There are a lot of good golfers who get into a position on the backswing that would cause their downswing to look like an excavation company. But they make a comeback (compensation) to reposition themselves for a shallow angle of approach. This "shallow" angle of approach term comes up a lot. It is defined as the gradual descending angle of the swing path through the impact zone. And it is one of the most important aspects of the golf swing.
We discussed in a previous tip that the approach must be descending beyond the point of impact. But how far beyond? Most high speed video of professional golfers shows the club head reaching the bottom point approximately an inch to two inches past the "target side" of the golf ball. Think about that for a moment. A full inch or two in front of the "target side". Not at the back of the ball, not at the middle of the ball. And not on the front side of the ball but a full one to two inches beyond the front of the ball. Incredible!
Take another look at this video at the 1:35 second mark to see how the club descends past the ball.
The bottom point is important but just as important is the fact that the golfer in this video is reaching the bottom point with a shallow angle of approach. No excavation taxes levied.
So how does one reach the lowest point of their swing a full one to two inches beyond the ball? And how do they do it without creating a steep angle of approach? That is the secret in golf that is rarely taught by other golf instructors. Most don't want to teach it. Most know that it is simply easier to teach you alignment, or posture. Most have a tournament to run or staff to manage and they simply don't have time to get into all the important impact stuff. But not here. Here you will learn the deepest darkest secrets of the professional golfer. Impact secrets that is.
Next week we will talk about how the body movement creates a steep or shallow angle of approach.
Now that you have your major definite purpose and your ten most important golf goals written down on a piece of paper we can get to work. If you missed any of the steps in weeks 1 through 3, reply to this e-mail and I will resend them. They are vital to your success this year.
2010: The Year of impact. It is time to get tough about the golf information you obtain this year. Throw out the Dr. Phil stress balls. We won't be sitting around the campfire telling feel good golf stories about what we could have done. We're actually going to do it. We are going to ruthlessly scrutinize any golf advice we get from our buddies. We will not implement any golf advice without knowing why we should implement it. We will only implement golf advice that contributes to better impact. That's all that matters. Impact, Impact, Impact.
The next 48 weeks will cover practical "how-to" stuff about alignment, posture, lie angle, wrist leverage, hip control, spine direction and much more. But most importantly it will all be provided based on it's ability to promote better impact. It's ability for you to smash the ball an extra 10 yards. It's ability for you to sling your ball around a tree. It's ability for you to hit it low or high. It's ability for you to get the ball in the hole in less strokes than you currently are.
For those of you that are new to the Golf Improvement Membership, you could say that you have joined an elite group of Renegade Golfers. Outsiders may ridicule you. They may say, "That's strange, what do you need a golf coach for?" I see it differently. I see GENIUS in the strangeness. And it is that genius that inspires me to get out of bed everyday and improve the golf games of our members.
This will require you to change the mindset you have had in the past. Hence the importance of the steps I sent you in the first 3 weeks. You will need to eliminate thoughts like "I always double bogey this hole", and "Fred out-drives me by 20 yards, I'll never beat him" You will need to hold strong against the sneering comments behind your back. The whispers and comments of envy as your friends try to keep you at their level.
It will also require TOUGHNESS when things don't go your way. When your friends laugh at you and say, "Let's see what Mrs. golf lesson can do today", and "All those golf lessons and you still can't beat us". Let's face it, some of you have friends that will always beat you no matter what you do. Phil Mickelson has a full time golf coach and he will always be runner up to Tiger Woods. Some golfers are better regardless of what you do. That is of no concern to you. Your concern is ruthless, relentless improvement. Using a sharp knife to cut through anything that does not contribute to a better game for you. Anything that does not contribute to better impact.
This week I leave you with a video of John Sendon, PGA Tour Player. Skip ahead in the video and only watch the 4 second section of the video from 1:35 to 1:39. Notice the height of the club one foot before impact vs. 1 foot after impact. It is lower after impact than before impact. That is an important point for next weeks discussion. Study the impact zone and next week we will discuss this matter in more depth. Click Here :
We continue our short series on Goal Setting for your Golf Game. So get out a stop watch and a pen and paper. Implement each step before you read the next step. Step #6- What part of your golf game gives you the greatest feeling of importance and self esteem. What are your peak experiences. You have 30 seconds. Write fast.
Step #7- What one great golf experience would you dare to dream if you knew you could not fail. If you were absolutely guaranteed success. What would it be. You have 60 seconds. If you want easy questions go somewhere else.
The Final & Most Important Step- Write down the 10 things you want to accomplish with your golf game in the next 12 months. Write them down in present tense as if they are already accomplished. I have, I did, etc. Write quickly. A billionaire is waiting at The Highlands to cover all the expense of your goals. If you do not write all ten, you get nothing. If you write vague goals you get nothing. Write clear, concise, specific goals. You have 3 mintues. Write fast. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. From everything you have done the last 2 weeks decide at this moment Your Major Definate Golf Purpose:
The exercise you have just done puts you in the top 3% of all Americans. Less than 3 percent of Americans have participated in this exercise during their entire lives!! Your critical job is to be crystal clear about what you have just written down. What you have done right now is like stepping on the accelerator.
Print this out and make several copies. Place one copy inside your car where you will see it every time you drive. Place another copy in your golf locker at your home club. Place another copy where you will see it before you go to bed at night and another copy where you will see it when you get up in the morning. (if you are a sleep walker). Place another copy in your office at work. See you on the Birdie Train.
We continue our short series on Goal Setting for your Golf Game. This week you will be required to take some action. So get out a stop watch and a pen and paper. Implement each step before you read the next step.
STOP! Do not read any further without having your pen, paper and stopwatch ready to go.
Step #1- Write 5 most important values in the world to you. You have 60 seconds. No wrong answers. Start now.
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Successful golfers know what they stand for and they never compromise their values. Your values will be exposed in your actions, especially when under pressure.
Step #2- List your 3 most important golf goals right now. You have 30 seconds. Write fast.
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Step #3- How would you change your golf life if you won $1million cash today and you could only pick up the money if you could answer the question? You have to write 5 things in one minute or you don't get the money. Do NOT write what you would do with the money but how you would change your golf life. You have 60 seconds. Go now!
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Step #4- What would you do with the game of golf if you were given 6 months to live. Your doctor has given you the perfect bill of health for 180 days but on day #180 you will drop dead. Write five things. You have 60 seconds. Write quickly.
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Step #5- What have you always wanted to do in golf but were afraid to attempt: Write the first thing that comes to mind. 10 seconds. Write it down now.
Congratulations. You have taken a giant leap towards defining your Major Definite Purpose. Next week we will go on a journey of peak experiences, dared dreams, and the most important exercise of the year. You won't want to miss it! Be sure to save this weeks answers.
As you read this golf tip, please keep in mind that it may not apply to your unique needs. Always consult with your local PGA professional (that would be Scott Seifferlein if you are new to how this works:) before attempting to apply any golf tip you have read from a newspaper, magazine, book, internet, your 20 handicap brother-in-law, etc.
This is the first in a short series about goal setting for your golf game.
Goals. Do you know about them? Most people say, "sure I know about goals, I have goals." But do they really know about goals? Do they write them down? Do they live them everyday? Do they touch, smell, hear, see and taste their goals? You only know about goals to the extent at which you DO them.
Why are we talking about goals? Well, for one, my bride and I just finished writing out our goals for 2010 using the Brian Tracy system. You can even see a few of them at
www.seifpro.wordpress.com. And I thought that now would be as good a time as any to get you thinking, no not just thinking, but "doing" your 2010 GOLF goals.
When talking to golfers I find that nearly 100% of them are afraid of change, and I've gotta figure the other 1% or so are just liars. Why are we so afraid of change? Because most change is uncontrollable. By choice. But when you have specific goals using the steps we will cover over the next 3 weeks you will gain CONTROL of change. And that is when change will be for the good. That type of change will be embraced not feared.
First let's look at the Three Elements of Goal Setting
1. Acres of Diamonds- A lecture by Russell H. Conwell in the early 1900's. Feel free to e-mail me for the full 31 page copy. The basic idea is to look under your feet. Right where you are at this very moment. Everything you will ever need to achieve your goals is right here. No need to go off to some golf school in Arizona or Miami. No need to go out and seek the next greatest NASA Plutonium Driver.
2. Area of Excellence- Everyone has an area of their golf game in which they can excel far better than the others. Find your area and cultivate it. Polish it. Go to work at it. Put your whole heart into it.
3. Major Definite Purpose- Become absolutely crystal clear about what you want to accomplish. Focus on that purpose and only that purpose until it is accomplished. Do everything that is consistent with your purpose. Definitions of MDP- Must be clear, specific, objective, measurable and tangible. Must be achievable but requires stretch. Must be in harmony with what else you are doing. Cannot have multiple MDP or MDP that conflicts with your other goals/activities/lifestyle.
Next week we will talk about your most important values, most important golf goals, how you would change your golf game if... and more.
Week #2 and Week #3 of the Champion Success Strategies will be the most important weeks of the year. Be sure to look for them!
Golf Fuerteventura Tips : KNOWLEDGE WHEN PROPERLY APPLIED?
As you read this golf tip, please keep in mind that it may not apply to your unique needs. Always consult with your local PGA professional (that would be Scott Seifferlein if you are new to how this works:) before attempting to apply any golf tip you have read from a newspaper, magazine, book, internet, your 20 handicap brother-in-law, etc.
You've probably heard this statement many, many times - "Knowledge when properly applied.." That statement leads to the conclusion that when knowledge is applied to something it changes the status of that particular thing, but what is knowledge and why does it have the power to create change?
Get ready to learn what knowledge truly means! Let's begin by breaking down the word.
Know-L-Edge
Know- You must know your golf game, which means you must know the tendencies of your distance, the ball flight, launch angle, spin rate, impact position and how you react under different conditions. You must also know how to practice, when to practice, how to get the most out of your practice, deal with rejection. Most importantly, you must know in your heart that you can and will achieve your golf dreams.
L-Listen: You must listen to those that have walked in your shoes. For example, a hockey coach that leads an NHL team usually has many records under his belt and has proven himself as a Champion in the game of hockey. You wouldn't see an Olympic gymnast coaching an NHL team. The same is true for your golf game. Why would you take direction from someone that has NEVER done what you want to do? There are many so-called coaches out there attempting to coach people yet they have NEVER done what they are attempting to teach. You must listen and learn from those that have been where you are at now and have gone all the way to the top!
Edge- You must have the edge and live on the edge to truly succeed with your golf game. That means you are willing to dedicate yourself to your golf and become the best that you can be. This includes filling your mind with motivational, birdie making strategies on a daily basis to constantly be one step ahead of your playing partners. You must also attend golf improvement member events, clinics/seminars and golf schools hosted by those that are highly successful at playing and teaching golf. This will give you the competitive "edge" that you need to be more successful than others.
If you live by these keys, then knowledge when applied to your golf game will create action and rock your future! Make today the day that you truly understand the word knowledge.
Your Partner In Golf Success, Scott Seifferlein PGA Golf Guru
As you read this golf tip, please keep in mind that it may not apply to your unique needs. Always consult with your local PGA professional (that would be Scott Seifferlein if you are new to how this works:) before attempting to apply any golf tip you have read from a newspaper, magazine, book, internet, your 20 handicap brother-in-law, etc.
When you get your wake-up call at some Disney hotels, you hear something like: "It's 7:00 A.M., have a magical day in the MagicKingdom."
No need to rely on Disney or anybody else to give you a magical day. You can create them for yourself at will, in your GOLF GAME or your own personal life - although, truth be told, in the imaginary Magic Kingdom or your own, the very best of days only has some magical moments or hours, some mundane ones and usually, some not so good ones.
Several years ago, in professional golf, I had my own magical day. After implementing a new putting system for distance control in July of 2000, I entered the West Michigan Chapter Championship in September that same year. It all came together with 28, 26 and 27 putts over the three rounds of the tournament. Never before had I putted so well for three consecutive rounds.
Also in that same tournament I won the only skin with a chip-in eagle for $900 cash, plus the $3,000 for winning the tournament and the assistants tournament with-in the real tournament.
You just don't get too many like this one in an entire golfing career. However, being in the golf business, if you get away from your club for a tournament you have to work double to catch up and I was just too darned tired to join any post tournament celebrations.
Is any day ever entirely magical?
Well, anyway, I guess my point is: you make your own magic. Just as performance coach Lee Milteer says "there are no victims, only volunteers", I'd tell you there are no really greener pastures in the distance; certainly not greener than you might make those you own already.
There are no real wizards or magicians endowed with magic greater than yours; certainly not greater than the powers you possess you could strengthen and exploit.
As your golf instructor my service to you is not to give you magical powers but to show you where your hidden talents lie. To get the most out of your golf game. To motivate you to train throughout the winter. To feel good about your victories. To learn from your losses. To beat your competitors without apologies. To make continual improvement 52 weeks out of the year. That is what I am here to provide you, right here, in this Champion Success Strategies e-mail. 52 weeks a year.
If you missed them in this months newsletter here are the winter training strategies:
As you read this golf tip, please keep in mind that it may not apply to your unique needs. Always consult with your local PGA professional (that would be Scott Seifferlein if you are new to how this works:) before attempting to apply any golf tip you have read from a newspaper, magazine, book, internet, your 20 handicap brother-in-law, etc.
Golf Pro to golfer- "Time for another practice session"
Golfer to golf pro- "Can't, it's snowing in Kansas"
Golf Pro to golfer- "We are in Michigan. What does snowing in Kansas have to do with you avoiding a practice session?"
Golfer to golf pro- "When a golfer doesn't want to practice one excuse is 'bout as good as another."
As I sat down to write this it was snowing in Kansas. Golf courses all across Michigan were busy on a warm November day. But it is coming. Sooner or later. Now is the time to start thinking about golf fitness and where to practice this winter.
One winter location is now open! Another soon to come. The Highlands Golf Club winter practice area is expected to open in December. Champions Gate on 28th St. is now open. Click Here for details: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGY40SZqiig
Your Partner In Golf Success, Scott Seifferlein PGA Golf Guru
Every week we see the greatest golfers in the world all swinging the club shaft in the general vicinity of parallel to the ground at the top of the backswing. Some go slightly past parallel and some slightly short of parallel. In general it is fair to say that most professional golfers swing the club shaft back to a point that is very close to parallel.
Another generalization is that most club professionals can walk down their driving range and watch many of their amateur students swinging the club shaft to a point at or past parallel to the ground at the top of the backswing. Let us as golfers make it a goal to stop trying to swing the club shaft to parallel if we are not flexible enough to do so. As a general rule, (if you are flexible enough) you should max out your upper body turn at around 80 degrees of rotation. Visit www.k-vest.com to find an instructor that can measure this.
The arms and hinge should stop a nearly indiscernible split second after the upper body turn is complete. If you cannot turn far enough to get the club shaft to parallel, do not try to get it their by adding unnecessary wrist hinge or arm bend. Work towards setting your lead wrist (left for right handed golfers) early in the backswing. If you can have it fully hinged by the time your lead arm gets to parallel with the ground in the backswing, your chances of over swinging the backswing with you arms and hands will decrease!The result will be a more repeatable swing that is not so dependent on perfect timing. The percentage of solid shots will increase and the range of mis-directed shots will decrease.
