Junior golf development - It takes time not talent

Junior golfers are competitive little things. Junior golf lessons mainly evolve around competition, who can hit is furthest? Who can get the most ball in the hoop? Who can go lowest around the putting green?
These little competitive edges are great and essential as a part of a junior golfers development.
What is also common however is feeling the need to succeed. This tends to become more apparent in junior golfers once they start to take the game up on a more serious level. There is always a role model. Someone that the junior golfer will look up to and often compare themselves to. 'When he was my age his handicap was 15'....... 'She has been playing since she was 4 so i will never catch her up'.....a couple of common phrases no doubt heard on the range or golf course with junior golfers.

It isn't a race for junior golfers to achieve their ultimate goal

Junior golfers, and adults for that matter, do not need to be in such a panic. If you take the 10,000 hour rule for instance, then you may just be making your way nicely into becoming an expert player at golf. The theory of the 10,000 hour rule was devised by Anders Ericsson in the early 1990's. His beliefs also fall in line with the beliefs of , Daniel Coyle author of the Talent Code. This is a must read by the way, describing how talent isn't something that you are just born with, it is something that is grown and developed.
Basically bith these guys are saying that developing talent and becoming an expert takes time. Taking this time is acceptable and beneficial in regards to future success. To break it down to more understandable figures then the 10,000 hours could be averaging 4 hours practice a day over 2500 days. This amound of practice would take about 7 years. If 4 hours is unrealistic then 3 hours will equate to about a 10 year window.

Golf is not all about who gets the lowest handicap the quickest. Okay so one 13 year old plays off 3 and the other off 18. But there is no reason for the higher handicap player to catch up down the line of their golfing development. In fact, those who improve gradually over a longer time period tend to achieve more in the future at elite levels. One of the key reasons for this is a constant, but gradual learning that allows them to accept failure better and develop patience and belief. In general a more level headed look at the golfing past, present and future. Constant success early on obiously feels great. But what happens when you lose or people catch up? How and how well do you deal with this? Gradual success teaches you to deal with this mentally. This links back to goal setting in previous posts of mine. It is important to feel challenged and learn to except failure at times.

As always there are going to be some exceptions. Tiger Woods is the obvious one in the golfing world. Tiger Woods was very good very young and continued to develop well throughout his junior development phases. This lead to him ultimately becoming the worlds number one player and may lead to him becoming the most successful golfer of all time.

Tiger Woods has was certainly one of the exceptions...

However Nick Faldo is an example that you do not necessarily have had to start playing the game at a ridiculously young age in order to succeed. 4 years after taking the game up at the age of 14 he was crowned the English Amateur champion. And look at Ian Poulter, not much of an amateur resume to be scared of. However he has gone from pro shop assistant to a Top 10 player in  the world.

Golf undoubtedly is a sport that requires skill to be developed. It takes practice and plenty of playing to improve and step up to the next level. But there do not have to be any time barriers. No races to be at a certain level at a certain age. Patience is a hard thing to develop in golf, but use the 10,000 hour rule, or 10 year window as a positive. Your long term goals can be achieved and you can succeed by being patient and improving yourself gradually over time.

One final note though. Obviously this doesn't mean just play golf for 10,000 hours or 10 years then you will just turn pro. This is a theory, and the theory assumes that you are practicing the right thing, with the right people, with the correct targets.

Good luck. Prfactice well, play well and be patient.

Dan Gale PGA Professional

Dan is a PGA Professional and TPI Certified instructor

Check out his website at www.dangalegolf.com

The golf swing - different but the same

Watching golf on TV every evening and swing sequences on YouTube it is clear to see that at the top levels of the game there are no two swings the same. Put Tiger Woods golf swing next to that of Jim Furyk and visually the swings are miles apart. On first impressions there is no way in hell Jim Furyk should be competing with Tiger Woods given the difference in golf swing motion between the two. These differences therefore lead us to asking the question, "why do i keep chasing the perfect swing?".

Earlier blog entries that i have published have led to the conclusion that there is no one model. The number of swing theories out there today is uncountable. Each professional seeming to have there own belief on what makes the most efficient action to hit good golf shots. When it comes down to it however the goals of every single coach are very simple and the same:

'To teach every player to have a consistent shot shape & strike through a repetitive
and physically efficient motion. Hitting the ball long enough to get the ball around the
golf course in the lowest possible score'

Now, whatever your teaching philosophy, this is the aim for every golf professional. The magic word in any golfers vocabulary is 'consistency'. If i got a pound for every lesson who came to me seeking just that magic word, then i would already be a rich man. Everybody knows they have the good shot in them, they can kill a 7 iron 160yds or hit the driver with that elusive draw, however doing it on a regular basis and lacking the consistency is the major downfall.

So what makes an efficient and consistent swing? What allows somebody with the golf swing of Jim Furyk to compete with that of a player with the god given athleticism of Tiger Woods? The answer is their swing sequencing on the downswing.

Kinematic Sequence

Ok so Tiger and Furyk's golf swings look nothing alike. However there is one big similarity and that is their kinematic sequences. This is the sequence of movements on the downswing which lead to generating speed and transferring that speed through the body and eventually to the clubhead. Ignore the fact that Jim Furyk looks like he is swinging a lasso around his body, the sequence back to the ball is the same.

Without going into huge detail as to how the sequence works a simple look will show this is what happens:

• The energy builds from the lower body, working from the ground up
• The energy is transferred from the lower body, into the torso
• The energy is then transferred to the arms and hands
• The final energy transference results in the loading of energy into the club/clubhead resulting in the strike of the ball

This sequence applies to all top strikers of the golf ball. if this is created then it will result in you hitting better golf shots. With good kinematic sequencing and good stability through the swing the only factor that can stop good ball striking will be an off - centre strike from the club or poor clubface aim at impact.

The sequence is repetitive throughout good golfswings, the style carried out to get to this sequence however is what can differ. And that is why Jim Furyk and Tiger Woods and compete. 

Entirely different, but exactly the same.

Club player take note

Your lesson to learn from this is that you do not have to have a swing that is a masterpiece. You do not need to swing like Tiger, you do not need to swing like Jim Furyk. You need your swing to simply to be good enough to get the job done. Baring this sequence in mind is great. However a PGA Professional and video analysis will assist you in seeing how close you are to getting the job done. But just remember, your style is great. Your swing can work. You just need to sequence movements correctly.

If you manage that then you too can be completely different but exactly the same :) .

Thanks for reading

Daniel Gale PGA Professional

TPI Certified

Dan is a Class AA PGA Professional & TPI Certified Instructor

Check out his website at www.dangalegolf.com

Golf course is a snow go - head indoors for constructive golf practice

Golf in the snow definately isn't ideal. The golf course is obviously a no go, and the all practice short game areas for putting, chipping, pitching and bunkers are also. However it doesn't mean you just have to become one of golfs driving range junkies in this inclement weather. 

A way to improve your game is to focus on some indoor golf practice. With the use of a digital camera and simple golf swing analysis software, you can focus solely on technique.Sometimes with short game practice, and particularly putting, we can become absorbed in results. Making it hard to work on technical change. However when you head indoors with no hole to putt into, you can focus solely on technique.

 Head indoors with putter and camera for technique improvements

Give it a try. Position the camera directly down the line (behind the putter) so you can view the direction of your swing path. Or also from face on (head on) to view any wrist action or clubface aim change.

Take a look at V1 coaching software at http://www.v1golf.com/products/products.asp to view your practice indoors. If you feel you don't know what you are looking for then seek the advice of a PGA Professional and then you can carry out constructive practice at home.

Get practicing that short game.

Daniel Gale

PGA Professional

Dan is an AA PGA Professional & TPI Certified Instructor

Check out his website at www.dangalegolf.com

Junior golf development - active kids make athletes

Junior golf continues to boom. Golf is becoming more and more fashionable and open to kids all over the country. When i am teaching golf to juniors however, it is apparent early on which children have the best all round sporting background. This assists the juniors to progress with golf at a much faster rate. Whereas those with limited sporting background often find their progress a little slower to begin with. 

Having said this we are not saying that the latter child has no chance. Not at all. However the rate of progression is slower from the start. The danger here is that frustration may lead to a premature ending to their golfing lives.

The benefits of having your kids active from a young age with a variety of sports, other than just golf, is that they acquire an all round physical vocabulary. They learn basic movement skills, stability, mobility, co - ordination and balance at a very quick rate. It is apparent that those children who have learnt these skills already, develop ball striking and good results much earlier when attempting golf for the first time. 

Unfortunately the 'Xbox generation' has now been accompanied with cuts in school sports following the government spending review, meaning our kids are missing out on the vital stages of skill acquisition. As a coach therefore we are making it our objective to assist children in skill acquisition as well as golf. The results are great. By improving functions such as speed, balance and agility through basic games including actions such as jumping, catching and throwing, we are giving kids a better chance to succeed.

If you want to aid your child, as well as others, sporting development then give them the best chance with an active lifestyle. They don't have to become world beaters, but will lead to a healthy and fun lifestyle. 

If you want to support the fight to save save school sports then take a look at SSP (Save School Sport Partnership) on Twitter and Facebook.

Enjoy your golf, and give your children the best chance to prosper in the future.

Daniel Gale

PGA Professional

Dan is a PGA Professional & TPI Certified Instructor

Check out his website at www.dangalegolf.com

Beginner golf instruction - which professional do i see?

The options available to golfers these days is greater than ever. Golf swing experts and theories, custom fitting technology out of this world along with experts there to make golf equipment to measure, and an ever growing field of physical and mental trainers there to fine tune you into golfing robots. However when it comes to golf coaching, what is the right way to go? Which theory is the right one, one plane, two plane, stack and tilt, the list goes on.

The key thing to remember is that we are all different. We all have different strengths and weaknesses when it comes to physical ability and also with our aspirations and goals for our golf. Baring that in mind then it must be fact that there is no one way to swing the golf club. A 13 year old boy is not going to swing the same as a 40 year old woman. Likewise a 17 year old girl to a 60 year old man. Therefore there is no model.
A good coach will be able to teach every person as an individual. We cannot all fall into one bucket and swing like a bunch of clones in the same way.

It is my belief that the golf coach should have as vast a knowledge and the resourses available to cater to individual golfers needs. Admittedly you need to get someone hitting the ball from beginner level. And there will always be fundamentals in every players swing which need to be learnt, e.g. weight transfer, extension of left arm etc. However once these basics are learnt each player can potentially go there own way. Some of the factors which effect our swing differences include:

• Sex                                                       
• Height
• Strength
• Flexibility
• Mobility
• General fitness/health

Bare this in mind when looking for a golf professional. A method coach is great to get you going. However swinging one way is not how it happens out on the tour so it is unlikely to be the way at your club.

Daniel Gale

PGA Professional

Dan is a PGA Professional & TPI Certified Instructor

Check out his website at www.dangalegolf.com

Golf course visualisation - see it then do it

A little golf course quote from Jack Nicklaus.......

“It’s like a colour movie scene. First i see the ball where i want it to finish. Then the scene changes and i see the ball going there. Then there is a sort of fade out, then the next scene shows me making the kind of swing that will turn the previous images into reality.”

                                     

How good is your visualisation prior to taking a shot? And is it as positive as this?

If your thoughts include that of an image where a ball dunks into a pond or bunker short of the green, then you need to work on your visualisation prior to the shot. Practice it on the range first then take it onto the golf course.

Good visualisation leads to positive beliefs and execution of shots.

Give it a try next time you’re out there.

Good luck

Daniel Gale

PGA Professional

Dan is a PGA Professional & TPI Certified Instructor

Check out his website at www.dangalegolf.com

Golf, the winning formula - goal setting for the new season

The golf lessons are going well, everything is feeling good on the range and you are already looking ahead to 2011 as being your year on the golf course. Your golf handicap will come tumbling down and the game will be more enjoyable than ever. Or will it? Is it that straight forward?

Practicing hard and having a vision in your head of picking up trophies is all well and good. However you need effective goal setting to maintain your drive and performance throughout the year of golf. Without it your determination and drive will slowly diminish and 2011 will fizzle out as years may have done previously.

Why set goals for 2011?

• Goals direct attention and action to important aspects required for development.
• Goals assist sustaining drive when practicing
• Goals that are realistic assist in reaching optimum levels of confidence and motivation through successes which are achieved.
• Goals are proven to reduce stress and anxiety.
• Goals develop self-control, concentration and commitment.
• Goals are an important tool in monitoring success. (Short game tests, driving accuracy etc)

Types of Goals

When you set your golfing performance goals for 2011 you need to have a mixture of 3 types of goals. Short, medium, and long-term.

·         Short-term goals are targets to be achieved within the next one to six weeks.

Short-term goals are important because they allow you to see immediate improvements (e.g. improvement in short game test results). In addition, they also help golfers keep sight of their long-range goals.

·         Mid-term goals are targets to be achieved in the next 6 weeks to six months.

·         Long-term goals are targets to be achieved in the next one to two years.

The mixture of goals is like a conveyor belt onto achieving your long term goals. Without short term goals you will not achieve any mid – term goals, and without mid – term goals you cannot work towards long – term goals.

SMART goals

For goals to be effective then they must be SMART goals. Without this goals can be unrealistic leading to a defeatist attitude. Goals that are too easy will result in lower work levels and fail to develop determination. Make sure your goals are SMART goals before setting them out for the year ahead:

Specific: I will reduce number of putts per round to 32 from 34

Measurable: I can record my stats from each round to measure my development

Achievable: Not an unrealistic target (‘I will shoot 59 gross this year’)

 Realistic: Similar to achievable. Remember you can always re set goals as you achieve them.

Timed: I will achieve my goal by May 2011

Make sure you have your goals set in place for 2011. Put them on the fridge door or pin them in a prominent face so you can see them regularly, helping to keep sight of what you want to achieve. Sitting down with your coach is a good idea for setting realistic, yet challenging targets. Remember though your goals and dreams are yours. Nobody can take those away from you and stand in the way of your progress.

Good luck

Daniel Gale

PGA Professional

(Source PGA Psychology in golf certificate)

Dan is a PGA Professional & TPI Certified Instructor

Check out his website at www.dangalegolf.com

Golf - prepare to succeed. How to be a winner.

Golf competition and practice requires preparation. By preparing yourself in the wrong way physically as well as mentally, you will damage the intensity and quality of your practice and competition play. We all want to reach peak performance in golf, our drive is to improve and be the best we can be. However we need the combination of complete physical and mental control in order to achieve peak performance. Here are a few tips to make sure you give yourself the best chance to enhance your golfing performance.......

• Stock up well on good foods the night before and during the day of golf activity. Carbohydrate and protein intake will keep your energy levels up which will keep a positive frame of mind for practice and competition intensity
• Avoid late nights or alcohol the night before competition and practice. Fatigue and muscle slowness will prevent you reaching anywhere close to peak performance and decrease concentration levels
• Plan your practice sessions and set targets for improvement in technique. Keep a practice diary to record any key points from your sessions that may be forgotten, swing thoughts/feelings etc
• Set 1 or 2 goals each time you go out to practice. Having goals creates drive, the need to achieve, which causes a higher quality of practice. Remember the goals need to be a challenge, but not impossible

Remember this is advice to give you a better chance for success, there are no guarantees. However without taking basic factors such as these into account you are more likely to fail. 

Remember.........it is not just the will to win, but the will to prepare to win that makes the difference!!

Good luck
Daniel Gale
PGA Professional

Dan is a PGA Professional & TPI Certified Instructor

Check out his website at www.dangalegolf.com

Beginner golfers - learn to play golf!!

Beginner golfers must get onto the golf course asap!! Once the basic essentials have been learnt (grip, stance posture etc) then the sooner the beginner golfer heads to the golf course the better. Once this happens then you are learning to play golf. It doesn't matter if you do not keep score, which i would recommend at first, and you shoot 250. The fact is you are only going to improve from there. You can monitor your progress and witness hard evidence of your improvement on the scorecard from that day forwards.
Time after time i walk up the driving range and you see somebody bashing golf balls away, 150 yard straight 7 irons, and you assume the person plays to a good handicap. Further investigation uncovers the fact that the person has never broken 100. Hitting balls on the range is not 'playing golf'. It is a false environment that should be used to work on a skill or a movement or as a place to warm up before a round. Not to judge how good a golfer you are.

This is also very much the case for junior development.Kids who roll up with their parents for 1 hour clinics get bored. I don't enjoy hitting balls with a 7 iron for an hour, so why would a kid. An adults attention span is only about 20 minutes so a kid id going to get bored pretty quickly. However introduction to the golf course opens up the opportunity to introduce new games and light competition. This will maintain interest and also get kids playing the game young, aiding there junior development. Golf Professionals will notice that kids remain in there junior clinics a lot longer as a result.

Don't be afraid to head out onto the golf course. The game is fun out there, just get over the ball and swing the golf club. If you relax and enjoy yourself then you will hit good shots, and you will become a golfer.

Daniel Gale
PGA Professional

Dan is a PGA Professional & TPI Certified Instructor

Check out his website at www.dangalegolf.com

Winter golf - use this time wisely

Winter is now upon us. Mitts are in the bag for the cold frosty mornings, umbrella is ready for the heavy downpours and you are trudging around the course in 6 items of clothing to keep you warm. Also we are out of the qualifying competition season. The period now where your handicap is not going to change. As a result of this, the winter is the best time for you to set new goals and get your game in the best possible shape for the new season next year.

Golf swing changes
Attending an intensive golfschool or investing in a block of lessons during this period will allow you the time to learn any swing changes. It will also allow you to put that new swing on the course without the worry of your handicap being effected. One of the problems with lessons being taken during the competition season is the issue of trust. Trusting what you have been taught on the range or course with a professional can actually work in a pressured environment like competition golf. The tendancy is always to fall back into what you know or what feels comfortable believing it will lead to a better score than the new technique. Use the winter as your 'no fear' season. Try new shots, experiment with your short game and take on new swing changes so you can push forwards as soon as next season begins.

Competition practice
Use winter golf competitions as your practice ground. For long term development this would work in a similar way to that of a tour professional, setting a periodised timetable resulting in peak performance for a certain time of year, major championships. Use your winter competitions like a dress rehearsal for the coming season. It is the time of year where you can make try various shots and push yourself forwards with your swing without any concern or repercussions on your handicap.

Goal setting
Goal setting at this time is also very important. You need to have specific goals to work to. The main reason for this is that it maintains your focus through practice and tournament play. Being too short sighted with how things have gone on one particular day, or too expectant too soon is damaging to your long term development.
Set long, medium and short term goals to work towards. Your drive and determination will be greater working towards something you want to achieve. Talking to your professional about your short term goals is great so you can work as a partnership. Setting achievable and timed goals together will assist your progress.

Using the next few months wisely will have a huge benefit on your golf game when the season restarts. Make sure you are giving yourself the best platfrom to push your golf forwards for 2011!!

Good luck, and enjoy your golf.

Daniel Gale
PGA Professional

 

Dan is a PGA Professional & TPI Certified Instructor

Check out his website at www.dangalegolf.com

Junior golfer vs Tour Professional - Physical screening

Junior golf development is again the topic hitting blogger today. Turning kids into athletes first through constructive junior development is giving them the greatest chance of being successful in the future. It should be interesting this weekend seeing the TPI screening results from a couple of my under 13 junior golfers and also that of a European Challenge Tour golfer. All of the sessions are taking place on Saturday and i am looking forward to seeing how the juniors are developing along their road to seeking elite level golf. Also to see how their results compare to somebody who is near the top in the game of golf.

The Challenge Tour player, Ben Evans, has just completed a full playing season. During this time it is difficult to maintain the physical training and exercise that can be carried out pre season. In and out of countries week after week barely getting everything out of a suitcase is not entirely conducive to training well for golf. The results of the screen will be interesting to put against the work that Ben is carrying out with his coach Jeremy Bennett. Maybe we will find a few things that will assist Ben in making his swing improve mechanically and also in the consistency of his movements. Ideal results would show that Ben will pass all the screens with flying colours, meaning we can send him on to a personal trainer and just work him harder and build upon his physical vocabulary.

With the juniors it will be slightly different. They are just in the age where things like flexibility, mobility and speed needs to be developed before they miss there chance. However i would expect their mobility to be very good. If anything i would expect their weaknesses to lie in their bigger muscle groups such as the glutes and core muscles. If we can improve on these and make their swings more stable then building a solid swing foundation will be a lot easier. 

Having taken a look at one of the juniors briefly last week i was able to identify a very obvious early extension on the downswing. This would lead you to believe that there will be a difficulty to perform exercises such as a deep squat or rotations and the inability to separate lower and upper body. We will see what happens but the results will be interesting and will give me a good base to set some programmes for the juniors to work on improving their physical performance. As i have said with my previous blogs, the idea with the junior golfers is to turn them into athletes. If they can perform a full range of fundamental movements and sport specific skills then we are giving them the best chance to be successful in the future. By leaving this area untouched now we i would be seriously damaging their chances of success in the future.

I am looking forward to getting the results together to see where the golfers are at present. Maybe some interesting findings will lead to vast improvements in each of their golfing stories.

Keep posted to see how the results came out.

Daniel Gale
PGA Professional

Dan teaches at The James Andrews School of Golf in East Sussex

Check out his website at www.dangalegolf.com

Junior golf development - building speed

Junior golf development has taken a serious upturn in the last decade, and now the attention and time being put into junior golfers development is greater than ever. As i explained in one of my earlier posts i went to a junior golf development seminar last week hosted by Michael Dalgleish for the Sussex junior golf squads. The seminar gave some great information about how the human body develops and the effect it will have on the long term aspiration of junior golfers. The main point seemed to be getting the involved in a more all round physical programme as soon as possible. This will mean they are able to create the key actions and positions required for an athletic movement such as the golf swing.

One of the key points raised was that kids lose the ability to build speed from the ages of 12 - 13. Therefore teaching your junior golfers to create speed early will benefit them in the long term. The technique can be build whilst the speed is being created. Leaving it after this age bracket will make it very hard for the junior golfer to reach their full potential in the future.

Since hearing this information i have been carrying out a more explosive teaching sessions for my young junior golf prospects. Lots of throwing (very hard), hitting balls and using teaching aids to generate speed has been done.


Bare this in mind.......Tiger Woods driver clubhead speed is around 130mph. If a 17 year old comes to you with a 110mph speed then you will probably gain 5mph through technique improvements. However the extra 15 mph is a long way off and unlikely to be found due to the age bracket he/she is now in. This kid is going to struggle to hit the long ball as a result of what was happening maybe 8-10 years earlier.

Give your junior golfers the best chance in the future and focus on the correct path for junior golf development. Athlete first, golfer second!!

Daniel Gale
PGA Professional

Junior Golf Development

Junior golf has changed a lot over the last few years. Junior golf lessons consisting of 10 kids killing balls on a driving range is being replaced with a wider range of activities to enhance long term junior performance. I went to a great seminar at East Sussex National Golf Club last Friday. The Sussex County Golf Union set up the seminar for their junior teams and parents to highlight the importance of junior development. Turning the juniors into athletes first, not the usual path of just golf golf golf.

The speaker at the seminar was Michael Dalgleish, founder of The Golf Athlete and one of Australia's leading physiotherapists. The information that was presented was both fascinating but also scary. Fascinating in how we can develop and get the best from our juniors, therefore giving them the best chance in the future. Scary in the fact that i have seen the number of bad junior lessons being carried out and how schools physical education offerings are damaging the chances of our children to be successful athletes.

 
The seminar has given me a fresh outlook on how to develop junior golfers i am teaching at present and give them the best possible chance in the future. Tackling key physical movements and developing the fundamentals needed to be successful athletes.

We are already looking at ways to improve the quality of junior golf lessons within our facility, and set out a broader approach to improve general athleic performance. This will be in place for all children who come through our golf club doors. This will not only lead to better quality performances from the juniors, but also will be more likely to keep their interest in the game for longer, with a more fun and varied programme.

Daniel Gale
PGA Professional

 

Dan is a PGA Professional & TPI Certified Instructor

Check out his website at www.dangalegolf.com

Improve your ball striking - stabilise your swing

As we all know, a solid strike is crucial in order to be successful on the golf course. Without this then you cannot think about hitting the ball good distances or straight.
One of the key factors in achieving consistency within your strike is to have a stable swing. Too many moving parts and excessive movements will result in a swing that is out of control and can lead to topped, thinned and heavy shots to name but a few.

One thing you will notice with all the top players is that they maintain a central rotating position throughout their swings. This eliminates swaying movements and makes it much easier for them to return to the ball in the correct position for a crisp strike.

Notice how Anthony Kim has gone from his set - up position on the left, to the top of his backswing on the right hand side. You will notice that he has remained in the circle by rotating around on the spine angle he adopted at address. He has not stood up or dipped towards the ball, therefore making it very easy for him to return to the ball at impact.

The same can be seen here from face on. Again the player has remained in the circle and the spine has just rotated. There is no upper body sway to one side which would make it hard to get back to the correct ball striking position.

Watch your own swing in a mirror from both angles to see if there is too much movement in your takeaway and backswing.

The stability that both players have produced results in a simple rotation motion that is not over complicated. As with a lot of aspects of golf, less is more. The simplest swings are often the best. Eliminating leaning one way or the other and standing up or dipping, can make your swing more consistent and improve your strike straight away.

Daniel Gale 

PGA Professional

Dan teaches at The James Andrews School of Golf in East Sussex

Check out his website at www.dangalegolf.com

Alignment and swing tips - alignment rods

Using alignment sticks is a great way to improve your aim, check ball position and also to assist with swingpath and pane changes. You will see a lot of pros using these now at tour events and i am getting pretty much all my lessons to use them in some form when practicing.

Using alignment rods to assist with alignment & ball position

Some swing changes can also be assisted with these alignment sticks. By putting them in or along the ground in various angles and positions, changes such as swing path, swing plane and hip drive can also be assisted.

 Using alignment sticks to check swing plane

 Using alignment sticks to help swing path change

Using alignment sticks to help with hip drive

You can pick these sticks up nice and cheap and use them in a number of ways to assist your golf practice. Pick up a couple to help your golf.

Daniel Gale

PGA Professional

Dan teaches at The James Andrews School of Golf in East Sussex

Check out his website at www.dangalegolf.com

Golf practice swing - the rehearsal!!

No matter who i am teaching, whether it be a beginner or a low handicap player, i always encourage practice swings whether working on the range or on the golf course.

We hear a lot of people saying they have given up on practice swings because they always do them well but then mess up when it comes to hitting the ball. But ask yourself a question, What were you actually trying to hit? The answer is nothing. You were just having a swing of the club that had no end result, you can't even tell if you were skimming the grass that would have been directly under the ball.

There are a couple of good reasons for doing practice swings prior to hitting the ball:

1.Managing the change in scenario

Every shot you play in golf is different. Whether it be putt, chip or drive or down to the conditions such as lie, undulations or wind. This means that you must rehearse for each scenario prior to taking the shot. This will allow your muscles to adapt to the change from your previous shot and also a slight stretch in preparation for an athletic movement.

2. Helping swing changes

When on the driving range you will also find that you will swing smoother, and more than likely better, when doing a practice swing. This means you are practicing/rehearsing the correct method.  When there is a ball in front of you then your natural instinct is to try to do a HIT a good shot, rather than do a good SWING. So a couple of practice swings with the correct movement will help your muscle memory develop in the correct way.

3. Pre shot routine on the golf course

A consistent pre shot routine helps to put you into a comfort zone on the golf course. As well as the benefits listed above, doing the same number of practice swings behind the ball and taking aim in the same way each time will put you in a familiar, more comfortable position in pressure situations. Whether it's because you need a par on the last to beat your best score, chipping over a bunker or trying to win the British Open. A consistent routine of practice swings will help you manage this tense position.

So next time you head to the range or out onto the course make sure you have a few swings prior to hitting each shot. It will definitely help you get round the course in lower scores and help when trying to improve your swing.

Daniel Gale
PGA Professional

Dan teaches at The James Andrews School of Golf in East Sussex

Check out his website at www.dangalegolf.com

Beginner Golfschool - introduction to the game

What a great morning. The weather was spot on for the third day in a row and my Golfschool group are progressing really well. I have just finished day two of a 3 1/2 day beginner school with a really nice couple, Rob and Karen, who are completely new to the game.
It is really refreshing teaching players who are new to the sport. Their golfing background was a little knock around a local pitch and putt in London, so to get them onto the 'proper' golf course on day 2 was a great experience for them.

Having covered the set - up, half swing and putting yesterday afternoon, today we worked on extending the follow through and introduced chipping around the green.We also played with a wider variety of clubs, having learnt the basics with a 7 iron. This allowed Rob and Karen to learn how ball flight and distance changes as you work through the set.
Seeing as we had covered quite a lot of ground through the afternoon session yesterday and this morning we made the decision to head out onto the golf course. We opted for the 9 hole par 3 course. It is a great test of golf out there. There is a variety of yardages on this short course, hitting to undulating greens with thick rough lining either side of the holes. My main tips to Rob and Karen were to keep the ball in play. Explaining that three 50 yard shots could set you up nicely for a score of 5 on most par 3's, which is a very good starting point.

We managed to play 3 holes in the time we were out there and i think they both found it fun and also enlightening. It is always good to see how the lesson time and practice they have carried out with me would be converted into a 'playing golf'. It was also a great opportunity to explain some of the basic rules and ettiquette that is expected of a golfer. Simple things that would speed up their rounds of golf, and also allow them to know they are doing everything correctly around the more seasoned club golfer.

We finished the session at 1 o clock. Looking forward to their 2.32 tee time this afternoon, Rob and Karen headed off to lunch. I will be looking forward to hearing how they got on with their first 9 hole round when i return to the Golfschool to teach them in the morning when we will also move onto using some nice big Callaway drivers once we have finished working on the swing and some more short game.

Novices on Monday, golfers by Wednesday.

Daniel Gale
PGA Professional

Dan teaches at The James Andrews School of Golf in East Sussex

Check out his website at www.dangalegolf.com

Golf Professional and the team. Path to success

I am a golf instructor, that is what i do and what i am good at. I also know that through the training i have carried out that i can identify any physical limitations that may be preventing you from carrying out what i would like to see in the golf swing. However i am not a fitness instructor or a medical professional, what i am saying is on a physical side i am not the expert to fix you. I fix your swing, somebody else fixes your body!!

A good professional will have a team around him who can assist his pupil outside of the golf swing. It may be a physical coach, a chiropractor or a mind coach. For a player to truely develop to their full potential all components need to be available to them.

At junior level now it is normal practice to have all the rescources available to the player from a young age. At under 13 age county level it is common place and expected to have swing, mind, nutrition and physical specialists on hand to assist in the development of a juniors golf. No stone is left unturned anymore, with every aspect covered to hopefully path the way to success.

This is also available to the club golfer. Ok, so we aren't expecting everyone to become an elite player. But say for example i am coaching a golfer who constantly comes out of their posture through a physical limitation, then i need to have somebody on hand who could assist me (medical or fitness professional). Otherwise i will just feel i am banging my head against a brick wall and the pupils progress will be restricted. It is a simple referral process.

Covering all areas will speed up the progress of your golfing development, and prevent week after week of the same lesson. Probably saving money in the long run as well. And everyone likes to save a pound or two.

Golf Professional - fulfilling your role as a coach

Every golfer that comes to a coach for a lesson is different. Whether its age or sex, or if it is down to ability or future goals everybody has different requirements in some way. As a golf instructor it is important that we carry out our job as best suits the pupil. This will mean identifying (through feedback from the player) what they hope to achieve from their time with you.

Your average club golfer may be a 19 handicap player who wants to reduce his slice a little in time for his monthly medal in 4 days time. The budding junior with a 6 handicap may be wanting to work over the winter on their swing technique and physical conditioning in order to be at peak performance for the start of the new season. Two vastly different cases will need a completely different approach.

It is my duty as the instructor, along with the player to identify where is best to start and set realistic, achievable goals as a pair. This may be tweaking the grip a little to reduce the slice to a controlled fade, or setting a periodised timetable of goals over a half year period, raising performance in various areas throughtout. Either way it is important that good comunication takes place to stop confusion and prevent a lack of direction towards success.

Next time you head for your lesson make sure you and your instructor are singing from the same hymn sheet and have a clear understanding on where you want to get to.If we are listening to your personal aims and goals then together (provided you don't mind putting in the work) we can form a successful partnership and build a path to better golf.

Dan teaches at The James Andrews School of Golf in East Sussex

Check out his website at www.dangalegolf.com

  

Lee Westwood - England's world number 1??

So what, he hasn't won a major yet. We know this as Lee himself says himself, 'it's a consistency thing. Louis Oosterhuizen won The Open, does that make him the world number 1?'

Lee Westwood has been the consistently at the top of the European Tour for the past decade, apart from a small break where he was took time out due to the birth of his son Samuel Bevan in 2001, and this consistency may finally be rewarded with the top ranking in the world of golf.

With over 30 career titles from all Continents around the world, including 20 on the European Tour, the accolade could not be more deserved. Since 2000 Lee has also been the winner of the European Tour order of merit and also the recently created Race top Dubai in 2009. 2010 saw Lee finish in 3rd place in the same season long ranking.

In the majors his consistency has been somewhat remarkable. In the last 3 years Lee has achieved no less than five top 5 finishes, including two 2nd place finishes in 2010. At the US Masters and The Open Championship.

His 6 Ryder cup appearances have also made him a mainstay of the European team and last weeks victory over the USA, following severe doubts regarding Lee being even able to play through injury, saw him collect 2 1/2 points over the weekend including a 6&5 thumping of Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker.

The hard work and consistency that Lee has put in may just be about to pay off and then as he was quoted as saying this week 'If i get to number 1, i will tell people i am the best player in

world'. 

Too right. You will definately deserve it.

Fixing the shanks.....

The shanks are undoubtedly the most destructive shots in golf. Obviously seeing the ball shooting off at right angles is pretty harming on its own, let alone the mental scarring it leaves. Often one shank, maybe the first in months, can lead to several more. The thought of hitting one makes it almost impossible to commit to hitting through the ball with any kind of confidence.

What is a shank?
The most common form of shank I see when teaching is caused when the clubhead gets too far ouside the ball at the point of impact, resulting in the ball striking the hosel of the club. The worst shank will result in the ball shooting extremely low (knee height) almost at right angles to where you are standing. This can often lead to penalty shots or an extremely awkward shot next up.

 Strike position for a shank & the resulting direction

Quick fix.....

A quick fix for the shanks if to position a head cover close to the ball at address. When I say close I mean so that the headcover is less than a centremetre away from the toe of the club. Now, taking your normal swing, try hitting the ball but miss the headcover. The thought should be more to miss the headcover rather than trying to hit the ball. You have already been trying to hit the ball but struggled with shanks, so we know that thought will not work.

  Position the headcover so it is almost touching the toe of the club.
You need to return to this position at impact

If you miss the headcover then you are stopping the clubhead from getting outside of the ball at the point of impact, which is when you would normally connect with the hosel.

If you hit the headcover then you know that you have come back out side of the ball, it is an instant feedback that will not let you get away with well timed, bad swings.

Just remember....

This is a quick fix. The true reason for your shank will be a deeper lying problem during the swing that needs the attention of a swing coach. 

This drill will change your co-ordination well enough to get you around the course but the problem may well reoccur. Seek professional advice to fix the core problem in your swing.

Look out for more advice and swing tips at www.dangalegolf.com

Dan teaches at The James Andrews School of Golf in East Sussex

Ryder Cup matchplay formats 2010

Next week sees the start of the 2010 Ryder Cup which is taking place at the Celtic Manor Resort in Wales. Always exciting matches, these three days lead to what are often the most tense and highly charged events on the golfing calendar.

The USA will be looking to retain the trophy that they recaptured at the 2008 Ryder Cup that took place at Valhalla Golf Club in Kentucky.

On paper the two teams look quite even. With the USA captain Corey Pavin opting to pick, a somewhat out of form but still the world number 1, Tiger Woods. Whilst the European team is missing out on the talents of players such as Sergio Garcia (out of form but awesome Ryder Cup record), and also Paul Casey, Justin Rose and Soren Hansen, all of whom found that their worldwide schedules damaged Ryder cup point scoring over the qualifying period.

Matchplay:

Matchplay is different to strokeplay as you are playing directly against another player or pair. The team that scores the lowest on each hole wins the hole.

Example:

If you win the 1^st you would go 1 up. If you then also won the 2^nd you would now be 2 up. If you then lose the 3^rd you then go back to 1 up. Drawn holes lead to the score remaining the same.

The match is over in matchplay once one team is too far ahead to be caught, for example 4 up with only 3 holes to play, therefore a win of 4 & 3.

Over the 3 days at the Ryder Cup there will be different forms of matchplay being played. Here are the three forms that will be taking place at Celtic Manor

Foursomes matchplay

1 ball per pair playing alternate shots throughout the round

One player will tee off on the odd holes and the other on the even holes

Hard because: Extreme pressure over every shot. Sometimes can go several holes without a tricky, short putt then suddenly have one to halve a hole or worse stay in the match

Suits: Steady golf. No heroics, keeping it in play is key. Luke Donald is an awesome foursomes partner, steady throughout.

Fourball betterball matchplay

Playing as a pair but both players has their own ball, the lowest score from the pair counts on each hole

Hard because: Ultra attacking where birdies are regular, often not even winning the hole

Look out for: Hot streaks - pairs being 7-10 under for their rounds. Tactical pairings, a birdie man and a steady player is often successful, Furyk & Woods!!

Singles matchplay

One on one matchplay. Lowest score wins the hole

Look out for: Luck of the draw. Often the trailing team will load up their big guns at the top of the draw in a bid to catch up on points early

Tense because: Big shocks and the final matches. 12 points up for grabs to decide the destiny of the Ryder Cup

Hopefully this will clear up any doubts whilst the Ryder Cup matches are taking place. Make sure to tune in and enjoy the golf. The top player from Europe and the USA will certainly put on a great show

Check out swing tips and advice at www.dangalegolf.com

Patience is key

As a beginner playing golf it can sometimes feel very frustrating that your successful practice doesn’t always transfer straight into better shots on the golf course. This can be infuriating at times having seen practice sessions  result in consistently straight, well struck shots on the range yet a wide variety of wild, badly struck shots on the golf course.

 Try not to get too frustrated on the course.

It will not help.

This inconsistency is down to many things, mainly the fact that when you are practicing you are in a completely different environment. You have an almost unlimited supply of golf balls for one. This takes all of the pressure off of the shot.  You will be more relaxed and as the end result doesn’t really matter, you will also be more likely to try and execute the correct swing technique that you are carrying out in your lessons.

It is this relaxed feeling you need to try to take onto the golf course. Remember that everyone hits bad shots, look at Tiger Woods, he misses a fairway by 40 yards at times, if this is happening to the greatest player ever then you shouldn’t expect to have a round with no errors involved.

Here are some ideas to maintain your calm and patience on the golf course:

1.       Take one shot at a time – do not look too far ahead or have too high expectations on upcoming shots or holes. Do your best to execute the shot you are about to play

2.       Have practice swings – use these to rehearse the swing you wish to carry out. This will relax you and get your muscles ready for the upcoming jobs they need to carry out

3.       Keep it simple – if you go onto the golf course with a head full of swing thoughts then you will probably crumble. Have one clear objective for your swing. A two second swing cannot handle 5/6 thoughts

4.       Let it out – for the volatile player give yourself a 10 metre walk after a bad shot to get any frustrations out of your system. Say what you like (to yourself) but after those 10 metres your sole concentration should be on the next shot. Do not let one bad shot drag you down for the next 2/3 holes

5.       Mix it up – mix between course and range practice. Use the range and practice areas to master the technique and the golf course to learn how to play golf. Playing golf is an art so get out there and play.

The more you play on the course the more comfortable you will start to feel out there. This will lead to a more relaxed approach to each stroke. Trust me, one day it will click and the scores will tumble. Just be patient and enjoy your golf.

Dan is a coach at The James Andrews School of Golf in East Sussex
Check out his website at www.dangalegolf.com