swing is required to reduce club head speed. Often, simply shortening the follow through will accomplish the slower club head speed. Impact with the sand is relatively closer to the  ball. Maybe one to two inches. 

Fluffy sand requires the club face to be MORE open and a longer swing is required to increase club head speed. In this case, simply lengthening the follow through will accomplish the faster club head speed needed. Impact with the sand is relatively further behind the ball. Maybe three to five inches.

AWKWARD LIES
The challenge with unlevel lies is positioning the stance to follow the terrain while keeping good balance. Remember that the weight needs to be toward the target on level ground. How is this affected when you are faced with uphill or downhill terrain, or the ball is above or below your feet? And, how will the terrain affect the movement during the swing? Gravity is typically working against us. Or is some cases we are working against it.

UPWARD SLOPE (incline toward the target)
If the ball sits on an upward slope toward the target the tendency is to fall back away from the target. The trick is to keep the weight toward the target in the same relation as if on level ground. There needs to be some effort to remain on the front foot while staying level to the terrain. On an upward slope the ball will tend to come out with more loft and pull to the left (for a right handed golfer). Therefore, a little harder swing and less open stance is required.

DOWNWARD SLOPE (decline toward the target)
On a downward slope we have to hold back the forward drive because we naturally want to fall down the hill toward the target. However, on a downward slop, stability is more important because we need the weight  moving toward the target anyway. Because of the slope the sot will come out lower. More loft is accomplished by opening the stance and club face slightly. But keep in mind that the ball will tend to push toward the right (for a right handed golfer). Any change in the body alignment or club face should be done in small increments.

BALL BELOW THE FEET
When the ball is above or below the feet the lateral movement is not the issue. The weight, as described for level terrain, is the same. Toward the target. Now the issue is our ability to manage a swing that keeps our head level with the ground. When the ball is below our feet we must find a stance that positions us lower. And because the ball will push toward the right (for a right handed golfer) positioning the entire set up toward the left will help off set the direction. This includes a combination of bending the knees and upper body to strike the sand with the bottom of the club. Also holding the club at the end of the grip will add some length. The tendency is to stand up hitting the ball thin. so we need to get down there and hold the posture through impact.

BALL ABOVE THE FEET
When the ball is above the feet our posture should be slightly taller. We still need to get into an athletic position, but with less bend. Depending on the severity we usually need to choke down on the club more, making the club shorter. It is important to note that when the ball is above the feet the flight of the ball is usually that of a pull shot. Positioning the set up toward the right (for a right handed golfer) will help off set the direction.

Green Side Bunker: Loft and Bounce

Understanding how your sand wedge works is just as important as how you swing it. Between loft and bounce the options seem endless. Most effective wedges used in the sand range from 54 - 60 degrees of loft. While most range between 6 - 16 degrees of bounce.

Open face increases bounce (original image credit)

Every club has bounce on the bottom of the club. Basically, the angle built into the sole of the club creates a certain level of bounce. Higher bounce creates more actual bounce off whatever terrain it hits. And lower bounce creates less. Because we can not have an unlimited number of wedges in our bag, we are forced to carry several wedges that work well in most conditions.

The condition of the sand is one factor in choosing the proper bounce on a wedge. Soft fine sand requires more bounce. While hard packed sand requires less bounce. There is no absolute formula in choosing a wedge because in addition to the actual bounce on the wedge we have to consider the way we use it. When executing a green side bunker shot the proper address position requires that we open the club face to some degree. Because of this we are adding to or exposing more of the bounce on the sole of the club. And if we consider wet sand, which makes even the softest fine sand pack together, one more possibility is added to the conditions we face.

The use of a sand wedge in the fairway or thick rough around the green is another factor to consider when choosing the proper bounce. From a short distance on the fairway the most significant factor is how hard or soft the ground is. If the turf is wet and somewhat saturated a low bounce wedge will tend to dig into the ground. While a higher bounce wedge will slide and effectively bounce a little reducing the margin of error. If the ground is firm and dry, a lower bounce wedge will typically have sufficient bounce to appropriately slide under the ball. And a higher bounce wedge will react more dramatically and bounce too much, causing thin shots.

(more to come...)

Eastern Cicada Killer Wasp

Have you wondered what those big wasp looking things are that nest in the fairways? They create large patches of sand and soil as they burrow into the grass. Well, they may actually be helpful to our trees. They are eastern cicada killer wasps. Officially known as sphecius speciosus. Sounds more like a spell from Harry Potter. If you watch them closely as they return to their hole, most often they will have a large cicada that they have snatched from the trees. If you are not familiar with the cicada simply listen and you will hear them. They make that grinding clicking noise so common to the summer. They are large and en mass they can cause damage to the trees by scarring the tree branches when the females lay their eggs deep in the branch.

The female cicada killer stings the cicada and brings it back for lunch. She may go out for more because she is larger than the male. The dead cicada also supplies nutrients for the eggs laid by the female and male cicada killer. So unless you are from Malaysia or the Congo where cicadas are a prized treat, we can let the eastern cicada killer wasp do its work without fear that we will be stung by one of the largest wasps in the eastern United States. Check out the excerpt below from Wikipedia regarding the threat to humans.

Are Cicada Killers Harmful to Humans?
"Although cicada killers are large, female cicada killer wasps are not aggressive and rarely sting unless they are grasped roughly, stepped upon with bare feet, or caught in clothing, etc. One author who has been stung indicates that, for him, the stings are not much more than a "pinprick". Males aggressively defend their perching areas on nesting sites against rival males but they have no sting. Although they appear to attack anything that moves near their territories, male cicada killers are actually investigating anything that might be a female cicada killer ready to mate. Such close inspection appears to many people to be an attack, but male and female cicada killers do not land on people and attempt to sting. If handled roughly, females will sting, and males will jab with a sharp spine on the tip of their abdomen. Both sexes are well equipped to bite, as they have large jaws; however, they do not appear to grasp human skin and bite. They are generally non-aggressive towards humans and usually fly away when swatted at, instead of attacking"

Cicada Killers on Wikipedia

Blah Blah Blah To The Top

from the series "how it feels to me"

The left shoulder goes down and rotates under the chin while the rest of the body coils in. The hands should stay relatively connected with the overall turn and downward motion of the left shoulder. Maintaining the original arms to shaft angle during the initial turn is important for keeping the hands on plane, lower than most people realize. The feeling creates a connection between the shoulders and hips for the initial start of the swing that is gradually over taken by the shoulder turn. Maintaining proper posture will have the affect of the left arm coming in close to the chest. By keeping the elbows closer to each other creates a relatively tighter swing, better for both power and control.

The hands should begin extending and become activated, picking the club up when they reach the right leg. Because the upper torso is rotating in correlation with the hips, the hands will be lower and on plane. The dynamics of this motion creates a certain amount of hip rotation. The amount of hip rotation and its relation to the axis point determines the amount the right leg straightens at the top of the swing. If the weight moves to the right or away from the target the right leg remains more flexed and stable. If the weight moves left, essentially tilting toward the target, the right leg straightens more to some degree. This left leaning position at the top of the swing also adds stability. This movement is balanced and centered. The weight and force from your chest and arms creates a force that is countered by a leftward motion as the backswing reaches the top. A reaction to remain balanced realizing your back is to the target.

Like trying to close gaps within the fingers of the grip, the golf swing is often about finding parts of the body that are moving or bending that do not need to move or bend.

Lag & Release the Putter

from the series "how it feels to me"

The distance from my dominant (right) hand to the putter head has increased with the new cross-handed grip, in turn increasing the overall distance from my right shoulder to the putter head. The increased length, acting like a lever, creates a small amount of additional lag in the putter head. Although tough to see and feel, there is lag and release in a proper putting stroke. The lag creates a softer feel during impact. A small amount of give or shock absorption in the hands. I think it depends on the individual and their tendencies. If someone generally needs to hit putts softer, increasing the length will increase the lag, thus softening the impact on the ball.

Technically this does not make sense considering that increased lag in the full swing typically adds swing speed and ultimately more distance. But, that is how it feels to me.

Anchor the Turn

Striking a golf ball solid can be elusive at times. I often find the biggest culprit is the amount of lateral movement throughout the entire swing. Simply put, the distance the head moves back away from the target during the back swing can adversely affect the chances of solid impact. In the last few years there has been a lot of discussion about this topic. The discussion was brought to the forefront when the Stack and Tilt method of hitting a golf ball introduced the idea that the overall weight during the swing should stay centered with more emphasis on the front foot. This gives the address position and swing a forward (toward the target) leaning appearance. Compared to the Traditional swing method that encourages the golfer to move the weight back as the swing is initiated, placing more weight on the back foot at the top of the back swing. Which is correct?

I do not think either method should be followed as a rule. While the proper point of impact requires that a significant amount of weight be on the front foot regardless of the method, every golf swing is different and the swing changes needed to better the point of contact is often different. However, the tendency for many average golfers is to move the weight back (away from the target), which makes the downswing difficult to properly time. With that, the Stack and Tilt method warrants merit. The method suggests that if so much weight needs to be on the front foot at impact, then why move back (away from the target) when the swing is started? I agree. But the level at which this is adhered depends entirely on the swing tendencies for the individual golfer.

As I mentioned before, many golfers move away from the target during the back swing. As a result the heel of the front foot lifts off the ground. Often when the heel lifts the hips slide away from the target with very little turn. When the hips slide away from the target the swing path generally moves away from the body making the hands rise above the swing path, creating an outside-in path. This scenario most often creates a fade or slice.

A good practice session includes hitting balls with the front foot solid on the ground. If the front foot had typically lifted, holding it solid will immediately keep the overall balance more centered and create a more downward motion toward the ball. This drill will also move the bottom of the swing further forward so that any divot is in front of the ball.

After working through the timing issues created by the new impact position the second step is to turn the back hip (right hip for right handed golfers) when the swing starts. A good thought when starting the backswing is to feel like the shoulders, hips, and hands all start at the same time while keeping the front foot planted on the ground. The back hip should turn and essentially move away from the ball. Think of a swivel motion with the head or chest as the center point. Turn. Do not sway or slide away from the target.

By turning the hips and holding the front foot solid on the ground will keep the body more centered. The added emphasis on the hip turn during the take away will allow the hands to naturally stay lower and on plane. Keeping the hands low is a key fundamental to striking the ball from the inside and promoting a hook or draw ball flight. So anchor the swing on the front foot and turn the hips for better balance and more solid impact.

Is It This Position Or That Position?

To say I teach the student not the method would miss the mark. However, with the complexity of the golf swing and the variety that humans bring to the golf course, no model fits them all. Golf instruction must be rooted somewhere. Even if it is only a basic understanding of swing path and face angle. A sort of quick fix approach can develop the proper dynamics. "I can fix your slice Mr. Jones. Just turn your left hand on top and aim right." This advice may create a drastic pull hook, but the slice would be gone. It may also work perfect by creating a nice high draw. I find it interesting when golf instructors and golf fanatics speak in absolutes when it comes to the golf swing. "Is it this position or that position?" I had this exact question a few days ago from a decent 5 handicapper. Oddly, I had an answer because the choice seemed quite clear. As he turned to walk away he followed with, "I'm duck hooking everything." Hmm... He was gone before I could change my answer.

Punch It

I use the analogy of hitting a punch shot as a model for solid contact. The natural movement that even higher handicappers make when trying to replicate a punch shot is the shallow downward blow required to trap the ball between the ground and club face. When I discuss with students the various shots they hit throughout a round of golf I often identify that they are comfortable punching out of the trees. In fact that is usually the sole responsibility of their 4 iron. For anyone who flips the club through impact, scoops it, or "casts" the club, they should try to hit punch shots. When Phil Michelson described how he hits a punch shot in a 2011 interview he simply said, "I keep the club head low after impact." Keeping the club head low after impact requires that your hands move through the impact zone at or before the club head. Otherwise the club will flip up adding loft.

Take a look at this video of Mac O'Grady demonstrating a punch shot. Note how centered he stays during the back swing and how he moves toward the target (left) during the downswing. Also important to note is the length of the follow through. By shortening the follow through he decreases the amount of flipping action of the hands and keeps the club head low. This swing is certainly a valid shot for a lower trajectory ball flight. For the average golfer, practicing this shot will translate to better overall ball striking in the full swing.

Slam It and Stop

from the series "how it feels to me"

Swing hard and abbreviate the swing by stopping early. This will exaggerate the proper slowing down rotation of the upper torso. The upper torso acts like the center of the whipping action at impact. As the arms and shoulders also take the lead through impact, they are forced to be in front the club head and relatively tense with the anticipation of stopping. The muscles are active.

That is how I am swinging the club right now. Slam it and stop!

A follow up post takes this idea further into a standard Punch Shot.

The Static Four: Grip, Posture, Alignment, & Ball Position

It has been written about for almost a hundred years. So why have we not gotten it right? Why does the basic preparation to hit a golf ball seem so elusive? For the average golfer the "static four", including the grip, posture, alignment and ball position, are the easiest elements of the golf swing to improve and even master.

GRIP
How we hold the club determines the arc and the way in which the wrists set or load at the top. Whether the grip is weak or strong makes the ball spin right or left. If the club sits properly in the fingers, the rotation through impact reacts on a larger level by rolling the forearms, one over the other. Correcting the grip always feels dramatic. But if the change is needed to develop and foster a better swing it is always worth the uncomfortable feelings associated with it. When a student says they have tried to change their grip but they can't, they have basically mastered the wrong grip and are often doomed to make other adjustments to accommodate their poor starting position.

POSTURE
The preferred posture is debated. But, we need to stand in an athletic position ready to act and be forward. Twenty-five years ago there was emphasis on straightening the spine as it entered into the pelvic area, almost inverting the hips, only to find out that this position gave everyone a back ache. Now it is widely accepted that the curvature in the lower spine should be angled to match the pelvic area straight on. No "hyper extension" of the lower spine. It needs to be comfortable. Good posture is about balance. That balance needs to be slightly forward on the balls of the feet. So a little bend in the knees, a little more bend at the hips and the hands will hang naturally away from the body 4-5 inches. The bottom counter balances the top with a little emphasis forward toward the golf ball. The curvature of the spine leading into the neck and head needs to be comfortable. A little slouching is okay as long as it remains slouchy throughout the swing.

ALIGNMENT
There are many good reasons to be aligned wrong. And that is okay. But understand the affect of poor alignment. Check out an earlier post, Alignment: Pull Shots and Slices, for more information.

BALL POSITION
The various ball positions, as they relate to the center line between the feet, is often misunderstood. For 90% of all full shots the difference in ball position between a wedge and a fairway wood is much less than most people visualize. Good practice aligns the ball in the center of the stance for a wedge. For every longer club the ball position moves toward the target (forward) by less than a 1/2 inch. That means about 5 inches between the wedge and fairway woods. Other factors, such as the width of stance and alignment can further reduce the disparity between the short irons and longer clubs. For both alignment and ball position, placing an alignment stick or club on both the parallel and perpendicular line is helpful to visualize these positions.

The grip, posture, alignment, and ball position all determine the direction, trajectory, and spin on the ball. These static elements of the address position require very little athletic ability. How you hold it and stand there affects everything. It is time we all get it right.