I just caught the premier episode of “The Golf Fix,” Golf Channel’s newest how to show designed to improve our games. This show is a little different, and I really liked it. The style is informal and friendly and I like that the host is doing it totally live. It’s an extremely refreshing format, not unlike our very own Golf is Hard video podcast!

A big part of the first show was “Celebrity 9-1-1” which is supposed to help celebs fix their games. While I don’t mind the occasional celebrity thing, the Jim McMahon segment was just odd. He was wearing sunglasses at night and was in bare feet. Very bizarre. I actually wanted to see less of him and more of Samuel L. Jackson’s fix. In thinking about it, how about getting some high handicappers on the show instead of celebs - hell, they can afford expensive lessons themselves!

As for the host Michael Breed (check out his website), I think just like us, he’ll figure out the right level of excitement and get better each show. I am actually looking forward to seeing how he progresses as a host.

I think it’s a worthy show to check out - I had been digging Personal Lessons but this show is a very good alternative. My only real complaint is the show’s tagline…“This ain’t your Daddy’s instructional show.” Didn’t Oldsmobile lean on that tagline too?

Anyone else going to check out “The Golf Fix” on GC tonight? I set my DVR to record it and hope it’s not more of the usual stuff. I’m starting to get a little sick of tips and technique shows.

I do like the idea of the live component of the show - even though I won’t be watching it live!

Need a quick pick me up or some new swing thoughts? Check out this graphic and the embedded video below. You can thank me later!


(I have no idea where this graphic came from, I saw it on a mailing list. If it’s yours, send me a note and I’ll give you some credit!

I got a copy of “The Rotary Swing” from the publisher who apparently, thought I’d love to read it and review it here on my blog. Luckily, for both of us, that turned out to be true! I read the book on a flight to Seattle last week and absolutely fell for it - hook line and sinker.

In my hotel room, I was practicing my turn, feeling the “bump” and working on my legs and body with the hope that my swing will get less “handsy” and I’ll start to hit the ball more consistently.

I had intended to get to the range this weekend, but my 9 year old convinced me to play 9 holes with her earlier today. I knew I was risking it by going out on the course without trying out the new swing, but what the hell… why not.

I was nervous at the first tee, but hit an amazingly solid shot with my hybrid and proceeded to par the first hole! Unfortunately, the rotary swing can tend to make shots go left if you don’t do it right… the next two holes proved that. I realized that I was over-turning and corrected my swing on the 4th hole by sticking an 8-iron from 140 yards to 20 feet. I was shocked!

I hit the ball so pure, I hardly felt it. Over the next 6 holes I shot 2 over with 4 pars and 2 bogies.

The book is written in a simple, conversational style and while there are illustrations, the quality isn’t great. That said, I do believe I’m a rotary swing convert. The companion web site and drills are terrific - I’d recommend this book, especially for high handicappers like me. I’m really looking forward to digging into some of the drills and working on this more as I try to improve my game.

This post is a blatent (but unforunately, unpaid) advertisement for the website http://www.mytpi.com/ and the Golf Channel show “Golf Fitness Academy.” I was watching this weeks episode while working out this morning that featured the very cool Ben Crane. First up, the fitness show is terrific. Tons of great exercises and tips that you can use immediately.

But thank god I watched through the credits because I learned about http://www.mytpi.com/ - the companion site chock full of content and amazing interactive tools. I visited thesite this morning after working out and was so excited to see the terrific catalog of exercises. I was inspired and developed my very own workout based on their tips and tools.

The best part about the site though is the “View My Swing” tool. The site allows you to record your own swing and use their analysis tools and content to start to figure out all sorts of stuff. Personally, I saw how curved my posture is, and confirmed that I do in fact, sway like crazy in my swing. I’m telling you, this is one terrific golf web site.



(This isn’t me, just an example photo)

Totally forgot to blog about my most recent lesson… the pro told me that I was using my right thumb to press down on the club and it was causing me tons of inconsistency. I hit a bucket of balls with him looking on and started to really feel that the proper (and new) grip was allowing my arms to release. When I managed to hit the ball square, I could feel the extra power and saw the results immediately. Problem was, my hands feel so weird!

Besides the grip, he has me bent over way more than I was in a much, much more athletic position. I hope that it will stop me from swaying, which apparently is the cause of most of the chunking that I do during a round.

We’ll see how this plays out - I’m in Myrtle Beach next week playing courses way, way harder than my home course. Uh oh :)

I finally got around to reading the first of a few different Rotella golf books. I chose “Golf is Not a Game of Perfect” to read first and was thrilled with what the book gave me.

I took several key lessons from the book and want to focus on just 2 right now.

The first thing is how to manage my game on the course. The book goes on and on about to manage your game while playing a round of golf. What I loved most was specific details and ideas on how to tailor my game based on the clubs and shots I am most confident in making.

For example, instead of risking a driver on a long par 4 or par 5 hole, why not plan out a series of shots that will get me in position to get on the green in regulation with my best shot - a 70 yard gap wedge.

Instead of hitting driver on a 450 yard yard par 4, next season I’ll try this.

• Tee off using my 3 hybrid to about 200 yards.
  
• To get to 70 yards from the hole, my second shot will be my 5 hybrid which I hit between 170-180 yards.
• At that point, I’ll be about 70-80 yards from the hole/green and will be in position to hit my favorite shot - the one I have the most confidence in, most of the time. If I chunk the 2nd shot, I can still play my pitching wedge or 9 iron from 120 yards or closer - both shots I’m fairly confident with.

Happy holidays all!

Living in CT has it’s big time downsides… the golfing here stinks when it snows.

I’m halfway through Rotella’s book “Golf is Not a Game of Perfect” and learning a lot. It’s good reading for winter golfers because so much of what he is saying is about the mental game.

My lessons have been very helpful so far - I’m hitting the ball further and further and with a bit more accuracy. One of my biggest issues is my elbow coming up too high which among other things is causing me to not get the club face in the right position at impact.

Watch the video below to see what I’m talking about.

I had my 2nd of 3 lessons last Friday before my round on Saturday. I ended up shooting a 101, which all things given wasn’t too bad. I’m working on so many different things, it’s hard to keep track.

The main thing we did in the lesson was focus on swing plane and impact. My swing plane is terribly steep, so I’ve been visualizing flattening it so that it feels almost completely flat. It’s a totally new feeling and in order to feel it and get into the proper position, I need to open up my hips faster and keep my elbow down.

I’m a baseball player (or was one) - so my right elbow wants to come up. This may be my big problem. I used a nerf looking training ball in between my forearms and took a few swings - no way to raise my elbow!

I believe alignment is a huge issue as well - once I got my swing groove and was blasting away with no slice, I realized everything was going way, way left. I adjusted by laying down 2 clubs and immediately, I was on target.

The next day, I hit 6 fairways and came very close on 2 others. Getting there… slowly.