Keeping it Simple

Being able to teach golfers with the best technology available has certainly made me a better teacher, and revealed some truths that I had not known before. Knowing the cold hard facts, generated from objective data, gives me confidence that I can really get down to the real cause of a golfer's problem. You want your doctor to get the real cause of your illness, not just treat the symptoms. Your golf instructor should do the same with your swing.

With GolfTEC's advanced technology and processes, I have to be careful about not getting too complex with mechanics. The reality is that the most basic and simple fundamentals have a pervasive effect on the swing mechanics that result. The two areas I've been focusing the most on recently are grip and alignment.

I try not to throw rocks at other instructors, but ask yours one question: "What is the most important fundamental in golf?" If they answer anything other than "grip", find a new instructor. Grip doesn't have to be perfect, but keep in mind that the last thing you want with a bad grip is a good swing. I asked one client if their previous instructor had covered grip, and they answered that the pro wanted to cover "more important things first". Hmmmm.

As to alignment, the major issue (for right handers) is to aim well to the right of the target. This is most prevalent with right eye dominant right hand golfers. Can't explain it, but I know it to be the truth. Don't know if you're right or left eye dominant? If you prefer right to left putts, you're very likely right eye dominant. Prefering left to right putts makes it likely to be left eye dominant (those of us that are left-eye dominant right hand players don't fight alignment issues quite as much).

If you're aiming right, and not aware of it, and make a good swing, where is the ball going to go? Right of the target, of course! Problem is your brain will tell you that you pushed it, and you'll correct it by coming over the top and pulling the ball left to get going at the target. What we have here is the beginning of a vicious circle: Aim right, pull ball left, aim further right, pull ball further left.

I always new this was the case, but it was driven home recently with two clients that were making very good swings on video indoors, but were having terrible results on the course. I watched them hit some shots on the range, and realized they were aimed 20-30 yards right of the target. The real trick is you have to re-train your eyes to not think you're aiming left, which will take some hard work and more than a few duck hooks. If you keep at it, however, you'll likely start to drop the club on plane and see much better ball flight and consistency.

Want proof? Next time you're at a Tour event, go to the range and see how many pros are using alignment aids in their practice. They know that alignment is something that they have to work on ALL the time, not just once or twice. Especially if they're right eye dominant.

You might find that your alignment is good, but isn't that a pretty simple thing to start with? You're wasting time trying to drop the club on plane if you're aiming right. Right?

FedEx Cup Runneth Over

I don't know whether the PGA Tour finally got the formula right, or if they just got plain lucky, but the FedEx Cup Playoffs are a great deal more compelling than in first two years (3 years?).
The last couple years, there wasn't a bit of drama as it neared the end, with Tiger, then Vijay pocketing $10 mil prior to the Tour Championship.

There are many storylines as the season comes to an end and the Deutsche Bank finish was great. Tiger isn't holing everything he looks at, and merely putting good isn't enough to win. "Fans" that tune in only when Tiger is in the hunt missed a classic. A Cheesehead named Steve has overtaken him for the top spot, and has his ears pinned back ready to go around again. Vijay is out, and Goosen couldn't find water from a boat on Sunday. Sergio had a good final 36, but 'He Who Whines A Lot' lived up to his nickname by complaining about having to play six weeks in a row. Hey Serge, nobody's putting a gun to your head to make you try to win $10 million, so take the rest of the season off.

Padraig learned that you truly can't talk to a duck hook, and blew a chance on the back. Jason Dufner, Scott Verplank, and Angel Cabrera looked pretty bulletproof down the stretch, giving Stricker something to think about, but he came through in brilliant fashion. By the way, Johnny Miller, I think that Steve has maybe just a bit more than 25 degrees of wrist hinge in the downswing. I already miss McCord and Feherty.

A truly human side of Stricker showed when he got choked up during the post-round interview. When you keep your focus that tightly for that long, I don't know how one wouldn't break down a bit as the adrenaline subsides.

I couldn't help but notice that the first three FedEx Playoff events are sponsored by international companies, with Barclays, Deutsche Bank, and BMW. Hmmmm.

As usual, I called my brother during the final round, to see if he was enjoying the event on his 58 inch plasma. No, he chose to watch the 18th hole via the internet on a 9 inch computer screen, because the local NBC affiliate in Colorado Springs had chosen instead to air the final day of the Jerry Lewis Telethon. Wow. Can't quite get my mind around how that decision was made, seeing as how the Telethon was televised on at least 5 other networks. Lookout next week, Bro, I hear Bambi is on.

Fairways and Greens.