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With the announcement of the 2116 Olympics to include golf for the first time since 1904, implications for Golf on the World-wide stage are staggering! Countries such as China and Korea, two countries who have made huge strides in the game could dominate the sport by the early 2020’s. China is likely to include golf in their All-China Sports Federation, which helped them to dominate the Olympics in many sports since the mid 70’s.
I sat next to Kerry Haigh, Managing Director of Tournaments and Marketing for the PGA of America at the recent PGA Annual meeting. He had some interesting insights as he has served on the exploratory Olympic Golf Committee since its inception.
1) The format will be 72 holes stroke play. They had considered a hybrid Match Play, stroke play event but could not reach a consensus.
2) There will be a Gold, Silver and Bronze winner. They have not decided if or how they will conduct play-offs should there be a tie.
3) Steve Smyers is already building a course outside of Brazil, complete with areas for spectators. Other architects/groups are looking into the area, but time could take way too long to get permits, etc…
4) A major concern is how many spectators will attend? Would you rather watch swimming or Gymnastics in an air conditioned building or schlep to Golf Course where the heat and humidity could be unbearable! And how about the rainy season?!!!!
As the time approaches this writer will do his best to find out what is involved in making the Olympic Comeback of Golf a very interesting phenomena.
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Monday, November 9, 2009
Building Relationships through Golf
Most golfers share a common bond of playing different courses from time to time. Whether for pleasure or business the round often involves being paired with someone you don’t know or would like to know better. Thinking back have you ever played with someone who you missed a chance at friendship? Or had a playing partner who could have helped advance your career?
Most likely the answer is yes. Here are a few pointers to help you manage these opportunities.
1) Keep a record of where you play and who you play with. Put it right on your calendar. You can use your calendar’s search function to access the information even years down the road.
2) Take a picture of the group on the first tee. Get the e-mail address of all players the group and e-mail them the picture after the round with a thank you. This is a nice touch and another opportunity to have a record of the round accessible through your e-mail’s search function.
3) Use a keyword phrase for these e-mails. This will help you narrow your search later down the road. My keyword is “Foursome photo” which I include right in the subject of my yahoo e-mail address. Again, this makes your ability to search for past information much easier.
4) Review the information from time to time. At a slow point in your year go back and review all your away and relevant home golf rounds throughout the year by typing in your key word. For important ones you may use the contact information then or make notes and re-send them to yourself as a group. Perhaps you have another picture you can send as a reminder? The more often you review this information the more often important aspects of these relationships will become apparent.
5) Give a unique gift to the foursome when appropriate. A shirt or hat may do, but I like www.customgolfjournal.com/. This unique book can be ordered directly from the website.
The person who receives this book to can save their scorecards neatly in the book by sliding them in a “patented “slit” on the accompanying page. They are also able to record remembrances of their rounds on the opposite page.
You never know when you may use this system to further help a new friendship or to further your career. Or even when you playing partner may use the picture you sent to them to contact you!
Most likely the answer is yes. Here are a few pointers to help you manage these opportunities.
1) Keep a record of where you play and who you play with. Put it right on your calendar. You can use your calendar’s search function to access the information even years down the road.
2) Take a picture of the group on the first tee. Get the e-mail address of all players the group and e-mail them the picture after the round with a thank you. This is a nice touch and another opportunity to have a record of the round accessible through your e-mail’s search function.
3) Use a keyword phrase for these e-mails. This will help you narrow your search later down the road. My keyword is “Foursome photo” which I include right in the subject of my yahoo e-mail address. Again, this makes your ability to search for past information much easier.
4) Review the information from time to time. At a slow point in your year go back and review all your away and relevant home golf rounds throughout the year by typing in your key word. For important ones you may use the contact information then or make notes and re-send them to yourself as a group. Perhaps you have another picture you can send as a reminder? The more often you review this information the more often important aspects of these relationships will become apparent.
5) Give a unique gift to the foursome when appropriate. A shirt or hat may do, but I like www.customgolfjournal.com/. This unique book can be ordered directly from the website.
The person who receives this book to can save their scorecards neatly in the book by sliding them in a “patented “slit” on the accompanying page. They are also able to record remembrances of their rounds on the opposite page.
You never know when you may use this system to further help a new friendship or to further your career. Or even when you playing partner may use the picture you sent to them to contact you!
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Knock, Knock, Knock It Down
Published in the MET GOLFER, 2005
By Brad Worthington and Peter Woford
Head Professional at Brooklawn CC, Fairfield, Conn.
The knockdown wedge is one of the game’s finer secrets that separate good golfers from great players. The common fault I see amongst amateurs is to think that the wedge has to be a full-swing at full-speed producing a balloon-like high-arch ball flight and making guesswork of yardages, spin and how much the wind might effect their shot. Basically a trajectory that is too high, too steep and too unpredictable. However, the better player knows to knockdown their wedge play to produce a more penetrating ball flight.
I first witnessed and learned this shot first hand nearly 20 years ago when as assistant professional at Winged Foot I was paired with then Quaker Ridge-based teacher Jim McLean in the New York State Open. As I stood on the back of the par 5 green facing a 45-foot downhill eagle putt, I feared an ounce too hard with my stroke and I might trickle off the green into the creek fronting the green or otherwise no guarantee birdie. Whereas back in the fairway, 100 yards away was McLean striking his third shot. I had a great view of how his wedge came into the green so low, minimum spin and the ball danced around the cup leaving a 6-inch tap-in birdie. It was a great shot and it took me a week to finally ask Jim for a lesson on how-to hit the knockdown wedge.
As a teacher developing this 110-yard-and-in-shot is a matter of practice, technique and confidence. From a player’s perspective having the knockdown wedge in your repertoire is an advantage in course management, boost to confidence for scoring birdies and lifesaver for up and down pars. The advantage of the knockdown wedge besides a low penetrating ball flight is it is a more solid contact, makes controlling distances easier, and keeps the ball on a straighter flight. It is an easier ___ swing and more efficient. Also, there is the psychological advantage knowing that an errant drive does NOT mean bogey or worse, all you have to do is get your next shot to within 110 yards.
My only caution in using the term knockdown wedge is the image of an abbreviated swing, or a too steep, closed clubface as if keeping the ball under a tree branch or into a gale wind. Yes, the ball position is slightly further back in your stance. Yes your hands, in line with the shaft are slightly ahead of the ball. And, yes the follow-through has an extension of the arms lower to the ground. But it is a regular swing with a balance of weight and A NEARLY full follow-through. The ability to measure how far you want to hit the ball is in MIRRORING THE length of the backswing AND THE LENGTH OF THE FOLLOW THROUGH. The skill learned is: farther the target the longer your backswing, while BLENDING THE ACCLERATION OF THE BODY WITH THE ACCELERATION OF THE HANDS AND ARMS.
How-to Play the Knockdown Wedge
It is a 110-yard or closer shot, so naturally your address position is slightly narrower and WEIGHT FAVORING THE LEFT. Because there is not much body rotation the swing of the arms is important. Club selection is a pitching wedge, in that 47- to 50-degree loft where the leading edge of the clubhead is more square (straighter line), and the flange or bounce is less than a gap- or sand wedge.
Choke down on the grip maybe ONE TO TWO INCHES. The shorter club will make the club feel lighter, and shorten your backswing. The ball position is slightly further back in your stance, centered between your feet. A ball-pack position allows you to address the knockdown with the hands and shaft leaning slightly ahead of the ball.
Your swing thought is more of a “u-shape” path, where the low takeaway mirrors the low follow-through. Think just the opposite if you want height in your shot, how the steep angle of approach to impact will cause the ball to spin more and climb higher. Here we are thinking a flatter trajectory.
See here in the first image how shallow my angle is when approaching the ball at impact and how my wrists have started to release.
The key of the knockdown is in that split second at and after impact where you should consciously FEEL like you are am extending your arms through impact, delaying the rotation of the forearms. Naturally, because you are generating so much speed in the swing the arms will rotate. Again the thought is to make a full BODY ROTATION with extension and balance, facing your target.
The 3-ball Drill
A quick and easy drill to visualize the desired impact is the 3-ball drill. By aligning three balls perpendicular to the target the goal is to strike the middle ball at angle that creates a divot “after” the imaginary perpendicular line.
Notice the ball position in relation to my stance, centered, and how the hands and shaft are slightly ahead of the ball. The secret to this drill, and even in the shot on the golf course, is don’t ground the club. I like to have the club hover slightly off the ground, again no resistance in the take away, and it reminds me of the “u-shape” swing low back, and low follow-through.
The answer here is in the divot. How “crisp” or square did you strike the ball? A heavy or even fat shot will show the divot starting too soon of that imaginary perpendicular line, and more than likely too deep.
The Swing Ball Solution
Another great drill is in conditioning or strength training of your golf swing. For years tour players have been seen “throwing” medicine balls to their coaches. In short easy tosses they are basically simulating the low takeaway and the low follow-through, the weight of the medicine ball and centrifugal force keeps the arms extended.
Well try throwing the eight-pound medicine ball to your wife or children, and watch them run away. Therefore a friend of mine and I sat down one day and designed The Swing Ball. Basically it is a medicine ball with elastic straps as handles, and it is color-coded – blue half for the backswing and yellow half for the follow-through. The goal is to simulate the golf swing slowly, allowing the muscles to be stressed. As you get stronger, then the longer the simulated swings.
By Brad Worthington and Peter Woford
Head Professional at Brooklawn CC, Fairfield, Conn.
The knockdown wedge is one of the game’s finer secrets that separate good golfers from great players. The common fault I see amongst amateurs is to think that the wedge has to be a full-swing at full-speed producing a balloon-like high-arch ball flight and making guesswork of yardages, spin and how much the wind might effect their shot. Basically a trajectory that is too high, too steep and too unpredictable. However, the better player knows to knockdown their wedge play to produce a more penetrating ball flight.
I first witnessed and learned this shot first hand nearly 20 years ago when as assistant professional at Winged Foot I was paired with then Quaker Ridge-based teacher Jim McLean in the New York State Open. As I stood on the back of the par 5 green facing a 45-foot downhill eagle putt, I feared an ounce too hard with my stroke and I might trickle off the green into the creek fronting the green or otherwise no guarantee birdie. Whereas back in the fairway, 100 yards away was McLean striking his third shot. I had a great view of how his wedge came into the green so low, minimum spin and the ball danced around the cup leaving a 6-inch tap-in birdie. It was a great shot and it took me a week to finally ask Jim for a lesson on how-to hit the knockdown wedge.
As a teacher developing this 110-yard-and-in-shot is a matter of practice, technique and confidence. From a player’s perspective having the knockdown wedge in your repertoire is an advantage in course management, boost to confidence for scoring birdies and lifesaver for up and down pars. The advantage of the knockdown wedge besides a low penetrating ball flight is it is a more solid contact, makes controlling distances easier, and keeps the ball on a straighter flight. It is an easier ___ swing and more efficient. Also, there is the psychological advantage knowing that an errant drive does NOT mean bogey or worse, all you have to do is get your next shot to within 110 yards.
My only caution in using the term knockdown wedge is the image of an abbreviated swing, or a too steep, closed clubface as if keeping the ball under a tree branch or into a gale wind. Yes, the ball position is slightly further back in your stance. Yes your hands, in line with the shaft are slightly ahead of the ball. And, yes the follow-through has an extension of the arms lower to the ground. But it is a regular swing with a balance of weight and A NEARLY full follow-through. The ability to measure how far you want to hit the ball is in MIRRORING THE length of the backswing AND THE LENGTH OF THE FOLLOW THROUGH. The skill learned is: farther the target the longer your backswing, while BLENDING THE ACCLERATION OF THE BODY WITH THE ACCELERATION OF THE HANDS AND ARMS.
How-to Play the Knockdown Wedge
It is a 110-yard or closer shot, so naturally your address position is slightly narrower and WEIGHT FAVORING THE LEFT. Because there is not much body rotation the swing of the arms is important. Club selection is a pitching wedge, in that 47- to 50-degree loft where the leading edge of the clubhead is more square (straighter line), and the flange or bounce is less than a gap- or sand wedge.
Choke down on the grip maybe ONE TO TWO INCHES. The shorter club will make the club feel lighter, and shorten your backswing. The ball position is slightly further back in your stance, centered between your feet. A ball-pack position allows you to address the knockdown with the hands and shaft leaning slightly ahead of the ball.
Your swing thought is more of a “u-shape” path, where the low takeaway mirrors the low follow-through. Think just the opposite if you want height in your shot, how the steep angle of approach to impact will cause the ball to spin more and climb higher. Here we are thinking a flatter trajectory.
See here in the first image how shallow my angle is when approaching the ball at impact and how my wrists have started to release.
The key of the knockdown is in that split second at and after impact where you should consciously FEEL like you are am extending your arms through impact, delaying the rotation of the forearms. Naturally, because you are generating so much speed in the swing the arms will rotate. Again the thought is to make a full BODY ROTATION with extension and balance, facing your target.
The 3-ball Drill
A quick and easy drill to visualize the desired impact is the 3-ball drill. By aligning three balls perpendicular to the target the goal is to strike the middle ball at angle that creates a divot “after” the imaginary perpendicular line.
Notice the ball position in relation to my stance, centered, and how the hands and shaft are slightly ahead of the ball. The secret to this drill, and even in the shot on the golf course, is don’t ground the club. I like to have the club hover slightly off the ground, again no resistance in the take away, and it reminds me of the “u-shape” swing low back, and low follow-through.
The answer here is in the divot. How “crisp” or square did you strike the ball? A heavy or even fat shot will show the divot starting too soon of that imaginary perpendicular line, and more than likely too deep.
The Swing Ball Solution
Another great drill is in conditioning or strength training of your golf swing. For years tour players have been seen “throwing” medicine balls to their coaches. In short easy tosses they are basically simulating the low takeaway and the low follow-through, the weight of the medicine ball and centrifugal force keeps the arms extended.
Well try throwing the eight-pound medicine ball to your wife or children, and watch them run away. Therefore a friend of mine and I sat down one day and designed The Swing Ball. Basically it is a medicine ball with elastic straps as handles, and it is color-coded – blue half for the backswing and yellow half for the follow-through. The goal is to simulate the golf swing slowly, allowing the muscles to be stressed. As you get stronger, then the longer the simulated swings.
Scoring Tips
As the Club Championship nears for some and the fall approaches for all, it is a good time to consider golf’s most important challenge: SCORING! Here are some simple drills and thoughts to lower your golf scores.
1) Practice on the Putting Green: practice distance control - place a tee two feet past the hole. Using five balls, try to roll them so they finish past the hole, but not past the tee. Once you can stop 5 balls between the front of the cup but not past the tee choose another putt as a reward. With a little practice you will find yourself imagining the tee on all you putts and your distance control will improve!
2) Work on wedge play: From 100 yards and in, practice distance control. Aim each practice shot a different ball out on the range. Set up with 60% and 70% of your weight on your forward side, do not shift your weight to your back foot. Use your body turn to vary distance- not your arm speed! Try to hit all wedge shots as low as possible, unless you have something to hit over!
3) Work on the driver contact: Hitting fairways is important, but the most important thing when hitting a driver is solid contact, which increases distance and helps your direction. Focus on contact between the ball and the club face. For both practice and play, “hover” the driver as close to the ball as possible.
“See” the club hitting the sweet spot as you swing through the ball. Another great swing “image” is to “clip” the tee that is underneath the ball. A coincidence or not, but most good drives are ones where the player breaks their tee, vs. missing it entirely.
4) When playing the course or a match focus on playing your game. Choose the shot you know you can hit, and don’t worry if you hit a shot that is not “perfect.” Golf’s greatest challenge is getting a better score than seems probable. If you do so you will enjoy the game more and likely win more matches!
1) Practice on the Putting Green: practice distance control - place a tee two feet past the hole. Using five balls, try to roll them so they finish past the hole, but not past the tee. Once you can stop 5 balls between the front of the cup but not past the tee choose another putt as a reward. With a little practice you will find yourself imagining the tee on all you putts and your distance control will improve!
2) Work on wedge play: From 100 yards and in, practice distance control. Aim each practice shot a different ball out on the range. Set up with 60% and 70% of your weight on your forward side, do not shift your weight to your back foot. Use your body turn to vary distance- not your arm speed! Try to hit all wedge shots as low as possible, unless you have something to hit over!
3) Work on the driver contact: Hitting fairways is important, but the most important thing when hitting a driver is solid contact, which increases distance and helps your direction. Focus on contact between the ball and the club face. For both practice and play, “hover” the driver as close to the ball as possible.
“See” the club hitting the sweet spot as you swing through the ball. Another great swing “image” is to “clip” the tee that is underneath the ball. A coincidence or not, but most good drives are ones where the player breaks their tee, vs. missing it entirely.
4) When playing the course or a match focus on playing your game. Choose the shot you know you can hit, and don’t worry if you hit a shot that is not “perfect.” Golf’s greatest challenge is getting a better score than seems probable. If you do so you will enjoy the game more and likely win more matches!
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