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[ TomTuckerGolf.com Tips ] Issue 35 - Date 10/17/12
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IN THIS ISSUE:

- Tom's Featured Tip: Chipping
- Tom's Bonus Tip: Your "Go To" Swing
- Lesson Comments: http://www.tomtuckergolf.com/testimonials.html
- Sponsors: The Batavia Country Club, Chestnut Hill CC,
  Plum Creek Driving Range and PGA Golf Simulator

Click here for details about the October 50% off sale for simulator time at
Plum Creek:
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Tom's Featured Tip: Chipping
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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 :-)


In my email today I received my RDGA GHIN Handicap Revision Update, as well
as a chipping tip from a high profile golf instructor.

In the tip, he said that for tight lies play the ball back in your stance to insure that
you don't hit it fat.

Then I saw another article from another professional instructor claiming that this
tip was dead wrong. He took issue with the positioning of the ball and the resultant
forward lean of the shaft, because in that instructors opinion, it would cause the leading
edge of the club to dig into the ground do to the extreme shaft lean.

Both of these guys are famous teachers, one is old school, one is of the
more modern variety. You'd recognize at least one of the names - but I'm not giving
either of them up.

Here's my take on this chipping method cyber-disagreement.

First of all, it's probably wrong to absolutely characterize a tip as "wrong" because
of the many different methods used to swing the club. As I've said many times
before in this newsletter, there are a lot of ways to skin the cat in golf.

Personally, I think that you only should play the ball way back in your stance if you
have a terrible lie.  If, however, you decided to play the ball back in your stance, you
should not blame a fat hit on the leading edge of the club digging into the ground.
That's a faulty stroke issue - most likely a weight distribution problem, or possibly
a premature release of the impact angles in your hands and wrists, which would
make the club long prior to impact.

If your weight is forward and your stroke is good, your strike should be good - period.

Extreme forward or rear ball positioning is unnecessary except for extremely unusual lies.

Here's the simple chipping method that I teach.

First of all, I have the student set up in a narrow, slightly open stance, weight
well forward, and hands forward - as in over the front thigh.

Then I have the student take several short chipping stroke practice swings to
see where the club is brushing the grass.

Then I have the student position the ball just about where the club was first touching
the grass, which is usually just about the center of their open stance.

This ball position allows for "ball first" contact.

Then I have the student rock the club back, up, and slightly inward, then turn
their body to initiate the gentle but firm downward, forward pull and turn through
the shot, with firm hands. 

The hands and wrists stay in the impact position through and beyond the strike.

If the student needs to hit the ball lower they can play it back further in their stance.

If they need to hit it higher, they can move it forward in their stance (lie permitting), open
their stance slightly, and open their clubface slightly.

The swing method remains the same, and their setup remains the same, especially
their weight being well forward.

This is simple and it works, give it a try - you'll like it.

Enjoy your golf,

Tom


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Tom's Bonus Tip - Your "Go To" Swing
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Everyone needs a "Go To" swing that they can repeat with each club in their bag. This is
fundamental to good scoring because this swing produces a shot for each club that:

1) carries a consistent distance

2) flies with a consistent trajectory

3) and has a consistent curvature

If 1, 2, and 3, are not all present
in your own "Go To" swing, guess what - you don't
have one.

Keep practicing, a "Go To" swing is perhaps the most important component of
your game for low scoring, so don't quit, keep working on it!

Enjoy your golf,

Tom


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Golf Lessons
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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

If you want to test your putting stroke preference compatibility
with
various hosel styles and shaft placement options, please contact me to set up an
appointment.

I have the three basic hosel styles available in a putter head with the ability to
adjust the shaft placement from heel to mid to center. Call my cell (716 474 3005)
or email me at ttucker@rochester.rr.com for details or to make an appointment.
It can be done indoors or outdoors, so weather conditions are not a factor.


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Sponsors
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Batavia Country Club
- http://www.bataviacc.com The best greens in WNY
Chestnut Hill CC - http://www.chestnuthillcc.com Low greens fees, great course!
Plum Creek Driving Range - http://www.BataviaGolf.com Play golf all winter
on the indoor simulator. Courses, leagues, lessons, and personal available!


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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