Golf Swing Mechanics Can Be Improved Very Quickly
 by: Mike Pedersen

If you’re like most golfers, you’re always trying to duplicate that “perfect” golf swing. I know I am. Doesn’t it feel great to hit that effortless shot? Don’t you wish you could do it every time? That would be a similar feeling of what the pro’s have most of the time. It would be such a high!

So what’s keeping you from this goal? Do you think you just need to hit more balls? Or, are you already hitting hundreds every week? If that’s not working, do you need more golf lessons? Or, have you taken lessons but not seen improvement?

If it’s none of the above, then what?

I can tell you almost 100% for sure…it’s your BODY!

Your body dictates your golf swing. How many times have you felt like you can’t make a FULL turn or backswing? Do you think the solution is hitting more balls or taking more golf lessons?

It’s not! It’s improving your golf-specific flexibility and even strength.

Once you address and improve your physical limitations, your golf swing mechanics fall into place, with very little effort. Unless you don’t have a concept of what needs to be done to complete a proper golf swing, in which taking a golf lesson to understand it would be first priority.

The majority of amateur golfers have some kind of physical limitation that keeping them from a great game of golf. It could be flexibility, or it could be strength.

Combining the two is your most effective approach.

Getting a golf-specific evaluation by a golf fitness professional is your first step. Then, you can set up a game plan on what you need to work on and how to do it.

You’d be amazed at how quickly you can improve your golf swing and game with this approach. Don’t keep looking for the silver bullet. The answer is in the mirror. Now do something about it!

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Golf Workouts Can Quickly Add Yards To Your Drives
 by: Mike Pedersen

I’m sure by now you’ve heard most of the professional players; both men and women actively participate in golf workouts. It’s no secret. But why then do most amateur golfers ignore this? Is it because it seems like work? Or, does the thought of actually breaking a sweat get you tired already?

Either way…the proof is in the bag. The number one player in the world, Vijay Singh, does his golf workouts all the way through Sunday of each tournament. Does it look like it’s hurting his game? I don’t think so. Back in 1997, a young, very athletic golfer came on the professional scene and blew everyone away. I think you know who I’m talking about.

Tiger took golf to another level. A real eye-opener for the veteran players who were hitting the 19th hole after every round…and the last thought on their mind was “exercise”. What a wake-up call to be totally dominated by a player who was only 20 years old at the time.

How about the year Annika Sorenstam shot a 59 and totally dominated the LPGA? Do you know what she attributes it to? Golf workouts! She hired a trainer and got serious about her fitness. And look what happened? She hasn’t looked back since. She just recently came out with an instruction book and devoted a chapter to golf workouts.

To my recollection, that’s the first women’s instruction book to include golf workouts. Working out to playing better golf isn’t just for the guys; Annika has proved that. Now more LPGA players are working out to try and catch her, just like the guys did with Tiger.

How about the senior tour? Now players are realizing they can still make good money, even after they’ve turned 50 and can’t really compete with the young guys anymore. With the money at stake, they too are all working out. This group of players both amateur and pro is the biggest demographic that needs it the most.

With age comes a decline in both flexibility and strength. When the body declines, the swing goes right along with it. The result is a big loss in yardage, more mishits, and ballooning scores. The end result…frustration! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve played with and received phone calls from older golfers who are just about ready to quit the game.

They are SO frustrated at this rapid decline, that golf’s not fun anymore. But there is hope. The answer? Get your body moving just a little better. How? By participating in golf workouts that focus on golf-specific strength AND flexibility. It’s amazing to see golfers in this age bracket dramatically improve their driving distance, accuracy and scores.

You don’t have to accept that with age, your body declines. No way! You’ve got to fight it all the way! I’m dead serious. The ones who do, are the ones who are enjoying the game again and taking all the money in their foursome.

What is a golf workout anyways? Is there such a thing? You bet there is. The golf swing is an awkward movement that puts a tremendous amount of stress on the body. To prevent injury and improve swing speed and distance requires your body to be both strong and flexible specific to the swing.

I could spend dozens of pages describing what this entails, but for the sake of this concise article, let’s keep it simple.

The golf swing is a rotational movement, with your body in golf posture. Slight flex of the knees and a bending forward at the hips. Since the golf swing is primarily rotational, wouldn’t it make sense to focus on rotational strength and flexibility? That is improving your turning ability related to range of motion and speed.

So anything involving twisting with resistance such as a medicine ball, a dumbbell, or even a weighted club would work. You need to have a resistance to take your body beyond where it normally goes.

For instance, if you took a club and placed it behind your neck, got in your golf posture and rotated back and forth; do you think that by itself would improve your range of motion or power?

No, you need to add resistance to accomplish this. Take a weighted club and make golf swings. Now you’ll be making a bigger turn AND improving your power. Same thing with a medicine ball. Make turns back and through holding a 4 to 6 pound ball and you’ll see a BIG improvement.

In fact, most of your abdominal work should be rotational. Doing straight crunches won’t improve your driving distance. Doing rotational movements with added weight will. This is where I could go on and on, but I won’t overload you.

I hope I’ve convinced you to take a real serious look at what all the other successful professional players are doing to stay at the top of their game. Doing golf workouts can and will dramatically change your game forever. Now get out there and get it started. No procrastinating. Do it right now!

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How A Simple Golf Stretch Can Add 20 Yards To Your Drives
 by: Mike Pedersen

To quickly improve your golf, stretch your golf muscles regularly!

What’s the difference between a “golf stretch” and an everyday stretch? The answer to this question may be your missling link to a great game and years of enjoyment instead of frustration and weak attempts at quitting the game.

I know…you’ve considered it! I’ve been there many times. But the bottom line…we keep coming back!

So to end the years of frustration and quickly transform your game, you need to do golf stretches daily. Yes, that’s right…daily!

It will only take you a few minutes to get them done, but the improvement in your game will be quick and dramatic. The return on this investment (of time) is well worth it.

Now which stretches to do to get the quickest return?

That’s a personal issue. Everyone has different limitations. Some are backswing related, others are follow through or even maintaining your golf posture.

Below I’m going to list a couple of golf stretches that will help you prevent back pain and increase your backswing range of motion for longer drives.

The first golf stretch is the Lying Leg Crossover:

• Lie on back with legs extended.
• Raise one leg and bend at knee to 90 degrees in knee and hip.
• Cross that leg over extended leg, while opposite shoulder stays on ground.
• Go until slight pull in butt and lower back.
• Hold for 15 seconds and repeat once more.

•Switch legs and do opposite side.

This simple golf stretch will not only make your back feel better, but it will improve your ability to make a bigger turn, with less hip movement, creating torque and energy.

The second golf stretch is the Backswing Stretch:

• Extend left arm out in front of you (if you are a right handed golfer).
• Take right hand and put under left wrist.
• Pull with right hand against left wrist and make as big a turn on back swing as possible.
• Hold for at least 15 seconds, repeat once more and do the opposite for arm for your follow thru side.

This simple golf stretch will loosen up the muscles in the back of your shoulders and your upper back (lats), for more freedom on both your backswing and follow through.

Do these two stretches daily and watch your game improve quickly.

Note: These are only 2 golf stretches isolating certain areas of the body. To get the full benefit for your golf game, you need to do golf stretches for each muscle group.

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How To Improve Your Game With Simple Golf Exercises
 by: Mike Pedersen

Winter is upon us and you have more time, since you’re not golfing…so why not get a jump on next season by doing some simple, in-home golf exercises that will quickly prepare your body to hit LONGER drives and shoot LOWER scores?

How many times have you started a new golf season with very high scores, short drives, and aches and pains? Am I talking to you? Let’s be honest. It happens more times than you’d like. But why not do it different this time? Instead of going into deep depression that the season is over – keep golf in the top of your mind by starting a golf exercise program.

Don’t let your clubs get dusty and forget about your game. Prepare your body in anticipation of next spring. It’s no fun to come off the course feeling spent (in more ways than one) when you could have energy to spare. You have between 4-6 months to greatly improve your strength, flexibility and stamina. It would be the wisest thing to do to improve your golf for next season.

When you begin the season with a “broken” body, you’re taking two steps back. Take a leap forward and prepare your body by getting your golf exercise program in motion. Think of it this way. What a great opportunity to get the edge on your playing partners and win all the money. Wouldn’t that get their goat?

Finally, you’ll get the chance to redeem yourself from a previous season that found you paying out more than receiving and being the brunt of all jokes in the clubhouse after every round. We’ve all been there - but no longer right? This is the winter to make the commitment and do it! No excuses. No more reasons to put it off. You may realize it’s not easy – but nothing worth getting is easy.

Golf exercise is a very popular topic these days among all the pros, teachers and even amateurs. It’s no secret that if you get your body fitter, stronger and more flexible you will swing better and hit longer drives that produce lower scores.

That’s what we all want right? What a feeling to be the longest (and straightest) hitter in your group. Always hitting your approach shot last because you were the furthest down the fairway. Those are the kinds of thoughts you should have this winter while you’re working out.

The simplist way to implement golf exercises is to look at the golf swing. First off, it’s standing on your feet. Not sitting down, like on a machine in your local gym. So try to do most of your exercises on your feet.

Secondly, you should be in your golf posture. Which is a bend forward at the hips, with your knees slightly flexed. Doing exercises in this position will create a very strong, stable golf swing.

A good example of a golf exercise would be the Golf Posture Lateral Raise:

• Bend forward at hips just beyond normal golf posture.
• Hold dumbbells in front of your thighs, palms facing each other.
• Slowly raise dumbbell to the side and up.
• Slowly bring back down to pre-stretch position.

Do you see how this would quickly build up the strength in the back of your shoulders for a strong take-away and downswing? The only equipment required was a pair of dumbbells (hand weights), which probably cost about $10. No fancy gym. And in the convenience of your home.

This is just one example of a simple golf exercise you can do quickly and conveniently in your home to dramatically transform your game!

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Speed Kills
 by: Paul Wilson

Would you say you have a fast looking swing or a slow swing? (If you don’t have a fast swing show this article to a playing partner who does). You would think that a recreational golfer’s fast swing would hit a golf ball a long way wouldn’t you? After all, it looks fast! Yet the ball doesn’t go as far as a slow swinging pro’s ball. I wonder why...

If you think about your body for a minute, you know that it moves much slower than your arms in real life. So if your body can’t turn all that fast, how do you get a fast looking golf swing? You get a fast looking golf swing when you try to hit the ball as hard as you can with just your arms. This means that your arms are moving independently from your body.

This fast looking swing can be understood by imagining a clock. If you look at a clock, you will see that the little post in the middle tells the minute hand how fast to swing. If the little post moves slowly, the minute hand moves slowly. If the little post moves faster, the arms move faster. The center post and the minute hand are relative to one another. If you compare your golf swing to the movement of a clock you will see your body as the center post on the clock and your arms as the minute hand. Having a fast looking swing would be like the little center post of the clock turning slowly yet the minute hand is moving very fast. This, of course, would never happen because they are connected to one another.

What happens to your shots when your arms outpace your body?

First, won't make solid contact with the sweet spot on the clubface because swinging with your arms alone will cause you to manipulate the clubface as it swings through impact.

Secondly, the harder you swing, the tighter your wrists and arms will be through impact. Tighter wrists release slower than looser wrists and looser arms extend more than tighter arms (which increase the width of your swing arc).

To slow down a fast looking golf swing, we first have to think logically about it. Pros have a slow looking swing and they hit the ball a long way and you have a fast swing that hits the ball shorter. So why do you insist on hitting the ball harder than the pros do? Unfortunately, human nature usually takes control of us when we go to hit a golf ball. It says that the harder you swing the further the ball will go. This does not allow us to see the logic behind swinging slower. Swinging slower feels like you have less power so you cannot see how you can actually hit the ball better and farther by not using your arms. You must convince yourself that you must swing slower to hit the ball better. Once you slow down, you will make better contact in the middle of the clubface, widen your arc and release the club faster. All of these things add up to more distance with less effort.

I like my students to try this drill in order to take the arms out of their swing. All you have to do is hold the club at about waist high and feel your body swing the clubhead. Remember the clock. If the post turns faster the arms swing faster. As you swing, listen to the swishing sound the clubhead is making as it swings through impact. Now, try to make the club swing faster by shifting your body weight from the right leg to the left leg allowing your body to turn at the same time. If you let your arms swing freely you will hear the club swish faster as you increase the speed of your body.

As you go to hit the actual golf ball, you must relate the same new feeling of using your body to hit your shot. This means that you cannot think of hitting the ball. If you think about hitting the ball, it will speed up your arms up again. You have to now think about turning and shifting your body weight. This will turn your body and allow your arms to swing down because they are connected to one another. If you feel your swing getting fast again just step back, hold the club off the ground and do some more practice swings feeling your body making the club swing. It takes some practice and concentration but once you slow your swing down you will not only gain a feeling of effortless power but you will start to look like a pro when you swing.

Paul Wilson
Director of Instruction
Nicklaus Golf Club at LionsGate
http://www.paulwilsongolf.com

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Taking A Golf Lesson Isn’t Always The Answer
 by: Mike Pedersen

Golfers will do anything they can in hopes to play better golf and hit the LONG ball. Am I right? Are you in this category? If so, I’m quite confident to say you’ve taken a golf lesson or two. Golf lessons can be very effective in getting you back on track, if your swing has gone south. But, not always.

How many times have you taken a golf lesson, only to be more frustrated and hitting the ball worse than before that golf lesson? Do you know why this happens? It can be many different reasons, such as too many swing thoughts; making drastic changes that require hours at the range and hitting thousands of balls; or lastly, your body just can’t effectively move in the way it needs to, to make a mechanically correct golf swing.

I’m inclined to say that for the majority of golfers, especially the older golfer, it’s the last reason above. Your body just can’t move the way it needs to. The question now is, why?

Why can’t your body do what you know it needs to do to swing the club correctly? It can drive you to the point of quitting the game. But there is hope. There is an approach that will almost 100% of the time correct this problem. Do you want to know what it is? It’s addressing your “physical limitations”. That’s what’s keeping you from a great game of golf.

Do you ever get on the course and just feel like you can’t make a full backswing? Or, it just feels impossible to maintain your golf posture and “stay in your swing”? No amount of golf lessons or hitting balls will correct this. This is a “physical” issue with your body, and until you work on it, it will never get better. I’ve seen it time and time again. Golfers walking off the course in pure disgust. They’ve taken golf lessons, hit balls at the range, and even bought the latest, greatest titanium drive; and yet still can’t play like they think they are capable of.

Finding out your “physical limitations” is the first step to a lifelong better game of golf. Once you find out what’s keeping you from making that perfect swing, you can set up a game plan to improve it. It may be a flexibility issue, or it may be a strength issue. But either way, you’ve got to find out what it is.

The most common issue (especially for the older golfer) is flexibility. Not being able to rotate your body fully on the backswing, creating that power and torque for maximum clubhead speed. If your back swing is cut short, you will LOSE yards on your drives! And I say again; no amount of lessons or hitting balls will make that any better. You’ve got to do specific golf stretches to improve this limitation.

Now on the other side of these limiting factors is strength, specific to golf. And one of the most common limitations is weak hamstrings (the back of the upper leg). The role of the hamstring is critical. It allows you to maintain your golf posture throughout the swing and for 18 holes. It prevents undo strain on your lower back. And can give you a steady, comfortable position while putting.

If your hamstrings are weak, I can almost say with certainty, you’ve got some low-back pain or injury. This is prevalent in older golfers and even the younger ones too. Back pain is the number reason to keep a golfer from playing his/her best. Have you ever walked off the course with your back in pain? I’m sure at one time or another you have. Now do you think hitting more balls or taking more lessons will improve this? I think you know the answer.

If you have a difficult time, “staying in your swing”, it most definitely could be the above scenario. In order to maintain the forward flex in your upper body (golf posture), your hamstrings need to have optimal strength (and flexibility). If not, your hamstring will send a message to your brain saying, “get out of this position, I can’t hold it any longer”. Do you think his has ever happened to you?

So working on the physical side of your game improvement may be the missing link. I can assuredly tell you with this approach, your game WILL improve. There is no doubt. Getting your body to move just a little better will make a huge difference in your ability to make an optimal swing for 18 holes. So before you take that next golf lesson, take a look at your BODY first!

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Taking It to the Next Level
 by: Paul Wilson

Here is a quick guide to help you take it to the next level.

If You Shoot Over 100

If you currently shoot over 100 you are probably new to the game. Golf is game that takes plenty of practice and understanding. At your level, you're probably very excited to just get out to play. You always have a big grin on your face because you've found a new hobby that gives you a little exercise and gets you breathing some fresh air. Unfortunately, shooting over 100 will get old very quickly especially if you're a competitive person by nature. So your smile will start to turn into a frown and you may end up giving the game up. It is quite easy to break 100 if you know what to do.

What to Do To Break 100

If you're new to the game you have not ingrained any bad habits yet, so before you do, take some lessons from a qualified pro. It's usually quite easy to teach you the proper fundamentals of the golf swing because you're eager to learn and never second guesses the teacher. If the relationship between the student and teacher is good, the speed at which you will see results is very quick. Usually within a month or two the "over 100" shooter can easily take 10 - 20 shots off of their game. Once you break 100 on a regular basis you'll start to see the game differently. Although shooting in the 70's is a few years into the future it may be attainable because taking lessons initially has given you a great start on the game.

If You Shoot Over 90

If you currently shoot over 90 you're someone who has to play more often. You're probably playing about 20 - 30 rounds a year and most of these rounds are in corporate tournaments. Corporate tournaments are a definite game wrecker. The usual scramble format leads you to just bashing the ball as hard as you can trying to get that one drive that helps your team. Unfortunately this leads to a HUGE slice with the driver which doesn't help your team at all. I know it's fun to try and hit the ball as hard as you can but If wailing away at it was the way to play good golf, everyone would be a pro. You will also find the short game very difficult. Although the short shots around the green look easy they quickly become a nightmare to you because of the amount of touch that's required.

What to Do To Break 90

For starters, you have to get out to the course more often. You can still play in corporate events but you have to do so with a new attitude. You have to quit trying to be the hero and start actually helping your team. This can be done by swinging easy and trying to get the ball in the fairway or the middle of the green. If you swing easier and try to become more accurate you will be amazed at how many of your shots the team actually uses. You would greatly benefit from weekly lessons. The lessons would not only give you a better swing but they would get you out to the range and course on a regular basis. Finally, you have to take at least one short game lesson to see how easy it can be. This will create a better understanding of the short game which will then make practicing it more enjoyable.

If You Shoot Over 80

You're the kind of person the major club manufacturers love. You think that you can "buy your game" so every opportunity you get to try the latest and greatest clubs you take it because you don't think that your swing is the problem. So you buy that new driver and for a while you hit it great. A few weeks later that great new club isn't so great anymore and it's back to your old game. This leaves you scratching your head because you thought you had it and now it's gone. At some point in your golf career you probably have taken 1 - 3 lessons and you always try every golf tip you hear about. Because of these constant changes in both your swing and your clubs you never really have the opportunity to get used to anything so you are left in a state of limbo always thinking that the elusive 70's are just around the corner.

What to Do To Break 80

In order to break 80, you have to admit that it's not the clubs. It's about developing a repeatable swing and a great short game. To create this repeatable swing and great short game, you have to work with a qualified teacher on a weekly basis. You're going to forget trying different tips and quick fixes because you will destroy the changes the teacher is trying to make. This whole process is not going to be easy because you basically have to re-learn the swing (making changes to your swing may cause you to hit some very poor shots at first because you're not used to it and you're in between swings). If you stay determined, you'll start to hit some shots that will totally amaze you. These amazing shots are telling you that your hard work is paying off and pretty soon you will be playing in the 70's.

If You Shoot Over 72

You have a great swing. It'll still go astray on them from time to time but you can usually get it back rather quickly. You usually make a few mistakes in a round that you just can't seem to let go of. This creates stress and pressure that effects the rest of your game. Your short game may not be as good it could be. You know this but actually finding time to practice it is sometimes a challenge. Finally, you may be taking the game a little too seriously causing you to try to hit every shot perfectly. This may lead to second guessing your swing which is definitely trouble when you are on the course.

What to Do To Break Par

You have to find the time to do some serious work on the short game. If it's difficult to make it out to the course you can always chip and pitch balls in your backyard and putt on an indoor carpet every night. This dedication to the short game is what will allow you to still shoot good numbers when your swing is not at it's best. It will also reduce pressure on your approach shots because if you can get the ball up and down regularly it's not that big of a deal if you miss the odd green. When you do work on your full swing try to work on the weaker clubs in your bag and hitting the ball from poor lies. Also, forget distance. At your level you are probably long enough. Concentrate on never swinging over 80% of your ability. If you can resist the temptation to hit the ball too hard your miss hits will not stray to far off line eliminating the need for that miraculous shot to get you back it the game. Finally, have fun out there. If you lighten up a little you will reduce your stress levels allowing you to switch into automatic mode instead of having to grind it out all of the time.

Paul Wilson
Director of Instruction
Nicklaus Golf Club at LionsGate
http://www.paulwilsongolf.com

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The 5 ‘Keys’ to a HIGHLY EFFECTIVE Golf Pre Shot Routine You Can Learn Immediately
 by: John Bolt

What I'm about to disclose to you in this article is an easy to follow, 'Step-By-Step' formula to having a highly effective pre shot routine. Every golfer knows that this is a key element of their golf swing that must be executed effectively.

I know from experience that without one you will never become that quality player you dream of being. Take my advice; it will make a world of difference in your confidence and your scores. So let’s jump into it and get you that powerful pre shot routine you’ve always wanted.

Step #1

The first thing you should do is take a step back and line yourself up behind the ball looking towards the hole. Then we need you to take a deep breath and focus. You have to try and envision the shot you want to play from that position. Give yourself a mental picture of what you want to happen. This is critical to the success of any shot. If you don’t know what to do in your mind you can’t physically execute what you want.

Step #2

Now that you know the type of shot to hit, you have to figure out what club to hit it with. This is known as picking your club. Since you can attain the same result many different ways, always play to your strengths. If you prefer to hit a hard aggressive 7 iron instead of a laid off light 6 iron, then that’s the shot you should hit.

Step #3

After you’ve picked your club you have to pick your target to aim at. If you’re hitting a tee shot, pick a spot like a tall tree or building in the distance past the fairway. Make sure it is in line with the shot down the fairway that you want to hit. Do the same with your approach shots by picking a target past the green or the flag in the distance. Next we want you to pick a spot in front of the ball about 6-12 inches that is in line with your target in the distance. This spot will be used to line up your clubface.

Step #4

We are now going to make our practice swing. This can be done either while you are still behind the ball, or you can step up beside the ball. The idea at this moment is to practice and feel the swing you want to make. If you envision a high cut shot, then practice a high cut swing. If you see a low punch, then practice a punch swing. This helps your body do what your mind sees.

Step #5

Finally we are going to address the ball. This meaning that we are going to step up to the ball and get ready to hit the shot. This is important because you must be totally committed to your shot by now. You can do whatever you want to make yourself comfortable. Some people waggle the club, bounce with their knees, or take a deep breath. Do whatever works for you. Put the club on the ground, line it up with your target, and get ready to pull the trigger.

Well, there you have it, “The 5 ‘Keys’ to a Highly Effective golf pre shot routine you can learn immediately”.

The best way to learn it is to use it the next time you play. Make a concise effort to do the steps outlined above and you will see how quickly it becomes a habit.

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The Long Backswing
 by: Paul Wilson

Is your golf swing too long? The majority of inexperienced players I see have too long of a golf swing. So why would so many people have such long swings? It all boils down to Human Nature. Human Nature says that the longer you swing the farther you will hit the ball. If this were true, why is it that I can hit a ball 300 yards with a 3/4 swing but I can’t hit it 400 yards with a long swing?

When you watch the Pros on TV, you do see varying lengths of backswings. On one hand, you have a player like Jeff Sluman who has shorter swing and then you have a player like John Daly who has a longer swing. Even though they look different are there any similarities between their backswings.

1. Pros hinge their wrists to their maximum. This means that the angle between the left arm and the golf club at the top of the swing is 90 degrees or less.

The average player tends to be locked up in their wrists because they try to hit the ball too hard. If you try to hit the ball too hard, your wrists will lock up and your left elbow will break`causing the club to go back too far. You have to allow the wrists to stay loose throughout the swing. The looser wrists will give you more power without having to take the club back too far.

2. The shoulder rotation in a Pros’ swing determines the amount the left arm goes back.

The shorter backswings and the longer ones are both relative to the amount of shoulder rotation each one creates. John Daly can turn his shoulders back more than 90 degrees. Because of this superhuman shoulder rotation, his swing appears longer than others. You should have a shoulder rotation of 90 degrees. Some people feel tight and they are not capable of turning their shoulders back this far. If you feel tight when you turn back, it’s not a bad thing. This tightness is a good thing because it tells you that you have created torque in your swing. Think of your body like a giant spring. If you were to wind up a giant spring it would get tight. Then, if you let go, it would want to snap back the other way. Most people avoid this tight feeling by over-rotating the hips on the way back. What they don’t realize it that when they rotate the hips more than 45 degrees they lose this torque that is necessary for creating consistency in the swing. So don't avoid this tight feeling. Only turn back as much as your body will allow.

The next time you go to the range keep your lower body stable and turn your shoulders back as much as you can, until you feel tight. This tightness tells you that you have created the necessary torque in your backswing. Also, make sure your wrists are loose enough to allow the club to hinge to atleast 90 degrees in your wrists. This will give you maximum power without having to swing back too far.

Paul Wilson
Director of Instruction
Nicklaus Golf Club at LionsGate
http://www.paulwilsongolf.com

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Three Secrets of a Consistent Golf Stroke
 by: Chuck Evans, G.S.E.D.

"At Last! The "3 Secrets" Of A Consistent Golf Stroke -- Revealed! How You Can "INSTANTLY" Drop Strokes Off YOUR GAME!"

What you are about to read... will change your golfing life forever! What are these three "secrets"? If you knew how would they effect your game?. These three "secrets" are what the worlds best players do. Every player MUST know these "secrets" if they are to have a powerful, repeating golf stroke.

The problem with the majority of golfers is that they don't know what to do. Oh their friends, well wishers at best, tell them that they are "bending their left arm", "raising up through the shot", "coming over the top" and host of other swing faults. But these are the same people that shoot the same scores you do! What could they possibly tell you that would improve your game?

The information you are about to receive is not theory or conjecture but science. Ooooh, you say, this sounds complicated. Well it isn't, it is simply the laws of force and motion that govern our entire lives and day to day living. Once you understand these simply laws your golf game will forever change...for the better!

Secret #1: A Flat Left Wrist

Because the golf stroke involves a golf club, a left arm, and a wrist in between, it is called a "lever system". The left wrist acts as a "hinge pin" much like the old time "flail" used to beat wheat. This "hinge pin" can rotate, cock or uncock but NEVER Bends!

Golfers however routinely bend the left wrist causing the clubhead to reach the ball before the hands do. This causes a "quitting" motion, adds loft to the clubface, points the face to the left of target, makes the clubhead swing upward disrupting the downward motion that ALL good golf shots MUST have. Good players DELOFT the clubface at Impact. Poor players ADD loft to the clubface costing them distance, direction, and trajectory.

A 5 iron, for example, has approximately 8 degrees for "forward lean" when soled properly. At Impact with good players the "lean" is approximately 15 degrees. This turns the 5 iron into a 4 iron. Poor players reach Impact with a "backward" leaning clubshaft thereby ADDING loft and turning the 5 iron into a 6-7 iron!

Secret #2: A Staright Plane Line

You only have two choices when it comes to the swing plane, you are either on or you're off. There is no middle ground!

What exactly is the swing plane? The plane is the angle of the clubshaft as it sets at address - period! It is NOT Hogans plane of glass as many would have you to believe. There are only three planes available;

• Horizontal - a wall
• Vertical - the floor
• Inclined somewhere in between

As golfers you and I use the Inclined Plane to swing the club back up and end, down out and forward, up back and in making the Golf Stroke three dimensional.

The clubshaft, actually the sweetspot of the club, may travel to any other plane angle during the swing as long as it DOES NOT cross the base of the plane. Here is a simple way you can know if you are on plane or not. Whichever end of the club is nearest to the ground MUST also point at the base of the plane from horizon to horizon. If neither end is nearer then the clubshaft MUST be horizontal to the ground and parallel to the base of plane.

Secret #3: A Lagging Clubhead

Lag by definition means "trailing". When the clubhead passes the hands coming into Impact there is no "lag". Without "lag" the golf ball cannot be compressed, we cannot hit downward, and we have a tremendous power loss. Clubhead lag promotes a steady and even acceleration giving us a dependable way to control distance.

Look at any picture of your favorite player at Impact. The left arm and clubshaft are in ONE LINE! Never two lines. This means that the player is utilizing "lag". When a ball is struck with "lag" it explodes off the clubface! Without this "lag" the sound turns into one of mush, a soft Impact instead of a driving Impact.

If you follow this outline, learn these three "Secrets" you will be hitting the ball with more compression than you ever thought possible.

For example, a Driver striking a golf ball with a 2 degree "backward" leaning clubshaft at 100 mph with 9.5 degrees of loft produces a launch angle of 6.4 degrees and a carry distance of 230 yards.

By changing Impact to a 2 degree forward leaning clubshaft the player produces a launch angle of 10.4 degrees and a carry of 251 yards. A 21 YARD INCREASE WITHOUT buying a new Driver and simply having clubhead lag!

YOU can improve your game dramatically by following the steps outlined above. Become the best player YOU can be and start winning those 4 way presses! If YOU really want to elevate your game, hit it farther, straighter, and nearer the hole then practice what I've shared with you.

Chuck Evans, G.S.E.D.
www.chuckevansgolf.com
chuck@chuckevansgolf.com

P.S. Visit our website for more information on how to become the best player YOU can be.

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