Think And Reach Par Golf Tips and Advice

Simple and Easy to Follow Exercises to Unlock the Secrets of the Perfect Golf Swing

2008-02-05T07:22:00.000-05:00

A while back I was asked this question through my golf newsletter - how much do I want my left knee to break down? I am right handed, in good shape and flexible, and I get a good shoulder turn, but I am not sure if I should restrict my left knee from turning in or just let it go. I just don't know how far to let it go, is too far bad? Should I restrict the movement to get a better coil and more torque?

I had a word with golf coach Mark Anthony Montaquila, with whom I have produced the Body Golf series of videos and DVDs to see what advice he had to offer. Here's what he told me ...

Break down? I wouldn't call it that. That's a bit negative. You do however want your back knee to be "soft" A lot of instructors call it flexed. Basically, you want to be able to see your kneecap sticking out of your pants at the top of the backswing.

I've developed several golf swing drills in order to train this movement without having to hit balls, which distracts you terribly because you're too preoccupied with where the ball is going. (like everyone else.)

But for all of you reading this, here's a couple of freebees.

1. Begin in the neutral stance.
2. Lean into your golf posture with a golf club on your shoulders.
3. Begin turning into your backswings and thru swings.
4. MAKE SURE that your back knee is SOFT on the backswing motion and be sure to finish with a toe-drag.
5. This motion is simply the golf swing without holding a club.

Try that until you can do it without thinking about it, then translate it to double-club pendulum swings. To do that, take a couple of long irons and set up in your normal swing posture, holding both clubs like they are one. Chin up and arms pretty much in line with the head. Start by turning the shoulders backwards and forwards - not a full swing. After a while, still using the shoulders, gradually increase to a three-quarters swing. It is not an arm chop, the movement comes from the shoulders with the arms relaxed and extended. If you struggle to swing from the shoulders, practice that by holding a club across your shoulders, behind your head and with one hand at either end of the club. You can then move the shoulders backwards and forwards to simulate the movement that a perfect golf swing will have.

So in short, for the perfect golf swing, keep that back knee soft and remember the toe drag. The same applies to left handed golfers too.

Want to see some free golf exercises to develop your perfect swing? Then visit Think and Reach Par for more great free golf swing tips for senior golfers or Golf for Leftys golf tips to improve your stance, grip and left handed golf swing.

Advice and Simple Easy to Follow Tips to Immediately Improve Your Golf Stance

2008-01-30T10:27:00.000-05:00

During a round of golf, you will have to address the ball dozens of times. Not only that but you need to maintain your golf stance over a period of several hours too! So the first point is that you need to be able to maintain your concentration and the second point is that you need a good degree of fitness. Work on these two peripheral aspects of your game and you will feel the benefits to your stance. You may have a perfect golf stance at the start of a round but a lack of concentration and fitness can play havoc with it later in the round - very frustrating as you know that you can do better.

But what makes a good golf stance in the first place? And what can you do to keep it up to scratch during a game? I will start at the bottom and work my way up.

The feet should be about shoulder width and slightly turned out for balance and mobility. If your feet are too close together, you will find that balance is an issue. If they are too far apart, it tends to inhibit the turning movement of the body. During a round of golf, if you are getting this wrong on the back nine, it is probably a concentration issue. So when setting up for a shot, always consider the correct positioning of the feet. Obvious eh? But just ask yourself if you do this every game and if the answer is no, ask yourself why?

The ankles need to flex and turn throughout the golf swing so it is important to maintain that flexibility throughout the round. This is a fitness thing, strengthen your calf muscles through exercise and keep them supple through regular stretching exercises.

You constantly need to adjust your height, according to which club you are using. You achieve this by bending at your hips and knees. So this is a fitness thing too. Late in a round, if your thigh muscles are aching or you are fighting to stay in position for the shot because your leg strength is shot, that is going to be a big problem to accuracy and distance. So regularly exercise and strengthen your thigh muscles.

During the golf swing, you should tilt forward from the hips. Many players will start to tilt using the lower back later in a round. This is not good for your swing as mobility is impaired. This can be both a concentration issue and a fitness issue. So exercise your hams and lower back muscles. And when you set up for a shot - EVERY SHOT - consider if you are tilting from the hips or the back.

That links in to the upper spine position - that should be straight, you should not look like that famous Parisian hunchback!! This too is a concentration and fitness issue. Make sure that before each shot you have pulled your shoulders back so that any tendency to a hump back is reduced. Get used to that by consciously pulling back your shoulders at every opportunity during every day - it will soon become a habit. You can also help yourself here by exercising and stretching your upper body muscle groups on a regular basis.

Well folks, that's about it, so if you follow these simple tips you should be able to maintain a good golf stance throughout your game.

Want to learn more or do you want to get left behind? Want to play more consistent golf? Then visit Think and Reach Par for more great free golf stance and grip tips and advice,, or Golf for Leftys golf tips to improve your stance, grip and left handed golf swing.

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Tips to Make Golf Enjoyable to All - Guide to Politeness on the Golf Course

2008-01-15T07:54:00.000-05:00

Out on the course the other day, we were playing behind a really rude, lousily, foursome and it was truly awful. I am sure they knew better, but just did not care. That said, I thought I would quickly go through a few steps of golf etiquette and what you need to know in order to avoid being labeled as selfish out on the golf course.

Golf is a game of honor. It is easy to cheat at golf, so every player is on his honor. Those who don't play honorably are usually unpopular and will find it hard to get opponents as word soon gets round the club. Golf has its own code of etiquette that everyone should follow and obey. Here are just a few that I try to practice.

When it is your turn to play, be ready. When walking to your ball, make your decision about the club to use, whether you will hit straight or with draw or fade, the line you will take and so on. That way, when you arrive at the ball, you are ready to hit. You don't have to hurry, just be ready and make your play.

The norm is that first shot on any hole goes to the player with the lowest score on the previous hole. If that hole was tied, then the tee goes to the player with the lowest score on the previous hole. If everyone is clear about this, there will be no wasting time deciding who takes the next shot at the next tee. Play it different if you want. Just make sure everyone in your group knows and agrees.

Make sure those in front of you have cleared out of range before you hit. Make sure everyone in your foursome is behind you when you hit. Common courtesy as well as sensible health and safety.

Pay attention to the group behind you. If you are holding them up, let them play through. Some of us play faster than others. Groups that are unaware of others create annoyance and eventually anger at their selfishness.

Take care of the course. Repair your divots. Repair any ball marks. Replace any loose grass or turf in the center of the hole or anywhere there is loose grass. It is the responsibility of every golfer to look after the course.

Remember to rake the sand smooth after you have used the bunkers. Leaving them in a mess for the next group is bad form and selfish.

Park your cart away from the greens, tees, and bunkers. Park on the left side of the green, nearest the next tee.

One thing I see a lot is the people in front of me, are crowding around the hole filling in their score cards, after they have finished the hole. After you have finished a hole, move out the way to mark your score card. Mark your card on the way to the next tee. How hard is that?

These are a few things that will make the game better for all of us.

Want to break through to the next level of golf? Then visit Think and Reach Par for more great golf gifts,golf swing advice, golf grip and stance tips or if you play left handed golf go to Golf for Leftys golf tips to improve your stance, grip and left handed golf swing.

Staying Motivated ...

2007-12-19T04:18:00.000-05:00

Crash! The clubs hit the floor in the corner of the changing rooms. Thump! The sound that the golfer made, dropping heavily onto the bench after another bad round. "I am gonna sell those darn clubs and get a new hobby!". The ensuing silence was punctuated only by the others, changing as quietly as they could. They recognised the signs of false discouragement but knew better than to speak at that time. After all, this latest defeat was aginst a gal who could beat the club pro 50% of the time so losing by just 8 strokes was really a good achievement. Trouble was, the golfer had been playing better players regularly for a couple of months now and had not won much.

False discouragement (which is discouragement not based on facts) can place you in a position of defeat. Repeated defeats are not good for your ego. You must have some successes to keep from getting discouraged.

30 minutes later in the 19th, the golfers buddies plucked up the courage to talk. From that conversation came these practical golf tips that any golfer can use to avoid false discouragement ...

Tip 1
Do not play with golfers (on a regular basis) who are better than you are unless the handicaps are such that you win at least half of the time.

Tip 2
Do not limit yourself to players who always outdrive you in the hope that you will learn from them. You won't. Get a golf training DVD and practice as much as you can in the backyard or on the driving range.

Tip 3
Do not increase your betting when you will have to come from behind to win. You will just get more upset about losing more money on the golf course!

Tip 4
Do not bet against poorer golfers if they demand handicaps which will almost certainly ensure their winning.

Tip 5
Do not attempt golf shots you do not have in your bag. Unless you practice a tricky golf shot, it is almost certainly going to fail under the stress of playing it cold in a comp.

Tip 6
Do not lie about your golf score or true handicap. It is better psychologically to win in a lower flight than to lose in a higher one. Play at the right level for your skills.

Tip 7
Do not concede any putts to yourself or your opponent that can be missed. You may think you are playing badly, when in reality you are playing your regular game.

Tip 8
Do not pull against your golf opponent.

Tip 9
Do not play with people who increase your anxiety. Avoid being stressed if you fluff a shot that you normally make. It is OK not to be perfect!

And here is a bonus golf tip - keep a golf journal so that you can see how well you are really playing, especially important when playing out of your league.

So when you are feeling discouraged, think of the good shots that you usually play. Get things in perspective, if you played Tiger or the Great White Shark, would you expect to win? Hey, golf is supposed to be a game of funkeep it that way and you can enjoy it for the rest of your life.

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The DVD that Will Save Golfers Hundreds of Dollars.

2007-12-10T15:34:00.000-05:00

The sheer frustration of continually slicing, hooking, hitting fat or thin drives many golfers to the edge of desperation. They pay hundreds of dollars to arrange a lesson with their local golf pro to cure the faults in their play. Money that could be spent on other things, including on a day out to keep your other half happy when they complain about the time you spend on the golf course!

This sound like you? If so, then you could benefit from the Body Golf Faults and Cures DVD. I took live lessons with my local pro and at the end of each session felt good. A fault had been cured. I went away to practice and the fault was exactly the same at the weekend, out on the course. Why? Because I was relying on the instructor to recognise the fault and correct it. I did not have that skill, and my instructor did not develop that in me.

Then someone gave me the heads-up on Coach Mark Anthony Montaquila and his teaching methods. And the Body Golf Faults and Cures DVD. This DVD is revolutionary because it's designed to teach you not only how fix your problems but also identify (diagnose) them in the first place. Just like a real live lesson!

So how is it better than a live lesson? It empowers you with the skills the pros use - they analyse the flight of every shot and alter their golf stance, grip or swing accordingly. So the fault never becomes ingrained in their play. OK, you probably won't ever develop your skills to that level, but if you have that ability to analyse every shot, you will be one step ahead of the others.

How else is it better? A live lesson is only an hour or a couple of hours, once a week. The DVD can be used whenever you want, as many times as you want. So it is like having a personal instructor, available 24/7/365. But the best of it is that it costs a fraction of the cost of even a single lesson.

But what faults does this DVD teach you to identify and cure? The four most frustrating faults of them all of course. The hook, the slice, hitting fat and hitting thin.

For instance, did you know that there are four specific things that you can do wrong with your swing that will cause a slice? But you know what? Using the Body Golf Faults and Cures DVD you can learn how to properly adjust these things for yourself in a few minutes ...once you identify them, that is...and be on the road to hitting the ball straight-and-true for a lifetime. And as I said earlier, you don't need to wait until the next lesson to verify what you are doing is right - just run the DVD again.

There are four specific things that you can do wrong with your golf swing that will cause a slice? But you know what? Using the Body Golf Faults and Cures DVD you can learn how to properly adjust these things for yourself in a few minutes ...once you identify them, that is...and be on the road to hitting the ball straight-and-true for a lifetime. And you don't need to wait until the next lesson to verify what you are doing is right - just run the DVD again.

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Rationalizing Failure leads to Failure

2007-12-06T16:14:00.000-05:00

A big obstacle to improvement in golf is the habit of rationalizing. When a person rationalizes, it means, to put it simply, that they place the blame for their defeats upon outside persons or circumstances. This protects their (possibly fragile) ego by taking the sting out of failure. It turns painful depression into less painful anger. It tears others down and, by tearing down of others, seems to raise them in importance, much like the last survivor of a battle royal who looks like a giant of the ring if everyone else is on the floor. It is bad psychology to rationalize.

First it is a most unpleasant personality trait. The least desirable companion on any golf course is the constant griper. It is a mark of selfishness to impose on others the necessity for listening to this bilge.

Second, the tendency to excuse one's game hinders remedial learning. No improvement is possible unless the individual takes full responsibility for all his golfing errors and proceeds to correct them. Analyze the reasons why the game went badly and work to eliminate them the next time you are out on the golf course. You might want to get this DVD to help you improve your golf grip, stance and swing.

Third, even if rationalization removes the sting from poor shots, it retards learning. Learning is faster if we attach a painful reaction to a poor shot. When you rationalize, it makes failure easier to take and thereby makes it harder to learn. Rationalizing or the making of excuses does not inspire remedial practice. You do not realize that remedial practice is necessary because you do not accept personal responsibility for the error.

Fourth, it is not wise to rationalize even when there is a good basis for it. If you do, it will intensify feelings of hopelessness, and prevent you from attaining a satisfactory level of performance. Your subconscious mind will resign itself to failure and that will become a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Even gross physical handicaps should not be used as excuses. Many have made names for themselves under the greatest of physical handicaps such as the one-armed guy who hit two holes in one on the same round. Don't feel sorry for yourself, think positive.

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A Positive Mindset

2007-11-28T09:59:00.000-05:00

Most golfers will admit that golf is 90% mental, yet most spend all their time and efforts on the mechanical aspect of the game. The golfing industry hasn't helped the trend by breaking down the golf swing and analyzing each of its components. The average handicap for club players is still the same as it was 20 years ago. Even with all the new technology in equipment and video analysis.

Everyone seems to be teaching or learning the perfect swing, but little do people realize that almost no one has a perfect swing, not even the pros. Each of us has a certain way of swinging the club, even if we are taught the correct way in the beginning. Negative feelings have a lot to do with our swing. If you have a good swing, and negative thoughts, you still will not play good golf.

Most players are distracted and not totally concentrating on their shot at one time or another. Each time this happens, you can lose a stroke or two. If this happens only 4-5 times a round, it could add a lot of strokes to your score.

The main principles behind good golf are simple. You must be able to focus on the task at hand and stay in the present, then pick a small target and empty all unwanted thoughts from your mind.

Want to take your game to the next level? ‘Own the Zone’ will teach you the pro’s secrets. Eliminate your golf swing flaws, learn the secrets to golfing accuracy and ball control!! GUARANTEED.

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Sink those putts ...

2007-11-26T12:43:00.000-05:00

One of the worst things a golfer can do is think too much about putting. It’s better to take one quick look at the line from behind the ball and another from beyond the hole and then hit the putt based on your first conclusion.

Too many golfers examine putts from all directions, plumb-bob with their putters-that’s the strange exercise that involves dangling the club vertically in front of your face and closing one eye-when they know neither what they’re doing it. Then they stand over the putt, staring at the line until they start seeing all manner of bumps and swales and breaks, and before they know it they’re all but frozen stiff and incapable of putting a good roll on the ball.

Trust your instincts, instead-and the first impression usually is based on instinct. Addressing your ball and hitting it swiftly won’t necessarily make you hole more putts, but you’ll eliminate any opportunity for double to creep in and you’ll also get into a good rhythm.

When faced with an uphill putt, don’t be afraid to hit it more firmly than you might think necessary. For one thing, gravity is on your side. Another plus is that the far side of the hole is higher than the near side, so in effect the back of the hole becomes a backstop. Assuming you’ve chosen the correct line-uphill putts tend not to break much at all-you can then make a run at it safe in the knowledge that when your ball passes over the hole it will fall slightly and hit the “wall” behind the hole-the back of the cup.

So, relax before putting, let your golfing instinct guide the ball into the cup!

Try this video for more tips on using the putter

Want to break through to the next level of golf? Then visit Think and Reach Par for more great free golf swing improvement tips and training DVDs to buy, or Golf for Leftys golf tips to improve your stance, grip and left handed golf swing.

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Simple Steps that are Virtually Guaranteed to Improve Your Putting Skills

2007-11-12T04:16:00.000-05:00

How can it be that on one day you putt beautifully, and the next you're all but helpless on the greens?

Putting in golf is one of the most inconsistent skills in all of sports. Good putters usually putt well, but even the smooth strokers go into short or prolonged slumps.

Pros are fairly equal from tee to green, with a few notable exceptions like Tiger. It's the guy or gal who putts well throughout a tournament that brings home the bacon.

Unlike the basics - golf set up, grip, and swing - putting is a world unto itself. There's no right way or wrong way; it's what works for you that counts.

Your putting grip is important, but what feels good and works for you might be a handicap for a fellow player. Check with some good putters and see how they place their hands on the club. It doesn't hurt to experiment with new methods occasionally. The putter - as a club - is vital to your success or lack thereof. And it doesn't have to cost $100; some of the prices for golf clubs have become ridiculous.

Foremost, you need a putter that looks good to you; that seems silly, but if you don't gain confidence from your putter's appearance, you won't putt well with it. Clubheads on putters come in so many diverse shapes and sizes that just selecting one that seems right for you can be a chore in itself.

The weight is important, but only insofar as it feels right to you; almost everyone has a different weight preference for their putter. Don't hesitate to buy an inexpensive or used putter if you find one you think might fit your style. If you like everything but the grip, you can get that changed in a golf shop. And it's not expensive.

If you have and old and trusted putter that has served you well and you're slumping, try placing a new and different-sized grip on it. All of these seemingly insignificant changes can give your confidence a needed boost.

Don't neglect your putting when you do your golf practice. But avoid becoming obsessive about it. If you practice putting over a long period of time, your back will begin to ache and your concentration will wander to greener pastures.

The majority of golfers ignore two important shots while practicing their putting: They don't work on putting from the fringe. And that's a shot that most golfers use frequently on the golf course.

Make sure you devote part of your putting practice to stroking approach putts from the fringe, both close to the actual putting surface and - depending on the texture of the fringe - as much as eight to ten feet off the green. A second troublesome putt that should be practiced from time to time is the dilemma that's presented when your ball comes to rest on the putting surface against the first cut of the fringe. That can be a daunting shot if you haven't practiced it. The key is hitting the top half of the ball while stroking the putter smoothly over the top of the fringe. If you try and chop down on this putt, it can have disastrous results. However, having said that, sometimes chopping down on the putt is the only way you can hit the shot if the fringe is fairly high. You have to experiment to find the method that works best for you.

Short and focused putting practice is better than long, tiring sessions that become boring. You can work on just about every type of putt in a 15-20 minute practice period.

Another key to good putting is to keep a journal of thoughts that work well for you when you're going well. And, conversely, record what is wrong when you're in a slump. It might be something that will recur - both good and bad - and if you have a journal to refer back to, you might head off potential problems at the pass.

Want to break through to the next level of golf? Then visit Think and Reach Par for more great free golf swing improvement tips and training DVDs to buy, or Golf for Leftys golf tips to improve your stance, grip and left handed golf swing.

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Golf Ball BS exposed - The Secrets That Manufacturers Don't Want You to Know

2007-10-25T05:43:00.000-04:00

You have probably seen and heard advertisements from several different manufacturers claiming that their ball is the best. Hey, they can't all be the best...or can they? Since there are rules that limit a ball's initial velocity, it stands to reason that all the major golf ball makers are already pushing those limits. If they wanted to, they could probably make a ball that goes much further, but it would be illegal. Some pros are under contract to play the ball brand of their various sponsors, but they probably would do just as well playing a different brand, so it is not likely that these balls can be all that different.

That means if the average golfer wants more distance, any of the major brands will be OK. Some balls claim to have "high spin". Sounds cool, but if that is true, you can expect to increase your slice or hook, which negates the value of being able to stop the ball on the green more easily. Trying to spin the ball on "public" greens may be futile, because those greens are usually not as soft as the greens on plush private courses, so the extra spin might not be of any benefit to the average golfer anyway. If you really really like spin, use a ball with a cut or scrape on it (just kidding). If you like more distance, line up the seam of the ball vertically along the target line (not kidding, this supposedly also promotes a better roll for putting).

Some people claim they can feel a difference in the "softness" of the ball when they hit it. Don't be fooled by this. Any ball will feel softer if you hit it on the sweet spot of the club, and the same ball will feel hard if you fail to strike the ball on the sweet spot. Some people say they can tell by the sound; gimme a break, does it go "doink" or "squish"? If you think any of these balls are soft, allow me to bounce one of them off your head, and then you can tell me how soft it feels. They used to say hard swingers were supposed to use harder higher compression balls, yet the lower compression Lady Precept has changed this way of thinking, and now all the major brands are making balls with specs similar to the Lady Precept.

So the bottom line is this: Unless you are a low handicap golfer, it probably makes little difference which ball is better for you. The marketing hype is just playing on your mind. For the average golfer, brand guchi-fufu will probably get no better scores than Brand A or B or X. However, the mind is a very powerful thing, so if you feel more confident by playing an expensive ball, then go for it, a positive attitude will probably help you.

So without further ado, here is my "meticulous scientific" and most fiscally responsible method of choosing a golf ball. Use whatever the ball retriever can dredge up from the nearest ponds, and put the money saved to better use, like maybe for some extra beers at the 19th hole, or better yet, use it for some of the golf swing instruction DVDs mentioned in our web site!

Immediately Improve your Golf - Simple, Easy to Follow Ideas

2007-10-22T05:57:00.000-04:00

All of us use hypnosis in our everyday lives all of the time. If you are overweight and overeat, you can become satisfied with smaller portions of food, If you smoke, you can
become an ex-smoker. If you’re phobic, your fears can disappear completely.

In an open state of mind, you can make strong, positive suggestions to change your life dramatically. Hypnosis can help you improve your golf game. It can help you lower your
score and feel proud of your accomplishment and your game.

Your inner mind is lazy: It needs repetition for change to occur. The more detailed your picture, the more accurate your outcome. If you expect a positive outcome, you will receive
it.

Once you create self-hypnosis on command and through suggestion, you need to product strong mental images of what you want to accomplish, you can lower your golf score.

You can achieve that score you always dream about. No more being embarrassed of your score in front of your friends.

And along those very lines, we have an article within this article, written by Jennifer Scott, author of Own The Zone. Jennifer is a Certified Hypnotherapist, and has helped many
golfers improve their score.

DON’T ‘BE THE BALL’ - BE THE TARGET By Jennifer Scott, Clinical Hypnotherapist

In the movie, ‘Caddyshack,’ before they swung, golfers repeated the mantra, ‘Be The Ball.’ This is OK for a funny movie or if you’re a beginning golfer who’s likely to miss the ball if
you don’t pay supreme attention to it. But for anyone else it’s ridiculous.

Because you’re better than that. You don’t want to just hit the ball. You want the ball to go someplace. Like...a Target. It would be much better for you to ‘Be The Target.’ To focus
intensely on the Target. To picture your ball going to it. To have it so burned into your mind that you can still see it in your mind’s eye when you’re addressing the ball. Watch the pre-shot routine of any good golf professional. What do you think they’re doing when they stand in back of the ball, in line with the target? They’re picturing the ball flying to the Target.

This is what my Golf Clients do through Self Hypnosis. They’re able to picture something happening and then let it happen. My Golf Clients ‘see’ the ball going to the Target while
they’re looking at the ball they’re about to hit. The connection with the Target is never lost. Want to improve your scoring?

Before every shot, make the Target your image.

Get the picture?

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TIRED OF FRIENDS LAUGHING AT YOU?? ‘Own the Zone’ will teach you the pro’s secrets. Eliminate your golf swing flaws, learn the secrets to golfing accuracy and ball control!! GUARANTEED.

Easy to Follow Golf Secrets to Improve Your Swing and Approach Game

2007-08-28T02:48:00.000-04:00

I have been looking back through our Newsletter archive to find some really useful tips and advice to help you to improve your golf grip, stance and swing, that might be otherwise be missed by visitors to our site. I came across this, especially useful for new golfers to help to improve driver distance off the tee and also your putting.

Two questions from one of our golf newsletter subscribers … I have started golf at the age of 61 years. Seeing people hit the ball long distances, I have been trying get the same distance. I get a maximum of around 220 yards with driver. But that too not very consistently. After practicing for several months, I was told that it is because of my age that I don’t get the desired distance. Do you think this is true? and if not what should I do get a longer distance. Should I slowly increase the speed of the drive in its down swing (I have tried to bring the club down with a greater force. This way I lose control of the stroke and my whole game get badly affected. In fact changing into my normal swing become difficult then. I have therefore stopped trying to get long distances.) Do you have any suggestion?

My second question - I have been suffering for a long time in perfecting my putting. I have changed the way I putt several times. I discovered that I don’t get the direction nor the feel of the distance. This was even after reading quite a few books on putting. Now I seem to get a much better putt but I have not been able to perfect it. However, I still find it difficult to putt as close as 5 ft away.

This is how I putt. I take my direction from behind the ball. Take a stance. Move back so that my elbow rests on my stomach. By resting my elbow on my stomach I find that I have greater control on the putter, i.e. the putter moves in a straight line (Earlier when I was not resting my elbow on the stomach I used to find that the putter shakes while striking the ball. Thus making it difficult to keep the direction, and at the same time there was no feel of the direction) With the current technique, I have a better feel of the direction as well as distance. However, I still don’t feel confident about putts as short as 5 ft from the whole. Is there any way I can improve my putting.

Here is the reply from our resident pro, Joe DeLorenzo …

About your first question, a forceful swing has less of a chance to hit the ball on the “sweet spot” on your clubface. An easy swing that hits the sweet spot will send the ball farther than a hard swing that misses the sweet spot. A hard swing may cause improper weight shifting, which may reduce your clubhead speed. Proper weight shift from the top of the backswing starts going from the back foot to the front foot before the downswing begins, setting up the power of a whip without extra effort. Clubhead speed at impact is the sum of arm swing and wrist snap. A hard swing usually starts the wrist action too soon when the downswing begins, so there is no more acceleration added from the wrist by the time the clubhead gets to the ball, resulting an “all arms” swing and slower clubhead speed. For maximum distance, you must save the wrist action until just before impact. This is best demonstrated with a ping pong ball and paddle. How far can you hit the ping pong ball with an all-arms swing compared to using your wrist? Watch the slow motion replays of the pros on TV, and you will see the wrist snap is held back until the last possible instant. That is why most of the pros may look like they are swinging very easy, but they still generate a lot of clubhead speed with that last-second wrist snap, followed by a long high follow-thru.

About your second question, most people have a putting stroke that is not steady enough. To prove this, go to any square-tiled floor and see if you can keep your stroke steady along (or slightly inside) one of the lines in the floor. You will likely see the club jittering above and below the line during the stroke. Some people will spend a lot of money on a new putter, thinking that this might solve their problem, but before you waste your money, you must first do something about the steadiness of your stroke.

Here is how I found instant improvement. Recently I was in a Wal-Mart store which had square-tiled flooring, and while my wife was taking her time shopping, I went over to the golf aisle and tried various types of putters along the floor tile line, all of which showed a little jitter in my stroke. Then I noticed for the first time that there were some belly-putters on the rack. I never had tried these things because they were too expensive, but I put it to the tiled-floor test, and I noticed that by pressing the longer shaft against my belly, the stroke really did improve, very steady, no more jitters. It still seemed a bit expensive, so I made my own belly-putter by cutting a hole at the top of my putter’s grip and inserting a piece of broken shaft, making the overall length 43 inches. My next round showed immediate improvement in my putting, so I am sold on this belly-putter idea. I believe the shaft being pressed onto your belly will prevent and eliminate the unwanted wrist actions that make the stroke unsteady. You might want to try one yourself. You might also want to add the Thinkandreachpar.com golf training DVD to your list of golf gifts …

Good Golfing.

An Astonishing Golf Story and some easy to follow tips to Instantly Improve Your Swing

2007-08-16T16:19:00.000-04:00

On Jan 28, 1995, a 70 year old golfer named Cy Young nailed two holes in one at the Lakeview Golf Course in Delray Beach, Florida. An extraordinary feat for anyone, of course, but especially amazing when you consider this fact:

Cy Young has only one arm. On the first hole of the course, he hit a 3 iron 96 yards and straight into the cup. He danced a little jig and continued playing the course.

On hole 13, he scored another ace, this time with a 3 wood that soared 107 yards. As Sir Walter Simpson wrote in The Art of Golf, There is no shape nor size of body, no awkwardness nor ungainliness, which puts good golf beyond reach. There are good golfers with spectacles, with one eye, with one leg, even with one arm. In golf, while there is life there is hope. Amen

The Laws of Low

Hitting a low shot is not just a matter of hooding the club face. Youll also want to play the ball back in your golf stance and choke down on the club. When you play the ball back in your stance, it is important to remember that you should not just move your feet to the left. This forces you to come into the ball at a much steeper angle and you could well hit the shot fat. Its better to take your normal stance and then widen it slightly by moving the left foot only to the left. You will want a slightly more descending blow; so when you move your left foot, also shift your weight to your left side and move your hands forward.

As for choking down on the grip, the idea is not necessarily to give you more control over the club. Gripping farther down the shaft effectively shortens the area in which the shaft can flex, so the shaft becomes a little stiffer. That will make your ball fly lower too.

But choking down will lose you some distance, so take one more club than you usually would for that distance.

Watch Your Heel

A good way to control the swing and to coil the body to store energy during the backswing is to keep the left heel anchored firmly to the ground during the entire golf swing. All too often golfers raise the left heel during the backswing and then emphatically bring it down to the ground during the downswing. Its a show of force with negative consequences: The body releases the power it has stored during the backswing and sways to the left or lunges during the downswing. Keep your left heel on the ground to provide a foundation for the firm left side that is fundamental to every solid golf swing.

The Toughest Shot in Golf

Ask any pro the toughest shot in golf and hell say the sixty-yard sand shot. Even the top players have trouble deciding whether this calls for an explosion shot or a normal wedge shot. Fortunately, we average players dont have to make that decision. The sixty yard explosion just isnt in our bags. So well make do with the normal wedge shot.

Stand squarely, with the ball in the idle of your stance. As with the long bunker shot, you should make contact with the ball first, so remain as steady as possible for as long as possible. As this requires you to swing with only your hands and arms, youll want to take a club or two more than usual (but bear in mind that playing the ball farther back than normal will deloft the club face slightly).

For anything up to seventy-five yards, the average player should use a pitching wedge hit with three-quarters swing.

How to Improve your Approach Shots

2007-07-27T07:00:00.000-04:00

Pitching.

This is one very subtle technique that I found by accident. With pitching, you usually want the ball to end up as close to the hole as possible, if not in it of course. As a hobby, I like to video record golf tournaments on TV to study the swings of the pros. What I usually do is playback the swings in slow motion and frame-by-frame mode to catch the finer points of their body movement. A couple of years ago, I picked up on something while watching my favorite golfer, Tiger Woods. When he made approach shots with shorter irons with the intent of making the ball stop, he didn’t let the club head turn over through impact. He kept his right hand under the club through the divot. Be advised here, you still have to swing your upper body through the center. The trick is, to not release the club by rolling your wrists over as if swinging a driver or longer club.

Driver swing…
With the longer clubs, Tiger would whip the club head through the point-of-impact and finish his swing with a toe drag. With this technique, the ball rolls after landing and goes the farthest and straightest. This is generally the technique used with a driver, three-wood, etc. If you freeze-frame right after impact with this technique, you’ll see that he’s in a handshake position pointing his right hand directly at the target with his thumb high and his shoulders turned through the point-of-impact while facing the center of his chest directly at the target.

Wedge swing…
Getting back to the short pitch or wedge shot, I like to do this type of shot when I need as little roll as possible after the ball lands. I’ll especially do this out of the sand or next to the green when I can’t chip it and I need the ball to check up quick without rolling. You should set up with the ball slightly back of center of your stance. When you swing, all you have to do is have your right hand underhand toss the ball at the hole. Note here the thumb position. It’ll be out as if you’re hitchhiking, and your palm will be facing up.

50 yards and under…
To hit it even shorter, swing the same way with your hands, and cut your toe drag down by swinging a bit on the flat-footed side. Again, by studying the Tour Pro’s swings, I noticed that with short iron and pitch shots, I wouldn’t see a toe drag as with a driver or long iron. The right foot may come off the ground a little but it will not come all the way up on the toe. This is a very subtle aspect of the short game that took me years to come across.

The motion of this type of shot is simply an underhanded toss. Your right hand will not roll over to let the club head turn through the point-of-impact. This can be done with the shorter clubs to an extent. However, unless you’re looking for a slice, don’t do it with a long club. The reason is simple. If you sweep the clubface of a longer club through the point-of-impact without letting it roll over, it’ll remain open at impact and you’ll be guaranteed a nice banana-ball. This is where some people get confused. Here’s why…

Crossed rules…
With a shorter club, this type of underhanded swing will not produce as much sidespin as backspin. With more backspin than sidespin, any type of curve during flight will be minimized. This is why you see a lot of intermediate level golfers able to effectively control shorter irons, but slice the ball terribly with longer clubs. Its simply because they’re crossing up these very subtle swing rules. This is also one of the reasons why I used to slice.

My problem was…I would squeeze the club at impact in anticipation of feeling a “solid” hit. Here’s what would happen. When I squeezed the club, it would actually slow down and sort of freeze through the point-of-impact. With the club moving without turning over, it would scrape the ball and put a mean left-to-right sidespin on it. This of course resulted in a banana-ball that would only go about 100 yards and then take a hard right turn, driving me absolutely batty with anger and frustration. Once I learned how to release the club and let it turn over naturally, my golf slice immediately disappeared.

Let impact surprise you…
Let's back up for a second and talk about squeezing the club… this was because I was anticipating impact. A lot of people do this. Maybe you do too. The next time you’re at the range, swing through and let impact surprise you. If you anticipate impact, you’ll slow the clubhead down and will most likely slice the ball or miss it outright.

In closing, remember this:

1. To hit the ball short, swing underhanded with a minimal or no toe drag.

2. To hit it long and straight, roll your hands over and whip the club head through the point-of-impact. Let impact surprise you by throwing the clubhead through the center and at the target while finishing with a toe drag.

Pretty interesting stuff, huh? Try it and see for yourself.

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Tips to Help you Improve Distance and Accuracy on the Golf Course

2007-06-29T16:07:00.000-04:00

We all want to get more distance and accuracy off the tee and to be able to putt accurately and consistently, with this advice, I hope you will be able to do all of those things.

One of the most famous of all golf tips is supposedly from Sam Sneed. It says, hold your club as though it were a young bird. You don't want to hurt it, but you don't want it to get away either.
This best sums up the notion that very little grip pressure is to control the club. Another way of emphasizing this idea is found in a similar tip: Hold the club so that it is pointing straight up in the air. Lighten your grip until it reaches the point that the club starts to fall straight down through your hands then tighten up a slight

amount. You want only enough pressure to keep the club from slipping through. A tight grip will cause the muscles in your arms to tense up. This will reduce your clubhead feel and reduce your swing speed.

The only fingers that should feel any pressure against the grip itself for the right-handed player are the pinky, ring and middle fingers of the left hand and vice versa if you are a left handed golfer. They alone are capable of exerting enough force to control a club throughout the swing.
When asked how he got so much distances off the tee as a senior, Jay Sigel responded, "The way I grip the club so lightly is the main reason."

Try it...it works!!

It doesnt make any difference if you have an unorthodox grip or stance when you putt, but two things are vital: Your eye must be directly over the ball, and you must stroke the ball to make it rotate end-over-end.

You have undoubtedly noticed that manufacturers are now making putters more upright. This is to help the golfer keep his eye directly over the ball. Every great putter I have seen does this. In effect, their eyes act in the capacity of eyes for the ball. The ball can only see the line when your eyes are directly over it. If they are not, your eyes will see one line while the ball sees another, and I dont think I need to go into the results of that.

When your eyes are over the ball, you have a much better chance of stroking it accurately and imparting end-over-end rotation. End-over-end rotation means that the ball is contacted so squarely that it rolls over itself, on the same vertical axis, there being no side-spin as there inevitably will be when the ball is cut or pulled or mis-putted in some other manner. If a putt stroked with end-over-end rotation hits a corner of the cup, it will not spin off and will usually drop.

I hope you find this advice helpful and that it will improve your putting ability, accuracy and distance. My Golf training DVDs make great golf gifts.

Managing Stress on the Golf Course to Improve Your Game

2007-06-27T11:38:00.000-04:00

Golf involves stress and at times, this stress can be detrimental to your game. It may influence your behavior in negative ways and get you into a negative thinking process, which only deters your skills. Remember that a certain amount of stress is needed to facilitate your performance but too much stress can manifest itself in negative ways. Players need to learn how to objectively assess their levels of vulnerability to stress and how to set up appropriate strategies to compensate them.

It is important to remember that the grandest quality of the true achiever is persistence. This often means fighting off discouragement and difficult times and in playing through slumps in performance.

There are several strategies that may be helpful in assisting you to maintain a standard of confidence and a winning attitude. They are balance, positive thinking, respect, vision, goal setting, commitment to continued improvement, and character.

OK, so how do you make it happen? Instead of getting mad when you play a bad shot, stay calm, remember everyone makes mistakes, if we did not, there would be no professional golf – we would all be playing to the standards of Phil Mickleson, Tiger Woods et.al. Don’t beat yourself up about it, even if you have a really bad round. You know you are better than that, the next time you will play better. A more difficult technique is visualisation, many top sportspeople can and do visualise themselves performing well.

When goal setting, set realistic targets, beware of pointless and low targets, but be aware of your ability when setting high targets. If you don’t achieve them, think why? Maybe they were not realistic. Maybe there are too many other things in your life right now. Avoid using them to generate negative thoughts, you didn’t reach a target – it is not the end of the world!

Yoga for golfers can help you to improve your concentration and also helps with anger control. This will help you to keep things in perspective out on the golf course. A yoga for golfers DVD would make an ideal golf gift for yourself, or for the golfer in your life. Having the instruction on DVD means that you can go over the techniques as many times as you want. It will pay for itself financially and out on the golf course very quickly and you can practice the exercises whenever you feel like it. It is like having a portable golf yoga guru!

So, with your improved mental attitude, you should find that you can enjoy your golf better even when having a bad round. But please remember, a little stress can add that winning edge to your game, just try to get the balance right!

How You can Improve Your Golf with Two Simple Practice Drills

2007-06-22T13:51:00.000-04:00

The average golfer will hit many bad shots in a round but that does not need to be the case. Get a head start on your buddies with these two easy but effective drills that could reduce your errors by over half. For many more golf tips and easy practice drills see our training DVDs.

Commitment Builder

This simple drill works on making sure you totally commit yourself through the ball. A major fault of many amateur golfers is their inclination to come off the shot. This simply means not committing yourself all the way through the impact zone. Contact, after this fault has occurred is rarely solid. This basic drill is an effective way of improving your impact position and encouraging you to extend through the ball. The way to correct this is just place a tee about 6 inches in front of your ball (using a driver) and imagine you are trying to hit another ball off that tee.

Taking The Club Back Smoothly

Seventy five percent of the average player’s bad shots are caused by getting out of position on the backswing. He or she gets out of position mainly for two reasons. Grabbing the club at the start of the backswing and starting back abruptly. When you take the club away from the ball abruptly, you destroy your normal tempo. This of course invariably leads to getting into improper position on the backswing. Experience has taught me that whenever I hit a bad shot, it’s due to the fact that I put myself into a bad position on the backswing.

Thus the importance of starting the clubhead back smoothly from the ball can’t be overemphasized. For the average golfer, this smooth takeaway is largely a matter of concentration. Before starting your backswing, you must think just what you want your hands to do with the club. This same discipline applies to grabbing the club at the start; you have to concentrate on not doing it. The average player is often too impatient. He is thinking of hitting the ball before he even gets the club back. A smooth takeaway, I might add, is just as important in putting as in driving. You’ll find you’ll yip far fewer putts.

So, by following these two simple and easy drills, you could significantly reduce the number of bad shots you play on the golf course and lower your score. If you know a golfer, our golf training DVDs make great golf birthday gifts or if you are the organiser of your club competition, why not give a set as a tournament gift or prize?

Dealing With Distractions on the Golf Course

2007-05-09T06:08:00.000-04:00

Golf is difficult enough without having to deal with mental and physical distractions that could easily destroy a good round. A lot of players will take the shot despite the distraction because they do not want to be branded as a slow player.

Probably the main cause of irritation and loss of concentration among golfers is players who continue to talk while you’re trying to make your shot.

Quite often, these people will make excuses for their inconsiderate behaviour, a common one seems to be that they’re just out for a good time and if anyone is bothered by their talking then they are taking the game too seriously and should not play social golf. They overlook the fact that the majority of golfers like to play their best always.

It is a real big problem to make these non-stop talkers understand that you’re irritated without starting an all-out war. Professional players will step away and look directly at the talker to let them work out for themselves that they are being a nuisance. This usually works for the amateur or social golfer too, but some people are insensitive to everything but themselves or maybe have never figured the etiquette of the course. Learning how to control your temper and maintain concentration when one of your playing companions is rude enough to distract you is important; it’s a lot easier said than done.

When you run into a compulsive talker that won’t take the hint, you have a real problem. The next step is to back away from the shot and say, “Fore please.” That hopefully should do it. Of course by then you’re annoyed and motor mouth is too - the atmosphere and golf is ruined. That is not easy, just make sure that you don't play with them again, they will soon find that they cannot find any partners and you will enjoy your golf again.

Two other common distractions come from a distance - cars going by and honking or players yelling from other fairways. Just back of from the shot - no harm done.

Some players have a habit of standing in your line - behind the pin - on a chip shot or putt. Usually it is just thoughtlesness and is easily solved by asking them to move to one side. Alternatively, go ahead with the shot. Either way your concentration on the shot is probably destroyed so take extra time to focus and compose your concentration, Yoga for Golf or our Body Golf instruction DVDs make great golf gifts that can help with your concentration.

Occasionally during a round you won’t feel right over a shot for any number of reasons. Most of us go right ahead and hit it anyway, back off and compose yourself. Every now and then you might not feel right about how or where you’ve teed up your ball to start a hole. If you’re not comfortable with the placement, take the time to move and tee it up again. Don’t hit it because you’re afraid of being portrayed as a slow player. That only becomes a real issue if you do it with most of your shots - for most players, these are infrequent instances involving an uncomfortable feeling when you’re not set up correctly on the tee.

So, to sum up, mostly the distractions are not deliberate and are infrequent so do not be afraid to back off from the shot and start it again, you will only be branded as a slow player if you do it most of the time.

Three Variations of Golf Shots

2007-04-09T14:48:00.000-04:00

While there is only one type of swing in golf, there are three variations of golf shots: Right curving, high-flying shots that inevitably turn into slices; Low-flying shots that curve to the left causing a hook; and the perfect straight shot, which is neither too high nor too low, and always manages to stay right in the middle of the fairway.

You may think a straight shot is all you’ll ever need to master the game. But, the ability to perform a hook or slice at will gives you an edge over other players when you all stand there facing a fairway with a sharp dog-leg to the right.

What’s the secret to intentionally shooting a slice or hook? It’s all dependent upon how you set the club before you begin the backswing. If the club is set in an open position, then the ball will veer off to the right. Closing the clubface will reverse the effect, and cause the ball to turn left in flight. Keeping the clubface square will result in a straight shot, down the middle of the fairway.

In order to master these techniques, you must first have a thorough understanding of each type of shot and its effects on the ball itself. A slice almost acts like a boomerang – flying high to the left and making a sharp turn to the right.

Slices can be helpful when you have a fairway that curves to the right. However, people who slice each and every shot are faced with the dilemma of limiting the distance they can achieve because the ball turns to the point of almost coming back to the one who hit it.

A more severe form of slicing is known as “shanking,” in which the ball is hit on the heel of the club and shoots off wildly to the right. Learn how to properly perform a slice so that it can be used to your advantage. First, play the ball slightly ahead of the left foot. Place the club so that the toe is slightly turned in and the shaft is not tilted forward, but rather, perpendicular.

Learning a hook is just as easy. For this type of shot, the club is positioned back towards the right foot – just as you’d do for a bad lie. The clubface, however, is kept square to the ball, with the shaft tilting forward. Your right foot is drawn back to the right of the intended line of the shot.

Sometimes, the lie of the ball will affect the body’s pivot, and result in a hook or a slice. If the ball lands on ground that is higher than the player, it results in a hook. Likewise, a low ball position results in a slice. To offset these tenancies, the player can adjust the aim of their stance and play with an open or closed clubface.

How do you use the eight steps if you’re a left-handed player? Simple. You just reverse both of the four step sections for positioning and swing. It’s the same as if a right-handed player finds himself up against a tree or other fairway obstacle that prevents him from taking a full right-handed swing.

Visit Think and Reach Par for more great free golfing advice, or maybe treat yourself or the golfer in your life to a golf gift like the Body Golf series.

Tips to improve your putting

2007-03-12T13:11:00.000-04:00

Putting generally makes up 40% of your overall scorecard and can make or break your game and overall score. Neglecting this aspect of your game can be a terrible mistake. Every golfer should practice to come up with a repetitive stroke that helps him sink more putts and save 5-6 shots per round.

Putting involves two important concepts: The Grip and Posture. These are discussed below:

1. Forming the putter grip: The steps below will help you in developing the right grip for putting. Step 1: Place your hands on either side of the putter grip, with your palms facing, and each hand square to the target line.

Step 2: Place your left hand on the club, with your thumb pointing straight down the middle of the grip keeping your forefinger off the grip for the moment.

Step 3: Place your right hand on the club, again with your thumb pointing straight down the grip. Wrap your fingers of the right hand around the grip, and put your left forefinger over them.

Step 4: Finally, extend the forefinger of your right hand down the side of the grip, to enhance the control. Hold the club a little softer as opposed to the regular swing.

2. Correct Posture: Good posture is very important to the success of the putting stroke. Ideally you should adopt a posture at address that lets your arms hang down freely with out any tension. The following steps should help you perform a natural posture.

Step 1: Stand up straight resting against your left leg.

Step 2: Flex your knees a little and bend from the hips so that your arms hang limp from the shoulders.

Step 3: Form your putting grip as described above.

Step 4: Check the key elements of your posture. There should be a slight bend in your arms, with your elbows pointing in towards your ribcage. Think of your arms and shoulder as a triangle. You should feel relaxed and comfortable over the ball with your weight evenly balanced. You are now ready to putt.

Don’t worry about the break in the green and it's possible effect on the path of the ball. The putter is designed so that you can hit the ball only straight and there is no point in trying to turn the ball using the putter or the stroke. Therefore, after selecting your target and aligning to it, your job is simply to concentrate on bringing the putter straight back and straight through the ball toward your target.

As the putter will only hit the ball in one direction, following the above steps will ensure that you hit the ball straight toward your target and be more successful.

Visit Think and Reach Par for more great free golfing advice, or maybe treat yourself or the golfer in your life to a golf gift like the Body Golf series.

Improve Your Conscious Ability to Compute Distances on the Golf Course

2007-02-20T08:51:00.000-05:00

Many golfers judge golf course distances subconsciously. They look at the hole and “feel” the distance. This is not as accurate as consciously computing how far you are from the green. The “feel” can be made much more accurate if it is helped mechanically and psychologically. This is particularly true when you are within pitching distance of the green.

The soundest method seems to be that of Bobby Jones, which involves the control of distance simply by shortening the grip on the shaft. If you will drop balls at one-yard intervals back from the green for about 100 years, you will find that you can control the length of the shot by simply holding the club at spots higher and higher on the grip. With this mechanical method Jones was then free to concentrate on direction. The balls automatically were close to the hole if he computed the yardage correctly.

Gauging the distance involves certain psychological factors. Hitting the golf ball the correct distance is a psychological horse of another color. Having read Bobby Jones techniques some years ago, this is how I did it. In order to practice hitting precise distances, I measured the distances from the practice green 100 yards back. Whenever I hit practice balls I did not play shots from one position, but scattered them at one yard intervals from the green on back. I noted my finger position on the grip at each distance. On the golf course, the sole problem was to estimate the distance, hold the grip at the point indicated for that yardage and pull the trigger.

I found out that if I would break up the distances to the flag into intervals of 10 yards, yardage can be gauged precisely. This is fine for short distances but is difficult to do for distances over 100 yards. Up to 60 yards is easily handled. When the distance is greater, I move to the side of the ball, estimate where the halfway mark is, divide this into yardage, multiply it by 2, and that is it.

Of course feel or the subconscious, is still important, but even this can be developed consciously. A general rule which should guide you is in the development of feel is always to use muscles which have the greatest potential for touch. Proper muscles can build a physiological fence around the shot and prevent bad judgment.

This means that your estimate is more accurate if the more sensitive muscles are used for the shorter distances. You must avoid using a yardstick when a ruler is needed.

The most delicate touch is in the tip of the index finger; then the other fingers, wrists, forearms, arms and body. Smaller muscles are more sensitive discriminators than larger ones. Also if few muscles are used, the additional variables that accompany the moving of many muscles are eliminated.

Since all shots do not require equal amounts of touch, there comes a point at which strength becomes a factor. Otherwise, what is gained in touch is lost in accuracy if, for instance, the golf club is loose in the hands.

The right combination of distance and direction on the golf course can only be achieved through varied practice. There are additional factors such as wind, bounce, and temperature whose influences need to be appraised. The simplest method of appraising is just what you would now expect-practice and play under as many different playing conditions as possible.

Visit Think and Reach Par for more great free golfing advice,, or maybe treat yourself or the golfer in your life to a golf gift like the Body Golf series.

Two Golfing Tips ...

2007-02-02T08:13:00.000-05:00

Alignment of the Body

The alignment of the body requires that the feet, hips, and
shoulders are parallel to the target line. (The Target Line is a
straight line drawn from the ball to the target). This means that
your body actually aims to the left of the target and not at the
target. To learn this concept stand directly behind your golf
ball on the target line and imagine a straight line from your
golf ball to the hole, this is the target line. In order to keep
the perspective of the target line as you set up to the ball pick
a spot on the ground about 12 inches in front of the ball on the
target line. Once you have found the target line set your body up
so that your feet hips and shoulders are parallel to this target
line. Initially you will feel like you are aiming way too far to
the left…trust it… this is the first step to curing your slice.
When practicing on the driving range it helps to set up a
practice station which allows you to monitor the correct
alignment for every shot. If you have ever watched touring
professionals or a top amateur practice you will notice that they
often lay clubs on the ground. The purpose of this habit is to
make sure that their body is consistently aimed parallel to the
target line and not AT the target which results in aiming to the
right.

The Clubface

The correct aiming of the golf club requires that the leading
edge (the bottom edge of the clubface) of the club forms a 90
degree angle with the target line. Then take a magic marker and
put a X on your ball. Set the ball down so that one of the
lines becomes the target line, the perpendicular line represents
the correct position of the leading edge of the club face. Set
the club down so that the leading edge of the club face matches
the line on your golf ball. If the club points to the left your
club is closed which will result in your shot going to the left
and conversely if the club points to the right your club is open
which will result in your shot going to the right. It takes a
little practice, but if works.

Hope these two tips help you improve your game. For more, take a look at the Think and Reach Par Body Golf School in a Box DVDs, a great golf gift to improve your tee shots and game in general.

Until next week…good golfing!

Golf for Seniors - Fitness, Flexibility and Mindset.

2007-01-26T13:03:00.000-05:00

Most people over the age of 45 start losing their strength and flexibility because of aging. But that should not mean a loss of fun or scoring ability. The senior golfer has to play smart, using good course management, a good short game, and adjust their thinking.

The main ailment of senior golfers is their back. Either golf related or from some other activity, many people suffer from back problems. The number one health reason for not playing golf for seniors is their back. And the standard golf swing that most golf professionals teach is one of the worse enemies of your back. Manner of fact, I would venture to say that the standard golf swing does more harm to backs than it helps. Therefore as we get older, we need to adjust our swing to fit our needs and health.

There are very few golf training DVDs on the market for senior golfers. Most of them are just the same as for younger players and they fail to address the needs of the senior golfer correctly. Mark Anthony Montaquila has produced a great DVD aimed specifically at seniors - it is not just a re-working of the same old exercises and really can help you to improve your golf shots and avoid injuries.

A few other things to consider are:

Play from the appropriate tees. Seniors should play form the gold boxes.
Of course use a cart or caddy although walking is good for fitness and flexibility.
Regular exercise to increase flexibility, strength, and endurance.

In one issue of Golf Journal, I read about a 104 year old gentleman from California that played in the inaugural Octogenarian Open, along side his 81 year old son!! And I quote him "I just go out and hit them now. Im just a duffer, but golf is good exercise. You get out in the fresh air. Its good for anybody. It keeps you out of the bars." Unquote.

Golf is good for people of all ages. It makes you feel good mentally and physically. Of course the better you play the more fun it is. And the key to playing better? I would say exercise and the proper golf training.

Are you a senior golfer? If you want to get more out of your game, visit Think and Reach Par for seniors golf exercises and training DVD, improve your golf gifts to improve golf swing, fitness and flexibility.

How to Perfect Your Golf Swing and Golf Like a Pro

2006-12-10T17:14:00.000-05:00

Consistent attention to stance, angle, and balance will effect the perfect golf swing, with a little practice. Well actually, the perfect golf swing will take a lot of practice. But when the time comes to play in a competitive tournament, friendly match, or business foursome, the perfect golf swing will be the perfect business and leisure asset.

Accuracy is the buzzword when working on your perfect golf swing, since the swing in and of itself is not the end result. The flight of the ball to the green or thereabouts should stem from the development of the perfect golf swing. A perfect golf swing should depend on physical conditioning or height, or a special club or distance to the tee.

The perfect golf swing should occur by habit, after hands-on training to correct bad habits and sloppiness. A good golfer should be able to correct themselves. The perfect golf swing should be able to encompass variables of distance, wind, turf, angle to the tee and length of the fairway in all wind conditions.

Golfers who experiment with their tee shots often discover that an automatic generation of a swing can be a great starting point for a great swing. But a perfect golf swing comes about after enough positive experience with a certain rhythm that occurs again and again, until the body can tell better than the mind how to do it. Then a perfect golf swing can be employed as a function of the golf game anywhere from tee to green to rough to fairway.

Many players will grind away at the perfect swing, using manuals, videotapes, books and even coaches to get the best whack at the ball. Consistent accuracy is more than mere mechanics. The perfect golf swing tempers a determined player’s concentration with effort that limits exertion.

The perfect golf swing has a methodology that is different for each player. Golf takes repetition and concentration, especially when problem areas need extra attention. The intense skill and methodologies necessary for the perfect golf swing can be discarded and focused upon depending on their effectiveness.

Little by little, the perfect golf swing can adjust a player’s handicap and show him or her how to map the perfect stroke for every part of the course.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Dr. Richard Myers provides the avid golfer with video instruction to improve his or her golf swing. If the perfect golf swing or golf grip eludes you, visit www.thinkandreachpar.com

Is It Time to Change Up Your Golf Grip?

2006-12-02T13:42:00.000-05:00

Working on your golf grip can improve every element of your game from tee off to green skills. Many people change up their golf grip as they progress through the ranks. A beginner with a nonexistent handicap might have an excellent grip but a lousy swing. As they improve, the clutch of their grip may change.

Maintaining a good golf grip can be as important as building a great golf swing. Using a golf grip can maintain steady execution of specialized swings toward different types of targets. A golf grip that works wonders for the tee off to the green can choke the delicate control needed for putts and chip shots. Most people tend to overlook the importance of a golf grip in favor of special clubs and extreme techniques.

Many people tend to borrow or use clubs without properly assessing whether or not the golf grips work for them. Many play for years without really shopping for a customized golf grip on their golfing gloves. Without the appropriate traction and perspiration absorbency, the standard golf club finish does not support the most optimized golf grip.

Golf grip does not just affect the swing of the club to impact but addresses the face of the club and its relationship to the ball during the entire swing. Follow through is an important element in many aspects of a player's game and golf grip is a hidden control that skillful players can use. Many players do not realize they can lose a lot of power in their swing by inappropriately gripping the club.

You cannot bring power to the ball if the connection does not occur. Your golf grip is often the culprit of a great swing with poor connection. The proper golf grip allows for more "feel" in the handling of a ball from the hinge of the wrist at the top of the club. Through practice and proper application of the golf grip, a serious player can apply the right combination of accuracy and force to the ball to direct it onto the green and fairway.

People who are comfortable working with their hands often have a great golf game, since control and flexibility of the thumb, knuckles, and wrist assist in good golf grip control and swing execution. The key to developing a better game is to bring newer and more sophisticated, yet efficient, techniques while incorporating what works.

Proper attention should be paid to a golf grip that works when other things don't. Many players invest in custom clubs because they may have certain characteristics in their swing and golf grip that work best with less weight, a better feel, or additional features.

The best golf grip occurs when your hands form naturally in the proper alignment without testing or drawing power away from your arms or shoulders. "Tensing up" does not always mean the stress of the swing is in the ball connection, but effort to maintain the grip. Every player should experiment with grips to see what new or more effective results a different technique can yield.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Richard Myers provides the avid golfer with video instruction to improve his or her golf swing. By using his golf instruction videos you will be able to lower your golf score significantly and get a grip on your golf game!

Golf The Universal Sport With Proper Instruction

2006-11-26T12:55:00.000-05:00

Golf is an interesting and popular sport which originated in Scotland in the seventeenth century, although it had been in existence in one form or the other even many centuries previous to that. In most places of the world, especially the United States, it is very popular among the business community. It has long been thought that many a board room decision has actually taken place on the golf course and just endorsed formally at the meetings. Therefore, knowing golf is considered an extra skill in business circles. Many good universities even offer courses to teach golf to interested people. But everyone may not have the time or money to learn golf from a professional teacher either in person or through an institute.

A good alternative would be to watch a golf instruction video produced by professionals. Golf instruction videos offer the comfort of learning at one's own convenience, pace and location. You may not even need to go to a golf club and still gain sufficient knowledge about the game by carefully watching and assimilating a set of good instruction videos. Even further on the plus side, one doesn't feel hesitant to watch a video ten times over if you are having a hard time grasping some concept. If you're shy about "owning up" to a shortcoming and dread facing an instructor to ask "what?" over and over, these are for you.

Videos can either be purchased in stores or online. There are many websites which provide golf instruction videos if one is serious about learning golf. Worth noting, in either case, is who is featured on the video. Check the instructor's professional profile; a player who has sufficient experience in the game is most likely to give better instruction than someone who has not had that much exposure on the course.

The upside to any instruction video is the motivation "knowing and understanding" lends to get you up and onto the golf course. Thus golf instruction videos provide an excellent complement to instruction, but never can replace the "real thing."

Knowledge gained and applied provides a great starting point for the beginner, and an increase of skill for the intermediate to advanced golfer. Independent of weather, proper instruction can increase your enjoyment and decrease your score for that perfect golf game.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Dr. Richard Myers provides the novice and avid golfer with the means to improve his or her golf swing and golf game. If your game needs improvement visit thinkandreachpar.com

Improve Your Game Through Golf Instruction Videos

2006-11-19T15:25:00.000-05:00

There are many methods of golf instruction, from one-on-one training with a professional to group lessons. Golf instruction videos have many advantages over face-to-face classes or other learning methods such as books or audiotapes. You can both see and hear the instructions as you perform the task. The instructor on the video becomes your personal teacher taking you step-by-step through each skill. You can set your own pace and repeat the video over and over as needed. You can watch certain sections at any time of the day or night. If you are embarrassed about the weaknesses of your golf game, you can work on improving them in the privacy of your own home.

With thousands available you should have no problem finding the golf instruction video best for you. As with any training tool, you need to choose one that addresses your specific needs.

While some video ads make outrageous claims about its ability to improve your game, take it with a grain of salt. Look at your golf instruction video as a guide, not a guarantee. A golf instruction video will not magically transform your game. Watch the video several times, however, to make sure you have extracted all the tips and advice offered. Several small pieces of advice can add up to a big difference and big improvement.

A golf instruction video visually presents methods to improve your golf. Compare the visual examples provided with what you do yourself. Get someone to videotape your swing, putt or whatever you are working on with the video so you can see where you differ from the advice in the video. Look at posture and stance, backswing and follow through, and look for differences. It’s not easy to see and correct your faults without taking a very close look.

Consider your fitness level. You can’t take advantage of everything a golf instruction video has to offer without having muscles fit for golf. Try doing golf-specific exercises so that you can be sure that your muscles are ready to be trained for improved golf.

Ask other golfers if they have used a golf instruction video that has been helpful. While your needs may differ, you might find a different video from the same company if you get a good recommendation.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Dr. Richard Myers provides the avid golfer with golf instruction video products to improve his or her golf game. Stop by www.thinkandreachpar.com and see what everyone is raving about!

PRESS RELEASE - November 9, 2006

2006-11-09T16:40:00.000-05:00

Celebrating 6th Year In Business Web Site Helps Golfers Break 90

Dr. Richard Meyers of ThinkandReachPar.com helps golfers increase their enjoyment of the game by lowering their scores, eliminating their slice and nailing accurate shots that hit the green every time. November 6th marks the celebration date of 6 years online helping golfers improve their game.

(PRWEB) November 9, 2006 -- Dr. Richard C. Myers started Think and Reach Par in 2000 and celebrates the website's 6th year anniversary as of November 6th. His passion for the game, combined with his desire to help other golfers improve their game, make his web site a hit.

The PGA says 90% of all golfers never break 90 on the course but with the products and tips found on the http://www.thinkandreachpar.com website, that 90% can beat that statistic.

It began with a golfer who took up the game just three years earlier and shot 79 in his first tournament. That golfer - Mark Anthony - took his secrets and created an instructional DVD which allows golfers to discover the secrets to a better golf game. This ten-minute lesson contains two simple, but very effective, exercises that result in a powerful, correct golf swing.

The Body Golf 3 School-In-A-Box has taken 23 to 40 strokes off of thousands of golfers' scores. The three-video, Body Golf DVD School-in-a-Box, provides an exclusive tutorial on full swing, short game, slice-busting, and golf-specific trouble shots. The Body Golf Full Swing is a comprehensive how-to. In addition, two simple but effective swing drills will have the average golfer eliminating up to 40 strokes in a season. The School-in-a-Box set also includes The Body Golf Slice-Busting Clinic, The Body Golf Short Game Clinic and a bonus DVD: The Body Golf Trouble Shots Clinic.

Testimonials from customers attest to Dr. Myers proven methods to lower their scores and eliminate their slice while allowing them to nail accurate shots that hit the green every time.

For products guaranteed to change any golfer's game dramatically and make their time on the links less frustrating and more fun, browse speciality golf products, read about aspects of the game, and beat the odds by breaking 90 all at thinkandreachpar.com.

Press Contact: Dr. Richard Myers
Company Name: ThinkandReachPar.com
Email: email protected from spam bots
Phone: 864-915-7297
Website: http://www.thinkandreachpar.com

The goods on a golf swing trainer

2006-11-04T20:27:00.000-05:00

A golf swing trainer is a device that helps you to consistently swing properly. There are many options available, from those that are designed to fix your slice to those that will help you get a longer, faster drive.

Don't be fooled by the manufacturers that say their trainer will solve any and all golf swing problems. Know your primary swing faults and focus on finding a golf swing trainer designed to fix them. All trainers have the same purpose: to improve your swing mechanics. The majority do this by using what is known as 'muscle memory.' The idea is that if you carry out a movement time after time, exactly the same way each time, your muscles become attuned to it. You will be able to execute that movement without having to consciously make your muscles follow the routine.

One type of golf swing trainer you might be familiar with is the large, round devices often made of white piping. These are called golf swing plane trainers. They specifically help you get a feel for the proper swing plane for your body size. These trainers have stood the test of time so you’ll see them at a lot of driving ranges and courses that offer instruction. Some have exercise cords that strengthen your muscles while keeping your swing in the correct plane, and others keep your arms and legs in the correct posture. Some do both, but remember that you get what you pay for.

Before you invest in a golf swing trainer like this or something simpler, try it out. Most pro shops will allow you hit a few balls in a hitting bay to get a feel for the equipment and its effectiveness. Whether you are considering a big or small investment in equipment, have a golf pro look at your swing and suggest a golf swing trainer. Ask other golfers what they have tried.

One thing to consider when determining whether a trainer is worth the money is its longevity. If you consistently see advertisements for it, it's probably an effective training aid and therefore a good buy. But, if you see people trying to unload their used trainer at steep discounts on the Internet or at yard sales, chances are pretty good that it was less than effective.

Once you chosen a golf swing trainer, use it regularly. It will take some time to fix your swing faults, so give it a chance. Too many trainers are collecting dust because their owners got frustrated and gave up on it after just a few sessions.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Richard Myers provides the avid golfer with video instruction to improve his or her golf swing. By using his golf swing trainer you will be able to lower your golf score significantly.

Get a Handle on a Good Golf Grip

2006-11-03T21:05:00.000-05:00

The grip is your only connection with the club so it follows that a good golf grip is an essential component of a good swing and good golf game.

Placing your hands properly on the golf club helps you better control the position of the club's face at impact. During the swing your body turns to create power. Since the body is rotating, the golf club must rotate at the same rate. In other words, the body and the club must turn together as a team.

A fundamentally sound golf grip helps you create both power and feel. The action of your wrists is a source of power so gripping the club too much in the palm of your hand reduces wrist action.
Since our fingers are the most sensitive parts of our hands, placing the club more in the fingers rather than in the palm increases the amount of wrist hinge, which results in longer tee shots and more feel.

Regardless of the type of golf grip you choose, a sound golf grip involves light grip pressure. Gripping the club too tight can cause thin, weak shots that slice. A lighter grip also enhances wrist hinge. This light pressure also increases the amount of clubface rotation, improving your chances of squaring the club at impact.

The Vardon overlap, sometimes called the overlapping grip, is the most common golf grip. Most golf instructors use this grip popularized by Harry Vardon around the turn of the 20th century. To correctly use this grip, take the little finger on your trailing hand and place it between the index and middle finger on your lead hand (for right-handed golfers, the lead hand is the left). The lead hand thumb should fit right along the lifeline of the trailing hand.

The next most common golf grip is called the interlock or interlocking. Several top players, including Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods, use this grip. This grip locks the hands together. You might, however, find that the handle migrates to your palms which reduces wrist action and, therefore, power. People with small hands, weak forearms and wrists, and beginners often prefer this grip. To use the interlock grip, take the little finger on your trailing hand and intertwine it with the index finger on your lead hand. The lead hand thumb should fit in the lifeline of the trailing hand.

The ten finger grip (sometimes called the baseball grip) is the least preferred golf grip among instructors but it does have its advantages. It can be good for beginners and people who experience joint pain, have arthritis or small, weak hands. To position your hands properly using a ten finger grip, start with a perfect lead hand grip. Place the little finger of the trailing hand close against the index finger of the lead hand. Cover the lead hand thumb with the lifeline of the trailing hand.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Dr. Richard Myers provides the avid golfer with golf instruction to improve his or her golf swing. If the perfect golf grip eludes you, you need the proper golf swing trainer.

Establishing Your Perfect Golf Swing

2006-10-31T10:20:00.000-05:00

The perfect golf swing is the primary action of any golf game so it’s no surprise that every golfer is constantly working to improve it. Even Tiger Woods and other top golfers spend time tweaking their golf swing to perfect it.

Many experts would agree that most golfers take their swing too seriously. Learn the basics, practice a lot and stay out of your own way!

Here are the basic steps for a full and perfect golf swing:

1. Grip the club with your left hand so that your thumb lies along the shaft. The line between your thumb and index finger should point toward your right eye. Wrap your right hand over your left so that your left thumb fits into the cup of the right palm. If you are left-handed, reverse these instructions.

2. Stand with your feet about shoulder-width apart with your right foot pointing straight ahead and your left foot slightly to the left. Bend at your hips, keeping your back straight and your knees flexed. Distribute your weight evenly from front to back and left to right.

3. For the backswing, shift your weight to your right foot. At the same time, tilt your shoulders vertically so that your left shoulder points down, and right shoulder points up. The left end of the club will be pointing approximately at or behind the ball. As you’re shifting your weight to your right foot, release to the instep of your left foot so you can get behind the ball. Ensure that your right foot, right hip and head are in a vertical line. Begin your backswing with your hands, followed immediately by your arms and shoulders. Don’t hurry. This won’t create a faster downswing. Keep your pace steady throughout your backswing. If you aren’t happy with your golf swing, this is one of the first corrections to try. Slow down your backswing.

4. For the downswing and impact, start with your hips. Shift your weight to your left foot by leading with your hips in a slight lateral motion. Point the club end in your right elbow down at your right foot. At the same time, shift to the instep of your right foot so that most of your weight is on your left foot. Release your hips by rotating them through, so that your hips, belly button, and shoulders are facing the target. Your right toe is just balancing you, not supporting any weight. Hold the finish position. Look down the target line, not down at the ground.

Many golf professionals say that eighty percent of the perfect golf swing is the body pivot. This involves three main components:

• the turning of the body back, down and through

• the correct weight shift throughout the swing

• balance

Any loss of balance throughout the golf swing means that there is a pivot and weight shift problem. That will be reflected in the direction, loft and speed of the ball. Review these steps until you are comfortable and then keep practicing. The perfect golf swing is within your reach!

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Richard Myers provides the avid golfer with video instruction to improve his or her golf swing. If the perfect golf swing and golf grip elude you, you need the proper golf swing trainer.

Putting With The Arms

2006-04-03T16:42:00.000-04:00

Over the years I have spent a lot of time working on myputting and, as a result, I have some definite ideas on thesubject based on what works best for me. I use the samegrip as for the other shots. I advocate a very wide stance.It sets up a firmer foundation. With a narrow stance,there's a tendency to sway off the ball.The less you break your wrists, the less margin there isfor error. I try to hit the putt rather than stroke it. Iplay the ball just slightly forward of center—an inch ortwo forward. I stand with my left elbow well out and riding veryhigh. My right elbow is kept close in to my right side; inthat position it helpfully restricts me from taking theputter back too far. I start my stroke by pushing the leftelbow back. This key movement of the elbow I can bestdescribe by saying that the elbow moves the way it would ifsome imaginary hand were pushing it back.I use this method because I feel that I can take the elbow(and the putter head) back on a very straight line from theball. On the forward part of the putting stroke, I try toreturn the putter head to the same position it had ataddress.

The Middle Irons

2006-03-30T04:18:00.000-05:00

The No B.S. Golf Newsletter

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If you find typographical or grammatical errors in this
email, they are here for a purpose. Some people actually
enjoy looking for them and we strive to please as many of
these people as possible.

Richard

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Give all of your golfing buddies a free gift... forward
them a copy of this newsletter, or ask them to go to
www.thinkandreachpar.com and sign up.

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Special Notice

Free Spring Kick Off Tele Seminar

Will be April 5 at 8:15pm EST

Dial 212-990-8000 and your pin number is 1027

Call with Sensei Mark will last until 9:30 pm, with last 20 minutes
Q and A.

Call is limited to first 100 callers, so call in a few minutes early.

Richard

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Richard's Quick Tip:

The Middle Irons

One advantage with the middle irons is there is no reason
for most of us to hit these clubs hard, If more distance
is needed, simply take more club, and keep the same tempo.

The address position is very important. Position the ball
just left of center in the stance, which should be square,
or slightly open. Position the hands far enough ahead of
the clubface to ensure that the shaft of the club and the
left arm form a straight line, when viewed from the front
of the player. With the hands in this position, the grip
can be assumed at the right angle.

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Dear Richard,

I enjoy reading your quote of the week. I helps me in
giving advise to my personnel.

Thank you

Jonathan . Montillo

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Golf Quote of the week:

Tommy Armour said Play the shot youve got the greatest
chance of playing well and play the shot that makes the
next shot easy. It is not solely the capacity to make great
shots that makes champions, but the essential quality of
making very few bad shots

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Quote of the week:

"I have always believed, and I still believe, that whatever
good or bad fortune may come our way we can always give it
meaning and transform it into something of value."

Hermann Hesse 1877-1962, Novelist and Poet

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-Embarrassed by having twelve-year-olds out-drive you off
the tee? -Do you dread water, woods, hazards, sand
bunkers and other golf course anatomy? -Ready to give up
because you beat balls for hours and all you have to show
for it is a sore back, blisters on your hands, and a losing
score?

http://www.thinkandreachpar.com/golf_training.htm

By the way, did you notice that not only J.B. Holmes, but
also Zach Johnson are using Body Golf techniques and are
being quite successful with them? Look at their swings and
tell me whether or not you agree that they both swing just
like Sensei Mark.

Joe

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Questions and Answers from subscribers by our Teaching Pro, Mr. Joe DeLorenzo.

Thank you for taking the time to answer these for us Joe.

A Bit Of Golf Trivia: What is the Masters Par 3 Jinx?

(answer is below)

Joe, i have handicap 14 and suffer from lack of distance.
many Pros believe my right elbow flys away during
backswing, others believe the clubface is open during
backswing, the result is coming down from outside and have
slice or short and won't be able to finish the swing. it
will be appreciated if you email me some tips to correct my
swing. rgds bahman

Hello Bahman, I would have to view your swing to be sure,
so all I can do is suggest a few things. First of all your
clubs may not fit you. Try some demo clubs with different
shaft stiffness than yours. The flying elbow could be a
problem if you do not get it back to your hip early in your
downswing. Your grip might be too weak, so try moving the
Vs more toward your back shoulder. Also experiment with
all 3 grip types, the interlock, the overlap, and the ten
finger. If you have not already seen the Body Golf videos,
I am sure they will help you, especially the Slice Buster.

Joe

Joe, I have a question on what type of shaft to use. I
currently have an old set of Great Big Bertha (1997) irons
(regular graphite shafts). I do not have an official
handicap. My game is all over the place generally high
80's to low 90's on a course of about 6300 yards. I am
considering purchasing the new Great Big Bertha irons or
the fusion version (2006). Recently, while playing I tried
a 7 iron of one my playing partners hitting to a par 3; the
club was a GBB 2005 model with a uniflex steel shaft.
Compared to my 7 iron the shot I hit exploded off the club
face giving me 10-15 yards (approximately 150 yards in
total) greater distance. I tried it later in the round with
similar results. My swing speed with a 6 iron (Mizuno MP60)
was measured at the golf shop at 72 mph. I am 60 years old
and seem to be hitting shorter all the time. At what point
should one move to graphite senior shafts over regular
graphite. Can one expect an increase in swing speed due to
the lighter more flexible shaft? Is accuracy greatly
reduced? Your opinion is greatly appreciated. Marshall

Hi Marshall, With irons, I would choose accuracy over
distance. There really is no advantage to hitting irons for
longer distance. Club manufacturers may brag about this but
some of them are only de-lofting the irons. Just because
you are holding two different 7 irons does not mean they
both have the same loft. The one with the lower loft will
hit the ball farther. But why do we want the ball to go
farther, just so we can brag that we can sometimes reach a
long par 4 with a drive and a 7 iron? Isnt it better to be
able to do the same thing more consistently with a 6 or 5
iron? That being said, I was never a believer that graphite
shafts will help your iron play. In my opinion, using
stiffer steel shafts will help accuracy. So you lose a
little distance, who cares, the upside is that you have
less of a distance gap between clubs. The only clubs that
matter for distance are your woods, not your irons. Go
ahead and get graphite shafts for your woods for distance,
but irons are not made for maximum distance, they are made
to control distance. Joe

Joe, We have a friend who plays golf with us. He takes a
long time to hit the ball. We are uncomfortable and don't
know what to do or say to him without hurting our friend's
feelings. What is the amount of time one has to hit the
ball? How would you approach this problem? Mickey

Hi Mickey, This is not an easy one. No matter what you say,
your friends feelings may be hurt. Some people are not
even aware that they are playing too slowly, and they act
surprised and in denial when they are told to speed up.
Furthermore they openly state that they refuse to play
sprint golf or polo. If you have a friendly ranger at your
course who is good with diplomacy, explain your plight to
him or her. Maybe the ranger can explain that your group
must pick up the pace OR ELSE. That way no individual is
accused, and it establishes a sense of urgency for your
group to stay on the clock. If you friend still does not
get it, then it is time to say you do not want to get
kicked off the course for slow play, so lets agree to be a
little more strict with each other. Lets line up our shots
while others are shooting, and take less than ten seconds
to hit when it is our turn. If that doesnt work, you
could solve your problem by inviting Jody to play in your
foursome. Read on

Question for the Evil Twin: Jody, what would you do about
this? Answer: Diplomacy is not my strong point. People
expect wise cracks from me anyway, so I have no problem
saying stuff like Please while we are still young, or I
think rigor mortis may have set in, or Are you one of the
Palace Guardsmen? Or Do you want me to time you with a
sundial or a calendar? Or if you stand there much longer
you will start to grow roots and attract pigeons.

Answer to the above Trivia Question: Nobody has ever won
the Masters after winning the par 3 contest held the day
before. Some superstitious pros skip the par 3 contest for
this very reason.

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Golf Potpourri

By

Mac Stevenson

Lightweight Bags Make Walking Easier

Early spring is a good time to build up your endurance and
get some beneficial exercise on the golf course. Walking
at least nine holes shouldnt be a problem for most
golfers, particularly before the hot weather sets in. If
youre out of condition, try gradually working yourself
into shape by walking anywhere from three to five holes
each round. That will require a playing partner who is
willing to drive the golf cart.

An 18-hole round of golf should be a combination of healthy
exercise, fun, and camaraderie; however, after walking the
front nine, continuing by foot on the back side can become
a torturous forced march instead of a pleasant round of
golf.

Depending on your age and condition, carrying a full-size
bag or pulling it on a cart--even for nine holes--can be so
tiring that it takes the enjoyment out of the game.

Have you ever tried playing the front nine carrying an
extra-light, no-frills canvas bag and then riding the back?
It should be a bag thats just light canvas with a
ball-holding pocket and no other extras. Im talking about
a golf bag so small and light that you cant haul all of
your clubs in it.

On the front nine--when youre going to walk with a
featherweight bag--you should carry a driver, three-wood,
five-wood, five-iron, seven-iron, pitching wedge, sand
wedge, and your putter. You can vary the clubs you carry
depending on the course and your game, but try playing with
just eight clubs on the front nine while walking.

If youre on lifes back nine, like many of us are, walking
nine holes is plenty--thats two and a half miles carrying
a bag. Thats a lot of exercise. And be sure that you
have comfortable golf shoes. Its agony to walk nine or 18
holes when your feet are hurting.

Dont carry a lot of extra balls in your light bag, two or
three is plenty. If you keep a dozen golf balls in your
ball compartment, youll be carrying a bag thats heavier
than it needs to be.

Your first reaction is going to be that your scores will
suffer if you dont have all of your clubs. They wont.
Youll be surprised to find out--over time--that you will
often score as well or better with eight clubs as you do
with the full compliment of 14. And youll learn how to
hit some new shots. If you have a 115-yard shot and its
too close for a full seven-iron, a soft, three-quarter shot
will be required. You will have to hit some punch shots
when youre going against the wind because you wont have
the club you would normally use.

When playing with a regular foursome of good friends, you
can occasionally borrow a club. In other words, if you
have a nine-iron shot and your nine-iron is back at the
clubhouse, just borrow a nine-iron from one of your friends
in the foursome.

If youre going to ride a cart on the back nine, youll
want to have your large bag--with the rest of your
clubs--in a handy place so you can make a quick switch at
the turn.

Riding a cart for 18 holes four or five times a week
becomes expensive fast. Thats $50 or more a week and many
golfers cant afford that. A lot of public courses that
charge $10 for 18 holes on a cart will charge $6 or $7 for
nine holes. Thats not only unfair to the players, its
grounds for serious protest. Course managers should be
encouraging their players to walk as much as they can, and
they shouldnt charge over $5 for the back nine if their
cart rental is $10 for 18 holes.

Most golfers can walk nine holes, but that back nine can
become agony if you run out of gas. And that takes all the
fun out of the game. Try this method of carrying a
lightweight bag with just seven or eight clubs on the front
nine, and then ride the back.

Youll get all the exercise you need, and the back nine
will be fun instead of drudgery.

==========================================

If you want to be one of the senior golfers that can still
shoot their age, check out the impressive list of lessons
included in this DVD!

More Distance Techniques on how
to get the most out of your body to get every ounce of
distance that you can

The Senior Power Grip THE way to
grip the club that makes it just about impossible for you
to slice

The Senior Modified Power Set-up How to set
up to hit the ball further AND on target

The Senior Power Turn How to get the most of
backswing - even if youre not as flexible as you were a few
short years ago

The Senior Power Finish How to finish your swing like a
pro and get the most out your swing...ensuring that you get
every inch of accurate distance possible

Great Drills Swing drills that you can do at your own
pace that groove the perfect swing for you. No matter what your age!

Tricks out of Trouble How to get out of trouble like
the pros and save that score

The Punch Shot Specific steps on how to execute the
low-flying, wind-cheating punch shot and hit the green from almost anywhere

The High Shot Need to hit it over an obstacle? Heres how you do

. The Hook/Punch Ever want to show off and hook the
ball around a corner? Mark shows you how! Its easy!

The Fade Making a fade shot is not always a bad thing. Youll

learn how to pull it off at will

Chipping Principles on chipping that every ace golfer uses
to get the ball up-and-down EVERY TIME

Putting How to putt like a pro
and finally have the chances at pars and birdies

Conditioning how and what to do to condition yourself
to get into better golfing shape...so you can gain the edge
and keep it

Flexibility How to gain flexibility fast
and keep it...indefinitely As you can see from that huge
list, there is far more to this DVD than other systems
priced at hundreds more than this one.

In fact, you can see a different infomercial every week for
a year and not get the absolute gold mine of knowledge in
any 5-video set that you get in this one, single
information-packed low-priced DVD.

http://www.thinkandreachpar.com/bodygolf_seniors_adv.htm

======================================

Richard's Thoughts

Putting Is A Personal Thing

How you place your feet or grip the club or swing is not
all-important. What is important is that your blade is
square to the line of your choosing at impact and the ball
is hit solidly. This point cant be stressed enough. You
have half the secret of putting if you can bring the blade
into the ball solidly. The next time theres a tournament
on television notice the difference in the ways the pros
putt. Its very difficult to find two which are the same.
Theyre all searching for the stroke, stance, etc., which
will bring their blade into the ball squarely and solidly
time after time. You should be too.

Here is the way that Ive found best for me. Try it,
perhaps it will work well for you. First decide the line
the ball will have to take to go into the hole. Will it
break left or right, or go straight? When youve decided
on the line, address the ball with your feet almost
touching, knees bent slightly to relieve tension. Play the
ball off your left toe. Now swing the blade back slowly,
close to the ground, using little wrist and shoulder
motion. The forward stroke is smooth and the
follow-through natural. I hold my head and body as still
as I comfortably can without tension, but certainly not
rigidly.

Practice is essential to good putting. Unfortunately there
is no alternative. Develop the feeling that the club is
part f you. Handle it, use it, stroke balls with it
whenever or wherever you can so that you have confidence in
it as with an old friend. If you cant get out for some
reason, practice putting on a flat rug; every bit of
practice helps.

I have played with steel shaft clubs for about 6 years and
have recently switched to graphite shafts. I am hitting my
woods and short irons much better, but my long irons are
terrible. I seem to be hitting every shot fat. Because of
this, I hit anything from a 4 iron to a 7 iron the same
distance. I have tried the other tips for hitting the ball
fat and find that I hit fine with my steel shafts and only
have this problem with the new graphite shafts. Is there
some sort of adjustment I need to make in my swing due to
the lighter shafts?

Patsy Rourk Dublin, Va Answer: Hi Anita, everybody has more
difficulty with the longer clubs. But it is likely that the
difference in feel between your two sets is the problem,
and nothing that a little time and getting used to them
won't fix. You might also have the lie angles, swing weight
and club lengths checked by a good clubmaker in your area
to be sure they're right for you.

Until next week...good golfing!

Richard C Myers

www.thinkandreachpar.com
www.golfforleftys.com

Telephone 864.675.0038
New South Media, LLC
45 Doverdale Rd.
Greenville SC 29615
United States

This email is protected by copyright, 2006, New South
Media, LLC All rights reserved. Reproduction of any portion
of this email is strictly prohibited without the express
written consent of Richard Myers

Shorten Your Long Iron Swing

2006-03-28T20:35:00.000-05:00

Shorten Your Long Iron Swing

One of the reasons so many golfers cannot hit the long iron

shot is due to overswinging. These players are often

concentrating too hard on getting the maximum distance out

of the long irons. This can lead to a swing that is out of

control which in turn leads to disaster, usually with an

out of bounds ball.

A full backswing with the long irons is not required, but a

full shoulder turn is. Try using only a three quarters

backswing with using a long iron. This will ensure that

you are in control of your swing. It also promotes a good

rhythmic swing.

Richard Myers

Close Your Eyes to Improve Putting Feel

2006-03-23T14:30:00.000-05:00

Close Your Eyes to Improve Putting Feel

There are almost as many putting styles as there are golfers.
However, two basic fundamentals that most excellent putters
employ are (1) very light grip pressure, and (2) equal speed and
length of the backswing and forward swing. With these two
thoughts in mind (and in hand), proceed to the practice green and
close your eyes the instant you strike the first putt. Now, with
eyes still closed, and relying strictly in how the putt felt,
determine if the ball is right or left and long or short of the
hole. Continue to close your eyes on each putt, estimate the
result, then check your judgment. By practicing this, and
varying the distances, you will surprise yourself with rapidly
improved putting

Richard Myers

Does Videos Apply to Any Type of Swing?

2006-03-23T14:28:00.000-05:00

Does Videos Apply to Any Type of Swing?

I'm wondering if the drills and such that Mark shows on his
videos apply as well to either type of swing, or if it really
doesn't make any difference? Would you suggest any specifics to
work on differently depending on your swing type?

Chuck Davis

Hey Chuck...
I didn't see the article. I don't get those magazines anymore. I
was sick of seeing ads for stuff and vacations that I could never
afford in three lifetimes.

Anyway...the drills I teach and swing the I show you would
classify as a "two plane" swing.

The single plane swing is what the now defunct "Natural Golf"
teaches. This type of swing is actually not that easy to do and
in my opinion (as a fitness instructor) is dangerous to the spine
because of the wide stance which limits your ability to turn
through the ball in one unified motion.

The two-plane swing is simply where your arms are in a more
natural position (hanging) and then you grip and swing from
there. If you have my DVDs and use the techniques, you'll know
that my method is quite simple. (As thousands all over the world
can attest).

If you don't have any of my DVDs, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING
FOR????????
Just kidding...

But I firmly believe that THAT stuff should be the furthest thing
from your mind -- ESPECIALLY if you are just learning the game
and swing. Leave all of the technical crap-ola for the people
that like to get twisted up with meaningless details.

Why do I say that? Because my 7-year-old and 10-year-old sons
(who know not one single thing about the golf swing) can hit the
ball nice and straight because they just copy what they see in
dear old Dad...

In any case, I hope that I've answered your question Chuck.

Stay in touch
Sensei Mark

Putting the club in the middle of stance

2006-03-23T14:27:00.000-05:00

Putting the club in the middle of stance

Question for Sensei Mark:

Please help! I received the videos yesterday and after watching
the full swing and slice buster video, I have a question. Mark
suggests putting the ball in the middle of the stance. Is that
for all clubs including the driver?

Thanks for your assistance.

Hi there...
Thanks for purchasing the videos. I know that you'll do well with
them as thousands of improved golfers all over the world can
attest.

As to the question of if you should put the ball in the middle of
the stance for all clubs?

Absolutely!

Why? Glad you asked...

When you do this and swing like I demonstrate in the videos,
you'll hit the ball straighter and longer than ever. (The only
folks that can deviate from this are pros my most advanced
students that use the technique in the Body Golf Power Shots
DVD.)

Putting the ball "forward in the stance" for the longer clubs
will add to your frustration because it takes hours and hours of
refinement to perfect the precise "hip slide" that you need in
order to get your center through the ball and still hit it
straight.

And if you don't know what you're doing, you'll be rolling the
dice every time that you swing and setting yourself (along with
millions of other misguided, frustrated magazine readers) for
disater.

So please, if you're a beginner, stick to the basics that are
described out in Body Golf DVDs that you have because those are
the very same techniques that I used to take over 40 strokes off
of my own game in one season. So if its good enough for me, I
suppose it should be good enough for anyone else.

In any case, keeping the ball in the center of the stance (for
all clubs) is the esiest way to become consistent while getting
better at your game.

Hope that helps!
Stay in touch...
Thanks again.
Mark

Richard Myers

http://www.thinkandreachpar.com/
http://www.superbabysitting.com/
http://www.golfforleftys.com/

Contacting The Ball With The Putter

2006-03-23T13:26:00.000-05:00

Contacting the Ball with the Putter

An important thing to remember when putting is the action
of the ball itself. A ball that is struck in the center
runs much truer than one struck below or above the center.

The latter reacts to any irregularity of the green, but the
ball hit amidships rolls over most green imperfections
without losing its line. With this in mind I advise my
pupils to modify in their own minds the old rule to keep
the putter as low to the ground as possible. If you put a
ball down on your living room carpet or on a green and
place one of today's narrow-bladed putters behind it, you
will notice that the center of the ball is in line with the
top of the blade.

Consequently, when you putt, you should make a small
adjustment in your stroke and concentrate on bringing the
center of the blade through the center of the ball. When
you make this kind of contact you'll hear that nice crisp
sound all good putters produce.

On uphill putts I think you will find you'll get a
helpfully strong over-spin on the ball if you shut the face
of putter slightly. Conversely, on downhill putts where
delicacy is needed, the face of the putter is "turned
uphill," or laid back just a shade.

Richard Myers

http://www.thinkandreachpar.com/
http://www.superbabysitting.com/
http://www.golfforleftys.com/

Few Golf Tips

2006-03-23T05:36:00.000-05:00

Few Golf Tips

Here is a few tips that I hope will help you.

Poor lie on frings. Take a putter and set up with hands slightly behind the ball. Use an arm and shoulder type of stroke.

Short pitch from deep rough. Open blade of sand wedge and open stance, hit down firmly.

Leaving putts short of the hole. Imagine a hole a foot past actual hole. Then air to put ball in imaginary hole.

Try these tips.

Richard

Febuary 06 blog

2006-03-22T14:03:00.000-05:00

Know How Far To Hit Each Club

The No B.S. Golf Newsletter

If you find typographical or grammatical errors in this
email, they are here for a purpose. Some people actually
enjoy looking for them and we strive to please as many of
these people as possible.

Richard

=============================================

Give all of your golfing buddies a free gift... forward
them a copy of this newsletter, or ask them to go to
http://www.thinkandreachpar.com/ and sign up.

==============================================

Special Notice

With Spring fast approaching, I was thinking of trying to
have Sensei Mark Anthony do a one hour tele-seminar for us.
We tried a couple of years ago but had trouble with the
service I was using.

If you are interested, just send an email to
Richard@thinkandreachpar.com and in the body put…yes. If
we have enough interest, we will see if he can give us a
few techniques to use.

Just let me know.

Richard

=============================================

Richard's Quick Tip:

Grip Tip

Many weekend golfers lose control of the club at the top of
the backswing because they grip too close to the end of the
handle. When the club is gripped in this way the left hand
is unable to support tit properly with the result that club
is allowed to move out of the correct plane.

So next time you take up your grip make sure there is at
least an inch of the end of the club visible after you
close your left hand around it. By doing this you will
allow the heel of the palm to help support the weight of
the club and give you better control.

===============================================

Golf Quote of the week:

"You don't know what pressure is until you've played for
five dollars a hole with only two in your pocket." - Lee
Trevino

=================================================

Quote of the week: "Beginning today, treat everyone you
meet as if they were going to be dead by midnight. Extend
to them all the care, kindness and understanding you can
muster, and do with no thought of any reward. Your life
will never be the same again." Og Mandino 1923-1996, Author

=================================================

-Embarrassed by having twelve-year-olds out-drive you off
the tee? -Do you dread water, woods, hazards, sand
bunkers and other golf course anatomy? -Ready to give up
because you beat balls for hours and all you have to show
for it is a sore back, blisters on your hands, and a losing
score?

http://www.thinkandreachpar.com/golf_training.htm

==========================================================

Questions and Answers from subscribers by our Teaching Pro,
Mr. Joe DeLorenzo.

Thank you for taking the time to answer these for us Joe.

A Bit Of Golf Trivia: Ben Hogan was know for not speaking
much to others, but Jimmy Demaret said Ben spoke to him on
every hole whenever they played together. What did Ben
usually say to Jimmy? (answer is below)

Joe, I get so frustrated with bad shots. I know I can do
better because I hit good shots most of the time. How can I
succeed in this game? Sedrik

Hello Sedrik, Success can be defined in many ways. If you
expect perfection, golf will always break your heart. Sam
Snead never won the US Open, does that mean he did not have
a successful career? Arnold Palmer never won the PGA, was
he not a success? Golf is a microcosm of life, neither one
offers any guarantees. Golf can be a character builder. It
can teach you how to react to adversity, because there will
always be adversity, and if you can deal with occasional
failure, you can apply this attitude toward other life
situations. Golf puts you in situations where a little
courage is needed. It lets you dream of the possibilities,
so set some personal goals and pursue them, and enjoy the
rush of achievement. Golf lets you get away from it all,
anticipating the next round on new courses. Appreciate the
beauty of nature, and the camaraderie of others. Instead of
reprimanding yourself, be able to laugh at yourself when
strange things happen, because they always will, you just
never know when. Once you understand this, your attitude
will improve, and once you begin seeking continuous
improvement in whatever you do, you are already a success.
Joe

Joe, With all the technology improvements in balls and
equipment, it is said that older golf courses are becoming
obsolete, and people will slowly stop playing them in favor
of newer courses. Do you agree? Aaron

Hi Aaron, No, I do not agree. Whoever says a course is too
short or too easy, ask them if they have ever shot par on
it. Chances are they will say no. In that case they have no
business saying that. While the techno-geeks may prefer
longer courses, there is still a huge base of golfers who
do not benefit so much from new technology, so the older
courses are just fine for them. Also, the greens fees for
older courses are usually lower than fees for the newer
courses, so the more affordable courses will always get
business from those of us who must watch our budgets. Joe

Question for the Evil Twin: Jody, do you agree with others
who say Golf Is Life? Answer: No, I disagree. Golf is
much more complicated than that.

Answer to the above Trivia Question: “You’re away”.

==============================================

Testimonial

I am a 10 handicap LH, and due to back injury had to switch
to RH. It was start all over, or not golf(not an option) I
was horrible, looking for a better way found your Total
Body Golf on line and ordered. In a period of the summer
went from 25 RH to 15 RH now. I believe that with the new
senior cd I will be a nine RH this spring. Thanks so much
for making it simple."

Jim Potts - West Virginia

Get Your DVD Now …and Get Ready For Spring

http://www.thinkandreachpar.com/bodygolf_seniors_adv.htm

======================================

Golf Potpourri

Mac Stevenson

Resolve to Tune Out Distractions

With spring just a few weeks off, it’s a perfect time to
make a resolution that you will focus more intently on the
mental part of the game. It won’t always work, but it
won’t hurt to try.

Golf is hard enough without having to deal with a number of
annoying mental and physical distractions that can destroy
a good round.

The number-one cause of aggravation and loss of
concentration among serious golfers is fellow players who
won’t shut their mouths while you’re trying to putt or hit
a full shot.

When confronted, these motor mouths give the excuse that
they’re just out for a good time and anyone who is bothered
by their talking is taking the game too seriously. The
reality is that the talker is either dumber than a pole,
being inconsiderate of the other players, or both.

Some of the talkers will say, “Football and basketball
players have to get used to the noise, why can’t you?”
That’s so dumb it doesn’t merit a reply; the sports are
entirely different.

Way, way too many guys who play golf won’t be quiet while
their fellow competitors are trying to hit a shot. And it
can ruin the round if you’re trying to play your best.

How can you let these non-stop talkers know that you’re
upset without starting an all-out war? The best way is to
step away from the shot or putt and give the guy a direct
look to let him know he’s being a nuisance. This usually
works, but some players are oblivious to everything but
themselves, or just plain stupid.

When you run into a talker that won’t take the hint, you
have a real problem. The next step is to back away from
the shot and say, “Fore please.” That should do it. Of
course by then you’re mad and motor mouth is mad and the
golf is ruined.

There’s just no easy way to solve this problem of rudeness
without a direct confrontation with the compulsive talker.
And then make sure you don’t play with him again.

Two other common and unwanted agitations are cars going by
and honking or players yelling from an adjacent fairway.
In most cases, you can back off from the shot and start
over with no harm done.

Another disturbing habit some players have is standing in
your line—behind the pin—on a chip shot or putt. This is
much like the talker; the only way to solve the problem is
by asking him to get out of the way. Or you can decide
it’s not worth the confrontation and go ahead and putt or
chip. Either way your concentration on the shot is
destroyed. And if you proceed and hit the putt or chip
poorly, then you’re really mad.

One thing you can do in this situation is to tell yourself
that if you’re focused, you won’t be able to see the other
player while you’re striking the ball. But the problem is
that you won’t be concentrating on the shot.

Some players think you should putt those troublesome
two-footers without marking your ball and waiting. That
depends on what you’re comfortable with.

If you hurry a putt and miss it just to get out of the way,
you’ll be so mad at yourself that it will take several
holes to get over it; by that time your score and matches
will be in a state of disrepair.

That’s not to say you should play slow, but some two-foot
putts are tough and it’s perfectly all right to be sure
you’re ready before you putt.

Occasionally during a round you won’t feel right over a
shot for any number of reasons. Most of us go right ahead
and hit anyway—missing it badly.

This disturbing premonition might occur just once or twice
in several rounds, but when it does, it’s important to back
off and start over.

Once in a while you might not feel right about how or where
you’ve teed up your ball to start a hole. If you’re not
comfortable with the placement, take the time to move and
tee it up again. Don’t hit it because you’re afraid of
being portrayed as a slow player. And this doesn’t mean
you should take extra time on every tee. These are
infrequent instances involving an uncomfortable feeling
when you’re not set up correctly on the tee.

Learning how to control your temper and maintain
concentration when one of your playing companions is rude
enough to distract you is vital. And it’s a lot easier
said than done.

==========================================

Attention Left Handed Golfers

If you are tired of watching golf videos and them saying
"If you are a lefty, reverse these instructions" then here
are the DVD's made just for you!!

The Body Golf series of DVD's for left handed golfers! The
only complete set of golf training videos for leftys!!

Order your set now:

http://golfforleftys.com/

======================================

Richard's Thoughts

Know How Far You Hit Each Club

Although it may seem academic, I can’t stress enough the
importance of knowing how far you hit each club in your
bag.

Actually you should know two distances for each club. How
far the ball travels in the air before landing, and total
distance including normal roll. The normal roll on the
green may be very different from normal roll on the
fairway.

You need to know how far your shots carry in order to
properly select the club that will clear water or a sand
trop that lies between you and your target. Always allow
for the wind. Total yardage knowledge is important so you
can decide whether to lay up or go for a pin when no hazard
is in the way. Get a feel early in the round whether the
fairways and greens are soft or hard, since this will also
affect total yardage.

Be realistic about your yardage. Just because you once
killed a five iron over 200 yards doesn’t mean you can
repeat it consistently. In fact it’s probably rarer than
the 75 yard worm burner you undoubtedly hit form time to
time. Assume you are going to hit each shot solidly with
your normal swing and select the club that’s right for the
yardage.

On course practice is the best way to gauge your normal
distances with each club because you have a real target to
hit and hopefully yardage markers that you can rely on.
Practice one club at a time, watch the ball flight and
carry and measure total distance by where the balls come to
rest.

So learn how far you hit each club, and you’ll hit each
shot with renewed confidence.

Until next week...good golfing!

Richard C Myers
http://www.thinkandreachpar.com/
http://www.golfforleftys.com/

02/23/06

One Method of Putting

Want to add 20 yards to your drive? I want to show you
these in a couple simple video lessons with the brand
new Body Golf Power Steps DVD exclusively from
thinkandreachpar.com. Is it a miracle technique? Let
me tell you this...it’s not as seemingly miraculous as
what you’ve discovered in any of the Body Golf or Tao
of Golf videos, but with some focus and a day or so at
the range, you’ll be pretty darn confident in your new
long-drive skill. This new DVD from
thinkandreachpar.com takes your game up a notch and
shows you how to drive loooong and straight like
you’ve always known…deep, deep down...you really
could. Finally – A simple, efficient way to crank
your game up a notch and start hitting the ball with
more power, accuracy, blasting it like a U.S. Navy
howitzer. Introducing: The Body Golf POWER STEPS DVD.
Simple steps to generating devastating power and (what
you really want) superior (accurate) driving distance.

Order your copy here:
http://www.thinkandreachpar.com/golf_powersteps.htm

This weeks Tip

One Method of Putting

I used to be an in-and-outer on the greens, but I've
been putting very well, I'd say, since adopting Bill’s
method. Bill is one of the greatest putters any of us
have encountered, and since his method is simplicity
itself, I'd like to pass it along to you.

The fact that underlies Bills method is the necessity
of keeping the face of the putter square to the hole
(or to the point on a rolling green you are aiming at)
throughout the stroke. The position of the left hand
on the shaft is the key to achieving this. At address,
with the clubface square, the back of the left hand
must set up so that it is absolutely square to the
hole. When you take the club back, as the left wrist
breaks, the back of the left hand remains square. On
the forward stroke, you simply let the weight of the
clubhead strike the ball, with the back of the left
hand remaining square to the hole right through to the
finish of the stroke. When the back of the left hand
is square to the hole, the putter face is also square
because they are always at the same angle.

Let me point out again, since it is very important,
that on the forward stroke you don't urge the blade on
with a deliberate action of the hands. You just let
the weight of the clubhead create its own speed. The
ball will be struck true and will roll with perfect
rotation. All in all, it's a method that enables you
to keep your body motionless when you putt and,
moreover, it develops touch.

Until next week, good golfing!

Dr Richard Myers
http://www.thinkandreachpar.com/
http://www.golfforleftys.com/

02/21/06

Handling The Flyer

The No B.S. Golf Newsletter

=============================================

Give all of your golfing buddies a free gift...
forward them a copy of this newsletter, or ask
them to go to http://www.thinkandreachpar.com/ and sign
up.

==============================================

Get Ready For Spring

Talking with Joe DeLorenzo the other day about
his ebook, Joe was telling me how many people
tell him they have improved their game by using
the techniques and advice in his “30
Uncomplicated Ways to Lower Your Golf Score.”
Therefore we decided to offer it to you now so
you can begin practicing as Spring is just around
the corner.

The price of Joe’s book is $19.95. Other ebooks
sell form $39.95 to $69.95, but as a teaching
pro, Joe feels that he would rather sell more
books for less money, so he can help more people.
There is a lot of good golf information in this
book, so get your copy now. Lower your score
now! Go to this address to order your copy!

http://www.thinkandreachpar.com/30ways.htm

(you may have to copy and paste this link in your
browser)

==========================================

Richard's Quick Tip:

Handling The Flyer

“Flyer” is referred to as a lie where grass is
likely to get between the clubface and your ball
at impact. The grass doesn’t allow the grooves
of the club to impart backspin on the ball, and
the ball flies farther and doesn’t stop so fast.

There is not much you can do about the lie. You
certainly can’t tramp the grass down or remove
it-because that is against the rules. The only
real solution open to you is to compensate by
taking less club and aiming short of your target.

If there is trouble in front of your target (a
pond, perhaps, or a large bunker), it is best to
let the flyer carry your ball past the flagstick.
Not such a bad option when one considers that on
most golf courses the trouble is in front of the
green or at the sides.

===============================================

Golf Quote of the week:

“Play the shot you’ve got the greatest chance of
playing well and play the shot that makes the
next shot easy. It is not solely the capacity to
make great shots that makes champions, but the
essential quality of making very few bad shots”.
Greg Norman
=================================================

Quote of the week:

"I know of no more encouraging fact than the
unquestionable ability of man to elevate himself
through conscious endeavor."
Dale Carnegie
1888-1955
Author and Trainer

=================================================

Questions and Answers from subscribers by our
Teaching Pro, Mr. Joe DeLorenzo.

Thank you for taking the time to answer these for
us Joe.

A Bit Of Golf Trivia: What was the one advantage
that the old Featherie balls had over modern golf
balls? (answer is below)

Joe, I think I have a pretty good putting stroke
because I can make straight putts, but I always
mis-read breaking putts. Sometimes I am not even
sure if a putt will break left or right. Is there
anything I can try so I can read breaking putts
better? Elmer

Hi Elmer, Stand on any flat surface (any floor
indoors is usually not sloped), close your eyes
and notice how your heels feel at the same level
as your toes. Also the surface is not causing you
to lean to keep your balance. Then find a sloped
surface like a driveway or sidewalk and do the
same drill. You will probably feel your toes
higher or lower than your heels depending on the
slope. You will also notice you have to lean a
little bit to keep your balance. This also can
work on a putting green to give you an idea of
which way a putt will break if you are not sure.
Another method to try is plumb-bobbing, where you
use your putter’s shaft as a plumb-bob by
dangling it in front of you as you view the cup.
If the cup appears perpendicular to the shaft,
the putt is straight. If the cup is tilted, the
putt should break in the downward direction of
the tilt. Try these and let us know if they
helped. Joe

Joe, Most of the putts I miss are pulled. I do
not want to try anything unconventional to fix
this, so I am really concentrating on a perfectly
squared stance and keeping my stroke straight
back and thru, but unless I try to push it on
purpose, the pull is always there. What can I do?
Pat

Hello Pat, Everyone has natural tendencies. Some
instructors will categorize you as a natural push
or pull in terms of how many inches left or right
(on a 10 foot putt), and then simply tell you to
aim that much away from the hole. If that works
for you, fine, but in many cases I have found
that a squared stance can cause a pull if your
ball position is too far forward. Be careful what
you consider to be unconventional, open your mind
to other possibilities like closing your stance a
little by moving your back foot away from the
line, and allowing your backstroke to be slightly
inside the line. I challenge you to have a
contest using this method against your usual
method. I predict this new method has a good
chance of winning. Joe

Answer to the above Trivia Question: Featheries
could float, so you could play them out of water
hazards.

Question for the Evil Twin: Jody, have you ever
hit a Featherie?

Answer: Yes, but there was still a chicken
attached to the feathers. It did not fly too good
but it ran for 300 yards.

==============================================

Testimonial

I am a 10 handicap LH, and due to back injury had
to switch to RH. It was start all over, or not
golf(not an option) I was horrible, looking for a
better way found your Total Body Golf on line and
ordered. In a period of the summer went from 25
RH to 15 RH now. I believe that with the new
senior cd I will be a nine RH this spring. Thanks
so much for making it simple."

Jim Potts - West Virginia

Get Your DVD Now …and Get Ready For Spring

http://www.thinkandreachpar.com/bodygolf_seniors_adv.htm

======================================

Plan Proper Practice in Early Spring

Mac Stevenson

The days are getting longer and the sun has more
authority; before long the birds will be singing
and the 2006 golfing season will be upon us.
Before you start playing this spring, plan your
season strategy for practicing. Give your
practice routine some serious thought and it will
pay off over the upcoming season.

If you enjoy practicing, it will benefit your
golf game if you occasionally take a day off from
your 18-holes routine and devote a full day to
practice. How often you do this will depend on
how serious you are about your golf, and whether
or not you’re having big problems with your game.

Most players go to the practice area for one main
reason: they are playing poorly. A long
practice session will prove to you that you are
physically capable of hitting certain shots the
way you want to. Just knowing that you can do it
is more than half the battle.

Before you embark on a long practice session on
shots you’ve been having trouble with, be sure
you have the proper techniques and fundamentals
clear in your mind. Taking a lesson from your
pro or watching instruction videos should be all
the help you need. It’s counterproductive to
work on a particular shot for a half hour if
you’re using incorrect fundamentals.

How long should a serious practice routine last?
That depends to some extent on your age and
overall physical condition, but 45 minutes to two
hours is long enough for most players. You can
hit just about every shot you’ll encounter on the
golf course while practicing for one hour.

Start your session with short shots that aren’t
tiring and then work on your putting. Finish
with the full shots from the driving range. And
don’t become discouraged if you start hitting
some poor shots because you begin to tire; the
same thing happens during competition.

A word of warning: Just because you hit shots as
well as you’re capable of on the driving range,
don’t expect that to automatically carry over to
the golf course. On the driving range, you’re
relaxed and in a perfect rhythm. This type of
practice will improve your game over the long
haul, but don’t expect any short-term miracles.

Shots you face during serious competition differ
greatly from those you hit on the driving range;
nevertheless, multiple repetitions on the range
will eventually pay off for you when you’re
playing serious golf.

You’ll have unrealistic expectations after you’ve
had a productive session on the driving
range--that’s just human nature. Having those
feelings of confidence, however, is a positive.
If you know that you’re capable of hitting a
certain shot the way you want to, eventually
you’ll start doing it consistently on the golf
course.

Improvement in golf isn’t a rapid process; it’s
an insidious phenomenon that requires a lot of
patience and practice and playing. And even
then, slumps will occur when you least expect
them. But so will periods when you play really
well.

Long-term improvement on the vital short shots is
assured with diligent practice using solid
fundamentals. This is true for all players,
regardless of age, strength, or skill level.
You’ll gain confidence in these shots as you have
success on the practice green and the golf
course.

It’s an added plus that practicing chips,
pitches, and sand shots isn’t as tiring or
time-consuming as the full shots. You can hit
about 60 of these crucial shots during a half
hour of practice, and it won’t tire you out too
much before a regular round of golf. If you’re
limited on the time you can spend practicing,
this is the way to go.

Practice doesn’t help much if it isn’t
accompanied with enthusiasm. If you don’t like
to practice, it won’t be of much benefit to go
through long sessions. But most players enjoy
some practicing; how much depends on your
individual tastes. If you set aside one
day—every three or four weeks—for a long practice
session, your game will improve with time. Just
don’t expect it to happen overnight.

Richard, Love the "tips", been instructing for a
couple of years here in New England, thought this
might help with putting; as you say you must be
over the ball, I have found new players and
seniors don't know that they are over the ball,
many seniors have the toe of the putter up and
make an arc in their stroke. Soooo.... I have
them set up for a putt, and without them moving,
remove the club, and drop a ball from the bridge
of their nose!! They are amazed at where the ball
lands. I learned this from an 11 yr. old student
"Matt". You can teach old dogs new tricks!

Sincerely,
Rick Mackay,
Haverhill Ma.

Richard,

I too was diagnosed with a rotator cuff problem
when I was in my 30's. It got so bad that I
quit playing golf for 16 years. Then I saw an
advertisement in a county magazine by a local
physical therapist specializing in golf related
injuries.

I went to see him and, after checking me out, he
discovered that some of the muscles around my
shoulder had atrophied. This was allowing my arm
to move around in my shoulder socket more that
it should. The net affect was improper rubbing
of the tendons and my rotator cuff.

He put me on an exercise program to strengthen
the muscles around my shoulder. After 3 months
I was able to golf almost pain free. I still get
some occasional pain in my rotator cuff area,
which is probably from tendons damaged while my
shoulder was loose.

You might want to go see a physical therapist.
You've got nothing to lose except the pain in
your shoulder. :-)

Good luck, -- Del

Thanks for the information Del. I have an
appointment with a physical therapist this week.
Will keep you posted. Richard

Hi Richard, thanks for a wonderful Newsletter. Re
your pain problem:- I have had a bad back{ lower
lumbar area] for years, & I also sufferd with
Tendonitis in both forearms for six years, & I
came across a natural element called Glucosamine.
I started by taking 500milligrams twice a day[
with meals ] for a couple of months & I noticed a
huge improvement, I continued with the two a day
for another couple of months, & I am now almost
A1 100%, & only take 1 x 500 milligram capsule
every second day. You may also be a bit low in
Magnesium and/or Potassium, so I would recommend
that you take a MuliVitamin & Mineral
capsule/tablet each day. The big problem nowadays
is that our soils are almost depleted of all the
micronutrients the body needs, & therefore our
foods are not delivering the goodness the body
requires. I hope this info is as helpful to you
as your info is to me.

Give it a go, or go to a Naturopath & get some
expert advice, it will be less costly, in both
money & pain, & you won't finish up with any
impediment. Or perhaps do a Google on
Glucosamine. I have been interested in Natural
Health for 10 to 12 years now, & in that time I
have not even had a cold, not to mention fixing
my Prostrate which the Medicos wanted to operate
on. I hope this info will be helpful to you. Keep
well, From " The Land Of Oz Down Under " P.S I am
67 years of young [going on 35yrs.] & a Leftie,
who 12 months ago played off 29, & now thanks to
your tips, am off 20.

Robert

==========================================

Attention Left Handed Golfers

If you are tired of watching golf videos and them
saying "If you are a lefty, reverse these
instructions" then here are the DVD's made just
for you!!

The Body Golf series of DVD's for left handed
golfers! The only complete set of golf training
videos for leftys!!

Order your set now:

http://golfforleftys.com/

======================================

Richard's Thoughts

I appreciate the folks that emailed me about my
shoulder. I will heed all advice and keep you
posted.

The weather has turned winter here in South
Carolina. But like always I am sure in a day or
so the temp will be in the 60-70’s again.

Finding Time and Keeping Fit

The average golfer has trouble finding time to
play. He also finds it hard to keep fit between
infrequent rounds.

Some of these tips may help:

Make time to play by going out before or after
office hours. One executive plays six holes
before breakfast, uses three balls, feels he’s
played “compact 18”

Entertain clients at golf instead of lunch.

Arrange to play on a business trip when you’ll
wind up by noon. Your club membership or
handicap card will be honored by most clubs if
you’ve no friend to introduce you.

Plan business meetings at one of the growing
number of golf resorts which welcome them.

With longer vacations, you might use some of your
vacation to make long week ends for short golf
trips.

Do house and yard chores during the week when
possible to leave you free for golf on week ends.

Develop a family interest in golf. It will make
it easier for you to get out, either because
you’ll be playing with the family or they’ll be
playing more golf than you-and won’t begrudge
your playing.

On week ends, play early in the morning or in the
afternoon, so that you will have half a day at
home or time to do something with the family.
Teeing off a t 10 or 11 tends to kill the whole
day.

Regulation courses now being lighted may give you
a chance to get in some golf at night. Some
clubs with lights are opening the course to
outsiders at night.

Tips for keeping fit between rounds:

Swing a 22 ounce club every evening. Keep and
use a spring grip in your desk at the office.
Carry and squeeze a small rubber ball. Practice
chip shots in your yard, putting in the living
room. Finger-tip push-ups help strengthen hands.
Patronize practice ranges or make room for a
driving net in your garage.

Until next week...good golfing!

Richard C Myers
http://www.thinkandreachpar.com/
http://www.golfforleftys.com/

02/15/06

The Box Principle in Putting

Want to add 20 yards to your drive? I want to show you
these in a couple simple video lessons with the brand new
Body Golf Power Steps DVD exclusively from
thinkandreachpar.com. Is it a miracle technique? Let me
tell you this...it’s not as seemingly miraculous as what
you’ve discovered in any of the Body Golf or Tao of Golf
videos, but with some focus and a day or so at the range,
you’ll be pretty darn confident in your new long-drive
skill. This new DVD from thinkandreachpar.com takes your
game up a notch and shows you how to drive loooong and
straight like you’ve always known…deep, deep down...you
really could. Finally – A simple, efficient way to crank
your game up a notch and start hitting the ball with more
power, accuracy, blasting it like a U.S. Navy howitzer.
Introducing: The Body Golf POWER STEPS DVD. Simple steps
to generating devastating power and (what you really want)
superior (accurate) driving distance.

Order your copy here:
http://www.thinkandreachpar.com/golf_powersteps.htm

This weeks Tip

The Box Principle in Putting

Putting is the most precise and certainly the most fickle
part of golf. Through the years I have concluded there is a
strong relationship between the psychology, philosophy, and
mechanics of this so-called "other' game.

I cannot overstress the value of a consistent and confident
attitude toward putting. You must be positive, decisive,
trustful and patient: positive in that you think every putt
can be holed; decisive in that you never doubt your plan
once you have made up your mind; trustful in that you
realize that through learning and practice you have grooved
your mechanics; patient in that you recognize that you will
make your fair share of putts in relation to your skill,
touch and intelligent practice. As many putts are missed
through mental errors as mechanical.

Yet, first, there must be a sound mechanical foundation.
This is what can be taught; the rest must be sensed. The
basic point of all putting fundamental is squareness. I
call it the “box” principle. It means simply that the feet,
hips, shoulders, and hands must all be square to the
putting line. The key is the hand position: the back of the
left hand and the palm of the right must always face
directly toward the hole. The principle holds true at every
stage of the putting stroke. You can achieve the square
feeling of the left hand leading the backstroke and the
right hand hitting squarely at and through impact only when
you have mastered the box principle.

Until next week, good golfing!

Dr Richard Myers
http://www.thinkandreachpar.com/

Shorten Your Grip For Straighter Driving

The No B.S. Golf Newsletter

=============================================

Give all of your golfing buddies a free gift... forward them a
copy of this newsletter, or ask them to go to
http://www.thinkandreachpar.com/ and sign up.

==============================================

Richard's Quick Tip:

Shorten Your Grip For Straighter Driving

One of the main reasons why weekend golfers have trouble with
the driver Is because it is the longest club in the bag.

The further they have to stand from the ball, the less confident
they feel. This, coupled with the fact that the driver is
usually the cause of more dropped shots than any other club does
not exactly help to instill a feeling of confidence.

One way to overcome the problem and produce more accurate tee
shots with the driver is to get yourself close to the ball by
holding the club further down the handle than normal.

This will obviously mean adjusting the distance that you stand
from the ball and although you may lose a few yards in length,
you will probably find that you will hit a lot more fairways.

Improved accuracy will result from your shortened grip.

===============================================

A while back, Mark and I were talking and I had asked him if you
were to strip down everything out of most videos and systems,
what would be left. Where would all of the "meat" be?

He quickly replied, "Simple, the driver, the putter and the
wedge. Those are the most-used clubs in everybody's bag."

"You see," he went on, "Most weekend golfers have no idea how to
use these clubs. Unfortunately, these are the clubs that they
tend to use the most and, to their dismay, frustration and
endless aggravation, the ones that cost them the most strokes!"

"Something is definitely wrong here!" "Here's another thing." He
said, "If you were to look at how much information is out there
in the form of magazines, videos, TV shows, etc, this is where
the biggest focus is targeted! How can there be so much
information available out there and still, people are hacking
the ball everywhere with their driver, missing easy putts, and
spraying easy wedge shots all over the place on a regular basis?
Something is definitely wrong here!"

To get the rest of this story…follow this link.

http://www.thinkandreachpar.com/3golfclubs.htm

(If this link is not active in your email, you may have to copy
and paste it in your browser)

This is a good DVD. Not only visual quality, but content as
well.

============================================

Golf Quote of the week:

If you don't succeed at first, don't despair. Remember, it takes
time to learn to play golf; most players spend their entire
lifetime finding out about the game before they give up -
Stephen Baker

=================================================

Quote of the week:

"Keep on going and the chances are you will stumble on
something, perhaps when you are least expecting it. I have never
heard of anyone stumbling on something sitting down." Charles F.
Kettering 1876-1958, Engineer and Inventor

=================================================

Questions and Answers from subscribers by our Teaching Pro,
Mr. Joe DeLorenzo.

Thank you for taking the time to answer these for us Joe.

A Bit Of Golf Trivia: 3 questions - who was the first golfer to
earn more than one million dollars in prize money, and in what
year?
1 – first to earn $1M in a career?
2 – first to earn $1M in one year?
3 – soonest to earn $1M after joining the Tour?
(answers are below)

Joe,
I am 60+ old. Do I automatically get the privilege to play
from the white markers? My handicap is 18. If I am playing
against a player with a single digit handicap then do I get both
privileges i.e. the handicap strokes plus playing from the
white marker or one of the two or none of these? thanks for your
reply,
sincerely, ezhar

Hello Ezhar,
When entering scores for a handicap, today’s
computerized systems always ask which set of tees you have
played, and adjusts your handicap accordingly, so yes, you can
play any set of tees unless you are in a competition. Then the
rules of your competition will dictate which set of tees you
must play. This will clearly be spelled out when you enter the
competition. Usually you will have to play the same set of tees
as your opponent, but in some cases the local rules might allow
you to play a different set of tees, but that would seem
unusual.
Joe

Joe,
Different ads for putters illustrate that some putters have
a little loft to start the ball slightly off the ground while
others are saying it is better to get the ball rolling
immediately. Which way is better? Wayne

Hi Wayne,
In my opinion it does not matter. Sometimes you will
notice the pros on TV will chip from the fringe with the flag
out of the hole because they are trying to hole the shot. That
suggests they could putt almost as well with a wedge as they can
with a putter, so a little loft is not a bad thing, right? So do
you think anyone will design a putter that looks like a wedge? I
think not. Just because a lofted ball might skid, does not mean
it will skid off line unless it hits an imperfection on the
putting surface. Getting the ball rolling immediately and
hitting the same imperfection on the putting surface will likely
have the same effect. I figure this debate is mostly due to
marketing hype trying to sell different types of putters. A
straight putt will stay straight whether it rolls immediately or
skids a little. Rather than worrying about how the ball rolls,
consider most putts are missed due to mis-reads. Any breaking
putt has different lines depending on speed. A putt that dies at
the hole will need more break than an aggressive putt that would
go past the hole. On a breaking putt, even if you have the
perfect putter and you make a perfectly straight stroke on the
perfect line, you still miss it if the speed is a little too
hard or a little too soft because the break will be different.
All you can do is try different styles of putters yourself and
see which design gives you more confidence. It is confidence
that produces the best results.
Joe

Joe,
I am reading in magazines about the “X-factor” where the
shoulders are supposed to turn much more than the hips to get
extra power. If that is true, why do some instructions say to
get a good hip turn, is that not contrary to the X-factor which
says to limit the hip turn? Who is correct?
Tom

Hello Tom,
This is one of many areas where people debate which
is better, and some of it depends on your body build and your
degree of athleticism. Here is my opinion. The X-factor can
create some whipping action only if the downswing move is
executed properly with the lower body going first. However,
rather than limiting the hip turn, I feel you should allow the
hips to turn naturally and compare results. I also feel that you
can generate even more whipping action with a bigger hip turn as
long as your timing on the downswing is correct, again with the
lower body going first, as evidenced by the swings of Bobby
Jones and John Daly, and how about J.B Holmes who was outdriving
everyone in Phoenix recently with a short backswing and big hip
turn? Am I mistaken, or did that look a lot like Sensei Mark in
the Body Golf videos? This is a good experiment for the practice
range, just try varying amounts of hip action and see what works
best for you. Joe

Question for the Evil Twin: Jody, how often do you play?
Answer: I only play on days that end in y

Answer to the above Trivia Question: 1-Arnold Palmer in 1968,
2-Curtis Strange in 1989, 3-J.B. Holmes in 2006.

==============================================

Testimonial

I am a 10 handicap LH, and due to back injury had to switch to
RH. It was start all over, or not golf(not an option) I was
horrible, looking for a better way found your Total Body Golf on
line and ordered. In a period of the summer went from 25 RH to
15 RH now. I believe that with the new senior cd I will be a
nine RH this spring. Thanks so much for making it simple."

Jim Potts - West Virginia

Get Your DVD Now …and Get Ready For Spring

http://www.thinkandreachpar.com/bodygolf_seniors_adv.htm

======================================

Golf Potpourri

Mac Stevenson

Spend Some Time on the Beach this Spring

This spring—when it’s chilly—and you want to practice for just a
short while, spend the time working on your sand shots.

Many otherwise competent golfers become stiff with fear the
moment they step into a sand trap. The reason for the feeling
of dread—which is akin to terror—is that they have not taken
the time or effort to master the fundamentals of the sand shot.

You have to be familiar with and understand the basic
fundamentals of the sand shot. They’re available via Richard’s
short-game videos.

Sand shots—so far as escaping from the trap and getting on the
green—are not difficult. The hard part of these shots is
mental, not physical. You can’t always get up and down in two,
but you won’t hack and chop until you’ve ruined your round
either.

Four varieties of stances and lies cover most of the sand
shots you’ll face:

•When you have a fairly level stance and a good lie.

•When you’re faced with an awkward stance caused by a lie on the up
slope.

•When you have a downhill lie and stance.
•And lastly, when you face the fried egg—the dreaded buried lie.

Don’t despair. You’ll have a level stance and reasonably good
lie on the majority of your sand shots. The basic fundamentals
on the level lie include an open stance with your hands slightly
behind the ball; an open clubface; play the ball off your left
heel; and pick out a spot just behind the ball where your
clubface will enter the sand.

On the standard sand shot, your swing should be upright and
outside-in so it’s easier to slice your clubhead under the ball
and through the sand.

The most important thing about a sand shot is to have a clear
image in your mind of what the clubhead will do.

Your clubface doesn’t touch the ball; it slices through the sand
under the ball and literally throws the ball on the green.

Most fundamental instructions are very weak in one area: They
don’t describe how much you should open the clubface. Simply
put, the clubface should be very open on short sand shots and
just slightly open for long explosions. You will have to
experiment for the in-between distances to find what is right
for you.

And you have to get in a sand trap and hit all four of the shots
described above. Just reading a book or watching Richard’s
video will help, but you have to get in a sand trap and practice
those fundamentals.

Experiment with various clubface alignments according to
different distances until you’re confident with this basic, but
important, concept.

Don’t let a buried lie strike terror into your psyche. This
isn’t a hard shot. Hood your clubface closed and hit behind the
ball and down and through the sand, throwing sand and ball onto
the green. Swing hard and follow through.

On most sand trap shots you’ll use your sand wedge. However, on
long trap shots (over 20 yards), try using your pitching wedge,
nine iron, or even an eight iron. And open the clubface ever so
slightly; you’ll find the ball flies much further with less
effort than the sand wedge requires.

If you don’t have a sand trap on your driving range, you’ll have
to practice on the course. Take five or six balls and work on
the four basic lies and stances. When you catch one of those
days when you have to wait on every tee and there’s no one
behind you, take a few moments to practice sand shots while your
buddies are wasting their time gabbing on the next tee.

Keep your head steady on all of these sand shots. You should
actually see your clubhead enter the sand, and make sure you
swing hard enough to slide your clubhead completely through the
sand.

Another good idea is to write or type the fundamentals on a note
card or two and have them laminated at a print shop. Keep them
in your golf bag for handy reference while you practice.

Like so many things in life, sand-trap shots seem hard or next
to impossible until you have the knowledge (fundamentals) and
confidence (gained from practice) and know you can hit the shot
correctly every time.

Spend some time on the beach and you’ll gain the skill and
confidence needed to get it out and on the green every time.
And if you really work at it, you’ll find you can get it up and
down in two more often than not.

==========================================

Attention Left Handed Golfers

If you are tired of watching golf videos and them saying "If you
are a lefty, reverse these instructions" then here are the DVD's
made just for you!!

The Body Golf series of DVD's for left handed golfers! The only
complete set of golf training videos for leftys!!

Order your set now:

http://golfforleftys.com/

======================================

Richard's Thoughts

For the past couple of years I have been having some rotator
cuff problems. When the pain starts and affects my game, I can
lay off the clubs for a few days, and everything is fine again.
But over the past two years it has been becoming more of a
problem, with more pain.

My doctor has been wanting to operate, but I have been putting
it off as long as possible. It has affected my game, but so far
I have been able to manage, but I am afraid my days are
numbered. I just can’t imagine not picking up a club for at
least six months! That is along time “not” to play golf, but I
must soon face reality.

With all the snow in the Northeast, I hope you have managed to
stay warm and dry this past winter.

Thanks to all of your for your support.

Now for a quick lesson.

Topping and Skying

How To Stop Topping

Topping can result when the ball is played too far forward or
too far back, or when the clubhead is placed too far behind the
ball at address.

Stand closer to the ball. Avoid raising it too soon, coming off
the ball. Don’t chop.

Keep left knee flexed and don’t stiffen knee or shift weight to
your toes.

Don’t try to scoop the ball or lean to the right at impact and
keep your eyes behind the ball.

How To Stop Skying

Skying can result from dropping the right shoulder and lowering
the arc of the swing in anxiety to get more power into your
shot.

This can also cause a fat shot when iron hits ground too far
behind the ball. On the drive, tee the ball lower, and keep
your head on the same level. Do not dip.

Don’t break wrists too early or release too soon, causing a
scoop.

Let your left side lead clubhead through the ball, and don’t let
your right hand or shoulder take over.

Until next week...good golfing!

Richard C Myers
http://www.thinkandreachpar.com/
http://www.golfforleftys.com/

Wood From The Rough

The No B.S. Golf Newsletter

=============================================

Give all of your golfing buddies a free gift... forward them a
copy of this newsletter, or ask them to go to
http://www.thinkandreachpar.com/ and sign up.

==============================================

Richard's Quick Tip:

Wood From The Rough

If you struggle getting out of the rough with your irons then
why not try a 5 0r 7 wood? The actual club you choose will
depend on the distance you need to achieve and the life of the
ball.

For a bad lie in the rough make sure you position the ball back
in your stance but keep your hands ahead of the ball with the
back of the clubhead slightly raised above the ground.

Attempt to swing in a more upright plane to encourage a steeper
angle of attack on the ball.

Feel as if you are chopping down more than sweeping away, as you
would do from a good lie on the fairway with more of your weight
on your left foot.

===============================================

Last Week for the reduced price… ends Feb 12, 2006

Response has bee so good for this DVD, I am going to leave It
at the discount price for a few more days, so don't put off
buying

A while back, Mark and I were talking and I had asked him if you
were to strip down everything out of most videos and systems,
what would be left. Where would all of the "meat" be?

He quickly replied, "Simple, the driver, the putter and the
wedge. Those are the most-used clubs in everybody's bag."

To get the rest of this story…follow this link.

http://www.thinkandreachpar.com/3golfclubs.htm

(If this link is not active in your email, you may have to copy
and paste it in your browser)

This is a good DVD. Not only visual quality, but content as
well.

============================================

Golf Quote of the week: Bobby Jones in his book Golf is My Game
said ¡°Considered objectively, it is quite obviously a very
simple matter to propel a ball with a stick across some
specially prepared ground and into a hole which is of sufficient
size to accommodate it by a good margin. Simple that is, provided
there is no limit upon the time or the number of strokes
required¡±.

=================================================

Quote of the week:

"Man often becomes what he believes himself to be. If I keep on
saying to myself that I cannot do a certain thing, it is
possible that I may end by really becoming incapable of doing
it. On the contrary, if I shall have the belief that I can do
it, I shall surely acquire the capacity to do it, even if I may
not have it at the beginning." Mahatma Gandhi 1869-1948, Indian
Nationalist Leader

===================================================

Questions and Answers from subscribers by our Teaching Pro,
Mr. Joe DeLorenzo.

Thank you for taking the time to answer these for us Joe.

A Bit of Golf Trivia: Everyone says today's modern equipment
has made the game much easier. In the last ten years how much
has the average handicap index been lowered for both men or
women? (answer is below)

Joe, Having trouble with my swing plane. Hitting everything off
center towards the toe. Mostly with irons. What drill would you
recommend to correct ? David

Hi David, The recommended drill is the double-clubber as shown
in the Body Golf videos. This drill can help several types of
problems, whether it is swing plane, swing path, weight shift,
etc. In your case, although you think it is the swing plane, it
may or may not be, I would have to view your swing to be sure.
If your plane is too upright, it may cause toe hits, so flatten
it out a little like you do with your woods. However, swing path
could also be your problem, so if the flatter plane did not
work, try to make your downswing a little more inside out
because an outside in path could also cause toe hits. Good luck!
Joe

Joe, A golfer must really have to be good to get a single digit
handicap. I have some buddies who all hit the ball pretty well,
but their handicaps vary greatly. Where is this fine line that
separates them? Steven

Hi Steven, Let's say on every hole, golfer A and golfer B hit
the same number of fairways and the same number of greens. They
each chip and pitch the ball the same also. On each hole they
are both faced with par putts in the range of 6 to 10 feet.
Golfer A is a scratch player because she makes almost every putt
in that range. Golfer B is an 18 handicap because he misses
almost every putt in that range. There is your fine line. Nobody
will ever be a scratch player unless they can get up and down
from anywhere near the green. Even the best pros do not hit
every green in regulation, so they must have fantastic short
games to survive. Yet most golfers think the way to get better
is to spend all their practice time banging balls on the range.
Many golfers already hit the ball well enough to just get near
the green in regulation, but that's where the real scoring
begins. If you cannot make putts consistently in the 6 to 10
foot range, you have simply got to get your chip shots closer to
the hole. Scoring is all about the short game. And as Baretta
used to say for emphasis, THAT's the name of THAT tune. Joe

Joe, What kind of stuff would you like to see in the next golf
movie? Greg

Hi Greg, I would like to see a sequel to ¡°The Greatest Game
Ever Played¡± to capture some of the interesting true stories in
the book that the movie left out, such as the young unknown
Walter Hagen's great effort that came very close to winning the
same 1913 US Open which was the venue for the movie. The book
also had several other colorful characters that could easily
make another movie most interesting. I ask all our readers to
send this request in to Disney, maybe if they see enough
interest, they might do something about it. Maybe they can call
it ¡°Greatest Game ¨C Part 2¡±. Joe

Question for the Evil Twin: Jody, how did Golf get it's name?
Answer: All the other four letter words were already taken.
Actually, I read somewhere that the word was an acronym for
Gentlemen Only, Ladies Forbidden. If that is true, what would
the game be called if Ladies had invented it? Maybe ¡°WOMAN¡±
for Women Only, Men Are Nothing, or ¡°GIRL¡± for Game I Really
Love. The answer I like best, however, I saw on a T shirt in the
gift shop at Marytown in Mundelein, IL, it said Golf Offers Love
& Forgiveness.

Answer to the above Trivia Question ¨C Over the last ten years,
the average men's handicap index was lowered from 16.5 to 16.1,
while the average women's handicap index came down from 30.3 to
29.8. ==============================================

Comments from subscribers

Dear Richard,
I enjoy reading your quote of the week. I helps me in giving
advise to my personnel.
Thank you
Jonathan . Montillo

Richard

I always enjoy your newsletters and value the advice highly.
However I must contest the philosophy for putting off the green
fridge. You will have heard of Mr Shwab's YES putter famed for
its 3-5 deg loft? I have one and a home made 7 deg loft putter,
originally made for putting off the green. It transpires that
from experience, I find the 7 deg putter better on the green as
well. I attribute this to the purer strike which lifts the ball
up out of the influence of irregular ground surface whilst the
club exerts its vector acceleration to the ball. True the
results are disconcertingly faster putts until you are
conditioned to the new loft, but I Perceive better results so
far!

Give it a try with an old putter before putting your best Scotty
Cameron in the vice.

Regards Jim.

when putting, you mention getting your eyes directly over the
ball. Most people don't know what this feels/looks like. They
may even believe they are doing this. A good tip for checking
where your eyes are in relation to the ball when putting: Get
an old CD and place it shiny side up. (Every one gets at least
one or two in the mail from AOL and other internet companies).
Place your ball in the hole and line up to putt. You will see
your reflection in the CD and you can make adjustments to your
stance to accommodate getting your eyes in line with the ball.
Peter Trivanovich

Dear Richard,

Thank you for tip #13. I have always played my best golf when I
have a song in my head which keeps me from thinking through the
shot. My friends think I'm crazy. I'm glad to see I'm not!
Your tip is the first I've read about putting a song in your
head. But, it works!

Thank you,

Lisa 10 Handicap

Thank all of you for sharing with us!

======================================

Golf Potpourri

Mac Stevenson

Spring's Biggest Challenge

Early spring of 2006 is fast approaching and a common hindrance
will challenge golfers of all skill levels throughout the
nation: More often than not, the wind will be howling across
your golf course as you struggle to shoot good scores.

When you face gale-force winds, the best and most realistic
solution to the problems it poses is to simply lower your
expectations. If you usually shoot around 80, expect that to
climb to 85 or 86; a high wind is that much of a handicap to all
golfers.

What TV announcers call a treacherous and gusting wind during
PGA tournaments is laughable and bears no resemblance to the
roaring gales that whip across the Central Plains in early
spring.

Winds on the Central Plains in March and April and May often
gust to 40- or 50 mph. That makes it hard to keep your balance.
Make sure you have your feet firmly planted and try and keep
your swing smooth.

Most golfers practice just two types of wind shots: the full
shot with the wind blowing directly in their faces and the
opposite, when the wind is right behind them.

In reality, there are many different wind shots besides the
above-mentioned two. Crosswind shots are just as difficult as
those with the wind blowing toward or behind you. The two most
common problem shots are the left-to-right crosswind and vice
versa.

Crosswinds are treacherous. Most golfers don't realize that a
crosswind will knock your ball down and cause a loss of
distance, similar to a shot directly into the wind. The effect
isn't as extreme, but there is a definite loss of distance in a
crosswind.

Here is the important thing to remember about full shots in a
strong crosswind: It's better to allow a little too much for
the wind than not enough. If the wind is howling from right to
left on a 180-yard par three, you have to start your shot well
to the right of the green. If you don't allow for plenty of
drift, the shot can get completely away from you.

In a fierce wind, the punch shot usually struck with a five- to
eight-iron is a great weapon. Play the ball well back in your
stance, move your hands forward, and strike down on the ball
with an abbreviated backswing and follow through. The punch
shot produces a low, running shot that reduces the wind is
effect. A punch shot is not hard to master, but it does require
practice.

When you hit iron shots into the wind, be sure and use plenty of
club. If it's a shot you would hit with a seven-iron on a
still day, don't be too proud to go down to a four- or
five-iron.

By using more club than you think you need, you can take a
smooth swing and achieve the desired distance.

Playing in a strong wind will also affect your short game.
It's difficult to maintain balance on chips and putts.

Three- and four-foot putts are extremely challenging because
It's so hard to stroke the ball. Just remember that everyone
has the same problem; the wind isn't an obstacle to you alone.

In a gale wind, the best way to handle short putts is to hit
them as quickly as possible without destroying your rhythm and
concentration. You might have to give it a bit of a jab stroke,
but do it quick and you will make some of ¡®em.

It helps to widen your stance, but putting is such an individual
skill that you will have to work out your own method for putting
in a strong wind.

When a fierce wind is at your back on long holes, consider
teeing off with a metal three instead of your driver. The metal
three is a more forgiving club and you'll hit it higher and get
as much distance as you will with the driver.

Playing in a howling gale will challenge your mental toughness
to its limit. If things start going bad, it is easy to become
discouraged and blame the wind. You must resist this form of
self-pity.

You'll become tired much quicker than normal. Playing in a
Central Plains howler for four hours will make you feel like
Someone is been beating on you with a rubber hose.

When fatigue becomes the master, your resolve crumbles and
mistakes become frequent. That is why it is vital to follow the
number-one rule going against the wind: Use more club than you
think you need and swing smooth. Not easy, smooth.

It is excellent practice to hit balls into the teeth of a strong
wind. Your mistakes (slices or hooks) are accentuated by the
wind, and by practicing in it you'll learn how to control your
shots to the best of your ability.

If you want to learn how to play in the wind, come visit Central
Kansas for a week or so in March or April. You'll get a chance
to play in a howling gale almost every day.

==========================================

Attention Left Handed Golfers

If you are tired of watching golf videos and them saying "If you
are a lefty, reverse these instructions" then here are the DVD's
made just for you!!

The Body Golf series of DVD's for left handed golfers! The only
complete set of golf training videos for leftys!!

Order your set now:

http://golfforleftys.com/

02/12/06

Eye Over The Ball When Putting - Categories: Golf - richard @ 01:09:23 pm

The Eye Over the Ball in Putting

It doesn't make any difference if you have an unorthodox grip or stance when you putt, but two things are vital: your eye must be directly over the ball, and you must stroke the ball to make it rotate end-over-end.

You have undoubtedly noticed that manufacturers are now making putters more upright. This is to help the golfer keep his eye directly over the ball. Every great putter I have seen does this. In effect, their eyes act in the capacity of eyes for the ball. The ball can only "see" the line when your eyes are directly over it. If they are not, your eyes will see one line while the ball "sees" another, and I don't think I need to go into the results of that.

When your eyes are over the ball, you have a much better chance of stroking it accurately and imparting end-over-end-rotation. End-over-end rotation means that the ball is contacted so squarely that it rolls "over itself," on the same vertical axis, there being no side-spin as there inevitably will be when the ball is cut or pulled or mis-putted in some other manner. If a putt stroked with end-over-end rotation hits a corner of the cup, it will not spin off and will usually drop. Some people use a little gadget and draws a circle around their putting balls so they can check exactly how the ball is rotating. Just like using a range ball for putting.

Until next week, good golfing!

Dr Richard Myers
http://www.thinkandreachpar.com/

New South Media, LLC
45 Doverdale Rd.
Greenville SC 29615
United States
864.675.0038

02/03/06

Using TheEntire Tee Box - Categories: Golf - richard @ 08:10:10 am

If you find a typographical or grammatical errors in this email,
they are here for a purpose. Some people actually enjoy
looking for them and we strive to please as many of these
people as possible. Richard

=============================================

Give all of your golfing buddies a free gift... forward them a
copy of this newsletter, or ask them to go to
http://www.thinkandreachpar.com/ and sign up.

==============================================

Richard's Quick Tip:

Cutting The Ball From Sand

In playing the trap shot, the average player positions the ball
too far back toward the right foot. You should position the
ball opposite the left heel. Your stance should be slightly
open and your feet about a foot apart.

This open stance makes it easier for you to take the sand-iron
back to the outside, the way you should. Essentially, then, the
trap shot becomes a cut shot.

The sand-iron is picked up more abruptly than normal, and then
cut across the desired line of flight on the follow-through.
This abruptness, of course, only applies to shorter trap shots.
On the longer recoveries from sand, your backswing should be
more like that of a normal wedge, although the clubhead is still
taken back toward the outside.

===============================================

Response has bee so good for this DVD, I am going to leave It
at the discount price for a few more days, so don't put off
buying

A while back, Mark and I were talking and I had asked him if you
were to strip down everything out of most videos and systems,
what would be left. Where would all of the "meat" be?

He quickly replied, "Simple….the driver, the putter and the
wedge. Those are the most-used clubs in everybody's bag."

"You see," he went on, "Most weekend golfers have no idea how to
use these clubs. Unfortunately, these are the clubs that they
tend to use the most and.to their dismay, frustration and
endless aggravation, the ones that cost them the most strokes!"

To get the rest of this story….follow this link.

http://www.thinkandreachpar.com/3golfclubs.htm

(If this link is not active in your email, you may have to copy
and paste it in your browser)

This is a good DVD. Not only visual quality, but content as
well.

============================================

Golf Quote of the week:

Golf, like the measles, should be caught young, for, if
postponed to riper years, the results may be serious.
P.G. Wodehouse, A Mixed Threesome, 1922

=================================================

Quote of the week:

"I don't believe in pessimism. If something doesn't come up the
way you want, forge ahead. If you think it's going to rain, it
will."
Clint Eastwood Actor and Director

===================================================

Questions and Answers from subscribers by our Teaching Pro,
Mr. Joe DeLorenzo.

Thank you for taking the time to answer these for us Joe.

You Make The Call (true story)

During the 2003 US Amateur, as a golfer addressed his ball, a
swarm of bees suddenly attacked a lady in the gallery. If you
were a Marshall, what would you do, and what do you suppose the
Marshall really did? (answer is below)

Joe,
I'm an older golfer having just taken up golf at 52 about a year
and a half ago. I have some flexibility limitations in the
shoulder and arms (e.g., can't lift arms above head without a
lot of pull on the back). I seem to have a problem I've been
unable to fix with regards to stability and maintaining the
spine angle. Almost every time I do a back swing, when I try to
bring the club around and up, my body lifts up and back in
response to this motion. It's almost like falling away, so I
lose all leverage in returning the club to the ball. I have
begun stretching exercises, but it hasn't really helped yet.
I've tried to manufacture tons of different backswings, but with
not success.
Larry

Hi Larry,
I do not know if you always had these limitations, or are they
due to a recent injury, so for the sake of discussion I will
assume you have always had these limitations. I would recommend
the next time you go to a practice range, try this drill. Take
your setup at a mat with a permanent rubber tee, otherwise just
place a tee in the ground. Instead of concentrating on how you
do the backswing, just assume a comfortable position at the top
and take a downswing. Adjust your position at the top until you
find one that results in better balance and consistently strikes
the tee every time. Once you can do that, all you have to do is
find a backswing that gets you to that same position at the top.
Be careful not to overswing on the backswing or else you will
have your original problem all over again. I hope this helps
you.
Joe

Joe,
12 guys are going on a golf trip to Arizona. Is there any
formula to use to set up the foursomes so we all play together
the same amount of time? thanks
Rich

Hi Rich,
It depends on how many rounds you are going to play.
The easiest way to figure this out is to play 12 rounds (or 6
rounds if you switch every 9 holes). If that is the case, number
your golfers 1-12. For round 1 the foursomes are 1-2-3-4,
5-6-7-8, 9-10-11-12. For each subsequent round, place number 1
at the end of the list and that makes the foursomes 2-3-4-5,
6-7-8-9, 10-11-12-1. Keep repeating this process by taking the
number at the left end of the line and moving it to the right
end of the line. If you are playing less than 12 rounds, there
is probably no way to have it come out exactly even unless you
have teams of twosomes that always play together, then if you
play 6 rounds this example should work if you move two numbers
at a time (3 rounds if you switch every 9 holes). Jody says to
play as a twelve-some, which also solves the problem, but I
doubt if any course will let you do that.
Joe

Joe, I am 77 years old. My score usually is hi 90's or low
100/s.My swing speed with a driver is between 74 and 78. Is it
possible for someone my age to lower my handicap? Sincerely
Florian

Hi Florian,
It is always possible to lower your handicap, just
how much depends on what your current handicap is. It is harder
for lower handicap players and easier for higher handicappers.
It has nothing to do with swing speed. At your age that is not a
bad swing speed, I hope I can do that when I am 77. Ask yourself
these questions: Do you make every short putt? Do you lag every
long putt close to the hole? Do you get your chips and pitches
close enough to the hole to give yourself a chance to one-putt?
Are you aiming properly? Do you have trouble with sand shots?
Are you sure you are using the right grip? Are you sure you are
using the best possible setup, stance, posture, ball position?
Are you satisfied with your mechanics, backswing, downswing,
follow-thru? Are you making the best decisions on club selection
depending on the situation? Are you getting the most out of your
practice sessions? I can give you answers to all these questions
and more, just order the book ¡°30 Ways To Lower Your Golf
Scores¡±, available from the Products link at
thinkandreachpar.com.
Joe

Question for the Evil Twin:

Jody, if trees are 90% air, why not risk hitting right thru the
branches? Answer: Buildings are also 90% air, would you risk
hitting thru them also?

Answer to You Make The Call (above) ¨C The Marshall, obviously a
Purist, raised his hands toward the screaming lady and hissed
¡°Quiet Please!!!¡± while other people came to her aid.

======================================

Golf Potpourri

Mac Stevenson

Chart Your Game Before Spring Practice

Very few golfers take the time to seriously analyze their games
before embarking on a vigorous 2006 spring practice schedule.
It is really quite simple to examine your game in minute detail
to determine which shots you should practice the most.

The first thing to do is to sit down and chart a typical, but
hypothetical, round of golf. You will have to use a course that
you play frequently and are quite familiar with. And you have
to be honest with yourself; from memory, chart the shots and
strokes on each hole that you will hit during a typical (for
you) round of 18 holes. It doesn't matter whether you usually
shoot around 70 or 100 so long as the chart is accurate and
realistic concerning your golf game.

The following is my chart on my home course for an imaginary
round of golf when I shoot 80; you can do the same thing with
your game. Of course, this doesn't represent an actual round
of golf, but it will be close enough for you to determine which
clubs to focus on in early spring practice. Incidentally, if
you will allow a brief digression, an old friend of mine once
told me that 80 was the perfect score in golf. He said, ¡°You
can play comfortably with anyone when you shoot 80.¡± Think
about it there is a lot of truth in that.

Chart symbols: (D=Drive) (3-W=3 wood) (4-W=4 wood) (5-W=5 wood)
(P=pitch shot) (C=chip shot) (Pt=putt) (9-I=9 iron) and so on
with the irons.

#1 Par 4--(D) (3-W) (P) (2 Pts)=5
#2 Par 3--(7-I) (2 Pts)=3
#3 Par 5--(D) (3-W) (3-W) (9-I) (3 Pts)=7
#4 Par 3--(4-I) (2Pts)=3
#5 Par 4--(D) (3-W) (P) (1 Pt)=4
#6 Par 4--(D) (5-W) (2Pts)=4
#7 Par 5--(D) (3-W) (8-I) (2 Pts)=5
#8 Par 3--(5-W) (C)(2 Pts)=4
#9 Par 4--(D) (3-W) (P) (2 Pts)=5 Front Nine Score=40
#10 Par 5--(D) (3-W) (7-I)(P) (1 Pt)=5
#11 Par 3--(4-I) (C) (2Pts)=4
#12 Par 4--(D) (3-W)(P) (2 Pts)=5
#13 Par 4--(D) (3-W) (P) (2 Pts)=5
#14 Par 4--(D)(3-W) (P) (1 Pt)=4
#15 Par 3--(5-I) (2 Pts)=3
#16 Par 4--(D)(3-W) (P) (3 Pts)=6
#17 Par 3--(5-I) (1 Pt)=2
#18 Par 5--(D)(3-W) (7-I) (C) (2Pts)=6
Back Nine Score=40
Total=80

Now, to analyze your game for practice purposes, you have to
subtract your putts from the rest of your shots.
In the hypothetical round charted above, I used 34 putts over the 18 holes.
Subtracting the putts (34) from the total score of 80, I
find that I hit 46 shots other than putts.

Keep in mind that I am using my own game just to illustrate this
charting method. Your game will be entirely different, but you
can use the same system.

Here is how the different shots (minus putts) added up over a
typical 18 hole round: Drives Fairway Woods Full Irons
Chips Pitches 12 14 9
3 8
=46

Right away, with my game, it becomes obvious that I'm hitting
more drives and fairway woods than any other shots. Twenty-six
drives and fairway woods out of 46 shots equals 56.5 percent of
the total shots. That tells me right away that the driver and
fairway woods deserve plenty of practice. Incidentally, fairway
woods include everything from the 3-wood to a 7-wood. And full
irons include the 3-iron to the sand wedge, when you take a full
swing. Chips and pitches are self-explanatory.

By using this charting method, you might discover that certain
clubs are more important than you thought they were. And it's
simple to use.

After you start playing regularly in this spring, you can chart
actual rounds and see how close they are to your imaginary
round. Obviously, you won't want to do this for every round;
recording your shots during just one or two 18-hole rounds will
suffice.

Sometimes we can't see the forest through the trees; take the
time to examine your game closely before you begin spring
practice sessions. It will be time well-spent.

==========================================

Attention Left Handed Golfers

If you are tired of watching golf videos and them saying "If you
are a lefty, reverse these instructions" then here are the DVD's
made just for you!!

The Body Golf series of DVD's for left handed golfers! The only
complete set of golf training videos for leftys!!

Order your set now:

http://golfforleftys.com/

======================================

Richard's Thoughts

Using The Entire Tee Box

It may seem irrelevant to many golfers, but knowing where to
place your ball on the tee can make a big difference in where
you hit your drive, Most tees give you ample room between the
markers-five to 10 yards is common.

Most high-handicap golfers automatically tee the ball u near the
middle. Using the entire tee box, however, can provide a golfer
with more options, less risk and a better visual perspective of
the hole.

For example, teeing the ball closer to the marker on the same
side as trouble (woods or water) allows you to aim away from the
trouble more comfortably. If the natural shape of your shot is
a fade (hopefully we don't slice anymore), tee up next to the
right marker and aim toward the left-center of the fairway.
This will give you a greater margin for error than trying to
work the ball from the left marker. If you tend to draw the
ball, do just the opposite.

However, on dogleg holes, teeing up next to the marker opposite
the dogleg will give you a better perspective and actually open
up the hole for your drive. This is one situation where you
might want to hit a draw from the right marker and a fade from
the left.

Par threes give you a unique opportunity to hit an approach shot
to the green from exactly the place you want. Don't waste it!
Look at where the pin is, where the trouble is, and factor in
your normal shot pattern with the club chosen.

Your golf course architect gave you a large tee area to use. So
use it to your advantage.

1 comment • Edit

- Categories: Golf - richard @ 08:08:49 am

The After Forty FingerA while back, Mark and I were talking and I had asked him if you
were to strip down everything out of most videos and systems,
what would be left. Where would all of the "meat" be?

He quickly replied, "Simple.the driver, the putter and the
wedge. Those are the most-used clubs in everybody's bag."

To get the rest of this story.follow this link.

http://www.thinkandreachpar.com/3golfclubs.htm

(If this link is not active in your email, you may have to copy
and paste it in your browser)

This is a good DVD. Not only visual quality, but content as
well.

This weeks Tip

The After-Forty Finger

The basic principle of good putting is to keep the blade of the
putter square to the hole. When you talk turkey with a
businessman, you must look squarely at him during the entire
conversation. It's the same in putting. When you're talking
turkey on the greens, the face of your putter must look squarely
at the hole throughout the stroke.

Most of the time, when a golfer fails to take the putter back
square to the target, the error he makes is "breaking" his
wrists. This causes him to pull the putter off the line and
eventually to cut the putt off to the right or yank it to the
left of the hole.

To correct this habit of breaking the wrists, I suggest placing
the index finger of the right hand so that it extends directly
down the shaft-behind the shaft.

You can't break your wrists then, and the finger also serves as
a fine guide in making the stroke. I call this the "after-40
finger." since it has been especially helpful in improving the
putting of my friends who are getting along in years, but I
recommended it to golfers of all ages who are erratic on the
green.

Richard Myers

http://www.thinkandreachpar.com/
http://www.superbabysitting.com/
http://www.golfforleftys.com/

September 05 blog

2006-03-22T14:00:00.000-05:00

Abolish Your Backswing

If your ball comes to rest in an area in which you can’t get a
full swing on the ball, you may want to hit with only part of
your swing.

Lets say your ball comes to rest close to a tree. If you can
swing your club back to calf level or, better still, to the
height of your knees, and if the lie isn’t too difficult, there
still is a shot you can play.

Address the ball with a lofted club. Then, very slowly, swing
the club back as far as it will go. Now freeze. Your wrists
should be cocked.

From here, chop down into the back of the ball. It should pop
out-not that far, but away from further trouble.

This shot is especially valuable when your only other option is
to drop the ball in an area where a drop will mean even more
trouble.

Testimonial From Lisa

Richard,

I want to Thank You and Body Golf for changing how I think about
hitting the ball. I'm told I have a beautiful golf swing but, I
had way too many "swing" thoughts. I received the DVD's about
three weeks ago and I'm now hitting the ball farther, straighter
and with more confidance. I did not like irons and now I can't
wait to hit one! I just finished playing in our club
championship and came in 2nd place! I feel confident, by next
year, I can be club champion! I love swinging the club and
having the ball just get in the way. This is how I used to
think when I started golfing six years ago. And the "magic
move" is perfect! I also like Mark's way of practicing. I will
never take another lesson from a "pro" again! Thank YOU!

Lisa

09/21/05

The Long Trap Shot

When the average golfer gets into a sand trap 75 yards or so from the green, he wants to play an explosion shot "like the pros." He takes in the healthy distance to the green and says to himself, "Now I'll really have to blast it to get it there." The results don't help his frame of mind much, or his score either.

To begin with, the average golfer is wrong when he thinks the pros play an explosion shot from that far out. The clubhead, of course, sometimes displaces quite a bit of sand after the ball has been struck, and maybe this is what gives the illusion that the pros hit the sand before the ball on this kind of shot. They don't—or at least they try not to. They try to "pick" the ball on a long trap shot, contacting it cleanly and hitting it just below the center.

On this shot there's very little shifting of weight. You keep the body anchored, for you play this shot just about entirely with the arms and wrists. You have to cock the wrists correctly going back to execute the shot well. And you must concentrate, for no shot in which the club has to make precise contact with the ball is an easy one. One further point: always use the sand wedge.
Until next week…good golfing!

Dr Richard Myers

09/20/05

The Chipping Grip

Since most of us miss more greens than we hit-and I was no exception to this rule, we know how important it is to be sharp with our chips.

Chipping is primarily a matter of touch. To illustrate, notice that your chips are seldom more than a foot or so off line. Thus, if you could chip the ball hole-high every time, you would never have a putt of more than a foot or so in length. The point, then is to stop the ball as nearly hole-high as possible. And that takes touch. Now touch originates in the right hand; and I found that I could enhance this right-hand touch by letting the right hand play the predominant role in the shot. I did this by employing the reverse-overlapping grip with my chips, just as I did with my putts. By reverse-overlap, I mean that the index finger of my left hand overlapped the little finger and ring finger of my right-the reverse of the usual overlapping grip.

09/12/05

The Relaxed Putter

There isn’t a golfer alive who hasn’t felt the pressure of a match while putting. Despite my reputation as a pressure putter, I too often felt tension creeping into my stroke. Although I (or anyone else) never completely conquered this feeling of pressure, I did learn to cope with it. As we all well know, the putting stroke is the most easily affected shot in golf. After a few jerked putts, your confidence goes. And then your whole game comes apart at the seams.

My problem, then, was to learn how to loosen up after I had jerked a putt or two. To accomplish this, I used a simple little trick which anybody can use. I placed a golf ball between the shaft and the last two fingers of my left hand, thus placing the pressure of that hand more on the fingers, with which you are less apt to jerk a putt than with the palm of the hand.

Try this little gimmick a few times, and I’m sure you will be surprised at how quickly it loosens up your stroke, how much more easily you can return to your natural free stroke.

It’s very simple. Place the ball between the shaft and the last two fingers of the left hand, thus placing the pressure of that hand more in the fingers, with which you are less apt to jerk a putt than with the palm of the hand.

Simple, proven putting techniques
http://www.thinkandreachpar.com/bodygolf.htm#short

09/11/05

A Small Move That Makes A Big Difference

Want extra distance without extra effort? If so, simply turn
your shoulders
a little farther on the backswing.

This extra coiling creates a greater swing arc and thereby
produces greater leverage.
And the more leverage gained, the more clubspeed possible during
the release.

The results of that little extra turn will reveal that power
depends mainly on a full free swing and a delayed hitting action,
not upon a forced, speed-up tempo.

09/07/05

Developing Touch and Control

Golfers tend to confuse touch with control. They use the two
words as though they were interchangeable, which, of course, they
are not. Unless you have touch, or feel, as it is sometimes
called, you cannot have control. That is the kernel of it.

I was lucky enough to have started playing golf when I was young,
and learned the feel of golf shots then. A group of us kids would
go out and play a triangle of holes with just one club. We would
do everything with it—hit the ball high and low, run shots or
stop them with backspin. The next time out we would do the same
thing with another club. We didn't realize it then, but we were
getting a marvelous education in the uses of clubs. People
learning to play today generally are equipped with a club for
each distinct shot. They hit the ball full each time, but that is
the trouble with their game. They can only hit the ball full.

To acquire touch, I advise that you go back to where I began and
practice playing with a single club. You can play several holes
with the club. Or you might try the practice range. Select a
target (flag) down the range—say 50 to 125 yards away. Then hit
balls at it until you feel you have mastered the club. You might
try a long iron at first. Go to a higher iron after that. You
will find as you go through the irons that you will have to do a
lot of gripping up and down the shaft, that you will be opening
and closing your stance and lengthening and shortening your
swing. Eventually you will find yourself instinctively hitting
balls with the right spin and height and length. These are the
elements of control.

http://www.thinkandreachpar/

Developing Touch and Control

http://www.thinkandreachpar/

09/06/05

Swinging the Pitch Shot

The secret of scoring on the pro tour is getting down in two shots when you're
about a hundred yards from the green. The average club golfer has more modest
demands. He doesn't expect to get down in a pitch and a putt very often, but he
would like to be able to pitch well enough so that he has a crack at a one-putt
green every now and then and can at least count on regularly hitting the green
with his pitch. We don't always do that, you know. A good many times when we
scoop our shot the ball lands short and expire’s on the apron. Other times, when
we try to put a little punch into his shot, he pulls or pushes it far off the
line. These particular errors are hard for him to take because the pitch shot
doesn't require a full and powerful swing, as driving does or true finesse, as
trouble shots do. The pitch is one shot he thinks he ought to be able to handle
pretty well.

I believe in learning a standard pitch that is a swinging stroke as opposed to a
slapping hit. The concept the you should have is that this shot is quite similar
to the way you toss a ball underhand: just direct the right arm and hand toward
the target. On the short pitch there's no body turn to speak of—you use your left
side far less than you do on a full swing. As for your right arm and hand, you
shouldn't think of them until you're coming down into the ball. Then they swing
through the ball together and go right on out toward the target. There isn't an
easier shot to learn or a more reliable one.

Richard Myers

http://www.thinkandreachpar.com/
http://www.superbabysitting.com/
http://www.golfforleftys.com/

864.675.0038

August 05 blog

2006-03-22T13:59:00.000-05:00

Achieving the Backspin

Golfers seem to have two ambitions above all others: they would
like to be able to drive as long as the pros and to be able to
stop their approaches on the greens the way the pros can. Much
sensible instruction has been provided on how to gain length off
the tee, but it has been my experience that the average golfer is
quite confused on the business of backspin.

First let me tell you how, contrary to popular belief, one does
not achieve backspin: you don’t get it by over-emphasizing the
down motion of the downswing-that is, by simply driving the ball
into the ground as forcefully as you can.

Backspin, to some degree, depends on the relationship of the
power of the blade to the power of the shaft. You must have the
fight equipment first. Then-it is all very unmysterious and
painstaking-backspin is produced by contacting the ball
absolutely cleanly, striking it a quarter of an inch or so above
its base as you hit down-and-through the ball. This takes plenty
of time and some skill to master, but it is this precise striking
of the ball that creates the spin in flight that in turn creates
the backspin action when the ball hits the green.

Let me repeat that…backspin is hitting the ball cleanly, and
hitting it a quarter of an inch above its base as you hit down
and through the ball. It takes a lot of practice to achieve
this, but it can be done.

08/16/05

New Golf Videos

Went up to Leominster, Ma last Friday to shoot some more golf training dvd’s with Sensei Mark.

Gosh the weather up there was as hot as it is down here in the South. Temperatures reaching 100 degrees. It was hot…no question about that.

One of the most interesting things that happened is Mark and I were walking across the parking lot and a fellow ran up to Mark and said “Sensei, I want to shake your hand. I bought your full swing video a couple of years ago and it has taken my handicap for 12 to 7. I still pull it out every now and then and watch it. I want to thank you. “ Of course, both Mark and myself was very pleased. From a 12 to a 7, that is quite an accomplishment!

Everything went very well and ending up with over 7 hours of new videos. Kim Novak, whose father is the Pro at Monoosnock Country Club hosted two videos. One is The Perfect Swing for Women and the other video is All About Golf. Kim is the number one lady golfer in Mass, and I am very proud to have her host these videos. She did a great job.

The Perfect Swing for Women, is a full swing video for women, with the perfect swing basics and is full of good golf content including about twenty minutes of putting tips. For a woman, by a woman.

The All About Golf video is for anyone that is thinking about taking up the game of golf. It explains all the basics of golf equipment, rules, and procedures. A very helpful video for anyone wanting to know about golf or anyone thing about starting to play golf.

Sensei Mark hosted one three hour video titled Total Golf. This dvd will cover in complete detail everything from the grip to putting, in much detail. Marks style and teaching method is very similar to Butch Harmons…now wonder they work so well.

The other two videos are Driver,Putter, and Wedge and Faults and Cures. All of these videos have very little BS, and plenty of techniques and secrets.

Thunder storms across the Atlanta area Sunday night made coming home Monday a hassle with canceled flights, but after twelve and one half hours, I finally made it…tired, but a good feeling of accomplishment.

Richard Myers

08/12/05

How To Play The Par 3's

It pays to plan carefully for playing par 3 holes. Most courses
have four par 3's which the average golfer can reach with tee
shots. Threes on these holes can do a lot for your score and
give you a pshchological lift. So make the most of the
opportunity.

Forget your ego. Take as much club as you will neeed to carry
the ball to the pin. A check at one event showed 90 percent of
tee shots stopping short of the hole; 40 percent short of the
green. So consider taking a longer club than you might expect to
use.

Consider distance to the pin, not green. It can vary one or two
clubs, depending on pin placement and posistion of the tee
markers. Remember: Distance on card is from middle of tee to
middle of ghe green. So check pin placement and the tee markers
before selecting the club.

Consider also the wind. Tossing some grass on the tee is not
enough. The wind may be blosing differently at the gree, where
its effect is greatest. So check the flag and tops of trees near
the green.

Another distance factor is green elevation. If it's elevated,
better add 10 yards; lower, deduct 10.

Knowing you have the correct club will increase confidence, help
you make a soooth swing. You don't want to force the swing. Tha
twould affect your rhythm and swing arc. This should be a
control shot.

Study the green carefully to plan where you want to aim. Since
there's small margin for error on a par 3, play for the safe
part. You'll still be putting for a birdie. Adjust air to allow
for crosswind.

Always use a tee, but keep the ball close to the turf so you can
take divot and get backspin with an iron.

Dr Richard Myers

08/02/05

Are You a Duffer?

A duffer does more than play poor golf. He gives himself away by some of the things he does or fails to do that are typical of beginners-although many experienced players are guilty and may be put in this class.

Some things duffers do to violate the rules: some just violate etiquette. All are avoidable.

If your answer is yes to most of these questions, you rate in the duffer class no matter how low your handicap is or how long you have played golf.

On the tee, do you tee up in front of the markers, even just a little? Decide to wash your ball when it’s your turn to drive? Talk, laugh, move about or rattle your clubs when another is addressing the ball? Fail to put litter in receptacles? Drive before group ahead is out of range?

Through the green, do you walk ahead of others in your group and risk begin hit? Stand too close to one about to play a stroke? Play out of turn? Press the grass behind the ball down with your foot or club? Otherwise improve your lie? Forget to count strokes when you whiff or lose a ball? Pull up grass or weeds when in the rough or break off branches that obstruct your swing?

In a bunker, do you climb down or up a sandy bank? Or fail to enter at a level point nearest your ball? Leave footprints unraked? Touch the sand with the club when addressing the ball? Touch or remove natural objects?

On the green, do you change to a new “putting ball”? Or have to be asked to mark your ball? Or do you place your marker on the side, or in the front, instead of behind the ball? Or leave your ball in the cup after holding out when others still have to putt? Step on another’s line of putt? Press down with your putter or foot to smooth your line? Stand in the line of your putter, scuff the green with your spikes, fail to repair your ball mark? Are you not ready to putt when it’s your turn? Do you step close to the hole or damage the green with the end of the flagstick? After putting out, do you stay on the green to count strokes or mark the score?

All of us make mistakes at one time or another, but just keep the above in mind may help all of us have a better round, and alittle more fun!

Richard Myers

http://www.thinkandreachpar.com/
http://www.superbabysitting.com/
http://www.golfforleftys.com/

July 05 blog

2006-03-22T13:58:00.000-05:00

Master Carlos and Arnaldo

"Hello, Master Carlos? This is Arnaldo, your country house
caretaker."

"Ah yes, Mr. Arnaldo. What can I do for you? Is there a problem?"

"Um, I am just calling to advise you, sir, that your parrot
died."

"My parrot? Dead? The one that won the competition?"

"That's the one."

"Darn! That's such a pity! I spent a small fortune on that bird.
Oh well...what did he die from?"

"From eating rotten meat."

"Rotten meat? Who was so mean as to give him meat?"

"Nobody. He ate the meat of one of the dead horses."

"Dead horse? What dead horse, Mr. Arnaldo?"

"Why those pure breed ones that you had, sir. They died
from all that work pulling the water cart."

"Are you insane? What water cart?"

"The one we used to put out the fire."

"Good Lord! What fire are you talking about, man?"

"The one at your house! A candle fell and then the curtain
caught on fire."

"What the.....!!! But there's electricity at the house!!!!
What was the candle for???"

"For the funeral."

"WHAT BLOODY FUNERAL???!!!!!"

"Your mother-in-law's! She showed up one night, out of the
blue and I thought she was a thief, so I hit her with your new
Tiger Woods Nike Driver."

SILENCE ...

"Arnaldo, if you broke that driver, you are fired!"

07/28/05

Michelle at the Open

Greg Norman has been quoted as saying that it is only a matter of time before Michell Wie makes the cuts and plays in the majors.

Other women are saying they don't understand why Michelle wants to play in the PGA, that she should stay in the LPGA, that playing in the PGA is not going to help women's golf.

Others are questioning on a daily basics as to whether she should playing in this or that.

But for her part, Michelle has held her dignity and is doing her talking on the golf course.

Michelle has gone thru 9 caddies in her short career. He father influence has been credited with the caddies leaving. Finally he obtained the job himself and is now Michelle's caddie for the Open this coming weekend.

Richard

07/25/05

Testiomonial for Golfer

I just want to say thanks for the help. you guys have a good thing going. It would be nice to see you guys on those hour long infomercials on the golf channel because people buy that crap and you guys have a product that's actually worth buying. My father and I decided to take up golf a few months ago because I've always been an athlete but never had the money like these yuppies to pay for golf. But I have some money now that I'm 27 and I can still get to the gym 4 days a week and so does my dad so we are in good shape. We got some nice clubs and decided to get into it. I mean I've been a handful of times in my life. I hit my driver naturally (from the start) about 320 yards topped out probably, off the mat. Ask me to do it 5 times in a row and there's NO chance. I also couldn't hit an iron consistently to save my soul. All over the place. Anyway we bought a handful of DVD's and all that and yeah there was some improvement with the grip and to get a circular motion and all that but none I repeat NONE out of like 5 other dvd's by Leadbetter, Wally Armstrong (although I like this one too), golf for dummies, oh yeah and need I say a couple hundred dollars in tutorial books and magazines. None of them made improvements to my game and my SWING like the golf school package with Sensei Mark Anthony did. I mean I still have my struggles I'm no pga tour I've only been playing a couple months and have only hit 18 like three times and nine holes several times but I go to the range alot right now to practice. My swing is so much more CONSISTENT!! and smooth than ever before and right after watching these videos there were IMMEDIATE RESULTS. Another good story is that I decided to read a fundamental book (I forget who it was by) AFTER I had success and was happy with the school videos by you guys, just figuring more info couldn't hurt. Well let me tell ya I was all over the place again, throwing my clubs, cursing, literally ready to burn this stupid technique book. I went home and that night I watched the DVD's again went to the range the next day and I was back to hitting the ball straight, high, long, and consistent which consistency is what I was struggling with the most. I mean a couple more months and I might just feel confident swinging with my eyes closed. My swing feels so good and comfortable. I just want to say THANK YOU for all of your tips and help. They have taken strokes off my card and years onto my life : ) . Good luck with this product you guys are down to earth people and make the game simple and easy to learn. You guys truly deserve to succeed.
thanks again,
Nicholas Dudley

07/24/05

Debate on Natural Golf

Joe,
What is your take on last week’s newsletter’s debate
on Natural Golf?
Jack

Hello Jack,
Natural Golf was started by a man named Jack
Kuykendall, who has since left that company when it
went public and started his own Level Power Golf
concept. Jack openly claims the current Natural Golf
methods are not the same as he intended, and he really
rips them on his website, but his new LPG concept is
way different. What makes this such a great country is
that everyone is allowed freedom of speech, to have
their own interpretations, and to express their own
opinions publicly. You don’t have to agree with
everything you read, but sometimes a little
controversy leads to some interesting reading. Natural
Golf has 4 main concepts, and if they work for you,
that’s fine, go ahead. Moe Norman, whose swing Natural
Golf claims to emulate, was a great ball striker, but
Mr. Kuykendall claims Natural Golf’s concepts are no
longer the same as Moe’s. Nevertheless, some people
say they have been helped with Natural Golf concepts,
but in my opinion, you have a better chance of success
with the Body Golf concepts.
Joe

Pack a Tent to Read Strange Greens

Your imagination can help you save strokes when you’re putting on
unfamiliar greens. Putts that apparently break in one direction
often break just the opposite way because your eyes are deceived
by the surrounding terrain.

Imagine that you’re walking into a tent that covers the entire
green as you approach it. Cup your hands over your eyes to help
form the tent in your mind. With outside distractions gone, the
real slope and roll of the green will be more obvious.

This cover-up tactic should help you reduce three-putting on
courses you’re playing for the first time.

07/18/05

Balance Your Swing

Can you turn the club loose with the middle three fingers and
balance it on the thumb while gripping it with the little finger
only at the top of the backswing? Are the shoulders turned
enough so that the club is pointing toward your target? This is
a valuable (it is only an exercise) designed to get the left
thumb under the shaft so that the club will be balanced and ready
for the hit.

If you aren’t getting the club back in the proper slot,
correctly gripped, you will not be able to hold the club, let
alone get it through the ball properly. Do not let it slip off.
When you’ve succeeded in developing the balance as illustrated,
re-grip, swing through and do the same at the top f the
follow-through. Golf is played with the hands. Therefore, the
right grip takes preference over anything. Most players ought to
grip with the back three fingers of the left hand and the middle
two of the right.

Some golfers have stated that they get the feel of the hit with
the thumb and forefinger of the right, but usually they are
seasoned golfers. If you are not so fortunate as to play a lot,
try using the middle two fingers of the right hand as your
pressure points. Once this is mastered, concentrate on
developing rhythm and timing.

07/15/05

My Hero Says Goodbye -

Jack Nicklaus had to go out with the ball curling into the cup for a birdie, for the last time at the birthplace of golf.

Fans jammed every nook and cranny of the historic 18th hole to get a look at the greatest championship player in golf's history. Nicklaus propped hisleft leg on the Swilcan Bridge and had pictures taken of himself, Steve his son, Tom Watson and Luke Donal and their caddies.

Nick Faldo said, "They shold make him out of gold and stick a little Jack on every tee box."

In his last round he shot an even par 72 and ended 3 over fo the two rounds.

Farewell Golden Bear...my friend.

Richard Myers

07/12/05

Slow Play Must be Eliminated

by
Mac Stevenson

Slow play on the golf course is caused by many factors; however,
the worst offenders are exceptionally poor players who are
usually beginners.

Golf needs new players, young and old. But they should have to
achieve a certain skill level before they are allowed on the golf
course.

Acquiring basic skills isn't something that will take a ton of
money and hours of practice. All that is necessary is some
instruction on the basic fundamentals of grip, stance, and swing.
These can be learned from videos, books, magazines, and lessons
from professionals or friends who are good players.

Beginners can learn how to hit the ball well enough to keep play
moving with just a few instruction sessions and by hitting 15 or
20 buckets of practice balls on the driving range. And beginners
should learn the fundamentals of chipping and putting before they
venture out on the course.

This isn't to say that new players have to be accomplished
golfers before they're allowed on the golf course. It is to say
they should have enough skill to hit the ball reasonably well and
not hold up everyone playing behind them.

It isn't always beginners. Good players can be the worst
offenders of all. Some of them watch too much golf on TV and
think they have to imitate the pros. And others are egotistical
clods who think they're better than they are and play at whatever
pace they want and say to hell with whoever is behind them.

Fivesomes should be barred from all golf courses. A fivesome that
plays quickly is no problem, but you have a day-ruining dilemma
when you get behind a slow one.

The staff in pro shops should tell suspect groups--before they
allow them to tee off--to let faster golfers play through. This
is particularly true at municipal courses. Suspect groups are
golfers (in name only) who don't know how to play and are just
out to enjoy some good weather and kill an afternoon. And, in the
process, ruin the day for everyone behind them.

Every golf course has slow players who are regulars. These
everyday players act like they own the course and--in many
cases--no one has the fortitude to tell them that they need to
speed up their play. That's up to the pro in charge, and it's
easier said than done.

Here are a few common-sense rules that all golfers should follow
to speed up play and make the game more enjoyable for everyone:

(1) Don't spend much time looking for lost balls. Drop one
where you think it should be and continue with the game.
(2) Play ready golf on the tee. Regardless of who has honors,
the player who is ready should tee off.
(3) When a player skulls a chip shot over the green, go ahead
and putt rather than waiting for him or her to walk clear across
the green to hit their next shot.
(4) Study your putt while your playing companions are
chipping or putting. Don't wait until it's your turn to putt.
(5) Take one and only one practice swing before you hit your
shot. Some players take four or five practice swings before every
shot and slow down the foursome. It not only won't help your
game, it holds up everyone behind you. And it's stupid.
(6) Don't be afraid to tell extra-slow players in your group
that they need to speed up their pre-shot rituals.
(7) When the group behind you is conspicuously faster than
yours, let them play through. And when your foursome is allowed
to play through a slower group, do it fast.

A round of 18 holes of golf should never take over three and a
half to four hours. And let's not hear the tired rejoinder that
you shouldn't play if you're in a hurry. Nuts to that. Almost
every golfer likes to play at a comfortable but brisk pace. No
one enjoys five-hour rounds of golf. Nothing ruins a day like
coming up to a tee during the middle of a round and finding two
foursomes waiting to tee off.

Ideally, every golf course would have a marshal who is a retired
NFL linebacker. This is especially true for municipal courses
where anyone can play; public courses need a marshal to make sure
a slow group of clowns doesn't ruin the day for everyone behind
them.

Marshals should have the authority to tell slow players to skip
two holes or get off the course. It would enhance the income for
all public courses if prospective players knew that slow play
wasn't allowed.

Players who hold up everyone playing behind them are rude and
inconsiderate and devoid of common sense. They are golf's
greatest enemies.

Does Videos Apply to Either Type of Swing?

Chuck Davis

Hey Chuck...
I didn't see the article. I don't get those magazines anymore. I
was sick of seeing ads for stuff and vacations that I could never
afford in three lifetimes.

Anyway...the drills I teach and swing the I show you would
classify as a "two plane" swing.

If you don't have any of my DVDs, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING
FOR????????
Just kidding...

In any case, I hope that I've answered your question Chuck.

Stay in touch
Sensei Mark

07/10/05

Handicap Coming Down

Richard. I hate to say it but the handicap is coming down. And
it is mainly due to Mark's short game tape. I've watched it so many
times it is just about worn out, but I always get something new out of it.
I really believe if I can get inside of 20 yards of the hole I will
be down in two. My past three rounds prove it.
Today I was playing with our young assistant pro who is a very
fine player. He has very nice soft hands throughout the game and
really hits it a mile. If he shoots par for the day he is disappointed.
After today's round he asked me about how I could get up and down
the way I do. I suggested he look at Mark's tape. The main thing is
to visualize the lowest numbered club possible for the shot and to
learn how to put with his irons just as well as his putter. We'll have
him regularly in the mid-60's in no time.
Gerry

Wie's Time Is Coming

This 15 year old girl, knows that her time is coming. She missed the cut for the John Deere Classic, but she knows her time may be sooner than most expected.

She made the cut in the LPGA Tour on her fourth try, and her fourth try is coming up for the PGA. She missed the cut by two strokes, but she showed she can hold her own.

Michelle has a great short game, especially for a 15 year old. She thinks her game is alot more consistent and feels like she is alittle more in control.

Clair Peterson, director at the John Deere Calssic said "If it wasn't today, someday." And I am sure she is right.

Richard Myers

07/07/05

Ball Between The Knees

Hold a basketball between your knees help to make solid, stable
leg action. A powerful golf swing needs a solid base. Ideally,
your center of gravity should remain stable during the swing.
Excessive movement in the legs will cause your head to rise and
dip, your center of gravity to leap about all over the place and
your balance to be lost.

Just make a few swings with a ball between your knees. You will
notice your knees are forced to remain still. They simply cannot
link inwards or outwards - sign of an unstable swing. And again,
you will discover this drill has plenty of desirable side
effects. Your hip will improve as you will find it hard to sway
backwards and forwards. You will have to swing slowly too, so
your tempo will benefit

Richard

07/06/05

Few Golf Tips for You

Distance poor on long putts? Imagine the hole in the middle of a basket six feet across. Then putt to get the ball into the basket.

Quitting. Take shorter backswing, accelerate putter through.

Closing balde at impact. Stand a little closer to the ball. Firm up the left hand and lead with back of hand through the ball.

Hope this helps.

Richard

07/04/05

Reply's From Golfers on July 4th Article

Richard,
Thanks for these thoughts for this particular weekend. I certainly
appreciate the reminder of our collective ideals.
Peace,
g

Richard,
Thank you for your insights on this great nation and the annual celebration
of our beginnings. Have a joyous and safe Red, White, and Blue Fourth of
July weekend!
Yours in golf,
Jack Sheldahl

AMEN!!!

Thanks so much for taking the time to send such a moving and beautiful message to your subscribers. It is a great reminder to the many citizens who give no thought at all to how unbelieveably fortunate we are to have had founding fathers like Washington, Franklin, Adams, Jefferson, Hamilton, Madison and others. They put their lives on the line to get our country started. They were motivated not by a lust for power or financial gain, but by the single-minded and completely altruistic goal of establishing the best possible form of government. And they did it brilliantly -- defeating the greatest army in the world with a ragtag bunch of farmers and eventually creating an inspired constitution that has stood the test of time with amazing success. That first shot at Concord, as Emerson so famously said, was truly "heard round the world."

Can you imagine how these challenges would have been handled by our present politicians?

Keep up the good work -- and a Happy Fourth of July to you and yoursl

Tom Kearney

Appreciate the Fourth of July Tribute. We all need to take part in the operation of our Country. Not only now, but we should always be letting our Representatives know what we expect of them.

Thanks Richard. A Happy and safe 4th.

Vladimir
World War II Vet.

My daughter took her Military Oath this Monday at West Point.
> She is walking the Walk.
> God Bless America!
> Regards,
> Ed Ashton

Richard, Good thoughts. I wish more of our people would put on their
thinking hats and realize where we came from, where we've been, and really
consider where we're going. May the real meaning of July 4th be ever
present in the minds of our citizens. Maybe some of us " older citizenry"
can live our lives in such a manner that it will be passed on to our
youngsters. God Bless !! Keep swinging and check six !! GH

I immensely enjoyed all of your emails with tips and instructions for the
wonderful game of golf. My reason for writing is to say: I was deeply moved
by your article on the independence of our beloved country the USA that is
still the greatest country in the world. Coming from a third world country
Guyana and having lived here for the last twenty five years my family and I
greatly appreciate our freedom and liberty to serve God, Country and fellow
man. Thanks again for the tribute and happy 4th. I look forward to buying
your Golf videos. Since I am a novice and occasionally played with my two
sons I would like to learn the game well even though I was in the fifties,
Could you help? God bless.

Joe

Thank you for your personal message --- it made me think more about how lucky I was to be an American and to think less about how to lower my handica. I am gratelful to be free enough to play golf as an available sport -- to heck with the stats!!!!

Greetings from Arizona. What a wonderful piece of writing. You made my
day. Have a great 4th of July.

MOST EXCELLENT! Wishing you a great 4th, too!
Played golf today and drinking and eating on the 4th, ---------at home.

Thanks for thinking of me.

I return to Iraq on 20 Jul. We are doing terrific things there that you don't read about. I know, that's most important and that's the reason I am going back,.

I am from Romania, GOOD BLES USA and ROMANIA

god bye

this is an awesome e-mail! very inspiring because it is true. we should send it to short-sighted "thinkers" like Brian Williams at CBS or NBC or wherever he works. (i haven't watched "the news" for 25 years).

thanks a lot and God Bless,

Darrin Arvin
Richard,

Very well presented. I share your thoughts and feelings.

Have a great celebration of our Country's Birthday!

John K. Rafferty

07/03/05

Happy 4th of July

I sent out an Happy 4th of July email to everyone on the list last Friday and recevied many very nice and heart warming replies from subscribers all over the world.

Just one of them from tom barnes in Australia pissed me off and I asked him to remove himself from the list, which he did.

Just wanted to p0ost his email so everyone could see it.

Have a great 4th of July, wherever you are!!

Richard,
Kindly remember that some of your subscribers do not live in the USA, do not
enjoy the same "holidays", and may be, do not have an interest in anything
you tell us except for golf matters.
Tom.

Richard

07/01/05

Body Golf Reduced Handicap 5 Strokes - Categories: Golf - richard @ 08:05:31 pm

Hi Richard,

I have a question for you, since buying your DVD set I have reduced my handicap by 5 strokes in less than 6 months however I am having a problem with my fairway Metals (woods), I hit my driver 230+ metres down the middle with a nice draw, I hit my 5 iron either straight or with a nice draw 165 metres but here is the problem. Every time I try and use a fairway metal in competition on a hole which is out of reach of the 5 iron or higher I top the fairway metal and the ball scuds along the ground. On the driving range I can hit the fairway metals without a problem even hitting the 3W 200 metres on target. I have tried and tried fixing the problem but cannot work out where I am going wrong. It has gotten to the point where I know in advance that I am going to waste a shot by trying a fairway metal and so I run scared of hitting them. The odd thing is my fairway metals used to be my preferred club. Where am I going wrong?

Feel free to use this in your newsletter email.

Best regards Tom Boyd
Global Aviation
MS 1102 Sunshine Coast Airport
Queensland 4564
Australia

Tom,

This is a common thing with those that have just learned to hit the ball well. What is going on is (in my humble opinion) is that although you are very comfortable with your fairway woods at the range, you get much too excited on the golf course.

What I mean is this. At the range, I'm sure that you're hitting the ball a ton. It flies straight and true and they are quite manificent to look at. And let me tell you...it feels GOOD!

Yes I know...Real Good

Anyway...when at the golf course, you forget the fact that when you're at the range there is no pressure to perfom. No pressure to impress those watching. No pressure to wow anyone. So as a result, your swing is smooth and free.

In addition, because you've recieved my better-than-anyone (haha) instruction, you do what I tell you in the lessons. And because of this...you kill the ball quite regularly.

But when you add all of the pressure on yourself (he's the only one that can do it too) you get all caught up in WATCHING THE BALL FLY instead of swinging free and smooth.

Because of that, you're most likely picking up your focus in anticipation of looking at a sweet shot. Instead, what happens is an embarassing (humilating) duffed shot.

You need to do this...

Go into the videos and watch the "No-Peeks Swings"

This is when you are not allowed to watch the ball fly after you hit it. Now...you can do this on the range but when at the golf course, you can modify it slightly so that you can find it after you hit it. (that's always nice, right?)

On the course, wait a beat before letting yoru eyes follow the ball. leave your focus on the divot...THEN pick up your eyes.

Try that and see how it works and please, let us know how it works out for you.

Mark Anthony Montaquila

Richard Myers

http://www.thinkandreachpar.com/
http://www.superbabysitting.com/
http://www.golfforleftys.com/

864.675.0038

June 05 blog

2006-03-22T13:57:00.000-05:00

Driving Down Tight Fairways

When he is playing a course where the fairways are narrow and
tree-lined, the man who is a good driver really shines. A good
driver is a player who can plan a certain type of shot to fit the
requirements of each hole and then go ahead and execute that
plan.

He doesn't step up on the tee and simply aim down the middle and
try to split the fairway. What he does is aim down one side of
the fairway and work the ball in. If most of the trouble lies to
the right of the fairway, he will aim down the safer left side
and hit the ball with a slight fade that brings it back toward
the center of the fairway. Conversely, when the left is the
dangerous side, he will aim down the right, away from the
trouble, hitting the ball with a slight draw that again brings it
into the center of the fairway. When he takes either of these two
routes, he gives himself the whole width of the fairway to work
the ball into. Say the fairway is 40 yards wide. He has the full
40 yards to shoot at, twice the room of the man who aims down the
middle and, so leaves himself only a 20-yard leeway to the rough
on either side.

In order to execute these tee-shot tactics, it stands that a
golfer must have the ability both to draw and fade his drives.
This amounts to skill of a very high order, but the best drivers
have it, and it sets them off from the other boys.

To improve your distance and hit longer drives, I recommend the
Body Golf Power Steps DVD. You can read more here:
http://thinkandreachpar.com/golf_powersteps.htm

Summer and Water

Summer golf and water...

As a fitness trainer and drill instructor, I see a lot of people suffering when they perform physical work in the heat. I just want everyone to know about the importance of drinking enough water when you're out there in the hot sun.

First of all, water regulates all of our metabolism, keeping us fit and trim, etc.

In addition, you need to know this...if yo are "thirsty," you are already at a 30% stregnth defficiency. So if you want to be able to finsh strong, you need to hydrate yourself frequently while you're on the golf course.

There have been times when I was playing golf in the hot, humid August sun while playing one hundred holes in (get this) one day!

Let me tell you, all that I did was drink water, water, water! I didn't even EAT!

Also know that alcohol DEHYDRATES you and if you are drinking cold beer to stay cool, you are actually doing the opposite. Now I like a cold one just as much as anyone but on a hot day on the golf course, if you are trying to score well, stay off the sauce until the 19th hole.

In any case, try to remember that to stay strong, you need to drink lots of water.

Best
Sensei Mark Anthony

06/29/05

Annika To face Morley in Women Match Champion

Annika Sorenstam will face Joanne Morley in the first round of the Women's Match Championship on Thursday and Birdie Kim will play against Sophie Gustafson.

Sorenstam, the Swedish star, has six victories in nine starts this year. Her career total on the LPGA Tour is 62 wins.

The tournament starts tomorrow, Thursday.

Richard

Few Golf Tips

Here are a few tips that I hope will help you.

Poor lie on frings. Take a putter and set up with hands slightly behind the ball. Use an arm and shoulder type of stroke.

Short pitch from deep rough. Open blade of sand wedge and open stance, hit down firmly.

Leaving putts short of the hole. Imagine a hole a foot past actual hole. Then air to put ball in imaginary hole.

Try these tips.

Richard

06/28/05

Woman's Open - Marketing Device?

Think the US Womans's Open ending was a marketing device? I don't think the officials are that smart. But those young girls are!

Since Annika Sorenstam showed up with her not so good game, the open was overrun by a troop to precocious girls, who could be divided int there age groups, young, younger, and still to young to drive. The leader board had mere teenage girls than a slumber party.

I hope this will help woman's golf in the long run. But whether it does or not the invasion of amateurs who are at the delicate age, the sport had to get a good boost.

As for Birdie, you have got to love her. After the final hole and she won, walking into the press tent, someone ask her did she know how much money she had won. She said no. They told her more than a half-million dollars. Birdie replied..."Woooooo."

You couldn't make this stuff up.

Richard

06/27/05

Birdie Chips in From The Sand

on number 18 to win the US Womens Open Sunday This little South Korean girl took a one shot spectacular birdie from the bunker to finish 3 over par for the victory.

Birdie, a name she gave herself to separate herself from the other players, beat 17 year old Morgan Pressel in a very close finish. The 23 year old was trying to get close to the hole when her 30 yard bunker shot went across the 18th green and fell in the cup.

Everyone was shocked Birdie made that shot.

06/26/05

Teens High On Golf

How about Michell Wie and Morgan Pressel, both teenagers, tied for the lead with Karen Stupples for the US Open lead?

What a amazing site of the two teenagers, both in pink shirts, a 15 year old and a17 year old, just 18 holes away for a chance to become the youngest major champion in golf history.

Wie had to use her power to escape some rough spots on her way to the lead Saturday. But the crowd was with her all the way, cheering and clapping her every turn.

Asked if they were intimidated, Pressell replied "I'm baffled by the question." "I've played lots of events and I know how to play golf."

The Final 18 holes is today...we will see!

Richard

06/21/05

Campbell Last Man Left Standing at Open

It turned into a wildGoose chase, but not the kind you imagined Sunday morning.

Everyone knew Goosen had it locked up, but Campbell was the only ne let standing Sunday afternoon. He finished at even par, 280, became the first Kiwi to win a major championship since Bob Charles in teh 1963 British Open.

Woods finished 2 over with 282, only the second time he has finished second in a major.

Goosen admitted he messed up and thru the tournament away.

Campbell earned $1.17 million for his first victory in the United States,

06/15/05

More Around the Green

In the newsletter this week I posted an article form Jerry in Mn. Jerry said he has just about worn his short game video out, watching it so many times, but it has really improved his short game. I told Jerry if he wears it out, let me know and I will replace it for him. It's a good video.

Over a tree. Grip wedge lightly, and play the ball forward in an open stance. Swing from out to in, keeping weight behind ball.

Under a tree. Geip firmly, play ball back in stance, hooding blade.

Ball on fringe, rough behind ball. Choke down on sand wedgeto putter length. Use putting stroke. Hit ball at equator.

06/12/05

My chipping and putting was awful yesterday

Went out with a friend yesterday and played 18 holes. I was pretty good off of the tee, but my short game was not up to par. Guess I need to practice some around the green. My chipping needs some work. Here are a few things I will work on today.

Topped/fat chips. Set up with narrow, slightly open stance.

Pushed chips. Play ball sightly more forward in the stance to allow the blade to return to square to the target line.

Pulled chips. Position the ball a little more back in the stance.

Inconsistent distance. Visualize where the ball should hit the green before it rollls to the hole. Aim to land the ball on the spot.

Until tomorrow. Good Golfing.

Richard

Chips off hardpan. Play ball back, hands ahead of clubhead. Keep wrist very firm. Use arm-and-shoulder swing.

Richard Myers

http://www.thinkandreachpar.com/
http://www.superbabysitting.com/
http://www.golfforleftys.com/

864.675.0038

March 13 06 newsletter

2006-03-22T13:56:00.000-05:00

The No B.S. Golf Newsletter

This newsletter is by subscription only. The only way you
could have received it is you requested a subscription or
someone you know gave you a subscription. This newsletter
is published on a weekly basis. Also our special tips are
published on a weekly basis. If you do not receive it, it
is not because it was not published. If you have an AOL
account, you should put Richard@thinkandreachpar.com in
your address book. To unsubscribe or to change your email
address, please scroll to the bottom of this email and
follow the simple instructions. If the link is not active
in your email program, you may have to copy and paste it
into your browser. If you need instructions on copy and
pasting, email Richard@thinkandreachpar.com

=============================================

If you find a typographical or grammatical errors in this
email, they are here for a purpose. Some people actually
enjoy looking for them and we strive to please as many of
these people as possible.

Richard

=============================================

This newsletter is posted on the Think And Reach Par Blog

http://thinkandreachpar.com/tarpblog/index.php?blog=5

=============================================

Give all of your golfing buddies a free gift... forward
them a copy of this newsletter, or ask them to go to
http://www.thinkandreachpar.com/ and sign up.

==============================================

Special Notice

Spring Kick off Tel-Seminar

Still working on details. Will give you a date and time
next week.

Richard

=============================================

Richard's Quick Tip:

Face The Target

Make sure that your belt buckle faces the target at the
completion Of your follow through.

If you find that your belt position points to the right of
the target, you have restricted your hips during the
hitting area. Likewise, if it points left of the target,
you have swung through with a loose and sloppy action.
Remember, to hit straight ahead, your body must point
straight ahead.

===============================================

Golf Quote of the week:

Golfer: "Please stop checking your watch all the time,
caddy. It's distracting!" Caddy: "This isn't a watch, sir,
its a compass!"

=================================================

Quote of the week:

"Do you remember the things you were worrying about a year
ago? How did they work out? Didn't you waste a lot of
fruitless energy on account of most of them? Didn't most of
them turn out all right after all?" Dale Carnegie
1888-1955, Author and Trainer

=================================================

Note from Joe DeLorenzo to Richard

By the way, did you notice that not only J.B. Holmes, but
also Zach Johnson are using Body Golf techniques and are
being quite successful with them? Look at their swings and
tell me whether or not you agree that they both swing just
like Sensei Mark. Joe

I agree with you Joe, and I sure I know where they got their
training!

=================================================

http://www.thinkandreachpar.com/golf_training.htm

==========================================================

Questions and Answers from subscribers by our Teaching Pro,
Mr. Joe DeLorenzo.

Thank you for taking the time to answer these for us Joe.

A Bit of Golf Trivia: When Geoff Ogilvy won the recent
match play tournament, he accomplished something that was
never done before called the Match Play Slam. What did that
mean? (answer is below)

Joe, Help us settle a bet. When repairing a ball mark do
you lift up the middle or not? Len

Hi Len, The best way to fix a ball mark is to use a two
pronged tool that is flat (some are rounded). Press it into
the edge of the ball mark and tilt the top towards the
middle, do not lift. Do this around all sides of the ball
mark so that the ground is pushed towards the middle, and
then tap it flat with your putter. The proof is the final
result. Have you ever compared both methods to see which
one you would rather putt over? Joe

hi richard i hope you can help me when i hit the ball it is
always of the toe is there any thing i can do to put it
right i have tryed most things maybe you have a tip for me
thanks to you Phillip

Hi Phillip, Richard asked me to handle this one because
David asked a similar question a few weeks ago. The
recommended drill is the double-clubber as shown in the
Body Golf videos. This drill can help several types of
problems, whether it is swing plane, swing path, weight
shift, etc. If your plane is too upright, it may cause toe
hits, so flatten it out a little like you do with your
woods. However, swing path could also be your problem, so
if the flatter plane did not work, try to make your
downswing a little more inside out because an outside in
path could also cause toe hits. The double clubber drill
makes it easier to view your swing path. Good luck! Joe

Question for the Evil Twin: Jody, I heard they might reduce
the distance of all golf balls. What is your opinion about
this? Answer: I heard the Ohio Golf Association (OGA) is
going to have a tournament where everyone has to play balls
that are issued to them. I never really understood that
there are balls that only benefit long hitters, so that
makes if sound unfair that shorter hitters cannot gain a
similar benefit. If that is the case, that is not a level
playing field. I hear the OGA is also allowing the repair
of spike marks. Think about it, it is absurd to allow the
repair of ball marks but not spike marks. At last, there
are officials out there who are capable of rational
thought. That kind of restores my faith in the human race.
Maybe the OGA can continue to have progressive ideas, like
with today's emphasis on pace of play, abolish the stroke
and distance penalty, which could get you thrown off the
course by marshals enforcing the pace clock, or by other
players who must wait while you march back to hit another
ball from the original spot. Don't stop now, OGA, lead the
way, there are dozens of other rules that could use
improvement. Joe

Answer to the above Trivia Question: It was called a Slam
because during his matches, Geoff beat a Masters champion
(Mike Weir), a US Open champion (Michael Campbell), a
British Open champion (Tom Lehman), and a PGA champion
(Davis Love III).

==========================================

Golf Potpourri

Mac Stevenson

Treat Unused Muscles with Caution

After a long winter it’s easy to become excited on your
first few golf outings and forget how important it is to
warm up properly. This is particularly vital in the early
spring, when you arrive at the course and use muscles and
tendons that have been dormant while north winds howled
across your course.

Every golfer should take the time to be certain their
muscles and tendons are loose and flexible before they step
up to that first tee ball of the day. This is especially
true for senior players, who don’t warm up as easily as
their younger counterparts. Mature players often sustain
pulled muscles or other injuries when they don’t go through
a warm-up routine.

It’s best for all players to go to the driving range and
warm up slowly by hitting some range balls; however, that
isn’t always possible for those who are pressed for time.
A word of caution when you do go to the driving range:
Don’t hit so many practice balls before you tee off that
you become fatigued in the middle of the round. Once
again, senior players are more susceptible to this problem
than young players.

When you’re on a tight schedule, a loosening-up session at
home before leaving for the course is an excellent
alternative to the driving range. Do the exercise where
you bend from the waist and at least come close to touching
your toes. When the stiffness begins to dissolve, take
some smooth easy swings with a short, weighted indoor
practice club. This is not a golf club; it has a regular
grip and a short shaft with a weighted head on it. These
are great as a warm-up aid and they’re available at almost
any golf shop at a reasonable price. Even though the
warm-up club has a short shaft, make sure you take the
practice swings in a room with a fairly high ceiling.

Players of any age who have had back problems should be
sure they do some stretching exercises before leaving for
the course. Check with your doctor or chiropractor to find
out which exercises are best for you. Early in the
morning--when you’re not loose--is when golfers are most
susceptible to throwing out their back. Anyone who has
gone through that agony knows how important it is to do
everything possible to see that it doesn’t happen again.

Try and get to the course early enough to hit a few chips
and putts even if you don’t have time to go to the driving
range. If you go right to the first tee with no warm-up,
it will take you several holes to get a feel for the
greens.

Even when warmer weather becomes the norm, it can be cool
if you play early in the morning. Take a jacket with you.
Seniors who are chilled will have a hard time making good
swings early in the round. It’s better to start out with
too much clothing than not enough; you can take extra
clothing off whenever you want, but you can’t put it on if
it’s in your closet at home.

It’s beneficial for all players to walk some--particularly
seniors who might still be a little stiff at the start of
the round. If you use a cart, try and ride with someone
who will either do all the driving or at least share it
with you. When you walk, take the club you’ll need for
your second shot so you don’t hold up play. In some cases,
you might have to carry two or three clubs to be sure you
have the right one for your next shot.

Doing some stretching and swinging indoors before you leave
for the club is a practical way to start your golfing day.
If the course is close to your home, the warm-up routine
will keep you loose until you get to the first tee and take
a few more practice swings. You’ll play better golf and
you won’t be susceptible to muscle and tendon strains that
will not only ruin your round, but put you out of action
for a while.

==========================================

Tired of your friends laughing at you?? The Body Golf Full
Swing video will teach you the pro's secrets. Eliminate
your swing flaws, learn the secret to accuracy and ball
control. Increase flexibility, strength, health, and
perfect your swing...all in one video!!! Eliminate your
slice for good, Just 3 minutes per day!! Go to
http://www.thinkandreachpar.com/

============================== ========

Richard's Thoughts

Richard, I have an out to in swing and I have been told
that my hips need to go forward to give my arms room to
come through, do you know any drills for this problem? Do
you know any other reasons why a person has a out to in
swing?

Bill Deese, Ridgeville, NC Answer: Bill, the most common
reason why a person would have an outside-in swing is
"hitting" instead of swinging. More specifically, yes, the
weight should flow from the right leg onto the left through
a combination of leg and pelvic girdle action (this is a
fairly compact movement, generally). The key is that the
arms must be allowed to FOLLOW this motion and the turn of
the upper torso, not INITIATE the downswing. Most people
instinctively try to make their arms move fast (trying to
hit the ball hard) right at the beginning of the downswing,
which starts the arms on an outside path immediately,
resulting in a path from the outside through impact. See if
you can allow your arms to more or less drop and follow the
turn of your pelvic girdle and torso (swing) rather than
trying to use your arms to create force in the downswing
(hit/hack). This should make your swing path come more from
the inside. I would suggest you watch the Body Golf Full
Swing video a few more times, and do exactly as Mark says.
Hope this helps.

Richard, how many minutes are you allowed to look for a
lost ball?

Mark Lowner, Brevard, NC
Answer: Mark, 5 minutes from when
the search begins. Thanks for visiting and best of luck
with your game.

Until next week...good golfing!

Richard C Myers http://www.thinkandreachpar.com/
http://www.golfforleftys.com/

Telephone 864.675.0038
New South Media, LLC
45 Doverdale
Rd. Greenville SC 29615
United States

This email is protected by copyright, 2006, New South
Media, LLC All rights reserved. Reproduction of any portion
of this email is strictly prohibited without the express
written consent of Richard Myers

• Edit

03/08/06

Getting Behind The Putt - Categories: Golf - richard @ 08:08:25 pm

If you want to be one of the senior golfers that can still
shoot their age, check out the impressive list of lessons
included in this DVD!
• More Distance – Techniques on how
to get the most out of your body to get every ounce of
distance that you can
• The Senior Power Grip – THE way to
grip the club that makes it just about impossible for you
to slice
• The Senior Modified Power Set-up – How to set
up to hit the ball further AND on target
• The Senior Power Turn – How to get the most of
backswing - even if you’re not as flexible as you were a few
short years ago
• The Senior Power Finish – How to finish your swing like a
pro and get the most out your swing...ensuring that you get
every inch of accurate distance possible
• Great Drills –Swing drills that you can do at your own
pace that groove the perfect swing for you. No matter what
your age!
• Tricks out of Trouble – How to get out of trouble like
the pro’s and save that score
• The Punch Shot – Specific
steps on how to execute the low-flying, wind-cheating punch
shot and hit the green from almost anywhere
• The High Shot – Need to hit it over an obstacle?
Here’s how you do it.
• The Hook/Punch – Ever want to show off and hook the
ball around a corner? Mark shows you how! It’s easy!
• The Fade – Making a fade shot is not always a bad thing.
You’ll learn how to pull it off at will
Chipping – Principles on chipping that every ace golfer uses
to get the ball up-and-down EVERY TIME
• Putting – How to putt like a pro and finally have the chances
at pars and birdies
• Conditioning – how and what to do to condition yourself
to get into better golfing shape...so you can gain the edge
and keep it
• Flexibility – How to gain flexibility fast
and keep it...indefinitely As you can see from that huge
list, there is far more to this DVD than other systems
priced at hundreds more than this one.

In fact, you can see a different infomercial every week for
a year and not get the absolute gold mine of knowledge in
any 5-video set that you get in this one, single
information-packed low-priced DVD.

http://www.thinkandreachpar.com/bodygolf_seniors_adv.htm

This weeks Tip

Getting Behind the Putt

Putting styles vary from player to player. There's no
reason why they shouldn't, for putting is a personal thing.
In my own case, about a year and a half ago after a stretch
of in-and-out work on the green, I adopted a slight change
in my usual method of putting which did me a world of good.
I altered my stance so that my body and arms were more
behind the ball.

Getting more behind the putt enabled me to be much surer
about many of the elements that make or break you on the
green. It gave me a better line to the hole. It was much
easier on my timing. I could hit the ball more
solidly—right below the equator. To sum it up, this new
position produced the picture in my mind that I could roll
the ball smoothly and accurately toward the target.

When a player talks about rolling the ball toward the cup,
I realize he is going against the present-day fashion,
which would have you rap the ball with a sharp, jabby hit.
I don't think these pop strokes and bop strokes are here to
stay. The game's top players could always stroke their
putts, and that's the soundest method in the long run, I
believe. In any event, getting behind the putt is easy for
anyone to adapt to, and it has produced such good results
for me that I recommend it to all golfers who are not
natural tappers. You see that hole so much better.

Until next week, good golfing!

Dr Richard Myers
http://www.thinkandreachpar.com/
http://www.golfforleftys.com/

New South Media, LLC
45 Doverdale Rd.
Greenville SC 29615
United States
864.675.0038

• Edit

03/07/06

Slow Down Your Swing - Categories: Golf - richard @ 08:41:01 pm

The No B.S. Golf Newsletter

=============================================

If you find a typographical or grammatical errors in this
email, they are here for a purpose. Some people actually
enjoy looking for them and we strive to please as many of
these people as possible.

Richard

=============================================

This newsletter is posted on the Think And Reach Par Blog

http://www.getresponse.com/t/1435118/

=============================================

Give all of your golfing buddies a free gift... forward
them a copy of this newsletter, or ask them to go to
http://www.thinkandreachpar.com/ and sign up.

==============================================

Special Notice

Spring Kick off Tel-Seminar

Will give you a date and time next week.

Richard

=============================================

Richard's Quick Tip:

Keeping The Left Arm Straight

Keeping the left arm straight throughout the swing may be
an admirable goal, but the handicap golfer often finds it
difficult to achieve.

One man who certainly made his mark promoting the straight
left arm action was Gary Player. However, few of us will
ever be able to match Players strength and suppleness:
assets which are essential when playing this way.

Nevertheless, there are advantages to be gained from a
straight left arm, especially in the downswing. Firstly it
helps prevent the arm bending in a chopping action that
robs the swing of p0ower. A straight left arm on the way
down will also give you a wide arc and help to produce
maximum power and speed at impact.

So if you cannot match Gary Players swing to the top of the
backswing, do not worry, because you can still cash in on
the benefits of keeping the left arm straight in the
downswing.

===============================================

Golf Quote of the week:

I've had a good day when I don't fall out of the cart. -
Buddy Hackett

=================================================

Quote of the week:

"Pressure is a word that is misused in our vocabulary. When
you start thinking of pressure, it's because you've started
to think of failure." Tommy Lasorda American Baseball
Manager

=================================================

http://www.getresponse.com/t/1435119/

==========================================================

Questions and Answers from subscribers by our Teaching Pro,
Mr. Joe DeLorenzo.

Thank you for taking the time to answer these for us Joe.

You Make The Call: In the 1958 Masters, Arnold Palmer's tee
shot on the 12th lands behind the green in an embedded lie.
He asks the official for a ruling and the official says he
must play it, which he did for a 5. Then he dropped another
ball and played it out for a 3. His playing partner Ken
Venturi objected. This was brought to the top official,
which ball was ruled correct? (answer is below)

Joe, I have tried everything to correct the hitting of my
second shot FAT. I've moved the ball up, to the middle and
to the back. What do you recommend to help me? Mickey Long
Beach, CA

Hi Mickey, Fat iron shots can be caused by a number of
things, among the possibilities are improper weight shift
on the downswing, trying to scoop the ball up instead of
hitting down, a sideways sway on the backswing, or head
dipping down during the downswing. As I have said several
times before, Jack Nicklaus' instructor used to grab the
back of his hair to make sure it remained steady during the
swing. Helped his career but gave him a funny looking "do".
Some instructors say it is OK to move your head sideways
because it can add power to your swing, but I say extra
power is useless if you are prone to hitting fat shots.
Keeping the head more steady also helps to prevent
overswinging, which is another possible cause for fat
shots. Joe

Joe, I hear lots of advice when hitting to a green, to
always take an extra club so you do not short-side
yourself. Do you agree? Dean

Hi Dean, Not always. I would agree if there were no dangers
front or back and the green was not severely sloped, but if
the green is sloped from back to front, it is far easier to
get down in 2 from the front. It is much harder to stop a
steep downhill putt near the hole. Many people not only
3-putt from the back, but also will 4-putt from the back if
they leave their first putt short because if they miss the
second putt it may roll 4 feet past, and I don't know
anyone who has never missed a 4-footer. Joe

Question for the Evil Twin: Jody, what do you think about
when you swing? Answer: I like to keep it simple. For
example, in the space of two seconds, this is all I bother
to think about. Stance squared, knees flexed, spine
straight, grip, elbows in, take the club back with straight
left arm, break the wrist when the club is knee high,
maintain proper ratio of shoulder turn to hip turn, weight
60% on back foot, maintain knee flex, hands up not too high
not too low, shaft points parallel to ground at target at
top of backswing, pull down with left arm, shift weight to
front foot, back elbow to hip, swing path inside out,
maintain wrist angle until just before impact, hit down,
fold the front elbow in, extend the follow thru outward,
point the belly button at the target, right foot up on the
toe, and pose like a statue. And that is just my practice
swing, my real swing is a little more complex, but
basically that's all there is to it. (note from Joe – and
then of course he hits a 20 yard grounder)

Answer to You Make The Call (above) – The top official
ruled that Arnold played within the Rules, you are allowed
to get relief from a plugged lie, so it was a 3 instead of
a 5. Arnold beat Ken by 2 strokes, and Ken was not a happy
camper.

Golf Potpourri

Mac Stevenson

Your Lie Often Determines Club Selection

After a long winter of golfing inactivity, it's important
to review certain mental approaches to our game. Something
as simple as the proper club selection-in relation to the
lie that the golfing gods have given us-can be elusive
during early rounds.

In many respects, golf is like gin rummy-you have to play
the hand you've been dealt. Don't try and take more than
the golf gods are willing to give you. Examine your lies
ever so closely-even in the fairway-before you decide on
the shot you want to play.

When you hit your drive in the fairway on a long par five,
don't automatically pull the 3-wood out of your bag for the
second shot. Check your lie. If it's a good one, go ahead
and hit whatever club you want. But if it's a tight lie
and you think you might have trouble making good contact
with a 3-wood, go to a more-lofted club like a 5-wood. The
distance you lose won't be that important and a missed shot
with a 3-wood could prove costly.

During PGA tournaments on TV, many golfers watch the pros
hit their drivers off the fairway and they can't wait to
get to their course and try the same shot. Don't do it.
Unless you have an exceptionally good lie, it's most
difficult to hit a driver off the fairway. Under normal
circumstances, the risk far exceeds the reward on this
shot. It takes a highly skilled player to use a driver
from the fairway.

Trying to hit a high pitch shot from a tight lie is asking
for trouble. The tighter the lie, the tougher the shot.
Most sand wedges have a wide flange on the bottom and it's
next to impossible to get the club under the ball from a
tight lie. When feasible, you'll be better off playing a
pitch and run shot. The pitch isn't a hard shot from a
good lie, but it's a demon when the ball is sitting down.

Lies in heavy rough are harder to judge and it's best to
err on the side of caution. As a general rule, don't hit a
wood any lower than a 5-wood unless you have an unusually
good lie. And quite often you'll be better off hitting a
lofted iron just to get back to the fairway.

Never try to hit a big fade or hook from deep rough; the
grass gets between the clubface and the ball and it's
impossible to put much spin on the ball.

Another tough shot is when your ball comes to rest against
the first cut of rough adjacent to the putting surface.
Quite often the best shot you can play is with a putter,
making sure you hit down with a chop-type stroke on the
putt. This shot takes practice.

When you find yourself in a fairway bunker, the most
sensible shot in most cases is with an iron. If it's a
long way to the green and your ball is sitting up in the
trap and you don't have a steep lip to go over, sometimes
you can hit a lofted wood from fairway traps. But usually
it's best to play the percentages and hit an iron back to
the fairway.

Even in the fairway, you can get unlucky and find your ball
in a deep divot. In my opinion you should get a free drop,
but that's not what the rules say. Who said life is fair?
Your best shot is to use an iron and hit down and through
the shot. You have to hit it like a punch shot. Don't try
and hit a wood or you'll really mess up the hole.

There's one place where you can determine what kind of a
lie you have, and that's on the tee on par 3s. A lot of
players toss their ball on the ground and hit it. That's
poor thinking. Put the ball on a tee and you'll improve
you chances of hitting a good shot. You can set it very
low if you like, but the tee shot on par 3s is much easier
to hit off a tee than on the ground.

Keep your poise and use common sense when deciding what to
do with a bad lie, whether it's in the fairway or rough.
Don't try shots that you're incapable of playing because of
an unlucky lie. The breaks will even out over the long
haul.

==========================================

Attention Left Handed Golfers

If you are tired of watching golf videos and them saying
"If you are a lefty, reverse these instructions" then here
are the DVD's made just for you!!

The Body Golf series of DVD's for left handed golfers! The
only complete set of golf training videos for leftys!!

Order your set now:

http://www.getresponse.com/t/1435120/

============================== ========

Richard's Thoughts

Slow Down Your Swing

You have heard it before: slow down your swing for more
solid contact, longer distance, and straighter drives.
Slowing down produces a more relaxed swing and better tempo
with no tightening of the muscles. Hopefully…you already
know all that.

So why is it so difficult to follow that advice? We have
no problem taking perfect practice swings. But put a golf
ball in front of us and our subconscious urge to kill the
ball takes over.

One of the reason why many golfers swing too fast is that
they do virtually everything at a fast pace.

Think about a typical day of golf. If you are playing an
early morning round, you start rushing from the minute you
wake up. You gulp down breakfast on the run, race to get
to the course on time; hurriedly hit a few practice balls,
and take a few quick putts on the practice green. Then it
is off to the first tee with the pressure of what seems
like a thousand eyes on you. What possible chance do you
have of swinging at a nice, slow tempo?

To put yourself in the right frame of mind to swing slowly,
you must slow everything down. Wake up half an hour
earlier. Eat a decent breakfast. Enjoy the view on your
ride to the course. Walk slowly to the practice tee and
putting green. And by all means, relax by breathing slowly
and deeply.

As you play the round, continue to relax between shots.
Walk rather than ride, if the course permits. Analyze your
next shot well before it is your turn, so you won't feel
rushed. And, of course, allow faster players to play
through. You can slow down internally and still finish a
round of golf in four hours. So slow down everything
around you and watch the wonders a slower tempo in your
swing can bring.

Until next week...good golfing!

Richard C Myers
http://www.thinkandreachpar.com/
http://www.golfforleftys.com/

Telephone 864.675.0038
New South Media, LLC
45 Doverdale Rd.
Greenville SC 29615
United States

New South Media, LLC
45 Doverdale Rd.
Greenville
SC 29615
United States

• Edit

03/01/06

Developing an Accurate Putting Stroke - Categories: Golf - richard @ 08:04:43 pm

Want to add 20 yards to your drive? I want to show you these
in a couple simple video lessons with the brand new Body
Golf Power Steps DVD exclusively from thinkandreachpar.com.
Is it a miracle technique? Let me tell you this...it’s not
as seemingly miraculous as what you’ve discovered in any of
the Body Golf or Tao of Golf videos, but with some focus
and a day or so at the range, you’ll be pretty darn
confident in your new long-drive skill. This new DVD from
thinkandreachpar.com takes your game up a notch and shows
you how to drive loooong and straight like you’ve always
known…deep, deep down...you really could. Finally – A
simple, efficient way to crank your game up a notch and
start hitting the ball with more power, accuracy, blasting
it like a U.S. Navy howitzer. Introducing: The Body Golf
POWER STEPS DVD. Simple steps to generating devastating
power and (what you really want) superior (accurate)
driving distance.

Order your copy here:
http://www.thinkandreachpar.com/golf_powersteps.htm

This weeks Tip

Developing an Accurate Putting Stroke

There are many styles of putting in common use, which are
of unquestioned merit, each style suiting certain players
admirably. For those golfers who are not good putters,
however, I would like to recommend a stroke, which has
often been referred to as the pendulum stroke, since the
clubhead moves in an arc resembling the swing of a pendulum
and the weight of the clubhead produces the momentum of the
stroke. In this method, the control resides in the last
three fingers of the left hand. The left hand starts the
club back and leads it through the stroke. The key to
keeping the clubhead on a straight line as it comes through
is the left elbow. It must go out straight toward the hole
or, on a rolling green, straight toward the desired line of
play. When it does, it prevents the right hand from taking
over and pushing the ball, or the left hand from breaking
in and pulling the ball off the line.

I think all beginners should start with this stroke on the
putting green. Here you get the feel of the clubhead and
learn to take the club back and forward low along the
ground. To help keep the clubface square to the line of
play, I place a club or a rod parallel to the line of play.
Before you putt a ball, you should practice bringing the
putter back and forth along the emphasized desired line.

Of course, with this or any other putting stroke, the head
must remain absolutely still through impact. If it moves,
it will destroy your stroke and your accuracy.

Until next week, good golfing!

Dr Richard Myers
http://www.thinkandreachpar.com/
http://www.golfforleftys.com/

New South Media, LLC
45 Doverdale Rd.
Greenville SC 29615
United States
864.675.0038

Short Chip From The Apron

2006-03-22T05:49:00.000-05:00

The Short Chip from the Apron

When they are faced with a short chip from the apron of a green,
most players feel compelled to try to loft the ball up to the
pin. Their thinking here seems to be that every shot in golf,
except the putt, has to travel through the air in a high arc and
land right at the target. The result is that a great many
golfers either use too lofted a club from the edge of the green
or they make an even more serious mistake: they try to scoop the
ball up—with faulty wrist action, of course.

Actually, the shot to play from the edge is a run-up-the kind of
shot where the ball is hit a short distance in the air and then
gradually sits down and rolls the rest of the way to the cup, as
a putt does. The club to use is one of the middle irons—from the
four-iron through the seven-iron, depending on the terrain and
your own choice of clubs. (I generally go with the six-iron.)

To play a chip-and-run shot, the player must hit the ball first,
the turf afterward. To do this, he must be sure and keep his
wrists firm and to address the ball with his hands slightly
ahead of the ball. The feet should be no more than ten inches
apart, the stance slightly open. With this unspectacular but
sound method, you won't be leaving yourself eight- and
ten-footers to hole. After a while you'll have five-footers or
less.

Richard Myers

Free Spring Kick Off Teleseminar

2006-03-21T17:24:00.000-05:00

Special Notice

Free Spring Kick Off Tel-Seminar

Will be April 5 at 8:15pm EST

Dial 212-990-8000 and your pin number is 1027

Call with Sensei Mark will last until 9:30 pm, with last 20 minutes

Q and A.

Call is limited to first 100 callers, so call in a few minutes early.

Richard

Some Not Happy With Augusta National

2006-03-21T16:00:00.000-05:00

Gary Player and Arnold Palmer have disapproved for years the lengthening of the Augusta National golf course and now Jack Nicklaus has said in the April issue of Golf Digest that he hated the latest change in the Augusta golf course. The course has been lengthened by 155 yards, putting the home of the Masters at 7445 yards.

Nicklaus went on to say they've ruined it form a tournament standpoint.

Since 1997 Augusta National has been lengthened 520 yards. Nicklaus went on to say he believes in technology, but for the amateur golfer, I'm a great believer in seeing them develop clubs and balls that go a long way and having lots of fun. He says the trouble is we're wasting money. Course like Augusta, are making their courses long and spending hundreds of millions of dollars on the changes and it is unnecessary.

Richard Myers

http://www.thinkandreachpar.com/
http://www.superbabysitting.com/
http://www.golfforleftys.com/

864.675.0038

Welcome

2006-03-21T15:40:00.000-05:00

Welcome to the Think And Reach Par Blog.

I will use this blog to post tips, techniques, Q and A, announcements, and just about anything related and not related to golf.

Read and I hope you enjoy it.

Richard Myers

http://www.thinkandreachpar.com/
http://www.superbabysitting.com/
http://www.golfforleftys.com/

864.675.0038

A Lighter Right Hand Putting Grip

2006-03-21T06:32:00.000-05:00

This is just a small list of what you're getting in
this DVD

How to hit your driver long and straight

How to hold (grip) your driver so that it
virtually impossible to slice the ball!

How to really use your putter to save as many strokes as
possible

How to use your wedge to become a green-hitting, golf
course sniper

What makes you slice and how to avoid it

What makes you hit it bad and the cures!

How to line up a putt

How to stroke the putt

How to swing the wedge to hit it high, low, long or short

How to know what the ball is going to do when you have an
other than perfect lie

This DVD is equal to about 30 in-person lessons with Mark on the
driving range. That a value of $3,200! But as usual, on
Thinkandreachpar.com, you get it at the super discount
price of only $39.97

So order now and save yourself a pile of money in lesson time,
and get the down-and-dirty knowledge of these critical
fundamentals that will make you a better golfer for life!
Get your copy Now!

http://thinkandreachpar.com/3golfclubs.htm

This weeks Tip

A Lighter Right-Hand Putting Grip

I have become a steadier, more confident and an altogether
better putter since I changed my putting grip not so long ago.
Where my right hand used to be dominant, now my left hand is. I
hold the club quite tightly in my left hand, with the hand well
under the shaft. This brings firmness into the left
wrist; firmness all the way up the left arm, in fact. And
when you take the putter back, the left wrist doesn't break. It
remains firm.

Since adopting this new grip and style, I am not conscious at
all of the right hand during the stroke, but I certainly used to
be. I was so tense with the right hand on the backstroke that I
would pick the club up outside the line and would frequently hit
the ball with the heel of the putter.

Employing this new left-hand control, I find I keep the putter
blade close to the putting surface without having to make a
deliberate effort to do this. Furthermore, the blade contacts
the ball squarely. That, of course, is what makes a ball roll
true. When I putted with the right hand in control, I used to
flip the ball and it rolled so erratically that it never fell
when it caught a corner of the cup. Now it seems the cup is a
lot more receptive.

Try it and practice it, it helped me.

Until next week, good golfing!

Dr Richard Myers
www.thinkandreachpar.com
www.golfforleftys.com

New South Media, LLC
45 Doverdale Rd.
Greenville SC 29615
United States
864.675.0038