Patriot Golf Day

August 12, 2007 By Leave a Comment
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If you’ve been watching the PGA Championship this week, then you’ve probably heard talk about Patriot Golf Day, coming up on September 1, 2007. On September 1st, golf courses all over the United States will be asking players to add one dollar to their greens fees. The funds will go to support families of those who have become disabled or lost their lives in the line of military duty. The event is spearheaded by Capt. Daniel Rooney an F-16 fighter pilot in the Oklahoma Air National Guard. Capt. Rooney, call sign “Noonan”, also happens to be a PGA Professional. His Fallen Heroes Foundation is teaming with Wounded Warriors, Inc., the PGA of America and the USGA to promote the event. Check out the Play Golf America website to see if your course is participating in the event. If your course isn’t listed, speak to someone in the pro shop to see if they’d be interested. As an alternative, you can also make a donation directly. On September 1st (and every day, really), I ask you

Filed Under: Charity
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Selecting a Golf Pro

August 10, 2007 By Leave a Comment

Taking lessons is something that all golfers should do, at least occasionally. If Tiger Woods needs a swing doctor, then the rest of us can probably use the help too. Finding a pro can be as simple as a trip to your local golf course or driving range. But, much like buying a suit off the rack, for the best results you really need to find someone tailored to you. There are lots of factors to consider. Personality It’s important to work with a pro who matches your own personality and makes you feel comfortable. If you find yourself in a situation where you just aren’t connecting well, you need to start searching for another pro. Lessons are costly and you should be taking as much from them as you can. There too many fish in the sea to stay with a teacher who you don’t feel totally comfortable with. Style One of the most important aspects is the teaching style. For instance, does the pro teach a system or does he/she try and make

Filed Under: Instruction
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Drawing and Fading

August 10, 2007 By Leave a Comment

Being able to curve the ball either way, in a controlled manner, is something that every golfer should try to add to his or her bag of tricks. Course designers often design holes to be played a certain way, and having the ability to shape your shots to suit the hole is a big bonus. There’s not much to being able to hit a controlled draw or fade, but it’s much easier to accomplish if you have the ability to hit the ball relatively straight. If you have an uncontrollable slice, then you might have difficulty drawing the ball in a controlled manner, or even at all. The best bet is to kill your slice first, then work on draws and fades. If you’re ready to tackle shot shaping for the first time, you’re probably going to be amazed at how easy it really is. To produce a draw for a right hander, you simply address the ball aiming right of the target with your club face slightly closed, and take your normal straight-shot swing.

Filed Under: Ball Striking Tips
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Golf Digest Revisits the Stack and Tilt

August 7, 2007 By 17 Comments

Golf Digest started a big buzz in their June 2007 with the first major coverage of the “Stack and Tilt”, somewhat of a revolution in the golf swing (with some concepts that aren’t all that new). Mike Bennett and Andy Plummer, the architects of the swing, had already been making a name for themselves on tour with several pros from the PGA and Nationwide tours in their stable. After the first article, the Stack and Tilt spread like wildfire. I covered it myself in three separate posts (click the Stack and Tilt category in the sidebar to read them) and the internet was filled to the brim with both success stories and criticisms. One of the problems for players has been the lack of information about the swing, and a lack of teachers and schools teaching it. Players have been forced to learn for themselves and share with each other. Along those lines, with so little information and so few professionals backing it, criticisms were left to be bounced around the web, sparking debate among

Filed Under: Ball Striking Tips, Stack and Tilt
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Golf Stats: Reading Between the Lines

August 6, 2007 By 4 Comments

This applies more to players who keep track of stats, but that can mean informally as well. Whether you keep meticulous notes about every single shot and use stat tracking software or whether you kind of keep a rough mental tally of things, those numbers are trying to speak to you. It’s tempting to look at the raw numbers and just make a snap judgment about what they mean. You might notice that your putting average is 1.75 putts per hole and start thinking that you’re putting like the pros. Not so fast. Sunday evening, I finished up my 9-hole round and went home and tallied up my stats. I’ve been making great improvements in my ball striking, but still felt like I wasn’t playing well. When I looked at my putting stats, my average was over two putts per hole. I had only a single one-putt and had two three-putts. Another bad round? Not really. My final score was a 42. Not great, but my best at my new course this year. You’re probably

Filed Under: My Progress, Stats
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