Posts Tagged ‘improve your game’

Focus for Golf-How and Why

May 3, 2011

Focus…..what does it mean for golf?

Have you heard someone say, “I had a great round today, I was really focused.”  Or maybe you have had that round yourself where you felt like you couldn’t do anything wrong.  You had confidence standing over every shot.  When you looked at the hole while you were putting it looked like a garbage can.  You felt like you couldn’t miss a putt.  Ever wonder why this happens only occasionally?

The textbook definition of focus is “a point at which rays of light appear to diverge, or the clarity of an image rendered by an optical system.”  What this means is that focus is associated mostly with sight or the eyes.  Your ability to focus will come down to the ability of your eyes to zoom in on an object, or in the case of golf, the target.  The key to this is the more you see with your eyes, the less you think with your brain. 

The highest level athletes have very little chatter in their brain, and their focus is very high.  What happens to the common athlete is when they start becoming nervous or struggling with their swing on the golf course they increase the self talk and thinking while their energy available to focus decreases.

Focus comes easy for LPGA's Michelle Redman

Learn to play golf with your eyes.  Your pre-shot routine is the key to getting your focus visually.  I teach my students to stand behind their ball and pick out the target.  I want them to pick out a very specific target high and in the distance. Two key ways that I have them working on increasing their focus:

  1. If the target is the flag I have them focus more intently by staring at the metal rod that secures the flag (very specific). 

2.  I have them repeat to themselves “target”, “target”, “target” until they hit the ball.  When you get absorbed into your target, you connect with the target and you provide a clear image for your body to swing.

Remember focus is all about vision and little to do with thinking.  When you want to perform at the highest level, crank up the intensity of your eyes and start seeing your scores lower.

Lynn Anderson,

Totally Driven

Tags:, , , , ,
Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a Comment »

Club Gapping- Why and How

March 31, 2011

Determining the distance you hit each club in your bag should not be a guess or done by comparing to your buddy.   Every month I look at the What’s in the Bag article in Golf Digest and see a PGA Tour Pro featured.   They always list carry distance for each club in the bag.   I can guarantee they can relay these carry distances off the tip of their tongues.

Why is then that the average golfer struggles to know how far they hit each club in their bag?  

1. The assumption that there is 10 yards of distance between each iron in their set.   This is rarely exactly the case.  

2. Very few players have actually measured the distances they hit their clubs.   Why it’s so important to use a GPS or range finder to determine the exact distance to the pin or front of the green, but not know exactly how far you hit your clubs is really a head scratcher. 

3. Until recently there has not been an easy accurate way to measure this accurately. 

4.  Most players go by their best ever shot to determine what iron to use, grossly over-estimating how far they hit the ball.   That is why so many PGA pros say they would recommend the average player use more club into the green.  

5.  Carry distance and total distance are not determined.   Carry distance is more important, but most players rely on total distance, because that’s what they see when they get to the green. 

6.  It takes too long to do this outside with a range finder or by walking it off.

We are starting a Club-Gapping program at Totally Driven.   This is how we are going to do it:

1.  Use an accurate Launch Monitor.  In this case we chose the Foresight Golf GC2, because many industry experts have told us this is the most accurate indoor launch monitor, and it has club gapping software built into it.

GC2 Software

2.  Do the Club-Gapping in a controlled environment.   Outdoors is not controlled, as elevation and wind come into play.   Setting up the Launch Monitor for no wind and a level shot allows for accurate numbers.

3.  Use the golf ball you use on the course to measure.   Using range balls at a driving range is not going to give you accurate numbers.   These balls spin and launch differently than the balls you play and many of them are in poor condition.

4.  Measure carry distance.   This is difficult to do outside.   Many years ago the PGA Pro would have their caddy out in a field so they could measure where the ball landed.

5.  Take a good statistical representation of each club.   We do ours in an hour and ask that the player hit at least 5 and preferably 10 shots with each club.   NOTE:  It’s best to measure every club, as it’s quite common to have loft variances between clubs.

What to do with the results?

1. Know and use the carry distance for each club.   How far the ball rolls out is important, but that is more variable and is effected by tilt of the green, wind direction, hardness of the green and elevation changes.   Carry distance is effected by elevation and wind direction, but not tilt of the green or hardness of the green.   Knowing what club you need to carry a trap or hit to land in the middle of the green is much more reliable and should be more pertinent to your golf game.

2.  If your gaps are too close together or too far apart, consult your local Professional Club-fitter for a loft/lie assessment and/or to look at your set make-up.

3.  Determine how wind effects your shots when outside.   Rule of thumb has been for every 10 MPH of wind (when into the wind) you need one more club.   Is that accurate for you?   How about downwind and sidewind?

4.  Are you playing the right golf ball?   Again, consult your PGA Professional or Club-fitter if you are unsure if the ball you are playing is best for you.

5.  Use the information, don’t rely on what your playing partner is hitting.   Check your ego at the door.   It’s more important to hit the right club, not to hit a seven iron because everyone else is.   The bottom line is shooting the lowest score possible and if you’re not hitting the correct club for the distance, you are only hurting yourself.

Andy Thompson,

Totally Driven

www.totallydriven.com

651-578-0501

Tags:, , , , , , , ,
Posted in Golf Swing/Lessons/Practice, Uncategorized | 4 Comments »

Golf Distance Improvement

January 7, 2011

Most players would love to hit the ball further.   It’s ego driven, fun and helps you score better on the golf course.  Unfortunately, many golfers have no idea (or sometimes uninformed ideas) on how to hit the ball further.  At Totally Driven we work with players striving to hit the ball further on a daily basis and here is what we have found to be the key elements.

1.  Increasing  ball speed off the club-face.  Yes, we measure ball speed, not club-head speed.  Ball speed also incorporates how solidly the ball was hit.   High club-head speed will transfer to high ball speed if you hit the ball solidly.  While increasing ball speed seems obvious, it’s important to have an accurate way of measuring this so that progress can be determined. 

Launch Monitor

 

2.  With the driver, hitting the ball with an upward angle of attack.   Hitting the ball this way (off a tee) produces a higher launch angle and lower backspin rate which will improve distance compared to a downward attack angle which produces a lower launch angle and higher backspin rate.   Example:  A player with ball speed of 135 mph and a downward attack angle producing 11 degrees of launch angle and 3500 rpm of backspin results in 215 yards of carry and 237 yards of total with roll.   A player with the same ballspeed of 135 mph with an upward attack angle producing 15 degrees of launch angle and 2300 rpm of backspin would produce 223 yards of carry and 255 total yards of distance.   In this instance the difference is 18 yards .

3.  Hitting a draw -vs-  a fade will also produce more distance.  A ball that is fading typically produces more backspin and rolls less when it hits the ground.   A draw typically will spin lower and roll further.

4.  Timing/Tempo

When it comes down to it, we determine where the greatest opportunity for distance improvement lies with our players.   When we do an assessment it is very detailed.  We determine current ballspeed, launch/spin rates, angle of attack as well as taking a look at the golf swing with video and 3d, a full physical screening via Titleist Performance as well as power source testing.   When we find the greatest area of opportunity we go after that first.  

In order to improve ball-speed we may need to work on some things physically with the player first.   Sequencing and speed results from our K-Vest 3d testing will show if a player has an efficient swing and the power testing will indicate if the player has sufficient power in the lower body, core and upper body.   Helping improve attack angle or moving from a fade to a draw may also be related to physical issues.  If not, we immediately work on improving these areas with the player.

We have found the key to improving power is determining where the problem lies first.  Fortunately, we have the equipment and expertise that are needed to diagnose each player.   We also have some pretty exotic  methods of improving hip speed, hand speed, core speed, sequencing, (Speed Chain, Tour Tempo, Somax)etc., but we need to first understand the player’s needs.   We have found that each player is unique physically as well as having their own swing.  

If you are looking to improve your power on the golf course, we can help you! 

Andy Thompson

Totally Driven

www.totallydriven.com

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Totally-Driven-Golf/190072850746

Tags:, , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Golf Exercise, Golf Swing/Lessons/Practice, swing aids | Leave a Comment »

Everyone Wants to Increase Club-Head Speed

September 29, 2010

Everyone wants to increase swing speed….but HOW?

What we know today:  There are four power sources that we need to draw from to move the club faster.

  1. Rotary Power
  2. Vertical Power
  3. Angular Power
  4. Throw Power

Rotary Power is the speed that is generated by the separation created by the lower body and upper body during the golf swing. The key to this power source is the ability to maintain your spine angle during the rotation action of the swing.

Rotary Power

Rotary Power- Spine angle stays intact

Vertical Power is the “lift” in the golf swing.  The concept of posting into your front leg into the impact position provides this vertical power.  The lower body’s strength and speed is the key to vertical power.

Vertical Power

Vertical Power- Posting onto the left leg

Angular Power is dependent on increasing the wrist hinge during the downswing and maintaining it into impact position.  The longer the golfer can hold the wrist hinge the greater amount of angular power is translated.

Angular Power

Angular Power- Creating lag

The final power component is the Throw Power.  Think of your muscles as rubber bands.  The elastic (stretch) energy generated on the backswing and then contract during the downswing translates again into power.

Throw Power

Throw Power- The "rubber band" is ready to explode

If you are willing to commit to a swing improvement program that must include working on mechanics of the swing as well as the body you can gain more club head speed which translates to longer shots.

Of course, if you want to increase your club-head speed we can help you at Totally Driven!

Lynn Anderson,

Totally Driven

www.totallydriven.com

Tags:, , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Golf Swing/Lessons/Practice | Leave a Comment »

Why Putting is Most Important of All

September 27, 2010

Most of us realize that over 40% of our strokes during a golf round are putts.  Some of these putts are under  2 feet in length however, so 40% does sounds a little high when considering that. 

AimPoint Green-reading class

What is sometimes forgotten is that if you hit your driver crooked for instance, this doesn’t always cost you a stroke.   I saw a perfect example this weekend, while playing a golf match, my partner and I both hit perfect drives on a par four.  Our two competitors were both in “golf jail” in the trees.  When one of us hit an iron to 9′ from the pin, we were licking our chops at winning this hole.  Then something very interesting happened.   One of our competitors (my brother no less) hit a shot from 140 yards under and around 10 mature trees uphill in wet grass with an 8′ high 3 iron to a blind green from his angle.   As we were standing in the fairway we saw the ball miraculously hop over the hill and onto the green and then dis-appear into the cup for an eagle two.   I later went down to the location he hit from and I would dare say you could put the whole PGA Tour out there for as long as they wanted and they would never hole out that shot.

Regardless of all that, the point is a poor drive doesn’t always cost you a shot.   It may cost you two shots if you hit it out-of-bounds, it may not cost you anything if you can recover or in this case you can gain two shots, as I’m fairly certain par would have been the score from the middle of the fairway.  Hitting a poor iron or poor chip also don’t always cost you a  stroke as you can always hit your next shot well to make up for it.  Missing a putt doesn’t work that way.  Once you miss a putt you lose one stroke.

Why then, do golfers spend so little time working on improving their putting?  At any practice area you will see ten players working on their full swing to one golfer working on putting.   Ever take a putting lesson?  Very few people ever have.  99 percent of players have never been fit for a putter.  Most players learn green-reading by trial and error. 

For such a progressive sport, it is quite interesting that players don’t spend the time or money to work on the easiest way to drop their handicap.   If you took the average 18 handicap player, he will average about 36 putts per round.  To become  a 14 handicap player, all it would take is dropping to 32 putts per round, which is within every player’s capability.  You don’t need John Daly power to make putts, you don’t need strength or speed or extraordinary athletic ability.   You just need to improve in the four areas of putting.  Aiming, distance control, green-reading and your stroke. 

Most players have a putting stroke built around poor aim.  If they tend to aim left they have to compensate by making the ball go right for instance.  You can be an excellent green-reader, but if you can’t hit it consistently on that correct line, what good will that do.  Distance control is most important, but rarely do you see players working on this.

Golf, like every other sport is about improving your weaknesses.  If driving the golf ball is a weakness of course you would want to work on improving that.   The forgotten piece is going after the “low hanging fruit”.  In golf that is almost always putting or chipping.   In basketball it’s free throw shooting.  In other sports it’s less apparent.  Improving putting and sometimes chipping is often fairly easy to accomplish.  The strokes will come off quickly and your enjoyment of the game will go up considerably.

SAM PUTT Ultrasonic Training Device

If you really want to become a better golfer, we can help you at Totally Driven.   We are very unique in that we are AimPoint Certified for teaching green-reading, Putting Zone Certified Instructors, Edel Putter Fitters and we also utilize SAM PUTT, the most sophisticated putter training device in the world.   If you really want to get better, start with putting!

Andy Thompson

Totally Driven

www.totallydriven.com

Tags:, , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Golf Swing/Lessons/Practice | Leave a Comment »

Rule of 95

October 7, 2009
How does your short game measure up?

How does your short game measure up?

Try this the next time you play golf.   Count the number of greens you  hit in regulation during your 18 hole round.   Take this number and multiply it by two.   Now subtract this new number from 95 and you will get what a good score would have been for you.   Example:   You hit 5 greens in regulation, multiplied by 2 = 10.   95-10= 85.  

This method is amazingly accurate and you can learn a number of things from checking this after every round.   First of all you will learn how important hitting greens in regulation is to scoring well.   The bottom line is the more greens you hit, the better you will score.  

When your  actual score is higher than the calculation it is an indication that either your short game is  lacking or you are making big numbers on holes (triple bogies or worse).   This gives you an excellent indication of what you need to work on (putting, chipping or course management). 

If you consistently score better than the calculation this would indicate you have a very good short game.    This would be an indication you need to work on your ball striking.

Use this valuable tool to help give you an accurate assessment of  your game.   From there of course it’s up to you to do something about it.   If you can use  this information to work on your weakness you have a great chance of reducing your handicap, having more fun and impressing your friends.

Of course Totally Driven is there to help you not only figure out your strengths and weaknesses, but help you develop the skills to improve your game, practice correctly and ultimately have more fun.

Andy Thompson

www.totallydriven.com

Tags:, , , , ,
Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a Comment »

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.