============================================================== [ TomTuckerGolf.com Tips ] Issue 22 - Date 07/18/12 ============================================================== IN THIS ISSUE: - Tom's Featured Tip: Are You Flipping Your Putts - Tom's Bonus Tip: Heat Exhaustion - Lesson Comments: http://www.tomtuckergolf.com/testimonials.html - Sponsors: The Batavia Country Club, Chestnut Hill CC If you like this newsletter, please do me a favor and forward it to your friends so that they may subscribe: Subscribe - http://www.tomtuckergolf.com/signup.html The Unsubscribe link is at the bottom of this newsletter. My bio is here: http://www.tomtuckergolf.com/ If you wish to comment, respond, or ask a golf related question, please email me directly at ttucker@rochester.rr.com Plum Creek Driving Range and Practice Facility, simulator rates can be found through a link on my home page here: http://www.tomtuckergolf.com/ WE TAKE CLUBS ON CONSIGNMENT Plum Creek is now accepting clubs, bags, etc on consignment. If you have something golf related in good shape - clubs, bags, balls, etc. - that you want to sell, please contact me directly for details at ttucker@rochester.rr.com. For the sake of simplicity, all advice on swings and drills is provided from a right handed perspective; lefties .... well, you know what to do :-) ============================================================== Tom's Featured Tip - Are You Flipping Your Putts? ============================================================== I am of the opinion that bad habits in the full swing can have a negative effect on putting, and that bad habits in your putting stroke can have a negative effect on your full swing. I'm not sure which comes first - the chicken or the egg - but there's definitely a correlation, especially when it comes to flipping the club at impact. This "hit impulse" swing flaw is also one of the most difficult to correct, and one problem is that many golfers don't know that the flaw has followed them into their putting stroke. For full swings, the problem manifests itself through a trajectory that's too high, usually with a slice, very little directional control, shorter than normal distance for irons, and the occasional fat or thin hit. For putting, it manifests itself with a lack of lag putting consistency, and pushes and pulls. When we flip through impact on our putts (the left wrist bends towards the target, which is a cupping motion) we are adding motion (cupping the wrist) to stroke motion (your putting stroke) which increases swing speed, which causes the putt to roll out erratically. A putting stroke that is powered by the shoulders is my preference because it will allow for a consistent roll out based solely on the length of your backswing with a consistent tempo. Also, a stroke controlled by large muscles (shoulders) as opposed to small muscles (hands) performs better under pressure because it is less affected by adrenaline in stressful situations. In the putting method that I use, I have the student forward press his/her hands just prior to executing their stroke. This essentially places the hands in an impact position for putting, and I don't allow them to move their wrists from that position during stroke execution. I had a putting lesson today with a gentleman that had an overpowering hit impulse, his forward hand was flipping dramatically during his putting stroke. We did some setup changes to get him into a position to be able to stroke correctly, then we did the following drill which absolutely worked wonders - after about 50 perfect repetitions. The "Drag Through Impact" Drill For "flippers" I have the student ground the putter properly behind a ball. Then I have them forward press and execute a one foot forward stroke, dragging the club on the ground all the way. No backstroke, just the forward stroke. The resistance from the ground prevents any cupping of the forward wrist, the putter head does not pass the club grip, and the student can actually feel how the angles should be retained through impact during an actual putting stroke. For what it worth, this "drag through impact" drill also works with irons - especially for problem chippers - but try it for putting if your forward wrist breaks down during the stroke, you'll like it. Enjoy, Tom ============================================================== Tom's Bonus Tip - Heat Exhaustion ============================================================== Two weeks ago, during a putting lesson on one of our hot summer days, an older student suffered from heat exhaustion symptoms. Disorientation, clammy skin, dizziness, and general discomfort. After a short amount of time the symptoms subsided and a few minutes in our air conditioned shop and some hydration got him back into good shape. Last Wednesday, I found out firsthand how debilitating this is. I had done a couple of putting lessons on our putting green, which is in an area that doesn't get much breeze. At the end of the lesson, all of a sudden I felt so dizzy that I had to make my way to shade and lay down. While I was lying prostate in the shade, my student asked me if I was OK, I replied yes, and he pressed payment for the lesson into my sweaty palm. Actually, even in my semi delirious state, that struck me as humorous. I think I felt like a golf hooker. Anyway, it was about ten minutes before I could get up and walk 10 paces to my car and turn on the air conditioning, and another 15 minutes of that before I had the energy to put my clubs in my truck and drive 50 yards to our pro shop. Then I worked a four shift in our air conditioned shop, cancelled my evening lessons, and called it quits for the day. It took about a day to recover from what I'm sure was heat exhaustion. My message is very simple: hydrate, hydrate, hydrate if you are going to play or practice on these hot steamy days, and the minute you start to feel dizzy or queasy, get into some air conditioning or some shade and hydrate some more. While playing and practicing outdoors in warm weather should not necessarily be avoided, it has to be respected. Hydrate and wear a hat, and a cool, wet hand towel draped around your neck also helps. Enjoy this beautiful golf weather, but please be careful. Tom ============================================================= Golf Lessons ============================================================= I conduct lessons at The Plum Creek Driving Range & Practice Facility there's a link with info here: http://www.tomtuckergolf.com/ Lessons are available for all ages and skill levels, please contact me - Tom Tucker - at (716) 474 3005 or at ttucker@rochester.rr.com for more information. Rates: http://www.tomtuckergolf.com/lessonrates.html Testimonials: http://www.tomtuckergolf.com/testimonials.html ============================================================== Sponsors ============================================================== Batavia Country Club - http://www.bataviacc.com Need a new pair of golf shoes or a new Callaway Wedge? Great Pricing ! Puma /Callaway /BCC Logo Shirts/Wind/Caps. Chestnut Hill CC - http://www.chestnuthillcc.com Low greens fees, great course! ============================================================== All the best, Tom Tucker Teaching Pro, Plum Creek Driving Range & Practice Facility WGTF "Top 100 Golf Teacher" USGTF Class "A" Teaching Professional Cell: (716) 474-3005 Email: ttucker@rochester.rr.com http://www.TomTuckerGolf.com http://www.usgtf.com/top_100_wgtf.html Success Loves Preparation ~ Anonymous