==================================================== Newsletter - Issue 119 Date 11/24/09 ==================================================== ==================================================== Equipment - Books - DVD's - Instruction ==================================================== Ontic Putters http://www.onticgolf.com/ In my quest for interesting equipment to test and report on, I communicate with all sorts of people - usually Directors of Sales, Directors of Marketing, or Business Owners. When I contacted the owner of Ontic Golf, Barry Pinder, I ran into one of those rare persons with an enormous amount of passion for the art of putting technique as well as for putters. Bernie and I have been communicating ever since with some very detailed discussion about putters and putting, and although we respectfully disagree with some aspects of stroke theory, the discussions have been very stimulating. Bernie and I struck a deal for me to test both of his putters - The Swytch Blade and the M-Pulse Tri-Gold Mallet Putter. What drew me to these putters was a feature that is fairly unique to his brand. You can actually adjust the lie angle by tweaking a couple of screws, and you will have what is perhaps the most important aspect of putter fitting good to go - your own personal perfect lie angle. I can't tell you how many very good players buy a putter off the rack, get the correct length, than adjust their body to fit the lie angle of the putter INSTEAD OF adjusting the lie angle to fit their body. One of the reasons is that it can be a bit complicated to adjust the lie angle on some putters, but with the Ontic brand it's really easy. The putters come with instructions and the wrench that's used for the adjustments. It's a complete package, and it's simple. This feature allows you to experiment with different strokes that may require a different lie angle, but would allow you to make simple adjustments yourself rather than needing to have a clubfitter bend your shaft or hosel. Another really excellent feature on these putters is the dynamic sole technology, which allows you to feel when the putter is soled correctly. The vast majority of players that I teach need this feature. So many feel that their putter is soled properly when in fact the toe or heel is up at address, bringing a potential alignment error into play. The playability of the putters was unsurprisingly excellent. I'm a mallet guy, but after I tested the Swytch Blade, if I ever decide to switch to more of a blade style putter it will be this one. Great feel, great balance, puts a great roll on the ball, and it looks spectacular to the eye. It's an absolute winner. While testing the M-Pulse Tri-Gold Mallet Putter I was curious about how the design would effect the feel of the stroke. The feel of the shot was different from my two ball in that if felt more defined at impact. I think I can best describe it as how a shot feels with an iron struck well that has more of' a compact sweet spot vs. the feel that you get when you hit a game improvement iron solidly. I actually feel that the putter was easier to align than my trusty two ball putter, especially on short range putts. The line on the putter coupled with the weight port extension of that line fit my eye perfectly when I lined it up with the balance line on my ball. I think it made me concentrate a little more, and I was rewarded with great results. I give both of these putters two thumbs up for playability and value. Having said that, these putters are not cheap, but if you are interested Bernie said he would pass this deal on to my readers: $199 plus free shipping for either model. You would have to order from their toll free number: 1-877-788-8370 and tell then that you want the special pricing offered through Tom Tucker. FYI, I don't make a dime on any of this, I'm recommending on the basis that this product is very high quality and very good value. Enjoy, Tom ==================================================== TCT Quick Tips - Don't Waste Short Shots ==================================================== Too many of us are guilty of missing the math in the fact that a wasted chip or putt is actually worse than a poor drive. Case in point, a par five and you mis-hit your drive to about 75 yards. Think about it this way: you were bound to need a 75 yard shot at some point on that hole anyway. You're just hitting it first instead of last, and depending how you play the rest of the hole, it may not affect your score at all. But a muffed chip, or missed putt counts as one extra shot and you're not getting that back. Get to know new shots. Practice creative short shots around the green with your 5 wood or utility club for shots that need to roll out; with the blade of your sand wedge for shots that lie near the edge of the collar; and with your putter, 8 iron and 9 iron for shots that you usually hit with your sand wedge or lob wedge. . Try 'em, you'll like 'em. ==================================================== Golf Tip: Don't Let Your Arms Oppose Your Swing ==================================================== Exercise / Workout Addendum Before I get into this week's tip, here's a page with the GCC Goilf team's fall workout, which was developed for me by Erik Sandler, the head physical trainer at GCC: http://www.wnygolflessons.com/GCCfall.pdf Some of these exercises can be seen in this medicine ball workout video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxxz4EaDyAk which actually stands on it's own merit for a great core workout. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DON'T LET YOUR ARMS OPPOSE YOUR SWING Use the tip below regardless of your mental approach to the swing. I usually promote the concept of just letting the arms go along for the ride during the golf swing for those players that have a swing vs. hit mentality. What this means is that you want your arms to be relaxed and free of any tension throughout the entire swing motion - they should simply transfer the power generated by the rotation of your torso. The problem that most golfers have in trying to generate extra distance is that they unconsciously flex their upper arms and forearms at address which carries through their entire swing and actually reduces their swing speed as well as lessening their control. This flexing action feels very powerful but in reality it destroys the transfer of your true power which is generated by the rotation of your torso around your hips. Here's what causes the problems. The bicep and forearm muscles of your right arm are flexing in direct opposition to the bicep and forearm muscles of your left arm. In addition, the more one arm flexes the more the other arm flexes in response. This flexed muscle opposition has the effect of freezing your arms in place which does not allow for a free and fluid swing movement let alone the ability to act as a conduit of power from your torso to the golf club. Try the following simple experiment to see exactly what I am talking about. Hold a book between your hands as if you were holding a golf club at address. You will notice that your elbows point out to the sides. Bring the book straight up in front of you and you will feel the tension in your upper arms and forearms as your hands push together in order to keep the book from falling. You will also notice the tension created in your chest as your arms are pushing towards each other. Now swing the book to each side and you will definitely notice the restricted and uncoordinated feeling that the movement generates. This is what is happening in your golf swing although you are not consciously aware of it because you have not concentrated on it before. You will also note that the tension in your arms continues to increase because as the flexing of the muscles of one arm increases the muscles of the other arm respond in kind. It is important to understand that they flex in direct opposition to each other. The solution to this power leak is very simple - actually Ben Hogan had the answer. The key is to eliminate the direct opposition of your arms from your address position and swing. Take your normal address position holding a driver - or any club for that matter - and note that your elbows tend to point out to the sides although not as prominently as they did when you were holding the book in the earlier experiment. The more your elbows are pointing outwards the more the inside of your arms are facing each other which is the root of muscle opposition. Now, still holding the club, rotate both arms so that your elbow joints are pointing more upward than towards each other. This position takes them out of opposition. You will feel your upper arms connecting more to your body, which is also a good thing. With your elbows facing in this relatively upwards position, you will notice the lack of tension in your arms. This is the result of the muscles of your arms not being able to flex against each other. This elbows position drastically reduces the amount of muscle opposition and enhances the ability to make a fluid swing and power transfer. Note that it is impossible to hold onto a golf club in a position where your elbow joints are pointing perfectly straight up. However, the closer that you can comfortably come close to this position the better. This is something that you will have to practice at the range because a new fluid and powerful swing will definitely require you to develop a new feel and timing. Initially you will feel that this swing is not as powerful which is to be expected since you are not feeling the flexing action of the muscles in your arms. But your swing speed will immediately spike and then increase even more as your non-opposing swing becomes more ingrained. And remember - just let your arms go along for the ride. Enjoy, Tom