Dear Friends,
As we all huddle
around the fire and try to survive the big chill of winter 2003, it may be a
good time to reflect on our overall golf game and how we may improve it as
things thaw out in the weeks to come.
Dr. Putt invites you
to engage in some objective self-evaluation in this newsletter, and he also has
some tips for those of you who are lucky enough to be able to play a little
during these cold months.
1) Putting tip for
the winter greens
2) Keeping it on the
line
3) Time for basic change?
1) Putting tip for winter greens
Winter grass is
generally much slower than the running grasses on most courses in the summer.
It grows straight up and is not cut as short. So it produces more friction on
the ball. But if your area of the country has had some really cold
temperatures, as have many areas, you could be in for a surprise when you hit
some putts.
All the summer grass
is gone now and a good portion of the winter grass may have been killed. There
may be almost nothing to slow the ball on the greens.
You will notice this
especially on downhill putts. Where a downhill putt may have only gone 25%
further than a level putt during the summer, it may now be double the distance,
or even more!
Take note of the
difference by putting uphill and downhill using the same stroke on the practice
green before playing.
When playing, look
over the entire line and take careful note of areas where the grass may be
really thinned out. If the greens are at all hard, you may be putting on
asphalt!
2) Keeping it on the line
Dr. Putt has received
several letters in recent weeks concerning keeping putter head moving along a
straight line. If you are using the EOB aiming alignment device, you will see
the line and observe the path of the putter head more accurately. If it is not
moving straight back and forth, you will certainly notice it.
To keep it on line,
three things need to happen. First, the
hands must be directly under your shoulders. Set up beside a full length mirror
and check yourself out.
Second, you must keep
you hands and wrists quiet, maintaining the triangle formed by the shaft and
forearms throughout the stroke.
Finally, you should
execute the stroke by tilting or rocking the shoulders up and down. Do not by
rotate them around the spine. That will cause the putter head to move in an
arc. Then you must strike the ball precisely where the arc is tangent to the
intended line of the putt. This only adds another variable to the stroke -- one
more thing that can go wrong.
Check yourself out
this winter by standing over a floor with straight lines on it. Place your toes
parallel to a line and put your hands together, palm against palm. Assume a
putting stance and practice executing the stroke. Try to move your hands by
just rocking the shoulders so that the hands move on a straight line. You can
sight the line by lining your thumbs with a line in the floor. Again, keep your hands below your shoulders
(step one). Adjust your stance so that you can sight a line below your thumbs.
Don’t just move your hands out or in.
Work on this until
you are very comfortable with it. Then try it with a putter in your hands. By
the spring thaw, swinging on a straight line by rocking your shoulders will
feel completely natural.
3) Time for basic change?
Ask yourself some
questions about your game—and be brutally honest in your answers.
* Did you improve last year?
* Did you improve in the last several years?
* Are you reasonably confident that you know
where the ball is going to go when you step up to a shot?
* When you play, do you pretty much keep the
same swing throughout the round and not make changes every few swings to try
and fix things that go wrong?
* Are you able to swing with no back pain?
* Are you happy with your distance?
* Do you hit the ball the same distance
consistently?
* Are you able to practice at least three
times a week for several hours?
If you said “no” to
several of these questions, then you may want to consider some really basic
changes. You may want to consider an alternative golf swing next season.
Why? Alternative
swings are generally (though not always) more simple to execute, which leads to
more consistency with less practice. Moreover, they place less strain on the
back because they use more arm motion and less of the traditional coiling
motion. Alternative swings have less club face rotation so that you are less
likely to slice or hook—the face is square longer through the hitting
area. Finally, consistency and a square
face means more solid hits more often, and consequently, more distance.
Drawbacks? You will
look a little unorthodox as you address the ball and as you swing. So if you
want to emulate Ernie Els, alternative swings are not
for you. You will also lose a little distance at first, and of course, you will
feel funny. So you must be a little patient, as one should when learning any
new motion.
So if alternative
swings are so easy and wonderful, then why are more players and professionals
using them? It is because they are unorthodox and because so many people have
so much time and effort invested in the traditional swings. As soon as someone
comes along and wins a few tournaments with an alternative swing, then they
will become more popular.
But if you have not
heard, alternative golf swings are growing in popularity. The best known and
marketed alternative swing is the “Natural Golf” swing. The Natural Golf
Corporation is slowly building market share. They have some professionals using
their swing. Former British Open and Master’s champion Sandy Lyle, after
“losing it,” is trying to make a comeback with the Natural Golf swing, and
having some notable success. So it is only a matter of time. The real
breakthrough will be when a young player enters the stage with a new look. That
may take a while because all young players want to model their swings after
Tiger right now.
Who would benefit the
most? Beginners and high handicappers. If you are reading this newsletter you
are probably not a beginner, but if Dr. Putt were teaching his children the
golf swing all over again, he would employ an alternative swing. Indeed, as all
the little Putt’s have recently left the nest and Mrs. Dr. Putt has decided
that she now has time to play again after twenty years away from the game. Dr.
Putt took her to the course and showed her the natural golf grip and swing. In
30 minutes she was hitting shots that were as long as and more consistent than
the shots she hit 20 years ago.
Who will benefit the
least? Single digit handicappers who play a lot. The greatest benefit for you
is that you can maintain your current level of play with less practice time.
You will probably not improve your average score that much, but you will find
much less variation in your play and scores.
Which alternative
swing should you use? A search on the Web will reveal many of them to choose
from. Here is a url with links to several of the
alternative golf swings that are out there:
http://kss.fws1.com/traditional_golf.html
But the Natural Golf
swing is probably the most simple and has the best instructional package. Dr.
Putt has tried the original instructional package, which includes a video and
book, and found it very user friendly. This year they have come out with a new
package, which they claim to be even easier to use.
Incidentally, Dr.
Putt has absolutely no financial ties to Natural Golf. So this is not a plug
for that particular company. Indeed, he has differences with them about their
ideas on natural putting, arguing that his own method is more “natural.” See a
letter on this at Dear Dr. Putt:
http://www.drputt.com/deardrputt/natural-golf.php
Most of us would like
next year to be the year that we really improve. Perhaps you have been saying
this for several years, and it never seems to happen. If you are really serious
about changing your game for the better, then perhaps it is time to change how
you swing.
Remember to check the
Dear Dr. Putt web site for all your putting questions – a search feature now
allows you to look up almost any subject you like – and the references are
growing all the time!
Thanks for all your
letters, questions and orders. Many are learning that putting can really be fun
when you know where you are aimed and can hit it there. Let’s hope the weather
breaks soon for most of us so we can get back out to the course.
Warmest regards,
Dr. Putt
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