Make the off season your on season

This is the time of year to evaluate your season to see where you can make improvements for next year. You can then be ready and primed like a well trained race horse ready to bust loose in spring! Don't leave it till the last minute. The work you do over the winter will determine your summer game.

SWING TRAINING

Diagnose your mis< hits with your coach, get to the root of the problem and apply golf swing training drills during your practice. You can even do this at home with a golf club and a mirror. It's well worth having one or two lessons a month through the winter. Repetitive drill training for your golf swing will encourage your muscles to produce the correct technique. If you were to learn a language the best way is to keep speaking it all of the time so you hear the phrases and memorise them. This can't happen with long breaks. Learning a sport is no different. Constant repetition and practice is the key. STRENGTH TRAINING

This is a great time of year to strengthen specific golf muscles. TPI training and screening is available, see Carla in the Pro Shop for details. These are just simple golf exercises, you don't have to pound the gym for hours on end and any age can do it! Just a few minutes a day in your own home.

STRETCHING

This is a biggy! As golfers get older they lose a tremendous amount of flexibility, which results in a massive reduction in distance and golf swing consistency. The only way to stop this decline is to plan a specific stretching program. Please see Carla in the Pro Shop for help with this. You will be amazed over time at the freedom you will get in your movement if you do a few simple stretches 3 times a week.

Golfers always find time to come to the driving range, why not find some time for the activities above and really feel the difference by the spring.

A few short game facts

Everyone wants to shoot lower scores. The best players in the world all agree that the key to lower scores is improving your short game. On the driving range I see 90% of golfers pounding balls, trying to find that perfect groove but the most valuable time is spent working on shots from 100 yards into the greens.
Even though average golfers are hitting their longest ever drives on their local courses they still aren't shooting lower scores.
I believe this game for beginners and high handicappers should be taught from the green backwards and especially for juniors, it's the part of the game that they don't get bored with. There is always an interesting result. After all they hit less greens than better players which mean they face more short game shots per round.

Which wedge?

Hard turf, less bounce

Wet turf, more bounce

Steep angle, more bounce

Shallow angle, less bounce

If marks on the wedge are at the back edge, less bounce

If marks on the wedge are at the front edge, more bounce

Hybrids compared to irons

Hybrid clubs are designed to replace mid to long irons. For example, no.3 hybrid would replace a 3 iron. A typical golfer would hit a 3 hybrid further and more consistently than a 3 iron. The hybrid will out perform the 3 iron by at least 10 yards. The reason for this, is that the hybrid has a deeper and lower centre of gravity which make them a lot easier to get the ball air born much quicker and wait till you try them out of the rough!

ACCURACY - Hybrids are more tolerant to mis hits.
Most golfers I custom fit say they are most comfortable with a 6/7 iron. Anything above that is a struggle for consistency.
Use the hybrid as an iron so keep the ball in the same position of your stance and just a little forward if you are using from the tee.

FACT - 60% of tour players do not carry a 3 iron. (what does that tell you).

CARLA WHITE
PGA Advanced Professional

Testimonial from a player receiving coaching from Carla:

I have been working with Carla for the last two years and I consider myself as a friend and not just a student. My handicap has reduced from 28 to 18 and this is due to her tuition and expertise. It doesn’t sound much, but I must confess I am not the best student to work with. To Carla’s credit it is her persistence and sheer determination that has improved my game to the point where I have just won a board competition at my club and I dedicate this win to her. Her help is not restricted to the range. I have phoned, text and emailed her on numerous occasions and she is always willing to assist and help with no hesitation. Combine that with the excellent set of Tom Wishon golf clubs that have been designed and made to fit my game is another reason for my success. Carla and Tom’s tireless emails, video’s and conversations over my swing they have developed a set of clubs to suit my game perfectly. They have made a set of clubs that has made me enjoy every game of golf again. I have recommended both Carla and Tom to a number of friends and I would not hesitate to promote both of them should anyone ask me in the future.

Zach and SeeMore putter wins the Open

I hope you had the opportunity to watch the 2015 Open Championship. From the weather delays, to an Amateur leading after 54-holes and of course Jordan Spieth's run for three straight major championships, it was quite an event to say the least! But in the end, it was Zach Johnson who trusted his SeeMore FGP to make birdie on the 72nd hole (see picture) to make the playoff and emerge as the Champion Golfer for 2015! With that said, your Golf Shop is an authorized SeeMore Putter dealer and has demos available including the SeeMore FGP that Zach used to become a two-time major champion! Try out a SeeMore today and start your journey to playing better golf!
If you have any questions or would like to schedule a fitting please don't hesitate to contact me.

Carla White

Advanced PGA Professional

SeeMore fitter/instructor

Chip and Run

This is a shot you will use regularly at this time of year with the tight, dry lies. You will have much more control around the greens using a chip and run shot. The choice of club is up to you and what you are comfortable with. Personally I use a 9 iron but you may be more comfortable with an 8 or a 7 iron.

(Pic 1) The ball is well back in my stance which will get the ball running lower. My weight and hands are forward.

(Pic 2) When taking the club back I keep the line between my arms and club in a Y shape with no leg movement holding my weight on the left side.

(Pic 3) When striking the ball I keep the Y shape in tact, my weight and hands staying forward and looking to balance a glass on my clubface!

<i>Now you really will have fun lowering your scores!

Seven Heaven

A modern 7 wood is well worth having in your golf bag. It gives a lovely high ball flight which will give you plenty of carry distance along With 21 degree of loft it will be very forgiving! 7 woods are modern day 5 woods.

Get lofted for more distance It is well worth getting an 18 degree fairway following on from this so you will have your fairways ideally gapped for distance. I see a lot of golfers carrying clubs that all do the same distance because all their clubs are not evenly gapped.
With a shallow face they are much easier to hit off the deck than deeper faced 15 degree 3 woods.