This simple routine gives you the confidence that major swing segments have been checked allowing you to make a good smooth swing, and focus on the target!
]]>The routine gives them the confidence that all the segments that make up the swing have been set, checked and satisfied, allowing shot execution with fewer swing thoughts.
The pre-shot routine is different for every golfer, but the easy, simple routine will be used more often and therefore more effective.
A pre-shot routine will lower your score!
A proper hold on the golf club is the first step towards positioning the clubhead throughout the entire swing.
The grip should be loose enough to allow the swing to take place without trying to over influence the ball flight. If the grip is not correct the clubface will be off target creating a disappointing shot.
After checking your grip, stand behind the ball looking at the target for visual confidence of the intended ball flight.
Take several full swings to help relax and get prepared for the upcoming ball strike.
Place the clubface behind the ball positioned in the direction of the target and intended ball flight.
Then, place your feet in the proper position based on the clubface, but step back from the final position and take a few more full swings to relax.
After a few full swings to relax and get mentally set to strike the ball, step into your swing position and commit to the golf swing.
Having a pre-shot routine allows you to physically and mentally prepare for the next shot.
This simple routine gives you the confidence that major swing segments have been checked allowing you to make a good smooth swing, and focus on the target!
]]>Sometimes I stick to my golf season resolution, but in honesty most times I'm immediately immersed in the new season playing with the old habits I promised myself I would correct.
Do you find yourself in the same boat?
]]>Sometimes I stick to my golf season resolution, but in honesty most times I'm immediately immersed in the new season playing with the old habits I promised myself I would correct.
Do you find yourself in the same boat?
Last season I created 3 easy steps/tricks to improve my short iron game and actually stuck to my game plan. Those simple steps are:
These easy steps with a little practice helped me hit more greens in regulation and actually chip the ball closer to the hole giving me more birdie opportunities.
Get into better mental and physical shape even before going to the range. I have a section of my basement setup to exercise.
There are dumbbells, balance boards, and rubber mats to stretch with and do floor calisthenics.
I stretch my back and hamstrings, and then do a few sets of pushups and sit-ups on a Bosu Ball.
These exercises get the body charged because a new golf season is about to start and I'm getting stronger and more flexible, two physical aspects I know will help improve my game.
I also have a section of my basement setup to swing a golf club.
I first assume the ready stance without a club.
I place my right hand on my left shoulder and my left hand on my right shoulder.
I have a slight bend in my knees, and I go through the motion of the golf swing, leading with my hips and following through so the buckle of my belt is pointing at the target when the swing is finished.
I go through this routine about 10 times each session.
Approximately three times a week, for about five minutes each time, I try to focus on timing, accuracy and follow through. To help with the accuracy part, I have a black dot on the hitting mat that I hit through.
This is setting the stage for a good solid flexible swing before going to the range.
I have been to the driving range many times over the years to hit balls. But, until recently, that's exactly what I did, hit balls but with no specific purpose in mind.
Yes, I wanted to improve ball strikes and hitting large buckets of balls probably helped my game, but in honesty many times I would leave the range just as frustrated as I arrived because I was exhausted and not happy with the majority of ball strikes.
I now go to the range with just a few clubs in my hands, usually a seven iron, nine iron and pitching wedge.
I don't rush through the bucket of balls but instead, take my time focusing on each and every ball.
I read an article several years ago about having three swings with all the irons and I practice the three swing idea with the clubs I have at the range.
I pick a target and try to execute the shot at hand, some shots being quarter swing, half, then full swing. By practicing the different distances, I feel more comfortable with the execution when the shot I'm about to take actually counts.
So, there you have it, my three easy tips to help prepare you for your golf season. It's never too late to start working on your golf game. So, even if you're reading this post in the middle of the season, you can still make a positive impact on your game.
Oh, and don't forget, you should be sure to really round out your season prep by using your Pocket Pin High Pro so you know you're properly shifting your weight at the crucial moments of your downswing (hey, I have to plug my product where I can!).
Thanks and see you on the links.
- Carl Papa
]]>They've read countless articles on the best fixes, but when those suggestions didn’t work right away, they ended up listening to their golf buddies who all pitched in giving, in their opinion, the solution to fix a slice.
While reading articles written by instructors is a good option, it's not the entirety of a solution. Merely a part of solving the issue with random slices.
In order to know if you are truly executing the swing fixes suggested in the what you've read, it's important that you get true feedback at the driving range, either by a qualified golf instructor or by a training aid like our own patented golf swing aid, for instance (a not so subtle plug, I know!).
You need real feedback at the driving range to actually correct your swing.
In regards to the information you read and the feedback you're given, if you don't follow the instructions to a T, you will be reinforcing the old bad swing sequence. This will cause you to be more frustrated than when you began since you'll feel the article that was supposed to fix the problem only made it worse.
While they intend well, the other problem is listening to your golf buddies.
Although they may want you to play better golf, they never want you to play better than them, they want your bet money!
They never want you to play better than them, they want your bet money.
But in all seriousness, I've dealt with a slice for years, aiming far left knowing the boomerang ball would end up on the far right-hand side of the fairway. If the fairway was narrow, I was always in the woods. The yardage I lost was about as frustrating as the slice itself. My friends said, “open your stance”, “close your stance”, “weaken your grip”, strengthen your grip” (you get the idea).
Even if one of those suggestions worked, I never knew it because the other sequences were out of synch.
That said, I was able to finally get that persistent slice out of my game and here is what worked for me. I’m not an instructor but I have been around the game for 30 years.
My first suggestion is to focus on your alignment. Many slicers, myself included, feel as though you're aiming straight, but in reality, you are aligned far too left in order to compensate for the expected slice.
The use of alignment rods, or at least a golf club shaft, will help you get a true bearing.
Golf is one of the hardest sports to aim since as you look down at the ball, facing forward, while actually aiming at a target 90 degrees to your left.
No wonder it's so hard to align properly!
However, by using alignment rods, you will know for certain where you are aligned even if your brain says, "this just doesn’t feel right."
Trust the alignment rods. Spend time at the range just hitting balls, with just that one correction, alignment rods, or golf club shafts.
Once you begin to “feel more comfortable” with the new alignment sequence, check your grip.
Improperly gripping the club is another issue with amateur golfers. They almost always grip the club too tight.
So do your best to relax the hands and only grip the club tight enough to keep from slipping out of your hands during the swing.
Your relaxed hands will certainly help the club head square up at impact, minimizing the slice.
First, lay the club's grip on your fingers.
Next, close the grip by rolling the left hand over the grip.
NOTE: The hand pressure is just tight enough to hold the club, do not squeeze the club grip with too much pressure!
Next, slide the right hand under the club grip as shown.
Lastly, close the right hand as shown. Again not too tight!
The last suggestion I would make has to do with swing arc. I like to reduce the number of swing thoughts, a shot killer in and of itself!
The first two above suggestions are more of setting up, so once they're done, no more thinking. Now you just have to focus on the action of your swing.
Reduce the number of swing thoughts, a shot killer in and of itself.
Many golfers swing the club outside in, causing the club face to spin the ball to the right. A swing inside out will help square up the clubface at impact.
The inside-out swing (the right swing for power) is when the right elbow is closer to the side.
Golfer #1 in the frame with the green check mark has a smooth backswing creating torque as the body and shoulders turn.
As the downswing begins the golfer can stay on the 45-degree plane as he pulls the clubhead down and through the ball for a pure strike.
The backswing is started by a turn of the hips while rotating the shoulders. The swing plane line is on a 45-degree plane, creating torque as the body core turns.
Golfer #2 Takes the club back far too steep, preventing the creation of the torque needed to launch the ball.
His backswing also makes it impossible to follow a downswing plane to strike the ball squarely.
By knowing where your body is and what it's doing during your downswing sequence is incredibly important to a consistent and successful golf swing.
One of the biggest underlying issues for inconsistent golf swings is that the golfer typically isn't shifting their weight to their front foot during the downswing.
Shift your weight for a more consistent golf swing.
If you're not taking a divot with every swing, then you're very likely not shifting your weight (even if you swear you are).
To make sure you're properly shifting your weight during your swing, pick up a Pocket Pin High Pro swing aid today and test your own swing. If you don't hear a "CLICK", then you're not shifting your weight. Simple as that.
If you find your Pocket Pin High Pro doesn't help you take a divot more often (and help drive the ball further with greater accuracy) then you can send it back to us for a full refund within 60 days of your purchase. That's how much we stand behind our patented product!
]]>I can't tell you how many times I have walked onto the green looking at my ball and not noticing the general contour of the green. All golfers should notice the green, contour, and other factors that will affect the putt. This includes grass height, heavy or light morning dew, both of which are very significant when analyzing putt speed.
The greens will be faster later in the day as moisture evaporates. Seasoned players know that recently mowed greens can have a significant impact on the speed needed to reach the hole. Shaved greens are very "quick," while "fuzzy" greens will leave the ball short if the slower roll is not taken into account.
Golf instructors always say as you line up your putt, remember to rock your shoulders. This simply means that by just moving your shoulders the path of your putter will stay on line longer. The slightest movement of hands, head or any other body part will affect the putt's accuracy.
Rocking the shoulders minimizes the moving parts, and the fewer parts moving will help ensure a more controlled roll. Another suggestion is to hold the the putter still after striking the ball and following through. Holding the putter in place for just a few seconds will ensure the ball was hit straight and that last minute putter head movement did not occur.
The slightest putter head movement can cause the ball to roll off line. At times I would twist my putter head ever so slightly but the twist would spin the ball enough to miss the putt. Reading a green and executing the perfect putt can be a challenge. However, a little more observation and routine technique will sink more putts! Good luck!!
]]>In East Tennessee, we are fortunate to live in a moderate temperate zone so we can play almost year round. Those living in Florida and Arizona are truly fortunate because in winter months you play in 70-degree weather while the Northern regions are shoveling snow.
However, don't forget the swing adjustments you can make to your game as you get older as well (so you can keep playing longer!).
Golf is a low impact sport so there is low risk for injury. It is a leisurely activity that has less strenuous requirements on the legs and lower back than other sports.
The infrequent injuries that occur are relatively minor. Senior Golfers enjoy the fact they can still burn calories and get a workout without exhausting the body or risking injury. Warming up and stretching before a round is always recommended to lessen the risk of injury.
With life comes problems and emotional stress of different magnitudes. While the truly significant stresses are hard to temporarily ignore, lessor brain drains can be put aside when one focuses on the golf game.
This temporal res bit is good for mental health and will actually help resolve pending issues. The brain is constantly stimulated while we assess our next shot. How far the green is and what club should I select and are there tree limbs I need to consider and what about the wind speed.
Is the putt straight or does it break and also the slight downhill will also need to be taken into consideration?
These are just a few of the putt thoughts swirling through the mind. Experience will take over and after you line the put up, relax and take a good stroke and there's a good chance the putt will sink!
Although we love playing golf with our regular foursome, beating the buddy with the lower handicap is always on your mind. This makes you practice shots before the next buddy round and stay focused so you can plan and execute the shot intended!
When the ball does as expected![/caption] Shifting weight to the front foot before striking the ball is crucial. Being posted and hitting down and through the ball will increase control and power.
Taking a divot is confirmation the weight was shifted forward before the strike. I love the game of golf, but at times it can be frustrating!
Your swing can be working just fine, then all of a sudden nothing seems to work. Even addressing the ball at times can feel uncomfortable.
Out of sync swing rhythm can be caused by not having weight on the front foot, and "coming over the top." If you have trouble shifting weight to the front foot prior to the ball strike, Pocket Pin High Pro can help!
This ultra-portable swing aid will click when your weight is shifted to the front foot during the downswing. This aid will give you the weight forward sensation to replicate and will confirm the weight shift with a click.
]]>Other added health benefits of playing golf is time with friends and enjoying the occasional laugh with (and at) your buddies. Playing golf on a regular basis also challenges mental and physical requirement to do your best, keeping you competitive with the other senior golfers in your foursome. One must maintain flexibility, muscle tone, and balance.
Below are helpful tips for how senior golfers can adjust their golf swing in order to play the game longer, with more enjoyment.
This turning motion in the backswing causes hip pain in some golfers.
A simple foot adjustment can help eliminate hip pain during your golf swing.
Turning the rear foot away from the target approximately 45 degrees enables the golfer to coil during the back swing, but with the rear foot turned away from the target less pressure is placed on the hip joint. The amount of torque is slightly reduced, creating less power, but the tradeoff is worth it since less pain equals playing more golf!
We all started playing the same; hit the ball as hard as possible because that will prove to everyone watching how strong you are. "Grip it and rip it," right? Before we got older, the practice was never on the putting green but always at the driving range.
Personally, I would hit two large buckets of balls, some good some bad, but as I got tired I was not helping my swing because the tired, incomplete swing mechanics were being reinforced. Leaving the range I would be tired and frustrated. As I passed the putting green I never even consider practicing my putts, even though over half of the golf game occurs on the green!
Senior golfers know the limitations of their game and instead of trying to hit the booming drive, just focus on being in the fairway somewhere close to the 150-yard marker. Then focus on the iron shot into the green. Practicing iron shots 150 yards out will hone that skill and have you on in regulation.
As your iron precision improves you will be closer to the hole, sinking more birdie putts! Continue going to the range, but after hitting a few balls with the driver, focus on hitting iron shots to a specific target. Practicing more iron shots will give you the distance, accuracy and the confidence needed to place your second shot close to the pin.
Also, make sure you're following our 3 simple tips for maximizing your driving range time!
As we get older, we have a tendency to slack off on physical activity. This decrease in activeness also decreases our flexibility. Keeping your body active daily is the key to better flexibility, muscle tone, balance and health in general.
Little changes in our routine can make a huge difference when practiced frequently.
Park your car in a slot that requires a little more walking to the destination. When possible take the stairs instead of the elevator, it will work the leg muscles and cardiovascular system. Even one flight of stairs can help improve overall health if practiced on a regular basis.
Practice touching your toes each morning. This exercise will start your day by loosening up the back after a night’s sleep. Even if you cannot touch your toes, each time will get you a little closer and improve your balance and confidence.
A flexible back and shoulders will also enable you to make a better backswing and follow-through, providing a more powerful, controlled ball strike!
Using a swing weight to can help further increase your flexibility. As you swing a club with a weight attached, you will feel a slight muscle stretch as you reach the limit of the swing. The number of swings, not the brute forceful swings, will extend the distance of the backswing giving you more clubhead speed and more distance. Keep that body moving!
Transferring weight to the front foot prior to striking the ball delivers maximum power with the least amount of energy. We have all hit those wonderful shots that just seem to happen, just a smooth swing and complete follow-through. When you analyze the mechanics of your pure swing you will discover the solid strike occurred because your weight was firmly planted on the front foot prior to the strike. Many golf instructors have their students hit balls with the "9 to 3 swing".
This simple exercise will have you concentrating on shifting weight forward and hitting down and through the ball. This exercise will improve the muscle memory needed to shift weight forward more consistently!
If you have difficulty shifting weight forward, then golf swing aids like the Pocket Pin High Pro can help! This ultra-portable swing aid "CLICKS" when weight is shifted forward during the downswing. The sensation of weight shifting forward is confirmed by the "clicking sound." This gives you the swing mechanics to replicate for a more consistent swing. The Pocket Pin High Pro swing aid will get you to the front side during your golf swing more consistently.
Like other golfers, we read golf magazines, watch golf tournaments on TV and listen to friends when they explain why we had an errant strike.
All of this incoming information is good because it's golf related, but it can certainly get you out of sync. We hear open your stance, close your stance, left shoulder is not high enough, etc... Every now and then it's time to reset.
We need to re-establish the golf swing basics.
Let's start from square one and review what matters in a great golf swing. The most important segments for a smooth, powerful golf swing are:
Now we can break all these segments down so we can rebuild your swing (or at least fine tune it).
A good grip that can be repeated every time you grab a club is the beginning of re-establishing basics. This is the segment that almost all golf instructors start with as almost all amateur golfers hold the golf club improperly.
Since we're going back to basics, let's remember what the grip is for in your golf swing. It's just a way to connect your body to the club.
The grip isn't to generate power, it's to act as the transmission of the power and energy your whole body generates as you go through your swing. The grip you use with your clubs is critical because, without a good and reliable transmission, you won't get very far on the road to a better golf game.
Without a good and reliable transmission, you won't get very far on the road to a better golf game.
Your grip should be tight enough to keep the club in place, but loose enough to hinge when the body turns toward the ball strike. The club should lay across the second joint of your index finger with the butt end of the grip sitting just below the meaty pad at the base of your palm.
If it helps you to visualize, when you grip the club first with your left hand, that hand should roughly form an inverted letter "V." Make sure that inverted "V" is pointed at the opposite shoulder (your right) when you begin to close the grip. The same is true for when you grip with your right hand. Make an inverted "V" that is pointed to the opposite shoulder (left) when you close the grip.
A consistent routine when setting up to the ball is paramount. If you notice the professionals, every time they address the ball, their individual set up routine is the same.
There are so many segments in the golf swing that placing some of the basic moves on auto pilot keeps the swing thoughts down. Likewise, you should repeat the same set up every time you address the ball.
Good golf swing stance weight distribution is 55% on the rear foot and 45% on the front.
One of the easiest and most effective setup procedures is to align your body with the position of the clubface, then set your feet at shoulder width. As you bend forward, bend at the hips, keeping the back vertebra straight.
Have slightly more body weight on your rear foot (the one furthest from the hole). Weight distribution is approximately 55% on the rear foot and 45% on the front.
This setup places you, the golfer, in position to coil during the backswing and start the downswing with the lower body transferring weight to the front foot prior to striking the ball.
Your body should be facing straight ahead, with the target at a 90-degree angle. To help with alignment, set a club or alignment stick on the ground that's pointed straight at the target. This takes the guesswork out of if you're in the correct position to hit the target.
Be able to focus on the rhythm of your golf swing, not how you're standing.
Point your toes out, approximately 30 degrees, to provide a little more freedom during the backswing and follow through.
Having a setup routine that you follow as you address the ball each time will establish the habit needed to “know” you haven’t forgotten anything so the focus can be on the rhythm of your swing, not how you're standing.
Since you're "loading" your back leg during the backswing pivot, the thigh muscles will also be stretched, storing the energy needed to start the downswing and strike the ball. Imagine a twisted rubber band. Ready to release all that potential energy.
As the body rotates and muscles tighten at the end of the backswing, it's time to almost immediately begin the weight forward movement. The transition from the back swing to the downswing is initiated by the lower body, specifically the legs.
As weight is transferred to the forward side, the upper body, arms, hands, and club are lagging behind. This is where the subtle art of "lag" comes into play.
Creating lag in your golf swing is maintaining the angle between your leading forearm (left arm if you're a right-handed golfer) and the shaft of the golf club. More power is generated from lag if you can maintain this angle for as long as you possibly can.
Lag is what separates a powerful swing from an OK swing.
As the body rotates the last of the weight forward, the centripetal force is generating the speed and power needed to strike the ball.
Many golfers utilize what's known as "body compression." This is a segment of a proper downswing where the rear shoulder slightly dips compressing the legs which spring just prior to the ball-strike, intensifying the clubhead speed just prior to the strike.
Numerous golf authors use the example of the figure-skater twirling in one spot. The skater is spinning at a constant speed with arms extended, however, when the arms are pulled in closer to the body the rate of spin increases significantly.
Think "figure-skater" when you hear "body compression."
This principle of physics also works during the downswing in golf because the body is compressed storing more energy that is released just prior to striking the ball.
Another visualization of what the body should be doing during the downswing is defined by David Leadbetter in his book, The Golf Swing.
To paraphrase David, you should visualize a figure-eight when going through your downswing. Your right hip shifts behind you as you wind back, only to gently shift diagonally to the right of your target. You complete the figure-eight with your left hip as you clear the follow-through.
The illustration he uses has this figure eight movement taking place inside a barrel, reminding the golfer not to sway or slide during the downswing but to turn, which generates the maximum amount of torque needed for a pure ball strike.
The golf swing follow through is basic and crucial if you want to convert your swing torque into a powerful ball strike.
Many golfers do not complete the follow through segment of the swing. Many don't even realize they stopped the swing before completion, while others believe it's all over after the club strikes the ball.
Both are missing out on the power of the strike and ball control. If you think of the body weight that is being transferred from the rear to the front foot, slowing down that transfer will kill power.
When the complete transfer takes place, not only is the club head hitting the ball, but the clubface will be square at impact assuring a straight ball path. When the weight is properly shifted to the front foot, the golfer's belt buckle should be pointing at the target. Weight should also be "posted" on the front foot with the rear foot resting on the toe.
In the above photo, the golfer in the red shirt stopped his swing which would have killed control and distance, while the golfer in the green shirt had his weight posted to the front foot with the rear foot resting to the toe.
When weight is posted on the front foot, all of the energy coiled and stored in the body core is released through centripetal force. The only way to strike the ball first and take a divot is to have weight on the front foot prior to the strike.
Hitting the ball first gives you distance and control on all golf shots. The divot created by the ball strike is confirmation that the weight was forward and the ball was hit first.
The divot created by the ball strike is confirmation that the weight was forward and the ball was hit first.
Many golfers have difficulty shifting weight to the front foot prior the striking the ball. Other golfers don't even realize their weight was not planted on the front foot prior to the strike.
While there are a handful of golf swing aids available, we're understandably partial to the American-made Pocket Pin High Pro, of course. As an ultra-portable swing aid that slides under the outside edge of the golfer's front foot, this swing aid is a simple and easy way to improve all of your swings.
If you don't already know, you will hear the Pocket Pin High Pro "CLICK!" when weight is transferred forward during your downswing. If you don't hear a "CLICK," then you know you didn't shift your weight properly.
The Pocket Pin High Pro helps you with a more powerful swing by teaching you to properly shift weight during your downswing.
Regular practice with the Pocket Pin High Pro will establish the muscle memory to shifting weight forward. You will shift weight forward more consistently with fewer swing thoughts! The "sensation" of weight shifting forward, confirmed by the Pocket Pin High Pro's "CLICK" gives you the swing sequence needed to be replicated for better ball strikes.
We hope this in-depth golf swing article helps you with your game (we know the Pocket Pin High Pro goes a long way there too!).
I use my pitching wedge to hit balls at the red flag 100 yards away. Essentially everything you do has a reason behind it, whether you recognize it or not. Don’t go out to the driving range without both establishing a goal and determining how best to achieve that goal.
Are you fighting a vicious hook? Is your swing lacking proper fluidity and causing discomfort? Are you neglecting some of the core necessities in your swing, such as shifting your weight forward? Are you just trying to loosen up before your round? Know why you are there, and keep that in mind throughout the process.
Think about the goal you have set. How are you going to reach that goal? Recognize that the more specific you are about determining your process; the easier it will be to see results.
Not everyone can afford the services of a golf pro, so if you don’t have the benefits of a trained professional, do a little research on the internet. You can be sure that if you do just a little bit of prep work, you are going to be much happier with your results.
You’ve set a goal and outlined a process, so now it’s time to put your plan into action. The key to the whole thing is both sticking to your plan and observing your progress throughout. It is very easy to set yourself in a comfortable stance and whack ball after ball into the field in front of you.
Take your time and go through the same motions that constitute your ritual on the course. Identify your target on the driving range, visualize your shot, find your stance, address the ball, and only then, hit the ball. Watch your results and take note of what was both positive and negative.
Now take your next shot, going through the entire process again. Take into consideration what you want to be different this time, and what changes you are making to help realize those goals. Now that you’ve hit that second ball, evaluate your results. Did your adjustment(s) work?
By the time you go through the process a few dozen times, you should have a much better idea of what is working and what isn’t. You may not have perfected that particular shot, but if there’s one thing I know about golf, NOTHING EVER HAPPENS OVERNIGHT!!!
It is going to take some time, but hey, who could ask for a better way to spend your time? If you need assistance building the muscle memory required to shift weight forward more consistently, the Pocket Pin High Pro can help.
This ultra-portable golf swing aid will give you instant feedback through a clicking sound when the weight has shifted forward. Feeling the sensation of weight forward along with auditory confirmation will reinforce the weight transfer and permitting you to have solid ball strikes more consistently.
]]>You must have weight forward in order to hit down and through the ball. That's where the divot comes in.
If weight is not on the front foot prior to striking the ball there will be no divot. Do the pros take a divot? Yes, you know they do, every time and usually a big one, looking like a squirrel flying through the air.
So if you want more power, control, and distance, let's get there! First, you need to practice your swing regularly since repetition will create the muscle memory needed to make the correct swing automatically. Next, you need to know if you're fully shifting weight to the front foot because many times we start the weight transfer sequence but swing thoughts derail the process and full transfer is never accomplished, many times you are not even aware the transfer did not occur.
How can you be certain weight has fully transferred to the front foot?
The Pocket Pin High Pro is a very low profile swing aid that is placed under the outside edge of your front foot. As you practice your full golf swing, the Pocket Pin High Pro "Clicks" when weight has fully transferred forward! So you can practice your swing with many aids, but only the Pocket Pin High Pro "Clicks" when weight transfer occurs, giving you instant auditory feedback and the "feeling" you want to replicate to accomplish weight shift.
So I ask, "Why practice not knowing?" Time is precious, and regular practice necessary, to accomplish the practice you need, and feel confident your time is judiciously spent, because the Pocket Pin High Pro informs you that your weight has fully shifted, otherwise, how would you know?? For more information, and instructional videos please visit PinHighPro.com. Good Luck with your game, let's make this the year you lower your score
]]>I can never figure out how my strikes can go from one extreme to the other, but I suppose it must be my focus.
Losing focus for an instant can cause all sorts of bad things to happen. When I hit a crappy shot, one of the thoughts that help me recover is the realization of where I am standing. I'm on a beautifully manicured piece of property, seeing awesome vistas, playing a most challenging game with my friends!
Yes, I get mad at myself for losing focus and will do my best the keep focus next swing. I do feel blessed to know about the game, the challenges it has to offer and the good health to play.
Sometimes a golf swing aid will help you stay focused on creating the muscle memory needed to eliminate swing thoughts, the major culprit when the focus is lost.
If shifting weight to the front foot prior to hitting the ball is your problem, the Pocket Pin High Pro gives you instant feedback that weight has shifted giving you the feeling and rhythm you need to replicate. The best way to improve your swing is practice. Practicing gives you the confidence and skill needed to make those pure strikes more consistently. Enjoy the Game. Enjoy the Challenge.
]]>The specific problem is keeping my head down and still until the stroke is made. My read of the greens is OK, my speed is usually correct, but when I lift my head ever so slightly, all of the pre-putt rituals are in vain!
When I lift my head just a little, it turns my shoulders and club face which renders the putt a miss. Since my problem is the stroke and follow-through, I find that if I wait to see the few blades of grass the ball is sitting on after striking the ball, it keeps my head still for that millisecond which always makes for a better putt.
If your challenge is shifting weight to the front foot prior to hitting the ball, the Pocket Pin High Pro can help. This ultra-portable golf swing aid clicks when weight is fully transferred to the front foot, enabling you to hit down and through the ball. This instant audio confirmation that weight has transferred, establishes muscle memory for a more consistent ball strike. "A better game is just a click away."
]]>Practicing your swing just a few minutes a day will help establish the muscle memory needed to shift weight to the front foot consistently, enabling you to hit down and through the ball.
The Pocket Pin High Pro clicks as weight is shifted to the front foot giving you instant audible feedback and the "feel" of the weight shift so you can replicate the swing pattern. The Pocket Pin High Pro is also ultra-portable so you can practice at home or take it to your favorite range.
]]>In his book Outliers, Malcolm Gladwell recites research that in order to be professional, one must practice with a purpose for 10,000 hours. Most of us do not have the time, or inclination, to spend that much time on one movement, even though we would gladly swear to 10,000 hours of constant practice while losing to our weekend golfing buddies.
Practice is the key, so commit to an amount of time more reasonable to the average golfer.
Twenty minutes every other day will help create the muscle memory to execute a smooth swing more consistently. If the weather is bad, practice your swing indoors, it does not matter where the practice occurs, just as long as the practice is conducted regularly.
A good tool to use during your swing practice indoors and out is a swing aid that will help you commit to practice (might we suggest the Pocket Pin High Pro golf swing training aid?). It will give you instant feed back that weight has transferred to the front foot, so you can hit down and through the ball.
As we mentioned, the Pocket Pin High Pro can be used indoors or outside, so there is really no excuse not to practice your swing. Just think of the smile on your face when your taking money at the end of a round instead of giving!
]]>1. Pin High Pro. Our very own swing aid, specially designed to help golfers with weight shifting issues and “swing thoughts” -- those distracting ideas that enter your head just at the moment you should be letting go. A marked improvement in every ability level.
2. Corkcicle. Perfect wine in 20 minutes flat. ‘nuf said
3. 50 Caliber Bullet Bottle Opener. Made by Bullets2Bandages.org, an organization that donates 15% of profits to veterans charities. Their motto is “redefining the purpose of the bullet."
4. Finger Print Bookmark. Allows you, or Grandpa, to pick up right where you left off. :) Now if you can just find your glasses!
5. Portable Cell Phone Charger, Anker: Pocket-size USB charger allows you to stay in touch no matter where you are. Great for travel or any situation where it can be hard to find an outlet.]]>In a study run by psychologists Kristin E. Flegal and Michael C. Anderson, 80 participants with varying levels of golfing experience took part in a putting exercise. The goal of the exercise was for participants to make three putts in a row. After completing the putting task, half of the participants spent 5 minutes writing a detailed description of everything they did while hitting the ball. The other participants did an unrelated activity for 5 minutes.
When the participants tried the putting activity again, something remarkable happened to the most experienced golfers. Higher skilled golfers who had spent 5 minutes analyzing their technique needed twice as many shots as before to make three putts in a row. Thinking and writing about their shots actually made these golfers worse!
Why did writing about their swings have such a negative effect on skilled golfers? A possible explanation is the “verbal overshadowing” effect. Verbal memory and muscle memory use different parts of the brain. The “overshadowing” phenomenon occurs when verbal memory gets in the way of muscle memory. In the experiment, verbal memory (analyzing and writing about putting) disrupted the golfer’s muscle memory (actual putting ability). So when you are doing well on the golf course, don’t talk about it!
The Pocket Pin High Pro is a great way to build the muscle memory you need for a great swing. This ultraportable swing aid makes a clicking noise at the exact moment your weight shifts to your front foot. Practicing with the Pin High Pro year round helps users get to their front foot more consistently with fewer swing thoughts. Visit our online shop to order a Pocket Pin High Pro today!
]]>Practice your swing a couple of times a week, but do not perform more than 12 swing rotations at a time. Without a club, place your right hand on your left shoulder and your left hand on your right shoulder. Rotate your body as you would in the golf swing, and as you turn during the backswing, your back should reach the point where it is actually pointing toward the target.
As you complete your downswing and follow through, your belt buckle should be pointing toward the target. As you practice this swing motion without the club, you get the sensation of how the swing should feel using the large muscles to initiate and power the swing sequence.
Practicing your swing can actually be counterproductive if you are repeating the wrong tech nique over and over again. The Pocket Pin High Pro is a training aid that ensures that your practice sessions are worthwhile.
This ultraportable swing aid makes a clicking noise at the exact moment your weight shifts to your front foot. This auditory confirmation gives you peace of mind that you are practicing the right way, building muscle memory, and improving your swing. Visit our online shop to order a Pocket Pin High Pro today! ]]>