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.
Last week we introduced a video of PGA Tour Player John Sendon. Let's go back to that video for a moment and study the section from 1:35 to 1:39. Click Here:
Some of you are familiar with the term "angle of approach", or "arc of the swing" or "hit down on the ball", but few have ever really understood what it means to do this correctly. "hitting down on the ball" is very dangerous terminology. Most people who try to hit down on the ball do so with their upper body and create steep & inconsistent divots. The ideal angle of approach is to "hit down on the ball", but the downward strike is a very shallow strike. Let me explain further.
As you study the video you can probably make a rough estimate that the club is approximately 3 inches above the ground in the frame right before impact and approximately 2 inches off the ground in the frame after impact. With the impact zone right in the middle we can make an educated guess that the club was descending past the point of impact with the ball. However, with close observation you can see that the club descended gradually. It did not drop five or six inches through the impact zone. Now that we know the club must be descending at a gradual rate, next week we will discuss where the bottom point should be and how to achieve a "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.
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!
What?? Practice swings you say? What difference does that make?
Well here is what the average golfer does. The average golfer will tee up his ball and then step back and take a full 100% simulation swing of what he thinks he wants to do.
You'll even hear a 'swish' to the club going thru the air. If he hits the ground too hard, he'll take another, if not, he'll think he's ready.
Contrast that with the greatest players in the world. They'll take some swings to find a rhythm and move their body. They might even rehearse a mechanical move.....but, that's it. Then they step up to the ball and use their 100% swing.
One of the best examples of this is Tiger Woods. He takes about 3-5 swings that are about 3/4 back and thru and swung in slow motion. He's preparing his body. This concept has even found it's way into baseball.
Hideki Matsui has the most curious habit at the plate. He never takes a practice swing once he steps into the batter's box. He saves all those meaty cuts for when he needs them. Hideki knows that practice swings suck up energy, also if you swing hard enough on a practice swing, you could hurt yourself.
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.
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
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 before attempting to apply any golf tip you have read from a newspaper, magazine, book, internet, etc.
Most right-handed golfers aim too far to the right (left handed golfers too far left) This causes the club-head to move outside the correct plane and then across the ball in the downswing to compensate for the poor alignment. The result is a loss of club-head speed. To check your alignment, place a shaft along your toes or the back of your heels. Stand ten feet behind the ball and look to see where the shaft is lined up. It should be aligned to the left (right for left handed players) of and parallel to your target. The shoulders should also follow this line when set-up to the ball.
Golf Fuerteventura Tips: Learn To Chip With The Water Bottle Trick
If you're an inconsistent ball striker, it probably carries over into your short game, which is frustrating because with such a short swing it should be easy to make solid contact. If you do have trouble with chips, it's more than likely because you try to lift the ball into the air and end up blading it across the green or laying the sod over it. Solid chips are the result of hitting down into the back of the ball, not trying to lift it up. Here's a drill that will produce the kind of chips you dream about—no, not the kettle cooked ones with barbeque flavoring . You'll need to hit the snack aisle for those.
The Drill Balance a club on the top of a water bottle as shown below (it's easier than it looks), and place your ball 12 inches behind the middle of the grip.
Make your chip stroke without knocking the shaft off the bottle. You'll need to descend into the ball and keep your clubhead low to the ground post-impact. If you try to scoop the ball or allow the club to pass your hands, you'll send the club and the bottle flying. If you practice this only a few times your chipping will improve dramatically.
Golf Fuerteventura Tips: Using Pool Cues To Improve Your Driving
This story is for you if... • Your driver impact feels either very dead or like you've just made contact with a bowling ball • You find contact marks out on the toe and heel sections of your driver's clubface • You slice
THE PROBLEM You can't make contact on the center of the clubface with your driver, and that's costing you distance and accuracy.
HOW YOU KNOW IT'S HAPPENING When you hit it off the heel, it'll feel like you just hit a brick and the ball will shoot dead left. If you hit it off the toe, you'll feel a soft impact, like you whacked an old apple.
HOW TO FIX YOUR HEEL AND TOE HITS Lay four dowels (or pool cues or even string) on the ground as shown. The spaces between the dowels should be slightly wider than your clubhead. Address an imaginary ball in the middle lane. If you tend to hit it off the toe, take practice swings making sure your clubhead travels through the far lane after impact. If you hit it off the heel (or tend to shank your irons), your downswing path should go through the near lane. After 10 practice swings, tee up a ball and swing away. Now that you're slotted correctly, you'll hit it square and the same distance every time.
P.S. I'm still working on a special deal for all of our blog readers on a really really hot golf product on the market. I tried it and it actually even improved my game. I want to get you guys a bunch of bonus materials and a better price so bear with me. I should have details in a day or so.
This story is for you if... • You're making controlled, balanced swings but the ball is curving hard to the left or right. • You've tried every drill imaginable and still can't hit the ball straight.
The Problem You follow up a severe slice on one tee with a vicious hook on the next.
Why It's Happening You're taking the club back off plane, and aren't making the necessary compensations on the way back down.
THE SOLUTION You can search for downswing compensations to help you hit the ball straight, but why not just fix your backswing? It takes 20 seconds. Lay your driver across your shoulders with the grip end to your left. Take your stance and make your regular backswing turn. Now, you may have seen this drill before, but hardly anyone does it correctly. Most golfers think that you should make your backswing turn so that the shaft points at the ball (photo, top right). That's way too steep, and one of the reasons why you slice. Swinging the club too flat with the shaft pointing way beyond the ball (photo, bottom right) is equally bad (and a potential source of your hook). The correct way to perform this drill is to turn your shoulders and maintain your posture so that the shaft points at a spot just a foot on the other side of the ball. That's a perfect on-plane position. Combine a nice, smooth backswing with this exact shoulder turn and you'll be in perfect position at the top.
The Problem Your swing is too up-and-down, which causes either a fat shot or a wild slice.
The Solution A too-steep backswing creates two problems: 1) The resulting steep downswing will force you to stick the club in the ground before impact (fat), and 2) When you take the club back too high, your forearms tend to rotate down, cupping your left wrist and opening the clubface (slice). To swing the club properly around your body, think about keeping your elbows level at the top.
The Drill Here's a good way to learn how to keep your swing on plane. Take the club back and find your position at the top. Then, have a friend grab another club from your bag - something long like your driver or 3- wood - and try to balance it between your arms (see photo). If your elbows aren't level, the club won't be straight. Practice this until you can feel the correct position all the time.
