Thursday, March 31, 2011

THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THE GOLF SWING - YOUR TORSO



LOS ANGELES, California - What OVER THE TOP GOLF does is give amateur golfers a golf instruction method by which they are guaranteed, at the very least, to perform the most important part of the golf swing correctly. The role of your torso is to provide power through rotation and weight transfer. The roles of your other body parts, regardless of how much golf teachers emphasize wrist cocks, delayed hits and the like, are merely supplemental. Improper weight shift is a distance killer. Many excellent players have what could be considered bad golf grips but all great golfers use their torsos properly. At a minimum, after learning the OVER THE TOP GOLF method, this is something you will have in common with them - even if you are a 30 handicap.

Pick up any book about golf instruction. Online you can find even more places to learn about the golf swing. One common thread you'll find is an emphasis on weight transfer and the rotation of the body. It should be the basis of your golf swing and is the foundation of OVER THE TOP GOLF.

 http://golf--swing.blogspot.com  writes "The body’s most important movement in the swing is torso rotation."

Many golfers have serious swing flaws like an  improper weight shift, for instance. In a conventional golf swing, as your body turns, the weight should transfer from your right side to your left side. If a golfer has a tendency to hang back on the right side, as many amateur players do, torso rotation is interrupted. Now you don't have to worry about it. Learn the OVER THE TOP GOLF swing and your problem is solved. Trust me - you will automatically transfer your weight properly. And you'll be absolutely amazed by the difference.

"It is interesting that, in analyzing the physics of a golf swing, we see that the arms and wrists play a somewhat passive role, and yet a powerful hit results. So where does the swing energy come from? It comes from the muscles in the torso and shoulders which swiftly rotate the golfer's arms and club through the swing."

The preceding quotation is from the highly technical article http://www.real-world-physics-problems.com/physics-of-a-golf-swing.html in which the golf swing is analyzed, dissected and discussed in very specific detail. In addition to mathematical formulas that only Sir Isaac Newton could understand, there are many interesting theories explained in layman's terms. Well, not really but take a look for yourself. Remember folks, the optimal release angle to uncock your wrists is θo = 55-60°.


no math required




Keywords for this article: 30 handicap, amateur golf, bad golf grip, body, delayed hit, golf, golf instruction, improper weight shift, OVER THE TOP, proper, rotate, SWING, torso, weight transfer, wrist cock, golf, swing, over the top, lesson, instruction, eBook
Revised 09-03-2012

Sunday, March 27, 2011

A STEVE MARINO STORY - SIMPLY AMAZING

A STEVE MARINO STORY - SIMPLY AMAZING

ORLANDO, Florida - I remember the first time I laid eyes on Steve Marino. It was around 2003, Steve was playing in a one-day qualifier for the Nationwide Tour's Glenmaura event. Even at this level, most of the guys out there presented themselves as neatly pressed as they were aloof. Marino was different. I could relate to his friendly, rumpled sort of appearance.

That day, Marino faded his way around a tight Pocono Farms golf course in 68, I believe, qualified for Scranton, and now, today, Sunday, March 27, 2011, is poised to win his first PGA Tour event, the Bay Hill Invitational in Orlando.

Simply amazing.

Almost as amazing is the improvement that golfers have enjoyed after learning the OVER THE TOP GOLF swing. When I see successful players like Steve Marino doing their own thing, I'm reminded that my golf swing optimization method is also unique. And it's as simple as the fade that Marino is using to bury the competition at Arnold Palmer's course. Like I said, simply amazing.


unique, amazing and best of all, simple
 
 
 
Keywords for this article: golf, swing, over the top, lesson, instruction, eBook, Bay Hill, fade, Glenmaura, golf swing optimization, Nationwide Tour, over the top golf swing, PGA Tour, Pocono Farms, Steve Marino
Revised 09-03-2012


Monday, March 21, 2011

HOW TO TURN YOUR WEAK FADE INTO A POWERFUL DRAW. HAVE A SLICE? EVEN BETTER!


HOW TO TURN YOUR WEAK FADE INTO A POWERFUL DRAW
ORLANDO, Florida - Whenever golfers talk about curing a fade or a slice in the golf swing, many of them start gushing like fountains of wisdom. Tap rooms of golf clubs everywhere are full of wise old timers who used to hit perfect draws every time. In addition to this local knowledge, multitudes of other fixes and corrections can be found with a simple Google search. So why do we continue to hit fades and slices when we know that drawing the golf ball is so much more effective?

For those who aren't familiar with the terms "fade, slice and draw," their descriptions are as follows:

FADE: A high golf shot that looks nice coming off the cub but starts to run out of gas as it turns meekly to the right. Playing a round of golf with this type of shot guarantees that you'll swing too hard. In doing so, using a conventional golf swing, you'll lose the balance and timing necessary to hit even a decent version of a fade.

SLICE: Useful only as a WMD. The awesomeness of the well-struck slice is like nothing else in golf, not even the screaming duck hook. Slices are responsible for more injuries to golfers in adjacent fairways, putting on practice greens, lunching on patios and swimming in clubhouse pools than any other type of golf shot.

DRAW: A beautiful sight to see is a golfer splitting the fairway with a running right-to-left draw. The only drawback to drawing is having to wait for the rest of your foursome to hit on every hole.

OVER THE TOP GOLF is a method that uses five set-up changes to turn your weak fade into a powerful draw. I call it "Golf Swing Optimization" because it works with your own existing swing instead of making you learn anything new. Golfers who hit a slice benefit even more because they tend to think less while swinging the golf club. With OVER THE TOP GOLF you can go after the ball just about as hard as you want.

Today was special for me because I happened upon the great Arnold Palmer who was doing a show on Golf Channel. As he sat there with Kelly Tilghman, talking about golf, regripping clubs, playing a few holes with grandson Sam Saunders, it was obvious that he felt regret that playing even decent golf was now out of reach. Mr. Palmer observed that his preferred shot was a draw but instead, his ball flight, far too often, was a fade.

It's impossible to play competitive golf if you are out of position and by consistently fading the ball, unless you have all eight cylinders firing in the proper order and can fade one out there 250 yards plus, you will be out of position. Especially for older golfers and women, who don't have a cannon at their disposal, a draw shot is necessary, even critical, to success and happiness on the golf course.

 


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Keywords for this article: golf, swing, over the top, lesson, instruction, eBook, Arnold Palmer, conventional swing, correct, cure, draw, duck hook, fade, fix, Kelly Tilghman, over the top golf, over the top golf swing, right-to-left, Sam Saunders, slice, turn a fade into a draw
Revised 09-03-2012, Revised 12-29-2012

Friday, March 11, 2011

MECHANICAL BREAKDOWNS - COMMON SENSE ADVICE ABOUT GOLF SWING MECHANICS


COMMON SENSE ADVICE ABOUT GOLF SWING MECHANICS
TAMPA, Florida - A big dummy of a golf writer (yours truly) once wrote "mechanics are for cars."  I wanted to illustrate how difficult it is to swing a golf club, make crisp contact with the golf ball and make it go where you want with a hundred swing thoughts crowding your mind. I concede that it was a glib statement.

Admittedly, golf swing mechanics are important but you'll notice that I didn't write "good golf swing mechanics are important." When an amateur golfer relies more on the technical aspects of his swing, his mind can become a cluttered mess. A repeatable golf swing that produces consistent results is far preferable, especially as a foundation for the building blocks to follow. Should you wish to introduce things like a new grip or a fuller shoulder turn, doing it in stages works best. Common sense tells us to focus on what is possible. Trying to do too much, such as we commonly do after golf lessons, is both confusing and counterproductive. For some, it is worse....

Mechanics are a part of all sports endeavors whether it be pitching, race riding or shooting free throws. Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Andy Sonnanstine appeared to "right himself" in a spring training win over the Boston Red Sox. Andy was quoted as saying "The key was not thinking about mechanics but instead competing and attacking hitters." Here is a professional baseball player telling us that he abandoned all technical thought in order to gain the freedom he needed to start optimizing his natural talent. Not that Sonnanstine is typical of all pro athletes but if highly-paid sports stars have difficulty memorizing and implementing mechanics, what chance does an amateur have?

Optimizing your current golf swing makes a lot more sense than starting from scratch, especially for those over 30 who have been playing. Unless you feel that you have unlimited potential + lots of time and money for lessons and practice, working with what you've got will provide the bigger improvement while allowing you to enjoy golfing. Anyone who says that golf after lessons is fun is being less than honest. It's a grind. Frankly, total confusion post-lessons is a big reason why many people walk away from the game.

OVER THE TOP GOLF basically changes nothing about your golf swing although your new OTG swing will look noticeably different. While that statement seemingly makes no sense, my method simply provides you with five set-up changes that will magically turn your limp slice or destructive hook into straighter, longer and more dependable shots.

Who knows? You may never think about golf swing mechanics again.


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Keywords for this article: golf, swing, over the top, lesson, instruction, eBook, amateur golf, buy, full shoulder turn, golf, golf grip, golf swing mechanics, golf swing optimization, http://overthetopgolf.com, over the top golf swing, repeatable golf swing, swing thoughts, Tampa
Revised 09-03-2012

 

Sunday, March 6, 2011

TOMMY GAINEY AT PGA NATIONAL - WHO TAUGHT HIM THAT GOLF SWING?



TOMMY GAINEY AT PGA NATIONAL
Tommy "Two Gloves" Gainey
courtesy LIFE
 PALM BEACH GARDENS, Florida - There are golf swings and there are unusual golf swings. Some are the result of golf lessons from teaching pros while others have a more homemade appearance.  Although 80-90% of all amateur golfers have a natural tendency to swing over the top, no golf instructor teaches or even encourages the practice.  This weekend, a very unusual golf swing appeared at a PGA Tour event. Not only that, the guy with the unusual swing was contending. If not for a triple-bogey on the infamous par-three 15th hole at PGA National, Tommy Gainey might have been playing in the final group on Sunday at The Honda Classic.

At the fine website http://golftransformations.com/ you can read the February 25, 2011 article by Lee McGinnis, Ph.D. and PGA Member. I found the following passages to be refreshing as well as revealing.

"In conducting our study on the country’s top teaching pros, we’ve discovered a different philosophy. The pros in our research seemed to be more inclined to prescribe change that was seamless and without pain. They also prescribed strategies that were focused on providing the simplest route to effective change without trying to alter too much of what the student brings to the table."

I must admit that I'd never encountered these types of golf instructors on the road to creating the great OVER THE TOP GOLF swing. The vast majority of teaching pros knew how to swing one way and one way only. Common sense tells us that they must also teach that same exact swing because to do otherwise would just make them look clumsy. So PGA and PGA-type golf lessons are nothing more than an imprint of their swings onto your mind and body. Sort of like having someone else's face tattoed on top of your own.

"While it may be human nature or the nature of coaches and even business practitioners to inflict change and dramatic change in order to validate their positions, our pros were more inclined to work with what they had."

I'm not implying that there's no potential for improvement going the big bucks golf lesson route. It's just that stories of golf swing recidivism after lessons run about 90% for reverting back to old habits. Most amateur golf students add that they find themselves more confused than ever.

You've got to own your swing. It's as simple as that. Once you do, you can correct your problems within a few holes, not a few months. Tommy Gainey has a lightning quick golf swing....he's got his right elbow permanently attached to his right hip bone....who taught him that golf swing? My bet is that he came to his golf teacher or golf coach with a lot of unusual but innate habits that the instructor further shaped into something workable.

Golf lessons that focus more on what you can't do instead of what you are actually capable of doing are bad. You'll find that any PGA teaching pro who will work with your outside-in swing or funky grip is the exception to the rule. The pros themselves say that 90% of amateurs have, and will always have, an over the top swing. There are more than 100 web sites advertising that they can fix, cure or correct it.

Last thought insired by Tommy Gainey's success....yes, amateur golfers can correct a homemade outside-in, over the top golf swing or any other problem but without periodic refresher lessons from a teaching pro and constant practice, forget about it. If you are a person who likes golf lessons and practicing then you are definitely on the right road. For others like myself who rarely get to play, much less practice, golf lessons can be more like taking a wrong turn. And if you travel too far before turning back, your destiny will lie in a place that is far from any fairway.

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Keywords for this article: golf, swing, over the top, lesson, instruction, eBook, amateur, golf instructor, golf lesson, golf swing, homemade, outside in, OVER THE TOP, PGA NATIONAL, practice, quick, teaching pro, Tommy Gainey, unusual
Revised 09-03-2012