TomTuckerGolf.com

Golf Tips Newsletter
Issue 689 - December 8, 2021
Website     Newsletters Archive

 
USGTF Class "A" Teaching Professional
WGTF "Top 100" Teacher
IGPA Certified Golf Psychology Coach


 

"It is not the will to win that matters, everyone has that.
It is the will to prepare to win that matters." - Paul "Bear" Bryant


Tom's Featured Tip: Setup - Feet Square or Open?

Lesson Comments: What Students Have To Say
Sponsors & Affiliates:
The Divot Board
The Impact Snap
The Rypstick
SuperSpeedGolf.com
Club Champion
Batavia Country Club

Plum Creek Driving Range




Buying a sponsored product through any of my affiliate links helps support this free newsletter, and I only affiliate with excellent products that I use myself.  Thanks, Tom




TourGreens & VersaCourt       Click Here To Watch Our Video

If you're interested in an artificial turf outdoor or indoor putting green, bocce court, sport court, tennis court, pet grass, etc., contact me, Tom Tucker, at (716) 474 3005 or email me at TomTuckerGolf@gmail.com for details and pricing. I'm the authorized New York State sales rep for TourGreens and VersaCourt with TourGreensWNY.com. We offer top shelf quality, and even more importantly - the best installers in the Northeast.

TourGreensWNY.com Outdoor Greens Images
TourGreensWNY.com Indoor Greens Images
TourGreensWNY.com Bocce Ball Court Images
TourGreensWNY.com VersaCourt Images

Click Here To Watch Our Video




Buy Gift Certificates for Lessons   Sample Gift Certificate

Golf lessons - Outdoor and Indoor - are available at Plum Creek. Please call me (Tom Tucker) at 716 474 3005, email me at TomTuckerGolf@gmail.com, or visit my website at   http://www.tomtuckergolf.com/lessonrates.html   for details.

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For photos and stories from the 2021 Junior Golf Camp at BCC, click here:
2021 BCC Junior Golf Camp

For details on the 2022 Junior Golf Camp at BCC, click here:
2022 BCC Junior Golf Camp The Junior Golf Camp sold out quickly in 2021, so get your junior golfer registered soon. Call BCC at (585) 343-7600




Setup - Feet Square or Open?

For simplicity, all advice on actual swings or drills is provided from a right handed perspective.





Two Great Training Aids For Indoor or Outdoor Practice

The Divot Board


This is the most useful ball striking development training aid that I own.
Don't have one yet? What's holding you back?
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Click here ImpactSnap.com to buy now. Start using the ImpactSnap training aid indoors or outdoors to make you instantly aware of proper hand action, which is second only to low point awareness for great ball striking.




Setup - Feet Square or Open?

In modern golf instruction, especially with swing styles that rely on "coiling" for power, it's fairly common to see setups being taught with the feet positioned perpendicular to the target line. Geometrically, this seems sound. The problem with this setup is that most people don't have the mobility in their hips to be able to accommodate this type of setup, especially so as they age.

I used to set up that way when I was younger and using a different type of swing than I do now, one that relied more on coiling than rotation to produce speed.

With my feet square, it seemed easy to time everything at impact to produce my desired draw ball flight.

I tried it out again about two years ago, and there was so much pressure on my left knee that it felt like it was going to snap. I had to allow my left foot to spin open right after impact to relieve that pressure.

It so happens that a lot of pros will also allow the left foot to pivot open in their follow through on their full swings, not the least of whom is Tiger Woods. Bryson DeChambeau and Patrick Reed are a couple of others, and there are a lot more.

I thought that it was due to insufficient knee flexibility for me, but actually it relates to hip mobility.

Often times, what you'll see is that a player will have no problems in the backswing and downswing. But at some point in the follow through, the lead foot spins out or comes off the ground because it physically is unable to stay in the same place due in part to insufficient hip mobility.

If the left foot actually stayed planted in the same position, it could cause problems with the shot outcome, or worse yet, lead to injury.

One solution is to improve the mobility of your hips through targeted stretching and exercise.

The more practical solution is to set up with your rear foot perpendicular to the target line, and your front foot open to the target line.

If you are not used to it, your lead foot may look like it's turned outward quite a bit when you set up. Just make sure that it's , not turned outward to the point where it limits your backswing motion. Most of you reading this should still be able to complete your normal back swing even with the more "open" lead foot.

As for the rear foot, to me where you put that will depend on what's comfortable for you, and what you want to accomplish with your backswing.

For example, if you want a shorter, "coiled" type of backswing, you might make that trail foot be perpendicular to the target line. That's how Ben Hogan used to set up for his swings after his accident.

Personally, I find that I like to open both feet equally for the swing style I use, which depends more on swing length for speed than on "coiling" my shoulders against my hips.

For me it's a swing style related choice. It depends a lot on your swing style preference and your hip flexibility.

I suggest that as you age, you should start transitioning to opening the front foot a bit at a time, over time, regardless of your swing style. It's just easier on your body.

In my experience, the greatest benefit of opening at least the front foot in your stance is that is should allow you to swing through to a finish freely, since you won't be needing to make some compensatory move to avoid stress to your left side.

The added benefit is that you'll also be putting yourself at much less risk for long term injury.

Try it, you'll like it.

Comments: TomTuckerGolf@gmail.com

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

Tom




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 TomTuckerGolf@gmail.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

Testimonials:
http://www.tomtuckergolf.com/testimonials.html


Sponsors and Affiliates

Buying a sponsored product through any of my affiliate links helps support this free newsletter, and I only affiliate with excellent products that I use myself.  Thanks, Tom






Train with a Rypstick to improve your swing speed and gain more distance off the tee. If the versatility of three different swing weights in one club appeals to you, this is your swing speed training aid of choice.


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Click here to buy your
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Use your club or hand to re-set the board after your strike
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BONUS: when you buy through the newsletter link above, you'll also receive free access to my Putting Lesson Videos ($50 value) which cover: The Elevated Aimline Drill, The Squareness Awareness Drill, The Aimline Accuracy Drill, The Stock Putting Stroke Drill, The Barrier Drill, The Short Putt Channel Drill, and more.







Train with the Impact Snap training aid to improve your hand and wrist coordination for a powerful strike. A Golf Digest 2021 Editors Choice Training Aid

Click here
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Click here
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SuperSpeedGolf.com Buy now and get to work on increasing your swing speed now.




Club Champion Don't waste another dollar on clubs until you've gone through a fitting at Club Champion, 1669 Pittsford Victor Rd., Suite 400, Victor NY 14564. Call Master Fitter & Builder Jeff St. John. PGA work: (585) 978-8513, cell: (585) 831-2292 to schedule your fitting today! Mention my name and you'll get special attention.




The Crocbox Click through for details on the exclusive TomTuckerGolf discount available only to my newsletter readers.

The perfect choice for a discreet practice net in your yard.


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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   (585) 343-7600   www.bataviacc.com
Great rates, the best greens in WNY.
Golf Digest Four Star rating for public courses to play in New York State.
Tee times online or by phone in season.
FISH FRYS AT BCC and other delicious dinner specials with soup and salad bar - Fridays, 4pm - 9pm




All the best,

Tom Tucker
Teaching Pro, Plum Creek Driving Range & Practice Facility
WGTF ' "Top 100 Golf Teacher"
USGTF Class "A" Teaching Professional
IGPA Certified Golf Psychology Coach
Cell: (716) 474-3005
Email: TomTuckerGolf@gmail.com
http://www.TomTuckerGolf.com

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