Tuesday, May 25, 2010
As Seen on the Golf Channel: AimPoint Putting School @ Haggin Oaks
Please take a look at the flyer below in case you are interested in improving your green reading skills and lowering your scores dramatically...
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Getting 'Hip' Can Help Your Game
This is an interesting article that I found online and one that I agree may help many of you increase your ability to turn and make a more "rounded" swing shape, turning your left to right shots into right to left shots...
We've all read articles and heard TV commentary about restricting your hip turn on the backswing to develop more coil and increase you X-Factor (the differential in degrees of rotation between shoulder rotation and hip rotation). That's all well and good if you are in good "golf" shape with a lot of flexibility and stability. But for many of my students a simple increase in backswing hip rotation increases their clubhead speed and turns their over-the-top fade into a draw. Let me explain why.
First off, we all need to have as large of an X-Factor as we can to achieve maximum clubhead speed. But there is one aspect that is often overlooked. In Jim McLean's original writings in the early 90's he mentioned that the player with the largest X-Factor on the PGA Tour was John Daly. By no small coincidence he was the longest driver on tour at the time. Here's the catch, Daly also had the most hip rotation of the players measured. What we find is that roughly for every degree of hip rotation you get two degrees of shoulder turn. So when we say the model backswing normally has around 90 degrees of shoulder rotation and 45 degrees of hip rotation we see this 2-1 ratio develops an X-Factor of 45. If the hip rotation is increased to 46 degrees that should lead to a shoulder rotation of 92 degrees and an X-Factor of 46.
This scenario has limits, but I have found that for many average players increasing their hip rotation leads to more shoulder rotation. They don't have the flexibility to just restrict their hip turn and turn their shoulders more. The most profound impact is with players who tend to slide their hips more than they rotate them. Those players tend to have some or all of these characteristics. A swing plane that is too steep, upright and over-the-top on the downswing and hit mostly shots that start left of the target and fade or slice to the right. They tend to have their right knee bow on the backswing leading to a rolling of the back foot with weight being on the outside of it. Also, many times their right arm gets too far away from the body and they have what would called a "flying" right elbow. Without having to think about all this many times making sure that the hips turn more on the backswing changes these flaws and produces a swing plane that allows players to deliver the club to ball on an inside path encouraging a draw. For some of these players it's the first time they are aware of properly moving their core mid-section and how activating that can really be the engine that drives their swings. They also feel the production of centrifugal force that helps them properly release and square the clubface.
Finally, remember these points that will prevent too much hip rotation. As long as you keep your front heel down, your back knee flexed and not allow it to float out over the outside half of your back foot I say go for it and start turning those hips.
By John Fiander, PGA Master Professional - PGA.com
We've all read articles and heard TV commentary about restricting your hip turn on the backswing to develop more coil and increase you X-Factor (the differential in degrees of rotation between shoulder rotation and hip rotation). That's all well and good if you are in good "golf" shape with a lot of flexibility and stability. But for many of my students a simple increase in backswing hip rotation increases their clubhead speed and turns their over-the-top fade into a draw. Let me explain why.
First off, we all need to have as large of an X-Factor as we can to achieve maximum clubhead speed. But there is one aspect that is often overlooked. In Jim McLean's original writings in the early 90's he mentioned that the player with the largest X-Factor on the PGA Tour was John Daly. By no small coincidence he was the longest driver on tour at the time. Here's the catch, Daly also had the most hip rotation of the players measured. What we find is that roughly for every degree of hip rotation you get two degrees of shoulder turn. So when we say the model backswing normally has around 90 degrees of shoulder rotation and 45 degrees of hip rotation we see this 2-1 ratio develops an X-Factor of 45. If the hip rotation is increased to 46 degrees that should lead to a shoulder rotation of 92 degrees and an X-Factor of 46.
This scenario has limits, but I have found that for many average players increasing their hip rotation leads to more shoulder rotation. They don't have the flexibility to just restrict their hip turn and turn their shoulders more. The most profound impact is with players who tend to slide their hips more than they rotate them. Those players tend to have some or all of these characteristics. A swing plane that is too steep, upright and over-the-top on the downswing and hit mostly shots that start left of the target and fade or slice to the right. They tend to have their right knee bow on the backswing leading to a rolling of the back foot with weight being on the outside of it. Also, many times their right arm gets too far away from the body and they have what would called a "flying" right elbow. Without having to think about all this many times making sure that the hips turn more on the backswing changes these flaws and produces a swing plane that allows players to deliver the club to ball on an inside path encouraging a draw. For some of these players it's the first time they are aware of properly moving their core mid-section and how activating that can really be the engine that drives their swings. They also feel the production of centrifugal force that helps them properly release and square the clubface.
Finally, remember these points that will prevent too much hip rotation. As long as you keep your front heel down, your back knee flexed and not allow it to float out over the outside half of your back foot I say go for it and start turning those hips.
By John Fiander, PGA Master Professional - PGA.com
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
How to Hit Those Dreaded Long Irons
It is one of the toughest shots for most amateurs to hit -- the dreaded long iron. One of the biggest problems people have with the long irons is a misconception on what makes a good long iron shot. Here are a few keys to remember to help you hit consistent long iron shots.
1.) Remember that long irons still have plenty of loft. It is important to concentrate on "striking" the ball rather than "scooping."
2.) Using a longer club creates the tendency of a harder swing. It is important to still swing smoothly with your long irons.
3.) If you do not own hybrids...you should.
There are a couple of simple drills you should practice to improve your long iron play:
a.) Practice swinging with your right arm only. This will create a consistent swing path and allow you to strike the ball more consistently.
b.) Another drill to practice is to take about a 75% backswing, accelerate through the ball, and finish your follow-through at 50%. This will create greater club head speed through the hitting zone, rather than using energy on a long follow-through, after the ball has been struck.
Source: PGA.com
1.) Remember that long irons still have plenty of loft. It is important to concentrate on "striking" the ball rather than "scooping."
2.) Using a longer club creates the tendency of a harder swing. It is important to still swing smoothly with your long irons.
3.) If you do not own hybrids...you should.
There are a couple of simple drills you should practice to improve your long iron play:
a.) Practice swinging with your right arm only. This will create a consistent swing path and allow you to strike the ball more consistently.
b.) Another drill to practice is to take about a 75% backswing, accelerate through the ball, and finish your follow-through at 50%. This will create greater club head speed through the hitting zone, rather than using energy on a long follow-through, after the ball has been struck.
Source: PGA.com
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Mackenzie Course at Haggin Oaks Named #18 Best Municipal Course in the U.S. by Golfweek
Golfweek’s Best: Municipal Courses (2009-2010)
1. Bethpage State Park (Black) 8.07
Farmingdale, N.Y.
1935, A.W. Tillinghast; Rees Jones (1998)
2. Chambers Bay 7.61
University Place, Wash.
2007, Robert Trent Jones Jr., Bruce Charlton
3. Butterfield Trail* 6.33
El Paso, Texas
2007, Tom Fazio
4. Piñon Hills 6.18
Farmington, N.M.
1990, Ken Dye
5. Torrey Pines (South) 6.18
San Diego
1957, William F. Bell
6. TPC Scottsdale (Stadium) 6.13
Scottsdale, Ariz.
1987, Jay Morrish, Tom Weiskopf
7. Indian Wells Golf Resort (Players) 5.95
Indian Wells, Calif.
2007, John Fought
8. Memorial Park 5.88
Houston
1936, John Bredemus; Baxter Spann (1996)
9. Olympic Course at Gold Mountain 5.83
Bremerton, Wash.
1996, John Harbottle
10. Harding Park 5.83
San Francisco
1925, Willie Watson
11. Wintonbury Hills 5.72
Bloomfield, Conn.
2003, Pete Dye, Tim Liddy
12. Thunderhawk 5.71
Beach Park, Ill.
1999, Robert Trent Jones Jr.
13. Shepherd’s Crook 5.70
Zion, Ill
1999, Keith Foster
14. Laurel Hill 5.67
Lorton, Va.
2005, Bill Love
15. Torrey Pines (North) 5.66
San Diego
1957, William F. Bell
16. Indian Wells Golf Resort (Celebrity) 5.63
Indian Wells, Calif.
2006, Clive Clark
17. Bethpage State Park (Red) 5.53
Farmingdale, N.Y.
1935, A.W. Tillinghast
18. Haggin Oaks (MacKenzie) 5.50
Sacramento, Calif.
1932, Alister MacKenzie
19. Soldier Hollow (Gold) 5.50
Midway, Utah
2004, Gene Bates
20. Soule Park 5.50
Ojai, Calif.
1962, Robert Baldock, William F. Bell; Gil Hanse (2005)
21. Aspen GC 5.50
Aspen, Colo.
1970, Frank Hummel
22. Indian Canyon 5.50
Spokane, Wash.
1935, H. Chandler Egan
23. Triggs Memorial 5.46
Providence, R.I.
1930, Donald Ross
24. Hideout 5.45
Monticello, Utah
2002, Forrest Richardson
25. TPC Scottsdale (Champions) 5.42
Scottsdale, Ariz.
2007, Randy Heckenkemper
26. Sunbrook (Pointe/Woodbridge) 5.41
St. George, Utah
1991, Ted Robinson
27. North Palm Beach CC 5.41
North Palm Beach, Fla.
1928, Charles Banks, Seth Raynor; Jack Nicklaus (2006)
28. Crandon Park GC 5.41
Key Biscayne, Fla.
1972, Bruce Devlin, Robert von Hagge
29. George Wright Municipal 5.39
Boston
1935, Donald Ross
30. Olivas Links 5.38
Ventura, Calif.
2007, Forrest Richardson
31. Harborside International (Starboard) 5.37
Chicago
1996, Dick Nugent
32. Hominy Hill 5.36
Colts Neck, N.J.
1965, Robert Trent Jones Sr.
33. Montauk Downs State Park 5.36
Montauk Point, N.Y.
1968 Rees Jones
34. Fossil Trace 5.34
Golden, Colo.
2003, Jim Engh
35. Washington County GC* 5.33
Hartford, Wis.
1997, Arthur Hills
36. Harborside International (Port) 5.33
Chicago
1995, Dick Nugent
37. Chaska Town Course 5.32
Chaska, Minn.
1997 Arthur Hills
38. SilverRock 5.32
La Quinta, Calif.
2005, Arnold Palmer
39. Greystone 5.31
White Hall, Md.
1997, Joe Lee
40. Sand Creek Station 5.31
Newton, Kan.
2006, Jeff Brauer
41. Wingpoint GC 5.25
Salt Lake City
1991, Arthur Hills
42. Papago Municipal 5.25
Phoenix
1964, William F. Bell
43. Lassing Pointe 5.23
Union, Ky.
1994, Michael Hurdzan
44. Breckenridge 5.23
Breckenridge, Colo.
1987, Jack Nicklaus
45. Boulder Creek 5.22
Boulder City, Nev.
2003, Mark Rathert
46. Brown Deer Park 5.21
Milwaukee
1929, George Hansen
47. Callippe Preserve 5.20
Pleasanton, Calif.
2005, Brian Costello
48. Cobblestone 5.19
Acworth, Ga.
1993, Ken Dye
49. Ol’ Colony 5.18
Tuscaloosa, Ala.
2001, Jerry Pate
50. Brackenridge Park 5.17
San Antonio
1915, A.W. Tillinghast
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