Swing Tempo Drills

The most destructive swing flaw, in my opinion, is tension in the swing.  Yet second could very well be swing tempo or rather improper swing tempo.  In the words of the incomparable PGA professional, Eddie Merrins from Bel Air Country Club, "each swing and each shot has it's own tempo and timing."  My thought is that "swinging the club" removes the "hit" and tension in the swing.

So how do you instill tempo and timing when a player doesn't have any?  Here are a couple drills that I have found to help with just that:

ONE ARM SWINGS

With lofted club tee up a ball slightly higher off the ground. Grip the club naturally with both hands.  Remove one hand (either one) from the club and swing.  Yes, swing!  It will feel very awkward at first.  Take a couple of extra practice swings but try to clip the tee.  Rotate from each hard back and forth.  Take 5 swings with each hand and then place both hands on the club and attempt to match the tempo and timing it took to squarely hit a one arm swing.

Camron demonstrating the one arm drills with his left arm.  This can also be done with just the right hand.

PRACTICE TO MUSIC

While practicing and even while during a casual round listen to music. Nothing too fast and nothing too slow.  I prefer such songs as Eric Clapton's "You Look Wonderful Tonight."  Listening to a slower song will allow for the shoulder muscles, forearm muscles and hand muscles to relax.  Feel the tempo as you swing.

As you make these swings rotate in a full swing or two attempting to have the good tempo soak in.

If you have any questions or comments please do not hesitate to contact me at john.grothe@gmail.com.

Your friend in golf...

John Grothe, PGA

Alignment Drills Re-thought

The common way for a player to practice our alignment is to throw down a club along our feet and beat ball after ball... Then, on the course, the player wonders why he can't align properly...

Here is a couple different ways to improve your alignment that you might not have thought about.

ZERO OUT YOUR ALIGNMENT

Take three clubs to lay on the ground.  Lay the first one along your foot line.  The other lay just outside the toe of the club.  The final club lay just inside the heel of the club.  Make sure all three clubs are aligned parallel to each other.  Finally, and most importantly, DO NOT AIM THE THREE CLUBS AT ANYTHING.

Swing freely and confidently.  Take multiple swings. Concentrate on making the best and most repeatable swing motion.  Switch clubs but hit the ball on the same target line.

RESULT: Actively observe where you most consistently hit the ball.  If you are able to hit the ball consistently in the same direction... WHO CARES WHERE YOU AIM?!

EXAMPLE:  Here is Camron demonstrating the ZERO OUT technique.

BUILD YOUR TRUST AND YOUR INNER EYE

This is the opposite of the ZERO OUT drill.

Align the same three clubs as was prescribed in the Zero Out Drill; feet, toe and heel.  The difference is align the toe and heel club as precisely as possible to a small target.  This drill does not require any golf balls.  Align yourself to the clubs on the ground.  

RESULT:  Actively observe where the body is aligned.  Actively have your eyes follow the alignment from the golf ball to the target and back and forth and back and forth.  Each time repeating, "I am aligned at the... tree or where ever."

This may or may not assist with the actual placement or result of the golf shot.  But it will GREATLY increase your awareness of where the body is aligned to start the golf shot.

The key in both drills are to actively observe what is happening.  Please do not mindlessly hit shot over shot expecting a different result.

If you have a question or comment on this or any other topic please do not hesitate to contact me at john.grothe@gmail.com

Your friend in golf...

John Grothe, PGA

Local Rules &.... Enemy Activity?

Each club is allowed to adopt certain local rules to govern play at their specific facility.  The USGA and R&A spell out how many of them should or could be writen.  Listening to the radio the other evening I heard of an instance wherethe rules will be adopted should play be "interupted by enemy activity."

1 - Players are asked to collect the bomb and shrapnel splinters to
prevent their causing damage to the mowing machines.

2- In competition, during gunfire or while bombs are falling, players may
take shelter without penalty for ceasing play.

3 - The positions of known delayed-actions bombs are marked by red flags
at a reasonable by not guaranteed safe distance therefrom.

4 - Shrapnel and/or bomb splinters on the fairways or in bunkers within a
club's length of a ball may be moved without penalty, and no penalty shall
be incurred if a ball is thereby caused to be moved accidentally.

5 - A ball moved by enemy action may be replaced, or if lost or destroyed,
a ball may be dropped without penalty, not nearer the hole.

6 - A ball lying in a crater may be lifted and dropped not nearer the
hole, preserving the line to the hole, without penalty.

7 - A player whose stroke is affected by the simultaneous explosion of a
bomb may play another ball under penalty of one stroke.

These rules were put in play during the Battle of Britain in 1940 early in the Second World War at the St.
Mellon's Golf and Country Club, located in Monmouthshire, England.  The enemy activity was the bombing of London and the surrounding areas by the Nazis.  The club rules were writen by B. L. Edsell, the club secretary.

Brings a whole need meaning to the phrase, "keep your head down'!
Your friend in golf,
John Grothe, PGA
john.grothe@gmail.com