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Newsletter - Issue 41 Date 11/23/07
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TCT Quick Tips - Try Hard on the Practice Tee Only
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The practice tee is the place to try things out and to try hard;
the golf course is the place to let things go, free yourself up.

Don't try harder on the course.

Try less hard.

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Golf Tip : Winter Drills
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If anyone has a golf question that they would like 
answered, please email your question to: 
teachingpro@bataviacc.com and I'll do my best to answer 
it in an upcoming newsletter.

Here are four position drills that will help you immensely next season
if you practice them consistently over the winter months.

Consistently means three times per week as described below.

You will need one specialized piece of equipment for this drill, a club like the 
MasterGrip Groovie - www.mastergrip.com and click on Groovie - or a similar
type weighted club.  The Medicus Momentus fits the bill, but it costs 
a lot more than the Groovie.  Any short weighted club will do, but the clubs 
mentioned above also train you to use a correct grip as an added benefit.

Here is how to do the drills. 

Do them all in slow motion. Take about 10 seconds for each repetition and hold 
the end part of the position for an additional 10 seconds. Holding positions 
teaches your brain where you want the club instead of where it has been going.
Holding a position for as little as 10 seconds can literally reprogram your 
muscle memory. 

Do the drills in sequence, in other words do drill 1, then go directly from the 
end position to drill 2, then go directly from the drill 2 end position to drill 3, 
then from 3 to 4 in the same fashion.

This would be one set of drills.

Do four sets, with 2 minutes of rest in between sets.  

After the fourth set, rest for 2 minutes then do ten full easy practice swings 
in a row, flowing from position 1 through 4 seamlessly and hold the finish 
for 10 seconds.

Do this whole routine once every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

Here are the four positions drills:

Position 1 - Top to Slot - the Magic Move

Take the club to the top of your swing. Your hips (for right handed golfers) 
should now be pointing to the right of your target.

The first motion from the top is a slight bump of the hips across the target line 
into right field. When the hips bump slightly into right field, you will find that 
your weight moves into the inside ball of your left foot during the transition. 
This allows your right shoulder to move downward to begin the downswing. 

When the hips and weight move together in this manner, your right shoulder 
has nowhere to go but downward, putting your right elbow into the slot by 
your right hip. This is the correct motion of the left hip and the right elbow.

It is a slight bump into right field as your weight moves into your forward 
foot, allowing your arms to drop to the inside. 

Hold that position for 10 seconds.

Position 2 - Impact

From the end of position 1, let your body rotate and your arms unfold 
until the clubface approximates the impact position and hold it there 
for 10 seconds.

Make sure that your left wrist is either flat or slightly bowed, and that 
your head is behind the imaginary ball position.

Your hands should be slightly ahead of the clubhead.

Hold this position for 10 seconds.

Position 3 - Post Impact Extension

From the end of position 2, continue to rotate until your extended arms, 
and clubhead are pointing towards your target. Maintain the bend 
at your waist.  Your weight should be shifted towards your front foot, the 
shaft should be parallel to the ground, and the toe of your club should be 
generally pointing skyward.  Your head should have rotated to allow for 
seeing where the shot is headed 

Hold this position for 10 seconds.

Position 4 - Full Follow Through

From the end of position 3, continue to rotate until your belly is pointing 
towards the target, your arms have collapsed across your left shoulder, 
your weight is almost completely on your front foot, and your back foot 
has pivoted as if you squished a bug with the big toe of your back foot. 
The heel of your back foot should be pointing skyward.
 
Hold this position for 10 seconds.

That's one set. Take a 2 minute break then do three more sets and the 
practice swings.

You will be absolutely amazed at how much better you will hit the ball 
next year if you do these drills religiously and correctly.

All the best,

Tom