Mike's Golf Blog

Trends - 1 and 2 Plane Swings on Tour

2012-05-24T16:29:03Z

Each week we hear a great deal of conversation about swing styles and the advantages of a 1 or 2 plane golf swing. Recently the trend is favoring the 1 Plane swingers, but there are some fantastic 2 Planers who are also having success. Phil Mickelson, Bubba Watson and Luke Donald are all still at the top of their games as 2 Planers. Matt Kuchar, Jason Dufner, Rickie Fowler, Kyle Stanley, Rory McIlroy, Sang Moon Bae, Zach Johnson, and Hunter Mahan are just a few of the 1 Planers who are seeing success this year.

The world of golf instruction is thankfully catching up and learning how to teach the 1 Plane swing and the modern game is certainly trending in that direction. As an teacher I can certainly understand why players like this swing as compared to a 2 Plane method. There is less timing involved with a 1 Plane swing thus making it more consistent and it easier on the body as well. It also allows good players to overcome the problems of hitting pushes and hooks.

That said, there will always be 2 Planers who play great and win tournaments, but at this point it looks like future belongs to the 1 Planers. Only time will tell.

Flightscope,Trackman and Tiger

2012-05-01T05:11:00Z

For several years Tiger has struggled to fix his swing. With the help of devices like Flightscope and Trackman, however, he is well on his way to getting it figured out. These 2 devices have become indispensable to today's tour players because they provide impact data to the that is separate and apart from video analysis.

Specifically they show the player the path of the club at impact, club face angle at impact and angle of attack at impact.

By studying these numbers the players can make any necessary adjustments to the swing to fix the ball flight. The beauty of data is that it does not have an opinion. The numbers simply are what they are and the machines are very accurate.

Tiger can now see exactly what is happening at impact which makes the sessions with his coach that much more effective.

Solid Contact - A great new addition to golf instruction

2012-03-25T04:56:31Z

Jim Hardy's latest book, Solid Contact, will no doubt turn the world of golf instruction in a new direction, one that is long overdue. For decades golf swings have been taught on the basis of swing shape rather than on improving the quality and repeatability of the impact.

As instructors we love to see beautiful swings like those of Ernie Els and Sam Snead. We also often base our teaching on the look of their swings, which can cause a host of problems for the student. This is primarily because if we don't pay enough attention to impact and only try to copy positions, we are not building the swing for its intended purpose.

A golf swing needs to be reliable, simple and effective. This is why so many top players are using Trackman and Flightscope devices to diagnose impact problems. With the use of these tools we no longer have to guess what is happening when the club hits the ball. We know for sure why the ball went where it did and how to make the appropriate adjustments to correct ball flight.

Give this new book a real chance and I think you will find it to be insightful and effective.

Congratulations to Sang Moon Bae!

2012-02-27T18:46:32Z

Wilson student Sang Moon Bae had a good week in Tucson last week making it to the final 8 in the WGC Match Play Championship. He was eventually defeated by finalist Rory McIlroy. This was another solid week for the PGA Tour rookie who is competing this week in Florida at the Honda Classic.

What Makes a Player Great Under Pressure?

2011-09-29T20:07:20Z

Bobby Jones once said, " there is golf and then there is tournament golf. " Having taught golf for 20 years I can't agree more with this quote. A casual game of golf with friends is usually relaxing and enjoyable but competition for most players is a stressful and nerve wracking experience.

It has taken many years of study and experience to finally understand competitive golf and what makes up a good tournament player. Primarily, a consistent player has a different set of priorities than other golfers. For example, most golfers put the emphasis of the practice on their swing or some other physical part of the game. Perhaps for you its chipping or putting, but never the less most players work mostly on some part of their game that involves hitting the golf ball.

Champion golfers, however, work more on the mental aspects of their games. Specifically, they work on their pre-shot routines more than they do their swings. By investing time in your routine you will be building good habits that translate directly to the golf course and will help you shoot lower scores.

A good, practiced, and familiar routine is vital to success in competition because it is the only part of your game that is truly under your control. The wind might howl or your swing might feel out of kilter, but your routine can be good each and every round. This good routine will help you minimize the damage caused by your missed shots and keep you calm and relaxed during the round.

Competitive golf can be summed up by saying, " the winner of the tournament will most likely be the one who was able to stay with their routine from this first round to the last, no matter what was happening around them." This is evident in all great players and something we can all do regardless of skill level or experience.

How to rate your game.

2011-08-31T16:31:08Z

When it comes to rating a good round of golf it is common to have players rate only a low score as good and only a high score as bad. This rating system may be correct for some of the rounds they play, but for other rounds it may be flawed.

For example, if you shoot a low score by having 3 tee shots hit trees and stay in bounds, chip in twice and hole 4 putts from over 50 feet, you might convince yourself that your game is great. To an objective observer, however, you hit the ball all over the place and just happened to get every good break imaginable. This might be a low score, but duplicating it will be nearly impossible.

On the other hand, if you had a higher score while doing several things right such as sticking to your game plan, staying with one key thought for the day, and committing to your shots, you will find this process easy to duplicate. This process will also lead to lower scores because you are following a game plan which puts you in control.

Learn to rate your rounds of golf by your ability to stay committed to your goals for the day and not only by the score you shoot. Be sure that your goals are process oriented, such as picking a target on each shot, or doing your routine properly. Outcome oriented goals such as having a top 10 finish or 28 putts are not always within your control, and thus usually serve only as a distraction or to increase pressure.

Congratulations to Brianna Do!

2011-07-13T19:23:24Z

Do Wins 2011 Women’s Amateur Public Links

By Christina Lance
July 2, 2011

Brianna Do became the second UCLA player in three years to win the Women’s Amateur Public Links. (Copyright/USGA John Mummert)

Bandon, Ore. – Brianna Do only led for three holes. Luckily for her, she led the one that counted most.

Do, 21, of Vietnam won the 2011 U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links Championship, defeating Marissa Dodd, 17, of Allen, Texas, 1 up, in the 36-hole championship match, which was conducted at the 6,098-yard, par-71 Old Macdonald layout at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort.

In victory, Do became the second UCLA player in three years to win the Women’s Amateur Public Links, joining Tiffany Joh, who won the title in 2006 and 2008. Mary Enright, also a former UCLA player, won the title in 1981.

“I don't really know what it feels like right now,” said an overwhelmed Do, a UCLA senior. “I don't think it's hit me. But it feels good as of right now. I don't really know how to describe it.”

By reaching the finals, Do and Dodd are fully exempt into the 2011 U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship, which will be conducted at Rhode Island Country Club in Barrington, R.I., August 8-14. Do also is exempt into the 2012 U.S. Women’s Amateur and receives a 10-year Women’s Amateur Public Links exemption.

While Do ultimately took the victory, it was Dodd, an incoming freshman at Wake Forest University this fall, who dominated much of the morning round, holding the lead for 10 of the first 11 holes.

However, Dodd’s early run was halted when she bogeyed the par-3 12th to square the match. Another Dodd bogey after a tough run-in with a bunker on the par-4 16th gave Do her first lead of the match.

“It was a couple of unlucky kicks,” said Dodd, whose only previous match-play experience was a first-round loss at the 2010 U.S. Girls’ Junior. “But that’s the way the course works and you’ve got to come back from them.”

And come back she did. Dodd was able to capitalize on consecutive Do bogeys on 17 and 18 to take a 1-up lead into the lunch break.

In the afternoon, Dodd came out on a tear, carding birdies on three of the first four holes to take a 3-up lead, the largest of the final. But the lead evaporated with consecutive bogeys on holes 23-25, squaring the match once again.

“I just kind of took my time,” said Do of her mindset in fighting back from the deficit. “I was patient and kind of chipped away at it.”

Do briefly regained the lead when Dodd bogeyed the par-4 29th hole. But her own bogey on the ensuing par-3 30th quickly squared the match again.

Dodd took the lead back with a well-timed birdie on the par-4 32nd hole and carried the advantage until the par-5 35th. But when Dodd’s approach landed 9 feet past the hole, Do put hers even closer and won the hole with a birdie, squaring the match going into the 36th hole.

“I got back to all square, one up, one down,” said Do, who was born in Lakewood, Calif., but represented her parents’ home country this week. “The last two holes is where it counted. My putting kind of showed up today in those two holes.

“Going to 18 all square was a lot better than going in one down knowing you have to birdie to keep it going.”

What Do coined as a “perfect” drive on the 36th set the tone for the finish. While Dodd found a fairway bunker, Do’s clean approach from the fairway gave her the chance to safely reach the green in regulation. With her short par putt conceded, Do watched Dodd fail on her par attempt and give Do the title.

“I played and I hit some really good shots after I was 3 down, and I had some really good opportunities,” said Do. “I just took advantage.”

In winning the national title for female public-course golfers, Do was also able to take some consolation for not participating in UCLA’s NCAA Division I title run this past spring. While she is a member of the UCLA women’s golf team, she was not part of the five-woman squad that went to College Station, Texas, for the championship.

“I am a Bruin, and I'm representing [as] a Bruin this week, but this is kind of my national championship,” said Do, who added her name to past Women’s Amateur Public Links champions such as Candie Kung, Michelle Wie and Yani Tseng.

As a relative unknown before this championship, Dodd admitted to exceeding her own expectations with her performance. With her father, Mark, as her caddie and her mother, sister, grandparents and many other family and friends in the gallery after making a last-minute trip from Texas, Dodd did shed a few tears after missing her final putt.

“Happy tears, sad tears,” said Dodd. “It was all really good, though. I had so much fun. I had a blast out here with my dad and everybody who came out here to watch me. I really appreciate it all and had a great time.”

The U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links is one of 13 championships conducted annually by the United States Golf Association, 10 of which are strictly for amateurs. This year’s championship was conducted concurrently at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort with the U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship, which was won Saturday by Corbin Mills in 37 holes over Derek Ernst. That match was also conducted on Old Macdonald.

Christina Lance is a coordinator of championship communications for the USGA. Email questions or comments to clance@usga.org.

Bandon, Ore. – Results from Saturday’s 36-hole championship final at the 2011 U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links, conducted at 6,098-yard, par-71 Old Macdonald at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort:

Brianna Do, Vietnam (155) def. Marissa Dodd, Allen, Texas (154), 1 up

The Endangered 3 Wood

2011-06-12T05:04:30Z

In the past few years we have seen 1 and 2 irons disappear from the game of golf. Now even 3 and 4 irons are becoming dinosaurs due to the influence of Rescue clubs. This year the #2 Rescue is on the scene and with rave reviews.

It is a combination club possessing great versatility due to the modern design. It is as forgiving as a normal Rescue, but can be modified either by face angle, loft or lie. This means you can set it up just like a normal fairway wood with around 15 degrees of loft.

Because of this amazing design, I believe we may see 3 woods disappearing from golf bags, joining the 1,2,3 and 4 irons as relics from another era, and thankfully so. Today's club designers are helping us enjoy golf by building great clubs that make the long game easier than ever before.

Hats off to TaylorMade and their R & D department.

Luke Donald - Short Game Specialist

2011-06-05T23:40:26Z

I have been using Luke Donald's swing as a model for my students for some time now and it is great to see him playing so well. Every week he is finishing in the top 10. A couple years ago, however, he was trying to modify his swing in order to generate more power. This change caused inconsistency and wayward tee shots resulting in poor finishes. He has since gone back to his natural swing with great results.

Like many golfers, he was under the impression that more power meant lower scores, but he has learned that a great routine coupled with a world-class short game is a much more reliable way to score consistently. He even went so far as to set a goal of having the best short game in the world, which is evident by how often he gets up and down.

I encourge you to assess your own game and evaluate just how dedicated you are to chipping, putting and sand play. Chances are you can improve greatly in all of these areas. In the end, shooting lower scores is what we all want to do, but hitting the ball 350 yards is only for the select few. The rest of us need to follow the example of steady players like Donald and work on consistency rather than extreme power.

I am excited to watch the US Open next week to see if Luke and his great wedge game will conquer Congressional.

GolfTEC - The Numbers Work

2011-05-29T22:41:56Z

It has now been over 6 months since my GolfTEC training and I am totally blown away by how well the system works. I have been teaching golf for over 20 years and never before have I seen such rapid and sustained improvement in my students. Specifically, seeing them train indoors has had an amazing affect on their ability to improve. Hitting into a net has its advantages in that it removes ball flight concerns and allows the player to focus solely on learning a correct movement.

GolfTEC's video system also works extremely well but it is the motion capture aspect of the training that has made the biggest difference to my students. By comparing their numbers to tour player data they are able to see where they need to improve. This process removes the instructor-opinion aspect of normal golf lessons and instead bases the improvement plan on the facts of the measurements.

The 3-D system also clears up communication between the player and the coach, which is often times the biggest barrier to improvement. If you have not tried the GolfTEC system I highly recommend that you do. You will not be disappointed.