Golf 2022 Forward Great Tips Must Read/STUDY Flashcards
Card 01.
2022 WINTER IMPORTANT! READ THIS CARD BEFORE HITTING BALLS
Full release continued from card 1.
This goes hand in hand with SOG drill on sweeping off the tee 5 inches in front of the ball. It also gives me the shallow divot 5 inches past the ball.
4/19/21 Range.
Discovered something new. I named it 6x6.
Setup 6” short of ball so I must extend to get behind it.
Also setup 6” behind ball so I extend to get CF behind ball.
Now bend my knees a little flex and extend my reach to address the ball.
Next do normal TA and folded swing like always. On DS, turn knuckles down into release. My balls were going to the right and the reason is my knuckles were staying up through impact. DS SLOW for great contact!
This works great! For years I was setup too close to the ball. Now I must extend before my TA and simply stay on plane during DS. Upon release, bring knuckles down and result is very long drives and long iron shots. My super hybrid off the deck looks like I drove it. Plus I did several teed up drives with it and they were straight and far.
This system (6x6) works all the way down to the 9 iron. Don’t turn the knuckles down on pitches, makes it pull left.
Card 02.
At the range. 7/10/21
When I go all the way back on the backswing remember you have a full second and a half to make all your adjustments. What is most important is to point the grip toward the ball when I am way back there. Not necessarily exactly at the balI, just get it toward the ball.
Then the very next important thing is the weight shift when you are doing your weight shift forward, make absolutely certain you are closing right elbow down to your waist.
This doesn’t mean you’re swinging the club, just close in the elbow down and then you continue on and make your impact with your elbow still closing down to your side.
Then lead with your left for guidance but smack it hard at impact with your right and go through the ball.
Don’t forget to have your shoulders rotated 7 to 1 when you’re coming back down to the ball. This gets the ball high in the air because your arms are finishing high.
Another very important tip on getting weight forward.
Right foot setup SB flared forward like left foot. Then on weight forward, lift right foot up on toes.
This really works on getting my weight forward and making beautiful shots.
Main thing to remember. Most of my swing time SB the BS and TRANSITION. Take plenty of time back there to get everything right. 1.5 seconds to transition and rotate grip.
Great tip. Don’t swing the CF at the ball from transition, swing the GRIP toward it. — HOGAN
Remember you must rotate the circle on start of DS. My problem with teed balls was thinking how to do this and as a result, I was casting to the ball. Just like a tennis serve, let the subconscious do it.
Starting your rotation on DS is almost automatic when you use your grip as the guide. Same way you start a tennis volley.
So, swing your grip through rotation to get you on plane and in the correct lane.
Card 03.
Beginning Spring/Summer 2021 tips and fixes here. The deck was getting full of old incorrect info.
25 May 2021. Discovered Hogan/Snead combo that fixes release, Right arm into transition and rhythm with legs.
First of all, I don’t have to make a conscious effort to release. With this new Snead/Hogan (SH) combo, a light grip is all I need.
Secondly, the SH method uses my leg action to bring my Right arm quickly and strongly down to my chest side. I named it “Knee in, knee out”. It uses my left knee to support power into transition from my left knee out and weight transfer. So it performs two fundamentals automatically for me. Rhythm on weight transfer and automatically brings right arm into transition power position. The result is a slow, smooth powerful RHYTHMICAL swing that clears my hips and squares the club to hit straight.
“Knee in, knee out” works as an excellent swing thought. Makes perfect rhythm.
“Knee in, Elbow FIRE”. Is a better swing thought because it keeps reminding me to fire the elbow on “Left knee out”.
Another helpful tip is knowing that the left knee points to where the weight is shifting during the swing.
Also provides Snead’s mini squat.
- Setup with normal long iron right foot offset a third back from left.
- Incline right leg toward fairway and flair right foot.
- Make my swing path just like feet offset. So I setup and hit ball a little right. The knee in, knee out will draw the ball left a little to make it straight down the fairway.
- Do normal hinge up BS, rotating hips inclined. TA wind the clock up shoulders 7 left shoulder, 1 right shoulder. Left knee is now in.
- DS. Left knee out shifts weight, squats, forces right arm into powerful release position and YOUR LEFT KNEE OUT AUTOMATICALLY BRINGS YOU INTO TRANSITION.
- You are now ready to swing. Soon as left knee out SHIFTS YOUR WEIGHT hit slowing/smoothly ON PLANE into impact. No conscious effort needed to snap impact. You have more than enough power to out drive everyone in the group.
Note: a good swing thought is to hit ball with RH Shoulder. Throw everything into it. Shoulder, legs, weight and RH arm!
This slow/smoothness will stop you from topping long hybrid.
Watch the Hogan video I taped on iPad.
Card 04.
- Jack Nicklaus FULL release stops pulls left.
- Left shoulder under chin.
- Tiger driver drill. Works well on irons also. Straight left arm circular TA and DS . DRIVER HEAD IN YOUR HAND. PROMOTES huge width in swing. Great swing thought.
- Phil Mickelson lag the putter.
SNEAD DANCE
1. 6x6 TA (SLOW). Straight Left arm, my back to fairway. Stretch.
Right arm folds (no chicken wing), Eyes focus on contact point of ball the entire swing. Left knee kicks in far to right. TA on PLANE. Hinged “L” @ 90 degrees.
- Start of transition. Keep left arm straight. Rotate downward (SLOWLY) aiming fist semi circle at ball. Right shoulder is rotating down and around with chest. (SLOWLY). Remember I want to impact with Right shoulder.
Retard swing, it has not begun yet. Left knee has kicked to left, but left foot has no weight!
- Soon as left foot depresses gas pedal, I start my release of swing. Note that all my weight has transferred forward towards fairway.
- So I depress gas pedal and release my swing, turning knuckles halfway down FLINGING straight to fairway. Note the fling is timed with contact of ball for extra horsepower.
Sam says BS roll inside of LEFT foot. DS roll inside of RIGHT foot. (He really lifts the heels high while rolling.)
Card 05.
TV tips: Added January 2021
SOG 2013. Gary Player says on DS “Keep the club on line of the target as long as you can. Ben Hogan did that better than anybody!
MN: This is Steve Jacobi’s swing.
“On DS point grip to target [left of ball between ball and toes] Now uncock wrist on RH release.”
Short iron: DO NOT TAKE HUGE BS. Then your chest beats club to target. Only do your half swing. Remember how vertical your BS is on pitches and short irons. This really gets the ball high!
FIX FOR PULLING IRON SHOTS: You pull short irons when on your turn, the Right shoulder is level. Turn with Right shoulder tilted down will stop the pulls. [makes sense]
SAND SHOTS:
Wider stance, keep lower body still, do not lean forward, keep head still and hit 2” behind ball.
SOG Keep your weight forward. Tiger says two things to judge on fairway bunker.
- Look at the ball. If it is partially buried and you cannot get full clubface to back of ball, then don’t go for the green. Just pitch it up the fairway best you can.
- Look at edge of bunker. Can you clear it or will you have to splash out.
NOTES:
To start aim left of target because you are hitting down. To pitch straighter, make minimum shoulder/hip turn.
By keeping Right knee facing straight out, pointing like chest is pointing on setup. Also keep weight on inside of Right foot during swing. (instep)
90% of my weight is forward. Plus stand with weight on tip toes. Steep swing up and down like hitting out of the bathtub.
REM. Swish you feet in sand for solid foundation.
Don’t sway backwards on BS, you will hit the shot fat!
Don’t pop up during the swing. Stay down and watch the impact.
Card 06.
The fix is to grip right hand using my two middle fingers. This hits straight or a draw if I prefer. 1/21/21. (Not index or pinkie)
Practice swinging the sledgehammer using body rotation only before walking up to your shot. It helps and gives the correct feel.
Remember to do your footwork on your practice swing!
Card 07.
Some checkpoints:
Left arm straight.
DS, pull with last three fingers of left hand and grip only with two middle fingers of right hand.
Start knuckles down release at transition until full release at impact.
Stay on plane.
Put “L” into BS at 0900 position of back swing. Maintain the “L” to full BS with CF pointing towards target. Then rotate swinging the “L” around your body as you shift left hip back to clear your hips.
Hold the “L” until full release with arms straightened at position of leading leg.
SEESAW left hip back, right shoulder down into impact. Makes ball apex very high to reach green or clear creek.
On short irons, open stance, TA straight back. Use half “ L“ swing. Gentle swing
Note: Use Jim’s block address only on teed up balls! It causes me to swing down and top the ball when hitting from the deck. ie, CF IS TOTALLY CLOSED AND STRIKES BALL AT TOP OF CF EDGE INSTEAD OF CONTACT ON THE RIDGES OF CF. RESULTING IN TOPPED BALL. Only block address when you really need a little distance. Remember this is going to pull the shot on FF.
Card 08.
Sam Snead squat and leg action. Watch YouTube folder Sam Snead swings for further explanation.
- L knee kicks way back on BS and kicks back way forward on DS. This creates a mini squat and propels all the weight forward into impact. Called riding the horse squat by Snead. It’s not a big squat. It’s more a mini separation of legs to prep for big weight shift coming.
- On BS, very slow EXTENDED and CLOSE to the ground TA. Use your 6x6 extension and keep that tension for entire swing.
- On DS, keep left arm retarded and matched with chest. Then while “riding the horse” the left knee is continuing back to address position while you start to separate the match between chest and left arm. IE, you are going into transition. Now your chest is back to address position and your arms are going into impact, bringing knuckles down to square the CF. Your right leg will be angled in front push position to put weight into swing. Refer to video.
Ben Hogan says on video, THE LEGS DO THE DS, then shoulders then arms and hands. Ben says beginners always swing from the top and slice the ball.
Notes:
Watch Sam videos as he swings around body in start of DS. Don’t think of all these moves, just keep practicing them to form neural pathways. Your body knows what to do. Just keep rhythm and timing to make great golf shots.
Snead has a video about over swinging. Keep tempo and full control. Make great contact the priority, not club speed. Over swinging kills a golf swing!
I practiced a few balls in yard with 7 iron and 4 wood. Looked good. 4/26/21
Card 09.
Downhill lie: Make shoulders same angle as hill. Kick in LEFT leg.
All weight on inside left foot.
Uphill lie: make shoulders same as hill.
Kick in right leg.
Weight on inside of RIGHT foot.
All lies: swing slow, move grip to middle of grip. This makes it easier to get CF SQUARE at impact. — Tom Watson.
Get LEFT shoulder high in FF. PREVENTS PULLS. — Nick Faldo (if shoulder level you will pull balls)
Driver release. SOG.
Have right wrist cupped back at impact. On impact you whip the club through the ball. Not a flat hit but a whip! Left hand is knuckles down normal but right wrist SB cupped back for the “WHIPPING ZONE”. See video in album photo SOG.
This is just like the hockey shot!
Card 10.
Quick review checklist:
- Both arms Rigid straight forming “V”, triceps glued to rib cage front sides of chest.
- Grip halfway down, left hand last three fingers, right hand two middle fingers. Grip pressure light penis type pressure. Be Knock Kneed!
- Turn face view toward ball with chin up, both feet flared forward. Left knee will kick way in, heel off ground, hips swing back up, pressure on inside right instep on BS, pressure on left instep on DS.
- Aim. Do 6x6 stretch, hold the “V” glued to chest as you start BS. Vertical wind the clock 7 to 1. Form my “L” fold as I do BS. (Rem to ROTATE grip while winding clock)
- Only half to 3/4 BS on every shot. Right elbow folds pointing to chest, not chicken wing. For more power, raise right elbow away from chest. All the weight in instep on right foot. DS BEGINS NEXT CARD.
DS:
6. Everything is cocked with tension. Begin DS with weight shift back to left heel. Swing has not started yet. Retard shoulders until left foot has hit the gas petal.
7. Soon as I hit gas pedal, I ROCK THE CLOCK and finally release my shoulders, release my right elbow firing back to my chest, snapping my wrist in release but cupping right wrist for form support.
8. At my release, I have thrown weight, hips, shoulders, wrist, right elbow into impact all in the RELEASE. The right elbow release is what squares the club. It forces left arm back to square. If I didn’t fire right elbow, I would push or slice ball to the right.
9. On short irons rem take straight back on BS and aim more to right on release. Don’t open face, causes shanks often!
5/14/21
Card 11.
Short Iron: Idea: prevent short iron pull. Setup short iron playing ball back more.
Try: swing right shoulder up on FF. Best way is holding my triangle upward and slightly outward on release. Goal is to get right shoulder high on FF.
Idea: to stop topping long iron with 3 hybrid.
TRY: DS Right SHOULDER into impact point.
Rhythm and tempo. 1 annnnnd 2 swing. On 2, step on gas and release.
Terms tempo and rhythm.
Tempo is the TOTAL time you give going from one checkpoint to the other in your swing. ie total swing time from start to impact is three seconds in rhythm sample below.
Rhythm is the RATIO of time given to each segment of the swing.
A good rhythm is 1 count for the BS, then three counts for the DS, Transition and Impact.
A GOOD RHYTHM EXAMPLE:
BS = 1 second
DS and TRANSITION=1.5 seconds
IMPACT= .5 second
You count “one ANNNDDD two in the rhythm sample right above this sentence. The long “AND” is for the longer transition time. Transition gets the lion’s share of swing time.
Card 12.
Tips for seniors. Golf mag.
- Keep your chin up. It straightens your thoracic spine angle without adding tension.
- Use a narrow stance with both feet flared out. A senior needs power from shoulder and hip turns. Two proven rotation boosters.
- Seniors should use a neutral grip with gloved hand thumb vertical on shaft. This way you can fully release without hooking the ball.
- Let your body outrace the arms. You should feel like the hips lead the charge to impact. Let your arms lag behind.
- BS hands should be ABOVE right shoulder. Holding the triangle, shift left knee towards fairway and visualize the shaft position returning back where it was at address.
I have a problem whereas by making shoulder turn 12 to 6, I turn and DS sharply outside to in. This creates my end of drive slice!
My best drives was when I was cognizant on matching shaft angle back to match my setup angle. This forces me to impact in to out.
Best way to ingrain this is my waggle just like Justin Thomas preview TA/BS angle.
When I begin DS, match shaft angle as I rotate the triangle to impact.
Also, on DS, grip points between ball and my body. Then grip starts pointing to my left side and shaft is right on plane. Practice this until it becomes natural.
Note: Wrist remains hinged and loaded deep into DS. At parallel to ground transition, they still are fully hinged. See Photo p. 78 in “Golf the ultimate guide” library book.
At impact, right shoulder SB open. Photo p. 79.
Card 13.
Note: this practice I used gloved thumb straight on grip shaft. Worked well. Range 6/24/21.
Solved problem of pulling shots! Problem was that I was releasing at impact. This closed CF and pulls left.
The fix was to swing THROUGH THE BALL at impact without any release at all. Then the club will release automatically when it is way out in front of impact.
Every shot goes straight. Every SHORT iron dead straight. No need to TA straight behind ball, just go through the ball with NO conscious effort to release.
This feels like a hockey shot.
So this is called releasing out front. No conscious effort by me to release! Just hit through the ball.
Nicklaus calls this a “Full release”.
THROWING THE LAG. On EVERY shot, force my rhythm and body movements to delay DS until I can throw the lag. Just practice before setup like Jimenez, practicing tempo and rhythm into swing dance throwing my lag into the shot.
This feels like a slower TA, then swinging my weight back and forth. It is a Fred Couples slower swing, but the dynamics makes it have strong and long power!
Final thought:
Swing w hands = PULL
Swing w LAG = STRAIGHT POWER!
This is the MAGIC MOVE of the little red book. The transition.
“To start your DS, let your weight shift to left foot while bringing right elbow back down (closer to left elbow) to your body. This is one move, not two.”
“When you learn the left foot, right elbow move, you will hit the ball as if it were magic.” .. Harvey Penick
Watch video, SOG 6/25/21
Also started teeing driver lower. Top of tee at bottom of mark on driver CF. TEE HYBRIDS the tee even with third line from bottom. Now on both clubs, swing THROUGH ball at impact and let release happen unconsciously.
Card 14.
SOG 6/8/21 Chap. 12, U.S.Open
Want your drives to stay in fairway? Hit Baby fades.
A hook will roll forever and run off the fairway or miss left of the green.
Recipe for fade drive:
1. Setup close to RH Tee marker.
2. Aim about 10 yards left of green or center of fairway.
3. Keep lead hand bowed thru impact! REM RH HOCKEY HINGE.
NOTE: Keeping lead hand bowed thru impact makes HEEL lead the CF out front, which opens CF .
4. Flare lead foot more toward fairway than normal. This permits body to open more on swing.
NOTE: All of this combined prevents the hook gear action running left into the rough and miss the green.
Hitting high shots.
1. Don’t hit down on the ball to make it go high in the air. Instead sweep the ball off the fairway.
2. “Hit it high and let it fly”.
To hit a high shot, you must finish high. (Just like Jeff S.)
Note: If you are in the rough, ball will not go high. If in rough, try the 3 o’clock wedge finish. Hit steep incline to contact ball. Do not sweep!
Transition tips:
- Left bicep glued to chest on TA.
- R. Elbow closes gap to left elbow.
- Hold arms and shoulders until weight transfers to left foot.
Magic Move—Little Red Book p. 96.
“To start DS, let your weight shift to left foot while bringing right elbow back down to your body.” This is one move, not two!
“When you learn the left foot-right elbow move you will hit the ball like magic!” Harvey Penick
Practice this every day.
Note: to stop my topping shots, say “get down” on swing. I tend to pop up on RH leg.
I hit off the deck balls by impacting ½” behind the ball.
Card 15.
Pre-shot trigger:
Red books says to have a trigger start the TA. He gives example of swinging a bucket of water. You need some kind of counter action to get your muscles cued for the sudden movement of TA.
My trigger is to do three slow waggles but add a Mimi knee flex to start my TA. I tried it in yard and it helps a lot to make a smooth TA. Also during this Pre-shot, it gets me thinking about my hockey release, my transition trigger weight shift to left heel before moving shoulders and arms. And finally my high release.
So, in the three waggles I am staging the entire swing in my mind. Also very helpful is first swing 50% power, then go 80% after I am warmed up.
Another thought is why hit my shots hard as I can. Try going up one club and use 70% power. I think it will yield many more “ATTA BOY” shots and stop me from topping ball, creating gear action and make great contact.
So after a few days of rest I was swinging from the top again and NOT moving weight and body forward.
Remedy? Practice three graduated weight transfers like Jimenez before my shot or tee off.
A good timing device is to do my three waggles pumping left knee out. Then on shot, TA and BS to magic shot staging. REM this is a big long BS. Say/think MAGIC and drop RIGHT elbow AND shift everything forward timed with (LEFT KNEE) except my shoulders and arms. (Magic is dropping elbow and small ROTATION into TRANSITION)
Then immediately say/think MOVE.
As I say/think MOVE, rotate RIGHT SHOULDER DOWN guiding shaft ROTATING into impact. Swing slowly and make good contact.
HELPS to envision bookshelf at top of BS. Make hockey shot thru impact. I keep forgetting RIGHT SHOULDER DOWN. work on this.
Notes: soon as I say MAGIC movement is slow. There is a delay in the DS to allow my swing to go through all the gates (TRANSITION) before I rotate into the swing. 6/29/21.
SWING SLOW AND SMOOTH.
