Start Your Game Improvement Program

By Scott Szymoniak
Director of Player Development for Canongate Golf Clubs

Most players wait for the spring to start working on their games for the upcoming season. They spend a couple of months taking lessons and practicing hard. Before they know it, they’re playing great but it’s October! Wouldn’t it be great to be at the top of your game in March and April? The time to start working on your golf game is now!

Fall and winter are the best times to work on your game. It’s not so hot, and you’re probably not playing as much as you were in the summer. Here are a few things you can do that will improve your swing without even hitting a ball:

• Stretching – The most import piece of equipment you use in golf is your body. A good stretching program will improve your range-of-motion which will allow you to get the club in good swing positions. Not only does this help your ball-striking but also your quality of life! A body with minimal physical restrictions is a body with minimal aches and pains!
  
• Cardiovascular Performance – A good, brisk walk or light jog on a regular basis will lead to less fatigue at the end of your round. The goal is to be mentally and physically as sharp on 16, 17 and 18 as you were on 1, 2 and 3.
  
• Check your Grips! – Worn grips on your clubs will force you to increase grip pressure, which in turn will produce tension in your hands, arms and all the way up to your shoulders. Have your grips replaced before the season starts!

Just these few activities will lead to better golf earlier in the spring with less time to get to your peak-performance level. You should always consult your physician before you start any type of physical fitness routine.

How to Hit the Ball Straighter and Farther

By Jenny Mitchell
Assistant Golf Professional
Chapel Hills Golf Clubs

The question most students ask me is, “How do I hit my driver straighter and farther?”

Well, my response is always very similiar. There are a few key ingredients to hitting a long, straight drive. See below for instructions in straightening and lengthing your drive!

1. Ball position - You should play your driver on the inside of your left foot (right foot for left-handed golfers). This will help you hit the ball on the up-swing.

2. Getting set at the top of the swing - Your back should be turned to the target, and your hips should be rotated 45°.

3. Follow Through - Be sure to clear all of your weight to the left side of your body to have a high finish.

4. Tempo - Most golfers naturally swing faster when a driver is in their hands. Tempo is one of the most important aspects of hitting your drive long and straight. Even if you do all of the other aspects correctly, if your tempo is off, you will not execute the shot effectively.

Hopefully these tips help you the next time you are practicing your drives at the Range. If you need additional help straightening out your drive, feel free to contact one of your local golf professionals!

Chipping Options - What to do when you don't make it to the green!

By: Jenny Mitchell
Assistant Golf Professional
Chapel Hills Golf Club

Fact: Every golfer can improve one area of their game.
Fact: Chipping can make or break a round of golf.
Fact: Every golfer will miss a green during a round and your score depends on how you recover. There are certain situations where different types of shots will be effective.

What is your plan when you miss the green? Check out the plans below to learn more about your options when this happens, and what you can do to recover!

Bump & Run
This shot is used when you have plenty of green to work with. Use a lower lofted club, such as a 9-iron or a 7-iron. The key to this shot is to account for the roll. With a 9-iron, carry the ball about 1/3 of the way to the hole, the ball will roll the rest of the way. Depending on the distance to the hole, you can adjust how far to carry the ball. Using a 7-iron you want to carry it less than a 9-iron.

Flop (High-Lofted Shot)
This shot is used when you have to carry the ball over a bunker, or you are on the short-side of the green. Use a sand wedge or a lob wedge to execute this shot. First open your stance (left of your target) then open the face of the club and aim it just left of your target. Depending on the distance of your shot, vary the length of your swing. For shorter shots, take a shorter swing, and vice versa. One key element to executing this shot is to accelerate the club through the ball.

Takeaway: You should practice these shots at various distances and different lies. Try to simulate situations that you could be in during a round of golf - trust us, the next time you miss the green, you'll be glad you did!

Info on the Author:
Jenny began golfing when she was three years old. She competed in the Junior World Golf Championship in 1999 and 2000, and was a member of the 2000 Team Idaho for Junior America’s Cup. She attended Boise State University where she played on the women’s golf team from 2001-2005. In December 2005, Jenny received a Bachelors of Science degree from Boise State University in Exercise Science/ Fitness Evaluation. She is currently the Assistant Golf Professional at Chapel Hills Golf Course in Atlanta.

Hole in One Series - Part Four, Mental Game

Last week, we continued our hole in one series, by Mancil Davis, our very own King of Aces. If you missed any of the previous articles in the series, feel free to go back and revist the concepts that we covered by clicking below.

Hole in One Series - Part One, The Basics

Hole in One Series - Part Two, Dominant Hand

Hole in One Series - Part Three, Pacing Your Swing

I'd be remiss if i did not acknowledge the mental aspect of the golf swing. I truly believe that my mind is as much of - if not more - responsible for my aces than a decent golf swing.

For many years, I knew that I felt "different" when hitting a tee shot on a par-3 hole. In fact I felt much different than when I was faced with a 200 yard approach on a par-4. The "difference" I refer to is that on a par-3 shot, I always felt that I was able to visualize in vivid color the ball going into the bottom of the cup.

On other shots, the color wasn't as vivid, although I still see the ball going into the hole. I don't have an explanation for this, but years ago, Sports Illustrated performed a study on my brain wave activity during my swing. The results showed that my brain waves were in fact unique on par-3 tee shots (at least I proved I had a brain). What I found interesting was that my par-3 brain waves were consistent with those produced by other golfers when they faced 30 or 40 foot putt. Putting puts a golfer in a situation where the hole itself is the definite target.

Takeaway: Visualization is a powerful tool. I implore you to use it. Combined with a mastery of the three swing factors discussed previously, I'm sure you'll find yourself with more accurate approaches.

Hit 'em Straight!

Hole in One Series - Part Three, Swing Pacing

Happy Fourth of July!

Last week, we continued our hole in one series, by Mancil Davis, our very own King of Aces. If you missed Part One or Two of the series, feel free to go back and revist the concepts that we covered by clicking below.
Hole in One Series - Part One, The Basics
Hole in One Series - Part Two, Dominant Hand

The third crucial component to accuracy in your golf game is swing pace, which tends to vary from golfer to golfer. Just compare Nick Price and Lanny Wadkins to Ernie Els or Loren Roberts. A dramatic difference exists between them, yet each is an outstanding ball striker.

My take on this is that for most golfers, a smoother, slower swing lends itself to much more consistent and solid contact. A deliberate takeaway will actually encourage your hands to work into a more solid and cocked wrist position at the top of the swing. From there, the front hand pulling motion will allow you to maintain the cocked position throughout the downswing and release the club head at impact. Because the body follows the hands, the smoother pace better allows the body, hands and club to work together to create a smoother club head speed. Furthermore, a controlled swing facilitates better balance from start to finish and leads to more consistency.

Takeaway: Slow down your swing for better balance and a more accurate shot!

Be on the lookout for our last article in this series from Mancil! Coming up next week:
Mental Notes

Hole in One Accuracy - Part Two, Your Dominant Hand

By Mancil Davis, King of Aces
Canongate at The Woodlands

Last week, we started a new series, by Mancil Davis, our very own King of Aces. If you missed Part One of the series, feel free to go back and revist the basic concepts that we covered by clicking below.
Hole in One Series - Part One, The Basics

A very important aspect of the swing is the lead hand position. I play and teach a dominant front hand. This may be contrary to other modern swing theories and the power style of golf played by many of the Tour's leading money winners, but I truthfully feel that a dominant front hand will enable most golfers to enjoy more consistent and solid golf shots.

When a typical (if there is one) golfer tries to fire the right hand (for right-handed golfers), the result is often a distorted, inconsistent clubface angle. In contrast, when a player uses the front hand to control the swing, it makes it easy to "push" the club away from the ball and keep it traveling low to the ground, allowing extension and a longer takeaway.

Second, the lower body, which is naturally inclined to follow the front side, establishes the much needed transfer of weight to the back side for leverage. From the top, I encourage the player to "pull" with the front hand to initiate the downswing. Again, the body follows the clubhead and works through the shot. There's no feeling of extreme effort in this type of swing, as one motion simply creates another. The lead hand pulling the club will make it easier to swing down the target line, leading to more accurate shots and consistent contact. While there may be a slight loss of distance as compared to the right-hand hit, the improved accuracy will more than make up for it when you total out your scorecard.

This push-pull motion may feel awkward at first, as I am asking you to use your less dominant side. The only way to become more comfortable with this motion is to practice it. Often, I have my students swing with just the front hand on the club to ingrain front-side control. Then, I ask them to hit balls from a normal address position with both hands on the club, but remove the back hand as the club starts its downward motion. Try this drill next time you are at the range. You'll be surprised how solidly and straight you can hit your shots with just your front hand on the club.

As you perform these drills, pay particular attention to grip pressure. The tendency here is to over-grip with the front hand in an attempt to better control the club. All you need is just enough pressure so that the clubface won't turn at impact. Takeaway: The "Grip it and Rip It" strategy may work for John Daly, but softer hands will ultimately produce the best results.

Be on the lookout for upcoming articles from Mancil! Coming up in a future Issue:
* Pace
* Mental Notes

Become a Master of Hole in One Accuracy

By Mancil Davis, King of Aces
Canongate at The Woodlands

A Little Bit of Background
As last month's series drew to a close, I'm sure many of you were disappointed that you would no longer be getting putting tips from golf professional David Schreyer; however starting this week, we will be embarking on a 4 week series to assist you in what some golfers deem impossible - getting the ever elusive Hole in One!

Our very own, Mancil Davis in The Woodlands, TX is also known as the King of Aces, and for good reason - over his career, he has amassed a record 51 holes in one over the course of his golf career.

Mancil claims that he is often asked why he isn't on the tour, and the answer is that he was, albeit briefly. He acknowledges that there is more to winning on the tour than accurate irons, which are his forte! Nevertheless, the most important requirement of the game, according to Mancil, is the ability to hit the ball where you want it to go. If you can't do that, only the world's greatest short game will help you.Mancil Davis has developed a four part plan to approach his golf shots, and he attributes this plan, as well as a lot of luck to his successes on the green.

Hole in One Series - Part One, The Basics
Before I hit any golf shot, alignment is foremost in my mind. After all, you can't hit a target if you are not aimed at it correctly. Most weekend players aim well right of the target at address and make the dreaded "over the top" move to compensate. We all know this usually produces a slice or the big pull left. I prefer to keep things simple. First, align the leading edge of the club to the target and then the body (shoulders, hip and feet) to a point just left of the target. Such a setup position is often referred to as the "Railroad Track) setup, in which the golfer imagines a railroad track running toward the target. The outer track is your guide for the clubface and the inner track is a reference for your body. From this stance, it is my belief that the golfer is in the best position to make a free and more complete swing with less restriction.

An easy practice drill to learn correct alignment is to lay clubs on the ground and create a mock railroad track. After just a few shots with the "tracks" in place, you'll begin to see your targets more clearly and feel as the club is moving towards them.

Be on the lookout for upcoming articles from Mancil! Coming up in a future Issue:

* Dominant Hands
* Pace
* Mental Notes

Putting Series Finale - Eye Positioning

By David Schreyer
dschreyer@canongategolf.com
Canongate Performance Centers

Over the last couple of months, we have discussed various ways to improve your putting. Sadly, this series comes to a close with this fourth and final putting tip from David Schreyer. If you missed any of the previous tips, or just need a refresher, make sure to click on the links at the bottom of this post to read the tips from each of the previous newsletters.

In our last putting series article, we discussed using the line on the ball to help you aim the putter. The mastery and usage of that tip leads me into this week’s discussion, the fourth and final tip in our Putting Series. A lot of the time I hear complaints from my students that the line on the ball never looks as if it is aimed correctly. This distorted view can present a problem when and if the ball is aimed correctly.

This leads us to the old tip of “positioning your eyes directly over the ball.” As an instructor, I often have to tell my students that having your eyes over the ball is not a foolproof standard for everyone. As it was explained to me by Dr. Farnsworth, a noted putting instructor and ophthalmologist, for the most part, we can see straight-on. However, from a side position, you have to use your peripheral vision. Because everyone's eyes are shaped differently, the sides of the eyes can sometimes distort the vision. This explains why most of the time, golfers will read puts from behind the ball, then upon stepping over the ball see more or less bread.

So, how do you fix it?
* Find a straight putt
* Aim the line on the ball into the middle of the hole
* Adjust the putter line to the ball line
* Take your stance

If the line looks straight, you can assume that your eyes are in the proper spot. If, by any chance, the line doesn't look straight you may need to play around with your eye positioning.

How do you adjust your eye positioning?

If the line is close to the center you can dial it in by moving your head a little to the right or left. Raising your chin up or down might also be the answer. Some times ball position will help out, but if the line isn't even close you will probably have to move closer or further away.

The normal assessment is that if the ball looks like it is aimed to the right side of the hole, you are to far away. If it looks like it is aimed to the left, you are too close to the ball. We have all heard the old adage that we need to get our eyes over the ball…but I would estimate that probably 90% of the players on the PGA Tour do not put with their eyes over the ball. Most of the players’ eye lines rest just inside the ball (around the heel) of the putter, while some players are even more off line than that. J ustin Leonard almost always lines up quite a ways away from the ball, and he is an amazing putter.

Take Away: If you are unable to see a straight line when you are standing over the ball, you are not going to make many putts. Adjust your eye line until you can see the straight line from your putter to the cup!

A Message from David: "Good luck! I hope this series has made you a stronger putter. If you need additional assistance improving your game, I would encourage you to contact the Performance Center in your area! You'd be amazed at what a few lessons can do to shave points off of your score! See you on the Green."

Putting Series Archive
Buying the Proper Putter
Matching Your Grip to Equipment
Aligning Your Putts

PERFORMANCE CENTER CONTACTS:

The Woodlands Performance Center
Houston
(281) 863-1424

Canongate Performance Centers
Atlanta
(770) 880-0788

Put Your Grip in Neutral to Get Your Swing in Gear!

By Allen J. Riley

Woodlands Performance Center

Many of us feel that to help release and square our clubface at impact we need a strong (trailing hand somewhat under the club) grip. In truth, one of the best ways to square the clubface and get maximum power from your swing is what we call a “neutral grip.” See the images below to view the correct way to "neutralize" your grip.

As we see in the image to the right, the club is held rather horizontally across the left hand. The back of the leading (target side) of the hand is facing parallel to the target line.

In the second image we see the placement of the trailing hand on the club. The palm of the hand faces parallel to the target line.

The last image illustrates that the leading hand’s thumb is held slightly to the trailing side of the grip. The trailing hand’s thumb is just on the lead side of the grip.

By following the instruction above you will end up with a grip that promotes a full controlled, natural release of the club through impact, leading to straighter ball flight with the appropriate trajectory.

Putting Series Part #3 - Aiming the Putter

By David Schreyer
dschreyer@canongategolf.com
Canongate Performance Centers


In part one of this series on putting we discussed the two types of putting: (1) the Square to Square method, and (2) the Arc method. In part two of this series, we discussed the proper grip usage, based on your method of putting.

This week we are going to keep it very simple and talk about aim. The USGA allows all golfers to draw a line on our golf balls; however, so many players I teach don't take advantage of this concession. If you do not draw a line around your ball with a sharpie pen or purchasing golf balls that manufacturers (like Titleist, pictured below) are now creating with a line on them, you are throwing away strokes.

This is the biggest NO-BRAINER in golf. Make sure you put a straight line on the ball. Be very meticulous about where you aim the line when you place your ball. Then aim the line on your putter to the line on the ball. It’s a simple correction, but one that many golfers find so effective. It almost assures that you will aim your putter correctly. Aiming the putter correctly is absolutely mandatory for three footers. This method will also help you start your ball online more often on the longer putts as well.

Coming up in a future issue:
Your eye line and whether or not your eyes are really supposed to be over the ball when you putt.

The Woodlands Performance Center

Houston
281-863-1424

Canongate Performance Centers
Atlanta
770-880-0788

On Your Arches for a Balanced Swing

By Allen Riley

Woodlands Performance Center


Our perception of where our balance point should be during our golf swing is many times shaped by other sports we have played during our life. In most sports a “ready “position is usually with our weight slightly forward on the balls of our feet. In the past, we believed that most great golfers started with their weight on the balls of their feet with the weight shifting to the back heel during the back swing. On the downswing the weight went back to the balls of our feet, continuing to the left heel as the swing completed.

Recently sports scientists placed great golfers on pressure plates that measure exactly where the weight is distributed throughout the swing. They found that the weight of these great ball strikers is primarily on the arches at address, during the backswing, and at impact! The balance did not move off of the arches until the swing was nearly completed.

So, how can you incorporate this balanced approach to your swing?

A great way is to practice your starting position by standing on a 4X4 post. As illustrated to the left by golf professional Sarah Butler, the key is to take your address position with the feet squarely on their arches on top of the board.

As shown to the right, you must maintain your balance by hovering your club 4 inches off the ground.

It may be a little tricky at first, but this drill promotes great balance and posture in your setup!

Buying the Perfect Putter - Putting Series #1

By David Schreyer
dschreyer@canongategolf.com
Canongate Performance Centers

Putting is simply the most important part of the game. It is also the most neglected. I have seen this from beginners to tour players. It sometimes seems that because the physical challenge isn't as great in putting, golfers just wait to see what their outcome will be. Instead, let’s start working on our putting. To get started correctly on this journey to become better putters, let’s first consider which type of putter might be right for you. There are basically two types of putters that the manufacturers produce these days.

The first type of putter we will discuss is the Face Balanced putter. To determine the type putter you currently have, find the balance point of your putter. Balance the putter on one finger. This point is usually in the lower portion of the shaft. Note if the face stays parallel to the ground; if so, you have a face balanced putter. This putter is designed so that the club face will swing in a perpendicular angle to the target line. This method is also called “Square to Square” or the Dave Pelz method of putting. As the putter is taken back in the back stroke, the blade of the putter will stay square to the line. Since the fulcrum position (center of your body) or the swing point does not move, the club face will slightly close. So that means on the return to the impact position, the face will square as it moves back to the fulcrum point. Then, as the club paces the impact position and moves up the through swing, the face will continue to stay square to the target line, causing the opposite reaction. The face will then open because the club has moved forward of the fulcrum position.

The second type of putter discussed would be the Toe -Thrower. Apply the same balance point test and you will notice the toe of the putter will point downward in varying degrees. This type of putter will allow the toe of the putter to pass the heel of the putter much easier in the stroke. This method is called the Arc Method. Instructors such as Pat O'Brien and Stan Utley teach this method. In this stroke the toe of the putter slightly swings open to the target in the back stroke, aligning the shaft and the face position. As the club swings back to the fulcrum position, the shaft and face remain in alignment and the face will square. After the impact position, the toe of the face will release past the heel (but notice the face and the shaft are still in alignment.)

Now you need to determine which of these two methods is your natural tendency: the Square-to-Square” method or the Arc method. Then apply the proper putter to the proper method. If you determine you have the wrong putter type, it might be time to invest in a new putter. I usually will suggest matching the putter to your stroke rather than changing your stroke to match your putter. What we do naturally is always best. When you are on the 18th hole trying to win a buck off your buddy, we want you making a natural motion.

Making the Tough Shots - Knock Down/Punch Shot

By Kevin Kirk
Senior Director of Instruction
The Woodlands Performance Center

As golfers, we are trying to control three ball flight variables

• Distance
• Direction
• Trajectory

The knock down/punch shot is a shot played at a lower trajectory than normal and usually used in one of three distinct situations.
1) Playing into the wind.
2) Playing a shot designed to land short and roll up.
3) Playing a shot to get out of trouble.

There are two basic techniques that can successfully create a shot with low trajectory. Either technique will work with practice, although most golf instructors would encourage you to consider using Technique One when possible, due to the fact that it is simple, predictable, and requires less effort and change from your normal swing. Both techniques should be developed and practiced before you attempt them during play or competition.

Technique One – Reduced Club Head Speed
Technique one uses reduced club head speed and reduced loft to lower the ball flight. The following example illustrates this technique.

Problem: Bob the Golfer is confronted with a shot of 150 yards. From a good lie, in ideal conditions, Bob normally uses a full swing 7 Iron. In this particular situation, the wind is gusting in Bob’s face, so he wants to play a lower trajectory shot that will penetrate the wind.

Solution: Bob should do the following

• Position the ball in the center of his stance.
• Select a 5-6 Iron
• Use ½ to ¾ of a normal backswing
• Swing the club forward to a full finish

Using this technique, Bob is allowing the reduced club head speed and reduced loft to lower the shot trajectory instead of fighting the club and challenging the swing.

Technique Two – Altering the Starting Position
Technique two requires the golfer to alter the starting position and swing to create the impact conditions necessary for a lower shot trajectory. The following example illustrates technique two.
Problem: Bob is facing the same 150 year shot into the wind, this time however the ball is in a lie that requires a steeper angle of attack to hit the ball cleanly. Examples of this shot would be when the ball is sitting down in the rough or in a divot.

Solution: Bob should do the following

• Position the ball in the back half of the stance
• Place 60% of his weight on the lead foot at address
• Select a 6 or 7 iron
• Use ¾ of his normal backswing length
• Keep his weight in his lead food throughout the swing.

Using this technique, Bob uses the altered starting position and weight distribution to allow a steeper angle of attack during the swing, resulting in the impact conditions necessary to create the lower trajectory ball flight. (Note that in many cases the post swing impact portion of the swing is greatly reduced due to the ground interrupting the motion of the club.

Always remember, if you need assistance on your golf swing, tough lies, or any other aspect of your game, there are many excellent golf instructors who would be more than willing to work with you. Please don’t hesitate to contact them.

The Woodlands Performance Center
Houston
281-863-1424

Canongate Performance Centers
Atlanta
770-880-0788

Practice Doesn't Make Perfect!

By Lori Tatum
LPGA
The Woodlands Performance Center

Practice doesn’t make perfect…only perfect practice makes perfect! What does perfect practice look like, you may ask.

When going to the golf course to practice, you should have a goal in mind. A specific goal which is based on either short term or long term goals for your game. If you are having trouble figuring out a goal, ask yourself where you could have improved during your last round. Keeping statistics would be very helpful for this process.

Examples of a few good goals would be:
· Improve my putting distance control
· Improve my aim on short putts
· Be committed on 75% of my shots
· Use my pre-shot routine on every shot.

LPGA Founding, and Hall of Fame Member, Patty Berg stated "There is nothing in this game of golf that can't be improved upon - if you practice." Fifty percent of your practice should assimilate a golf round - vary your targets, clubs, and lies, just as if you were on the golf course. And, make sure to use your pre-shot routine.

Every shot you hit during practice should have a target and each shot should be slightly different so as to assimilate your time on the golf course to your practice on the range. Have your bag close to you, like it was on the cart and pull a different club for each shot. Walk to the bag after your shot and pull another club. It is also helpful to vary your lies.

We don't play fantasy golf on the course, where all the lies would be flat and perfect. Therefore, we shouldn’t practice as such! My hope is that you take this quote from Lynn Marriott and Pia Nilsson and make it your own, "Your past is not your future." One way to make that happen is to practice with a specific goal in mind and practice how you play. Hopefully these tips will help you to make your practice perfect!

Super Swing - Need Power?

By: Phil Suiter
Assistant Golf Professional
Canongate at Eagle Watch

How can you develop more power in your golf swing? This is probably a question that every golfer wants answered. Many of us are willing to do whatever it takes to get that extra "umphh" into our drives, and I think we probably all have some ideas of where 300-yard drives come from. But consistency and power are hard to obtain, let alone repeat, without proper posture.

The golf swing is a combination move - one that demands that the arms and the body work together. For that to happen, it is necessary to create the correct body angles at the set-up that enable you to make (and consistently repeat) a rotary motion with the body 'core' - your torso.

One of the easiest ways to get a feel for the athletic position all good players look for is to set up as if you were about to dive into a pool. With knees flexed, you instinctively create this spine angle as you bend from the hips, your weight balanced on the balls of your feet. From here, let your arms hang in front of your body and you are ready to play. Make sure that your belt buckle is down, tail bone up, so that you have this angle in the hips - i.e. your belt buckle points to the ball. Once you have achieved this with your posture, you are in a powerful position. With practice, your stance will improve your posture and the length of your drive. If you need additional assistance in powering your swing, please contact a PGA certified golf instructor.

Woodlands Performance Center

Canongate Performance Centers

EQUIPMENT: Why Every Golfer Should Get Fit for Golf Clubs

By, Kevin Kirk

Senior Director of Instruction

Woodlands Performance Center

Did you have a new year's resolution to improve your golf game…maybe to attempt beating your personal best? Was it to beat a friend you have been trying to beat for a long time? It could have been to enjoy the game more. No matter what your goals are, there are things that you can do to improve your game.

Maybe your swing technique, or physical fitness level could use some improvement, or it could be poor equipment that affects both of the previous two. Here is a little insight on what to look for in properly fit golf clubs. There are two methods that are commonly used to fit golf clubs. The first, made popular by Karsten Solheim, the founder of Ping, used measurements of the body to determine what length, lie and grip size are best suited for a particular golfer. This method is referred to as “static fitting.”

The other method, called Dynamic Fitting, is quickly growing in popularity. Dynamic fittings are usually done with a lie board and tape that is stuck on the sole of the club. The ball is placed on the lie board (which is usually made of a flexible plastic) and hit, after which the fitter can look at the bottom of the club to see if it struck in the center of the golf club, thus determining whether it needs to be bent more upright or flat. The problem with lie boards is that they do not sit level with the ground, which now requires the fitter to guess what would happen if the lie board had not been there. Another unfortunate thing is that most dynamic fittings don't take into consideration swing technique or whether the person is taking lessons and possibly improving their game techniques.

When someone comes for a fitting, professional club fitters are looking at a few different aspects to correctly fit someone.
Is the person going through swing improvements?
If so, what improvements are they trying to make?
Can we give them a club that is going to assist them in those improvements.

Let's say it is one of our athletes that has been working at improving their technique over the winter. As they are learning and adapting to the new techniques, we will do a static fitting, to ensure that the clubs fit their body correctly and the weight of the club is manageable. As we get closer to the season we would start doing exercises that are more dynamic based. Except, we wouldn’t use lie boards.

For irons and wedges the best way to tell what needs to be done is ball flight and divot patterns. For hybrids and fairway woods we are looking for the correct yardage gaping. For drivers we are looking for playable launch and spin. Launch monitors are another great tool to see ideal performance numbers like launch angle, spin rate, shot dispersion, angle of attack, and carry yardage.

We think the largest factor that is often overlooked is set building. How often do you go to a demo day and hit driver after driver until you find one you think you like and then get it to the course and it does not perform the same way? You can have clubs that do not match each other. A properly fit set of golf clubs should at least give the same consistent miss. (Not that we want you thinking about your misses, but we think it will help you improve when you don't have to worry about it going both ways.)

Fitting example: a golfer comes in for a fitting and says “I love my irons and wedges, but I can't hit my fairway woods and driver with any consistency," After some investigation, we can usually find an issue with one or all of the following:
· Length
· Weight
· Shaft Properties
· Head Properties
· Flex
· Loft
· Lie
· Grip Size

Once these are addressed, the golfer will find themselves worrying less about their equipment and more about where they want the shot to go.

If you're missing it one direction with one club, we want you to miss in that same direction with all of your clubs. When that happens, you can either address the reason why you miss it that direction with instruction, or for those of you that don't want to take lessons, you can adjust your starting line to accommodate. The thing we don't want to have happen is for you to stand over a shot and have no idea which direction it is going.

In summary, if you are still trying to improve your game, you need to get with an instructor and let them know that you are looking for new golf clubs. Either they can fit you for those clubs, or they can talk to the club fitter so that the fitter understands the improvements you are attempting. Therefore, you will hopefully end up with golf clubs that can assist with your improvements, as well as still being able to perform once those improvements have taken hold.

Let's Get a GRIP on It

By Andy Pittman
Senior Teaching Professional
Canongate I Golf Club

I have been teaching golf for over 38 years. During that time, I have learned the importance of making things as simple as possible for my students. Golf is a simple game that is made difficult by people that play it!

Think about it. You simply swing the club away from the ball and return it back square to the intended line, moving at an optimum speed. To play the game better, this movement needs to be consistent. Consistency starts with good pre-shot fundamentals. The four primary fundamentals are: grip, alignment, ball position, and posture. Let’s focus on first things first: the grip.

The grip is the most important fundamental in golf. Your hands are the only connection you have to the club, which makes contact with the ball. In order to consistently hit good shots, your hands have to be placed on the grip so they compliment each other and work together.

Keep in mind that golfers come in all shapes and sizes. Some have small hands; some have large hands, short fingers, long fingers, etc. There are three basic grip options: (1) ten finger (sometimes called the “baseball” grip), (2) interlock, and (3) overlap. The overlap is the most commonly used grip.

The ten finger grip is best for players with very small hands, such as some ladies and junior players. The interlock grip is used a lot by players with medium hand size, but some players with large hands also prefer it. The little finger on your right hand interlocks with the index finger on the left hand (for a right handed golfer). The overlap, or “Vardon grip” is used by a large number of players worldwide. The little finger of your right hand overlaps into the gap between your index finger and middle knuckle on your left hand (for a right handed golfer).

The proper way to place your hands on the club is to let your left arm hang down naturally from your shoulder. Place your fingers on the grip as if you were picking up a suitcase. As you can see, most of the grip is in the fingers. Peggy Kirk Bell, LPGA Hall of Famer, believes this is the easiest way to get your left hand on the club properly. You will notice that the line formed by your thumb and index finger points in the general direction of your right shoulder. That same line on your right hand will be between the shoulder and your chin. The grip will vary a little from player to player, some will see two knuckles, some three on the back of their left hand.

As you work to improve your grip, make sure you don’t grip the club too tightly as this will create tension in your arms and hands, restricting the proper release of the clubhead. Proper grip pressure is very important in the timing of the release through the ball.

Remember that golf is a game of a lifetime. It is much more enjoyable if you hit more good, consistent shots. Consult a Woodlands Performance Center Instructor to assist you in the application of the fundamentals. Now...go get a grip on it!

Take care of your body - stay on the course!

By, Scott Szymoniak

Take care of your most important piece of golf equipment…your body!

Anyone who plays golf strives to make efficient, fluid swings, but very few are able to do it. Some have improperly fit golf clubs, while others have poor technique - both of these probelms can hamper swing dynamics. However, the most common road block we see with players struggling to get better lies is the ability of their bodies to move freely without making compensations. A regular stretching routine is one vital component to maintaining a healthy golf body and optimum range of motion.

In order to stretch effectively, you must be able to isolate the area to be stretched as well as hold the position long enough. Often it is difficult to do this on your own. An excellent way to ensure your body is ready for play is through the Golf Performance Massage – a product by Spa Sydell offered exclusively to Canongate members. In a 60-minute session you experience a combination of massage techniques integrated with active stretching of body parts that are vital to producing good golf swings. This unique combination releases the tension in your body, allowing the stretch to be much more effective. Having personally experienced this, I can attest to the results – my range of motion improved dramatically after just one session. That in turn equated to another six yards off the tee!

Spa Sydell, a Canongate Access Advantage partner, has locations all over metro-Atlanta. Call them to set up your Golf Performance Massage today – it is one of the easiest things you can do to improve your golf game…and your health!

Play Well!

Spa Sydell has introduced “Golf Performance Massage” packages
exclusively for Canongate Golf Clubs’ members. This hour-long
sport-specific massage session is $85. For more information, or to make an appointment, please call 404-255-7727 or visit www.spasydell.com.

Golf Instruction - Game Management 5

Friday’s Tip for The Management of Your Golf Game

Keep your stats! Get into the habit of keeping up with all of your statistics
• Fairways
• Greens
• Putts
• Up & Down Percentages

Tournament stats are especially important. These statistics will help you discover the patterns that exist in your game. It will provide you with info about what you do well and what can be improved. You will be able to design your plan in such a way that you can maintain your strengths and build upon your weaknesses.

Some players develop a personal form to keep track of this information, while others use computer programs especially designed for this reason. Top performers understand the importance of this data and use it to guide their practices and improve their performance and scores.

Golf Instruction - Game Management #4

Thursday’s Tip for The Management of Your Golf Game

Develop a game plan! We have all heard the old saying, “Successful people plan their work, and work their plan.” It’s true in golf as well. Golfers can use this saying to improve their performance on the course. In preparation for a tournament or a competitive round, top performers always develop a game plan for the event and the course that they will be playing. The purpose of the game plan is to allow the player to do three things:

1. Play toward his/her strengths
2. Play away from his/her weaknesses
3. Base the majority of play on his/her high percentage shots – see Tuesday’s post for a refresher on percentage shots.

As a pro practices and prepares for an event, they will gear their practice around their game plan and work on improving the things that will be tested in the competition Recreational players can also benefit by using this approach. Know about the course you are playing, know your strengths and weaknesses, utilize your strong shots and try to avoid those at which you have a low percentage chance of making!

Golf Instruction - Managing Your Game #3

Wednesday's Tip for Managing Your Golf Game
Control your focus – To play to the best of your ability, you must develop the ability to control your focus in the competitive environment. In many instances poor performance is a result of a golfer’s inability to control and maintain his or her focus. Keep in mind that focus and effort are not the same. Focus is controlling and directing your attention, while trying is controlling and directing your effort. Simply try to narrow the scope of your attention prior to and during the execution of the shot at hand and widening your focus between shots. The narrowing of your focus during the presentation and execution phases of the shotmaking process is commonly referred to as a “routine”. This routine is designed to direct your attention into the present task at hand. For most of the top players, the routine or process lasts approximately 30 seconds, start to finish.

• If a golfer shoots a 72 – game time during a round is 36 minutes
• If a golfer shoots a 72 – remaining time serves as a “time out”
• Top performers are able to narrow their focus for those 36 minutes and widen their focus for the remaining 3 to 3.5 hours.

REMEMBER – Manage your game time and your time outs for a successful round!

Golf Instruction - Managing your Golf Game

Tuesday's Tip for The Management of Your Golf Game

Choose high percentage shots – poor golf performance is generally a matter of choosing too many low percentage shots. How do you determine what you should be attempting? It’s easy. Just ask yourself “If I hit 10 shots from here, how many times could I pull it off?” Good golfers understand that importance of choosing high percentage shots.
a. High Percentage 7-10 made out of 10
b. Medium Percentage 4-6 made out of 10
c. Low Percentage 0-3 made out of 10

Golf Management

Week Long Semi-Series on The Management of Your Golf Game

By Kevin Kirk
Senior Director of Instruction
The Woodlands Performance Center

In an attempt to improve our performance in golf, competitive golfers do many things. We work on our golf swings, our short games, specialty shots and mental games, conditioning, nutrition, and equipment, among other things. As the weather begins to warm and you get ready to begin working on your game again this year, pencil in some time to work on your golf course management skills. There are five main steps that will allow you to improve your personal management of your golf game. Read on to learn the basics of this process!

Monday’s Tip for The Management of Your Golf Game

1. Know your game – poor performance can be attributed to now knowing your strengths and weaknesses on the course. Can you answer the following questions about your personal golf game?
a. How far can you hit each club (realistically)?
b. What are the strengths in your game?
c. What are the weaknesses in your game?
d. What are your tendencies (when playing well, when playing poorly, in competition, under pressure, etc)
e. How do you prepare for an event?

Stay tuned this week for more tips on managing your game!

Canongate Junior Honored with GSGA Player of the Year Award

photo courtesy of GSGA

Canongate Golf Clubs Member and Junior Tour Participant, Mariah Stackhouse, has been honored with the GSGA Women's Player of the Year Award, as well as being honored as the Girls' Player of the Year. For the first time in history, Mariah has become the only golfer to win two GSGA Player of the Year categories in the same year.

In 2008, Stackhouse successfully defended two titles she won the previous season, the Georgia Women’s Match Play Championship and the Georgia Girls’ Championship. At the Women’s Match Play, she faced Erin Packer in the final for the second-straight year, and won 3 and 2. She captured the Girls’ title with a five-stroke victory at Marietta Country Club, posting the only sub-par round of the tournament on the final day.

The dramatic highlight of Stackhouse’s season came at the Georgia Women’s Golf Association (GWGA) Amateur Championship, where she found herself tied with Coble after 54 holes of regulation after trailing by two shots with two holes to play. Stackhouse was vying to become the youngest champion in the 79-year history of the event, while Coble was looking to secure a record-tying sixth title. After parring both 17 and 18 to force extra holes, Stackhouse then won the three-hole aggregate playoff with three straight pars.

Stackhouse also earned points in the Girls’ Player of the Year race for advancing to the third round of the U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship at The Hartford (Conn.) Golf Club.



2008 Players of the Year Final Points Standings Top Five
(Complete final standings available at www.gsga.org)

Women's Player of the Year
Mariah Stackhouse, Riverdale 1,000
Laura Coble, Augusta 900
Tess Fordham, Metter 475
Kendall Wright, Suwanee 450
Lauren Darnell, Gainesville 450



Girls' Player of the Year
Mariah Stackhouse, Riverdale 1,250
Kendall Wright, Suwanee 650
Anna Leigh Keith, Moultrie 350
Alina Lee, Athens 300
Amira Alexander, Alpharetta 250
Kathryn Fowler, Americus 250

Who's Playing in the Shell Houston Open?

Many of the top golfers have already committed to play in the Shell Houston Open, to be held at Redstone Golf Club Tournament Course March 30-April 5. The tournament has been held at Redstone since 2003 when it was relocated from TPC at The Woodlands, now known as Canongate at The Woodlands - Panther Trail Course. Many Pros plan to treat the tournament as a warm-up for the Masters which will be held the following week at Augusta National.

Big names that have committed to playing so far -

• Ernie Els, ranked 13 in the world rankings
• Rory McIlroy, 19 year old from N. Ireland...spoken about as the next "Tiger", currently ranked 16th in the world rankings.
• Alvaro Quiros, 26th in world rankings

With the tournament still a couple of months away, it looks like it should be an entertaining event with plenty of golfers to watch. As with so many other tournament, the Shell Houston Open is still looking for volunteers for the event. For more information about volunteering, click here.

The Shell Houston Open is one of the premier golf events in Texas, with a purse over $5 million. 2009 is shaping up to be one of the most competitive years yet.

Canongate Golf on Facebook

Canongate Golf has entered the realm of Facebook!

We would like to encourage all of our members to become fans of Canongate on Facebook, as we will soon begin making special offers for our fans.

To become a Facebook Fan of Canongate, simply click on the link below and join (if you haven't) then search for "Canongate Golf" in the browser bar and "Become a Fan" after you find the page!

We look forward to seeing you soon and distributing special information and offers to all of our Facebook Fans.

Is Golf a Sport?

So, many of you know that you enjoy the 3.5 - 5 hours that you spend on the golf course, some daily, others weekly, and even others only monthly. But, did you know that playing 18 holes constitutes as a sport, based on the caloric expenditure that you put forth as you chase your balls from the tee box up to the green?

Sports scientists that pondered this question over their 19th hole cocktails completed a few studies, crunched many numbers and came up with the following.

• Golfers expend (on average) 411 calories during a round in which they ride in a cart. They also walk approximately 1/2 mile over 18 holes.
• Golfers expend (on average) 613 calories if they walk 18 holes while using a caddy.
• Golfers expend (on average) a whopping 721 calories during a round when they walk and carry their clubs! They also walk 2.5 miles over the course of 18 holes!

So, let's say, on average, a golfer walks 36 holes at his or her club of choice - we recommend a Canongate Golf Club, of course, as there would be plenty of variety and courses to choose from - he or she would burn approximately 2,884 calories a week. This is enough to improve his or her health by lowering the risk for heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. Reason enough to tee it up, if you ask us!

This is not to say, however, that you are going to get more physically fit by simply playing a few rounds a week. For that, you should probably keep your gym membership. And, while we may not like running on the treadmill or spending a few hours a week in the weight room, it has been proven that those efforts may pay off with a lower score when you finally make it to the course!

Happy, and healthy golfing!

Jack Nicklaus recognized for Charitable Work

Jack Nicklaus will receive the Charlie Bartlett Award, given by the Golf Writers Association of American.

In addition to winning 18 major championships and designing 271 courses worldwide that are currently open for play, Jack Nicklaus is being honored for four decades of charitable work. The Charlie Bartlett Award is given to a professional golfer for his or her unselfish contributions to the betterment of society.

Nicklaus and his wife, Barbara, started Nicklaus Children's Health Care Foundation, which provides pediatric health care services in a five-country area of South Florida.

Nicklaus has been doing charitable works since the beginning of his professional career in 1962. In addition to the Health Care Foundation, he is also responsible for The Memorial Tournament, founded in 1976, which supports the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, along with other charitable organizations in his native state.
He also supports such diverse causes as

• The Buoniconti Fund to Cure Paralysis
• The Barbara and Jack Nicklaus Junior Golf Endowment Fund
• The Everglades Foundation
• The American Cancer Society
• The American Heart Association
• The Robert T. Jones, Jr., Memorial Scholarship Fund.

As a national chair of The First Tee, Nicklaus has twice spoken before Congress on the character-building virtues of golf, and, in conjunction with the PGA of America, he created a program which has provided close to $2 million in grants to support instruction at over 160 First Tee facilities.

Former Bartlett winners include Tiger Woods, Greg Norman, the Louisiana trio of Hal Sutton, David Toms and Kelly Gibson, Val Skinner, Betsy King, Tom Watson, Payne Stewart, Tom Lehman, Arnold Palmer, Kenny Perry, Brad Faxon and Billy Andrade, Patty Berg and Andy North.

Have to say, way to go Jack - thanks for all you do!

Technological Improvements will Improve your Golf Game

Revolutionary Color Touch Screen GPS Rangefinder Introduced

What is next in the world of golf and technology? Savant GPS, LLC is changing the game for golfers who are willing to learn some new technology. In early February, Savant will launch OnPar, a revolutionary touch screen GPS rangefinder, which will allow golfers to touch anywhere on the screen (and the course) to see both distances to that point, as well as the green. This is not the kind of GPS device that Courses are going to be purchasing for their carts - it's much too personalized!

This product will essentially be like having a personal caddy, for the one time price of purchasing the device. There are no membership or course map fees. If this product works as it is supposed to, this could totally change the way that amatuers and weekend warriors play golf! What do you guys think about this new technology? Are you going to buy it now, or will you wait to see what your buddies think?

HOUSTON, Jan. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Savant GPS, LLC will unveil OnPar, its revolutionary new touch screen GPS rangefinder, at the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, Florida. OnPar is the first hand held color touch screen GPS rangefinder designed specifically to provide golfers the ultimate user experience. It's like having a professional caddy at your fingertips.

OnPar is the first GPS rangefinder with a dynamic hole layout display and GPS positioning that provides instant distances to anywhere and remaining distance to the green, personalized club averages, and simple score and shot tracking. And, it does it all with true one-touch operation.

OnPar incorporates traditional golf information, the latest GPS technology, rich graphics, and a number of unique features that truly help golfers manage their game. OnPar's 3.5" high resolution touch screen display makes it easy to read, even in direct sunlight. All these features combined create a unique GPS rangefinder that is unequaled in golf.

Brian York, OnPar President and CEO stated, "We took a fresh approach to golf GPS rangefinders, incorporating intuitive touch screen technology and unrivaled useful features to elevate the user experience."