Make Golf Easier

I have for the past year being saying nothing but good things about The Simple Golf Swing and have had good reason to do so.  My ball striking has improved greatly and my accuracy has never been as good.

However at times my scores have been a bit disappointing because there have invariably been one or two holes that have been disasters and – as we all know – coming back from double or triple bogeys is not easy.  But ………………..(drum roll please)….. yesterday it all came together at St.  Andrews Golf Club in Hamilton.

I hit 11 of the 15 fairways!  But I came up short on many of my approach shots because of the conditions.  The course was very soft and there was no run so all tee shots stopped on landing leaving some greens almost impossible to reach in two  – but all my approach shots were tight on line.

That made for a lot of concentration on the short game – and I was up to the challenge.

He! He!  Who Else Can Say They Shot a 77 at St. Andrews?

I chipped in on the 4th, the 5th and the 8th for birdies.  I also made a birdie on the 7th.

4 Birdies on the front 9!  It was amazing to stand on the 9th tee with no pars on my card and only be one over par!  That has never happened to me before.  I then spolied my card by making a par on the 9th!!

The second 9 was more like normal golf and I continued to play well with 6 pars, 2 bogeys and one double bogey for a 5 over 77.

I say it again people:  If you want to be more consistent and in control of your game take a look at the Simple Golf Swing – it could be the best money you have ever spent!

Tags: How to Break 80, Simple Golf Swing Review by bredies
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It has been about a year since I first got hold of The Simple Golf Swing to review it and in that time my ball striking has improved a lot and my handicap has gone from 16 to 10.

The one thing I have not had much success with is “flipping the hands over” at impact as described in the last part of The Simple Golf Swing.

I attribute this lack of success to the fact that I have arthritis (psoriatic arthritis to be exact) which affects my joints and particularly my wrists.  I cannot “cock” my right wrist at all and I suppose if I want to play golf I must expect this will cost me in distance and ultimately limit my ability.

But………

I was cleaning my bag out and found my most recent “old” glove – the one I replaced about a month ago and it tells me a little story:

 

Note the wear at the bottom of the pad of the palm of my hand.  This is WRONG!!!! It should be more in the center which tells me I am holding the club the wrong way.

 

 

 

 

I then had a look at my thumb’s wear and tear and it is pretty obvious to me that I am    applying pressure with my thumb pushing down on the shaft.  My excuse is to grip the shaft tighter because of my arthritis.

But…………. again this is all WRONG!!!!

 

I then revisited The Simple Golf Swing grip section and made a few adjustments.

The next 2 photos show:

1. The way I was holding the club which resulted in the wear as per the above photos. From this picture it is clear why the thumb is wearing where it is!
2. The grip I changed to when I went to the  range earlier today.   Here the thumb is taken right out of the grip and the club sits in the center of the palm of my hand.

 

A few swings with this grip also clearly inhibits my ability to “flip” my arms over and have the club face closing through impact.

In trying to execute the “flip” or cross over I tend to get a vicious hook.  This could be unique to me but I think not.

 

 

 

I then moved my thumb around to the right and down the side of the shaft.  Immediately more knuckles are visible but more importantly there is no pressure on the thumb.

Now I must tell you this felt a bit strange for a few shots but I hit a bucket of 100 balls and I duffed only one on the head well into the 100 balls.  All the rest (bar 2) had a beautiful draw on them as I concentrated on “flipping” my arms over through impact.

I concentrated purely on the “flipping” action and not distance.  I used very little effort or grunt in the shots and to my amazement was getting some pretty good and very consistent distance.

If you are also struggling with something that seems simple but can’t quite understand why maybe take a look at your own glove and see if there is a story there.

Maybe just maybe you will find a very simple solution!

I’ll be trying this out tomorrow on the course – let’s hope the weather plays ball.

I will report back – see below.

Update on my Game.

As promised herewith an update on my game.

I played at Muriwai Golf Club which I last played about 3 or 4 years ago.  A very nice (but quite a tough) layout.

My main focus was to ensure that my grip stayed strong (see above) in order to get my arms crossing over through impact.

It did not take long to feel  comfortable and the result was I was hitting the ball real good.  On the third hole my playing partner said “I take it accuracy is NOT one of your problems.“

It was good to hear that.

I hit 11 of the 14 fairways in regulation (which is 79%) and 3 of the 4 greens on the par threes in regulation (75%).  For the rest of the greens the percentage was down to just under 65% as I hit 9 of the 14. All in all not too bad. Where I did miss greens the vast majority of missed shots were just a few feet short.

My score on the day was 79 (par 72) and included  two 3 putts!

 

Tags: How to Break 80, Simple Golf Swing Review by bredies
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I’ve been playing really good and consistent golf lately although I still have the odd hole that blows my score out !  Irritating but that is what makes golf such a challenge.

I was looking back over the past few months to see where I have come from to where I am now – from a 13.9 in October 2010 to 9.9 in February 2011. 

That’s four shots off my handicap in 4 months – I am pretty pleased with that.

However I thought my improvement was much more until I started analyzing the scores.

What I discovered is that I am far more consistent.  Back in October through to December I was shooting scores that were varying by as much as 20 or 21 shots per round.  These days that variance is down to about 7 shots -  on really bad days.

More commonly my scores fluctuate by between 3 and 4 shots – meaning I am far more consistent than ever before!

And what is more every time I go out I feel I am improving.

Of course having said all this publicly the Golf Gods will punish me the very next time I go out!

It’s a risk I take because I think those of you that are looking for a long term (permanent) fix to your golf should really consider getting The Simple Golf Swing.

On Tuesday last week I was level par after 11 holes – not something that happens to me that often.  On the 12th hole (a par 3) I had a disastrous 6 and my good score looked like becoming just another mediocre (if not horrible) score but………… then I found myself with a new thought.

I switched from thinking about my score to saying to myself:

“OK Let’s see if this swing can really hold up under pressure!”

I was straight back into concentrating on each shot as it was played and the result is I had a pretty decent round after all!

“So what did you shoot?” I hear you ask.

A 78 adjusted to 77 for that triple bogey on 12.

The Simple Golf Swing takes some application and practice but if you stick with it – it does work.  I’ve tried it and I know I can go a lot lower.  As low as a 5 and maybe even lower.   I think that is a very realistic goal and quite within my capabilities despite my psoriatic arthritis.

If I can do it – anyone can.

Visit The Simple Golf Swing website by clicking here!

Tags: How to Break 80, Simple Golf Swing Review by bredies
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I have just reviewed “How to Break 80“by Jack Moorehouse and it got me thinking about how we complicate this game.

Sure it is complicated but is it that complicated?

Before I carry on check out my in depth and totally independent review of “How to Break 80“.

These are my thoughts on why people struggle more then necessary with the game of golf.

• We try too hard.
• We want to hit the ball hard.
• We have all, or some of the basics wrong.
• We keep changing our swing.
• We think the latest technology will make an immediate improvement so we keep buying stuff!
• We accept all sorts of well intentioned advice.
• We put ourselves under pressure.
• We don’t practice enough and when we do we practice bad faults.
• We don’t play often enough so every game is important to score well.
• The list goes on and on and on!

Here’s what I believe will help all golfers, regardless of age, size, shape or sex.

1. Get a compact, simple repeatable golf swing that is the basis of all your shots.  Once you have a simple repeatable swing (which includes the correct basics such as grip alignment and posture) you then have something you can rely on and adapt to different shots.  You will have a swing that will give you confidence in all situations.
2. Master your short game.  Without a doubt this is the one area of the game in which you can instantly drop shots off your handicap!  About 45% of shots are putts – do we spend the equivalent amount of time practicing our putting?  Do we spend a lot of money on a good quality putter or do we buy the ultra cheap models on special?  Can you get up and down from 100 yards (or less) on a regular basis?  How many wedges do you carry?  This is the part of the game you need to master and is much more important than a 300 yard drive off the tee.
3. Develop a strong mental game.  I can’t emphasize how important it is to be able to switch on and off in this game for maximum achievement (read as maximum enjoyment)!  Playing golf  “in the zone” is unbelievably easy and rewarding if you just learn how.  It’s not that difficult when you understand that the only thing you can control is the shot you are about to play.  The past is history and cannot be changed so forget about that bad shot.  Why worry about the future and the result when it hasn’t happened yet?  All you can control is the present and it is that control that will have a bearing on the outcome.  Golfers with strong mental application are far more likely to succeed than those with a weaker mind – even if they can hit the ball a proverbial mile!

This is what you will need (and I honestly believe with these three products you will improve your golf to whatever level you want):

1. The Simple Golf Swing – costs from $67.00.  A simple and easy to implement tutorial that is brilliant in its simplicity.  Everything about the swing is covered here from the grip to the set-up, the takeaway and the follow through – it’s all here and if you follow along with the book until the basics are a habit is is easy to make any fine adjustments that will suit your game without having to make drastic changes.
2. Master Your Short Game – from $6.41 available from Amazon.com.  A very well illustrated and photographed instructions book from one of the finest exponents of the short game – Tony Johnstone former Zimbabwean and long time friend of Nick Price.  Most pros were in awe of his short game and possibly only Phil Mickelson has ever matched or bettered him.
3. The Mental Keys – costs $79.95.  A tad pricey?  Not really as this book and accompanying CDs will bring your scores down overnight and will change you entire attitude on the golf course (and life in general) to one of being more relaxed.  You will learn to accept the things you cannot change or influence whilst staying in control of the present.  Easily learn the process of how to play well.  The more you refer to the Mental Keys the quicker your game will improve.

With these three products you will not need to buy any other golfing aids.  Believe me I have tried them and they work.

Your next expenditure could be on a golfing holiday.

Other things that will help your golf but aren’t absolutely necessary:

• Being fit.  Don’t shoot me down yet.  Fitness helps in all sports but I think  flexibility is more important for golfers.  So regular stretching is in order and not so strenuous!   Go to any golf course on any given day and you will see good and bad golfers of all shapes and sizes.  Not many of us want to go to the gym just to get in shape to enjoy our golf.  If you have the time and the drive of course golf specific exercises will help.
• Hitting the ball miles.  Nice to do but if it is uncontrolled and way off line is there any point.  Rather concentrate on accuracy and your short game, after all a 3 foot putt counts for exactly the same as a 300 yard drive!  Watch some of the older golfers who still play off single figures and see how short but accurate they are!
• New Technology.  “The latest and greatest toys are the answers to all our woes!.”  So the manufacturers will have us believe.  Not so I say if your basic game is wrong.  But new toys are cool when you know your game!

So there you have it for about $150.00 you will have everything you need to get your game to whatever level you want it to be at.

Tags: How to Break 80, Mental Keys, Simple Golf Swing Review by bredies
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Breaking 80 is a milestone for most golfers.  Once you can consistently break 80 it seems to propel you into the realm of a regular and good golfer.

It is this desire to break into the 70′s that created the need for a tutorial on “How to Break 80″ and just such a product was produced in about 2002.

How to Break 80 is the brainchild of Jack Moorehouse.

I am not entirely convinced about this tutorial as I am uncertain of Jack’s market.  Obviously he is targeting the golfer  who wants to break 80 (doesn’t everyone?) but I also think he is trying to capture a larger market and this is where I think it lacks persuasion as he tries to be all things to everyone.

Don’t get me wrong I like a lot of what Jack says but ……………. I don’t always like the way he says it.

To me a lot of the important stuff is too often generalized and not covered in enough detail!

There is a lot to like about “How to Break 80“

• I am a big believer in good putting being the quickest way to improve your scores and Jack’s “Putting Game” drill is (in my opinion) brilliant.  I guess if you just did this drill then you may well soon break 80 without any of the other stuff.  I also think with a bit of imagination you can adapt this game to other areas of practice.  I have – and it does give practicing a  more competitive and intense edge.
• One of the most important fundamentals of golf is the grip and Jack covers this in detail and very well.  This is one of the areas where I think he is targeting the novice or higher handicap golfer.  Most people on the verge of breaking 80 might find this boring – but maybe I am being pedantic!
• The section on “shoulder turn” especially in relation to the take away should help a lot of golfers and you may just get an “ah ha!” moment.  Very good Jack, this is a well explained and illustrated section.
• I do like that Jack tells you what you can expect from his book.
• I think the 10 point summary that concludes the book and which is entitled “The 10 Most Important Things You Need to do to Break 80″ is a really neat and concise summary.

So what don’t I like about “How to Break 80“?

• There are lots of silly grammatical errors that could be fixed with a simple proof reading.  Hey Jack for $50.00 I’ll point out all the annoying little errors!
• Too much information about Jack and his game.  I know it is important for credibility sake to know a little about him but it is a little overdone.

• As I have already said some of the really important stuff is just touched on.  An example of this is the mental side of things.   I think the mental aspect of golf when you are trying to break 80 (or any level) is crucial and I think he falls way short of the target.  For my money I much prefer to treat this as a separate subject and would highly recommend Michael Anthony’s “Mental Keys” which – while specific to golf – can be used in all facets of life.
• The “Set up and Posture” section leaves a bit to be desired and some of the photos don’t seem to match what the text is saying!  This occurs a couple of times in the tutorial.
• The “Rock Solid Short Game” Section is just horrible as far as I am concerned.  If you want to break 80 you need a good short game and this chapter is simply not good enough.  I recommend you go to Amazon.com and buy “Master Your Short Game” by Tony Johnstone (foreword by Nick Price).  Its old, it works and is still the best I have ever seen.  What’s more it is easy to read and implement and makes for a great “coffee table” reference.
• Page 48 point #4.  Jack what exactly does “finish nicely” mean?
• The Putting section is too generalized for a subject that is so complex and, other than the “Putting Game” drill, leaves a lot to be desired.
• There are a number of bonuses – too many actually.  Most are articles that Jack has written and that can be obtained off Google by doing a search.  The old “Fit to a Tee” is there but, to be honest, not many will read past page 1.  There is one bonus which I think you should get and that is the 30 page “Golf Lessons and Tips” – I thought that was really good and probably better than the product Jack is selling.

So will “How to Break 80” actually help you break 80?

It probably will if you find a few good tips and drills in there.  I think the putting drill game is good and there are a few other things as detailed above which are good but all in all if you really want to break 80 I would recommend the following:

1. Use the basic swing outlined in “The Simple Golf Swing“
2. Improve your mental game with Michael Anthony’s “Mental Keys“
3. Get a hold of a copy of “Master Your Short Game“

It will cost a little bit more this way but you will have some great reference material which you can take with you with the Mental Keys and Tony Johnstone’s book.

Despite my seemingly negative review How to Break 80 is a top seller and has been for a number of years now.

I clearly remember the first time I broke 80 as being a total surprise.  It was something I just wasn’t expecting and I do recall it being so easy!

I have since broken 80 regularly and in fact when I don’t it is really annoying.

So what is the secret?  How do you go about breaking 80 for the first time?

I believe, and have experienced, that the “desire to achieve” often overcomes the “ability to perform.”

By that I mean that you are so concerned about the outcome – breaking 80 – that you ignore the need to perform – to play the next shot to the best of your ability!

The only thing you can actually control is the next shot. The shots you have already played cannot be recalled (and therefore you can never do anything about them) and thinking of an end result is pointless. Don’t believe me?  Well then get hold of Michael Anthony’s book “Mental Keys” – he explains it much better than I can.

But back to breaking 80;  ask any golfer who has had a bad round and he will invariably tell you he is tired, his feet are sore and he has no energy left.  Ask someone who has had a good round and he will probably tell you he can go another 18!

Why?

Because playing badly is tiring whilst playing well is exhilarating and effortless – yes effortless!  Its as easy as riding a bicycle!

When you play well everything seems to be working:

• Your swing is short, compact and easy.
• You instinctively select the right club for the shot.
• Chipping seems easy.
• The line of the putt is obvious – as is the pace – and the putts are dropping.
• Strangely enough the bounce of the ball goes your way too!
• Everything just seems to go ‘right’.

So here is my suggestion if you want to play well – that may be breaking 80 for the first time, or even 90 or 100 for that matter:

• Relax and enjoy yourself – remember “a bad day on the golf course is better than a good day at the office”
• Don’t think golf between shots and try not to think any negative thoughts – not always easy I know.
• Look at the scenery around you.
• Enjoy the company of your 4 ball.
• Concentrate on each shot when you play it and look at each one as a challenge for you to do what is necessary to succeed with the shot you are about to play – that is the only thing you can control.
• Don’t worry about a bad shot – it is history – instead accept the next shot as a fun challenge and concentrate on execution (not history and not result!)
• If it helps do not even add up your score as you go along.  Simply record it for each hole and move on to the next hole.

You do need to have a reasonable ability – be realistic.  If you have never broken 100 or even 90 then breaking 80 for the first time may be a few more rounds away – that’s OK just enjoy the journey.

One of the things that has been of great help to my own game is concentrating on a Simple Golf Swing.  I find that concentrating on just a few things before and during each shot takes my mind completely away from the score and any negative thoughts (usually put there by the site of hazards!).  In short it helps me control the only think I can and that is my current shot.  The rest takes care of itself.

Tags: How to Break 80, Mental Keys, Simple Golf Swing Review by bredies
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