Since the introduction of all the new large head drivers (380 - 460cc) it's been found
that the sweet spot is much higher on the club face than with the older drivers.
Therefore to take advantage of the additional size and sweet spot you need to tee
your ball higher than in the past.
A leading golf magazine recently did a test with golfers of all handicaps. They had them hit a number of drives with their balls teed as they normally would. Then they hit a another
series of drives with the balls teed higher than normal, in some cases twice as high.
The results were pretty impressive. They averaged a 20 yard increase in distance, some
a little more some a little less. Certainly reason enough to give it a try yourself.
Here's the best way to go about it:
1.) Tee you ball up high, about 2x usual height, using the 2 ? " tee.
2.) Hold the driver above the ground aligning the ball with the sweet spot on the club face during approach/ or set-up.
3.) Now, simply relax your wrists allowing the club head to fall to the ground..notice the club head is not directly behind the ball...it should be lined up more on the toe of the club.
4.) Note the higher the ball is teed up the farther the club head will be from the ball...this will allow the correct geometry to take place especially at impact.
So give it a try -tee 'em high and watch 'em fly!
Friday, April 27, 2007
Monday, April 16, 2007
Simple Exercise Helps Win US Open
Paul Gagne is a brilliant posturologist and exercise kinesiologist with the David Leadbetter Golf Academy. His work with 2005 US Open champion Michal Campbell helped him win the
championship. Campbell won that Open at Pinehurst with a dazzling back-nine putting display on Sunday. Five times during the final round he dashed into the various portable toilets that dotted the course, in part to use them for their intended purpose but also to perform a peculiar eye exercise prescribed by Gagne that makes the eyes function better together. After emerging from the Port-O-Lets on the 12th and 17th holes, Campbell drained key putts--on No. 17, a 25-footer that clinched the victory. He took only 27 putts that day.
"After doing the exercises, I felt focused and relaxed," says Campbell. "I could really focus on the line of the putts, which was critical on the Pinehurst greens. Doing the exercises took me away from the occasion, the stress, the pressure and put me in the present time."
He suffered from poor eye convergence, his eyes not working in concert when he looked down and formed a line to the hole. The phenomenon of poor eye convergence afflicts nine out of 10 people, according to Gagne, and comes into play primarily in putting and chipping because your eyes look straight down at the ball. "When you line up a putt from behind the ball, your eyes level to the horizon, you're fine," he says. "The problem arises when you look down at address and your eyes try to join, in forming a line to the hole. In almost all cases, one eye performs well, but the other eye does not follow the good one."
Because the exercises can immediately benefit the everyday golfer, there is hope that Gagne's program could lead to a widespread performance breakthrough in putting.
How does the poor eye convergence lead to poor posture and alignment? "Naturally, the tendency is to help your weaker eye," says Gagne. "You do that by adjusting your head to bring it more into play. Because Michael's right eye is his weaker eye, his head would turn slightly to the left, and his right hip and shoulder would move out toward the ball, shifting his alignment open." (If your left eye is weaker, you'll tend to set up closed.) As Gagne predicted, Campbell said most of his missed putts went to the left.
Now for the exercise Campbell performed inside the Port-O-Lets, which Gagne says will improve your eye convergence immediately. Take a pen (in Campbell's case it was a golf pencil) and position the tip 10 to 12 inches in front of your eyes, opposite the bridge of your nose. Imagine a figure 8 lying on its side, like a pair of big glasses, its length just wider than your face, and draw a figure 8 in the air with the pen. Trace the figure 8 between 20 and 30 times, moving the pen fast enough so you can complete the full set of movements in two to three minutes, never losing sight of the tip of the pen. You don't need to be perfect, says Gagne, but it's important to keep your head still as you do it. If you perform this exercise a few times every day, the convergence condition will improve dramatically.
A painless exercise with no heavy lifting, the promise of more putts holed and better control over your emotions. Now that's the kind of workout routine golfers have been looking for.
championship. Campbell won that Open at Pinehurst with a dazzling back-nine putting display on Sunday. Five times during the final round he dashed into the various portable toilets that dotted the course, in part to use them for their intended purpose but also to perform a peculiar eye exercise prescribed by Gagne that makes the eyes function better together. After emerging from the Port-O-Lets on the 12th and 17th holes, Campbell drained key putts--on No. 17, a 25-footer that clinched the victory. He took only 27 putts that day.
"After doing the exercises, I felt focused and relaxed," says Campbell. "I could really focus on the line of the putts, which was critical on the Pinehurst greens. Doing the exercises took me away from the occasion, the stress, the pressure and put me in the present time."
He suffered from poor eye convergence, his eyes not working in concert when he looked down and formed a line to the hole. The phenomenon of poor eye convergence afflicts nine out of 10 people, according to Gagne, and comes into play primarily in putting and chipping because your eyes look straight down at the ball. "When you line up a putt from behind the ball, your eyes level to the horizon, you're fine," he says. "The problem arises when you look down at address and your eyes try to join, in forming a line to the hole. In almost all cases, one eye performs well, but the other eye does not follow the good one."
Because the exercises can immediately benefit the everyday golfer, there is hope that Gagne's program could lead to a widespread performance breakthrough in putting.
How does the poor eye convergence lead to poor posture and alignment? "Naturally, the tendency is to help your weaker eye," says Gagne. "You do that by adjusting your head to bring it more into play. Because Michael's right eye is his weaker eye, his head would turn slightly to the left, and his right hip and shoulder would move out toward the ball, shifting his alignment open." (If your left eye is weaker, you'll tend to set up closed.) As Gagne predicted, Campbell said most of his missed putts went to the left.
Now for the exercise Campbell performed inside the Port-O-Lets, which Gagne says will improve your eye convergence immediately. Take a pen (in Campbell's case it was a golf pencil) and position the tip 10 to 12 inches in front of your eyes, opposite the bridge of your nose. Imagine a figure 8 lying on its side, like a pair of big glasses, its length just wider than your face, and draw a figure 8 in the air with the pen. Trace the figure 8 between 20 and 30 times, moving the pen fast enough so you can complete the full set of movements in two to three minutes, never losing sight of the tip of the pen. You don't need to be perfect, says Gagne, but it's important to keep your head still as you do it. If you perform this exercise a few times every day, the convergence condition will improve dramatically.
A painless exercise with no heavy lifting, the promise of more putts holed and better control over your emotions. Now that's the kind of workout routine golfers have been looking for.
Friday, April 13, 2007
Want Lower Scores---Improve Your Putting !
Now a good putt won't attract the kind of back-slapping and gasps of jealously that a good long accurate drive will. But hear me out. Because a simple "tweak" in your putting can lower your score a lot quicker than adding 30 yards to your drive. Yep... eliminate the 3-putts (or worse) and I guarantee it'll make a HUGE difference in your score. When the pros want to concentrate on lowering their score, they look to their putting game.
First... avoid putting from a static position. Okay... what does that mean? Well just this. You want to get some "movement" started before you begin the backstroke. Pro golfer Bobby Schaeffer suggests you line up your shot... settle in for the putt... then just before you begin the backstroke, perform two gentle up-and-down "taps" with your putter head.
That's it. This avoids the kind of inaccuracies and putter head "bobbles" that come from a static start.
Second... about your putting stroke. Remember to focus on keeping the putter head low to the ground - this helps to keep the putter on plane These two tips will do a couple things for you. It'll suddenly give you greater consistency and accuracy with your putts because you've avoided starting from a "static" position... AND you'll never again "stub" your putts because the "tap-tap" feeds your brain with a measurement of where the grass is. Good stuff that'll instantly lower your score.
For more secrets on putting I highly recommend you check out Bobby Schaeffer's "Hot Touch Putting":
First... avoid putting from a static position. Okay... what does that mean? Well just this. You want to get some "movement" started before you begin the backstroke. Pro golfer Bobby Schaeffer suggests you line up your shot... settle in for the putt... then just before you begin the backstroke, perform two gentle up-and-down "taps" with your putter head.
That's it. This avoids the kind of inaccuracies and putter head "bobbles" that come from a static start.
Second... about your putting stroke. Remember to focus on keeping the putter head low to the ground - this helps to keep the putter on plane These two tips will do a couple things for you. It'll suddenly give you greater consistency and accuracy with your putts because you've avoided starting from a "static" position... AND you'll never again "stub" your putts because the "tap-tap" feeds your brain with a measurement of where the grass is. Good stuff that'll instantly lower your score.
For more secrets on putting I highly recommend you check out Bobby Schaeffer's "Hot Touch Putting":
Saturday, April 7, 2007
Want to Play Extraordinary Golf
Want to Play Better Golf? Get Into The Right Frame of Mind!
Think about what you normally do before you start a round of golf with your friends. Are you running your kids across town to soccer practice? Are you still sleepy from the poor night's rest you had? Are you all jazzed up on 6 cups of coffee? Are you nervous as a cat in a room full of rocking chairs because you've been chili dipping the ball? No doubt you are in some state of mind before you start your round of golf. And more often than not, I would be willing to bet my Ben Hogan autographed book that it is the wrong frame of mind.
I know you have a busy life. But the key is to get into the right frame of mind before you step onto the first tee box. How do you do this? Well, let me just say that it is not always easy and takes practice to get into the right frame of mind. So don't be frustrated or disappointed in yourself if it takes a little while. Remember this is a game and it is supposed to be fun. Why else would you be out there paying big bucks to hit a little white ball into a tiny tin cup?
The first thing is to find out where your head is at least a half hour before you start your round. Are you feeling mad at your boss, frustrated with the kids? Did you just have a tiff with your spouse or did some crazy person just try to run you off the road? Are you having jitters because you've been topping the ball or are you playing for big bucks with your buddies? Any and all of these things have an affect on you and your game. The pros know this and you need to as well.
So, what are some things you can do to get in the right frame of mind? For me, being relaxed, confident and having positive energy flowing through my body is key. You may be a little different. My question to you is how did you feel inside when you played your best round of golf? Think about it and go back to that time and place. All was right with the World for you wasn't it? But what about it was right? What were the feelings you had? Were you relaxed? Were you confident? Were you having fun? Did you trust your golf swing? Were you enjoying your golf partners?
Here are some of the things I noticed about myself when I played my best rounds:
" I felt excited to be playing and what nervousness I might have had was in the background of my mind"
I was happy to be playing a round of golf with my friends and didn't worry that they might laugh at me if I sliced the ball
" I felt a sense of calmness inside that couldn't be shaken"
I felt confident, energized and happy to be out on the golf course amid the tree-lined fairways and beautifully manicured greens.
" I felt worry free and joked with my golfing partners
" I felt the magic of being alive and knew instinctively that I was going to strike the golf ball purely."
My mind wasn't cluttered with a zillion thoughts; instead there was focus and quietness
" My body felt relaxed, rested and healthy"
For lack of a better word, I was in the Zone
Let's say that you are a nervous wreck with eighteen million thoughts, mostly negative, scurrying around in your head. How do you get from point A, the worry wart to Point B, the focused golfer? Again, if this is your normal state before you play a round of golf, don't expect to change this overnight. It is a process.
First, identify what is the norm for you. Are you usually just rushing from work to go play golf and your mind is somewhere else? Or is it that you have been struggling with your game and fear is almost paralyzing you? Identifying your state of mind before you play golf is key. I don't mean to get all psychological on you but golf is very much a mental game! There is no cure-all golf gizmo or one right way to swing a club. Even if there was, your mind would interfere.
If you are having trouble identifying what you are feeling or how you are being before a round of golf, then your first step is to pay attention to yourself. It can be a hard thing to do. Sometimes we get so busy in our daily lives that there just doesn't seem to be time to stop and look at ourselves. One way to find out what your feeling or thinking is to be quiet for 5 minutes. Listen and learn.
I noticed that for myself when I am tired, nervous or rushed I generally tend to play a poor round of golf. I have arrived at a point in my game where I can usually shake those feelings or state of mind before the round begins. And you will learn to do this too with some practice. The one I still feel challenged by is when I feel out of sync, or out of rhythm. It's like some uncoordinated teenager has possessed my body and wreaks havoc with my game. Those are the rounds where I just do my very best to stay centered and play a safe game. I know I won't break any records but I also know that I won't spend the day in the woods hunting for my golf ball!
Here are some ideas on how to get into a different state of mind:
Listen to your favorite music
Pay attention to your golf partners
Do something nice for someone else
Sing or Hum a tune
Visualize your best round of golf
Think about your best memories in life
Talk with a good friend
Tell jokes
Laugh
Meditate
Visualize mastering the challenging holes
Walk the course and notice your beautiful surroundings
Think about the times you felt most confident
So how do you get from one state, let's say rushed, to a more relaxed calm state? I have had times when I have been running 90mph before a game of golf and my mind is keeping pace with my body. I know that if I keep that pace, my golf game will suffer. I use whatever trick seems to work at that moment. Taking deep breaths is always a good start. Swinging my club between my finger tips at a slow easy pace can be calming and creates tempo. Looking at the beauty of the golf course can be relaxing and uplifting, especially if I was caught in a traffic jam. You will have to practice what works for you. The one thing that always gets me in the zone is to replay one of my best rounds in my mind along with the feelings I had. I can't help but smile and feel good.
Think about what you normally do before you start a round of golf with your friends. Are you running your kids across town to soccer practice? Are you still sleepy from the poor night's rest you had? Are you all jazzed up on 6 cups of coffee? Are you nervous as a cat in a room full of rocking chairs because you've been chili dipping the ball? No doubt you are in some state of mind before you start your round of golf. And more often than not, I would be willing to bet my Ben Hogan autographed book that it is the wrong frame of mind.
I know you have a busy life. But the key is to get into the right frame of mind before you step onto the first tee box. How do you do this? Well, let me just say that it is not always easy and takes practice to get into the right frame of mind. So don't be frustrated or disappointed in yourself if it takes a little while. Remember this is a game and it is supposed to be fun. Why else would you be out there paying big bucks to hit a little white ball into a tiny tin cup?
The first thing is to find out where your head is at least a half hour before you start your round. Are you feeling mad at your boss, frustrated with the kids? Did you just have a tiff with your spouse or did some crazy person just try to run you off the road? Are you having jitters because you've been topping the ball or are you playing for big bucks with your buddies? Any and all of these things have an affect on you and your game. The pros know this and you need to as well.
So, what are some things you can do to get in the right frame of mind? For me, being relaxed, confident and having positive energy flowing through my body is key. You may be a little different. My question to you is how did you feel inside when you played your best round of golf? Think about it and go back to that time and place. All was right with the World for you wasn't it? But what about it was right? What were the feelings you had? Were you relaxed? Were you confident? Were you having fun? Did you trust your golf swing? Were you enjoying your golf partners?
Here are some of the things I noticed about myself when I played my best rounds:
" I felt excited to be playing and what nervousness I might have had was in the background of my mind"
I was happy to be playing a round of golf with my friends and didn't worry that they might laugh at me if I sliced the ball
" I felt a sense of calmness inside that couldn't be shaken"
I felt confident, energized and happy to be out on the golf course amid the tree-lined fairways and beautifully manicured greens.
" I felt worry free and joked with my golfing partners
" I felt the magic of being alive and knew instinctively that I was going to strike the golf ball purely."
My mind wasn't cluttered with a zillion thoughts; instead there was focus and quietness
" My body felt relaxed, rested and healthy"
For lack of a better word, I was in the Zone
Let's say that you are a nervous wreck with eighteen million thoughts, mostly negative, scurrying around in your head. How do you get from point A, the worry wart to Point B, the focused golfer? Again, if this is your normal state before you play a round of golf, don't expect to change this overnight. It is a process.
First, identify what is the norm for you. Are you usually just rushing from work to go play golf and your mind is somewhere else? Or is it that you have been struggling with your game and fear is almost paralyzing you? Identifying your state of mind before you play golf is key. I don't mean to get all psychological on you but golf is very much a mental game! There is no cure-all golf gizmo or one right way to swing a club. Even if there was, your mind would interfere.
If you are having trouble identifying what you are feeling or how you are being before a round of golf, then your first step is to pay attention to yourself. It can be a hard thing to do. Sometimes we get so busy in our daily lives that there just doesn't seem to be time to stop and look at ourselves. One way to find out what your feeling or thinking is to be quiet for 5 minutes. Listen and learn.
I noticed that for myself when I am tired, nervous or rushed I generally tend to play a poor round of golf. I have arrived at a point in my game where I can usually shake those feelings or state of mind before the round begins. And you will learn to do this too with some practice. The one I still feel challenged by is when I feel out of sync, or out of rhythm. It's like some uncoordinated teenager has possessed my body and wreaks havoc with my game. Those are the rounds where I just do my very best to stay centered and play a safe game. I know I won't break any records but I also know that I won't spend the day in the woods hunting for my golf ball!
Here are some ideas on how to get into a different state of mind:
Listen to your favorite music
Pay attention to your golf partners
Do something nice for someone else
Sing or Hum a tune
Visualize your best round of golf
Think about your best memories in life
Talk with a good friend
Tell jokes
Laugh
Meditate
Visualize mastering the challenging holes
Walk the course and notice your beautiful surroundings
Think about the times you felt most confident
So how do you get from one state, let's say rushed, to a more relaxed calm state? I have had times when I have been running 90mph before a game of golf and my mind is keeping pace with my body. I know that if I keep that pace, my golf game will suffer. I use whatever trick seems to work at that moment. Taking deep breaths is always a good start. Swinging my club between my finger tips at a slow easy pace can be calming and creates tempo. Looking at the beauty of the golf course can be relaxing and uplifting, especially if I was caught in a traffic jam. You will have to practice what works for you. The one thing that always gets me in the zone is to replay one of my best rounds in my mind along with the feelings I had. I can't help but smile and feel good.
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