One more thing, set make-up is really important.  If it’s been awhile since you’ve played things have changed a lot, we now have hybrids and lots of wedges.  Having the right set make-up means that you will like all the clubs in your bag and they all have a purpose.

Here at Pro Golf you will work with one of 2010 Top 100 Club Fitters to find the perfect clubs for your swing, simply schedule an appointment and we will help you choose what you need in your bag. For more information visit us at www.progolftrainingcenter.com or call 661-222-7900
]]> http://progolftrainingcenter.wordpress.com/2010/04/14/do-your-clubs-fit-your-swing/feed/ 0 progolftrainingcenter http://progolftrainingcenter.wordpress.com/2009/04/20/exposive-power/ http://progolftrainingcenter.wordpress.com/2009/04/20/exposive-power/#comments Mon, 20 Apr 2009 03:01:13 +0000 progolftrainingcenter http://progolftrainingcenter.wordpress.com/?p=18 ]]>  

By:  Grant Garrison

A lot has been learned recently about the Kinematic Sequence of the golf swing.  This is the proper unwinding of the hips, torso, arms and club during the downswing. When done properly, you can produce the most efficient amount of power. It is arguably one of the most important aspects of an effective golf swing.

Power in the downswing is initiated from the ground up. With proper pressure from the feet and legs into the ground you can create a stable foundation so that you can accelerate, then quickly decelerate the hips during the downswing. When the hips decelerate the torso can speed up, when the torso decelerates the arms can speed up, finally when the arms decelerate near impact, the club head speeds up. We now have the ability to measure this sequence using high tech motion systems. These systems use graphs which display this  sequence.  We have found that every professional golfer moves in the same sequence despite the differences in their swing positions.

How do you unlock the Kinetic Energy in your swing? Think of snapping a towel, your arm goes fast then suddenly stops which transfers speed to the end of the towel creating the snap. In the golf swing, your body and arms must slow down in order for the energy to transfer into the club head. In other words, what creates club head speed is a whipping motion with the snap toward the ball. Club head speed to a large degree relies on your ability to time this motion in order to release speed at the right time. Martial artist and boxers have long understood how to create speed when they throw a jab. It’s not a pushing motion but a fast movement followed by a slow movement. When an athlete is able to create this kind of energy transfer, it looks effortless to the viewer due to the body slowing down before impact.

Many golfers these days are trying to turn their hips through impact into the finish because we see Tiger Woods and many other great players with their hips very open at impact. What you don’t see is how quickly these golfers are stopping this motion in order to transfer energy to the club head. In fact, turning the hips through impact is exactly what you don’t want to do.  It is importnat to understand that having the hips open at impact is a product of the hips starting the downswing not turning them through impact.

The next thing to explore is the loose wrist needed in the down swing.  When the wrist can hinge freely, it helps tranfer the speed of the arms to the club head before impact.  You couldn’t snap a towel with a tight wrist.  Many golfers fall into the idea that you push the club head toward the ball on the downswing.  This often causes a poor impact position and a poorly timed sequence.   

Sports scientist conclude that energy transfer is often learned during the growth period of our teen age years, the ability to throw a ball far is usually learned at an early age. Many of us never participated in sports growing up so moving in this way feels contrived and un-natural.  The good news is that it can be learned as an adult, specific exercises and swing drills can unlock the feelings of explosive energy.

Once you have learned how to apply kinetic energy, you will find your ball going the same distance or further with much less effort.  Your rounds will be easier with much less stress on your body.

Announcing the new “Stick & Bend” Swing. Take 20 shots off your score on your next round. Golfers across the globe are using it to shoot record scores. Now you can learn the secret to longer straighter shots. Guaranteed or your money back.

I am hoping to cash in on my new swing, all I need to do is convince you to buy it. Methods like this one are not that far fetched. I have been teaching golf for the past 25 years and have watched new methods reinvent themselves under a new name and marketed again and again. They seem to have a shelf life of about 2 or 3 years then something else becomes popular. The latest craze has been the “Stack & Tilt” method which in my mind was introduced by Percy Boomer in his book that was published in 1942. He explained the lower body motion in detail as Ben Hogan did in his book 5 Fundamentals published in 1985. The fact is, Stack & Tilt helps steepen the attack angle of the club. Golf Instructors have been using this method for years to help their students strike more down through impact. The only difference is that it now has a name and comes in a pretty package for $19.95.

DO SWING METHODS WORK?

Imagine you went to a doctor that prescribed the same medication for every patient. The doctors prescription will surely help some of his patients but won’t for most. The fact is, their are 14 swing faults. A swing fault is something you do in your swing that produces inconsistancy. In other words, it’s a motion that gets your club in a poor position before you make contact with the ball. If this happens, one of the following 5 things will be compromised:

1. Solid Contact with Ball

2. Square Clubface Angle

3. Straight Club Path

4. Correct Attack Angle for each club

5. High Club head Speed

It is important to understand that every method has some merit. If the method you choose helps you get the club in a better position then or improve your motion you will probably be a satisfied customer. If not, you always have that money back guarantee, just remember to use it.

We have studied all the modern methods marketed to today’s golfing public. Like a doctor, staying updated on every new medication is vital to being able to help our students. Before you purchase, ask your instructor if it’s a viable option based on your specific issues. This may save you a lot of time and a few dollars.

In the deepest recesses of your ego, you believe that with a $400 driver in your hands and a brand new golf ball, you can hit it out there with the tour pros.  Nothing wrong with that feeling. The reality, you’re nowhere near those guys–and your losing ground.

Everyone’s talking about golf’s distance revolution and how it’s changing the game. We see the Tour Players hitting the ball unbelievable distances but the sad reality is, unless you have your tour card, you are probably not seeing these distances during your Saturday morning round. A recent Golf Digest study confirmed that the gap between tour pros and average golfers is wider than ever.

Not only have tour players learned how to play at full throttle, they’re swinging at speeds and with a mind-set that average golfers can barely comprehend. That’s why the distance gap between today’s tour pro and the average amateur is wider than it has ever been. Golf Digest surveys show that the average golfer’s driving distance increased from 193 to 205 yards in the last decade. In the same period, PGA Tour distances increased almost 30 yards.

It doesn’t seem like the average golfer has caught on to how to hit it farther yet. The fact is, equipment makes the ball go much further today but you must be able to create more clubhead speed to make it realy work. A little more speed means a lot more distance today. The Pro’s are doing it by using explosive strength exercises and using launch monitors to dial in the perfect shaft, loft, and length combination.

While the typical amateur is still struggling with the 200-yard drive, the PGA Tour driving-distance average has jumped from 260 in 1993 to 288 this year. You can ask any tour player and he’ll say that in the last three years he’s picked up yardage that previously wouldn’t be gained in a decade.

Tour players have also benefited more from the new balls than average golfers. The new solid-core balls which were introduced in 1996 combined the soft feel with the characteristics of the solid-core distance ball most weekend players already were using. The average golfer already was maximizing distance potential with the ball; the tour player wasn’t. The new ball has encouraged many of the game’s power players to swing harder. There is an exponential increase in distance the faster you swing. With the greens getting firmer and pins getting cut tighter, it pays to hit as many short-iron and wedge approaches as you can. On most courses today, it pays to hit your tee shot as far as you can.

Length and power translate into a high percentage of subpar holes, which other than scoring average is the tour’s best statistical indicator of success. Throughout his pro career, Tiger Woods biggest statistical edge over the competition is his better-than-50 percent birdie conversion on par 5s, a direct result of power effectively applied. Tiger Woods may be the best par 5 golfer in history.

I think technology is coming to an end in regard to long drives.  I don’t think the USGA is going to alow the ball to go any further as it does today.  If it did, it would make golf courses reletively short changing the game forever.  I do think the game has changed, we now realize that their is truly a premium on distance.  To shoot lower scores, learn to hit it far. 

Here is the good news. Today, you have the opportunity to play much better but you must take advantage of maximizing your length off the tee.   If you are willing to spend some time and effort, you can gain major distance fast.  Here is your plan of attack:

Get your driver fit. You must max out your speed by using the right length and flex. Your launch angle must be around 15 degrees and your spin rate should be around 2000. You must be on a launch monitor and be examined by an expert club fitter to get the right fit.

Get a physical golf screening. This will test the range of motion in each joint, your balance and your ability to create explosive power. Get with a golf certified trainer and start building the explosiveness needed to create high clubhead speeds.

Get high tech golf lessons. To hit the ball long you must be able to measure power leeks or faults in your swing motion. You must learn to store energy and stabilize the body for maximum clubhead speed.  High Tech training is the most effective way to learn how to do it right.

At Pro Golf Training Center we specialize in these 3 areas.  Give us a call and lets get started.

10 TRAITS OF A COMPETENT GOLF INSTRUCTOR

1. A program for improvement, not just a single lesson. Goals will be set, and a realistic time frame given.

2. Your instructor should be prepared, organized, and have a clear plan for your development.

3. Your equipment should be checked to make sure you have clubs that fit your swing characteristics.

4. Your instructor should check for physical limitations and a stretching and/or exercise plan created.

5. There should be an equal emphasis on the short game and the full swing.

6. Your instructor will include the mental side of playing the game and give you helpful ideas on how to handle specific situations.

7. Concepts should be explained, demonstrated, and shown in a simple manner avoiding information overload.

8. The student will be given drills and/or training aids that will help turn concepts into habits.

9. The instructor MUST use video analysis as a feedback tool to bridge the gap between fact and feel.

10. The instructor should convey a passion for the game showing a genuine interest in your improvement.

Despite the fact that a time committment is needed for significant improvement, a student should not accept the notion that they must get much worse before they impove. While there may be a temporary regression when learning a new motor skill, if the Instructor has a solid plan the pain should not last for long. For example, currently on The Haney Project, ”Charles Barkley” has had some initial success, but has regressed back to old habits. While his Coach Hank Haney is not phased by the regression, you can tell he is not satisfied with it happening. But because he has made the personal investment with his student and has a plan for Charles, the regression will not last for long. A good Instructor should never walk away from a lesson accepting that their student might be struggling, and should have a plan for it to end and end soon.

Lastly, a good Golf Instructor should inspire confidence in their student. Again going back to The Haney Project, despite the current regression, Charles attitude is as positive as ever. If he did not believe in his Coach, this confident attitude about his progress would not sustain itself. Haney has inspired him to keep going, and battle through. My prediction is the results will be amazing, and Charles may very well become a very good golfer.

Every golfer who has an ambition to improve should find a Golf Instructor who matches these traits. It is perfectly acceptable for the student to set up a time to interview their potential Instructor beforehand. The Golf Instructor does not look at this as a burden, it is a chance to make a connection with a student that can last a lifetime.

If you were an average golfer on the LPGA Tour, your average score would be 72.  Your distance off the tee would be just less than 250 yards with 70% of your drives finding the fairway.  You would hit 12 greens in regulation and would have about 29 putts per round.  In 2008, you would have made about $190,000 in earnings. 

Now before you consider quitting your day job and trying on a golf skirt, let’s take a look at how your statistics match up.  Where are you losing your strokes compared to the tour averages listed above?    Keep in mind that sometimes statistics can be misleading, so it’s important to think about why you are poor in certain areas.  For example: If you are consistently three-putting, it could be that your not hitting your approach shots accurately enough, or if your greens in regulation number is low, it could be that you’re driving accuracy or distance needs improvement.      

Once you identify what area of your game needs attention, get some professional help.  Knowing what you’re doing wrong doesn’t make you better.  You must correct your faults and retrain your muscle memory. A Professional Golf Instructor is the only reliable way to properly analyze those faults and give you the tools necessary to make the desired improvement in your game.  Why do you think most LPGA and PGA Players have a Teaching Professional helping them?      So stop thinking that taking golf lessons makes you less of a man.  After all, isn’t it better than getting beat by a girl?

In a Golf Training session we use high tech learning systems which give instant feedback on a series of swings.  Through this process, you are able to recognize the feel of your best swings.   This will give results that are unmatched by anything you can see on the Golf Channel, books or magazines.  Why?  Because a Golf Training session gives you information that is directly applicable to the way YOU swing.  Random tips from the sources mentioned aren’t necessarily wrong, but it is unlikely that it applies to your swing.  During a Training Session you will attempt to repeat the good swing which will develop the new motor skill.  Remember, only perfect practice makes perfect.

Most golfers believe that practicing at the Driving Range is all they need to do to get better.  However, the driving range provides little feedback on how or why the ball is going the way it’s going.  When a golfer hits a good shot on the range, they usually have no idea how or why it happened.  During a Golf Training session you find out exactly why it happened and how to repeat it.  Our systems measure the club path, club face angle, angle of attack, centeredness of contact, club head speed, ball distance, swing tempo and other details that explain exactly why the ball went the way it did.  You can learn more in hitting 10 balls in a training session than you can all year on the Driving Range.

Pro Golf Training Center.com

Many parents ask me if their child can get a golf Scholarship. My answer is always yes as long as we have time to develop skills and promote the time to contact the colleges of choice. I recommend using Letics, your child can put together a golf profile for free which will help them get recognized by college coaches. You can upload golf swings and tournament film for coaches to view. For a small fee, your child can search for colleges based on location, grades, major, sports, etc. Go to Letics.com

Start Early – The best time to start is as a Freshman in High School. As a a Sophmore it’s not too late but you must get started soon. As a Junior it is getting late, and as a Senior it is doubful that your son will get recognized.

Grades – Their are more academic scholarships available than sports scholarships. Often, coaches will reward an academic scholarship and a spot on the team. This help the coaches form a great team. Bottom line, good grades give you a much better chance.

High School Golf – Making the High School Golf Team is great but not neccessary. In fact, many students make the mistake of only playing on the High School team and ignoring the steps necessary in attaining a golf scholarship. Doing well in big junior tournaments and building a great profile will make the biggest difference. Junior golf tournaments are held all year in Southern California with the biggest events played in the summer.

Make Contact – It is up to the student to make themselves known to coaches. Golf coaches are not able to contact potential students until the summer of their Junior year but the student MUST make themselves known to the coaches well before this time.

Get a PGA Pro – Create a relationship with a PGA Golf Instructor. Most of these teaching Pro’s played in college and can explain life as a college golfer. They can also write references and make calls to the college coaches on the students behalf.

Community Service – Coaches today are staying away from the pre madonna athletes. They are looking for good kids who will represent their school and team well. I recommend getting involved with charities or community outreach programs. Remember, it’s ultimately not about the prize, it’s about how you live your life.