I have played golf for 92% of my life, one would think that any tip or instruction that I read would be easy to comprehend.  Well, most of the time it isn’t.  How many times have you read an article or one of those 1/2 page tips in the common golf rags and been totally confused as to what they want you to do?  Or one that uses so many props that you need to increase your credit limit on the Home Depot card?  I ignore them now.  Way too much to think about during a golf swing.  Most of the time a simple change in grip, alignment or stance will produce the desired results.

I promise to provide simple, basic tips in this section of Get Ready For Golf.

Do you agree? Are most instructional tips too complicated?  Leave me a comment or complete the poll on the side panel of the blog!

Unconscious Putting by Dave Stockton is one of the best books on putting that I have read.  Not because of the helpful tips contained in the book, but because of the writing style that forces you to focus on what Stockton believes is most important to become a better putter.  Below are the important points that I took from Unconscious Putting?

• Worry more about distance control than direction;
• find the line of the putt;
• don’t take your eye off the putting line;
• stick to a routine, keep it simple, straight forward, and quick; and
• keep a positive attitude whether you make or miss the putt.

What I found surprising from the book is the lack of an opinion on a preferred stroke path or method.  Seems all I read about lately are two putting methods: straight back-straight through and the arc method…I’m so tired of hearing and reading about those two styles of putting.  Who gives a shit darn.  Stockton believes either method works if you are comfortable with it and can repetitively roll the ball over your target.  More on target later.

Stockton makes a point that finding a feel for distance is of utmost importance.  It is much more likely you will hit roll a putt 4 or 5 ft past or short of the hole than misread a putt that will miss the hole right or left by that distance.  Stockton also makes a point that you don’t hit a putt, you roll it.  This is more of a mental image of the contact between the putter and the ball than anything, but that lends itself to Stockton’s view on putting, it is more mental than physical.

The next point I took from the book is to find your putting line and don’t lose sight of it, make a mental image of the ball following the line, address the ball picking out a target a few inches in front of the ball and make the stroke.  Don’t focus on the hole, but rather your target spot.  You should have the same focus at address, don’t look at the ball, instead look at your target spot just ahead of the ball and make your stroke.  The quick stroke doesn’t allow you to freeze or tighten up over the ball.   You should follow this routine for every putt especially those important putts at the end of the round where making or missing will cost you cash, the trophy, or pride.  Changing your routine and pace will only tighten up your grip making it more likely to miss the putt.

In the end, don’t get down on yourself if you miss a putt, no one makes them all.  Stockton’starget spot comes into play here again.  If the ball rolls over your target, you made a good stroke and other reasons are to blame for the missed putt.  Keeping track of where you miss putts  (right, left, short, too long) is part of the learn process and you need to use these data to figure out if you are reading greens incorrectly, if your stroke has a preferred alignment, or possibility there are other factors contributing to your misses.

Of course the above is a synopsis of Stockton’s views and teaching methods, the book contains much more depth on each of the points.  Stockton also writes about choosing the correct putter, fitting it to you, putting practice, and much more.  Stockton’s writing style is persuasive, concise, and reads well.  Unconscious Putting was easy to read and I enjoyed the book.  Best of all he doesn’t seem to push his view points so hard that you feel like he is selling you an used car.  He states his opinion without making you feel guilty if you don’t stick to his methods 100%.

Cons:  I got a little tired of hearing about his career, kids and how great he thinks his father is.  I have no doubt he is proud of them all, but mentioning it once or twice would drive the point that his qualifications are first rate.  Moreover, the success of his students and followers attest to his credentials, his methods work and are good enough to make me a believer.  Stockton also repeats many of his main topics throughout the book, though I think this was planned to drive those points home.

Overall this is a great book and I would recommend it to everyone, beginner to accomplished golfer.  Pick up a copy!  I bought the book on Kindle and it was formatted well.

Buy the book here:

Or for the Kindle here:

Here in Upstate New York we do not often have the opportunity to golf on Thanksgiving weekend.  This year it was beautiful and I was able to get two rounds in at a fairly new Jack Nicklaus Design course call Timber Banks.  This got me thinking about a feature I want to add to Get Ready For Golf, a Golf Course Review section where anyone can send me their own review of a favorite course to post on this blog.

You can email me your brief review of a course you have played along with a few pictures of the best holes.  Tell us what you think about the course layout, the condition of the greens, the level of services offered at the course, the best holes, worst holes, and your overall rating for the course on a 1 to 10 scale.  Some background information would also be useful, for example,  who was designer and any other interesting facts that you might know about the course.  Be honest and truthful, but not too vicious as this isn’t a club bashing exercise.  Also, remember a 10 rating is the ultimate course and should be very hard to obtain…like Augusta.

You will be given the byline and all of the credit for the review.  I will post a review in the next few days so you have an example of what I have in mind.

Would you find a golf course review section useful?  Let me know I would like to hear from you.

Wishing everyone a safe and Happy Thanksgiving!  Don’t worry about what you eat, just have a wonderful time with your family.  I’ll leave you with one of the best posts I have come across.  When I decided I needed to do something about my weight and fitness level I worried every time I strayed away.  That was until I read this post.  The 80/20 Rule is something I always keep in the front of my mind and it allows me to feel better about eating habits and increases my confidence that I am on track.  Thanksgiving is a day to make good food choices but to realize that it is more about family and having a worry free good time.

Have a great Thanksgiving!

The one-leg balanced shoulder press is a great exercise to increase your balance, strengthen your core muscles and work your shoulders.  As with most of the balance exercises, this exercise is harder than you think it should be!  As discussed in the previous blog this exercise requires one dumbbell.  I recommend trying a lighter dumbbell to start with and increase the weight once you can perform the exercise while keeping your balance through the 2 sets and keeping good form.  More on this later.  Let’s get started!  I hope to add pictures for the exercises soon.

Ok, the picture below is closer to the correct form  (with one dumbbell)…need a model like in the thumbnail though…

First:

Stand on your right leg with your left leg slightly bent behind you and your foot off the ground.  As with the Twisted One-leg Airplane exercise, the left leg does not need to be bent and any particular angle, just keep it off the ground.

Second:

Place the dumbbell in your right hand with your arm straight down against your right leg.  Your left hand should be bent and held against your mid-section.  Use good posture, keeping your shoulders back.  Don’t lean forward or slouch your shoulders.  Be sure to keep your hips and shoulders square.  I like to face an object such as the TV, a wall, or full length mirror as I find it easier to make sure my body stays square while doing the exercise.

Actions:

1.)  Keeping your balance, curl the weight up to your shoulder with one end of the dumbbell facing your target and the opposite end to the side and in front of your chin.  Your arm should be bent at 90° with your upper arm parallel to the ground.
2.)  Press the weight up straight above your shoulder in a slow steady motion while maintaining your balance. Keep your core muscles engaged.
3.)  Slowly lower the dumbbell back to shoulder height.  Repeat.

Thoughts:

Keep separation between your base leg and your raised leg.  Don’t rest the raised leg along side the base leg.  Try to remember to keep the core muscles engaged.  If you feel significant strain on your shoulder use a lighter weight.  Keeping proper form and balance are more important than speed or the weight of the dumbbell.  Keep your wrist firm, and your arm angle should be 90° to your shoulder.  With your wrist firm that means that the front end of the dumbbell should always face the target.

What is it working?

You should feel your lower leg muscles firing to keep your balanced weight over your foot.  Core muscles should remain tight.  You should also feel your triceps, biceps and shoulder muscles working.  Remember, don’t use too much weight!

Repetitions:

Repeat 10 to 15 times and then switch legs.  Complete 2 sets.

Advanced:

Stand on a yogi brick once you can do this exercise without having to brace yourself.

The words ‘Use Free Weights’ conjure up images of bulky bodybuilders to most people.  As much as free weights, you can insert the word dumbbells here if you will, are important in body building, they are also important in a fitness program.  The main advantage I see in dumbbells over a stationary weight machine (besides cost) is that dumbbells require your muscles to also balance them in your hands.  Weight machine cables glide in pulleys or in guides that more or less hold them in a stationary plane, while dumbbells will want to tilt right or left in your hands during use.  The use of dumbbells will increase your Proprioception, or allow you more awareness of how to use and manipulate your muscles for better control of the implement in your hands.  Using dumbbells will develop, build, and strengthen the small muscles that work in unison with the larger muscles that doing the majority of lifting.  Bring this benefit to the golf course in better control of the golf club during your swing.  I mention how dumbbells will increase your proprioception of your hands, but they will also increase sensory  awareness of your arms and shoulders when used in exercises.

I bring up dumbbells in this sequence as the next blog will be devoted to an exercise that requires a dumbbell.

I would recommend obtaining several different weighted pairs of dumbbells.  Many exercises require the use dumbbells and dependent on the muscle group the exercise targets, the number of repetitions, and your strength you could use a pair of 5-lbs, 8-lbs, 10-lbs, 15-lbs, and 20-or 25-lbs dumbbells.  They do not need to be purchased at once, I pick up a set every so often to add to my personnel home gym.  Start with the lighter ones, you will know soon enough if you want to use heavier ones.

I use the plain iron type dumbbells, mainly because they are cheaper and my floor is covered by carpet.  If I worked on a hard surface floor, even if covered by a mat, I would most likely use the rubber coated dumbbells.  In the long run the coated dumbbells might be a better choice because the iron dumbbells can be damaged in use causing sharp edges that may cut you or anyone else like your children if they use them.  Dumbbells can of course be bought in any sporting good stores or online…have to love the free shipping!  See below.

The twisted one-leg airplane is a seemingly easy exercise…for the first 3 or 4 anyway.  This exercise is a good warm up for the body before doing more strenuous activities.   It also a great exercise to do before your golf round to loosen up your hips.  Let’s get started!  I hope to have a photographer soon so I can add several photographs for each exercise.

No equipment is needed unless you want to make the exercise more advanced (see below).  You can perform this exercise barefooted or with sneakers on.

First:

Stand on your right leg with your left leg lifted off the ground behind you.  The left leg does not need to be bent and any particular angle, just keep it off the ground…more than likely you will need to place it on the ground to keep your balance on your first few tries so don’t have it too high!

Second:

Raise your arms to parallel to your shoulders (in a Tee-position) and bend at your waist into your golf ball address position.  Don’t bend too much, use your 6-iron or longer stance.  Use good posture, keep your shoulders back.

Action:

Slowly twist your upper body to the right, and then to the left, while keeping your arms parallel the ground and in the tee-position.  Twist as far as you can without tipping over and try to hold that last position for a few seconds.

Thoughts:

Try to keep your right foot, knee and hip in line with each other (facing forward).  Do not turn your knee in the direction of your twist.
Do not lower your arms; keep them high in the T-position.
Keep separation between your base leg and your raised leg.  Don’t rest the raised leg along side the base leg.

What is it working?

You should feel this working muscles in your feet and lower legs.  To a lesser extent the outer hip muscles.

Repetitions:

Repeat 10 to 15 times and then switch legs.  Complete 2 sets.

Advanced:

Stand on a yogi brick once you can do this exercise without having to brace yourself.