The end of the golf season is approaching for many Golfers. As most Golfers in North America and Europe start to clean their clubs before putting them away in storage for the winter (you do clean them … don’t you?), the question that must be asked is: Did you have fun playing golf this past summer?
If your answer is yes. Excellent – that’s what it should be – then there’s no reason for you to read any more of this article.
Yet, if it’s no. Then there needs to be a follow-up question – Why didn’t you enjoy golf this summer?
As many Golfers start each season with hopes of playing better than the year before – many end the season not seeing the results they were hoping for.
So the question now becomes – what hindered you from seeing these improved results?
Was it that you didn’t play enough?
Was it that you didn’t practice enough?
Was it that the golf lessons that you thought were going to help – really didn’t help?
If it was the question above (about golf lessons) - Was it that you reverted back into old habits and regardless of what you tried to do – you couldn’t get out of them?
Each year, as spring approaches, many Golfers get excited with the thoughts that they’re going to play a lot of “Good Golf” during the summer. Yet, in many cases, you start playing a few rounds of golf in the spring; however those rounds became so frustrating – you decide that you’re going to take golf lessons before the season really kicks into gear.
Unfortunately, many Golfers fall into the trap of thinking that a Golf Instructor is a Golf Instructor is a Golf Instructor. I mean – “All Golf Instructors are equal. One is just as good as the other. Right?” And this misconception causes many frustrated Golfers that are looking for a little more consistency in their golf swing to go for the easiest, least expensive golf lesson option – the infamous 30 minute golf lesson that costs around $35. And – as a bonus - if you sign-up for 6 lessons – you get a discount … usually 6 lessons for the cost of 5.
This seems to be the most popular way Golfers get their lessons. Unfortunately, many of these Golfers are still just as inconsistent after their 6 lessons. I can’t tell you how many emails and phone calls we get each week from Golfers that have been taking this sort of lesson program for years – yet haven’t gotten any better. And are now on the verge of quitting because they don’t believe that they’ll ever improve.
Think of it this way: If you wanted to learn a language … say you were planning a trip to China and you wanted to learn Mandarin Chinese. So you signed up for 6 – 30 minute language lessons. Do you think that after those brief lessons that you would be able to say much more than “Can you tell me where the bathroom is?” – “Thank you” and/or “I’ll have the duck.”
It’s the same with 30 minute golf lessons. And I say this even though it will upset some fellow PGA Professionals who teach 30 minutes lessons. Yet, I have to be honest – 30 minute lessons don’t work. But, maybe, just maybe this will be the kick in the pants that some Instructors need to start moving towards 1 hour minimums. (If you’re a PGA Member that’s not happy with what I’m writing – please call me, I’d be happy to discuss it with you.)
So because I’ll probably get death threats and so forth directed to me – I better explain why I believe that.
You may be taking instruction from a talented Pro or even with the greatest Instructor in the world, someone that can help you to see and feel what you need to do better, along with helping you to make improvements in your golf swing. Yet, if you’re taking a 30 minute lesson and finally get the concept, the feel and the ability to do what your Instructor is asking you to do fairly quickly – 25 minutes into the lesson: then you have only 5 minutes for your Instructor to watch you do it by yourself.
Now, is 5 minutes enough time for you to make your golf swing consistent, repeatable, automatic and free from old habits slowly creeping back in? Hardly. As soon as that Instructor’s next lesson arrives and you move to another area of the range tee to continue your practice – within 2 or 3 swings you’re most likely going to slowly start reverting back to your old habits (a little more every swing) without even knowing it.
The new habit wasn’t ingrained enough while the Instructor was there to make sure that you’re able to repeat it swing after swing or there to make the little adjustments necessary after every swing that included the smallest speck of your old bad habit that slowly creeps back in a little more every swing and/or there to work with you to train you to be able to diagnose this yourself.
Most Golfers (including Tiger, Annika, Phil, Jack, etc.) need an Instructor watching them for more than 30 minutes to make sure that they’re doing what’s necessary every swing. And those guys know their golf swing a heck of lot better than you and I know ours. Because it’s amazing how many Golfers take a 30 minute lesson, do well during the last few minutes of that lesson, then as soon as they go to practice on their own or go on the golf course – they play worse than before the lesson.
Why? Well, the easiest answer is that you start to revert back to your old habits – but it’s even worse than that … you get stuck between your old habits and the new instructions that your Instructor just worked with you on. So if you’re depending on a 30 minute lesson once a week to help – you’re often going backwards.
Again, it’s like learning a foreign language: after 25 minutes of trying to say “Can you tell me where the bathroom is” in Mandarin … your language Instructor will finally say – “that’s it, you got it. Try it again.” Yet, as you practice saying it to yourself on the car ride home – even though you think you’re saying it correctly – you’re probably not saying it exactly as you did in front of your Instructor those last 5 minutes.
And as you keep practicing it – you’re continually getting farther and farther away from saying it correctly because your Instructor won’t be there to correct you until your next 30 minute lesson in 167.5 hours later (6 days and 23.5 hours). And how many times do you think a motivated student will be repeating that sentence the wrong way in those 167.5 hours?
Probably just as many times as you go over the golf swing and the corrections your Instructor worked with you on. So now, when you go out to the range to practice by yourself – you’re probably not swinging like you were in front of your Instructor at that 25 minute mark of your lesson. You’re probably reverting back to old habits – and there's no one there to let you know that you're ingraining even more bad habits into your golf swing?… or even worse – there's no one there that can help you relieve the frustration of getting stuck between the old and new.
And now - The Experience of the last 10 plus years of speaking to 1,000’s of Golfers (each year) that have called GMS because they became so frustrated taking normal golf lessons and going through the scenario written above.
And as one gentleman (who inspired this article) recently put it: “I have been getting 6 – 30 minute lessons for approximately $200 – every year for the past 8 years, and have not improved one iota. I have calculated that I have spent $1,600 and wasted 8 years of golf. I had a friend that just started playing golf last year, he went to GMS this past spring – and is now beating me. He spent about the same amount of money as I did – yet he improved more in 3 months than I have in 8 years (96 months). Sign me up!”
The Monkey will ...…. well, just reread the article above to find out what the Monkey does
The Player knows that a sustained session with his/her Instructor is critical in order to be able to see Results that stick
Go ahead, Be A Player!
Regards,
Marc Solomon - Your Instructor For Life"I Went From A 28 Handicap To A 12!"
Jeff,
I just wanted to say hi and let you know that even though I couldn’t attend GMS the last couple of years, you guys are still helping me…what you teach works if we just stick with it.
I attended in 2004; 2005; 2006; 2007; I improved each year and my handicap went from a 28 to a 12 during this time. Golf was finally becoming fun.
Last couple of years I was unable to attend (I got married and she’s not a golfer yet) didn’t stay in touch, began to tinker with grip, set up, swing plane, and even with rhythm – started using a 3 count rhythm instead of tick-tock, gradually started playing like a Monkey again.
At the end of June I was in 14th place in my league out of 52 guys and I was averaging 45.4 strokes per round for 9 holes. I was very frustrated and not having much fun. I started thinking about GMS and checked my notes.
I stopped tinkering and started to focus on making a good PLAN, paying attention to where my club face was aiming, feeling balanced in my set up, making a good swoosh in my Rehearsal Swing, and only thinking about tick-tock when I swing.
I started playing better almost immediately.
In the second of half of my league I averaged 39.4 strokes per 9. I shot my all time best for 9 holes – a 36, I won the second half championship in my league and beat the first half champ for the season championship. Had several rounds of 18 in the high 70’s, I also won more skins than I ever have. Golf is fun again.
Hope to get my wife and another couple to attend GMS in the near future. Thanks again, and may I never again stop tick-tocking.
Mike K. – South Amherst, Ohio- Sent September 28th, 2009
Attended
"We Have Broke 100 Several Times!"
Kimberly S. and I took the class last spring in Amelia Island and would love to return before the end of this year. What is your schedule for October and November?
We would love to take the class again. We have each actually broke 100 several times!! Now we would love to reach 90!
Thanks,
Kim M - Ridgeland, South Carolina- Sent September 24th, 2009
Attended Amelia Island, Florida Location on April 27th to 29th, 2009
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"The Evolution Of A Golfer" Excerpted from Classic GIW Issue 215- October 24th, 2007 "Why is it that it seems like some people that begin to play golf pick-it-up right away? Then before you know it, they’re breaking 100, busting through 90 and in less than 2 years – they’re in the 80’s for a short spell before moving into the 70’s in year 3 or 4. Which group are you in? 7 out of every 8 Golfers are … Continue reading the rest of this Classic GIW - Click Here
Are you ready to end the struggle? Or call us at 1 (888) 580 - 3635 GMS Bonus Material For Anyone Considering Video Analysis - We have added our report on: "Using Video Analysis To Improve Your Golf Swing" to the Golf Made Simple website for you to download and view. Just click here to be taken to the download page on the http://www.GolfMadeSimple.com website. It's easy, it's free and it's a pretty extensive report on our findings.
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Labels: golf academy, golf grip, golf holiday spain, Golf Instruction, Golf Lessons, Golf Schools, golf slice, Golf Swing, golf tuition

"From A 21.5 Handicap To A 15.8!"
Just to let you know I really enjoyed my program with James and happy & proud to let you know my handicap is now a 15.8. Prior to my work with my GMS Instructor, James ... it was a 21.5!
Mike K. – Renton, Washington - Sent August 26th, 2009
"They Want Me To Give Them Lessons!"
Jeff,
I spoke with you a couple of weeks ago about my iron play. I was consistently hitting the 8 - 9 & PW short or to the right (at a right angle actually). Since our talk I have moved the ball forward in my stance & have had much better luck
Today, I played in a tournament and the other three in my group wanted me to give them lessons on getting on the green! I told the group - "I don't do lessons, but go to GMS & you can chip like this too."
I also won most fairways hit in my 9-hole league last Tuesday - 7 out of 7.
Thanks for your help,
Rita Skog - Fairfield, Connecticut - Sent August 20th, 2009
Attended Boca Raton, Florida Location on April 3rd to 5th, 2009
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SilverRock Resort - GMS La Quinta location

Almenara Golf Resort - GMS Spain (Europe) location
Sotogrande, Spain (just west of the Costa del Sol)

SilverRock Resort - GMS La Quinta location

Spain - I love Spain, I love Europe, I love Tapas, and I absolutely fall head over heels for Spanish Wine.
Now I'm absolutely gaga over golf in Spain.
I, as most people that watched the 1997 Ryder Cup played in Spain at Valderama Golf Club - was mesmerized by the beauty of the golf course and the scenary that surrounded Valderama - the Mediterranean, the hills, the olive groves, the impossibly blue sky.
Well, our newest GMS location is about a hip-high sand wedge away from Valderama. Almenara Resort located in Sotogrande includes the Hotel Almenara, a world class spa, 2 pools (indoor & outdoor), sauna, steam rooms, restaurants, etc. Plus, Sotogrande includes a marina on the Mediterranean with shops, cafes and restaurants, along with 5 golf courses including the world famous Valderama Golf Club (1997 Ryder Cup).
Just imagine your morning session working on your golf game at our fantastic practice facility - then going to the clubhouse for lunch, as you sit on the veranda with your Instructor gazing out over the Mediterranean Sea enjoying yourself.
Then for dinner - you could either eat at the resort (hotel or marina) or hit the incredible tapas bars in either one of two small towns (one on the beach, but both within minutes of the resort). Trust me - I'm going on experience. And if your experience is half is as good as mine was ... you're in for a phenomenal time!
To read more about our location in Spain, you can go to the page on the GMS website: www.GolfMadeSimple.com/golf-school-spain.html - where we have more info including a map to pinpoint our new location in Spain!
To hear more about Spain, the airport to fly into, sidetrips, more about the resort, etc. - give us a call. We're all too happy to discuss one of our most favorite places on this planet.
1-888-580-3635 (US & Canada) - 001.904.460.8355 (International)
We have also upgraded our golf course in La Quinta, California. If you have been around GMS for a while, you have definitely heard me speak and write about my love for the Palm Springs/La Quinta area. Being an East Coast person - growing up I was always transfixed on the television watching the PGA, LPGA and Senior PGA Tour events played in the desert in November, December, January and February. As the Northeast was gray, wet and nasty - there was Jack, Arnie, Gary and Tom (Nicklaus, Palmer, Player, Watson), playing in the most ideal conditions imaginable.
So when I was able to make my first trip out to La Quinta to set-up our GMS location there a couple years ago - I was able to cross off another line on the "Bucket List". And now as we transition GMS from The Trilogy Golf Club at La Quinta (host to 4 PGA Tour Skins Games) to SilverRock Resort (host to the PGA Tour's Bob Hope Classic) - I have to say that in a short period of time ... GMS is aligned with the best golf course (non-private) in the Coachella Valley!
SilverRock Resort is absolutely beautiful. Just look at the pictures.
Most of our Golfers stay at the new and beautiful Embassy Suites in La Quinta. We stay here whenever we've traveled to La Quinta and I must say it's really nice. The suites are fantastic. Plus, the breakfast in the morning and the Manager's Happy Hour in the afternoon are excellent!
And an additional bonus with our new location is that the hotel is now literally 1 mile from SilverRock Resort. All you do is go straight out of the hotel, make a left, go past Arnold Palmer's restaurant ... and you're there in 2 minutes.
The location of the hotel is so convenient. It's situated right across from the Old Town La Quinta shopping area which features shops and restaurants – with Arnold Palmer’s restaurant just down the street. Plus, a couple of miles away is LG's Steakhouse which offers the best Filet Mignon we've ever had. In fact, we went back two nights in a row just for the steak. The fish eaters from the previous night turned into carnivores the 2nd night. LG's is incredibly good and highly recommended.
If you have never been to the California desert – you're missing something special. Now, it wouldn't be my choice of locations in June through September (we actually migrate our La Quinta location north to Lake Tahoe during this time), however from November through May – I couldn't think of a more perfect place to be. I guess that's why so many professional golf events are played in this area – from the Skins Game to The Bob Hope to The Dinah Shore.
The biggest tournaments in the world call the La Quinta/Palm Springs area home – if you haven't been there – you should make a trip to see why. All I can say is that I never understood the allure to this area until I made my initial trip out there – now I can't get it out of my mind!
To see and read more on our new location at SilverRock Resort - go to:
www.GolfMadeSimple.com/palm-springs-california-golf-schools.html
For more information on available dates at any of our GMS locations: call me or email.
Regards,Labels: Golf, golf holiday, Golf Instruction, golf instructor, Golf Lessons, Golf practice, Golf Schools, Golf Swing, Golf Travel, golf vacation
Why we call a frustrated Golfer a Monkey has nothing to do with one’s ability or the scores that you shoot. It has to do with how a Golfer goes about the learning and improvement process. I’ve seen Players that are just starting to break 100 and I’ve seen Monkeys that shoot in the low 80’s. The difference is that the Monkey will become frustrated because they’re in the same scoring range for an extended period of time – while the Player is excited because they’re seeing improvement every time they step on the golf course.
The Monkey uses the same bad habits over and over expecting to improve. The Monkey continually goes to the practice range without a PLAN banging ball after ball in rapid fire succession expecting to hit straighter shots. The Monkey hits their 3 wood for their second shot on every Par 5 regardless of the situation expecting to get closer to the green. The Monkey tries every new tip and gimmick hoping to find something magical.
The Player on the other hand has a PLAN. They know what the Strengths and Weaknesses of their golf swing are. They know how to practice their Driver. They know how to practice their fairway woods. They know how to practice their wedges to create backspin. They know how to practice their putting for 45 minutes without it becoming as boring as watching paint dry.
What’s the difference between a Monkey and a Player? It’s how they go about learning to play better. The Monkey gets stuck in a scoring range and then will try anything in desperation to start improving again – though often times they become more and more frustrated. The Player sees and feels continual improvement – the Player often has other Golfers asking them how they’ve improved so fast.
For example: when the Monkey wants to improve their Driver; they go to the driving range to hit ball after ball towards the middle of the range. And this Golfer will often hit the ball well enough to feel that they had improved. Yet, the next time on the golf course – reality sets in – and you’re not hitting your Driver as well as you did on the driving range.
Why does this happen so frequently to the Monkey? Why can the Monkey hit it so well on the range and then when they go to the golf course ….. well, let’s just say it doesn’t go as well. While the Player often hits their Driver as well and in fact, many times they even hit their Driver better on the golf course.
When the Player wants to improve their Driver; they also can go to the driving range. Though, they have a PLAN that they’ll stick with. Part of that PLAN is that the middle of the range isn’t a target. Why? Because the middle of the driving range isn’t as defined as the golf course. When’s the last time you saw a fairway with the middle as wide as the middle of the driving range? Also, when have you ever seen the middle of a driving range include water, trees, fairway bunkers and other assorted distractions such as houses?
The Player hits their Driver to different targets just like they do on the golf course. And the Player that’s really taking their game to the next level is the Player that makes their targets on the driving range – smaller than the targets that they’ll see on the golf course. The Monkey does the complete opposite by making a target on the driving range that’s over twice as big as the target they’ll have on the golf course.
No wonder the Monkey gets frustrated on the golf course!
The Player uses a PLAN to make ‘fairways’ on the driving range. I say ‘fairways’ as opposed to the ‘fairway’ because as the Monkey just keeps hitting to the middle of the range – the Player is constantly changing their targets. Why? Well, is every golf hole straight and over 100 yards wide like the driving range?
You have the talent to be a Player. You know it and I know it. The problem is that you might be going at it like a Monkey.
The Monkey will read the above and say ‘I know what I’m doing, I’m so close to improving – I just need to hit more balls to become more consistent’
The Player knows that Tiger, Annika, Jack, Lorena and every successful Player has a PLAN that doesn’t include just banging golf ball after golf ball into the middle of the driving range.
Are you happy with your progress? Do you have a PLAN other than just banging golf ball after golf ball into the middle of the driving range?
Go ahead, Be A Player!
Regards,
Marc Solomon - Your Instructor For Life
Labels: Golf, Golf DVD, Golf Instruction, golf instructor, Golf Lessons, Golf practice, Golf Schools, Golf Swing, Golf Travel, golf vacation
Labels: Golf, Golf Instruction, golf instructor, Golf Lessons, Golf Schools, Golf Swing, Golf Travel, golf vacation
What movement in sport has more to-do’s, along with more not-to-do’s than the golf swing? In the golf swing we have the Golden Rules like: we need to “shift our weight” – yet not “sway”. In the golf swing we need to “cock our wrists” – yet not “flip our wrists”. In the golf swing most Golfers will tell you that you can’t lift your left heel on the back swing (right handed Golfer) and yet, if you don’t lift your heel – many don’t have the flexibility to make a “perfect” shoulder turn.
So how do you “shift your weight” without "swaying"? And how do you “cock your wrists” without “flipping your wrists”? And how come it was alright for Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson to lift their heel on the backswing – yet you’re not allowed to?
Why are there so many dang rules when swinging the golf club?!!!
One of the best pieces of advice that a Golfer should listen to is that there are no Golden Rules as far as how to swing a golf club. Although, I would say that if there was anything close – it would be: that the direction your club face is pointing when it hits the golf ball is more important than anything else than you have ever heard or will ever hear about – that is … if you want to be in control of the direction the golf ball flies.
See, we get so overwhelmed with all these “Golden Rules” on what we need to do to hit a golf ball – that we bog ourselves down. It’s almost as if you have so many thoughts of what you need to do correctly before hitting the golf ball – that you have very little chance of consistently hitting a good shot.
Yet, the concept of a good golf shot comes down to one important factor when using a Results Based Approach – “The golf ball will go in the direction my club face is pointing when I hit the golf ball.”
And although there are many that will say – “Well yes Marc, that is true. But in order to do that you need to have all these other Golden Rules happen.” To which I believe my response would be – how many of the same exact Golden Rules do Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Jack Nicklaus share? How many of the same Golden Rules do Stewart Cink and Jim Furyk share? And Lorena Ochoa and Annika Sorenstam?
Do these golf swings that are mentioned above look exactly the same? Or lets put it another way – if you were to put a bag over the head of each Golfer (so you couldn’t tell who it was – made Mickelson play right handed or the others play left handed), even the most casual Golf Fan would be able to tell which is Tiger’s swing and which is Jack’s swing. Meaning Tiger doesn’t have the same exact Golden Rules as Nicklaus. And Mickelson doesn’t have the same exact Golden Rules as Cink. Etc., etc., etc.
What Golden Rules are you applying to your golf swing right now? And who told you about those Golden Rules? Did you read about one of Sergio’s Golden Rules in a golf magazine and decided it needs to be one of your Golden Rules? If so, why? How do you know that Sergio’s Golden Rules apply to your golf swing? And what’s worse, maybe you’re already doing that Golden Rule well in your golf swing (but not know it), so now when you apply it to your golf swing – you’re overdoing it. Which could cause even more problems in your golf swing!
Here’s a Drill using a Results Based Approach for you to do:
Take out a wedge and hit a golf ball 10 yards. After the shot – determine if you hit it solid and if it went in the direction you intended.
If you hit it solid, hit a golf ball 30 yards. After the 30 yard shot – determine if you hit it solid and if it went in the direction you intended. If it wasn’t as solid or as straight as the 10 yard shot – go back to the 10 yard shot and try to find out what you did differently (besides making a longer back swing) and hit another good shot from 10 yards.
<After you hit another solid 10 yard shot - go back to the 30 yard shot and try to feel what you’re doing different in your swing. When you do hit a good 30 yard shot ….
Then hit a 60 yard shot. After that shot - determine if you hit it solid and if it went in the direction you intended. If not, go back to the 30 yard shot and try to find out what you did differently. If you did hit the 60 yard shot well – go to 90. Then follow this process until you’re taking full swings.
Why will this drill help you?
It’ll help you in many ways. The first is that most Golfers try to determine what’s wrong with their golf swing primarily after taking full swings. Yet, that swing happens so fast and your arms and body are moving at a speed that doesn’t allow many Golfers to feel what they’re doing during the swing. By starting with these small swings – you’re better able to pinpoint what’s happening in your golf swing at different points in your swing.
So now you can narrow down where the problem is in your golf swing instead of just taking one full swing after another and pretty much guessing what’s wrong. And believe it or not – your guesses may be heavily influenced by the Golden Rules you saw on the golf channel last night or in the last issue of a golf magazine. Which probably has nothing to do with your golf swing – yet because you’re looking for answers – they sound like the thing you should try next.
Second – many of the problems that 8 out of every 10 Golfers have in their golf swing happens during the time period when the club head is lower than your shoulders. Yet, 8 out of every 10 Golfers are working on something to fix a perceived problem that’s happening above their shoulders. Remember, the problem you perceive at the top of your golf swing could be caused by something happening when the club is lower than your shoulders.
Which is another way of saying that too many Golfers are working on trying to fix an “effect” vs. what they should be doing – working on fixing the “cause”.
So by starting with small golf swings and working your way up – you’ll be determining (using a Results Based Approach) where your problem is occurring in your golf swing. Unfortunately, it’s been pounded into the heads of many Golfers that improving your golf swing is all about taking full swings. And yes, you need to take many full golf swings on the golf course. Yet, the best way to fix your full swing isn’t just by practicing full swings.
The teaching method I’m introducing to you above is a Results Based Approach of finding out where in your golf swing your swing is breaking down. It shows that if you hit your wedge well with the 10 yard shot and you hit the 30 yard shot well and the 60 yard shot well and then mess up the 90 yard shot (which to many would be between a ¾ and full swing) – it shows that you’re doing something bad in your golf swing somewhere in the area where your body and club passes through 60 yards as you go to a 90 yard backswing. Which you’re also probably doing at that point of your golf swing while hitting your Driver using a full golf swing – yet, you probably won’t detect this happening while hitting full Drivers because it happens too fast for many Golfers.
How do I know this works? Because using this Results Based Approach we’ve been able to display at least 2 testimonials every week in Golf Improvement Weekly for the last 284 Issues and are displaying 100’s more on the www.GolfMadeSimple.com website. When’s the last time you had the pleasure of telling anyone about how well you’re playing and how good you feel about your golf swing?
The Monkey will continue to work on hitting full shots until they “get it”
The Player finds where their golf swing is breaking down using a Results Based Approach
Go ahead, be a Player!
Regards,
Marc Solomon - Your Instructor For Life
Excerpted from Classic GIW Issue 208 - August 15th, 2007
"This is the story of a Golfer that I’ll call Jim.
"Jim has been playing golf for a number of years and generally has played pretty good, though he always wanted to get better – probably just like you hope to do. Jim enjoyed playing and competing in his county’s Amateur Golf Tournament every year. Yet, there’s been this nagging feeling that he desperately wanted to …."
For Anyone Considering Video Analysis - We have added our report on: "Using Video Analysis To Improve Your Golf Swing" to the Golf Made Simple website for you to download and view.
Just click here to be taken to the download page on the http://www.GolfMadeSimple.com website. It's easy, it's free and it's a pretty extensive report on our findings.
Indoor Putting Drill - If you'd like for us to email you a special Indoor Version of an excellent GMS Putting Drill that you could spend hours on - email us at IndoorPuttingDrill@GolfMadeSimple.com and put GIW in the subject line.
Tour Putting Square - Use the Tour Putting Square inside your home to improve your scores. Just send us an email at TourPuttingSquare@GolfMadeSimple.com with the subject: Tour Putting Square – and we'll email you how to use this game changing drill.
Swing Drills & Core Training - To view a segment that covers 2 swing drills you can practice inside, plus 3 exercises to strengthen your core - email us at: PushUp@GolfMadeSimple.com with the words 'Golf Improvement Weekly' in the subject line to receive a link and password to access the video segment from our DVD - 'How To Improve Your Golf Swing Indoors'
Like the locals know in areas like
And although there are people saying – “You’re thinking of November already? We haven’t even gotten to Labor Day yet!” Apparently there are more people than you think that are planning November dates because we already have more people signed up to attend our La Quinta location in November as of today – than we had actually attend in November of last year. So if we’re ahead of last year’s pace and its still 3 months away – imagine what it’s going to be like trying to get dates when we’re into October.
For pictures and more information – click here to go to: http://golfmadesimple.com/palm-springs-california-golf-schools.html
Or for more information on available dates at our La Quinta/Palm Springs, California location: call me at 1-888-580-3635 or email me at IWantToBe@GolfMadeSimple.com
Labels: Golf, Golf Instruction, golf instructor, Golf Lessons, Golf Schools, Golf Swing, Golf Travel, golf vacation
Here are 9 of the most popular golf swing thoughts that many Golfers have before hitting a golf ball:
1. Keep my head still
2. Left arm straight (right arm for left handed Golfer)
3. Shift my weight
4. Eye on the golf ball
5. Turn my shoulders
6. Don’t sway
7. Make sure to swing easy
8. Clear my hips on the way through
9. Follow through all the way
Now which of these 9 do you think about before and during each shot? What? All 9?! Before and during each shot? Seriously? Wow!!!
The question I must ask is: if you did think of these 9 thoughts (or something similar), how many can you expect to do “correctly” on each golf swing? Now, I’m not saying that I agree that these are important thoughts – in fact, I believe that many of the 9 can do more harm than good to a Golfer getting ready to hit a golf ball. But, besides that point – the question needs to be: How much can you think about during one golf swing and still be able to hit a good golf shot?
Now, if there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years, it’s that women can think about more things at one time than men can. This is a point that my wife has expressed to me many times over the last 10 years while she gives me my list of “Honey Do’s”. Yet, even the greatest multitasking female couldn’t consciously think about and do all 9 of those swing thoughts (or even 4 of those thoughts) during a golf swing that takes less than 2 seconds!
And besides, if you did ask a Golfer that happens to be on a ‘Good Streak’ for a few holes on the golf course – “You’re swinging so well, what are you doing?” – The answer 9 times out of 10 is simply something to the affect of: “I don’t know. I’m just trying to swing smooth.” Yet, if you say to a Golfer that happens to be on a ‘Bad Streak’ on the golf course – “What’s going on? You’re not playing as well as usual. What are you doing?” – The answer 9 times out of 10 is usually something to the affect of: “I don’t know what I’m doing. I’m probably thinking too much. I’m trying to … and also to … and on some swings I try to … Ohh, I just need to stop thinking about so much!”
Have you ever been in either of those situations yourself?
Now please, don’t misconstrue that I’m saying that if you only think of swinging smooth (and nothing else), that that will allow you to play your best golf ever. There might be more that goes into it. However, it’s a good place to start with rather than really screwing yourself up by trying to keep your head absolutely still while thinking of the 8 other things you need to do.
Yet, we need to make the distinction between ‘swinging smooth’ and ‘swinging easy’. I believe these are two totally different concepts. For example: For years, Golfers have marveled at how Fred Couples and Ernie Els have the ability to swing so smoothly. Yet, in typical Golfer talk – the description of their smooth swings have been misidentified by many Golfers marveling: “Ernie just swings so slow and easy and hits the ball a mile.”
Which is not true because Fred and Ernie don’t swing slow.
Couples – who still is in the top 10 in Driving Distance at 290 something yards a drive – has a swing speed around 120 miles per hour. There’s nothing slow or easy about 120 mph. Especially when the average male Golfer swings their Driver at speeds approaching 90 mph. And yet, after hitting a bad shot, this 90 mile per hour male Golfer will often say: “Oh, I tried to kill that one. I swung too hard. I wish I could swing as slow as Freddie Couples.” And the craziness about that statement is that you actually are already swinging 30 mph slower than Couples. Swing any slower and you’ll be 40 or 50 mph less than Freddie!
A Golfer that tries to swing “slow” and/or “easy” often throws off the timing of their golf swing more than they know. Which is the total opposite outcome of what they were hoping for. Whereas many Golfers will try to swing slower so that their timing (and consistency) will improve – the slowing down of your swing can cripple your golf swing in multiple ways. Too many ways to explain here – though we can get into two of the more frequent problems it can cause many Golfers.
A Golfer that’s trying to slow down their backswing could be causing more harm than good because of what happens much of the time when they transition from the back swing to the forward swing. If you’re swinging too slow on the way back – as you make the transition to now swing forward, you have two choices:
One - Continue to swing at the same speed and hit the golf ball ‘nowhere’. ‘Nowhere’ can be translated into – you’re not hitting the golf ball much distance at all because you have a very low swing speed. Yes, you maybe a little more accurate – however, you’re very short off the tee – making the hole very long and many times much more difficult.
Or
Two – Abruptly speed up your forward swing so that you can create some swing speed to hit the golf ball farther. However, many times when a Golfer transitions from a slow back swing to a fast forward swing – many Golfers have the tendency of having their arms and hands outrace their body – while other Golfers may have their body outrace their hands and arms. Whichever tendency it is for you – just know that it could really foul up your golf swing in a big way.
So, many Golfers get stuck in the game of changing their swing every other shot because of this. The first shot they try to swing slow and they hit the golf ball much shorter than the people they’re playing with. The next shot they want to hit the golf ball farther while maintaining a “slow and easy swing” – so they have a slow back swing and then to get a little more power on the forward swing - they swing hard at the ball. Which invariably throws off your timing, swing path, swing plane, blah, blah, blah and causes the golf ball to slice off into the trees, or causes you to pop the golf ball straight up in the air, or top it 50 yards or …. whatever else a golf ball can do to annoy you on the golf course.
So on the next swing this Golfer decides they rather stay in play than lose another golf ball – so you go back to the “slow, easy golf swing” for a few holes so that you can play: “Well, At Least I’m Keeping It In Play” Golf. Yet, after a couple holes of: “Well, At Least I’m Keeping It In Play” – which translates into hitting the golf ball short and taking 3 or 4 shots to reach the green – you try one more time to swing with a little more power and …. let’s just say you go right back to the slow and easy swing that allows you to play the unfulfilling game of “Well, At Least I’m Keeping It In Play” Golf.
Do you know anyone that plays that way?
For Golfers that want to gain extra yards (while still keeping the ball in play) – we can very easily help you increase your controlled club head speed using what we call – ‘Effortless Power’. We work with many Golfers (from around the world) helping them to smooth out their golf swings which allows you to create the sensation of having ‘Effortless Power’. And that ‘Effortless Power’ often gives you the feeling as if you’re “swinging easy”. Yet, in reality, you aren’t “swinging easy” – you’re ‘swinging smoother’ along with having more power, control and consistency!
And although most people reading this will never approach a swing speed of 120 mph with their Driver – you can still improve your distance (and consistency) by having your swing speed increase from the 80 mph range to the 90 mph range or 90 to 100 or 100 to 110 - while swinging even more smoothly than you are right now. Trust me, I’ve seen it many, many times where a Golfer has gained 20, 30, 40 , even 50 yards on their Drives and then remarked: “I can’t believe that I hit the golf ball that far. Wow! And it felt like I swung soooo easy!!”
The Monkey falls into the trap of trying to “swing slow and easy” and then gets into the battle between having no distance (but being straight) vs. trying to get more distance (but being inconsistent)
The Player knows that there’s a huge difference between ‘swinging smoothly with Effortless Power’ vs. “swinging slow and easy with no power”
Go ahead, be Player!
Regards,
Marc Solomon - Your Instructor For Life
GMS Bonus Material
For anyone Considering Video Analysis - We have added our report on: “Using Video Analysis To Improve Your Golf Swing” to the Golf Made Simple website for you to download and view.
Just click here to be taken to the download page on the http://www.GolfMadeSimple.com website. It’s easy, it’s free and it’s a pretty extensive report on our findings.
Indoor Putting Drill - If you’d like for us to email you a special Indoor Version of an excellent GMS Putting Drill that you could spend hours on - email us at IndoorPuttingDrill@GolfMadeSimple.com and put ‘Blog’ in the subject line.
Tour Putting Square - Use the Tour Putting Square inside your home to improve your scores. Just send an email to TourPuttingSquare@GolfMadeSimple.com with the subject: ‘Blog’ – and we’ll email you how to use this game changing drill.
Swing Drills & Core Training - To view a segment that covers 2 swing drills you can practice inside, plus 3 exercises to strengthen your core - email us at: PushUp@GolfMadeSimple.com with the words ‘Blog’ in the subject line to receive a link and password to access the video segment from our DVD - ‘How To Improve Your Golf Swing Indoors’
Labels: Golf Instruction, Golf Lessons, Golf practice, Golf Schools, Golf Swing, Golf Travel, golf vacation
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Labels: Golf DVD, Golf Instruction, golf instructor, Golf Lessons, Golf practice, Golf Schools, Golf Swing, Golf Travel, golf vacation, Golf Video, Marc Solomon, top golf school
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