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Golf Tips Newsletter - Issue 312 - Wed. August 27th, 2014
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In This Issue  


- Tom's Featured Tip: Quick Takes - Tiger, Swing Mechanics, Fat Putter Grips
- Health, Wellness, Fitness: Featured Supplement: TLS Nutrition Shakes
- Tom's Bonus Tip: Putting Tempo Mantra
- Lesson Comments: What Students Have To Say
- Sponsors: Batavia Country Club   Chestnut Hill Country Club 
Plum Creek Driving Range and PGA AboutGolf.com Golf Simulator 


Click here:  INDOOR GOLF LESSONS  for details on how to improve your game over the winter.

PLUM CREEK DRIVING RANGE IN BATAVIA, NY, IS OPEN ALL YEAR
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Tom's Featured Tip: Quick Takes - Tiger, Swing Thoughts, Fat Putter Grips

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!

This week I had a few different things I wanted to write briefly about: Tiger, Swing Thoughts, and Fat Putting Grips.
  • Tiger

      As you all know by now, Tiger and Sean Foley have parted ways. I really liked Sean, but for Tiger it's all about winning majors and Sean hasn't been fortunate enough to have Tiger win majors with him.

      I think some of the blame might lay on Tiger, because I'm not sure that he always conformed to what Sean wanted him to do, but that's history now.

      I do know that when Tiger was playing his best that he was relying on the draw more than the fade. This always made sense to me because Tiger is a left sided player - a puller, more than a right sided player - a pusher.

      If a left sided player tries to rely on a fade with the driver, the misses are bad pulls or hooked double cross swings, which go even further left. Great players like Tiger can all work the ball, but unless the shot absolutely calls for a fade, maybe Tiger's default swing shape for the driver should return to the draw.

      I hope he will allow his next coach to get him back to a swing shape that he's more naturally suited for.

      However, in my humble opinion, Tiger seems like the type of person that won't really submit himself to 100% trust in any coach.

      Maybe he should just be his own coach for awhile and see how it works out. He knows enough about the swing for sure, I really think he could pull that off. Plus, if he can't pull it off maybe he'll conform 100% to the advice of his next coach.

      One last comment - some of the pundits are implying that the type of swing Tiger uses caused the most current back problem. I disagree. Tiger's swing method is actually a very safe swing for the back when done correctly. I would venture a guess that the back problem was caused by overexertion in training, although I would be surprised if that ever would be made public.


  • Swing Thoughts

    • There is a commonly repeated theory in golf that you should clear your mind of all swing keys or mechanical thoughts before you take your actual swing at the ball.

      I take exception to that line of thinking.

      If your mind thinks technically, having a swing key or mechanical swing thought - even during your actual swing - is just fine, perhaps even necessary.

      The great Jack Nicklaus often talked about thinking about one swing key just before he started his backswing.

      On the other hand, if technical thinking is a chore for your brain, by all means remove all swing thoughts from your brain before you actually start your swing, and then let it rip.

      Both ways work and both ways are acceptable. Experiment a little to find what works best for you.


  • Fat Putter Grips

    • I have Super Stroke grips on most of my putters, but does that mean that you should?

      Yes and no.

      The fatter grips are good for players that favor a "blocking" type of putting stroke like myself, vs. a "releasing" type of stroke.

      If you like a straight back and straight through stroke, and like mallet head putters - which by design are a little heavier then most blades - the fatter grips are for you, because you are using a "blocking" type stroke.

      If you favor an arcing stroke and like blade putters (as you should), you have a "releasing" type stroke and should gravitate to a more slender grip.

      I like the Super Stroke grips because I like the shape of the grip, and they can accommodate both types of strokes since they have expanded their line to include slim, medium, and fat grip choices.

      So ... I recommend Super Stroke grips as long as you choose the grip that suits your putting stroke style.


Comments: ttucker@rochester.rr.com




Health, Wellness, Fitness: Featured Supplement: TLS Nutrition Shakes

TLS Nutrition Shakes are a staple in my diet.

Every day for breakfast (except Sunday when I break all the rules) I have a TLS Nutrition Shake mixed with skim milk and a banana. It's a great source of both protein and fiber (10g), which is unusual in a protein shake. It has 26g of protein when mixed or blended with skim milk, and since the body can only assimilate between 25g to 30g of protein at a time for muscle repair and growth, the amount of protein is just right.

Plus it's light on calories too. All in all a perfect combination for health and weight loss.

It also provides over one-third the RDA of 22 vitamins and minerals per serving with no added sugar.

You can get some here: TLS Nutrition Shakes


Comments: ttucker@rochester.rr.com

Love your practice, own your swing, own your health,

Tom




Tom's Bonus Tip: Putting Tempo Mantra

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!

Many, many players could lower their handicap by simply adding a putting stroke mantra to their game.

Mantras are phrases that you say out loud in practice, and to yourself on the course, while you execute a swing. They help you to synchronize your movements and to establish some rhythm in your swing or stroke.

Try this one for your putting and watch your handicap go down:

Back - Strike - Hold - Like

Time the words up with your putting stroke and you'll like more of your putts!

Comments: ttucker@rochester.rr.com


Golf Lessons

I conduct lessons at The Plum Creek Driving Range & Practice Facility
there's a link for Plum Creek 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 email me at ttucker@rochester.rr.com
for more information.

Outdoor Lessons Details and Rates:
http://www.tomtuckergolf.com/lessonrates.html

Indoor Lessons Details and Rates:
http://www.tomtuckergolf.com/indoor.html

Driver Fitting Rates:
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Testimonials:
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Sponsors

Plum Creek Driving Range and Simulator  Outdoor range and play indoor golf on any of our 40 Simulator Courses. Call 585-993-0930 or email Mark at plumcreek4@rochester.rr.com to reserve time for simulator play or practice!

Batavia Country Club   Great Rates & The Best Greens in WNY- bar none! Labor Day (September 1st) Special - 18 Holes Riding - $20 until 1pm, $15 after 1pm. BCC Members - Free Cart. Memberships will be the same price for 2015. New members paying beginning September 15th will receive playing priveledges for the rest of 2014 also! www.bataviacc.com

Chestnut Hill CC   Great rates, 20 minutes East of Buffalo, NY .

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

"There are no substitutes in the quest for perfection!"
~ Ben Hogan