Give them a Club Fitting for Christmas – They will love you for it!
Golf Chats is a website to encourage discussions on various subjects relating to the game of golf. I am Mel Sole, Director of Instruction of the Mel Sole Golf School and SAPGA Master Professional. I invite you to enter into a discussion on this or any article on the golfchats.com website. The input is for the entire subscriber base to learn something new each time! Please post your comments below. Keep it clean and tasteful. We are here to learn from one another!
Club fitting is the most overlooked game improvement feature of the 21st century! It always amazes me when I see a student in golf school with a brand new set of irons or a new driver, and I ask them if these were fitted to their swing. The answer is usually “No, I just bought them off the rack as they were on sale!” CRAZY people!
You spend hours on the range hitting balls and good money on lessons or a golf school, and yet you don’t pay attention to your equipment!
It costs not a dime more to be correctly fitted than it does to buy those same clubs off the shelf. Of course, if they are on sale, you will pay a lower price, but what cost?
You have almost zero chance of those clubs improving your game. A student recently said he was hitting the ball 10 yards further with his new off-the-rack clubs. But when I put him on the launch monitor, he had, in fact, lost 5 yards. (We always think the ball is going further because we don’t want to admit we were dummies!)
Forget love, peace, and companionship. The best holiday gifts you can give that special someone in your life are golf clubs.
December is a popular time for equipment purchases in the United States. However, if you buy sticks without the aid of a professional club fitter, you’re making a bigger mistake than Jingle All the Way 2.
To illustrate this point, I paid a visit to my local fitter over the weekend to get a fitting for new irons. I switched clubs last summer, finally succumbing to the fact that I no longer needed blades, in exchange for a buddy’s borrowed, more-forgiving set. The clubs did offer a better feel on mishits, but this specific set was not a custom set for my swing, and my ball-striking did suffer as a result.
Luckily, Golf Digest’s Hot List project had an opening, and because the company was in need of youth and charm to offset the curmudgeonly dispositions of Mike Johnson and Mike Stachura, I was brought on. Selfishly, this provided VIP access to the industry’s sharpest, instinctive minds, with many of these respected voices chiming in on what type of clubs would cater to my game.
The Clubfitting.
The consensus was that I was in need of longer shafts. A view I hope that my personal fitting session would confirm. While longer shafts were correct, they were far from the only diagnosis.
I met with Paul Ferrone at Downtown Golf in Stamford, Conn. We began my session hitting 15 shots with a 7-iron, in order to give us a starting point and context. With simulator and launch-monitor technology, we saw that my average shot from this series went 170 yards, usually at a 114 mph ball speed. The dispersion — where the balls were landing — was great, with most landing towards the right of the target.
You can benefit from Rory’s 9 step plan to having a great 2016!
Considering Rory had to take about 3 months off for an ankle injury, he had a great year, winning the Race to Dubai Trophy and the final event of the year, the DP World Tour Championship. He was also the leading money winner and earned a low score average.
But, he is already planning for 2016!
Along with Golf Digest and Peter Morrice, Rory gives us his step by step plan for a great 2016. Follow along, because you can benefit from Rory’s advice and his 9 step plan!
I’m a lot like you. When I’m driving it well, everything is good in my world. I’ve got shorter shots into the greens and better looks at birdie. I’m in attack mode. That’s how I love to play golf, and that’s my plan for this year.Driving is definitely the foundation of my game. I’ve always been able to hit it pretty long, but after some ups and downs off the tee last year, I realized I need to rein in my misses. So I’ve made some tweaks to my swing, in the takeaway and starting down, and now I’m feeling great about the driver again. I’ve got to be able to get up and rip it without thinking too much.
When my driving is sharp, I’m hitting a lot of short-iron and wedge second shots. My coach, Michael Bannon, and I have come up with a system for controlling distances with the short clubs. Here I’ll show you what I’m working on to get my driving and short approaches clicking at the same time. Continue reading to view the rest of Rory’s 9 step plan.
If I can do that, I’ll make a ton of birdies—and it’ll be a killer year.
DRIVING
Keep it simple and stay aggressive. Hitting driver as much as I do is never going to give me a huge percentage of fairways. I’m fine with that. It’s a trade-off for playing aggressively. But I need to watch my misses.
A big key for me is the first two feet of the swing. I want everything—hands, arms, shoulders, club—moving back together. I sometimes roll the club inside with my hands, then I have to re-route it coming down. That’s hard to do consistently. I need to start back straighter, with the clubface looking at the ball longer, and let my body turn move the club to the inside. When I get those first two feet right, the rest feels easy.
DRIVING
Keep it simple and stay aggressiveI’ve also worked hard on keeping my swing wide to the top. At the end of last season I started focusing on really stretching out my left arm going back. I’m pretty flexible, so my turn takes care of itself. Now my backswing is wider—and a little shorter—so it’s easier to return the club to the ball.
Thanks for reading You can benefit from Rory’s 9 step plan to having a great 2016!
Golf Chats is a website to encourage discussions on various subjects relating to the game of golf. I am Mel Sole, Director of Instruction of the Mel Sole Golf School and SAPGA Master Professional. I invite you to enter into a discussion on this or any article on the golfchats.com website. The input is for the entire subscriber base to learn something new each time! Please post your comments below. Keep it clean and tasteful. We are here to learn from one another!
Will a shorter Driver help your accuracy to hit more fairways?
Golf Chats is a website to encourage discussions on various subjects relating to the game of golf. I am Mel Sole, Director of Instruction of the Mel Sole Golf School and SAPGA Master Professional. I invite you to enter into a discussion on this or any article on the golfchats.com website. The input is for the entire subscriber base to learn something new each time! Please post your comments below. Keep it clean and tasteful. We are here to learn from one another!
The misconception with a lot of amateurs is that if you use a longer shaft you will hit the ball further!
Now, there is some truth to that statement. However, there is a point of no return with each and every player when it comes to shaft length. If you are a very accurate driver of the golf ball and you are not very long off the tee, a longer driver might work for you. A lot of ladies come to mind here. But, if you hit the ball over 250 yards and are not very accurate, then a shorter driver might help you get the ball in the fairway more often. Would you like a 175 yard shot into the green from the middle of the fairway or a 150 yard shot from the tree or thick rough? I thought so!
Jim Furyk plays with a shorter than standard Driver!
As golfers continue to seek distance off the tee, many companies have responded by producing drivers with a stock shaft length of 45½ inches or, in some cases, longer.
But is that always better? Perhaps not.
For some, a shorter driver shaft might lead to more confidence, more control, and with that, finding the center of the clubface more often. During a past Golf Digest Hot List summit, we conducted a test with a multiple-time winner on the PGA Tour who hit tee shots with drivers measuring 44, 46 and 48 inches. The best results in distance and dispersion came with the 44-inch club.
Train to have “Quiet Eyes” to be a much better putter!
Golf Chats is a website to encourage discussions on various subjects relating to the game of golf. I am Mel Sole, Director of Instruction of the Mel Sole Golf School and SAPGA Master Professional. I invite you to enter into a discussion on this or any article on the golfchats.com website. The input is for the entire subscriber base to learn something new each time! Please post your comments below. Keep it clean and tasteful. We are here to learn from one another!
I read an article on “quiet eyes” about 2 years ago and found it very interesting.
Now realize that I missed the point entirely! I thought that if I kept my eyes very still and stayed looking at the ball the entire time and actually saw the spot where the ball was after I hit it, I had quiet eyes.
Looking at the specific part of the hole for the right amount of time permits your brain to automatically perform that task. Read on and use the link below to read the entire article about golf and all athletic endeavors!
The Atlantic published this really cool piece about precision skills and why some people seem to be better at them than others.
They used the example of free-throw shooters, and how we usually look at someone who makes a ton of free throws and chalk it up to that person being really coordinated or really athletic. But new research shows it’s more complex than that.
The research discusses a theory called “quiet eye”, and it explains success at precision skills through what’s going on mentally, not athletically.
Scientists used eye-tracking technology (I have no idea how you get your hands on that, but it sounds awesome) to see what people are looking at right before, during, and after they performed their task – like shooting a free throw, or stroking a putt.
(Photo by Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images)
The simplified version boils down to:
If you’re looking at the right part of the cup, for the right amount of time, you’re going to be a better putter – because you’re giving your brain the correct info to successfully conduct the task at hand.
Listen in as Phil and “Bones” Mackay discuss shot strategy!
Golf Chats is a website to encourage discussions on various subjects relating to the game of golf. I am Mel Sole, Director of Instruction of the Mel Sole Golf School and SAPGA Master Professional. I invite you to enter into a discussion on this or any article on the golfchats.com website. The input is for the entire subscriber base to learn something new each time! Please post your comments below. Keep it clean and tasteful. We are here to learn from one another!
Phil Mickelson and Jim “Bones” Mackay are two of the most vocal player/caddie relationships on tour.
They like to discuss the options available to them, so the nearby gallery standing around watching knows exactly what Phil is attempting to do. I wish more duos would do this as it gives the spectators an insight as to how these great players think before each shot. Thanks to golfdigest.com for this funny but interesting take on these two!
If you’ve watched enough golf over the years, you’ve surely noticed the prolonged discussions caught on microphone between Phil Mickelson and his longtime caddie Jim “Bones” Mackay. But what about all the conversations NOT caught on TV? We were fortunate enough to overhear a few* and the results may surprise you.
(*Not really. We made all these up.)
Bones: “Alright, look, you see that bunker on the left, and that guy with the yellow shirt about two paces to the right of it?”
Phil: “Yeah, I see it. OK, so that’s my line?”
Bones: “No, no, no. I just really like that guy’s shirt.”
Bones: “Pretty good layout, huh?”
Phil: “Yes, but see, that’s a bad spot for a halfway house there. I’d put it closer to the 10th tee so you can put your bag down, get your hot dog, and not need to rush your tee shot.””
Phil: “You seem annoyed.”
Bones: “I was just thinking that I’ve been carrying this bag for 20 years now. It’d be nice if just once you offered to take a pullcart.”
9 Golf Tips you Should Ignore on the Course – #5 is so true!
Golf Chats is a website to encourage discussions on various subjects relating to the game of golf. I am Mel Sole, Director of Instruction of the Mel Sole Golf School and SAPGA Master Professional. I invite you to enter into a discussion on this or any article on the golfchats.com website. The input is for the entire subscriber base to learn something new each time! Please post your comments below. Keep it clean and tasteful. We are here to learn from one another!
The worst golfing partner you can ever have is the wannabe golf instructor. He wants to constantly give you advice on how you can play better golf while at the same time hacking his way around the course. Most top golf instructors will tell you that trying to change your swing on the course will usually result in your golf getting worse, not better. So, to handle these pesky players, just say, “Thanks, I’ll try that on the practice tee tomorrow.”
As we’ve noted in this space before, it’s bad enough to give unsolicited advice to a playing partner on a golf course. It’s a different animal of awfulness when that counsel is wrong.
1. “Keep Your Hips Still.”
It’s one thing to find your center of balance, but that doesn’t necessarily equate to zero movement from your hips. Quite the opposite, actually. “Ideally, your hips turn away from the target as much as they can,” says instructor Sean Foley. “Here’s a great drill for feeling the proper rotation: Make practice backswings while posting up on your right toe. Your right foot should be set back about two feet from its normal position. This allows the hips to turn freely. If you don’t turn them, it’s difficult to keep your balance at the top.”
2. “Swing Your Club At The Flag.”
The reasoning is sound, but it’s technically “swing at the target.” Which, at times, could be the flag. But amateurs shouldn’t necessarily use the stick as a bull’s-eye. Potential trouble — like water or bunkers — and the slope of the green should dictate your aiming spot. The Masters is a perfect example of this idea, as players aren’t necessarily hunting the flag as trying to avoid trouble.
3. “Don’t Swing Too Hard With Your Driver.”
Don’t misconstrue this as a green-light to go Happy Gilmore. However, many players, if struggling off the tee, will be told by their playing mates to take an easier cut with the big stick. According to Jack Nicklaus, this will lead to further trouble. “Letting up with a driver almost always leads to quitting on the shot or attempting to steer the ball into position,” the Golden Bear once told Golf Digest. “And the results are equally poor.”
4. “I Think You Need To Weaken Your Grip.”
Close to 90 percent of golfers battle a slice. To instructor Hank Haney, one of the biggest factors that causes this problem is a weak grip. “Many players use a grip that’s too weak–with the thumbs pointing straight down the handle,” said Haney. “Make your grip stronger, so your hands are turned away from the target and your palms are parallel with each other.” Warning: Don’t go too far on this spectrum, as holding the club too tightly will prevent you from releasing through the shot.
How to Draw and Fade the ball – This will get you out of trouble!
Golf Chats is a website to encourage discussions on various subjects relating to the game of golf. I am Mel Sole, Director of Instruction of the Mel Sole Golf School and SAPGA Master Professional. I invite you to enter into a discussion on this or any article on the golfchats.com website. The input is for the entire subscriber base to learn something new each time! Please post your comments below. Keep it clean and tasteful. We are here to learn from one another!
Most golfers are trying to prevent curve on their shots.
Either hooking or slicing the ball, particularly off the tee. But for those of you who want to curve it intentionally to either get yourself out of trouble or curve the ball in to a difficult pin position, this is the article for you! Hank Haney explains how to both draw and fade the ball at will. Thanks to GolfDigest.com
Curving the ball is a subject I cover a lot on Twitter, but that’s mostly because players are trying to get rid of too much curve.
But if you want to become a complete player, you need to know how to move the ball both ways to go around obstacles.
To make the ball hook, move it back slightly in your stance, close the face a few degrees and make your grip stronger, turning both hands away from the target (above, left). To slice it, do the opposite: Move the ball forward, open the face slightly and take a weaker grip (above, right).
In both cases, adjust your aim to account for the big curve you’re setting up. Most golfers don’t change their aim enough, and end up hitting the obstacle or curving past the target.
To Hook It
Position the ball back, close the face slightly and strengthen the grip.
To Slice It
Position the ball forward, open the face slightly and weaken the grip.
16 exercises to make you a better golfer – #8 is critical!
Golf Chats is a website to encourage discussions on various subjects relating to the game of golf. I am Mel Sole, Director of Instruction of the Mel Sole Golf School and SAPGA Master Professional. I invite you to enter into a discussion on this or any article on the golfchats.com website. The input is for the entire subscriber base to learn something new each time! Please post your comments below. Keep it clean and tasteful. We are here to learn from one another!
Most of the students I teach are out of “golf shape.”
That makes my job harder, as the student cannot get into the correct positions needed to improve his/her golf swing. If you truly want to improve your golf swing, do some daily stretching. These 16 basic stretching exercises, explained by Mark Verstegen, written by Ron Kasprisky, and demonstrated by Eric Dannenberg, bring you a workout that will not only benefit your golf game but improve your overall fitness so you can enjoy life to the fullest!
The weakest part of most golfers’ bodies is the part they need most: the core. Without strong, pliable muscles in your stomach, hips, butt and lower back, you can’t make a golf swing that is both powerful and technically sound. In the February edition of Golf Digest, I gave you an introduction to building a better core. Now I’m going to share with you the entire, 16-exercise workout. Do this three to five times a week and you’ll notice a dramatic improvement in your golf swing and you’ll feel a whole lot better. — Mark Verstegen
Cut the Carbs before the round and Make More Putts!
Golf Chats is a website to encourage discussions on various subjects relating to the game of golf. I am Mel Sole, Director of Instruction of the Mel Sole Golf School and SAPGA Master Professional. I invite you to enter into a discussion on this or any article on the golfchats.com website. The input is for the entire subscriber base to learn something new each time! Please post your comments below. Keep it clean and tasteful. We are here to learn from one another!
What we eat before or during a round of golf can seriously affect our focus.
Refined flour products, some cereals, and any high-sugar drinks or snacks produce serotonin in our brains after a short while of ingesting them. Serotonin promotes lethargy and reduces our ability to focus.
Find out which quality protein foods you need to take in before a round. Instead of a ‘sugar crash’ your muscle memory and your focus will sharpen, and you’ll feel confident, make better decisions and make more putts!
You’ve probably been told to ditch the pre-round bagel and orange juice and avoid a soda or sports drink at the turn. “They’re bad for you,” you’ve heard. But if you’ve ever wondered why eating simple carbs like refined flour products, cereals and high-sugar drinks and snacks hurt your golf game, it goes beyond the message of “empty calories.
“It’s what they do to your brain, says Matt Jones, a nutritionist who works with some European Tour golfers as well as many other professional athletes.To simplify the science behind how nutrition impacts athletic performance, focus on two well-known neurotransmitters—serotonin and dopamine, Jones says.
When you eat processed foods loaded with simple carbohydrates, the concentration of an amino acid called tryptophan increases in the bloodstream. When tryptophan passes the blood-brain barrier, it’s rapidly converted into serotonin.
This is the part where you golf game goes in the tank. Serotonin has been proven to reduce alertness and muscle function, while promoting feelings of lethargy and relaxation, Jones says. In simpler terms, it produces a sugar crash.
How to play golf’s most scary shots when you need to!
Golf Chats is a website to encourage discussions on various subjects relating to the game of golf. I am Mel Sole, Director of Instruction of the Mel Sole Golf School and SAPGA Master Professional. I invite you to enter into a discussion on this or any article on the golfchats.com website. The input is for the entire subscriber base to learn something new each time! Please post your comments below. Keep it clean and tasteful. We are here to learn from one another!
When you find yourself up against a tree but on the wrong side, where you cannot take your normal stance to hit the ball, you have two options.
1. Take a drop, two club-lengths from where the ball lies (not really an option that anyone wants), or 2. play the shot standing the opposite way. This might be a scary shot, but with just a little practice and this video by Golf Digest and Jason Birnbaum, you will soon be well on your way!
Do you want your child to love golf – Follow this 8 step guide!
