Understanding the Triangle and Your Swing

Mon, 29 Nov 2010 21:07:21 GMT

Let's talk about the triangle and how it can improve your golf swing.

The triangle consists of our shoulders, our left arm and our right arm. The triangle plays an important role in the full golf swing as well as putting.

The position we have at address position with the left arm being dominant in the triangle also needs to be the position that we have at impact. We'll find that both both sides of the triangle (both arms) will be fully extended at impact.

The Triangle in your Putting

When putting the triangle works a little bit different. We wanna try to keep biceps against our torso so our arms are bent just a little bit while we're putting so our forearms want to be on the same angle as the shaft of the putter.

Then we can rotate around our spine, naturally and the forearms stay right on primary plain of the putter, just the same as the forearm of the right hand stays on the plane of the full swing.

What's Your Spine Look Like?

Mon, 04 Oct 2010 20:00:00 GMT

When swinging the golf club. A very simple thought can help you didn't be more consistent. The thought today is spine, angel.

The first question is, how do we get a good spine angle? It comes from an athletic position. Almost like jumping, up and down we need our bottom stuck out and our knees flexed.

Now when you get into that address position, try to maintain your spine angle, through the back swing and back to impact position. Let your shoulders rotate around yours spine naturally.

You can try this drill while practicing on the automaticswing trainer, in your living room.

A Great Drill to Feel a Natural Rotation

Wed, 15 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT

A great drill that I use for teaching a student to feel a natural rotation and swing is to simply make some waist high baseball swings. get a feel for being fully extended at the position the ball would be. Notice how the right elbow bends into the body on the back swing and the left elbow bends into the body on the follow through.

Now if you shift the plane of the swing so that the bottom of the arc is closer to the ground, say about ankle high. Notice that to shift the plane you had to bend at the waist a bit. Your elbows will still bend into the body, you can feel how a natural arm swing and rotation of the body works. Now if we lower the bottom of the arc down to where you are just brushing the club along the grass, and the top of the swing is shoulder high.

From this drill you can see why we want to take our back swing to our right shoulder, at the bottom we come back to address/ impact position and then we finish at our left shoulder. When using the Automatic Swing Trainer we are able to feel that same natural swing. We are able to rotate and set the grip on plane over the right should, let the telescoping collapse as we go to the toe line, then right on back to address / impact, rotate to the toe line on the follow through side then finish with the weight on the left side and the grip over the left shoulder.

Knowing where the Butt of the club is

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Its very important to know where the butt of the club is in relation to your torso through out the swing. At address position the butt end of the grip is pointed just left of the navel on a right handed player. As the torso rotates in the back swing the club stays with the navel until the club is hinged up or set just past the toe line of the back swing. On the down swing the arm swing of the triangle must stay connected to the rotation of the torso so that the butt of the club can return to the navel at the bottom of the arc. Then on the follow through the butt of the club moves with the rotation of the body or the clearing of the left side. When making your practice swings be aware of the butt end of the club and notice if you sequencing isn't better as you hit those key positions of the swing. The Automatic Swing Trainer does a really good job of making this happen.

Let's Talk about Weight!!!

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 04:09:10 GMT

As I work with my students on developing strength in there legs for better balance and more power, I find that most cannot get the weight from the right side to a solid left side. Resulting in a swing that hangs back, with the players momentum going away from the target rather than moving toward the target. If we picture a circle, imagine the outside of the circle as the club head path. The center of the circle is obviously around the middle of your belly. if you can visualize what the club head path would do if the center started to move backwards before the club path got to the bottom of the arc, You can see this will cause the club head path to be altered. Besides changing the path it will add more loft to the club you are swinging.

When thinking of the club head path and the bottom of the arc in relationship to the ball placement, we want the bottom of the arc to be on the target side of the ball when hitting an iron, with a driver we are sweeping the ball off the tee so we catch the ball just past the bottom of the arc.

It is very important that we let our weight shift to the left side, this keeps the momentum of the swing go toward the target and gives us the chance to develop a swing that the bottom of the arc will be consistent, which will translate into more accurate and repeatable swings.

Going the Distance

Thu, 15 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT

If you want to be able to hit your ball a long distance, this is the right article to read. We are including information regarding how to hit golf balls further and harder. Start with these simple steps.

First, start by hitting your ball the correct way. The way you practice with your swing trainer will aid you on the golf course. Be sure to use your swing trainer a lot when first learning how to swing long distance hits.

Practice is very important in the game of golf. You need to be sure to have enough time schedule to work with your swing trainer and learn how to swing the right way. This can really improve your game.

Also be sure that you are using the right equipment to make the hits. The right club to use is a driver. That will allow you to make those long distance hits you are hoping for, unlike a putter would, for example.

Study how to hit the golf ball. You want to hit it’s sweet spot, which for long distance hits is at the top of the ball. Even though in most of the other shots you are supposed to hit the ball lower, hitting it lower with a long distance hit will only cause a slice to happen.

Stay in control. You don’t want to be embarrassed with flying balls everywhere. Remember the importance of staying focused so you can swing and hit the ball the way you need to.

Aim right when making long distance shots. If you aim right your body naturally turns that way, which will help you line up your shoulders and feet a little more. This can really help with keeping your hits straight.

Don’t forget the power of friendship. Do you have any golf buddies that wouldn’t mind giving you golfing advice. Friends and family members that have already perfected their long distance hit may be able to help you get to that stage with help and advice.

Get Your Head in the Game

Sat, 10 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Golf can take a lot of effort, but there are some things that are important to remember. One of those things is remembering to be consistent. When you are focused on winning a game this can be hard, but it is important if you want to do well.

Practice is important if you want to keep consistent. Start by practicing with a swing trainer to perfect your stance and golf swing. Being a good golfer means taking time to learn and practice, and having a swing trainer makes this possible.

When you are on the golf course it is important to remember your short game. If you want to have a low golf hit, keep the middle of your chest in front of the ball. Your chest should be even with your back foot.

If you want to take a high shot your stance will obviously be different. The middle of your chest shouldn’t be in front of the ball, but rather even or behind it. High shots don’t give you as great a chance of consistency as low shots, so only use high shots once you have passed the beginners stage.

If you want to have success in the beginning keep with the low shots. After your shot remember to let it roll. It is a lot easier to determine where your ball is going when you let the golf ball roll.

You also need to remember what you have learned with your swing trainer. There are specific targets that you need to have when you are hitting your golf ball. Be sure to hit the ball in the middle of your golf club, for example.

It is imperative that you remember to deal with the distance you want as well. To better handle distance be sure that your back swing and forward swing are about the same. That will help you when you hit your ball.

Practice these techniques to improve your short game with your swing trainer. You don’t need to attack your golf ball to get it to go where you want it to. Have patience and you will find a lot of improvement being made.

Will Swing Training Work for Any Level Player?

Sat, 03 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT

As in any sport, the skill level of a golfer can go from first time at a driving range to knowing the course so well you could hit blindfolded. Thousands and thousands of people are drawn to the game of golf. However, becoming good at the game takes more than picking out a set of clubs.

Playing golf just comes naturally to some (Tiger, anyone?) but that does not mean practice is to be ignored. Golf is a very social and relaxing, albeit dedicated sport. Add to your skill set and you are increasing your play ability.

There are a few things every golf player knows. The main thing being golf requires tons of concentration, as well as a desire to practice. Anyone new to the game or an experienced player can improve with simple swing training.

Thinking that this might not be for you? I would stop and think again…it can make a world of difference in your play. It can teach your muscles to memorize a specific golf swing through resistance training.

When you work on these muscles, your speed will increase as well as your swing will get better. Many seasoned players don’t think they need the extra practice and new players don’t know where to begin. By staying with the status quo or practicing improperly, you’ll never up your game.

By using particular exercises, golf swing training can take your game up a notch. Using regular gym equipment such as a weighted medicine ball, a dumbbell or just picking up a heavier club can aid your workout. Any of these items will help you achieve a strong and precise swing.

A novice golfer should start out slow and steady to gain the results desired. A more experienced player can still practice the same way. They key for any level in swing training is consistency in your practice.

Don’t give up or become frustrated when you hit plateaus. Spend time increasing your knowledge of the game and you will be rewarded. Golf is for everyone at every level, there is always room for improvement.

Always think one shot ahead

Fri, 02 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Golf is as much a game of strategy as it is a game of physical prowess. The thinking man with basic skills and basic build will probably post a better score than a guy with big guns who has a tendency to crush it off the tee. A thinking mediocre player will probably win against a toned athlete, all things being equal.

Tom Watson knows a thing or two about the thinking-man’s-game. He recently wrote an article that included the sub-title “don’t be embarrassed to use the lay-up shot”.

Basically laying it up is learning to hit it shorter to avoid costly mistakes. In professional golf, one mistake, that leads to one stroke, can cost a player a million dollars. So, when the stakes are really high or really low—like your foursome—better golf is the result of more cautious golf, smarter golf, golf that avoids the mistake shots that lead to double and triple bogeys.

Tom suggests that rather than trying to bomb it and ending up in a greenside bunker, why not on your next par 4 (of about 355 yards) tee off with a 6 iron followed by a 9 iron and land it on the green. The classic, “Drive for show, putt for dough”. In this case, “lay-up for dough”.

Better to take a safe way to make par than dig your second shot out of the deep rough or end up behind a tree or in a bush. This style of play will also help you avoid the tricky 40-yarder, that all but the best of the best have a hard time sticking near the pin.

The key is to use your golf practice and golf fitness time to learn to lay it up. Spend less time on the bombs and more time getting consistent onto the fairways. Tom also wisely suggests “ignore the stigma linked to laying up off the tee or otherwise”. A series of less impressive smarter lay-up shots is the road to lower scores—which is more impressive than a bomb that goes 300+ yards but slices out of bounds.

The best thing you can do with your current shot is to make it easier for your next shot. Thinking “How can I make my next shot easier?” helps you choose better and reduces your need to scramble, all while reducing your score.

Tom uses the example of Lucas Glover who laid up on a par 4—the last hole—with a 6-iron at last year’s U.S. Open. It turned out to be the right play. Glover made par on that hole and won the Open by 2 strokes. A smart play for a pro’. An equally smart play for an amateur.

More average golfers should lay up more often and save strokes. Don’t try to be a hero by bombing it. Just beat the other three guys you’re with. That will make you hero enough, at least for today.

Choosing the Right Golf Swing Grip

Wed, 09 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT

It is important to find the right grip if you want to be good at golfing. Even people with a lot of golf experience can overlook how important it is to have a good grip. The reason is that they can get stuck with their own ways of golfing instead of looking for ways to improve.

There is a lot of effort that needs to be made to improve your grip as a golfer. There is a challenge involved in making sure that you change your current grip to a better one. This change of habit can be hard for some golfers.

Start improving your grip at your next practice. Changing your grip, and improving it, should be done as soon as possible. You want to have the new grip technique practiced and perfected before your next match with your friends.

Choosing the right golf swing grip can separate your game from an amateur to a pro. Consider using the same type of golf swing grip that the pros use. There are a few different grips that professionals use for their winning games.

The standard grip is also a popular grip to master. The standard grip can help with distance and accuracy. It is one of the first grips you should master.

The Vardon grip is a popular golf swing grip for professional golfers. Unlike the standard grip, the vardon stretches the right hand pinkie to overlap the left hand’s index finger. It helps because it brings the wrists closer together for a smoother swing.

The Interlocking grip is a variation of the vardon grip. Instead of the right hand pinkie overlapping the left hand’s index finger, the fingers are actually locked together. This grip is normally used for golfers with smaller hands, especially women.

When learning to grip be sure that you don’t hold on to the club too tightly. A lot of people make this mistake. Instead, loosen your grip so it still has a firm grasp but is relaxed.

Simplify your Game and Lower your Score

Tue, 01 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Golf is a game that needs to be simplified. I have done some math to break down playing nine holes of golf on a 3318 yard par 36 course. What I’ve come to understand in over 40 years of playing and teaching, is to understand and leverage the limitations we have on the distance you can hit the ball. What I mean by that is if you can consistently hit a 180 yard shot then use that as the engine to your game.

This is key for us to see that we can break 90 for 18 holes if we stay out of trouble. So let’s say the longest shot I can hit is 180 yards, and lets also say that our wedge game is good enough to hit greens from 120 yards in.

Let’s look at what a game would be like if we focused on doing what we currently can do…..playing a round that recognizes our actual—read: Today!—skill level. Read the criteria and let this sort of obvious yet often overlooked method of golf instruction influence our golf practice:

The first hole is 381 yards. If I hit two shots 180 yards I will have a 21 yard chip shot. I should get that close enough to 2 putt, so a bogey 5. The second hole is a 140 yard par 3. Let’s say we missed the green chip and 2 putt another bogey so a score of 4. The third hole is a par 5, 485 yards…..two shots of 180 leaves us with 125 yards to the green….good shot on the green and a 2 putt to score a par 5.

The fourth hole is 368 yards, 2 shots at 180 leaves us with a 8 yard chip. We don’t get up and down so another bogey 5. The fifth hole is the number 1 handicap hole 545 yards, so 3 at 180 leaves us with a 5 yard chip. We don’t get up and down again so, bogey 6.

The sixth is a par 3, 155 yards. We get it on the green and 2 putt for a par 3. The seventh hole is 425 yards, so 2 shots at 180 will leave us with 65 yards. Again we don’t get up and down, another bogey 5. The eighth is a tough par 4 at 449yards. Two shots at 180 leaves us with 89 yards. We don’t get up and down here so another bogey 5.

The ninth hole is 370 yards. Again two shots of 180 yards will leave us a 10 yard wedge shot. Again we fail to get up and down. Another bogey 5.

Lets add that score up and see how we did. I get a 43 or 7 over par. Read back over the number of times that from inside 100 yards it took us more than 2 shots. I counted 7 times. I want to point out that to play this game at a good level we don’t have to bomb it out there 300 yards. This scenario of only hitting the ball 180 yards should get you thinking. How can I fix the scoring side of my game ie. the most important part of the game, from 100 yards in.

What am I willing to do to build an accurate and repeatable golf swing that will enable me to get some of those wedges closer to sink some par putts? There were at least 3 times you were chipping in our pretend round from within 21 yards or less. If you make par 3 more times you are now shooting 40 for nine holes.

Let me give you a figure about the percentage of total golfers in the world that break 80… it’s 8 %. That means that 92% of all golfers, and all golf rounds play greater than 80. If you could break 80, and never hit more than 180 yards—by hitting it straight—you would be in the top 10% of all golfers worldwide.

That is a BIG accomplishment. Your golf swing, your golf fitness and all the new equipment you bought last year (or this year) all play a part. But using what you have. Using the 180 yard solid hits like I describe above is really more important than the 300 yard bombs, that we rarely hit, and even more rarely hit straight.

We have a swing trainer that will teach you how to make a compact, on plane, repeatable swing every time. It’s called the Automatic Swing Trainer. It’s the same move we need to make to hit the ball longer and straighter. Just think if you increased the length from 180 yards to 220 yards—straight down the middle! Now you are shooting for birdies on most holes. Simplify your thinking, Practice your short game and purchase an Automatic Swing Trainer to take the pain out of your game at www.AutomaticSwingTrainer.com

Tiger, here’s your mentor

Wed, 26 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Tom Watson is a great golfer and a great gentleman. One of the reasons behind Tom’s success is that he follows the “gentleman’s tradition” of golf. That centuries old, unwritten code of good conduct in life and good conduct on the course.

If I could wave a magic wand and choose a mentor, a sensei, a modern day “Buddha” for Tiger Woods, it would be Tom Watson. Tom has a great golf-game but more important, Tom has a great life-game. He’s respected. He’s liked. He’s centered. Tiger wishes he could hit more fairways in regulation (he hit 4 out of 14 last week). But we all wish Tiger would hit more of life in regulation.

Tom could help with that. Tiger, if you’re reading this, get with Tom. Listen. Develop a friendship. Tom is at that stage of life where beyond being a great golf competitor he can provide you the mentoring you could need. You could learn a lot from Tom. And he may learn a thing or two from you.

A big part of my first career was played out in Japan. I learned a lot from Japan and my Japanese mentors. One in particular, Masaru Murai made a big difference in my life. Company president and great guy, Mr. Murai took me under his wing when I was in my mid-20’s and guided me until my career took me back to North America 13 years later.

Mr. Murai taught me something about how the Japanese view life, business and mentoring. He said “in your 20’s you LEARN your job…in your 30’s you DO your job….in your 40’s you MANAGE your job….in your 50’s you TRAIN your job….and in your 60’s you TEACH your job”.

The natural progression from learning to doing to training to mentoring is one of the things that has helped Japan succeed. The Japanese use the term sensei (pron. Sen-say) which means “one who has travelled the road before you”. We can try to learn everything by ourselves, which we affectionately call “experience”, or we can learn from those who have travelled the road before us.

Tiger, you need a mentor. You need a sensei. All greats have them. And I think the whole world agrees you need a sensei now more than ever. I’m not talking a swing coach or golf trainer. I’m talking someone who’s smarter than you about life, more experienced than you and someone who can help you ‘lower your score’ in life. Help you with your game of relationships. And help you land more of your shots at life in the fairway.

Everyone wants you to succeed Tiger. Most of all, those of us who love the game. Get with Tom. You won’t regret it. If not Tom, then a mentor of equal character. Because before, after and between golf, there’s life. The greatest and most satisfying ‘game’ of all.

Breaking down the Golf Swing

Wed, 19 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Let’s try to break down the golf swing by using a clock. We—our arms, hands and legs—are going to become the long second hand of this clock. Imagine your triangle (see photo)

Your grip and the club are the second hand of the clock. At address position we have the second hand (triangle, grip and club ) pointed at 6 o’clock.

As we rotate our torso and move the second hand in the back swing, we will get the clubhead to about 8 o’clock when we start hinging or setting the club on the toe line. As we continue our rotation of the triangle and our grip to the 9 o’clock position the club head has moved at a much faster rate, The clubhead may already be at 11 o’clock depending on how much wrist cock we have. ( we should have the club at least at 90 degree angle to the left arm ) see photo here:

From here as we finish the wind up to the top we want our hands to get to 10 o’clock or shoulder high only; anything higher than that will probably make you change your spine angle.

So we are at the top of our back swing coiled up tight. Now how do we get the second hand to get back to 6 o’clock fully extended as a straight second hand? First move in the transition or change of direction, as we set our left heel or feel the weight go to the left side we also start to unwind the arms, so the grip at the bottom of the triangle must start to move back towards 6 o’clock.

When the hands start to move it is possible for more angle or wrist cock to occur. The triangle starts to unwind from 10 o’clock to 9 o’clock to 8 o’clock to 7 o’clock. As this happens the left hip is clearing. That means it is rotating back not sliding to the target. The left shoulder has started to rotate back away from the ball, with the grip racing towards 6 o’clock. Here we need to let the club head catch up so that we have the triangle, our grip and the club back together as the second hand ( we call this being fully extended at the bottom of the swing ) at 7 o’clock so that when we rotate into 6 o’clock we come back to the ball square to target.

If your hands go past 6 o’clock and the club face is still at 8 you are going to slice the ball, unless you have the fastest hands in the world.

So the second hand will be fully extended through the swing at the bottom let’s say from 7 o’clock thru 6 and 5 o’clock possibly to 4 or 3 o’clock as we extend or fire through the shot. But think about cause and effect: if your hands are winning the race back to 6 o’clock with the clubhead dragging behind the result is a clubface open and the ball going right. When we set up at address position we are telling the computer in between our ears that this is the position I want to be in at impact. The clubface square to the target….my left hip and left shoulder will have rotated slightly past address position but my triangle, grip and club are going to be at 6 o’clock with the second hand fully extended as one piece. This get’s me square at impact for maximum distance and straight shots. Just this one correction to your swing can do a lot to eliminating the tendency to slice.

Next we are going to follow through to 3:00 o’clock. Notice that the club shaft is parallel to the target line and toe line.

To finish up we are going to release through to about 1:00 o’clock as illustrated in this photo:

Think about this drill while practicing. By far the best device for developing a consistent repeatable golf swing that gets you back to 6 o’clock is the Automatic Swing Trainer. It teaches the feel that address is impact and helps ingrain the correct feelings. The AST will help you accomplish perfect practice that you will feel and see on the course.

I love my Automatic Swing Trainer

Sat, 15 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Here we are in the spring time…finally. I have been practicing in the nice weather at the range and on the course. Today we woke up to cold and stormy weather. It has given me the opportunity to go through the standard work out with the Automatic Swing Trainer (AST). I must admit that doing the drills with one hand and having the other hand mirror is “killer”. It is so nice to be able to check the key positions of the golf swing while doing the work out (see photos here)

Remember to start with the left hand just hinging up in front of you…..go ahead and throw in some fly fishing to work the forearm. There’s some great video of this move at this link: www.automaticswingtrainer.com/gallery/ at the Gallery “Video Library” click on the “AST Instructional” video.

Take the left arm to your back swing position, try to maintain good golf posture and the same spine angle that you want during your golf swing. Raise and lower the left arm with the AST going from toe line to 10 o’clock. I like to do each drill 30 times, however you will need to monitor your own strength. Start out with 10 each side, then work up to 20 and then 30.

Now go to the follow through side, same golf posture check that your weight has shifted to the left foot. Now raise and lower the left hand from the toe line to the 2 o’clock position; keep mirroring your right hand to keep the triangle intact. Again 10, 20 or 30 depending on whether you just started using the AST or have been doing the AST training for a while. Your left arm is feeling its golf muscles by now.

Now we shift to the right hand, Hinge up in front of you. Let the arm bend at the elbow just like it does in the golf swing. Go ahead and throw in some fly fishing to work the forearm. I like to do 30 of these. Now move to the back swing make sure your grip is the same grip you use while playing, the ” V ” pointed to your chin.

Now, with the body in golf posture rotate your shoulders to the back swing keep the left hand mirroring the triangle raise the AST from toe line to 10 o’clock, up and down; keep the weight to the inside of the right leg. Raise and lower 30 times then move to the follow through side. Keeping the triangle working by mirroring the left hand next to the right, raise and lower the right hand from toe line to 2 o’clock again 30 times. Remember to shift your weight to the left side like you would in your golf swing (see photos here)

Now we can make some slow motion swings. We go from address position to toe line then hinge up to the 10 o’clock, make sure we are rotating our turn back and not swaying. Now reverse the order back to impact, so 10 o’clock to the toe line then back to address / impact now to the toe line of the follow through then up to 2 o’clock.

Remember to feel the motion of the golf swing and maintaining the same spine angle throughout the backswing, through impact and follow-thru. I like to make 30 complete slow motion swings: address, backswing, back to impact and follow-thru. After just a few minutes of training on the AST I guarantee you will be loving your Automatic Swing Trainer.

Letting the game come to you…

Fri, 14 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT

When playing golf, there is a place mentally between trying too hard and not even caring. That is where our thoughts must be.

We have to absorb all the data for each shot, such as distance, wind direction and strength, elevation changes. Quick tip: if it’s a significant uphill, go one club more; if downhill maybe one club less. Try this on your next uphill green and on your next steep downhill.

One helpful idea when playing a wedge to an elevated green, is to pretend you are trying to land the ball on the top of the flag. This will help make up the distance of going up a steep incline.

Now take all that information to make the decision of the shot we want to hit—take some practice swings, feeling the shot you have decided on. Now put everything on cruise control. By that I mean we need to go through the pre-shot routine that we have practiced over and over again: check alignment, good posture, balance and a good grip. All these fundamentals should be second nature.

But when we are ready to go to our backswing, all we want to be concentrating on is driving the club head through the ball to our target. If we are hitting an iron we are thinking down and through to the target. “Cruise-control” is that moment just before you start your backswing where you stop thinking, you stop with the words and you just “feel” the shot.

After we have set up we cannot be worrying about the water on the right or left. We can’t be thinking about how hard we are going to hit this shot. These are all negative thoughts that put pressure on ourselves. Words and negative thoughts may cause us to grip the club too tight.

“Thinking” can also cause us to make too big of a backswing with us trying to kill the ball. An over-reaching backswing will cause our spine angle to change as well—another unwanted complication. We need to relax, pick our target, swing within ourselves so that we can make the swing we have been practicing both physically and mentally.

Good set-up prepares you for “cruise-control”. Cruise-control just lets it happen. Turn off the noise of thinking and turn up the sense of feeling. Feel the swing, and let ‘er rip!

Play to your strengths

Wed, 12 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Let’s be honest. How many shots do you throw away during a round of golf because you try shots that require more skill than you currently have? How many times have we hit a bunker rather than the green trying to do what the pros’ do? We have all tried to go for a sucker pin placement, when in reality if we would have just decided to simply hit the center of the green and two putted we would have been much more pleased with the outcome.

It’s very difficult to be patient on the golf course. One of the worst mistakes to make is short siding yourself at the green. What I mean by that is if the flagstick is on the left side of the green, and we miss the green on the left we don’t have much room to land our chip shot and keep it close to the cup. This mistake usually requires some kind of flop shot to get close enough to get up and down.

And flop shots are an advanced skill. What I’m recommending is staying within your current skill set while playing and try the more difficult ones—like flop shots—during your practice sessions. The key is to know your own skill level—your own shot-making limits—and play to those strengths. The old Roman adage “Know Thyself” comes to mind.

Use the shots, use the club you know you can make. It’s pretty simple, but it will make a big difference in your score. Don’t attempt practice shots when playing…it just adds to the stress and frustration rather than increasing your enjoyment of the greatest game ever created. Get good off the course, during your practice sessions, then take actual acquired skills to the course.

Another error I often see is that when we get into trouble we have a tendency to compound it by trying shots that we really needed to spend more time practicing on the range before trying to apply them when it counts. We can sometimes even save par by just chipping back into the fairway and continue our play to the green.

The key is to think backwards from the hole: how can I get there without a bogey. Forget the Phil Mickelson shots that are a “one-in-a-million” for most of us. Stick with your best shots. When in trouble, use the club and the shot you know you hit well every time. Get out of trouble…..don’t compound the trouble.

For example, if we are not good out of bunkers we should try to avoid them until we have a chance to practice both fairway bunker shots and green side bunker shots. Fairway bunkers are intimidating; sometimes all we can do is advance the ball forward a short distance. Like the trees, a bunker needs to be treated as the obstacle it is. First priority: get out in one shot. Second: advance the ball as far as the shot will allow.

Play smart golf, enjoy the challenges the game offers you. Remember that after a bad shot some of the most memorable shots are hit.

Quiet putting

Wed, 12 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT

While practicing your putting here are a few ideas that will help you roll the ball better. First the set up. There are as many different set-up positions as there are golfers. Some like to set up with an open stance, meaning the left foot and hip are slightly back from a parallel line to the target.

Some golfers are more comfortable with their left foot closer to the ball, or in a closed stance. We need to find a stance that can help us keep the lower body quiet—basically motionless. There is no weight shift in putting. Our base is solid, we use the upper body in a pendulum fashion.

As with all pendulum’s there has to be a center to the motion. That center is directly below the chin, in the center of the sternum. When we move our shoulders around our spine we can look at our chest and see where that center is. While sitting or standing just rotate your shoulders back and forth, do you see where the center is?

Now the triangle created by our shoulders and our arms and hands hold the putter as an extension of the triangle. All we want to do is brush the putter slightly above the top of the green, work it back and forth keeping are lower body solid and our head steady, feeling our shoulders rotate around our slightly bent spine angle.

We want to have the same length back swing as the length of the follow through. Just like visualizing a pendulum of a clock—back and forth, back and forth. Now to feel how fast the pendulum moves to control the distance, try taking a stroke where the back swing goes to the inside of your back foot then stroke through the ball and have the length of the follow through match the length of the backswing.

Now watch and see how far the ball rolls. You can then use this information as a gauge of the speed of the greens. With that stroke at that tempo the ball rolled that far. Then you can shorten or lengthen your stroke accordingly to develop a feel for the speed of the greens.

This method works very good for hitting chip and run shots around the green. When we are using a club other than a wedge, say a 7 iron we want to get the ball rolling as soon as possible for best results. So take your 7 iron stroke it back to the inside of your back foot and then swing through the ball and match the length and speed of the stroke just like you did with your putter. Now see how far it flies and how far it rolls. Practice these drills and your short game will quickly improve.

In summary: we need a rock-solid, quiet lower body to putt effectively. There should not be any lateral slide (left right) or vertical movement in our lower or upper body. The triangle formed by your shoulders down your arms to your grip moves as one unit, in pendulum fashion. This allows the putter club face to open—return to impact—and close properly. Symmetry of both sides of the putting stroke—the follow-through is a mirror image of the backswing.

Hacker’s Diary – May 5th, 2010

Thu, 06 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT

This is the first in a series that I’m calling the “Hacker’s Diary”……the notes, ruminations and great “finds” of a golf hacker who spends a lot of time reading golf tips and golf magazines, when not working on his own game. I’ll share with you the good, the bad and the flat out ugly instruction and tips that I come across. This one here below isn’t bad. It’s on improving your putting from tour pro’ Rick Smith.

I think this idea may help keep the lower body more stable throughout the putting stroke. One thing I’ve learned is the butt of your putter needs to be pointed at the navel throughout the swing—at address, through the backswing, thru to impact and still pointed at your navel on follow-thru. This idea illustrated here by Rick helps to visualize that. There’s a photo below the text that explains it all. A good golf swing is important. A great putting stroke is absolutely essential to lowering scores and having more fun. This may help you out. All the best! Happy Hacking!

How to use a belly putter
Without even switching
BY RICK SMITH

February 2010

Even though many of you could benefit from changing to a belly putter, I know your ego prevents you from trying one. That’s OK. You can get some of the advantages of the belly putter while using your standard-length model — if you pretend it’s a belly.

Be like the belly: With a belly putter, the butt end is fixed (inset). You can mimic this with a regular putter by keeping the butt of the grip pointed at one spot (above).

In the small photos above, I’m swinging a belly putter to demonstrate why it’s so effective in making the stroke smooth and reliable. The key, as you can see, is that the butt end of the grip remains anchored in the same position in my stomach throughout the stroke. When you hit a putt with a standard putter, the same principle applies: The butt end should always point to the same spot on your body. When you practice, stick a tee in the hole at the end of the grip and focus on keeping the tee pointed at one spot during the stroke (above). Just remember to take out the tee before you play so you won’t violate Rule

Rick Smith, a Golf Digest Teaching Professional, is based at Treetops Resort in Gaylord, Mich., and Tiburón in Naples, Fla.

Read Article: http://www.golfdigest.com/golf-instruction/2010-02/rick_smith_belly_putt

A Solid Base

Sat, 01 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT

A good, solid base is so important to the golf swing. When the lower body does not support the rotation of the triangle we develop a lot of bad habits while trying hit the ball straight. The triangle formed by your shoulders and arms (see photo here) is key to an accurate, repeatable swing. Rotating that triangle around your core—with a solid lower body—is key.

The Triangle with a Solid Base

For instance if we have a really closed stance it is very hard to swing the club on the target line. The closed stance makes it very difficult to clear the left side, or fire the right side. It usually results in a push to the right or even a straight shot that follows the path of the toe line. But it is also very easy to close the club face or regrip during the swing that results in a severe hook.

If we line up with our body and our toes on a parallel line to the target—like railroad tracks—one for the body and the other for the target line this will solve the problem (see photo here)

The Toe Line

We now have the opportunity to swing the triangle into the correct positions of the swing, Target line then toe line then butt of club to target line then complete the back swing. Now reverse the order coming back to the ball so top of back swing then as we set the left heel we let the club drop into the slot so that the butt of the club is pointed to target line then to toe line and drive the club back through the ball at the target. Remember: Address is Impact. At Impact we want to come back exactly where we were at Address (see video here)

From there we hit toe line on the follow through side then butt of club to target then complete the follow through balanced. Just by feeling that our stance is slightly open we can free up the clearing of the left side that helps time up the triangle to the base.

A great drill is to put your feet almost together, With good athletic posture, swing the club back and forth. On the back swing let the left knee point to where the ball would be then on the follow through let the right knee point to the target. Swinging back and forth you will start to feel the rhythm that the lower body needs to time up the correct sequence of the swing.

Chipping, Wedges and Lob Shots

Thu, 29 Apr 2010 00:00:00 GMT

When chipping there are a few simple drills to help you learn to use more than just your wedge. For example, if I have a little fringe to carry and a lot of green to work with, I suggest trying an 8 iron to hit a little chip and run.

To do this I am going to play the ball back in my stance, with a slightly open stance, and I want a little extra weight on my left side. Now I am going to use a stroke that resembles that of a putting stroke. I don’t need any wrist break, so I am going to swing the triangle back to just beyond my right foot then back down and through the ball with about the same amount of follow through as back swing.

I want to carry this ball just onto the putting surface and then let the ball roll towards the cup like a long putt. By practicing this shot you can develop a great feel for your chip and run, soon it will feel just like a long lag putt.

When using the pitching wedge I like to break the shot into sections. Walk half way to the cup, with the pitching wedge, half way will more than likely be your landing area. With this club we need to swing the triangle back to the right foot then add a little wrist break.

Before we hit the ball, swing the club back and forth a few times to feel the distances as well as how the grass effects the club going through it. We want to match the length of back swing and follow through again. Try to land the ball on your halfway spot and then see if the ball doesn’t stop close to the cup.

For the sand wedge our landing area will be three quarters of the way to the target. With this club we need more air time and less roll. Match the length and feel of the swing the same as we have on the other chip shots.

With the lob wedge we can fly the ball almost to the target, practice the tips, make the adjustments for the firmness and speed of the greens on your course.

Chipping is best practiced at the range, not during play. Use different clubs and different amounts of backswing to get a feel for each kind of shot you want to make on the course. Remember good balance, maintain your spine angle, swing the triangle and have fun.

The basic fundamentals of the golf swing

Tue, 27 Apr 2010 00:00:00 GMT

After we have a good grip with equal amounts of the back of both hands showing, and we understand the triangle which consists of our shoulders and our two arms with the wrist acting as a hinge at the bottom of the triangle, we now have to have a solid base that will enable us to rotate and raise the triangle around our spine angle.

It’s key to maintain the same spine angle throughout the swing. This both keeps our body and our swing on-plane which really reduces the tendency to “top” the ball. Miss-hits are often the result of changing (lifting) our spine angle during the backswing or changing spine angle through our swing. If during our backswing we have changed our spine angle we will see the poor results of that move in the subsequent ball striking: either a missed or topped shot or a significant decrease in distance.

So, at the address position we have the club face square to the target and set behind the ball on the target line. The target line runs from the target through the ball. Our club is pointed to the target line at address; as we start our club back in the back swing we rotate our shoulders around our spine angle until the club is at waist high.

The club should now be set on the toe line. The toe line is the imaginary line that your toes make. We don’t want the club pointed behind the toe line. From the toe line we can finish our shoulder turn and raise our triangle until the hands are about shoulder height. We have created torque by rotating our shoulders until the left shoulder is at least pointed to the ball (see photo here)

Our first move back to the ball is crucial. When we think of the distance the club face has to travel compared to the distance our shoulders have to rotate, it is easy to understand that the hands holding the club and the left heel, start the change of direction.

So, as we set our left heel, we have the butt of the club, or the bottom of the triangle tracing the path it took on the back swing. From the top, back to where the butt of club is pointed to target line, at this same time, we need to start rotating the left hip back to help clear the left side. (Left hip rotating back not sliding to the left; we don’t want any right-left lateral movement).

Then swing the club back through toe line and on to address position where the club is pointed to the target line. The hands always win the race back to the ball by a small margin. This helps us hit down and through the shot. This helps us create the “whip” effect that creates clubhead speed and distance.

From address/impact position we follow through to the toe line on the follow through side, then up to where the butt of the club is pointed to the target line on the follow through side, and then complete the follow through in a balanced position.

I have found that our Automatic Swing Trainer, golf swing training aid is capable of reproducing these positions off the course for perfect practice all the time and anywhere—from home to office to the driving range. So while you are practicing think of the positions that are key to “on plane” in the proper sequence golf swing.

AST Golf Swing Aid Training Video

Tue, 13 Apr 2010 00:00:00 GMT

ranscript of Automatic Swing Trainer™ Instructional DVD – included with product

Welcome to a new revolution in golf swing training.

The Automatic Swing Trainer.

I’m Steve Nelson. Welcome to the Automatic Swing Trainer. We are here this afternoon to familiarize you with this great golf swing trainer.

Let’s take a look at the contents of the Automatic Swing Trainer bag. First we have the mat and the slide bar. We have the telescoping cylinders with the grip and the two weights. For women and juniors you will be able to remove the heavy weight at the end of the grip. We also have the “Bag Attachment”; you have the “Putting Attachment”; and you will also have four pins that are useful in pinning the Automatic Swing Trainer to be stationary on the slide bar, to hook it to the “Bag Attachment” and to install the “Putting Attachment” and the telescoping cylinders. (1:10)

Are we ready to get started? The first thing we want to do is take one of the four pins and take the telescoping cylinders and attach it to the slide bar unit by pinning the bottom of the telescoping cylinders to the slide bar. So let’s get started.

What we really want to emphasize with The Automatic Swing Trainer is slow motion; raise to 9 or 10 o’clock; back to about our hip pocket and then it’s our body that rotates it through to square one, club up. We’re not worried about rolling the hands at all in this golf swing. It’s the body that rotates it through.

The most important thing about the Automatic Swing Trainer is to understand the single pivot hinge. So if every one will just do this naturally; just hinge up. That’s the most important move there is with this swing trainer. (2:22)We do it slowly; just learn to hinge up. What I teach in golf is that if you can go right shoulder, center, left shoulder, you’ve got a golf swing. Right shoulder – center – left shoulder. The only thing we’ve got to add to this is the rotation to right shoulder; the rotation to left shoulder.

Now we are going to run through a set of exercises that will help you learn the hinge up method. The first thing that I want you to do is take the Automatic Swing Trainer in your left hand. Just slowly hinge it up. We’re working it with our shoulder. We’re not bending it at the elbow. We’re working it with the shoulder. I like to do this 30 times. Now if you are a beginner and you only want to go 10 times, that’s fine. Just hinge it up. Hinge it up. (3:28)

I know this looks pretty effortless and pretty stupid, but trust me, this is going to teach you how the wrist works naturally in the golf swing. So after we have hinged it up this way a little bit, we can take it in the right hand. I don’t need to hold my right hand down where the right hand normally goes, I can hold it up and just kind of match the V of the grip. I‘m going to hinge it up with the right. I’m going to let it hinge in the right elbow this time. And I can do this 30 times if I would like. If I’m a beginner and I can only go 10, that’s fine. When you get this down to where you can really do it, you can hinge up and can also throw in some fly fishing where you’re just working the wrist and the forearm. You have to strengthen that wrist and forearm. (4:25)

But the right arm just hinges at the elbow. It just acts as a piston. Now we’re going to take our grip on the golf club. The most important thing of a good golf swing is a good grip. My good friend Nick Bradley says “A

great golf grip lets good things happen in the golf swing”. So what we are going to try to do now is to create symmetry; what happens on this side of the golf swing has to happen on that side of the golf swing. That’s what the Automatic Swing Trainer really brings out in a person’s golf swing. So, we’ve been learning how to hinge up, now we are just going to take it to the backswing position and we are going to just hinge it up. And again we can go 30 times or if you’re a beginner you can go 10. We are just learning how to set and raise the triangle. (5.28)

The triangle is my shoulders and my arms. Just rotate it back and I’m setting the triangle and learning how to let it drop through the black hole of golf. Now you notice my left shoulder isn’t rotating out just yet because the hands have got to learn to drop down to about waist high before I can rotate and go to the follow through position. Now over here I can go 30 times again and you notice I’ve got my weight in my follow through position. The weight is on the outside of my left heel. If you are a beginner, 10 times is great. Again, all I’m learning is how to hinge up. (6:45)When you get through doing that, I like to mirror my right hand being on the club, so I’m going to take it back with just my left hand and I am going to just do some with just my left hand and I am letting my right hand just go along the side of my left hand as if I was holding onto the club. Again I can do 30 or I can do 10; whatever you can do. You are trying to keep your left arm straight. You can go over to the other side still letting the right hand mirror it. This is a great workout for the left side. I want to do 30 on his side or 10 if I am a beginner. By now you are understanding the feel of the single hinge.

All right, now you have learned how to hinge up with the single pivot hinge of the Automatic Swing Trainer. (7:44)What we are going to do is get into an athletic position, like we are jumping. My shoulders are over my knees. I don’t want to be bent forward too much because it is going to put the weight on the balls of my feet. I want the weight to be distributed between the balls of my feet and my heels. So I get into my athletic position; I’m in balance and I am going to, with my knees and my hips, slide the bar to the right and then to the left. I am just going to get the feel of this. While you are doing this, if you’re an avid golfer, you might get the feel that you are actually hitting a chip and run pitch shot or maybe even a putting stroke, but you get the feel of the Automatic Swing Trainer sliding on the bar. (8:41)

Now that I’ve got that feel, I’m going to take it and start to make a golf swing. See how simple that was? I’m going to slide it back and then I hinge it up. I only have to go to 9 o’clock. We are only going to go from 9 o’clock to 3 o’clock right now. We’re going to 9 o’clock; address position is impact position, where I start out with my swing. I am trying to tell the old computer up here that I want to bring the triangle and my hands back through the position I started at. Address is impact. I’ve got the top shaft directly over the bottom shaft at address and at impact. That is probably the best teaching part of the Automatic Swing Trainer; you can get back to where you started and create the symmetry of what happens over here also happens over there. (9:40)

So let’s just make a few swings. I am going 9 o’clock; I am doing this slow motion, back to address/impact and to 3 o’clock. I want to feel my weight shift to my right side, back to impact; my weight goes to my left side as I am hinging up to 3 o’clock. We’ll do that one more time. Remember; slow motion. (10:40)

If you are left handed and thinking about the Automatic Swing Trainer, all you have to do is think the opposite of everything I’ve been saying for a right hander. The Automatic Swing Trainer has a grip that will work for the left hander. You just do the exercises the opposite of what I am saying for the right hander. (11:05)

So now a good drill to find our center of gravity; our center of gravity is similar to the invisible chair drill. We want to get down as low as we can. We want to get back on the Swing Trainer, and we want to put our feet pretty close together. You can already feel it. Now we’re going real slowly to 9 o’clock, to 3 o’clock. Now

watch my knees work, I am going left knee to the ball, and I am going right knee to the target. I’ve got to stay down low. Feel it in your hamstrings. You can do as many of these as you can. We don’t want you to get injured doing this one. But you can feel it in your thighs, and you can feel how much control of the rotation of the golf swing your legs have. (12:03)

Another feature of the Automatic Swing Trainer; there are two holes in the slide bar. I am going to pin it on the forward side so that all it can do is slide back and come back to address impact. What I am working on with this is; I really want to emphasize getting back to where I started. This top shaft directly over the bottom shaft, and at this point I have to roll the club over. This is a very good drill if you’re having problems slicing the ball. (12:49) Usually the reason you are slicing the ball is because your hands are coming through like this, with your hands leading the club head. You know the ball is going to the right. With the Automatic Swing Trainer we want the butt of the club to come back to the belly. Then let it roll over naturally and that will help create a draw or hit the ball straight, If you have been having trouble with a slice. (13:20)

Another feature of the Automatic Swing Trainer is; if I pin it on the other side I can actually pin the slide bar so that it’s stationary there. This is real good for people that like to really rotate and stay dead center right over there swing. So your left side has to take the club back and I’m going to do the exact same swing, address is impact. But I really have to be able to rotate; come back and rotate. You have got to stay right over the ball. You almost want more weight on your front foot for this. I would say 60 % of the weight on your left foot so we can rotate it back. Then right back to impact and through. Again were going to swing this slow motion. Now I am going to pull the two pins out of there. (14:25)

I really like the slide bar because I am not as young as I used to be. I need to feel the fluid action of the Automatic Swing Trainer. When you get to be as old as I am you really have to rely on the leg work of the golf swing. I cannot keep my lower body dead and rely on upper body strength like I could when I was younger. I have to let my left knee go to the ball and I have to really concentrate on my right knee going to the target. (15:10)

Now here is one of the top golf coaches in the world, Nick Bradley.

What I would like to do now is explain a few of the key moves that I would like you to incorporate with the Automatic Swing Trainer. Once again the beauty about this is it does teach the swing in a sequential order (15:26) and it’s difficult to get that order wrong. So, by starting off certainly with the grip form here. Okay, we really need to hold the handle out in front of us on a 45 degree angle. The reason being is this is the way the left hand hangs naturally from the side of the body. So once here all we simply have to do is raise our left hand up, hold the handle, make sure it’s basically in the base of the palm and there is the left hand formed.

You know as we look down here we should see about half of the back of the left hand. Once this is in the correct position, now it’s really easy for the right hand to form on top of the grip here. Someone once said you can tell a good grip because you see about equal amounts of both hands, and that’s certainly the case. (16:10)Obviously this would be very strong; I can see loads of my glove hand. And this would be very weak, and it’s going to slice a lot. Okay, so once more in from 45 degrees, raise the left hand up, place the handle of the club into the grip and then apply the right hand. And I like to see the V; this little crevice here created by the first knuckle and the thumb. The V is pretty much pointed at the chin.

Okay, so once we have passed that stage we now put our hands into the position where we can start to lever the Automatic Swing Trainer, in particular the weight. Now the reason why this weight has been designed on the Automatic Swing Trainer is because you are soon going to find out whether your club is off of balance. The other thing is; because it is weight, it’s really going to assist you in hinging the club up with a bit of speed and then re-hinging it through the swing with speed too, and that is going to get the ball flight up with plenty of loft on the club. You’ll enjoy that. (17:04)

Good, so now once we have the grip formulated on the handle, nicely in the fingers with the proper amount of hands showing, now we’ve got to house that grip in something. Commonly it’s the stance, the set up and posture. So, just from this angle initially, what I like to see is the stance built where it has a look and image like the Eiffel Tower. So wide at the base of the cone and it gets narrow at the head.

So as you take your stance here, just ensure one little check point that as you look down at your feet. Your hip joints are directly in the middle of each toe, (17:35) okay, so in the middle of each foot here. So we take our stance, draw a line down from the hip into that foot, and that one, and we’ve got about the right stance for your build. I don’t like the stance to be taken from the inside of your feet, because if you are particularly wide in the shoulders you will get too wide here. It should really relate to where your hip joints are.

So there you are, you’ve got your stance and you are nicely balanced. Now the first thing that we are going to start to learn to do with the Automatic Swing Trainer is to start to sequence your golf swing. (18:09) So, you will notice that as I start to move the club back here, that my body, my naval, is actually pretty quiet. I get into a position where I move the handle back and it’s still relatively square to my turn here. (18:21)As I move from this position the weighted club now swings up and starts to hinge. This is a vital area because what I find is a lot of amateurs turn their body too much and all of a sudden the club is way on the inside, it then lifts and you know the story from there. It comes up over the top. That’s why the sequencing is important, so from here, naval nice and quiet, move the handle away first of all. That’s great!

Now we’re going to get the hinge, which the Automatic Swing Trainer helps you to do with the weight, and here is the vital part. Now that you are into this position, you can just wind your body up to the top to complete it. And it’s funny because the roll of the body is actually quite minimal. We want it to be tightly wound up. (19:09) So, that last little bit up to the top of the swing should actually feel like a small motion to you. Let’s do it again. A little move away; hinge and the final crank up to the top to make your back swing.

One little reference point here for you; in my studies of the golf swing over the years, I found that all the best swingers really end their swings here at the 10 o’clock position. This correctly puts the hands in the right position relative to the turn. We really don’t want to be swinging the club too long and then get out of sequence on the way down. So as you start to move the club back and hinge it, as you do your final wind-up to a point where you get to a 10 o’clock position, you’ll be in great shape to pull the arms down, back in front of the body and into impact. (20:04)

Another great feature of the Automatic Swing Trainer is the Putting Attachment. The Putting Attachment might be my favorite attachment of the Automatic Swing Trainer. What I’m going to do is pull the pin on the telescoping cylinders. I am going to lay them down gently and grab the Putting Attachment. The Putting Attachment attaches to the slide bar just the same as the telescoping cylinders did. Go ahead and pull the Velcro fairly tight, but you want to be able to move the putter up and down easily in the grooves because of the pivot point on the slide bar. (21:00)

If I was to take the putter back and let the handle go right with it, they would parallel each other. But because of the pivot point the Automatic Swing Trainer Putting Attachment creates an arcuate motion. With this, all I want to work on is about a four to eight inch putting stroke. So I am going back four and through four. If I can just stroke that back and forth again; I am doing this slow motion. There is some resistance to this, but you are really going to be surprised. The big muscle you’re going to use when you putt. It has nothing to do with your hands and arms. We’re setting the same triangle again and we are just trying to work the triangle together back and through and let the Automatic Swing Trainer develop the muscle memory for you to create a repeatable putting stroke. Something that is very simple. (22:10)

Another great attachment to the Automatic Swing Trainer is the Golf Bag Attachment. This is like having your swing coach with you on the golf course. It has a couple of little Velcro pieces on the back that you can hook to the bottom of the golf bag. It has a strap you can tighten up and clamp to the bottom. I’ve already got one set up on my golf bag.

What I am going to do is pin the telescoping cylinders onto the bag attachment, the same as I did on the slide bar. Now, obviously, it can’t slide on this, so it is hooked up more like the stationary with the mat. I have to be able to pivot and set it and that’s really what I am trying to remember when I am out on the golf course and I am waiting for the group in front of me. (23:20) Instead of me sitting there wondering what I am going to do with this next shot, I can pull out the Automatic Swing Trainer and I can develop that feel for setting it, getting back to where I started and following through. So I have a swing coach right here on my golf bag so that I can develop that memory. Then I am going to grab a club, step over to my ball and I am going to repeat that same motion.

So let’s go over a few other things about the Automatic Swing Trainer. It’s got the great Golf Bag Attachment; if you’re going to the driving range and you are having trouble getting the club set, thing of the plane of the shaft as the plane of your golf club. All I’ve got to do is think of that plane and rotate back, coving back on that plane and then copy it on the other side. (24.48)

Now in review, what we really want to emphasize with the Automatic Swing Trainer is slow motion. Let the swing trainer show you the position. We don’t want you trying to teach it your bad habits. Let it show you the positions that we want you to get into. So, we’re going to remember to hinge up naturally, we’re going to work the slide bar, slow motion, and it’s real important that we take the triangle and we work to set it. Raise it to 9 or 10 o’clock, back to about our hip pocket. Then it’s the body that rotates it through to square the club up. We are not worried about rolling the hands at all in this golf swing. It’s the body that rotates it through.

So, the pieces of the automatic Swing Trainer again are; we have the telescoping shafts, we’re going to go 10 o’clock to 2 o’clock at maximum. It’s not a full swing. You don’t swing it all out but you want to let it teach you the positions that it forces you into. You want to remember address position is impact position. I just want to get back to where I started. My club face will be square and I will hit it long and straight.

Remember, we can pin it to work on the draw. Remember you can pin it stationary and with that you have to rotate quickly from side to side. There is no slide in the golf swing; it’s rotation, rotation; no slide in the golf swing. (26:55)We have the Bag Attachment. We have the Putting Attachment. With the Putting Attachment there is resistance. If it has too much resistance, go ahead and spray WD-40, wipe it off and it will move freely.

I suggest you use the Automatic Swing trainer as often as you can in the winter where the snow falls. Where I live I swing the Automatic Swing Trainer sometimes four hours a day and it keeps my golf swing grooved.

Thanks again for using the Automatic Swing Trainer. I know if you use the Automatic Swing Trainer, you are going to hit it longer, straighter and you are going to have more fun playing the game of golf.

If you have questions about the automatic Swing Trainer, do not hesitate to contact us at AutomaticSwingTrainer.com. Thank you again.

Grip and Set-up

Wed, 07 Apr 2010 00:00:00 GMT

While teaching at the Golf Expo this past weekend the vast majority of golfers have a few mistakes in common. The first is the Grip. It is fun to see some of the home made versions that golfers will try; most people try to solve their golf ball flight or lack thereof by changing their grip.

We cannot emphasize enough the importance of the grip. We want to have the palms facing each other and the V’s that are formed by the gap between our thumb and the knuckle of the pointer finger going the same direction. We do not want any gaps in our V’s of the left hand if you are right handed, learn to use what we call a short thumb. We want to see equal amounts of both hands (see photo here). A good grip will help to use the wrists correctly.

Another common error was the balance in the address position. I saw person after person bent over way to far at the waist. We want to get into an athletic position with our knees flexed slightly and our bottoms stuck out. It’s very similar to sitting on a bar stool. We would like your shoulders to be supported by the knees. We want our weight to be between the balls of our feet and the heels of our feet.

Once we have a good setup we are able to keep the triangle which consists of our shoulders and are two arms working in the correct sequence with the rotation of our torso (see video here)

When we come back towards the impact area we want to feel like we are carrying a 50 lb. bag of sand. What I mean by that is we must maintain the athletic position to support our move back to the ball. So to feel that both of your elbows will be pointed towards your hips. Your right elbow to the right hip and the left to the left hip. This will prevent you from driving the left hip towards the target, making the rotation easier.

Teachers call this staying connected. So while swinging with the automatic swing trainer your want your elbows pointed to your hips while letting the bottom of the telescoping tubes slide along the slide bar. Also, remember to do some initial practice swings focusing solely on maintaining the correct spine angle throughout the swing. Hinging up properly while maintaining the same spine angle throughout the swing helps to create an automatic, repeatable swing. A swing that you can take to the course and rely on.

The Golf Expo was a great reminder of the importance of the fundamentals of golf and the need for golfers to learn simple, repeatable moves. Starting with the correct grip and finishing with the correct position at Address / Impact.

The Key Positions of the Golf Swing

Sat, 03 Apr 2010 00:00:00 GMT

One of the worst things we can do as golfers is to go to the course to play with too many thoughts on our minds. The place to work on mechanics and swing technique is on the range or away from the course. I love videoing my golf swing to verify that I am getting the club into the key positions of the swing. I also really like doing strength training for my golf muscles away from the course.

I have found the exercises that the automatic swing trainer has helps me work on the golf muscles while swinging it in my living room. I just set it up in front of the TV and while I’m watching the golf channel I get in my muscle memory practice. When I use the trainer I know that I am hitting the same key positions that I want to make in my swing on the course. I have pointed the video camera on the swing trainer in slow motion (see Gain Distance web page for the video) to verify that it is perfect practice, and it is.

When preparing to hit a tee shot to a tight fairway with hazards, it is impossible to relax and let it happen if we are cluttering our brain with more than one swing thought. While practicing on the range we should be trying to find a key phrase or word that will help us make the swing we want. Then take that word, like tempo or maybe it is slow backswing to the course and use it as your key.

As the year goes by if you have been smart enough to write down these thoughts in a small booklet, you will have compiled great data for you to draw out of when you’re looking for the next key. The keys for you may be different than the next guy. They may be the same. It doesn’t matter. The key is that you create your own list of words and short phrases that keep you in the zone. That keep you making that simple, repeatable, automatic swing that you feel in your best shots.

Many of our “best” shots are just happy accidents. To make those “happy accidents” your average swing takes practice. And to make your practice effective you need to develop a simple, repeatable routine that lets you make a calm, stable, on-plane swing you can repeat every time.

Some of the keys I use are listed here. We will go into these in more detail in upcoming blog posts so that you can then develop your own list that helps you become the machine of golf shots that you want to become—where almost every shot is straight and long and in the fairway and onto the green. I can tell you from personal experience that golf is a lot more fun when you are hitting it well. Hitting it consistently. Hitting it par. Here’s my list:

Grip Pressure
Balance
Good Turn
Spine Angle
Posture
Sit on the Bar Stool
Weight between heels and balls of feet
Swing the Triangle
Visualize the path of the Clubhead
Shorten Backswing
Keep my right Knee Locked in
Finish High
Relax and Have Fun
Left Arm Straight
Right Elbow Folds to the Body
Elbows point at Hips
Address is Impact
Club Head Speed at the Bottom of Swing

Fundamentals of the Golf Swing

Fri, 02 Apr 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Fundamentals of the golf swing. I cannot emphasize enough that the simpler we can keep our move the better off we will be. A good base with our feet wide as our hip joints. Our knees flexed slightly ( as if we are going to jump up a few inches ) Our weight balanced between the heels and the balls of our feet. If you put your weight on your toes it is too easy to move your head up and down.

A little drill to try is to bend over to pick up something and you will see that to do that your weight goes to your toes. In the golf swing we are rotating our torso trying to keep our hips, shoulders and head the same height during the back swing , and back to the ball. then through the hit until the momentum of the swing brings you up so that you can watch the ball fly.

With all that being said, I think you get an idea of how important the spine angle is. If your spine angle changes, so does the position of your head, and shoulders. To get correct address position remember to keep you spine angle the same throughout the swing.

When I am teaching out on the range, I like to stop and have my student watch some of the moves that we can see. It’s amazing some of the contortion positions that one can witness. There’s the guy trying to hit it extra far so he raises up from the waist on the back swing, How about the person that gets to the top okay only to drive his hip directly to the target, you know that slide we have all seen it.

My point is that if we observe our surroundings we can start to understand what moves constitute a good swing. The first thing you will notice is the controlled rotation and that the triangle stays intact through the swing. See if you can spot someone that has a good example Address is Impact.

One of the other neat things to look for on the range are the tools or devices that players will use to help them practice. Most players like to lay down a club for alignment. Some players have slender shafts that they can lay down for the target line and also the toe line. Some guys spray paint those lines so that they can use the other shafts to check plane.

Some will stick shafts next to their hips to check rotation, not slide. One of the coolest things I’ve seen was a swing Trainer attached to the bottom of a golf bag. So pay attention to the other players on the range. You may learn some new tricks. Remember “perfect practice makes perfect”. Review your fundamentals before you start hitting balls at the range or in your back yard. Simple is best.

Greens in Regulation

Wed, 31 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

With the golf season getting started we should set some goals that we would like to achieve this year. I am not talking scores I am talking about practice habits that will translate into better scores. When we look at the statistics for tour players ( the best players in the world ) I am always amazed at the greens in regulation stat. Now we all know that tour players play a lot of golf and the demands on their time is great. How do they maintain the touch and chipping skills around the green. They practice.

I know that most of us don’t have that much time to hone our games to where we would like them to be so here are some tips to make better use of the time we have. We can all save a few strokes per round if our lag putting was better. So next time on the practice green work on those long putts, try to get them consistently inside a two or three foot circle. How many three putts could you save if your lag putting was better.

When chipping don’t always dump your shag bag and chip away, I really get satisfaction out of chipping four balls, grabbing my putter and try to make the putt. Get into the mind set when practicing that you must get up and down. Try to keep track in your head how well you are doing. Most tour players and top amateurs get up and down most all the time.

Don’t be afraid to use your imagination around the green. Put your ball into difficult locations. Try to visualize the ball flight needed for each shot. Go ahead and try to toss the ball with your hand a few times to see how high do I need to hit this to make it stop. How far will the ball roll at this trajectory. Then figure how your different clubs will work to the data you have collected from your imagination.

Now the most important thing in chipping is to be accelerating down and through the chip. The club must hit the ball first then brush the turf. And when practicing out of the sand, don’t be afraid of the sand, it’s a blast. You must survey the lie so as to be able get set up correctly. We want our shoulder plane to match the sand plane. I like to dig into the sand an inch or two ( this puts the bottom of my swing below the ball which in turn lets me hit behind the ball easier ).

I also like extra weight on my left side. Because for a green side bunker you usually don’t need a full weight shift in the turn. I like to open my stance so that I can swing the club on the path of my body, I need to aim the clubface to my target ( the face is laid open ) This shot requires that I make a 3/4 back swing keeping my weight left. Remember I am cutting across the ball, or feeling like my swing is outside to in, but the open clubface will save the direction, I want to enter the sand about 1 inch behind the ball and let the force of the sand being thrown at the green control distance.

Like I said it’s a blast. Make sure you finish your swing. The follow through for a basic sand shot is important. Practice makes perfect. When you go to play a different course always try to hit a couple of practice shots from the sand. Not all sand is created equal.

Putting

Tue, 30 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

The putting stroke is a small version of the full swing.
After years of studying the swing and the putting stroke I may have come across a tips that really puts it all together. On the full swing we have the primary plane which is the shaft angle at address position and continues up the right arm to the elbow. So to me the triangle is the shoulders, left arm and the right arm to the elbow.

Now when making our full swing as we take the club back we get the clubhead moving to the toe line the right arm begins to fold into the body. We are trying to keep the right elbow pointed to our right hip. As we wind to the top there may be some separation between the right arm and the body.

Now as we reverse the sequencing coming back to the ball we first feel the weight transfer to the left heel as we close the gap if we have some between our right bicep and body, the right elbow pointed to our right hip the triangle formed by our shoulders. Left arm and right forearm with the hands acting as a hinge dropping, butt of club pointed at target line then we are back at the toe line with the hands with the clubhead lagging.

Left side rotating coming back to address position or primary plane. the triangle is intact. Shoulders left arm and right forearm as we are firing the right side to the target.

Okay what I have found is that when I am putting if I can keep the triangle the same as in a full swing, so that my left side is leading my right forearm and the palm of my right hand matches the putter face it is so much easier to repeat the stroke and hit it square every time. Try it, maintain your spine angle and triangle for success in golf.

Back to Basics

Sat, 27 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Now that spring is just around the corner it’s time to dust off the golf swing. I always like to start fresh every year with the basics so that I make sure I have not pick up any bad habits. The GRIP is a great place to start. I like a to use an overlapping grip. that’s where the left hand has all five fingers on the club. The thumb of the left hand need to be what we call a short thumb. Make sure there is no gap between the thumb and the first knuckle. To place the left hand on the club, first let the left arm hang naturally to your side and pay attention to the angle your left hand hangs at. Now hold the club out in front of you on an angle that matches the angle your left hand hangs at and place the left hand on the club with the thumb on the top of the grip. We want the ” V ” formed by your thumb and the first knuckle pointed to our chin for a neutral grip or our right ear for a stronger grip.

The right hand fits over the left, with the pinky finger over lapping or sitting on top of the pointer finger of the left hand. the ” V ” of the right hand should match the ” V ” of the left hand. So if the left hand ” V ” is pointed at the chin so should the ” V ” of the right.

There are different grips that will work as well as long as your hands work together and the ” V ” s are pointed at the correct areas. There is the baseball grip or the ten finger, also the interlocking grip, which is similar to the overlapping except the pinky and the pointer interlock. With a good grip, good things can happen in your swing.

Next we need to make sure our set up or posture is correct. I like to take a couple of small jumps into the air to see where my feet are for a balanced landing. Usually the set up is taken from an athletic position, balanced weight distributed between the balls of the feet and the heels, You may get the feeling you are sitting on a bar stool, your rump out and bent a bit at the waist. We want our shoulders to be supported by our knees.

Now we will establish our triangle, developed by our shoulders and our arms. The hands are the hinge at the bottom of the triangle. So to create a machine out of our bodies that can make the moves in a golf swing. If we raise our arms and simulate a baseball swing with the club and rotate the club around our body, we can see that there is an axis that we rotate around being supported by our athletic base. The axis is our spine, now to convert that motion to a golf swing we have got to lower the plane that we are facing and raise the plane behind us.

To do that we must have a shift in the axis , which is accomplished by simply changing our spine angle that our triangle rotates around. So we can get an understanding of the importance of the base and the spine angle, together they control the rotation of our swing. It’s very important to realize that a shorter, more controlled rotation for consistency will take the average player a long way to fairways and greens.

Now I think we are ready to make some golf swings. don’t bother hitting any balls just yet. First get the feeling of sweeping the clubhead across the top of the grass, not taking divots just sweeping the club along the ground. We are trying to find the bottom of our arc or the bottom of our swing. Can you feel the timing of the body rotating as the club goes back, stops and the timing of the body rotating to feel the change of direction.

Swing slowly, pay attention to your spine angle, if it changes notice the path and plane changes with its change. In the swing the importance of understanding the rotation of the body timed up with the triangle rising and dropping can develop plenty of club head speed for when we place a ball into the path of the clubhead. Yes I just said not to think about hitting the ball. That if we can make a good swing consistently the ball flight will take care of itself.

As Winter Turns to Spring Golf

Wed, 24 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

As winter starts to give way to spring my thoughts—like yours—return to golf, and getting out on that first tee box for that first round of the year. Maybe, you think, this is the year I break 80, heck I’d be happy to break 90! Either way it’s time to move the snow blower, the snow salt and snow shovels and dust off those clubs. And when I finally got that club in my hand and took a few swings—boy did that feel good! Then I noticed the grips are so shiny and smooth that I won’t be able to keep hold of the club. So I put my clubs in the car and try to decide which it will it be: a trip to my PGA pro at the course or to the golf supply outlet to get new grips put on.

While I was there I spotted that new Lob wedge I’ve been wanting; and that new putter. And there was a new swing trainer I hadn’t seen before. So I check it out. I figure that if that gizmo could help fix my slice and keep it in the fairway a bit more I’d buy two them, one for the office and one for the house.

It will be a few days ‘til they’ve got my new grips on so in the interim I worked out with my new swing trainer. Then did some chipping in the back yard to get my swing tuned up for the course. The swing trainer instructional DVD had some swing strength and flexibility exercises which I am doing. Feels good, just didn’t realize how out of shape my golf muscles are. That’s one thing people forget in the off season—golf muscles need to be stretched, trained and readied for the season. Do go out cold on your first round.

And that new wedge, well I have never owned a Lob wedge before, so let’s just say it’s a good thing we have a fence! I seem to be blading the *&#@* ball almost half the time. The idea that this club would help me move up through the amateur rankings may take some time. I think I read an article in one of the golf magazines that might enlighten me.

The swing trainer works great. I can feel what my golf swing is suppose to feel like. It’s very portable and I can use it indoors with no problems with our low ceilings. I think I may be ready when my clubs are re-gripped. I have also been rolling a few putts on the carpet.

My putting has always helped save me strokes on my score. I have a simple approach to putting, a neutral grip which means I can see the same amount of each hand. I just feel the distance I need to roll the ball. My pro told me to use the triangle as a pendulum, and the club is an extension of the triangle. Simple and it works.

Okay I read some information on how to use that lob wedge. It was quite easy to use once I understood that I had to hit down on the ball and not try to help it up by flipping the club into the ball. It’s amazing how high the ball goes into the air on a short chip shot with the ” LOB ” wedge used properly. The swing trainer also made me feel that I needed to get the club back to where I started, Or to the bottom of the arc which made me hit down on that new wedge.

Salt Lake Golf Show

Tue, 23 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Nike, Bridgestone To Participate at Upcoming Salt Lake Golf Show Utah’s only consumer golf expo runs Mar. 26-28 at South Towne Expo Center

SALT LAKE CITY — Producers of the 2010 Salt Lake Golf Show announced Friday that two of the game’s biggest manufacturers, Nike and Bridgestone, have agreed to participate in this year’s consumer golf expo, opening Friday, Mar. 26 at the South Towne Expo Center in Sandy. The three-day Salt Lake Golf Show — the largest consumer golf expo in Utah — will bring the game’s biggest manufacturers and industry exhibitors to Utah for the year’s biggest golf sale and product showcase. Discount coupons and more information are available at saltlakegolfshow.com.

As part of their commitment, Nike will join other leading manufacturers on the GolfDiscount.com Demo Line, bringing their all-new SQ Mach Speed drivers, hybrids and irons, as well as clubs from the popular and widely-acclaimed Victory Red series for consumers to try for free on the golf show’s indoor driving range. In addition, representatives from Nike, Adams, TaylorMade, Callaway and Cleveland will be on the Demo Line all week to answer golfers’ questions and help attendees find the perfect club to maximize their game.

Bridgestone, meanwhile, will offer a free two-ball sleeve to the first 500 attendees in the door each day, adding even more value to a goody bag that also includes a one-year subscription to Golf Digest and, for the first 1,000 attendees each day, a free round of golf to Cedar Hills.

Over the past four years, the Salt Lake Golf Show has become one of the most popular and successful consumer golf expos West of the Mississippi River, earning loyalty from its attendees by providing consumers with a maximum return on the value of their ticket in the form of free golf and other giveaways, free lessons, fun skills contests with great prizes and the lowest prices of the season on name-brand drivers, hybrids, iron sets and more from the industry’s biggest names.

This year’s show will include:

• HUGE SHOW-ONLY SAVINGS — The GolfDiscount.com Superstore will be the largest in Salt Lake Golf Show history, featuring 3,000-square feet of show-only savings on name-brand clubs and equipment from many top manufacturers. In addition, visit over 85 exhibitors from the golf industry — check out resorts, products, instruction and more! • FREE INDOOR DRIVING RANGE — Want to try before you buy? Test out the hottest new drivers, irons and more from the industry’s leading manufacturers on a massive indoor driving range — for FREE! Manufacturers’ representatives will also be on hand all weekend to answer questions and help you find the perfect club to match your game. • FREE LESSONS— Leading area pros and golf experts will be on-hand all weekend in the Free Lesson Area and on the Main Stage to provide golfers with tips to better their game. Some of the pro’s appearing on this years Main Stage are Terry Divine, former National Coach of the PGA, Devin York of Sleepy Ridge and Doug Roberts the 2009 Utah PGA Teacher of the Year. Whether a beginner or pro, stop by for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to receive a personal lesson from one of the area’s top golf instructors. • FREE GIVEAWAYS— For no more than the cost of their $10 ticket, ALL attendees at the 2010 Salt Lake Golf Show will receive a goody bag including a one-year subscription to Golf Digest. In addition, the first 1,000 attendees in the door each day will receive a free round of golf to Cedar Hills, while the first 500 each day will receive a two-ball sleeve of Bridgestone balls. In all, it’s a $50 value — a 5-to-1 return on the cost of a ticket, just for walking in the door! • FUN SKILLS CONTESTS — Show your skills to win great prizes in the BMW of Murray Putting Challenge, the Long Drive Challenge, the Closest-to-the-Pin Challenge and the Salt Lake Tribune and Deseret News Short Game Central! Attendees will have the chance to win vacation packages, clubs, gear, rounds of golf and more!

To inquire about exhibit, sponsorship or volunteer opportunities, please call David Stolber at 1-888-367-6420 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 1-888-367-6420 end_of_the_skype_highlighting x.1204 or e-mail david@varsitycommunications.com.

Thank You To Our Sponsors!

Presenting: GolfDiscount.com, BMW of Murray, Bridgestone Golf; Comcast; Deseret News, Firestone Complete Auto Care, Media One, Salt Lake Tribune, The Zone 1280; Utah Golf Association

Supporting: 101.5 The Eagle, 103.1 JACK FM, Cedar Hills, Destination Golfer; Fairways Magazine, Golf Digest; GolfWorld

Patron: BackyardGreens.com, Courtyard by MarriottFisherGolf, Hammerhead Golf, Highland Golf Carts & Utility Vehicles, Holiday Golf Simulators; X96

-www.saltlakegolfshow.com-

Gain Distance

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Hit it Long. Hit it Straight
Long, long, heck, really long shots, repeated over and over again is what we crave. Distance is what everybody wants. But “accurate distance” is really the Holy Grail of golf. Being able to hit the ball long—in the fairway, in your chosen landing area—is the goal. The better scorecard with distance—not distance that carries you into the rough. So, here are some simple tips on how to gain more distance while avoiding “blown” shots. Typically, to get more distance we reach back to hit the ball harder. We wind up our backswing tighter, which is often the cause of more problems and less distance. To hit the ball longer we first have to buy-in to the fact, that with your golf swing, sometimes less is more.

Controlled – Sequential – Power
By that I mean if you can stay relaxed and make the controlled, sequential swing that the Automatic Swing Trainer™ teaches you, you will have a much greater chance of developing club head speed at the bottom of the arch where you want it. Being square at impact is key to long accuracy. It is very difficult to make an extra long backswing—with the perception that you are swinging harder—and still be able to get back square at Address/ Impact position. The key is that perceived power—hitting it ‘harder’—is very different from actual power—the ability to strike the ball longer and in the fairway and onto the green.

Timing the Triangle
Timing up the triangle (made with the shoulders and arms) with the turn, while driving the body and trying to “kill it” is extremely difficult. The Pros’ are able to do this because of their exceptional eye-hand coordination and the fact that they are playing and practicing almost every day under the guidance of world-class teachers.

Address is Impact
Remember that when you stay in control, create lag and come back accurately into Address / Impact—while keeping your spine angle the same on back swing through to impact—you will hit longer, straighter and more accurately. Two simple actions are paramount: address position is impact position, and correct sequencing. While practicing your golf swing on the Automatic Swing Trainer ™ you will automatically develop a repeatable motion and correct sequencing for accurate, repeatable, distance. Distance that shows up as lower scores, not recoveries.

Repeatable Fairway Distance
And once you have a fairway—distance—shot, the key is then being able to repeat it time after time. Our best shots have a certain feel. And to be able to recreate that feel we need a repeatable, “automatic” set-up and swing motion. The Automatic Swing Trainer ™ teaches you that repeatable motion so you gain repeatable Distance and Accuracy. Accurate, repeatable motions breed distance.

Engineered for the Target Line
To be able to repeat a great golf swing time after time we need to understand some fundamental engineering design built into the AST ™. First, the slide bar of the AST ™ runs parallel to the club head path through the ball. Imagine the chrome weight of the AST ™ being the shaft line of the club. To create an accurate, repeatable golf swing we need to have either the head of the club or the butt of the club always pointed at the target line at the key moments of the swing. Because the Automatic Swing Trainer only extends from the target line and only hinges in a manner that keeps the grip head or grip butt pointed at the target line we can assure that you are developing a swing that’s simple to repeat.

Accurate, Repeatable Distance
So, in summary: Accuracy breeds Distance. Address is Impact. Less is More. Simple, Repeatable motions create muscle memory and feel. That feel will lead us to hitting not just longer shots, but more long shots that hit fairways and land on greens. Using the Automatic Swing Trainer will help you get into the groove that both multiplies your distance and lowers your score. You will not need to “kill it” to get more distance. You will be able to play longer and with less physical fatigue. You will hit balls automatically— longer and straighter—with a motion that is ingrained, repeatable and easy. And then your golfing friends will be thinking “Wow! The guys a machine!”

by Steve Nelson – inventor of the Automatic Swing Trainer ™

Dramatically Improve Your Putting

Fri, 22 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Consistently sinking putts inside 15 feet will dramatically improve your score. By using the AST putter attachment you will feel the correct putter swing and drain more long putts. The putter attachment trains the big back muscles that are key to keeping the putter face square and rolling the ball on track every time. Consistent practice with the included AST putter attachment will shed strokes off your score and make you more confident on the green. Your putting can become your most trusted shot by practicing for just a few minutes a day. Check out the AST Putting Trainer Attachment action photos here:

Hit Like a Pro…every time

Fri, 22 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

As the AST™ guides the body through the correct Range of Motion for the most effective golf swing, it will induce flexibility and stimulate the muscles of core stabilization. These are the muscles of the back and stomach that are required for the winding up of the backswing that generates the torque and strength which translates into increased club head speed and more accurate shots.

Swing. Practice. Anywhere…

Thu, 21 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

The AST Golf Bag Attachments lets you practice your new golf swing anywhere. At the range. In your back yard. In your garage or at the office. The unique, portable design of the AST makes it a take—along—companion for golf outings or a day at the office. And then we took the portability of the AST and supercharged it by adding a slick golf bag attachment (see photos below) The golf bag attachment includes a universal adjustable strap and attachment for the AST golf swing trainer. Just quick release the AST from the slide-bar floor mat and use the same quick-release pin to attach it to the AST Golf Bag Attachment, and you are ready to practice. In 30 seconds you’ve gone from the office to the golf course. And while you are warming up or while playing, waiting for that slow foursome in front of you, you can train with the AST for a couple of minutes and refresh that AST muscle memory. The muscle memory that allows you to make an accurate, powerful, consistent golf swing that will impress friends and family. Now staying in shape and keeping your golf swing in top form is easier than ever. AST—engineered for better golf scores and more fun.

Improve your game

Wed, 20 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Long, straight shots

Fix your slice, once and for all, with patented AST technology. Advanced AST engineering lets you feel a perfect on-plane swing for hitting long, accurate shots. Getting back to square at impact is what the AST was designed for. You will feel the correct positions and be able to stop the dreaded slice.

Steve Nelson, inventor of the Automatic Swing Trainer talks about the dreaded Slice and how to tame it:

The Slice Creature

The slice… What a creature. The most hated and dreaded partner in golf. But I’m here to tell you, in fact I promise you that the dreaded slice can be tamed and played very effectively as a fade. It’s a shot—believe it or not—that you need in your arsenal. However, to be able to put the slice (spelled F.A.D.E.) to work, you first have to learn how to tame it by understanding it. If you use the AST to tame your slice you will be able to call upon that slice (fade) at will. You can become the master of the slice and make it work for you, rather than against you.

Where does my slice come from?

The causes of the dreaded slice fall into several categories. First, your slice could simply be the result of an open face at impact. That open face could even be part of a good swing path. But most often what I see as a teaching pro’ is a swing path through the ball outside to inside. Second, what I see is a golfer’s hands at impact are ahead of the club head. If your hands are past center, past address at impact, your club face will be open and then, there is only one way for the golf ball to go—slice. I also see a lot of guys and women that in an effort to really “hit” the ball hard and gain distance, allow the left side of their torso to pull up and out of the swing. Or then again a slice can come from firing your hips too soon, bringing you into the old inverted ” C ” position…Whatever the cause, whatever your own original brand of slice, the AST is engineered to fix your slice, AND teach you how to call on that slice (fade) when you want it—when you need it on the course.

The AST will fix your Slice

Part I

The first step in eliminating the slice is proper posture and proper stance at address. The Automatic Swing Trainer will teach you how to get into proper posture at Address. The correct posture at address is an athletic position, as if you about to jump. With your torso bent slightly forward at the waist, with shoulders over knees and your weight evenly balanced between your heels and balls of your feet; don’t shift your weight to your toes or rock back on your heels. Next, pay close attention to the angle of your spine. It is imperative that you maintain the same spine angle throughout your abbreviated golf swing. I say “abbreviated” because often an over-extended backswing is a contributing factor to a sliced shot. Make a modest backswing. Stop your backswing at 9 o’clock with your left arm straight and parallel to the ground.

Part II

Next notice the triangle created by your shoulders and your arms with your hands gripping the club. This is address position. Address position is the position of the swing when you would set the club behind the ball and aim at your target. This position is key to correcting a slice. From this position take a short backswing until you hands are at 9 o’clock while maintaining the same spine angle as at Address. Then come back to address and stop. At this point the top shaft of the AST needs to be directly over the bottom shaft, yes right back to where you started with the butt of the AST handle pointed directly at your navel.

Part III

We are now back at the bottom of a circle—at 6 o’clock—at Address / Impact position. At this point the toe of the golf club needs to pass the handle of the club for us to hit the ball straight. Effectively at the bottom of your swing the butt of the club stops, pointed at the navel and the head of the club passes the handle—precedes the handle—into your follow-through. To help you accomplish this motion and be able to repeat and practice it we have engineered it into the AST. On the slide bar of the AST that you can place in the hole toward the target a quick release pin. This will cause the slider on the slide bar and the AST telescoping tubes to stop sliding forward at the Address position. When the slider stops at the quick release pin you hands and the weighted handle of the AST will have gone past the Address position. At that moment you will feel what a “square at impact” golf swing feels like. You will feel what hitting it neutral (straight) feels like. Practicing this release at Address / Impact will help you develop an ingrained, repeatable consistent swing that will allow you to hit the ball straight and a long long way.

As Seen on Golf TV

Tue, 19 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Featured on the Golf TV, watch how your swing will become consistent, on-plane and square at impact. Also, hear what others have to say about how the AST has helped their game. See golfers at various skill levels try out the AST, then watch their reactions as they get instant feedback on their swing and see rapid improvements in distance and accuracy. Click here to read some of their testimonials.

Transcript of Automatic Swing Trainer™ Instructional DVD

Fri, 08 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Welcome to a new revolution in golf swing training.

The Automatic Swing Trainer.

I’m Steve Nelson. Welcome to the Automatic Swing Trainer. We are here this afternoon to familiarize you with this great golf swing trainer.

Now here is one of the top golf coaches in the world, Nick Bradley.

If you have questions about the automatic Swing Trainer, do not hesitate to contact us at AutomaticSwingTrainer.com. Thank you again.

Muscle Memory

Thu, 07 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Video Transcript: When you have confidence in your golf swing, you set yourself up for good scores and maximum fun. The pros get it by having world-class eye hand coordination, by hitting ball and playing everyday and working with great teachers. In addition to playing, hitting balls and working with your teacher you can get more confidence by feeling and practicing a great swing anytime with the automatic swing trainer. When you practice a motion over and over again your body absorbs it and is able to repeat it. It is commonly called muscle memory, using the automatic swing trainer helps you make your ideal swing and repeat it over and over again. Knowing you’re likely to make your best swing gives you the confidence to trust it. Dr. Phillip Zinni is the president elect of the American Osteopathic Academy of Sports Medicine and a certified athletic trainer. His experience in treating and training athletes gives him a unique perspective into understanding the motion of the golf swing. The terminology of muscle memory is really the repetitive action of the body doing the same motion time and time again. Muscle memory has to be done correctly, because if you don’t have the same motion time and time again your going to be building flaws. You’re going to be building in little subtle differences, that isn’t what you want. So specifically with golf you want to train the body in the same pattern over and over again. So the automatic swing trainer really recreates that natural flow, that natural process and it helps to develop all the flexibility and range of motion that your body needs to carry out a natural swing.

Meet the Inventor of the AST

Tue, 05 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Video Transcript: Steve Nelson has trained tour players and helped hundreds of amateurs learn to create an effortless, repeatable golf swing with his invention the Automatic Swing Trainer. What inspired me to build the automatic swing trainer was watching some of the great simple golf swings on the tour. I noticed in all the great players that they made natural moves in there golf swings. There were no forced moves what so ever and that was something I did not have in my golf swing. So I knew if I could come up with something to teach me to repeat the same move in my back swing and back to the ball every time that I would be ahead of the game. From concepts to countless revisions and improvements Steve had to prove to his toughest student himself that the automatic swing trainer could teach any golfer a natural, repeatable motion of an on plane golf swing. By using the early proto types of the automatic swing trainer for my own golf swing I found that I was able to hit the ball dead straight and keep the club Face Square through out the golf swing, and the results were unbelievable. With the automatic swing trainer golfers will be able to feel what a golf swing is suppose to feel like, and how simple and natural the movements in the golf swing are. The automatic swing trainer will teach you to hit the ball dead straight and a long ways.