Archive for December, 2009

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Putting-Seeing the Line

December 15th, 2009
I thought I would share a couple of  ideas I use for my students to help them realign their thought processes for making more putts. 
I will usually ask them to read a putt for me.  I choose a putt with some clear break and ask them to tell me how much it is going to break.  Usually, I will get some answer relative to the hole.  Then I ask, if the cup was covered over, and the ball ran through the middle of the hole, how far by would the ball roll.  It’s usually at this point that I get the blank look. 
You need to determine the speed you are going to hit the putt before anything else. This determines the putts actual break and distance. These are the two things you need to focus on. Not just the initial starting direction.
After that discussion, I explain what the apex is and ask them to show where they think it would be.  I use the apex info, the speed info and the aimpoint they gave me and I place a visual representation of that putt on the ground with a piece of rope.  I stick it in the ground where the ball is with a tee, show the entire curve and run it through the hole to a point that represents the distance they want to hit the putt.
Once they see the actual curve they chose to represent the picture of this selected putt it helps complete the picture between visualization and does it look right.  Using rope is a great way to represent the putt visually to the student.  It is amazing how well many people read the putt when they can shape the rope themselves and look at it. 
It also helps to show them that they can not aim at the apex and expect it to go in.  Once they see where the rope starts and where the apex is they can clearly see that it is almost never a straight line.
It is also interesting to see that most people will see more of a die line when they shape the rope.  This is especially true if you are working on a putt across the slope.  It is really eye opening when they see where their actual aiming point is to create the curve they’ve just drawn on the green.

Give these ideas a try and appraoch every putt with one goal.

Make Everything.

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Posted in Practicing, Teaching Techniques

Gravity Torque

December 13th, 2009

Gravity Torque is a phrase coined by Damon Lucas.  Damon Lucas is a member of the Brian Manzella Academy and teaches at Lake Presidential in Marlboro, Maryland.

Basically, gravity torque is a torque on the clubhead which tends to encourage an open clubface.  It helps explain why so many people have such a hard time returning the club face to a square position.  So here’s how it works.  If you look at the club at the top of the backswing, the clubface will probably be somewhere between facing the sky and toe straight down.  We know that a ‘square’ clubface position is one where the face lays on the plane or is 90 degrees open to the plane.  A clubface that is toe down will be more than this. If you relax your grip at the top of the swing, you’ll notice that gravity pulls the clubface down to a toe down position.  Opening the club face the whole way.

For a majority of the downswing, gravity is acting upon the clubhead and the left arm in an opening manner.  For example, if you are watching a swing from down the line, any time the clubhead is further away from the target line than the grip, gravity is pulling on the head in an attempt to rotate open the left forearm.  Also, because the clubface is on the left side of vertical(while looking from down the line) gravity is also trying to rotate the face open.  Only if the face gets on the right side of vertical(while looking from down the line) will gravity aid in the closing process of the clubface.  This doesn’t usually occur until somewhere around when the club is parallel to the ground for the last time before impact.  If the clubface has not made it to right side of vertical by this point, consistently squaring the clubface will be a challenge.

It is for this reason that maintaining a feel of trying to get the clubface right of vertical(when looking from down the line) after the last time the club is parallel to the ground is critical for proper face closing and control.  I’ve mentioned many times how important it is to get a good feeling of where the clubhead is and how it feels.  Only through proper focus can one begin to learn how the weight of the clubhead and clubface are reacting with gravity.

Take some time and analyze this information with a club in your hands. You’ll quickly see what is being referenced here and how the pull of gravity works against you and works for you.  Here is a video companion for this topic.

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Jerry Tucker Short Game Test

December 8th, 2009

I had a couple requests asking for a way to evaluate the short game.  Here is a test that does just that.   It is called the Jerry Tucker Short Game Test. 

First, we start with wedge play.

The player will hit 5 shots from each of 5 distances; 30yds, 45yds, 60yds, 75yds and 90yds.  The shots should be hit from good fairway lies.  For the 30 and 40yd shot the player is trying to land the ball within a 6′ diameter circle and a 9′ diameter circle for 60, 75 and 90yd shots.  This is landing distance only with the flagstick in the middle of the circle.  The instructor will estimate and write down the distance from the stick the ball landed.  There is a possible 25 possible points with 1 point given for each shot landing in the zone.   The instructor will also determine the average distance from the hole for all 25 shots to create the Average Putt length(40 feet is the highest distance to be used for distance from stick).  The points will be converted into a handicap which is averaged with the Average Putt length handicap to come up with the wedge play handicap.

For example: a zero handicap would be 13 points with an average of 8.5 feet Average Putt length.

 

Next is sand play.  5 shots from 3 distances this time and the flag should be place on the outer edge of the circle.  Smooth level lie should be used when conducting this test.  The three distances are 20 feet to a 4 foot diameter circle, 40 feet to a 6 foot diameter circle and 60 feet to an 8 foot diameter circle.  Remember, flag should be on outer edge of circle farthest from player.

Possible 15 points  with 1 point counting for each shot landing  in the zone(not ending in the zone).  Keep track of points and Average Putt length as described in the wedge play section(30 feet is the highest distance to be used for distance from stick).  The points will be converted into a handicap which is averaged with the Average Putt length handicap to come up with the sand play handicap.

For example: a zero handicap would be 9 points with a 6 foot Average Putt length.

 

Pitching is next.  Drop 5 balls 50 feet from one of the holes giving them at least 20 feet of green to work with and another 5 balls to a hole 75 feet away with at least 25 feet of green to work with.  Ask them to play the ball as it lies and 1 point is awarded for each shot ending within 5 feet of the hole for the 50 footer and 7.5 feet for the 75 footer.  Keep track of points and compute Average Putt length for all 10 shots(30 feet is the highest distance to be used for distance from stick).  Handicap determined as above.  Points handicap averaged with Average Putt length handicap.

For example: a zero handicap is 7 points and an Average Putt length of 6.5 feet.

 

Chipping.  Place 5 balls at 40 feet and 60 feet in various but good lies.  Use a 9 iron for the 40 footer and a 7 iron for the 60 footer.  1 point is awarded for shots ending within 4 feet for the 40 footer and 6 feet for the 60 footer.  Keep track of points and compute Average Putt length for all 10 shots(30 feet is the highest distance to be used for distance from stick).  Handicap determined as above.  Points handicap averaged with Average Putt length handicap.

For example: a zero handicap will score 8 points with an Average Putt length of 3 feet 3 inches.

 

Trouble Shots.  Try to select 5 short trouble shots with these recommendations.  1) 20 footer up against the fringe, 2) 40 footer off a bare lie, 3) 20 footer in a clumpy lie, 4) 40 footer from very heavy grass and 5) 75 footer opposite handed or backhanded as if up against a tree.  Points are awarded for shots that end within 15% of the total distance for first 4 shots and 20% of the total distance for the 75 footer.  Keep track of points and compute Average Putt length for all 5 shots(30 feet is the highest distance to be used for distance from stick).  Handicap determined as above.  Points handicap averaged with Average Putt length handicap.

For example: a zero handicap will score 3 points with an Average Putt length of 5.5 feet.

 

Short Putting.  4 putts from each of 5 lengths at the points of the compass on a slightly breaking pin position.  The lengths are 3, 4, 5, 6, and 9 feet.  1 point is awarded for each putt holed.  Add up points for made putts out of a possible 20.

For example: a zero handicap scores 15 points.

 

Long Putting.  5 putts from 20 feet. 1 point is awarded for each putt made or comes to rest in the 17 inch safety zone.  Meduim difficulty putt.  Safety zone defined as a half circle with a 17 inch radius located on the far side of the hole.  Typical Pelz zone.   5 putts from 40 feet.  Difficult putt either downhill or sidehill within 3 feet of hole in any direction.  Lastly, 5 putts from 60 feet.  Level or slightly uphill within 3 feel of hole in any direction.  1 point is awarded for all putts made or ending within the zones.

For example:  a zero handicap scores 10 points.

Add up the total number of points and compute the toal Average Putt length from all the iron shots.  These numbers are converted to a handicap and averaged to get the players Short Game Handicap.  I won’t be posting the conversion chart but if anyone takes the test on their own and sends me the results, I’ll be happy to compute your handicap for you.

Please leave a comment if you have any questions.

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Chris Malec heads to University of Louisville

December 7th, 2009

Chris Malec, Webster NY has been a student of mine for almost 6 years.  I met him right when he started to take the game seriously at about 13 years old.  He played hockey in the winter  and started playing golf between summer hocky tournaments.  Chris was always been a hard worker and it has been a joy working with him.  During High School, Chris was just starting to get his game so he could shoot around par quite a bit but never made any waves outside of our area.  AJGA events were few and far between but this never stopped Chris from practicing and pursuing his goal to play Div I golf. 

He was unable to find a place to play for his freshman year at a div I school he was interested in so he decided to come and play for me at Monroe Community College.  Chris ended up winning the NJCAA Div III Individual National Title and led our team to their 2nd NJCAA Div III National Team title in the last 4 years.

This got the attention of some colleges and I am proud to say that Chris will be leaving for Kentucky to play at Big East school, University of Louisville.  Congrats Chris and Good Luck!

Chris M Face On

Chris M Down the Line

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My 1st Student

December 6th, 2009

I remember my first student well. He is someone that I still keep in close contact with. I had the honor recently of giving the induction speech for his entrance into the MCC Hall of Fame. He played college golf at MCC and SUNY Binghamton. He worked his way up to a Golfweek Amateur Ranking as high as 33 in the nation. He reached the round of 16 at the US Public Links. He was the NJCAA Division III National Champion and turned pro for a year holding a 69.25 stroke average for professional events.

He is my good friend Joe Kunz and I want to thank him for his eternal support and congratulate him on his induction into the MCC Hall of Fame.

Congratulations my Good Friend!!!!

MCC Hall of Fame

 

BTW-Where did my chin go?

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Posted in Student News