Work on Your Putting

I just came across some interesting stats that might catch your attention:

(A) Luke Donald's 2012 Putting Stats:

• 3' and less 484/485
• 4' 108/112
• 5' 52/61
• 6' 38/50
• 7' 29/39
• 8' 17/38
• 9' 13/25
• 10' 20/34

 Total 762/843 (90.2%)

(B) Alignment Chart demonstrating the effect of putter face misalignment from distance of 5-20':

Degree of Putter Face Misalignment        Measurement of Misalignment from the indicated distance

.5 degrees                                             5'=.52"          10'=1.05"      15'=1.57"      20' = 2.09"

1 degree                                                5'=1.05"        10'=2.09"      15'=3.14"      20' = 4.19"

1.50 degrees                                          5'=.1.57"       10'=3.14"      15'=4.71"      20' = 6.28"

2 degrees                                              5'=2.09"         10'=4.19"      15'=6.28"      20' = 8.37"

3 degrees off at 20" = 12.56" off!

The moral of the blog:  Work on your putting. Be sure you understand how to align your putter face and how that affects your aim!

Golf is a Science Experiment

First, I want to thank everyone for their nice comments about the monthly golf instruction email called Different Strokes that is being sent out to all members. I hope you are able to receive more concise and consistent updates on what is occurring in our golf instruction programs. Let us know your thoughts!

Second, I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday season. I have a lot to be thankful for this year. Additionally, I am happy to be able to pass along my knowledge, encouragement and new training ideas that will hopefully translate into lower scores and more enjoyable rounds for students!

I've been seeing golf in a new light lately and think it can be considered one big science project. Golfers are always looking for improvement through analysis, theories and results, much like a science experiment. When you're out at the range and learning and testing an idea, don't be afraid to try the extremes to see what results come about. Don't be afraid to try different clubs to see what will happen. If a golfer is having trouble with a slice and the club's face is impacting the golf ball open (or pointed to the right for right-handed golfers and left for left-handed golfers at impact), what kind of grip, even if exaggerated, will allow for a different club face result? If you feel more comfortable trying these experiments with a lab partner, the golf staff at The Landings Club is happy to help guide you through your project!

Happy Golfing!

Breaking Putts

I was giving a putting lesson the other day and thought of a new way to describe breaking putts. Let's see if this will help you with your putting!

A golfer always putts a ball straight down a certain path. There is a point at which the ball falls off that straight line and curves into the hole (hopefully, if speed and accuracy were both matched). Often times I see players suggest to putt the ball to a point exactly left or right of the hole. Since the putt won't travel to that spot and take a 90 degree turn into the hole left or right, focus back on that line where you think the ball will lose speed and fall towards the hole. THAT becomes your focus point -- get the ball rolling at the proper speed but just to that point before it falls off and towards the hole. It's a small window to get both matched perfectly but when you do, you'll be making more putts that day!

Fun & Basic Golf for Ages 70-90

What a fun-filled six weeks of a new golf program designed for people who have never really played golf.  We just finished the first session of Fun & Basic Golf For Ages 70+ and we'll be hosting more with different groups. The beauty of this program is that anyone at any age can learn the game, without clubs and without superior athletic ability, through our new beginner equipment from SNAG Golf. 

The over-sized equipment has color coded grips, visual training aids, easy targets and is all done at the driving range. 

Keep an eye out for future classes for various age groups and even a session for tennis players who would like to just give golf a one-time try to see what it's like. 

Stay tuned for more information! 

Expectations Influence Behavior

I came across a really interesting article about how expectations influence behavior. Wow. Now relate that to golf. Double wow.  

What do you expect on an upcoming shot? What would you like to expect? Click here to learn more. 

I also had the immense honor of creating a team to speak at the national Proponent Golf Group in Chicago. Kate Tempesta and Brendon Elliott were two of the young junior golf heavyweights I selected to present to nearly 100 of the top teaching professionals in the country on the importance of having a junior golf program for ages 2-6 at their facilities and in their instructional programs. 

Our speech discussed what adults can expect with age development and how that mixes in with golf, the business impact of such programs to a facility, the childhood development aspect of these programs (emotional, cognitive, mental, physical, social) and the importance of getting the youngsters and families out onto the course.  

Click here to read the article I just released to help parents and grandparents understand their youngster and how to let them more effectively learn golf in a fun environment. Our upcoming Thanksgiving and December holiday events are a perfect time to include young children!  

Click here for more information on upcoming golf programs for ages 2-12, 

Lastly, I was able to finally test the Iconic sun sleeves against the gnats and the verdict is.... GNAT PROTECTION! The sun sleeves are a great way to keep the gnats off the arms, don't require putting any chemicals on your skin and can easily be pulled off when not needed. Deer Creek carries the sun/gnat sleeves for your convenience.