Golf instruction - what is essential to the swing and what is merely style?
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Golf Instruction - What is essential to the swing and what is merely a matter of style? A page for everybody who loves golf! Here I will discuss the swing, architecture, equipment, players and the general state of the game.
What type of shot do you need to hit to be happy? Or even satisfied? Many golfers, as they strive to improve correctly set their standards high. However, these high standards will eventually corrupt their mental approach as they can only be satisfied with a perfect shot followed by a perfect outcome. They only accept perfection! Not a recipe for cultivating a positiveattitude.
Having read about Hunter Mahan's change in attitude over the past few months that culminated in his victory yesterday over world number two Rory McIlroy at the WGC Accenture Match Play, I thought today would be an opportune time to share an approach I recently learned from Dr. Morris Pickens.
During the course of a round, any shot you play can only have one of four outcomes: a good shot with a good result; a good shot with a poor result; a poor shot with a good result; or a poor shot with a poor result. Four possible combinations! How many of these four cause a negative reaction from you?
The above chart illustrates the four possible combinations. We can all deal with quadrant 1 and we should be upset with quadrant 4, but how do you respond to quadrants 2 and 3? When playing golf we all prepare and work toward good shots and good results, yet we know that will never always be the case. In fact, there has never been a round of golf played where every shot and result has been good. We will always encounter adversity at some point and need to be accepting of certain results that are less than perfect. A perfectionist only accepts one option - that quickly leads to frustration and one unhappy and disgruntled golfer.
I am not advocating that as golfers we should never get upset - quadrant 4 will take care of that. I do believe however, that with a better understanding of the big picture, we must learn to accept less than stellar shots that work out (quadrant 3) and good shots that don't (quadrant 2) as part of the game that we play. When you can do that you are growing and improving, as a golfer.
Kyle Stanley did something very few golfers ever get to do - he turned the tables. And the amazing thing is he did it all in the span of eight days. After losing at Torrey Pines after having a seven shot lead, he righted all his wrongs on Sunday, by negating Spencer Levin's eight shot lead to win his first PGA Tour event.
Kyle is the touring professional for my home course, Berkeley Hall, where he is also a resident. He takes full advantage of our amazing practice facility and plays with the members whenever he is in town. We are all so proud of "our man"!
This is what was in the bag for the victory week:
Driver: Titleist 910D3 8.5 degree with Mitsubishi Diamana Kai'li 70X
3-wood: Titleist 910Fd 13.5 degree with Mitsubishi Fubuki 83X
Irons: Titleist 503i 2-iron; MB712 4-P with Project X 6.5
An interesting note is that during the off-season Kyle switched from a 9.5 degree D3 to a 7.5 degree model. He could not get comfortable with the 7.5 and after testing on our TrackMan we found that he was a lot more consistent, and felt better, with an 8.5 degree model. Good to see he stuck with the 8.5.
Another interesting note - and this will tell you a little about his work ethic - his three wedges are each stamped with a word - DO WORK SON. One word for each wedge. He really does do work....
Kyle tweeted this after his victory yesterday:
"To do list on my week off: 1. Relax. 2. Work on my lag putting from 15 feet!!"
And a very classy tweet from playing partner and runner-up Ben Crane:
"As a fan of sports you have to love what @kylestanleygolf did this week. CONGRATS, Kyle. You earned this. The whole golf world is proud of u"
I have just returned from the annual PGA Show in Orlando, Florida and I am pleased to share that the economic side of the game appears to be in fine shape. In previous years I have left the show feeling somewhat dejected, yet after this year's experience I am really excited for what 2012 holds.
Every year I look around for ideas that might be game changers - something fresh, new and different. I also keep an eye out for what I call "headscratchers" - something so far out it makes me wonder how it could ever help a golfer get better. Here are a few things that piqued my interest:
This tiny, lightweight device attaches to the shaft of your club from where it captures your swing and transmits it to your smartphone (Apple or Android) or tablet. It offers relatively accurate dataon swing path, speed and launch angle amongst others, but the developer did stress to me that once swing speeds exceeded 90mph the accuracy got a little "sloppy". It also allows you to share the information with your coach or golf buddies. This product comes highly recommended for the vast majority of golfers out there ($149; swingbyte.com).
Face it - kids absolutely love to hit balls at a moving target and they love it even more if that moving target happens to be you. If you're looking to give your kids or grandkids a reason to play golf and have a ball while doing it - all you have to do is suit up in the sticky suit and let the fun begin. It's a velcro suit that, when used with Snag's sticky balls and plastic golf clubs, turns you into a moving target thats far more appealing than even the guy in the range picker. Big time fun factor ($230, snaggolf.com).
SuperFlex offers a great Golf Kit that includes five exercise bands made specifically for golfers Each kit includes an exercise program that's designed to help with mobility, stability, flexibility, core strength and more. Anyone here need that? ($99; superflexbands.com)
These leather headcovers have been around for a while, but there is nothing that makes a statement quite like a customized set of these protecting your big sticks. I have some (that I paid for!) and every round I play somebody asks about them. I love old schooland these have old schoolwritten all over them. For the golfer who has almost everything (from $58 ea; iliacgolf.com)
How about these two items? I have a hard enough time making putts with a flat face - how does anybody suppose I'm going to make more putts with a putter that has a curved face?
This second "headscratcher" I simply called the Putting Guillotine! Is this device really going to help me on a downhill left to right slider on the final green for the win....? I rest my case. While I selected these two items to show you, there were many more instances where ideas, products and teaching aids caused me to simply turn and walk away.
The best booth at the show had to go to TaylorMade - again. Here's an interesting stat for you: TaylorMade currently controls a 55% share of the metalwood market. If you compare to when Titleist golf balls where at their peak - they only controlled a 48% share of the ball market! And remember - golf clubs cost a lot more than golf balls.
Best Clothing Booth - Travis Mathew - the old convertible was a great touch.
Best Hosiery (socks!) - Kentwool - they claim to be the world's best golf sock and I have no reason to dispute that. These socks rock!
Best Teaching Technology - Swing Catalyst - I may be biased here, as I own one, but this technology is ahead of it's time.
As per usual there were many golf personalities there and I happened to see Scotty Cameron, Michael Breed, Lee Trevino, Paula Creamer, Wally Uihlein, Gary Gilchrist and Erik Barzeski amongst others, but I'm still trying to figure out what Flava Flav was doing there? If that's not a "headscratcher" then I don't know what is?
If you have not had an opportunity to visit the PGA Show then this video might give you an idea of what the experience is like. Thanks for reading and enjoy!
At the end of each year, with the help of ShotLink, the PGA Tour puts out a stat sheet that gives an in-depth review of various statistical categories. There are always some very interesting numbers - some of which I thought I'd share with you today...
Driving
The PGA Tour average driving distance for all measured shots was 290.9 yards.
The longest driver was JB Holmes at 318.4 yards while the shortest hitter was Brian Gay at 269.8 yards - that's almost 50 yards per tee shot!
There were 21 golfers that averaged over 300 yards per tee shot. In 2000 John Daly was the first and only player to average over 300 yards.
Rory McIlroy hit 51 out of 56 tee shots over 300 yards in the WGC-Bridgestone event.
The longest drive of the year went to Dustin Johnson at 463 yards - it did involve a cart path!
Joe Durant was the straightest driver hitting 75.65% of his fairways while Anthony Kim was the least accurate hitting only 46.99% of the fairways.
No player led the field in driving accuracy en route to victory, while Bubba Watson led the field in driving distance for both of his victories.
Seventy golfers had rounds where they hit every fairway - a feat Joe Durant achieved four times!
John Merrick had a streak of 36 fairways in a row!
Darren Clarke only hit 41% of the fairways in winning theOpen Championship.
Approach Shots
Boo Weekley led the tour in greens in regulations (GIR) with 71.68% - that's just over 12.5 greens per round. Keep in mind the average golfer hits 4 greens per round.
Robert Garrigus and Graeme McDowell both hit 92% of the greens at Kapalua - the easiest course on tour to hit greens.
15 players manged to hit all 18 greens in a round and no golfer accomplished this feat more than once.
Webb Simpson had a streak of 32 greens in a row!
The hardest green to hit on tour was the 6th Hole at PGA National (29.98%). The hole is actually a par five for the members and is truly frightening.
The course with the most hole outs from off the green was Harbourtown GL at 101. Primarily because the greens are literally miniscule and very easy to miss.
Around the Green
Brian Gay led the sand saves category with a 63.40 % up and down rate.
Greg Chalmers led the scrambling category with a 65.17% up and in rate.
Note: I do have a problem with the PGA Tour scrambling stat in that they measure scrambling for any shot to the green that is one stroke higher than regulation. This means that tee balls hit OB should be up and downed from the tee to convert and that pitches and chips played to a par five in three are not counted...not too much sense in that. (Thanks to Pete Sanders from ShotbyShot.com for pointing this out to me)
Five players led the field in scrambling in the same week that they won.
Jason Dufner was 23 out of 24 for scrambling in the Waste Management event.
Brian Gay and Paul Stankowski each had 17 consecutive sand saves!
Putting
Luke Donald led the tour in the best stat on tour in my opinion - Strokes Gained-Putting with +.844. That means he gained an average of .844 strokes on the most "average" putter for every round he played and has led the tour in this category the last three years. Boo Weekley, for all his hitting prowess, was last on -1.102 and Luke gained almost two strokes per round on Boo - just with the putter!
Luke Donald had 1 three putt for every 80 holes of golf he played.
On average Tour winners out performed the field by +1.426 strokes per round with the putter. That's only +5.7 better than the field average in a four round event...
6 out of 38 winners in 2011 led the field in strokes gained-putting and 25 of 38 winners ranked in the top ten.
Charlie Wi gained +12.68 strokes on the field in the Crowne Plaza Invitational.
Hunter Mahan only managed to make 219 feet of putts in the 4th round of the Deutsche Bank Championship.
Three players managed to have 15 one putts in a round!
Luke Donald had 483 consecutive holes without a three putt and Kevin Na made 676 out of 676 from inside three feet!
Scoring
Luke Donald led the adjusted (?) scoring average at 68.86 while Webb Simpson led the actual scoring averages at 69.16.
Webb Simpson had 60 rounds of scoring in the 60's and 13 out of 98 rounds that were bogey-free.
Four players had 11 birdies in a round and three players made 27 birdies in a four round event.
4% of all rounds on tour were completely bogey-free.
Luke Donald had 17 consecutive sub-par rounds (I have those all the time!) and Briny Baird had 12 consecutive rounds in the 60's.
The PGA Tour currently keeps a total of 416 various stats on each player for every round they play and with the help of some very smart people each stat category is getting deeper and better as they move forward. Ever read the book Moneyball by Michael Lewis? Well golf is finally starting to apply sabermetricsto the massive amount of data they collect every year - and they're better off for it.
You cannot improve upon something if you cannot measure it! I believe that statement to be true and I know that quality stats are vital in helping any serious golfer improve. That is why I have aligned with noted statisticianPeter Sandersand his fantastic site ShotbyShot.com. With this site you have the ability to truly assess your strengths and weaknesses. You even have the ability to judge your putting against scratch handicap golfers in a strokes gained type format - the only other way to get something similar is to become a Tour player!
To all my students: If you are serious, and I believe you all are, please contact me about a fantastic opportunity for us to participate at ShotbyShot.com. After all, if you want to improve something we have got to measure it....
I would like to take this opportunity to wish you and your family a blessed Christmas and Happy New Year. Thank you all so much for your support and readership in 2011 - I could not and would not do what I love to do without you.
In just over 30 months this site has enjoyed over 350,000 hits! My YouTube channel has over 450,000 views and I have more than 450 fans on my Facebook page. Fantastic! Please feel free to let me know what you feel I can do a better job with...
My goals for 2012 are directly focused on improving your golf and I will attempt to do so by improving the following areas of your game:
Driving - either straighter or further - you know what you need...
Shortgame/wedging - get the ball either on the green or up and down...
Putting - an easy way to trim 2-3 strokes off your score...
Next year I will provide technical and practical assistance to help you get better in each of the areas mentioned above. Give it a try, commit to it and I guarantee positive results. Keep an eye on this space starting next week...
Until then - relax, enjoy family and friends and keep in mind what the real reason for the season is.
Around this time of the year I like to look back at the year and contemplate what I have learned as a teacher and coach that will make me better in the future. After much thought here is my list:
Golfers too often lose sight of the fact that the game is all about scoring. It's not about style, or aesthetics, or form - it's about function. And scoring is function. If any golfer can go out and hit the ball the same as they always have and shoot five strokes lower they are very happy. No, this is not something new to me, but as I get older and hopefully wiser, I see way too many golfers who miss this point. They are searching for a swing, a technique, a "holy grail" that will upgrade their game. The answer lies in driving, wedging, putting and a hefty dose of hard work - period!
Anybody can get better in twenty minutes. With the help of Trackman I have seen this time and time again. The challenge is taking "ownership" of the changes as this can only be done through practice. Through practice you get comfortable, you then begin to trust the changes, which in turn channel into confidence - the magic elixir of all sport.
The driver works much better when it strikes the ball with an upward hit. If a golfer swings at 100mph and strikes the ball with a 5 degree downward hit, they will be 28 yards shorter than a golfer who hits the ball with the same swing, but a 5 degree upward hit! The launch angle goes up, the spin goes down and boom, you're not even swinging any harder.
With an on plane swing, when the clubhead moves towards the ground the club path travels in to out and when it moves away from the ground it travels out to in. I know you're more than likely scratching your head over this one - watch the video and read the article and it'll make a ton more sense. This has been a game changer for me and I so wish I had knowledge of this information thirty years ago.
Modern golf technology can do wonders for your game. From the latest drivers to launch monitorsto pressure plates - there is new technology that can help you make real changes to almost any part of your game. Seek it out and take advantage...
It is possible for every golfer to get longer - yes, I said every golfer. Even you! Most of the gains can be made simply by learning how to deliver the driver to the ball more efficiently. If you could learn what it takes to hit the ball 15 yards further (which is about my average for male golfers after a TrackMan session!) you have now made the golf course you play 200 yards shorter. Where do I sign up for that....?
The weight transfer in the backswing is due to the swinging motion of the arms. There should be no conscious shift or lateral motion with the body. See the 84 degree secret...
Thanks for reading - I hope you have all learned at least something from my musings during 2011. If you remember one thing remember this: Nothing will ever take the place of hard work and heart - not talent, not finances, and certainly not coaching.
Oh, and if you haven't wrapped up your holiday shopping yet I have a smokin' deal for you. Buy one copy of It's All About Impact and I'll send you four - one for each member of your foursome.
I have big plans for upgrading the information and look of the site in 2012 so stick around and watch this space...
Here is a collection of my favorite golf videos from the year. They all effected me in one way or another. This first video reminded me what a a great game we all pursue - it appeals to all people, of all abilities, in all corners of the globe. This swing is for real believe it or not and shows what lengths a golfer will go to in order to keep the ball in the fairway....
The next two videos have made more of a difference to my game than any video ever has. For the past few years I have been a horrible driver of the ball and the information contained in these two clips made all the difference for me - I now hit the ball higher, longer and straighter than I have in a long time. Of course TrackMan had a fair bit to do with quantifying the changes I needed to make. I hope they have the same effect on your game...
These next three videos are inspirational - they show what can be achieved with creativity and imagination. This is how golfers learn to hit amazing golf shots - they dream them up first! Enjoy...(BTW watch for Alexander Noren to start featuring on the European Tour in 2012)
The final video is a tribute to my favorite golfer of all time - the great Severiano Ballesteros. This year we lost a golfing legend way too early in his young life. I will always remeber his passion, competitive spirit and the cavalier manner in which he played the game. RIP Seve....
Okay seriously - I now realize I have printed way too many books and it's time to get them out of the house. In order to maintain the festive cheer in the Rice house over the holidays I have agreed (with much persuasion from my agent/wife) to sell them on clearance. If you buy one hard cover copy for $26.95 I will send you four signed books. Shipping for all four books is $12 which means you receive four copies delivered to your doorstep for under $40 (US orders only). You now have a tremendous resource to aid in your off season improvement and a gift for each member of your Saturday morning foursome. This way life is good for you....and for me! Please help. If you have enjoyed this blog over the years and still have not broken down and purchased your hardcover version your patience has finally paid off.
Get your body in position for a world-class impact
Take the correct divot (and plenty of them!)
Regain control of your golf ball
Create bite with your wedges
Control distance on your putts (yes, that too!)
Practice to actually get better
Review and analyze your swing just like the pros do
With this book I have worked to separate modern day style from some all-important substance in the golf swing. We are all different physically - there is no way we can all use the same swing. You will learn how to get the most out of your swing.
And please remember torate orreview the book if you have already read it.
Here is what Nick Price had to say about the book:
I have known Andrew Rice since he was a young man growing up in Southern Africa. I have always been thoroughly impressed with Andrew’s dedication and passion to play, teach, and constantly discover the intricacies of our great game. I know you will benefit from his diligent pursuit of finding the most efficient manner in which to play the game and produce results. The quest for improvement at every level of golf is never ending, but I am sure you will find Andrew’s thoughts to be an efficient way for you to achieve your potential.
Nick Price
Three-Time Major Winner and
Hall of Fame Member
I hope you have had a fantastic Thanksgiving and are looking forward to the Christmas season. I have big plans for all my students getting better in 2012 - watch this space.
In 2010 the player on the left, Jim Furyk won the Fedex Cup and the player on the right, Matt Kuchar won the PGA Tour money list. Can you tell which arm position at the top is correct or better?
My opinion is that both are correct and neither is better than the other. Theswing methodology a player uses means very little in my honest opinion - it's all about what the golf club makes the ball do. Does it work or not? These guys only split $20 million in 2010 so there is nothing wrong with what either of them are doing! Don't get caught up in what the arms or the legs or body are doing unless there is a problem with the ball flight. The swing may be unique, but if it works, keep it.
If either of these players came to me for a lesson I would find footage of when they felt like they played their best and work them back towards that particular swing.
Don't get too caught up in what the text book says you should do - work towards whatever results in better golf shots for you. If you feel that you know will win the Fedex Cup next year and would like to place an online bet, visit TopBet Sportsbook. The swing that does not work is wrong and the one that consistently works is correct - no matter what it may look like.
I recently ran an interesting promotion where I offered golfers an opportunity to gain 10 yards if they participated in a twenty minute TrackMan session. The cost was $50 and if they didn't gain the yardage their session was free. This meant I had to be on my game and I had to make simple and effective upgrades to get paid...it's not often a golfer can take a lesson and only have to pay for the lesson if they see immediate results!
My reason for running the promotion was primarily to create interest and excitement in the new TrackMan unit and to give the Berkeley Hall membership a peek at what this technology can do for them.
I had eighteen golfers, eleven men and seven ladies sign up and I encouraged each of the participants to focus on the driver. In case a participant wanted to work with an iron I had them each bring their driver and a seven iron along.
When hitting the driver I try to get my students to have an attack angle of somewhere from 1 - 5 degrees up along with a club path of somewhere from 1 - 5 degrees from in to out. I prefer that most golfers hit out and up on the ball creating a high launch, low spin trajectory with the driver. We all could benefit from a few extra yards, no?
Here is a compilation of points of interest from the day:
The average swing speed for the men with the driver was 83.9mph. The top speed achieved was 96.1mph while the slowest was 70.1mph. Keep in mind that this event was promoted as a "distance" event and as a result the golfers who came out tended not be the longest of hitters.
The average speed for the ladies with the driver was 65.6mph with the top speed being 73.4mph and the slowest being 60.3mph.
Before any changes were made 11 out of the 18 golfers hit down on the ball at an average of 1.6 degrees with the driver. After the changes had been made the same 11 golfers averaged 0.6 degrees up on the ball. Not bad...
Before any changes were made 7 golfers (a surprisingly low number in my opinion!) hit from out to in at an average of 3.3 degrees with the big stick. This means that their club path was travelling 3.3 degrees left (for a right hander) of the target at impact. After adjusting, the same 7 golfers averaged 0.8 degrees from in to out - a very positive change.
Prior to any changes 4 golfers hit too much (in my opinion) from in to out at an average of 6.6 degrees. After the changes they averaged 2.2 degrees in to out - a far more respectable number.
Not every golfer gained yardage, although the majority did. A few golfers actually lost some clubhead speed while they were working on the changes which were primarily in the address position. It was interesting to note how some golfers adapted and changed easily while others had a tough time.
The golfers with slower swing speeds tended to be more efficient, something I had already noted from the PGA Tour stat on Total Driving Efficiency and as a result it was quite difficult to get them make the "required" yardage gains. They were quite close to optimal already...
Similarly, I found the ladies to generally be more efficient in transferring the energy they created to the ball than the men. I've also noticed that LPGA golfers also tend to be more efficient than their PGA Tour counterparts, particularly with the driver. The mantra seems to be "the more energy you create, the more likely you are to waste it!" It does not have to be that way though.
Every golfer who attended the event improved in an important area regarding how they deliver the club to the back of the ball. Quite a few golfers did not gain 10 yards, but they all left feeling like they had the knowledge and feel they needed in order to realize longer tee shots.
One lady had a fantastic golf swing with very efficient numbers, but, primarily due to her petite size, she was unable to generate much clubhead speed. She had an older, heavy driver with a 70 gram shaft and so I spent most of our time talking to her about whatequipment (lighter = faster) suited her best and what exercises (Momentus woosh) she could do to increase her speed with the driver. I'll be interested to see how she does with the new club.
Almost all the participants commented that while the "numbers overload" from TrackMan was overwhelming at first, once we had isolated a particular problem (attack angle, club path, spin axis etc.) it seemed very simple. They were able to key in on one area and get a feel for how much change was required in order to reach their goal - all without much in the way of complicated, positional swing changes.
The twenty minute time format worked well for the students and for me. They did not get overloaded with information and I had be concise and clear (for a change!) in what they needed to upgrade.
So, back to the question, "Can you get better in twenty minutes?" I would have to say an emphatic yes. With the right feedback mechanism, which TrackMan certainly is, and a simple approach, you can make fairly substantial changes in a short period of time. The important thing moving forward is that you practice the changes in order to gain a measure of comfort and confidence in them - and as we know, that takes more than twenty minutes.
When I first got into teaching golf I learned a particular method of swinging the club - I was very much a method teacher. I believed there was an ideal pattern to be followed and all golfers would have been better if they could learn to swing the club and move their body in this manner. At one point I even went so far as to say that in a few more years there would never be another "homemade" golf swing on the PGA Tour! There was only one, ideal way to swing a golf club and I wanted every student I taught to get to this ideal.
That phase of my teaching career came to an abrupt end five years ago when I started a self-education project to study the swings of golf''s all time greats. As I researched and broke down these championship swings the very first thing I found was that not a single one of them had a swing that was similar to another. How could this be? I had spent the first fifteen odd years of my career teaching golfers a certain swing method and in the space of one month had figured out that no great golfer used the same method as any other great golfer. What did that say for my, or any other, method?
Think of the foursome you play golf with most often - there could be a multitude of body types, age groups, and personalities in every group on the course. And I, in all my brainwashed brilliance, had been trying to get every one of them to swing in the same fashion.
Little did I know that my self education project would turn my teaching upside down. I now know that there are many ways to swing, yet very few ways to hit - and all the greatest golfers employ those same narrow parameters to hit repeatable, quality golf shots. My research project actually culminated in the book"It's All About Impact".
Early in my career I attempted to achieve function or peak performance by improving the look and form of a golfers swing. Can you imagine what I'd have done if Lee Trevino, Raymond Floyd, Nancy Lopez, Hubert Green or Jim Furyk had come to me for help early in their careers? I'm thankful for their sake that they hadn't as you might never had heard their names.
In my teaching now, I work to get golfers to squeeze the most out of what their unique bodies, minds and experiences will allow. It is all about function and very little about form. I often say to a student, "If I could get your swing to look worse and have you shoot five strokes lower, we'd both be happy campers." I will do whatever I need to do to get my student to get the club to do what they want the ball to do...regardless of how it looks.
We are all different physically, mentally, emotionally and experientially - how can we possibly swing a golf club with the same form? The answer is - it cannot be done! Stop trying to swing like your favorite player and start learning how to hit like your favorite. Understand that you're different and unique and if you can deliver the appropriate set of physics (forces and angles) to the back of the ball with your swing - it will follow the desired trajectory to the desired location. Isn't that what you're after?
I believe so strongly in providing my students with an understanding of what the "appropriate physics" at impact are that I have purchased aTrackMan unit. TrackMan is the ultimate in functional teaching as it measures all the factors that lead to ball flight. The radar unit tracks clubhead speed, swing plane, angle of attack, club path, face angle and dynamic loft all at the most important part of any golf swing - impact. Now, as golfer, imagine being able to know which of the previously mentioned measurements are stumbling blocks for your golf game. Wouldn't it be great to know that you have to worry about nothing else other than the club path being too far from out to in? Or perhaps your attack angle is too far down and you need to feel like you sweep each iron off the ground?
My goal with any student is to change as little as possible and it often works that way, but sometimes we need to change quite a lot. The objective is always the same - influence the club at impact in order to make the ball what we would like it to do.
If you come to me for a lesson you will not be taught a method of swinging a golf club, but you will be taught a method of hitting a golf ball. None of my students will ever have golf swings that look similar, unless by accident, but many of them will hit shots that look and sound alike. You will leave the lesson knowing what you need to do to hit better shots - and you will also leave hitting better shots.
TrackMan arrives in early October at Berkeley Hall. Call Andrew at (843)247-4688 to book a lesson.
The PGA Tour has a new stat titled Total Driving Efficiency . The stat measures how many yards each player is able to squeeze out of their driver clubhead speed- how much are they getting out of what they put in? We should all be looking to be as efficient as possible, particularly with the big stick. The stat is quantified by how many yards per mile per hour of clubhead speed a golfer extracts from their driver and there is a minimum of 25 driver shots required.
The current leader is David Toms who works with noted instructor and Trackman user Brian Manzella. Together they understand the ins and outs of what it takes to be as efficient as possible with the driver. Brian says David's path and face are right around zero (which means straight at the target) with his attack angle being about 2-3 degrees up on the ball. Read more here. David's YTD averages are:
Ball Speed - 159mph
Launch Angle 12.6 degrees
Spin Rate 2300rpm
Carry 260 yards
Keep in mind that the new stat is an average and thus includes balls hit on firm and soft fairways, into and down wind, and of course good ones and less than stellar ones. The numbers below indicate the best (Toms), middle of the pack (Scott) and bottom (Driscoll). As you view the distance they would hit the ball at various clubhead speeds keep in mind that some players prefer to not be optimal. In other words, some players just prefer to hit a higher spin cut shot out there as they know it'll stay in play. Also keep in mind that most of the golfers who do well in this stat tend to swing the driver at less than 110 mph - they need to be efficient to keep up! The vast majority of us need to do the same. Read THIS to learn how to be more efficient with your driver. If you know what your clubhead speed this is where your average tee shot would end up. If you are similar to Toms' number keep it up, if you are in the Driscoll category we need to talk...
David Toms (best)
100 mph - 269 yards
95 mph - 256 yards
90 mph - 242 yards
85 mph - 229 yards
80 mph - 215 yards
75 mph - 202 yards
Adam Scott (average)
100 mph - 258 yards
95 mph - 245 yards
90 mph - 232 yards
85 mph - 219 yards
80 mph - 206 yards
75 mph - 194 yards
James Driscoll (worst)
James Driscoll
100 mph - 244 yards
95 mph - 231 yards
90 mph - 219 yards
85 mph - 207 yards
80 mph - 195 yards
75 mph - 183 yards
Where do you fall?
It would be interesting to see what would happen to James Driscoll's efficiency if he spent an off season working on getting more out of his driver...
Charl Schwartzel is the Majors Aggregate Champion of 2011! That means that among the golfers who made the cut in all four major championships Schwartzel used the fewest strokes over the 16 round marathon. In fact I'd love to see more made out of this "event" which entails 288 holes played on 16 days spread over a period of 5 months. What do you think? Read on.
Schwartzel bested Steve Stricker and Sergio Garcia by 10 strokes. This year there were only 11 golfers that made the cut in all four majors - an average number. Charl actually made the cut in all four majors last year too!
Here are the standings:
Charl Schwartzel: 274-280-285-279--1118
Steve Stricker: 283-283-283-279--1128
Sergio Garcia: 288-279-282-279--1128
Rory McIlroy: 284-268-287-291--1130
Y.E. Yang: 284-278-285-292--1132
Ryan Palmer: 282-284-289-280--1135
Phil Mickelson: 287-291-278-280--1136
Gary Woodland: 286-285-289-279--1139
Bill Haas: 290-285-294-279--1143
Bubba Watson: 289-293-289-281--1152
Edoardo Molinari: 283-291-297-292--1163
I was surprised by the finishes put up by Sergio and Ryan Palmer - might be a sign of things to come.
Colin McGillivray tracks the majors aggregate each year on his website www.golf-majors-champion.comand has compiled the annual results going back to 1960.
Here are a few interesting points:
Largest margin of victory - 35 strokes Tiger Woods (2000)
Could this be the greatest year of golf ever? I believe so.
Most wins - Jack Nicklaus (10)
Who is the greatest golfer of all time? Tiger Woods has won this "event" 5 times - good enough for second best, and while he's not done (maybe?) it's a tall order to expect him to do this 5 more times. Not even close folks - Jack rules!
Most golfers to qualify - 2000 18 players
Fewest golfers to qualify (in the modern era) - 1988 4 players
Highest winning total - Gary Player (1963) 1156
Lowest winning total - Tiger Woods (2000) 1095
Longest timespan for qualifying - Jack Nicklaus 29years (1962-1991)
Most times qualified - Jack Nicklaus 21
Highest recorded score while qualifying - 1182 Arnold Palmer (1983) and Tommy Aaron (1970)
Looking through the list of qualifiers it is uncanny how many exceptional golfers appear on a regular basis. Based on this year's Majors a few players are moving up while some notable players are moving down - and just about out.
Up - Schwartzel, Yang, Bubba, Garcia, McIlroy, Woodland, Watney, Stricker, Kuchar, D. Johnson, J. Day, Karlsson and Scott.
Down - Woods, Stenson, Els, Goosen, Villegas, Weir, Casey and Vijay.
Do yourself a favor and take a look at thelist of results over the years. It really does speak to the quality of the players that appear on the list time and time again. In my opinion measuring a golfers play in the year's four biggest events is an excellent barometer of who has had an exemplary year. Thoughts?
My favorite tournament of the year is finally here. If I had one event I could win it would be the Open Championship - I just love the effects of the weather and the truly brilliant golf courses on the Open rota.
Last time at St. Georges Ben Curtis was the grateful recipient of Thomas Bjorn's untimely demise in a greenside bunker. By the way - has anybody seen or heard from Mr. Bjorn since that fateful day?
This year I really like the chances of the young guns and were I a betting man I would have a hard time going against these five:
Rory McIlroy - Golf's new golden boy. He simply must be on everybody's shortlist of champion golfer candidates. After the dominant showing at Congressional and last years showing at St. Andrews and this year at Augusta...you get the picture.
Louis Oosthuizen - Not sure why I like him as he hasn't done much in the year since holding the Claret Jug (top 10 at the US Open), but I just feel he'll be inspired to be playing major championship links golf.
Rickie Fowler - a stellar showing at last years Open Championship after a horrible opening round. He is due for something good to happen...
Dustin Johnson - he's got to show up at some point this year in a major right? I believe he'll come from out of nowhere to challenge this week.
Charl Schwartzel - okay I know I have two young South Africans on my list, maybe I'm biased, but who can argue with this pick. A win and a top 10 in majors thus far this year.....I look for the bantamweight to be there come Sunday!
We can only hope for similar weather to last year - firm, fast and a stiff breeze off the Dover coast. I love it!
What fabulous terrain for a golf course! Just watching the Open Championship inspires me to take agolf break and get out and play some links golf. There is no better style of golf to play. Enjoy!
If you are interested in playing a few of the Open Championship courses check out - Golf Breaks UK
CB Macdonald is a genius. If golf is to be played for the purpose of enjoyment then surely the course a golfer plays should elevate the potential for that enjoyment. The National Golf Links of Americais beyond question, the most fun and interesting golf course I have ever played. Having not played the course before I have heard numerous reviews from fellow golfers fortunate enough to have played the course that there are too many blind shots, it's too short, the greens have too much movement, essentially it's just okay. What? If I could only play one golf course for the rest of my life it would unquestionably be this one.
The course was designed by Charles Blair Macdonald and opened in 1911. Many of the holes were patterned from famous golf courses in Britain and adapted to fit the lay of the land:
The 2nd hole, named Sahara, is a par four modeled after the 3rd hole at Royal St. Georges.
The 3rd hole, named Alps, is a par four that requires a blind approach shot to the green, similar to the 17th hole at Prestwick.
The 4th hole, named Redan, is a par three that copied the 15th hole at North Berwick, the site of the original Redan hole.
The 7th hole, named St. Andrews, is a par five that was designed based on the 17th hole (Road Hole) at St. Andrews.
The 8th hole, named Bottle, is a par four that resembles the 12th hole at Sunningdale Golf Club.
The 13th hole, named Eden, is a par three that replicates the 11th hole at St. Andrews.
Some of the other holes were original designs, the most notable of which is the par four 14th hole. It was named Cape because the green was located on a small peninsula that jutted into a bay. The green was later moved during construction of Sebonac Inlet Road but is now surrounded on three sides by a large bunker. A unique feature on the golf course is a windmill located between the 2nd and 16th holes. A member once remarked that a windmill would make a nice addition to the course so Macdonald purchased one when he was in Europe and sent the member the bill.
The golf course is a perfect site for a matchplay event and when it playes host to the 2013 Walker Cup there are bound to be some thrilling matches. The reason for this is due to the fact that there are so many holes that play either a half stroke lower or higher than par. For example the 1st and 2nd holes are driveable to the long hitter and birdie is a real possibility, yet the 3rd, Alps, is a long and blind par four where there's a real chance for bogey. The course now plays to a par 72 as the 5th Hog's Back has been converted into a long par four....and a half.
There is no hole on the entire golf course that is not memorable or interesting to play and with the size and movement of the greens there is an endless array of variation to every hole. If you are ever granted the opportunity to play here do yourself a favor, clear your schedule and get there. The amazing thing to me is that the best course in the world, Shinnecock Hills, and the most enjoyable course in the world are next door neighbors.
If you are ever in Ottawa, Canada and are looking for another excellent course to play try Loch March Golf and Country Club - you will not be disappointed!
The web is the largest library on golf we have ever had available to us. It can be a tremendous resource as long as you either know where to look. Let's be frank, not all golf instruction or advice is what it should be. You can only benefit from certain advice if it is grounded in sound fundamentals. For example you would not want to copy this guys pre-shot routine.....
......I don't think anybody would, but it was worth a laugh! The web is also chock full of golf entertainment. Whether it be the latest news, what type of grip Tiger just installed on his new driver, or just something funny like the swings above, here are a few suggestions:
For Golf Instruction:
There is way too much information out there to comprehend, but after a little research you'll figure out whose style you like. (Hopefully you like what you see here!)
If you want to stay in touch with anything and everything that is happening in the world of golf, then you must become a regular at one of these sites....
You junkies are out there - everyday, wherever you might be - checking out all the latest from Japan or the winner's bag. Of course if you're doing that you more than likely know better than me where to look online....
I know you'll find something you like out there. Stay patient and keep looking. Please let me know of a tremendous "golf" site and I'll happily add it to my recommendations here.
This week the PGA Tour adds a new stat Strokes Gained - Putting. The number-crunchers at the Tour say the reason is simple -- Strokes Gained-Putting takes out the bias of the old stats. The new statistic isn't impacted by what you did to get to the green; it only reflects what you did (against what your opponents did) once you got there. I love the idea. Similar to the ideas used in Michael Lewis' Moneyball (about baseball statistics)what truly goes into each statistics is being brought into question and as a result, being understood that much better.
Initially developed by Professor Mark Broadie of Columbia Business School and further analyzed in collaboration with a team from Massachusetts Institute of Technology led by Professor Stephen Graves, Strokes Gained-Putting measures a player's putting performance relative to his fellow competitors in a tournament and will offer a more accurate portrayal of his overall putting performance.
Strokes Gained-Putting takes into account putting proficiency from various distances and computes the difference between a player's performance on every green -- the number of strokes needed to hole out -- against the performance of the other players for each round. This ultimately shows how many strokes are gained or lost due to putting for a particular round, for a tournament and over the course of a year.
Steve Evans from the PGA Tour called the new stat an "evolution in the way we understand the game." Brad Faxon, long known as one of the Tour's best putters, said the statistic "moves us well beyond where we have been in the past in our ability to measure, teach and explain putting performance."
Here's how the new statistic is computed:
For example, the average number of putts used to hole out from 7 feet, 10 inches is 1.5. If a player one-putts from this distance, he gains 0.5 strokes (1.5 - 1). If he two-putts, he loses 0.5 strokes (1.5 - 2). If he three-putts, he loses 1.5 strokes (1.5 - 3).
For the final statistic, a player's strokes gained or lost putting is compared to the field. For example, if a player gained a total of three strokes over the course of a round and the field gained an average of one stroke, the player's "Strokes Gained Against the Field" would be two.
Here are a few interesting points:
The top 5 putters for 2011 using the new stat are Merrick, Chalmers, Snedeker, Stricker and Glover. If all the players in the field hit the ball the same this group would finish a combined 19.44 strokes ahead of average.
The bottom 5 putters for 2011 are Cejka, Trahan, Slocum, Weekley and Els. They would finish 21.608 strokes behind average and lose to the lead group by more than a whopping 41 strokes! That requires a tremendous amount of great ball striking in order to compete.
The Tour's most average putter is Harrison Frazar.
The best handful of putters over the last few years (2004-present) on the PGA Tour have been: Tiger Woods; Brad Faxon; Luke Donald; Aaron Baddeley; Greg Chalmers; Steve Stricker; Brandt Snedeker; Ben Crane and Brian Gay. So these are the guys to imitate....
Less than 6 percent of putts are made from more than 25 feet.
Here are a few "baseline" points against which the golfers will be measured:
A player's chance of one-putting drops 20 percent when moving from 3 feet back to 5 feet.
Just under 8 feet: At the 7-foot, 10-inch mark, it's 50/50 whether players will one or two putt.
Players have a 1 in 3 chance of one-putting from 11 feet (34 percent).
Players have a 3 in 4 chance of two-putt or better from 14 feet (75 percent).
Players have a 1 in 10 chance of one-putting from 25 feet (10 percent).
33 feet is the point at which a player is expected to two-putt. This is interesting because while there is an 88 percent chance of a two-putt from this distance, it is the point at which a player is equally likely to one-putt or three-putt (6 percent each way).
Players have a 1 in 10 chance of three-putting from 40 feet (10 percent).
Players have a 1 in 3 chance of three-putting from 73 feet (33 percent).
It is estimated that a players chances of a three-putt are not 50/50 until 120 feet. In general, greens on the PGA Tour are not large enough to provide a player with a 50/50 chance of three-putting.
Thanks to some very smart people and the PGA Tour, we now have a statistic that truly does measure putting prowess. Let the games begin.....
Andrew Rice Golf
Andrew Rice Golf. Providing golf instruction for all levels of golfers. Here you will find advice on golf instruction, golf course management and golf tips. Andrew Rice Golf is located at the Westin Savannah Harbor Resort and Golf Club. Three-Day Golf School information may also be found here.
RT @golf_fanatics_: 🏌️♂️2 ⛳️ = Tee to Green
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What type of shot do you need to hit to be happy? Or even satisfied? Many golfers, as they strive to improve correctly set their standards high. However, these high standards will eventually corrupt their mental approach as they can only be satisfied with a perfect shot followed by a perfect outcome. They only accept perfection! Not a recipe for cultivating a positive attitude.
