==================================================== Newsletter - Issue 149 Date 09/10/10 ==================================================== ==================================================== TCT Quick Tips - Practice ==================================================== When you are not practicing, remember - someone somewhere is practicing, and when you meet that person in competition, they will win. - Ed Macauley, former NBA pro basketball player, member of the Pro Basketball Hall of Fame I always encourage my students to practice what we've gone over at their lesson, even more than that I encourage them to love their practice. If you can understand the value of practice, it can be very rewarding - not just for the technique, but for developing a process for excellence that carries over to other aspects of life. Here's how Australian born Tour Professional Jason Day developed his game. He dedicated himself to becoming a better golfer when he was in high school, after reading a book about Tiger Woods. Each morning he would get up at 5 and practice until breakfast, then he'd take a half hour break and go back out and practice until he headed out for school. He'd get home at 1 o'clock, eat lunch, then practice until 6:30. He practiced 32 1/2 hours per week for three straight years. Don't ever call him lucky, that's what's called making your own luck. Enjoy, Tom ==================================================== Golf Tip: Pole Stretching ==================================================== At that seminar I attended awhile back that was put on by the Cleveland Clinic Sports Division, much was said about the value of stretching. Now I've always bought into that but I'm buying in more these days. Here's why: I always knew and thought that by stretching a muscle, it would lengthen the range of motion for a golf swing, and that coupled with the centrifugal force generated from the turning of the core would create more clubhead speed and more distance ... and who doesn't want more distance? Makes sense to me, but I was overlooking one very important additional benefit: a muscle that is stretched and supple also loads and unloads more efficiently. I never really gave that aspect it's due - it's really a profound benefit - that your coiling and uncoiling will be more dynamic. With that thought in my mind, I embarked on an internet search, looking for an efficient training aid to assist in my stretching. Many moons ago, I remembered using a broomstick to help me stretch when I was into martial arts, so I started searching for a staff or pole for golf stretches. EUREKA - I discovered http://www.golfstretchingpole.com/ just what I was looking for! I looked through the site and liked everything but the price, it seemed like a lot for a pole, especially the one I wanted. The site offers a regular stretching pole for $43, and the "Pro" model for $86. I liked the Pro model because it allows for a different hands orientation at the top of the swing. I went on an Internet search looking for a bargain and I found one at the SportsMD store: http://store.sportsmd.com/catalog/72edad09-ef3a-44f6-92f5-71e49816e690.aspx They had the Pro model at half price - $43, with free shipping. Fortunately - for anyone that sells anything golf related - I was born with zero sales resistance, so I bought one immediately. I must say that I really like it. I have been using it daily and really get a great stretch, plus if you travel you could carry it in your golf bag extended enough to protect your clubheads, no kidding. Another convenient feature is that is has the exercises embossed right on the pole for easy reference. But here's the big question - was it worth $43? It was for me, because I like professional equipment, but there are cheaper options. Just for kicks I stopped at Lowes today and saw some interesting telescoping poles in the $15 to $25 range, as well as plenty of other single length poles for much less. I really like my golf stretching pole and I'm keeping it - but if you are interested in trying out pole stretching but don't like the price, you might consider something cheaper. Get something at Lowes or Home depot, I think you can probably get along without the hands orientation feature that I mentioned on the Pro model I got. You should either get a 4 ft to 8 ft telescoping pole, or a fixed length pole that measures at least 9 inches taller than your height. I put the exercises up on my site for easy reference: http://www.wnygolf.com/polestretching.html This type of stretching really makes sense, try it you'll like it. Enjoy, Tom