Create Golfers

The Latest from Create Golfers ...

2012-02-13T14:00:00.000-05:00

Hi Create Golfers Tribe!

As many of you know, I have the distinct privilege of being the PGA Director of Instruction at Orange County National Golf Center and Lodge (OCN). I get excited every day I go to OCN whether to teach, practice, play, or just hang out with my family and friends there. The talented individuals that work at OCN daily are the true reason behind the success of the brand... they ARE the brand! And I'm privileged to be a part of something so big.

You can tell this is leading up to something...

Recently, an opportunity presented itself for which I couldn't resist. I was offered the opportunity of creating my own golf academy at another incredible facility called MetroWest Golf Club located in the greater Orlando, Florida area. It is a Robert Trent Jones Sr. designed property and managed by Marriott! Please check out the site for yourself to see the amazing amenities it offers (MetroWest Golf Club)!

My new golf academy will be called... what else... but Create Golfers Academy! You can see the logo in this post. I'm really excited to begin this new adventure and see how far I can take it. Who know? Perhaps one day there may be a Create Golfers Academy near you!!!

So it is with mixed emotions that I leave one great facility to launch a new endeavor at another great facility. I will be fully on board at the Create Golfers Academy at MetroWest Golf Club on March 6th, but until then I'll be giving lessons at both facilities.

Thanks to the great team at OCN, especially the incredible general manager, Bruce Gerlander, who gave me the opportunity and support in the first place. Without him, OCN would have never happened for me.

Peace... Love... Golf!

Ted

One Year From Now ...

2012-02-06T12:32:00.000-05:00

Two hunters decided to go on their annual Alaskan moose hunt. So they hired a pilot to take them deep into the far northern tundra wilderness and drop them off.

They had a successful hunt, each bagging a huge full-antlered moose bull.

As per the arrangement... the pilot came back to pick them up. He took one look at the huge moose and told the hunters, "I'm sorry, we will have to leave one of the moose behind. We wouldn't be able to make it back with that much weight."

But the hunters argued with the pilot, "That can't be! Last year we had the same plane model and weight capacity and the pilot had no problem getting our moose on the plane." Relentless as they were... eventually the pilot gave in and agreed to take both moose back.

The plane managed to take off, but it wasn't before long into the flight, as predicted by the pilot, that the plane started to experience trouble and eventually crashed in the wilderness.

The pilot was killed... but both hunters managed to survive and crawl out of the wreckage. One hunter asked the other, "Do you have any idea where we are?"

The other answered, "Yeah... it looks like the same place we crashed last year!"

Two questions for YOU dear reader ...

QUESTION #1: Where was YOUR golf game a year ago?

If your game is at the same level today as it was a year ago... WHY?

AND MORE IMPORTANTLY...

Where will YOUR golf game be a year from now?

If you are unhappy with the answer to question #1... what game plan do you (will you) have in place that will produce better results?

Today is the day to start your new game plan... and that probably (actually... most certainly!) means being open to change!

Peace... Love... Golf!

Ben Hogan Car Accident - February 2nd, 1949

2012-02-02T15:00:00.000-05:00

For those of you who know me or who have taken lessons from me know that I am a huge admirer of Ben Hogan. Then again, who isn't?

Today (February 2nd, 1949), was the horrific day when Mr. Hogan and his wife Valerie, were involved in a head on collision with a Greyhound bus. Upon seeing the oncoming bus, Mr. Hogan threw his body in front of Valerie. That act of bravery not only saved her life, but his own as well. He suffered many broken bones and sustained many injuries, which included permanent damage to both legs. The prognosis from doctors was that he would probably never walk again and playing golf would not be an option.

But...

Drawing inspiration from the thousands of letters and cards he received from well wishers and fans, and sheer determination, he proved them wrong! Mr. Hogan not only returned to play golf, but he played in AND won the 1950 U.S. Open! He went on to play some of his best golf ever which included six majors (U.S. Open (3), the Masters (2), and the British Open).

For a brief history and accomplishments of his life, please visit the World Golf Hall of Fame's website by clicking on his signature below:

And here's a very, very brief video mentioning the car accident!

May his life and accomplishments inspire you as they continue to inspire me!

Peace... Love... Golf!

Ted

Tips for Finding a Good Golf Instructor

2012-01-30T10:00:00.002-05:00

Recently I was asked, "What should I look for when searching for a good golf instructor?" Fortunately, I wasn't asked in person, or I'd be "bent! (That would be like going to a restaurant and asking, "Are there any good restaurants you can recommend?")" But it's a valid question that I get asked via email, Twitter, Facebook, etc... a lot! I mean, what DO YOU look for?

Sooooooo... I gave it some thought and came up with a short list or "guidelines" that may help YOU choose an instructor that's right for YOU:

While I'm sure there are many good non-LPGA and non-PGA instructors out there, I'd start my search with professionals that are either members or apprentices of the LPGA and PGA. To become a full member, one not only has to have an understanding of golf instruction, but must also be able to demonstrate effective instruction techniques AND required to attend ongoing educational seminars to keep their membership. Visit the PGA or LPGA websites to locate an instructor near you.
You should try to find someone fairly close to where you live. It's kind of like a health club, if it's too far from home or work, you're more likely to find reasons of why NOT to exercise. Having said that, don't compromise quality instruction over location.
Reputation. If you were hiring someone for your business, you'd look for someone with an excellent reputation and proficient skills in the field you're hiring for. Same with golf instructors. Look for someone who is a good "junior" teacher or "adult" teacher, or someone who works well with beginners, or advance players. In other words, find someone who has a reputation for teaching someone like you! Ask around. And don't be afraid to "interview" the instructor you're considering.
Personality. There are lots of "knowledgeable" instructors committed to their students... and not ripping on anyone... but there are also some who teach JUST for the purpose of making some quick cash. You want someone who WANTS to work with you and treats you with the same respect (regardless of your skill level) as they would working with a TOUR player. Someone who's committed to seeing you improve and enjoy the game. You're going to be spending time with this person... perhaps quite a bit of time... so you want it to be an enjoyable experience.
Price does not always equate with quality. Look for knowledgeable yet affordable. Paying a lower price for a bad lesson doesn't justify paying the lower price (This lesson was horrible, but hey, at least I didn't pay that much). And neither does taking out a 2nd mortgage to pay for your lessons mean you're going to get an instructor that will get you playing on TOUR next week! Reputation (#3 on this list) trumps price.
Find an instructor that compliments your learning and communication style. If you don't need to know launch angles, ball speeds, centripetal versus centrifugal forces as they pertain to your swing, what Lower Body Power Package Accumulators means, etc... then an instructor who bombards you with too much details might not be the one for you. However... If you neeeeed to know the nitty gritty info... then search for one who wears a white lab coat and can help you with the diagnosis. In reality, all instructors need to be knowledgeable... It's how they communicate this info to you that makes them right for you.

Even with these guidelines, you'll probably still have to take a lesson or two from an instructor to see if he or she is right for you. BUT... don't be a "tire-kicker" either! One who jumps around from instructor to instructor as soon as the game goes bad. If YOU TRULY believe in the instructor you're working with and what she's teaching you, stay with her! When it comes to learning golf, I find it's not a continuous upward climb. There are dips along the learning path, and oftentimes it's in the dips that you learn the most... EVEN when it seems that no progress is being made.

By the way... if you're ever in the Central Florida area... I know this great instructor by the name of Ted Eleftheriou that would feel privileged if he had the opportunity of working with YOU on your golf game... I'm just saying. You can email him at: CreateGolfers[at]gmail.com.

Peace... Love... Golf!

Ted

From One Golf Parent to Another…

2012-01-26T10:00:00.000-05:00

From One Golf Parent to Another...

Recently my son Grayson, mydaughter Madison Rose, and I played 9-holes of golf on Crooked Cat at OrangeCounty National Golf Center and Lodge in Winter Garden, Florida.

Grayson was hitting the ballremarkably well and was one under for quite a few holes! Did I mentionhe just turned 13 years old?

Then, we came to the ninth hole. Aslight dog-leg left with water guarding the corner. He decided he was going tohit over the water (carry about 240yds) leaving himself about 50 yards to thehole. I suggested he lay up, but also told him the decision would be his and tostay committed to the shot. He went with the driver, went through his preshotroutine, lined up, and… hit it a bit too high and into the water. He was devastated.As Madison Rose and I could clearly tell by the way he dropped to his knees and yelled, “Noooooooooo!”

I’m not a psychologist,therapist, or counselor… but I am a parent to two AWESOME children who love toplay golf! And I’m happy because THEY (not me forcing it on them) want to playgolf. Hopefully because I’ve made the game fun for them.

So I’ll be speaking to you as aparent… AND… as a golf coach who works with a ton of juniors and who sees andhears some of the interactions parents and their kids have when it comes togolf, performance, tournaments, and practice. So here are some of myobservations… and how I responded to Grayson. Perhaps there is something herefor you.

It greatly hurt Grayson when he plunked his tee shot into the water… and his great score plummet with it. It stung! He was disappointed. Frustrated. Sad. He felt like his heart had been ripped out. PARENTS… for me to tell him that the round didn’t matter would have been an insult to his intelligence and his skill. He knew I’d be lying. Of course it mattered. It mattered greatly to him or he wouldn’t have reacted as strongly as he did. So I acknowledged his feelings and felt sad along with him and gave him a BIG hug! And if he wanted to cry… I would have let him… on my shoulder.
I praised Grayson for his effort over the result. For his club choice. For his reasoning. For his great preshot routine. I could have said, “I told you to lay up but you didn’t listen to me and that’s why you hit it in the water and ruined your score!” But that wouldn’t have helped… would it have? PARENTS… instead I SINCERELY told him how proud I was of how he went through the process, stuck to his decision, and how he handled the outcome.
I let him know that it was okay to be sad and that I understood because I have been there before (and will again) and yes there will be another day and that I loved him… unconditionally! PARENTS… Golf is not who Grayson, Madison Rose, or your child is. Golf is a game that they play. And if they decided to quit playing tomorrow… I would love them just as much. PERIOD! It kills me when parents walk off the golf course in disgust, anger, frustration… when their child has a less than stellar round in a junior tournament as if they tried to play bad on purpose! Sometimes I just want to shove a club in the parent’s hand and say, “Let me see you play!”
PARENTS… after the round… way after… and when he was ready to talk and had settled down… I asked if he had any thoughts on what HE thought happened. And when he talked about it… I listened… as a psychologist, not as his swing coach. Did he lose his concentration? Did he get nervous? Was he overconfident? Did the water psych him out? Immediately, he started talking about his swing mechanics and how he had to work harder on it and practice more. However, I suggested to him that he just lacked experience. Experience of feeling the pressure of a phenomenal round or being in the lead in a tournament and that he should play more golf. His swing was fine…
And finally… I told him that golf is full of near misses, changes in momentum, narrow escapes, creativity, and at times… luck. And that I thought it was cool that he put it all on the line and chose the shot he did and that he didn’t try to pretend like he didn’t care about the outcome… because he did. PARENTS… I wanted him to learn from this experience and we talked about his thought process… but I also want him to maintain his creativeness when playing… to take chances at times… to try things… even when others think it’s crazy… even when the outcome doesn't always turn out as expected.

Madison Rose and Grayson

I want to be inspiring,encouraging, and supportive of Grayson’s and Madison Rose’s golf game… really... theirlives! A parent once fired me as her child’s swing coach because she didn’t thinkI was tough enough on her. That if she didn’t go out and shoot a 44 or betterin her next 9-hole tournament, I’d make her practice harder. She was eightyears old. I’m not in the business of being tough on my students. Sorry… nevergoing to happen. Life is already tough enough on them. Instead, I want toencourage them and to show them how to enjoy the game more by introducing them tothe necessary skills needed. I want Grayson and Madison Rose to WANT to playgolf… not because I MAKE them play. I mean doesn’t that sound silly? You haveto MAKE someone PLAY? As in PLAY?

Peace… Love… Golf!

PGA Demo Day 2012

2012-01-26T07:45:00.000-05:00

The Eleftheriou Clan attended the 2012 PGA Demo Day at Orange County National Golf Center and Lodge (OCN)... the place where I teach! It was outstanding as always. The team at OCN did a phenomenal job!

Saw LOTS of friends (some from years ago) and made some new ones!

Enjoy the pics!

Peace... Love... Golf!

The Day Before the Event. It's Set up Time.
Thanks to the GREAT staff at Puma for hooking up
some of our Juniors with some cool "stuff!"

The Calm before the Storm!

It's TIME! Waiting in line to get in!

We DID feel Welcomed!

Oakley... one of our Favorites! First stop of the day!

Swung by Softspikes and had the spikes on our shoes changed... FOR FREE!
Afterwards, I really had to make an effort to pick up my feet when walking with new spikes!
Thanks Softspikes!

Orange Balls at Cobra/Puma at Orange County National Golf Center and Lodge.
How appropriate!

Future LPGA TOUR Player Madison Rose 10-yrs-old being ball fit at Bridgestone.
Swing Speed Average - 83.1 mph

Future PGA TOUR Player Grayson 13-yrs-old being ball fit at Bridgestone.
Swing Speed Average - 109.3 mph

Lots of cool stuff! Honma had a driver listing for $2150!! I'll take two!
The head was colored gold... appropriate!

Over one mile of vendor booths, activities and of course food!

Started at Oakley and eight... as in EIGHT hours later... finished at Oakley!
Almost had to get another pair of Softspikes put in!

Releasing the Golf Club Through Impact

2012-01-23T10:00:00.002-05:00

I’m in a car… driving at 90 miles per hour… I’m not wearing my seatbelt.

I hit a wall… the car stops to zero miles per hour immediately… My body flies through the windshield at 90 miles per hour. UGH!

How does this relate to golf? This illustration shows the “transfer of energy” as it pertains to your golf swing and how power is transmitted to your golf ball.

The “wall” in the golf swing is the target-side leg (Left leg for right-handed golfers). Perhaps you’ve heard the expression of “hitting past your left side.”

My “body” in the illustration represents the clubhead.

My body separating from the car and flying through the windshield at 90 miles per hour represents the release of the clubhead through the hitting zone (impact and follow-through).

My point is, that when we speak of “releasing” the clubhead through the hitting zone… it’s simply a RESULT of the arms and hands abruptly slowing down as they approach impact… transferring the energy they’ve accumulated through the clubshaft to the clubhead… which eventually transfers the energy to the golf ball sending it on its way.

In a good golf swing… for this chain reaction to happen… the hands must be PASSIVE… holding the club lightly… ALLOWING the clubhead to release its energy into the ball. Any effort to manipulate the clubhead using the hands will result in deceleration and most likely mishit shots. When the hands try to manipulate a clubhead that’s traveling 90 miles per hour… to hit a golf ball that’s 1.68 inches in diameter… timing will be too much of a factor. And some days you’ll have it… but on most days you won’t.

Here’s a quote from Ben Hogan:

“The main thing for the average golfer is to keep any conscious hand action out of his swing. The correct swing is founded on a chain action. If you used the hands when you should not, you prevent the chain action.”

Read that again… and then say, “Amen.”

Correctly “transferring” energy to the ball (translated: POWER), should occur without effort. It’s part of the chain action Mr. Hogan speaks of. You don’t DO the release… you ALLOW it to happen.

Oh yeah… and ALWAYS wear your seatbelt!

Peace… Love… Golf!

10 Tips to Cure YOUR Slice

2012-01-20T10:00:00.000-05:00

10 Tips to Cure YOUR Slice

At address, and without moving your head except to look down, check your grip and make sure that you can see 2-3 knuckles of your target-side hand and the fingernails and first knuckle joint of the middle two fingers of your trail-side hand.

At address, check to make sure that your ball position is not too far forward in your stance. With driver, a good place to begin is with the ball position about two inches inside target-side foot. For irons, middle to slightly forward of middle for shorter to longer clubs.

At address, begin with your shirt buttons facing slightly behind the ball and your upper spine a tad further away from the target than your lower spine. Maintaining this angle through the swing, and especially during the downswing, will promote a flatter downswing and attacking the ball from the “inside.”

Waggle the club prior to hitting to release tension in your hands and arms AND THEN… maintain a light (not loose!) grip pressure throughout the entire swing… especially as club comes to impact and beyond. This will allow clubhead to naturally release through impact. When you hold the club too tight, the tendency is for the clubface to remain open at impact.

Don’t “snatch” the club with your hands as you begin your takeaway. Focus on keeping the clubface facing the ball or at the target for several feet as the club moves away from the ball. Excessive use of your hands during takeaway oftentimes leads to fanning the club face open, which in turn means you’ll have to rotate the club back to square at impact. This is too reliant on timing.

Right Hip Pulled Back and Around

During the takeaway/backswing, the trail-side hip (right hip for right-handed golfers), should be pulled back behind and around over the inside of your trail-side leg/heel due to a good shoulder turn, NOT away from the target causing it to move “outside” your trail-side leg/heel. This prevents swaying excessively with the hips and prevents a “reverse weight shift,” which happens when the trail-side hip sways away from the target while the upper body moves toward the target. Opposite of what was mentioned in tip #3.

At the top of your backswing, stop and take a look at your target-side hand (left hand for right-handed golfers). If the wrist is “cupped,” flatten it so that the back of the hand is aligned with the forearm. Work this position out by taking practice swings, pausing at the top, flattening the wrist, then swinging to full finish position.

During downswing, begin motion with a “feeling” that the shoulders are pointing right of target OR that your back is facing the target as the club and arms drop OR that your trail-side (right hip for right-handed golfers) back pocket “sits” on your target a bit as the downswing begins. Try each one to see which “feeling” works best for you. This move allows the arms and clubshaft to “drop” in front of the trail-side hip, which in turn promotes a flatter swing and attacking the ball from the inside position.

Address Position

Learn what good impact position should look and feel like! Set up at address, and then simulate impact position without taking a backswing. Alternate between address position and impact position several times to feel the difference. Differences are:

· At address, your hips are squareto the target line… at impact, hips are opened about 45 degrees to target line.

· At address, shoulders are squareto target line… at impact, shoulders are still square or slightly open totarget line.

Impact Position

· At address, weight for most clubsis evenly distributed… at impact, hips have shifted towards target placing more weight on target-side leg than trail-side.

· At address, head is over orslightly behind the ball… at impact, head is still over or slightly behind theball.

· At address, arms are fairlyextended… at impact, target-side arm isfully extended while trail-side arm has some bend (arms arenot fully extended until follow-through position after impact).

Right Shoulder and Hip Closer to Target than
Left Shoulder and Hip

Finish what you started. Assuming you have no injuries and are capable of making a decent rotation, finish with your trail-side shoulder (right shoulder for right-handed golfers) and trail-side hip CLOSER to the target than the target-side shoulder and hip when posing in your finished position. This assures a good rotation of the body, which not only assists in squaring the clubface through impact… but contributes to a tremendous source of power… translated: more distance!

Well there you have it! Printthis tip sheet out and try one, some, or all of these next time you practice onthe range and say, “goodbye” to your slice!

Peace… Love… Golf!

By the way… if you Twitter (andeven if you don’t), check out my eBook: If Your Swing Thought is Longer Than aTweet… IT’S TOO LONG! Filled with hundreds of my most popular golf tipsfeatured on Twitter. Click here to purchase! THANK YOU!!

Persistence and Determination

2012-01-18T10:00:00.000-05:00

I recently came upon this popular quote by the 30thpresident of the United States, Calvin Coolidge:

"Nothingin the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing ismore common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewardedgenius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educatedderelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent."

President Coolidge had a pretty incredible life… clearly getting to theoffice of presidency through persistence and determination. You can read abrief bio and learn some facts about him by clicking here: Calvin Coolidge

Hiswords ring true regarding golf… don’t they? I mean, as an instructor, Idefinitely see Golfers in each of these categories. Let me explain… and perhapsthis may apply to the way you’re going about with your game improvement plan…

TALENTEDGOLFER:

Thisis the Golfer who is born with loads of talent. The person who practices verylittle… if at all!.. yet always seems to perform well on the golf course. Manyof us wish we could be like this Golfer, who oftentimes doesn’t even have agreat swing, yet kicks our butts!

YET…without practice to support and grow this talent… this Golfer will undoubtedlyplateau. They may experience moments of greatness, but oftentimes once theyachieve a certain level, they’ll remain there indefinitely. The talented GolferMUST practice just as hard as the not-so-talented-Golfer if he or she reallywants to reach their full potential. Talent will only take you so far.

GENIUS:

Thistype of Golfer knows about golf, their swing, the launch angle of their 7-iron,and the ball spin rate. They can evaluate and analyze their golf games (andeveryone else’s!) and know the causes of both successful and unsuccessfulshots. They can dissect the swing into minute components and talk aboutcentripetal versus centrifugal forces, linear thrusts, power package accumulators,and not only can recite the Pythagorean Theorem, but can demonstrate how itapplies to golf!

ThisGolfer is a true genius in the sense… but the Golfer that falls into thiscategory lacks one major ability… the ability to shoot low scores. “Paralysisby Analysis.” For this Golfer to progress in their golfing abilities… he mustforego the title of “Golf Scientist” and seek the title of “Golfer.” This “rangepro” must get out and play to really test their genius abilities. And yes… asdoes the “Talented Golfer,” this Golf Scientist needs to practice as well. Bookknowledge and genius is one thing, but this Golfer should practice and develop shot-makingskills and simulate golf course situations in order to achieve their fullpotential. I truly believe score is still the best indicator of how wellsomeone plays… don’t you?

EDUCATED GOLFER

People sometimes ask me, “Who would you say is yourbiggest competitor?” Expecting me to list a “who’s who” of golf instructorsnear the facility I teach at, I catch them off guard when I say, ‘The Internet.”

I mean, now-a-days, there is absolutely no shortage ofinformation on the World Wide Web! Twitter, Facebook, blogs, LinkedIn, websites…UGH! And this doesn’t even take into consideration DVDs, Books, Magazines, ComputerSoftware, Phone Apps, etc… OR the bazillion training aids that can be found. UGH(redux!)!

The educated Golfer is the person who has tons ofwebsites bookmarked, arranged in alphabetical order, and has subscriptions toevery newsletter and RSS Feed.

She’s a seeker of knowledge. Looks for the next quickfix. The “secret.” Trying to find ways to shortcut the process. But to noavail. Because the “tip” that works this week… doesn’t work the next. Whetherit’s valid or not. Mainly because that’s how she treats the information she’sfound. As a tip… not a long-term solution. Not taking into consideration thatthe TOUR Professional who wrote that tip, probably practiced it for years forher to get it right.

Don’t be this type of Golfer who jumps around fromwebsite to website, article to article, training aid to training aid, teacherto teacher, and never truly discover their game. Find a good book on golf, awebsite, an instructor, a method, etc…, and be persistent AND determined to “getit” before moving on to the next.

Persistence and determination… sigh… it’s hard work. Probablythe reason why a Golfer will take a lesson from me who’s been playing 35 years,and I can’t help but think, How can he possibly have such a bad grip if he’sbeen playing for 35 years? Why hasn’t he learned it yet? The answer… lackof persistence and determination to get it right.

So hang in there… your persistence and determination willpay off!

Peace… Love… Golf!

Five Keys to Better Golf

2012-01-05T10:00:00.000-05:00

To start off the year… I’d liketo share five keys or areas of focus that will assist you in improving yourgolf game. There are probably more…but if you focus on these five key areas, YOU will be on your way to golfing bliss!!

TECHNIQUE– Having good technique is a must… regardless if you think of yourself as a“feel” player. Feel is important… but it’s not always accurate. You must learnproper mechanics and methods to improve in golf. And I’m not just talking aboutfull swing. To improve in golf… you must develop sound technique in all areasthat make up your game. Check out your local LPGA and PGA golf professional forassistance.
PRACTICE– Sorry. There’s no way around it. To improve… you must put in some quality practicetime. PERIOD! Enough said.
PHYSICALCONDITIONING – You just can’t leave out physical conditioning andexpect to reach your full golfing potential. Not only will it improve your ballstriking ability and increase your stamina… but it will help prevent injurieswhich will add longevity to your golfing days. And this doesn’t even take intoconsideration the overall benefits of exercise in all areas of your life.
PSYCHOLOGICALTRAINING – Developing sound mental skills will assist you withcourse management, controlling fear, clarity and focus, staying in the “now,”mental toughness, tournament jitters, performance anxieties, learning, …let’s just say a BUNCH of stuff! I believe developing a good golf gameinvolves 100% focus on mechanics and the physical… and 100% focus on thepsychological. In other words, they’re inseparable.
EQUIPMENT– With the technological advances in equipment, playing with your grandfather’sHaig Ultra irons or your grandmother’s Patty Berg woods leaves you at a majordisadvantage (as in MAJOR!). You should consider having a clubfitting done with your currentclubs EVEN if you’re not currently in the market to purchase some new ones. Andthis includes having a fitting done for your putter and driver in addition toyour irons. Also… don’t forget ball fitting. Using the right ball can enhanceyour shot making experience!

Well that’s about it. Focus onthese key areas and make 2012 the year where your game leaps to new levels!

Peace… Love… Golf!

Ted

Amazing 2011 - Roll The Credits!

2012-01-03T15:00:00.000-05:00

Many of you may not know… butprior to becoming a PGA golf professional and instructor… I used to be in thefilm business as a freelance producer and production coordinator. SO… pullingfrom my past… I’d like to dedicate this post to AN AMAZING 2011 and

ROLL THE CREDITS…

WORLD WIDE WEB

To all the wonderfulpeople who have helped me spread the word and follow me on Twitter, Facebook,and who read my Blog

THANK YOU so VERY much!!You’re all ROCKSTARS!

Though I haven’t metmost of you in person… I consider all of you friends! Let's tee it up some time!

STUDENTS

To all the incredibleStudents who have taken lessons from me in 2011…

I GREATLY APPRECIATEEACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU!!

I hope I’vecontributed a little something to your golf games… and perhaps life!

Thank you for makingme a better teacher and person. In a perfect world I wouldn’t have charged adime for the privilege of teaching and meeting such great people like you! Again…I consider all of you friends!

I really believe..:

“I’m not in thegolf business teaching People…

but in the Peoplebusiness teaching golf!”

LOCATION

MUCH GRATITUDE toBruce Gerlander, general manager at Orange County National Golf Center andLodge (OCN) in Winter Garden, Florida, who gave me the incredible opportunityof becoming the Director of Instruction at OCN… my Playground!

A BIG THANK YOU toall the remarkable people who work at OCN making it the world-class facilitythat it is! Thank you for the kindness you’ve not only shown me… but to myfamily as well. I love you guys!

For those readingthis… come out and experience OCN for yourself!

ASSOCIATION

“PGA” three simpleletters that represent so much… The Professional Golfers’ Association (of America). Iremember how proud I was when I became a PGA member in 1998… and my pridecontinues to grow to this day! I am privileged to be part of an organizationcomprised of over 27,000 talented PGA members and apprentices dedicated to Growingthe Game of Golf!

FAMILY

I’m blessed to bepart of such a great family…

Married to Lisa, whonot only supported me on this path I’ve chosen (or has chosen me!), but for allher behind-the-scenes hard work (from setting up junior camps to schedulinglessons for me), making me look better than I could ever look on my own!

Father to two amazingchildren, my son Grayson and daughter Madison Rose who not only impress me withtheir incredible golfing skills… but more importantly… who WOW me daily with theincredible people they are. I’m VERY PROUD of you!

I LOVE YOU GUYS!

SPECIAL THANKS

Special thanks to…well… EVERYONE who touched my life in 2011 and prior! I attempted to write alist but it kept growing and I’m sure I would have forgotten someone! But youknow who you are… a very SPECIAL THANKS ( X ) 1000!

Looking onward to 2012!

PEACE... LOVE...GOLF!

Ted

Controllable Versus Uncontrollable

2011-12-21T10:00:00.000-05:00

Michael Johnson, famed Olympic GoldMedalist long sprinter, mentions in his book “Slaying the Dragon,” that after arace or practice he would assess his performance by drawing a line down themiddle of a piece of paper making two columns and listing the things he couldn’tcontrol in one column and things he could have controlled in theother. I think this is excellent and have incorporated this into my teaching.You should incorporate it into your game improvement plan as well. Here’s how:

In your golf journal, after a roundof golf, draw a line down the middle of a blank page. On the top of the leftcolumn write, “Uncontrollable” and on the top of the right-hand column write“Controllable.” Recap your round and for every shot you didn’tlike, choose the appropriate column and write a detailed description of theshot.

For example, if you hit a good drive,but the ball hit a sprinkler head and bounced into a bunker… that would be an“Uncontrollable.” If someone sneezed during your downswing… “Uncontrollable.”Ball landed in a sandy divot in the fairway… “Uncontrollable.”

However, if you missed a putt because youfelt you were lined up incorrectly, yet went ahead and putted anyway… that’s a “Controllable.”Coming up short on a par-3 because you used a club your opponent used ratherthan the one you normally would have used… “Controllable.” Miss-hitting a shotbecause you were distracted by your playing partner’s shadow from parking thegolf car too close to your ball… “Controllable.”

After listing all the miss-hit shotsduring your round… cross out each item under the “Uncontrollable” column… oneby one. What happened in each of these shots was beyond your control. There wasnothing that could have been done to avoid the outcome. So forget about them. Carryingthis “mental baggage” around with you to your next round… next hole… next shot…oftentimes contributes to poor performance.

However… the areas that need focus forgame improvement are the items you listed under the “Controllable” column. Ifyou stroked a putt knowing that you weren’t lined up correctly… chances are itcould have been prevented by stepping away and starting the alignment processover again until you felt you had the correct alignment.

If you hit a shot that came up shortbecause you chose a club your opponent went with rather than going with a clubyou would normally use… well… you could have put ego aside and hit the correctclub you knew you should have went with.

And if you hit a poor shot because yourplaying partner’s shadow was distracting you… you could have easily (andpolitely) asked him to move prior to hitting.

After charting your “Uncontrollable” and“Controllable” shots over several rounds… you’ll most likely start seeingpatterns in your “Controllable” column. You might be surprised to find out howmany times you’ve missed putts because you didn’t trust your alignment, inwhich case you need to develop and practice a better preshot routine that incorporatesa reliable alignment method.

Fix the “Controllable” items. That’swhere the real work to your game is. And forget about the “Uncontrollable”items!

Peace… Love… Golf!

KIDZ Winter Golf Camp by Ted Eleftheriou

2011-12-13T08:00:00.000-05:00

EXCEPTIONAL Junior Golf Camp!

Still room for more signups... but don't wait too long!

Also... contact me to purchase holiday gift certificates for golf lessons. Many options to choose from for anyone's budget!

Peace... Love... Golf!

Practice - Objectives vs. Outcomes

2011-12-12T16:00:00.000-05:00

I’ve had tough practice sessions(yesterday was one of them!)… and not-so-tough ones. And I could never predictwhich ones would be which.

And I’m glad!

Because had I known… I wouldhave probably skipped the tough ones… and YET… those by far were the mostproductive ones.

I mean… there’s no way aroundit. Improving skills requires practice. And practice isn’t reserved just forthose with little skill level. The Golfer with natural talent, in order toachieve full potential, must practice just as hard as the Golfer who has lessnatural abilities.

To get through the toughpractice sessions, I find that on days when little or no progress is apparent…if I keep my focus on “objectives” rather than “outcome”… mypractice sessions are productive. Objectives are different than outcomes. Outcomesare usually too general in nature whereas objectives are specific.

Case in point: My son Grayson (followhis blog as he journals his progress toward becoming a professional golfer at NextGreatGolfer ), developed asevere case of swinging “over-the-top” earlier this year, causing weak, high-slices to low snap-hooks. By devising a plan that focused onpractice sessions that were objective-oriented rather than outcome-oriented… hewas able to bring his game to a new level.

Here’s what we did.

First… we videotaped his swing so he could see what I saw and identified the problematic areas. It was important that he hadan accurate understanding of what the problem areas were that produced the undesirable outcome.

Then we created a list ofobjectives along with specific drills and use ofcertain training aids that would assist him in achieving these objectives.

Next… he practiced several timesa week focusing on the objectives… regardless of outcome (at times the slicesand pull hooks got worse!). He diligently worked on achieving and then maintainingthe objectives for several months. I can tell you first hand… it was hard! Practicing... videotaping... reviewing... adjusting... over and over again. Yethe persevered!

And then… it happened. As hecompleted his objectives, which included fixing his grip, stance, posture, takeaway, downswing, impact position, weighttransfer, and balance… the ball flight, (the outcome), improved. And althoughit appeared to happen almost instantaneously… we both know it was the unbelievableamount of hours invested both on and off the practice facility that eventuallyled to his success. The day when he achieved the desired outcome. Check out thephotos below. The left ones are the AFTER photos… the ones on the right…several months ago:

"After" Images of Downswing on Left... "Before" on Right!

Most of his practice sessionswere tough! YET… he persevered! I’m VERY, VERY PROUD OF HIM! Most Golfers would have given upearly on. But Grayson hung in there and now in addition to “fixing” his swing,he has confidence knowing that he can conquer the next steps needed to continueimproving… in golf and in life! He got through "the Dip."

DO THIS:

LEARN what is causing theproblem. Consider investing in a lesson or lessons from a PGA or LPGA GolfInstructor. Make sure you understand the problematic areas of your game. Do notgo to the next step if you aren’t! Practicing thewrong thing is death!! Again… I repeat MAKE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND what needs to beaccomplished!
IDENTIFY what objectives need tobe accomplished in order to “fix” the problem(s) identified in Step 1. Developa series of drills and practice routines that will assist you in achieving yourobjectives. By knowing your objectives ahead of time… you’ll save yourself aton of time. Your practice sessions will have purpose and focus.
PRACTICE!! Objective-oriented practice.Don’t let yourself get off track because the outcome is not happening. Keep atit regardless! If you’re absolutely sure that you’ve identified the problemareas (Step 1) and you’ve created a plan with specific objectives (Step 2)… thenbe confident in knowing that you’re on the right path EVEN WHEN little or noprogress seems to be happening. Eventually, and no one knows when… you will berewarded with much success!! TRANSLATED: Desirable Outcomes! And your playing partners will think it happened over night!

Share your story of overcoming and/or how your game is coming along!

Peace... Love... Golf!

Karate ... Golf

2011-12-10T10:00:00.000-05:00

Never forget that Karate (Golf) begins and ends with respect.

From the book, "Budo Secrets: Teachings of the Marital Arts Masters" by John Stevens... Mr. Stevens lists Gichin Funakoshi's (recognized as the father of modern Karate) "Twenty Principles of Karate."

I'd like for you to read through the list and everywhere the word "Karate" appears... replace it with the word "Golf." In all other principles... see how golf could fit in as the theme.

How could these principles apply to YOUR golf? Perhaps not every principle does... then again... perhaps EVERY one does!! Don't just skim through the list... ponder these as you read them... again... and again. If you'd like to purchase the book, I've included a link at the end of this post. Enjoy!

Peace... Love... Golf!

Never forget that Karate begins and ends with respect.
There is no first attack in Karate.
Karate fosters righteousness.
First know yourself, then know others.
Rather than physical technique, mental technique.
Let your mind roam freely.
Inattention and neglect cause misfortune.
Never think that Karate is practiced only in the training hall.
Karate is a lifelong pursuit.
Everything you encounter is an aspect of Karate; find the marvelous truth there.
Karate is like boiling water; if you do not keep the flame high (with continual training), it turns tepid.
Do not think about winning; think about not losing.
Respond in accordance to your opponent.
Wage the battle with natural strategy.
Regard your hands and feet as weapons.
Step out the door and you face 10,000 foes.
Learn various stances as a beginner, but then rely on a natural posture.
The traditional forms must be practiced correctly; real combat is another matter.
Never forget your own strengths and weaknesses, the limitations of your body, and the relative quality of your techniques.
Continually polish your mind.

Rotating Through Impact

2011-12-08T10:00:00.000-05:00

Hitting high, weak shots with poor contact and no distance?

Chances are that you're "scooping" in effort to lift the ball in the air rather than using body pivot to deliver the club into the ball... allowing the loft of the club to lift the ball into the air.

To encourage good rotation through impact to follow-through... try this drill. The finish position of this drill is called the follow-through position or as I refer to it... "Position 8" (P8) in the golf swing. A video of me demonstrating the drill follows.

Here's the drill:
1) Begin by placing a ball on a tee and setting up to address position.

2) Take a second club or alignment rod and place it on the ground behind you and against the heels of your shoes. Now extend the club or rod out toward the target... maintaining the line established while it was against your heels. If placed correctly... the club or rod should begin at about the left heel, extend toward the target, and parallel to the target line.

3) Return to address position.

4) Now hit the ball using a swing that goes back only to about when the arms are about parallel to the ground and clubshaft vertical... finishing with the club at position 8 (P8). If finished correctly... look for the following:

a) The club should be parallel to the ground.

b) The club should be "over" and "parallel" to the club/rod you placed on the ground.
c) Both arms should be full extended. This is the only time during the swing where both arms are fully extended.

d) The club head, club shaft, and hands arrived over the club/rod on the ground at approximately the same time.

e) The club shaft should be pointing to your left hip.

f) The body is turned enough so that the buttons of your shirt are facing the target.

g) Your spine tilt should be about the same as it was at address.

h) Your rear foot heel should be partially lifted off the ground... an indication that you've transferred your weight to the left leg AND used adequate body pivot.

Practice this drill often... not focusing on distance... but on technique with emphasis on holding and evaluating your finish position. If you've missed any of the above checkpoints of the finish, correct it/them before attempting the drill again.

Once you've practiced this drill successfully, hit full shots and try to "feel" the body turning and the club going left after impact. Not because you're "trying" to make it do so... but because of good body pivot... which combined with light hands "allows" the club to do so.

Below is a quick video of me demonstrating the drill.

Peace... Love... Golf!

5 MORE Checkpoints for Proper Setup Position

2011-12-01T15:00:00.000-05:00

Proper Setup For Wedge

In my previous post, I addressed10.5 checkpoints for a proper setup position, from the “Down the Line” pointof view. Today’s post is a follow up with five additional checkpoints… thistime from the “face on” view or what I call “Caddy View.”

I encourage you to practice thecheckpoints from my previous post and this one whenever you have a chance. Everyone(AS IN EVERYONE!) can have a great set up position regardless of strength,flexibility, coordination, and ability! So why WOULDN’T a Golfer want to masterthe setup position?

So without further delay… hereare “5 More Checkpoints for Proper Setup Position.” (from Caddy View). Again,use a mirror for instant feedback when checking these positions.

CHECKPOINT - 1

Feet should be about shoulderwidth apart… meaning lines drawn from outside the shoulders to the ground wouldfind the feet directly beneath them. With wedges (as in the image of me below)and shorter irons, the feet may be a bit inside these lines. Mid- tolong-irons, directly beneath the lines and with hybrids, woods and especiallythe driver, the feet would be outside these lines…

Shoulder Width Apart

CHECKPOINT - 2

Since hips are a bit narrowerthan shoulders… the feet should be directly under them or wider… with theexception of shortgame like chipping and pitching. Notice in the image below…that my left shoulder is in line with my left hip… yet the right shoulder isoutside of my right hip. Hmmm… why would that be? …

Hip Width

CHECKPOINT – 3

… Because the shoulders areslightly tilted… with the target-side shoulder (my left) higher than thetrail-side shoulder. This makes my upper spine (head area) tilt slightly away fromthe target than my lower spine… due to the simple fact that my trail-side hand(my right hand) is lower on the club than my target-side hand.

CHECKPOINT - 4

Notice also in the image below, thatwhen lines are drawn from my shoulders… there’s a bit more gap between the linefrom my right shoulder and my right hip… than the line between my left shoulderand left hip. This is because my hips are counterbalancing the backward tilt ofmy shoulders by leaning ever-so-slightly toward the target. This is how I keepmy weight distributed evenly over both feet.

Hips Counter Balance for Even Weight Distribution

Players with more shoulder tiltoften have a bigger gap between the line from right shoulder and right hip asSean O’Hair does. His hips are a bit more toward target to counterbalance andkeep his weight evenly distributed.

Sean O'Hair Hips Bit Forward Toward Target to
Counter Balance Shoulder Tilt for Equal Weight Distribution

Players with less shoulder tiltare a bit more equal in gaps of hips from shoulder lines… as does Lorena Ochoa.Because her shoulders are a bit more level… her hips don’t have tocounterbalance as much to keep her weight evenly distributed.

Lorena Ochao... Less Shoulder Tilt so Hips More Centered
Over Feet

So who’s right? The answer: Bothare! I see professionals set up both ways! HOWEVER… I can’t find a professionalwho has a wider gap when lines are drawn from LEFT shoulder and LEFT hip. Notone! Not for a “normal” shot…

CHECKPOINT – 5

I know there are several schoolsof thinking when it comes to ball position. One… the ball position varies withdifferent clubs. Two… the ball remains in the same position (about two inchesinside the target-side foot) while the trail-side foot widens or narrows. Bothhave great reasons as to why and this post isn’t to argue who’s right.

However, my preference isthat the ball position varies depending on club. My reasoning is that as aninstructor, I find that students who play the ball forward in their stanceoftentimes have shoulders that are “open” (pointed left of target for righthanded golfer) which promotes an “over the top” move on their downswings.

Feel free to experiment on yourown with ball position. In the image of me below, my ball position for a wedgeis under my left cheek or left ear. From there… as my club gets longer… my ballposition will move slightly forward in my stance… with my driver ball positionbeing under my left armpit (the yellow line in the image below). That places myball position about two inches inside my left heel.

Ball Position Varies with Wedges and Short Irons More
Middle of Stance and Longer Clubs More Toward Left Armpit

CHECKPOINT – 5.5 (Bonus)

And finally… notice my hands inthe previous image are slightly ahead of the ball. All pros have their handseither ahead of or directly above the ball. NONE have the hands set upbehind the ball. I believe the more shoulder tilt, the more the hands are forward(Review Sean’s picture), and the more level the shoulders (Review Lorena’spicture) the less the hands are forward. When in doubt… go moderate… but again…NEVER behind the club and ball!

Whew! Okay… VOLUMES could be writtenabout the setup position. Which I almost accomplished! But the setup is THATIMPORTANT!!

Work on perfecting (usually Ihate to use that word but this time it applies) the set up position and your overall golf game can onlyimprove!

Till next time! Peace… Love…Golf!

10 Checkpoints For Proper Setup Position

2011-11-29T12:43:00.001-05:00

As an instructor I see Golfers practicing on their swings all the time. Unfortunately… many of them practicing on the wrong things and showing very little improvement.

One universal area that EVERYGOLFER should continuously work on and review is the set up position. That’sbecause a flawed set up produces a flawed swing. PERIOD!

Here are TEN CHECKPOINTSthat I look for in a Golfer's set up position when giving a lesson. Chances are if you play Golf, you probably have many of the proper checkpoints already. Or perhapsyou’re a beginner and need to learn all of them. In either case… review and practicegetting into these positions and you’re on your way to better golf!

It’s best if you use a full-lengthmirror (your reflection in a sliding glass door will work as well!) and a golfclub. Digital cameras work fine… but you’ll have to get out of your set upposition to review it on the camera… rather than the instant feedback you getwhen looking at your reflection.

I’m going to break this subject upinto two posts rather than one long one (oops... too late!). This post is written from “Down the Line”(DTL) point of view… the other post is written from “Caddy View” (CV) and will be available in the very near future! So don't forget to check back... or simply subscribe to my feed or enter your email so you never miss any! It's simple!

Let’s get started….

CHECKPOINT - 1

Feet approximately shoulder widthapart and slightly wider than hips (more on this in the Caddy View post)…

CHECKPOINT - 2

Focus on keeping the lower back(the Lumbar area) fairly straight while…

Lumbar Region of Spine

CHECKPOINT - 3

… allowing the upper back region(the Thoracic) to curve a bit, encouraging the shoulders to be relaxed and thearms to hang…

Thoracic Region of Spine

CHECKPOINT - 4

As a result, you can see in mypicture that the entire back/spine is NOT totally straight, but contains somecurvature. This curvature by the way is NOT INTENTIONAL… but a RESULT ofkeeping my shoulders relaxed…

Spine is not Totally Straight

CHECKPOINT - 5

The total spine tilt should beroughly at about a 1 o’clock position. The head should naturally be in aposition where the eyes can see the ball clearly. Not trying to keep it up toohigh… yet not burying the chin into the chest either. A good measurement is tomake a fist and place it between the chin and chest. That’s approximately howhigh the head should be at address…

1 O'Clock Position

CHECKPOINT - 6

If bent correctly, the rear-end shouldbe out and past the heels by about four to six inches…

Rear-End Past Heels

CHECKPOINT - 7

With proper spine tilt… a Golfer’sbelt line should be angled toward the ground…

Belt Angled Downwards

CHECKPOINT - 8

The clubshaft should be pointingto the belt buckle or slightly above it…

Club Shaft Points to Belt Buckle or Slightly Above it

CHECKPOINT - 9

The hands should be roughly afist length away from the body. If they’re too close… the spine tilt is eithertoo upright or ball positions too close to body. If too far… well… it’s theopposite of being too close! J …

Butt End of Club About A Fist-Length From Body

CHECKPOINT - 10

The spine tilt and clubshaftangle should be roughly between 90 – 115 degrees. This is not an exactmeasurement but more of a guideline and varies depending on Golfer’s height andclub used…

Club Shaft and Spine Angle - Between 90 - 115 Degrees

CHECKPOINT – 10.5 (BONUS!)

If properly set up… the knees areslightly flexed and the front of the shoulders… the hands… and the toes… should be on top of each other. Also... toes, knees, hips, and shoulders should be parallel to the target line.

Shoulders... Hands... Toes... on Top of Each Other

Well… that’s it! It’s simple… yetmost Golfers DON’T have a good set up position either because they don’t pay attentionto it OR… I hate to say this… but they don’t WANT to change.

If you need to make a change… here’sthe formula….

Five Minutes X Six days a week =30 Minutes.

30 Minutes X Four Weeks a Month =Two Hours.

Two Hours X 12 Months = 24 HoursOR ONE FULL DAY!!

Five minutes a day… that’s all Iask!

Peace… Love… Golf!

Keep a Golf Journal

2011-11-22T10:00:00.000-05:00

I encourage my students to keep a golf journal. I have since February 23rd, 1994. Wow... I can't believe how long ago that is. Yet at the same time, as I search through my notes for this post, I can remember each one as if it was only yesterday.

What goes in my golf journal? Well pretty much anything... Lesson notes, practice notes, impressions, inspirational quotes, sketches, round statistics... anything. Anything that will help me improve... help me remember... help inspire me.

In today's post, I'd like to share some notes from some of my journals. Enjoy... and I encourage you to keep one as well. You really should.

Peace... Love... Golf!

February 23rd, 1994 (my very first one)

"REMEMBER ... Hands don't square clubhead. It's the clubhead squaring that turns the wrists. After impact, the left arm rotates (forearm) the clubhead. It's not the wrists doing the rotating. Rotation comes from the left elbow...."

April 4th, 1996

"During a full drive, the head, shoulders, and upper chest DO 'stay back behind the shot' and never actually sway past the ball before the clubhead strikes it...."

September 7th, 1996 (notes from Mike Hebron Seminar)

"Faults are caused by trying to force what should be allowed. Grip... Posture... Alignment... Are caused to happen. Backswing... Downswing... Impact... Are allowed to happen."

August 8th, 1999

"'Everyone has the will to win, very few people have the will to PREPARE to win.' ~ Bobby Knight I need to determine the weak areas of my game, work on them, and prepare myself to win!"

February 2nd, 2001

"My right heel should not be lifted off the ground intentionally, but pulled off the ground as a result of good pivot and forward weight shift... and then... No more than necessary. Lifting the heel intentionally accomplishes nothing. Work on this. When I push or lift off my right foot, my right knee goes outside my toe line toward the ball causing power loss."

January 16th, 2004

"The ball should be struck prior to the low point of the downswing, even when using the driver. The clubshaft is never normally at right angles to the Plane Line through Impact - it leans forward. Hitting "up" produces duffers and most topped shots." - Golfing Machine

May 11th, 2005

"When I move my head forward too quickly, I get into trouble. Also results in right heel popping up way too early. I need to make conscious effort of downswing beginning with gravity "dropping" my arms down first... NOT forward. DON'T PUSH forward! VERY important for me."

December 9th, 2006

"Work on moving right hip slightly toward target on downswing... Resist the urge to uncoil too quickly from the top of the backswing. This way... body stays coiled a bit longer. Once feeling of weight shifting to center of stance, then uncoil aggressively.... "

September 15th, 2008

"Practice felt too mechanical... just couldn't let myself go. Thoughts of allowing arms and club to drop down not forward helped... along with "feeling" lower body reacting to upper body during backswing. Also... Focusing on hugging chest with left arm on takeaway helped me feel more connected and kept club on plane better...."

June 25th, 2010

"Problem: pulling putts!

Cure: Play my ball position more toward the middle of my stance. This makes my shoulders more square to target line. Putts started on line much better! Now just let putter do the work. Maintain constant grip pressure...."

November 10th, 2011

"I really like feeling as if my right elbow drops down to right hip... then "feel" as if forearm and clubshaft pivot around my right elbow while rotating through with body. Doesn't actually happen this way, but "feels" this way."

It's HARDER ...

2011-11-18T10:00:00.000-05:00

Orange County National GC & Lodge Practice Facility - My Office!

It’s HARDER to invest in a lesson than it is to buy thelatest and coolest looking driver…

It’s HARDER to make a grip change than it is to keep playingwith that slice…

It’s HARDER playing from the forward tees, which better suityour game level, than playing from the “tips” because everyone else is…

It’s HARDER after taking a lesson, and not experiencinginstant success, to hang in there and work through it, than it is to just goback to doing things the way you used to…

It’s HARDER to practice for four hours this week than it is toplay a round of golf that takes four hours, even though you’ve been hitting itbad…

It’s HARDER to put ego aside and choose an extra club onthat par three, than it is to hit the same club as your playing partner andcoming up short. You can always say, “I didn’t catch it all…”

It’s HARDER to practice your short game than it is topractice your full swing, even though 60% of your score is from 60 yards and in…

It’s HARDER working on that drill that your golf instructorgave you than it is to hit balls without much thought or purpose…

It’s HARDER to take five minutes after a practice session orlesson to write down your thoughts, impressions, things you worked on, etc… ina journal, than it is to say, “I’ll remember…”

It’s HARDER …

Yes… it’s HARDER sometimes… most of the time… I agree. But Ipromise it’s worth the hard work if you want to improve.

Peace… Love… Golf!

Which One of These Students are You?

2011-11-16T10:00:00.000-05:00

Here's an excerpt from Dr. Joseph Parent's book titled, "Zen Golf" (If interested in purchasing... I've provided a link at the end of this post.). As an instructor... I can relate to the four type of students. I've had them all.

My first question to you is... which one of these students are you?

My second question to you is... if you're not already... how can you become more like the fourth one?

Regarding the fourth student... I'd add that he or she not only learns... but takes what he or she learns... and applies it as well.

Peace... Love... Golf!

FOUR KINDS OF STUDENTS

There’s a saying, “Golf can’t betaught, it can only be learned.” That doesn’t mean we can do withoutinstruction. The point is that no matter how good the instruction is, it isonly as useful as the student’s interest and effort in learning. In describingthe learning process, the Buddhist teachings once again make use of themetaphor of the cup. Four types of cups symbolize four kinds of students.Instruction symbolized by water being poured.

The first cup is upside down.This represents a student who is supposedly there to learn, but pays not attention.You may had experienced something similar while reading a book: Your eyes moveacross the words all the way down the page, but when you get to the bottom, yourealize you were daydreaming and have no idea what you read. That’s whathappens when a cup is turned upside down. No matter how much is poured, nothinggets in.

The second cup is right side up,but has a hole in the bottom. We hear what’s being taught, bet we forget it alltoo soon. We don’t chew on it and digest it and take it to heart. For example,we might attend a golf school, and when we get home, asked by a friend, “Whatdid they teach?” And we say, ah, well, it was… Actually, I don’t remember.” Thisis the classic case of “in one ear and out the other.”

The third cup is right side upand doesn’t have a hole in it, but the inside is covered with dirt. When theclear water of instruction is poured in, the dirt makes it cloudy. Thissymbolizes the way we can distort what we hear, interpreting and editing it tofit into our preconceived ideas or opinions. Nothing new is actually learned.When we take a lesson, if the instruction matches how we already see things, itis taken as confirmation. Anything new that doesn’t match our opinion it is resisted,ignored, or disregarded.

The fourth cup represents theideal way to be a student. It is upright, receiving what is taught. It has noholes, retaining what is taught. It is clean, open to learning something new. Towhatever extent you can, be like the fourth cup.

Don't "Cement" Your Lower Body When Chipping!

2011-11-08T10:00:00.000-05:00

When I was a junior… I was taught that the lower body shouldnot move… as in AT ALL… when chipping. So I really, REALLY worked hard on notmoving the lower body.

And I succeeded!

I succeeded… in feeling my back twinge in pain as I attempted to finish my swing.

I succeeded… in becoming "handsy" and scooping mychip shots causing everything from high shots, thin shots, and shots where Ihit behind the ball.

I succeeded… in my head moving backwards in effort to staystill… again causing me to hit behind the ball or on the ball’s equator as myclub went UP through the impact zone.

I succeeded… in becoming a poor and inconsistent shortgame golfer (sigh…).

As I grew older… I noticed that a lot of good players didNOT "cement their legs" when they chipped. There was movement in the lower body!At first I didn’t want to believe it! It’s like being told, “It’s okay to allowyour head to come up during the golf swing!” (It’s true!! You should never tryto keep your head down. Check out a previous post where I address this verysubject: Keep Your Head Down... UGH! ). But as I saw more andmore players, allowing their lower body to move… I started experimenting andwith great results!

The funny part is, that while I was taught as a junior thatI should keep my lower body quiet… cemented... I was also taught that the chip shot was amini-version of my full swing (So let me get this straight… I’m not supposed touse my lower body in the full swing?).

Actually… I DO agree that the chip shot is a mini-version ofthe full swing and I DO agree that there is body movement... in the chip shot as well as the full swing!

Like in the full swing… I believe the pivot of the biggermuscles of the body (hips, abs, chest, shoulders) move the smaller ones (arms,hands), which eventually move the club. What Ben Hogan called, "A chain reaction." Who am I to argue with Mr. Hogan!

So it’s okay to move the lower body… I encourage it! Look at how my right hip pocket pivots as I move to my finish position of this chip shot. Notice my legs,hips, and chest. Also look at how much my knees moved on the image taken frombehind. All these photos were taken during a Senior/Junior competition at Orange County National Golf Center and Lodge… where Iteach at.

Free up your lower body. Allow it to react and do what it’ssupposed to do and you’ll find yourself chipping the ball better.

Enjoy! And don’t forget to check out my new book at the topof this page. For Kindle users, it’s now available on Kindle for a mere $4.99.Even if you don't have a Kindle... you can download the app to your phone, PC or Mac! AND you can download a free sample of the eBook! Here’s the link:

"If Your Swing Thought is Longer Than a Tweet... IT'S TOO LONG!!"

Peace… Love… Golf!

Ted

True or False: Hips Slide During Downswing.

2011-11-04T10:00:00.000-04:00

True of False? The hips should slide laterally toward thetarget during the downswing.

“True?”... “False?”…

Golfers fear “sliding” or “swaying their hips toward thetarget to initiate the downswing… and rightfully so! Many golfers overdo thelateral movement leading to problems! Such as:

LOWER ball flight (as in too low!)…

LOWER BALL flight that GOES RIGHT (for a right handedgolfer)…

TOPPED shots…

DIVOT that happens TOO FAR FORWARD of the ball…

POOR ball contact...

STEEP divots...

LITTLE or NO BODY PIVOT… translated: DISTANCE LOSS!

(ugh!)

As an instructor, I see this quite a bit in juniors andlong-ball hitters, often caused by the obsession with distance (none of usadults obsess about distance… do we!?!?). In effort to get more distance theyslide their hips aggressively toward the target… sometimes overdoing it andresulting in one or more of the shots mentioned above.

BUT…

The hips DO slide! Limiting forward hip movement limits akey power move. Try throwing a ball by just rotating your hips with no forwardmovement and you’ll see what I mean.

Check out this quick video by Jim McLean commenting on BenHogan’s hip movement:

Check out the pictures below. The white lines indicate wherethe hips were at Address…

Aaron Baddeley at Impact with Hybrid

Freddy Couples at Impact with Driver

Ted Eleftheriou at Address

Ted Eleftheriou at Impact

(For those of you who don’t know who Ted Eleftheriou is… sigh…)

Here’s another video this time of Luke Donald… you know… the World’sTop Ranking Golfer! Check out the drill he’s performing. I’m guessinghe’s working on a bit of hip “bump.”

Wow! As in WOW!!

So…

Allow the hips to move laterally toward the target andtoward the left heel as you transition from the top of the swing to thedownswing.

Try this:

At address position, place a bag stand, umbrella, clubshaft, or something that’s about hip high… outside of your target-side hip(left hip for right-handed golfers). The position should be right up againstand outside of the target-side foot. If placed correctly, you’ll have aboutthree to four inches of space between the object and your hip.

Now… without a ball… take the club to the top of yourbackswing… and like Luke in the video above (maybe not as exaggerated… thenagain… maybe so!), s-l-o-w-l-y start the downswing by laterally moving the hipsand “bump” the object before pivoting to impact position. Do this several time.

Now remove the object (so you don’t impale yourself and upin the Emergency Room!), hit some half shots. Hold the finish position andcheck to see that your hip is over the target-side leg and you can feel yourweight transferring to heel of your target-side foot.

Eventually work this move into your full swing.

When doing this drill… although the hips move laterallytoward the target… the head should remain back and over the ball at impactposition. Review Luke Donald’s video. Notice how his head doesn’t move forward?If your head moves forward past the ball at impact… you’ll most likelyexperience one or more of the miss-hits mentioned at the beginning of thispost.

If done correctly… you’re shots will start a bit lower butthen climb to a nice trajectory (known as “tour flight”). You’ll also probablygain a few yards! Yay!

Let me know how it goes!!

Peace… Love… Golf!

Ted

BTW… the answer to the “True” or “False” questions is…“TRUE!”

Get a Grip ... On Your Golf Club!!

2011-11-02T10:00:00.000-04:00

I can never overly stress theimportance of a great grip. Here’s how I think many (as in MANY) poor shots happen…

Poor Shot caused by Poor Swing Finish caused by PoorImpact caused by Poor Downswing caused by Poor Backswing caused by Poor Set Upcaused by POOR GRIP!

It's amazing how many golfers who cometo me for lessons to gain more consistency, respond with “UGH!” when I suggestthat we have to start with a grip change. It’s almost like I can hear them thinking,“Nooooo…. I’ll do anything but change my grip!!”

But the grip is key! The hands (thegrip) are the only link to the club.

For a right-handed golfer, if thehands are holding the club grip in what’s known as a "weak" position (thismeans the hands are rotated too much toward the target or to the left of theclub) the ball will have a tendency to go high and curve to the right… like a LOT!

If the hands are holding the clubin a “strong” position (this means the hands are rotated too far away from thetarget or to the right of the club) the ball will have a tendency to go low andcurve to the right… like a LOT (redux!).

Strong or Weak grip positions causemuch, much more than directional problems. They affect the entire swing. Forexample, when the hands hold the club in a weak position (the most common gripI see as an instructor), it may…

1.Cause the club to rotate to an "open" position on the takeaway and backswing...

2.Cause overuse of hands when hitting the ball in efforts to make the ball gostraight...

3.Cause the direction of the ball to slice or fade to the right. Butoccasionally, to the left as well, because now the swing relies heavily on timing.On days when timing is good, shots will be decent, but when timing is off...shots will suffer (as will your score!)...

4.Cause the ball to fly too high which will result in distance loss...

5.Cause to hit behind the ball, but more often... there will be no divot when theball is struck… causing a thin or topped shot.

CURE: When placing the club in your hands, hold theclub up and in front of you. Place the left hand on the club first and makesure that the end of the club handle is tucked under the muscular pad of yourpalm... not in the lifeline or pad of your thumb. You should be able to suspendthe club in your hand just by the pad and first finger.

Club Suspended by Pad and First Finger of Left Hand

Once your left hand is on the club,check to see that the crease made by your thumb and palm is facing somewherebetween your chin and right ear.

When placing the right hand on the club, check to makesure that the left thumb fits completely in the lifeline of the right palm.When checking the crease of your right hand, it should be pointing someplacebetween your right ear and right shoulder.

Both creases should be parallel to each other andfavoring the right side of your body. When looking down to the ball at set up position...you should be able to see two-three knuckles of the left hand and thefingernails and first knuckle joints of the middle two fingers of the righthand.

Properly Positioned Hands

It doesn't matter if you use a “ten-finger” grip, “Interlocking”grip, or “Overlapping” grip. More importantly is the position of the hands onthe club.

Enjoy! And don’t forget to check out my new book at the topof this page. For Kindle users, it’s now available on Kindle for a mere $4.99. Even if you don't have a Kindle... you can download the app to your phone, PC or Mac! AND you can download a free sample of the eBook! Here’s the link:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005XOWG5K

Peace… Love… Golf!

Ted

Do You Have the Bends? I Mean in Golf!

2011-10-29T10:00:00.000-04:00

I see many golfers “stressed” over the fact that their leftarms (for right-handed golfers) are slightly bent at the elbow on thebackswing. In effort to fix the bend, they try to straighten the left arm by “locking”it in place. However, I don’t know of many activities where it’s a good idea to“lock” any body part.

If you struggle with the left arm bending… first of all…unless it’s excessively bent… DON’T STRESS ABOUT IT!! It’s perfectly fine tohave a little bit of bend in the left arm.

One of my All-Time Favorites - Jack! Bit of left arm bend.

Also… you may be surprised to find out that the left armbend doesn’t really have anything to do with the left arm. Usually, it’s theright arm that causes the left arm to collapse. (huh?!)

That’s right (no pun intended). When the right arm collapsesor tries to pull the club on the backswing rather than relying on the shouldersto move the club back, the left arm will bend.

Here… see for yourself. Take your backswing. Now bend yourright arm… notice what happened to the left arm? Now push outwards, away fromyour body, with the right arm. Notice how the left arm just became straighter?

My Left Arm is Straight Because My Right Arm Extends Outwards

So… if you want to “fix” the left arm bend, work on theright arm. As you take the club back… feel the right arm pushing out and awayfrom the body.

Enjoy! And don’t forget to check out my new book at the topof this page. For Kindle users, it’s now available on Kindle for a mere $4.99.Here’s the link:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005XOWG5K

Peace… Love… Golf!

Ted

The Golf Swing Takeaway - Like Sending a Rocket To the Moon!

2011-10-27T12:53:00.000-04:00

I remember a story that Mr. Romano, my sixth-grade teacher,once told the class. “If you fire a rocket to the moon, and you’re off just a ¼of an inch on the launch pad, and you make no adjustments along the way… you’dmiss the moon by 13,000 miles!”

I don’t know if he was just messing with us gullible kids,but the Ranger 3 Rocket, launched in 1958, made the wrong adjustment to themoon and did miss it by 22,000 miles!

I think the takeaway for the golf swing is kind of like amisfired rocket to the moon. If it’s off, the rest of the swing will becomprised of compensations to try to get back on course. If these compensationsdon’t happen… well… you might not miss the moon… but you will most likelymishit the ball… launching it off course to God knows where.

Here’s how to make sure your takeaway is on track:

Lay a club on the ground beginning from the outside of yourrear foot and extended away from the target. The club should be parallel toyour ball flight line (or target line). Using a 6-iron, set up to a golf ball.Begin the takeaway using your shoulders to pull the arms, hands, and club back.

Stop when the shaft is parallel to the ground and look forthe following checkpoints:

Takeaway Checkpoint from Down The Line

Takeaway Checkpoint from Face On

1.) Theclubshaft is parallel to the ground

2.) Theclubshaft is parallel to the clubshaft on the ground

3.) Thehands are the same distance from the body as they were at address

4.) Thehands are approximately the same height from the ground as at address

5.) Theleading edge of the clubhead is angled in approximation to your spine angle.

Make any adjustments if needed, and then return youreyes/head back to the ball. Finish the backswing from here and make a full golfswing to the end.

When doing this drill, it’s best that you tee the ball up sothat the focus is not so much on hitting the ball, but rather on the takeawayposition.

With some practice (and patience), you’ll keep the club ontrack throughout the swing… translated: Pure Golf Shot!

Enjoy! And don’t forget to check out my new book at the topof this page. For Kindle users, it’s now available on Kindle for a mere $4.99. Here’sthe link:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005XOWG5K

Peace… Love… Golf!

Ted

Soft Hands for a More Repeatable Golf Swing

2011-09-26T21:18:00.000-04:00

When the hands hold the golf clubtoo tightly in effort to control it, they add tension to the arms, which inturn produces slower clubhead speed and inconsistent shots.

For a more repeatable golf swing,while pivoting the body, focus on keeping the hands passive throughout theswing. This creates clubhead lag (clubhead trails behind hands) until themoment of impact when the club automatically releases and in essence “whips”out and “impacts” the ball with incredible “thrust.”

To illustrate… imagine a line ofice skaters holding hands. If the inside skater starts to rotate… the outsideskater in the line is “whipped” around at tremendous speed… basically holdingon for dear life! If something got in her way while being whipped around…YIKES!

Think of the golf swing in thesame way. Your body… is the inside ice skater. Your clubhead is the outsideskater. And the arms, hands, and clubshaft are like the skaters who connect thetwo together. When the body rotates… the clubhead gets whipped around, “impacting”the ball with great speed and power.

A drill I prescribe to mystudents is known as the “float load” drill (I’ve attached a video of medemonstrating the drill below). It’s called “float load”because during the transition from backswing to downswing… the club “floats” abit before changing direction.

Using a mid-iron, set up as ifyou’re going to hit a full shot. Release the tension of the hands to a grip pressureof about a “3-4” on a scale of “1-10” where “1” is loose and “10” is “deathgrip!” Focus on maintaining this constant “3-4” grip pressure as you startyour backswing with your chest, shoulders, and arms. Continue maintaining thesoft grip pressure as you begin to rotate your body toward the target, allowingthe club to lag behind the hands.

Keep the hands soft throughoutthe entire swing as the ball gets in the way of the club’s path. Resist theurge to “push” the clubhead back to the ball. Trust it! The clubhead will findit!

When watching the video… noticehow the angle between my arms and clubshaft decreases on the way down towardthe ball… NOT on the backswing. The club is really lagging behind the hands.An indicator that I’m holding the club lightly. For many amateurs… thisangle expands… indicating that they are using their hands in attempt to hit theball.

Finish with the club low, handsabout waist high, and target-side wrist flat (left hand wrist for right-handedgolfers). At finish, you should “feel” the weightiness of the club in yourhands and the grip pressure should STILL be about a “3-4.” Seriously… I’m notkidding.

Once you’ve hit a bazillion (andone) “float load” drills… I want you to hit full shots while being very aware ofthe soft grip pressure during the downswing and follow-through. Let the clubcontrol the release of the hands into impact!

It is important to note that althoughI speak of softening the grip pressure on the club, I am not asking you to slowdown your swing! “Softer” is not synonymous with “slower.” Stay aggressive withyour body pivot while keeping the hands passive. Make sure you make a completebackswing… follow-through… and finish!

Use the float load drill forwarming up. And when practicing… alternate between float load drills and fullswings. Eventually you will create a more repeatable golf swing that willproduce consistency in your game.

By the way… have you noticed the new eBook

“If Your SwingThought is Longer than a Tweet… It’s Too Long!”

I’m offering at the top of my blog? It’s filled with hundreds of my most popular Twitter-lengthgolf tips to assist you with your golf game! Organized by categories foreasy viewing.

The cost? Less than a full packof tees. Probably Way less than a lost ball. Surely WAY, WAY, less than thecost of a greenfee! Only $5!! Click on the link AND make sure you include youremail address. I’ll email you the eBook within 24 hours! THANKS and ENJOY!

Peace… Love… Golf!

Stop Wasting Your Money on Golf Lessons ...

2011-05-09T23:51:00.000-04:00

Stop wasting your money on golf lessons...

IF ... You're resistant to change and you don't plan on implementing any of the changes suggested during your lessons...

IF ... You don't practice what your instructor has given you during your golf lessons (drills, practice routines, exercises, etc...)...

IF ... Your idea of a lesson is telling the instructor what's wrong with your swing and you proceed to tell her how you plan on fixing it...

IF ... You're looking for a quick fix that can make you a scratch golfer by the weekend (see above comment on practice!)...

IF ... You base the success of the lesson on how many balls you hit during the lesson...

IF ... You play golf on the driving range (all you focus on is hitting targets)... and play driving range on the golf course (you think about mechanics instead of thinking about your targets)...

IF ... You think ALL your lessons should be on the full swing...

IF ... You don't want to improve!

Proper Grip Pressure for Putting

2011-05-02T14:57:00.000-04:00

When giving putting lessons I oftentimes see amateurs take their gloves off. When I ask why, the response is usually that it helps them "feel" the putter better... something I'm sure they picked up from watching the pros on the tube. However, when I watch them putt, these same students "death grip" their putters in attempt to keep their putter face square and on target. Hardly any "feel" is present at all (well I guess strangulation might be considered a feeling!).

When "trying" to keep the putter face square, the opposite can occur... producing an open putter face through impact and resulting in missed putts to the right (if you're a right-handed golfer).

To remedy this, hold the putter light enough so that you can "feel" (I do love that word!) the weight of the putter head throughout the stroke. Taking the control out of your hands places the shoulders in charge of moving the putter back and forth... and thats a good thing.

I even encourage my students to sense the putter head "releasing" through impact... thus "allowing" (another word I'm very fond of as it pertains to golf) the putter to do the work that it was designed to do. This increases the chances of the putter face returning squarely back to the ball AND the bonus is... that by allowing the putter to do the work... distance control will improve as well.

For Great Impact Position... Think Post-Impact Position

2011-04-05T10:17:00.003-04:00

Post-Impact Position

Impact position in the golf swing... where club meets ball.... the position that separates amateurs from professionals... appropriately dubbed the "moment of truth."

Great impact should have some of the following key elements (right-hander's perspective)...

Flat left wrist... bent right wrist...
Straight left arm... slightly bent right arm...
Clubshaft leaning forward (toward target and ahead of ball)
Head back behind ball...
Weight transferring to left side...
Hips turned "open" about 45 degrees to target line...
Shoulders slightly "open" or squared to target line...
etc...

If you're struggling with achieving proper impact position... then the solution is to break the swing down to a "pitch shot" AND rather than focusing on impact position... focus on POST-IMPACT position (as seen in the image).

Set up as if you were going to hit a full shot... but hit little pitch shots (about 20 yards is plenty)... and hold your finish... meaning HOLD YOUR FINISH! Look for...

Heck... look at the previous list and insert the bullets in the list above. In other words... other than a few slight variations... the finish position in your post-impact position should be pretty darn close to your impact position ( I say close because at post-impact... the right arm has now straightened). If you can get to post-impact with the items listed... then it only makes sense that you were in good position at impact as well.

So don't try to fix impact during your full swing... and don't try to fix impact by only stopping at impact... but rather fix impact by focusing on the results in post-impact.

Once you can execute the pitch shot drill correctly... go back to your full swing and enjoy. Mind you... if you've had poor impact position for years... don't expect to fix it in a day... or two... or week... etc... It takes time to undo!!

The Chip Putt

2011-03-16T22:13:00.001-04:00

Just off the green? Can't putt because of rough terrain between your ball and the green? Then try the Chip Putt. Watch this short video to learn how!

Short Golf Tips From Twitter - Part Two of Two

2011-02-24T09:03:00.011-05:00

Here is the second post containing a brief compilation of Golf Tips I posted on Twitter. This first (previous) post offered some fullswing and shortgame tips... this one is more general in nature with several "tweets" for parents.

Not following me on Twitter yet? Please do. I'm at: http://twitter.com/#!/CreateGolfers

Enjoy!

GENERAL "STUFF..."

To fix a golf swing sometimes requires not playing for a while... just like you can't fix a car while you're still driving it!

The challenge in making a grip change is that you must first admit to yourself that your old grip just isn't working well.

"I feel that hitting specific shots-playing the ball 2 a certain place in a certain way is 50% mental, 40% setup & 10% swing." -- Jack Nicklaus

"The main thing for the average golfer is to keep any conscious hand action out of his swing." -- Ben Hogan

When in a fairway bunker, unless you have the perfect lie, your goal should be about positioning the next shot, not distance.

Hit... Hold... Relax. HIT the shot... HOLD the finish while the ball climbs... RELAX the finish as the ball falls to the earth.

If you hit a poor shot... immediately rehearse what a good shot would feel like to replace the bad image

"Most common swing wreckers: 1.) Steering, 2.) Forcing, 3.) Thinking." - Dr. Richard Coop

You don't practice to hit good shots on the range. You practice to hit good shots on the last hole of the biggest match of your life!

To improve, you must go to where the problem is and work at it bit by bit, drill by drill, day by day. Rarely are there any shortcuts!

AND FOR PARENTS OF JUNIOR GOLFERS...

Parents: Praise your child for giving it their all and trying their best on every shot regardless of their golf score.

Parents: if you're not a good golfer... your role should be to offer support to your child when playing golf... NOT swing tips!

Parents" Remember, you're an equal partner in your child's golfing development. By your support, knowledge, inspiration, or advice.

Golf Tips From Twitter - Part One of Two

2011-02-21T09:03:00.004-05:00

Here is a brief compilation of Golf Tips I posted on Twitter. I'm going to break it up over two blog posts. The second one will be out in a couple of days. Hopefully you'll find some valuable tidbits of info that will help you with your golf game. This first post covers Fullswing and Shortgame.

Not following me on Twitter yet? Please do. I'm at: http://twitter.com/#!/CreateGolfers

Enjoy!

FULLSWING...

The rear knee anchors the backswing; when it buckles or straightens, the hips slide or over rotate and the swing becomes too long.

When hitting out of thick rough, position the ball midway between your feet. Moving it back in your stance helps hit down on ball.

What causes casting at impact? 1) Right hand 'pushes" the clubhead. 2) Something stopped causing the clubhead to outrace the hands.

Good swings make crash landings (divot), safe swings make safe landings (little or no divot).

To get my students to use more hips, I oftentimes put a head cover in their right pocket & have them finish with it towards target.

When swinging a rope... hands don't control the end. It's the same with a golf club... hands don't control the clubhead.

There is no such thing as a “wrong” golf club distance. Whatever distance YOU hit the golf ball is the right distance for… well… for YOU!

Keeping the head "frozen" or down too long in the swing prohibits good rotation and can cause the clubhead to out race the hands too soon.

When making a full golf swing, let the arms and club go left after impact. Notice the word is "let" not "make!"

SHORTGAME

When pitching or chipping, never increase your swing speed to hit the ball farther. For more distance simply use a longer swing.

When pitching out of deep grass... choke down on grip so shaft is more vertical... allowing clubhead to come down at steeper angle.

I see so many golfers use only one club for chipping and pitching. That's like a guitar player using only one string!

When putting, first focus on type of grass, slope, direction of grain, moisture, etc. Then execution: practice stroke, alignment, swing cue.

"Most makeable putts are missed because of fear or a negative attitude, not because of faulty technique per se." --Jack Nicklaus

Golf Instruction - Disney Style

2011-01-22T22:50:00.000-05:00

1944 - How to Play Golf (Goofy) Disney Classic

Five Tips to Help YOU Overcome "First Tee Jitters!"

2010-09-09T14:29:00.001-04:00

In golf… there aren’t many shots that produce more anxiety, rattle nerves, or cause more embarrassment than THE FIRST SHOT OF THE ROUND. When ripped down the middle, tension goes away, a smile forms on the lips, and the walk back to the golf bag is with head held high, shoulders back and a strut that says, “Piece of cake. You’re up!”

However… top the first shot, slice it OB, or ruin someone’s BBQ at the house on the left, and the thoughts go to: “This is going to be a very long day… very.”

Here are five tips to help you overcome the “First Tee Jitters:”

1. Visualize and Recall

You’ve no doubt hit a good drive before… and it’s stored someplace in your memory… your job is to recall it, re-live it, and visualize it before stepping up to the ball. Recall a past success you’ve had with the club in your hand. Experience it again and be as vivid as possible recalling the way the shot looked, felt, and the overall feeling of success. Take a practice swing or two while recalling that great shot.

2. Practice the First Tee Shot on the Driving Range

Arrive to the golf course early enough to allow for some warm-up time on the range. During that time, choose the club that you will be using on the first tee and imagine or pretend that you are on the first tee. Go through your entire preshot routine… including choosing a target on the range. Then hit the shot as if hitting to the first fairway.

3. NOT the Driver

Who says you have to hit the driver on the first tee? If the driver doesn’t give you the confidence needed for hitting a great first shot… then leave it in the bag and choose the longest club that gives you the most confidence and chance of hitting the fairway. You’d be better off keeping the ball in play… than hitting it 30 yards more… OB!

4. Release the Tension

Many years ago… when I was a volunteer first tee starter at Knollwood Country Club in Granada Hills, California, it amazed me the number of times I heard golfers exhale after they hit their shots as if they were holding their breath under water for two-minutes. Translated: TENSION!

Eliminate tension by using the techniques used by great players. 1) Waggle the club back and forth, keeping your wrists and hands tension free and feeling the weight of the clubhead in your fingers. 2) Constantly move your feet a bit as if trying to find the right feel, stance or alignment. And 3) “milk” the grip, slightly taking your hands off the grip of the club as if adjusting your hands on the grip. Try one or all three of these techniques to relieve tension… and oh yeah… don’t forget to exhale!!

5. Only One Swing Thought

One swing thought is all you should allow yourself on the first tee… heck… perhaps during the entire round. And not, “Oh God… Please let me make contact without looking like a fool in front of everyone!” I’m a praying man… but you may want to think of something more like… “Complete the finish,” or “Good tempo,” or “Light grip pressure.” My favorite thought? I choose a target and try to focus on the image of the target throughout the entire swing.

Well there you go. Good luck to you and remember… chances are regardless of the outcome… the sun will still rise tomorrow… your wife, kids and dog will still love you... and it’s golf… not brain surgery. In other words… keep it all in perspective!

No Excuse for Sloppiness!

2010-09-02T15:18:00.000-04:00

Every golfer, regardless of playing ability, strength, physique, or age, should go through a pre-shot and set up routine that focuses on grip, stance, posture, ball position, and alignment. These are all controllable elements... there's no excuse for being sloppy.

Yet I am amazed at how many students who come to me for golf lessons... hardly give any thought to their set up or pre-shot routine. Why is this so important? Let me answer the question with a formula:

POOR GRIP + POOR STANCE + POOR POSTURE + POOR BALL POSITION + POOR ALIGNMENT = POOR GOLF!

Enough said!

In the Greater Orlando area? Schedule a lesson with Ted. Email him at: Teleftheriou[at]ocngolf.com

Kyle Lograsso... Amazing!

2010-08-03T22:55:00.000-04:00

Watch this video... INCREDIBLE.

But make sure you watch it in its entirety. There's so much more here than just a story about an amazing junior golf prodigy!

Keep those tissues handy.

Kyle Lograsso @ Yahoo! Video

New Orange County National Golf Learning Center!!

2010-07-14T09:34:00.000-04:00

Orange County National Golf Center and Lodge is pleased to announce the new Orange County National Golf Learning Center. Our learning center offers a variety of instruction programs designed to accommodate everyone's golfing goals, schedules, and budgets!

Our commitment is to create memorable guest experiences by offering excellent golf instruction programs in a friendly, non-threatening environment… designed not only to learn ABOUT the game of golf, but more importantly… to PLAY the game of golf.

So whether you’re an avid golfer, a junior, or someone interested in trying the game for the first time... we have unique programs just for YOU! For more information or to schedule a lesson, contact PGA Director of Instruction, Ted Eleftheriou at 407.905.2238 or email him at Teleftheriou[at]ocngolf.com.

Anthony Kim Video Analysis - Down the Line

2010-07-08T09:23:00.000-04:00

Anthony Kim has a great swing. No wasted motion... which allows him to really attack the ball. A swing that would do amateurs well to emulate.

Have a look at this down the line view of Anthony's swing, which starts from a great athletic stance at address.Watch his clubshaft as he's halfway back on his swing... his clubshaft is pointing at the ball... club's still on plane.

Then watch his clubshaft... as mentioned in the video... halfway down on the downswing... again... his clubshaft is pointing at the ball and on the original set up swing plane.

Finally, watch his clubshaft after he hits the ball... when it appears again on the other side of the body. His clubshaft is pointing at... yup... where the ball used to be (it's pointing at the tee on the ground). Magnificently on plane yet again.

No wasted motion... no need for compensation... just simple. Simple is good.

To achieve this... using a mid-iron... practice hitting golf balls using only half swings. From Letter "L" to backwards Letter "L" positions (when arms are parallel to the ground and clubshaft points to the sky.)

If possible... take a video of yourself and check to see that the clubshaft is pointing at the spot where the ball is during the backswing... and where the ball was during the follow-through (See my images below taken during one of my full swings.).

Bonus: Typically... if your club is pointing more vertical (upright) at these positions... you will fade or slice the ball. If you club is more horizontal (flatter) at these positions... you will draw or hook the ball. Experiment and have fun!!

Happy Birthday - Land That I Love

2010-07-04T12:35:00.000-04:00

This Fourth of July... our country celebrates its 234th year of independence. WOW! Unbelievable! It seems so long ago... yet... then again... as a nation we're still just babies. If the saying, "Home is where the heart is," rings true... then America is where I call home and where my heart is. Sure we have our struggles... but what home doesn't? But when all is said and done, "united we stand." As a nation... today we celebrate... together! ENJOY!

Here are some links you should check out:

Read what Tom Peters' has to say about America as a nation: Click Here

When was the last time you read the Constitution of the United States? Read it Here.

Here's a great site that supports are men and women in the military... heroes that they are. Visit Here

Here's a quick video to check out which highlights key events through America's History:

A History of the United States in 3 Minutes @ Yahoo! Video

Have a great 4th of July!
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One Swing

2010-06-28T07:34:00.001-04:00

Your clubs are designed in a way... that from your wedges to your driver... lofts decrease while shaft lengths increase. Unfortunately... many golfers attempt to swing differently with each club since visually a sandwedge looks a lot different than a driver. But this is where golfers err.

Regardless of the club... only one swing is needed. Yes... it is true that your stance width and ball position change with different clubs... but the swing itself remains fundamentally the same.

Clubshaft length will cause you to naturally be further or closer to the ball... while clubshaft length also dictates whether your swing is flatter or more upright. It just does. Therefore... since the driver has the longest shaft in the bag... which will cause you to be further from the ball... the swing will be flatter. However... for a wedge... the clubshaft is shorter... causing you to stand closer to the ball... making the overall swing more upright.

Translated...

your swing changes naturally for each club without any effort on your part.

Your goal then should be to make sure you have a proper setup... then focus on making a proper swing. We... us... golfers... usually find trouble when we TRY to make the swing happen rather than ALLOWING it to happen... thus LETTING the design of the club do what it was create to do.

Setting up a Practice Station

2010-06-26T09:47:00.000-04:00

Many people practice without paying attention to alignment…

Many people practice without paying attention to ball position…

Many people… um… don’t really practice… they just beat balls!

Most amateur golfers have practice sessions that look more like (i) some type of ritual used for warming up (kind of like golf aerobics!) or (ii) some type of contest to see how many balls they can hit in the shortest amount of time. “UGH!” to both of those!

The TOUR professionals I work with are always checking alignment and ball position when practicing… as in ALWAYS… as in EVERY one of them! If you don’t… you should.

One best practice that every golfer should use when practicing is to set up what’s known as a “practice station.” A practice station allows golfers to check alignment and ball position before every shot. To create one…

Pick a target on the range. Place a club on the ground parallel to the target line about halfway between your ball and your feet. This club will assist you with your alignment.

Place another club on the first one making a lowercase letter “t” and with the handle of the club pointing at the ball. Allow enough space between the ball and the end of the club so that you don’t hit it accidentally. This club will assist you with correct ball position.

Grip your club, and step in with your trail-side foot (foot furthest from the target) to the trail-side of the club (the one mentioned in step 2). Bend over from the hips and place the clubhead behind the ball. Pay attention to the leading edge of your club… it should be perpendicular to and facing the target.

Now, step in with your target-side foot (foot closest to the target) and place it on the target-side of the club on the ground.

Spread your feet until you have the desired width and check to make sure that the toes of your feet are the same distance from the club that is parallel to the target line.

Make any adjustments… look at your target… and let it rip.

Get in the habit of using a practice station often… actual… ALWAYS! And when those errant shots miss right or left of your target… at least you’ll know the answer to… I wonder if I was aiming there?

Happy Father's Day! And for Those who Waited on a Gift... Consider These!

2010-06-20T10:04:00.000-04:00

Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there! Sleeping in was not an option as a gift for me... but I don't mind! Hey for those of you who haven't (I'm sure for a good reason) purchased a gift for your dad yet... AND don't want to do the usual golf gift (although I don't know why you wouldn't) I searched the World Wide Web for you and came up with some suggestions for the perfect last minute Father's Day gift. Enjoy!!

For the dad who doesn't like to share his steak with others... may I suggest:

For the dad who spends more time than he probably should reading while on the throne... might as well let him do it in comfort with the Toastie Tush seat warmer:

I don't know about your dad... but I just HATE it when I get asked to cut the cake (like once a year!) and I don't have the right tools for the job. Don't let this happen to your dad... consider buying him:

This one just doesn't seem right... it encourages liquor and shooting... but for the dad that does both... may I suggest:

I don't know about your dad... but I just hate walking in the rain... when "POOF!"... a bunch of Ninjas appear out of thin air. Help dad counter-attack with:

And finally... since ties and Father's Day gifts seem to be synonymous... why not get him a tie with a purpose? May I suggest the Pillow Tie:

I've even included the visual directions for how to use this complicated device. Please read... er... view carefully:

Finish What you Started!

2010-06-13T15:20:00.001-04:00

Stephen R. Covey in his bazillion-dollar-mega-selling-blockbuster-book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People (Fireside) writes that Habit Two is to “Begin with the end in Mind.” I quote from the book…

“To begin with the end in mind means to start with a clear understanding of your destination. It means to know where you’re going so that you better understand where you are now and so that the steps you take are always in the right direction (emphasis mine).”

As an instructor… I see many students who don’t commit to finishing their swing or putting stroke. As a result, each swing or stroke finish is different… and when each finish is different… then…

Each…

Swing (stroke)…

Is…

Different!

Which means each shot will be different. PERIOD!

It happens to all of us… water on the left… out-of-bounds on the right… tight landing area… we make an uncommitted swing with a finish that looks like we’ve slammed on the brakes early (or hurt something)… trying to guide the club and steer the ball only to find… the very disaster we were trying to avoid. UGH!

To remedy this and to start developing a consistent swing, “begin with the end in mind.”

For me… for a fullswing… it means making sure that the right side of my body (I’m a right-handed golfer) finishes closer to the target than my left side. That I’m balanced at the end. And that the clubshaft has come to rest behind my head at an angle that appears as if it is going through my ears.

For you… next time your practicing or playing, determine what your finish will look like during your preshot routine (beginning with the end in mind), and always… as in ALWAYS commit that regardless of the quality of the shot, you will finish your swing AND hold it.

I like to have students count their name three times while holding their finish. You can imagine with a last name like Eleftheriou… I’m in the finish position for quite some time!! Check out the video below… you’ll see that I hold my finish regardless if I’m hitting 8-iron or driver! Check out the cool club twirl at the end!

For accomplished players… hold the finish position while the ball is climbing… and only when it starts to descend… should you relax your position, watch it land until it comes to rest.

By committing to a great finish AND holding it… it’s amazing how the swing oftentimes becomes better for the mere reason that a lot of good “stuff” has to happen during the swing to get to that great finish position! Almost MAGICALLY!!

In regards to putting… watch how many pros hold their putting stroke finish for quite some time… oftentimes until the ball drops in the cup! It’s a good… no a GREAT idea for YOU to hold your finish until the ball comes to a complete stop. By holding your putting stroke finish… you will develop a consistent putting stroke which will greatly improve your ball speed.

SSSOOOOOooooo… PICTURE your finish during preshot routine (begin with the end in mind), COMMIT to your finish… and HOLD your finish. Let’s put it this way… I’ve never had a golfer tell me that they hit the ball worse because they made a good finish and held it… never (as in NEVER! EVER!).

Golf is an Incredible Game

2010-06-01T16:03:00.000-04:00

Golf is an incredible game. One of only a few sports for which one can play their entire lives. It's brought many years of enjoyment to my life and I look forward to new opportunities of enjoyment... with old and new friends.

Golfers sometimes get discouraged with the game... THEIR game. But there is no reason why golfers can’t achieve their golfing potential. Notice I didn’t say TOUR status… because that’s not everyone’s desire. But with time, patience, proper practice, good instruction, and of course… making it fun, everyone… as in EVERYONE can enjoy this great game of golf.

Here are several quotes from some great golfers that I wanted to share with you:

“It’s a funny thing, the more I practice the luckier I get.”

– Arnold Palmer

“I’ve always made a total effort, even when the odds seemed entirely against me. I never quit trying, I never felt that I didn’t have a chance to win.”

- Arnold Palmer

“Don’t be too proud to take a lesson. I’m not.”

– Jack Nicklaus

“I never played a round when I didn’t learn something new about the game.”

- Ben Hogan

“Forget your opponents. Always play against par.”

- Sam Snead

“A golfer has to train his swing on the practice tee, then trust it on the course.”

- Dr. Bob Rotella

“I am a winner. I just didn’t win today.”

- Greg Norman

“I have been keeping a diary since I started professional golf…. But the most important notation is the one I make at the back of every diary that I begin at every new year. There are three words, each followed by an exclamation mark. Those words are: “Persevere! Persevere! Persevere!”

- Nick Price

The last quote by Nick Price is one of my favorites. Because of him… I have kept diaries for years and for many of my pursuits… not just golf. Those three words, “Persevere! Persevere! Persevere!” are words that I apply and remind myself in whatever it is that I’m tackling in golf and in life. I hope they bring encouragement to you as well… in all that you are trying to accomplish.

How's Your Distance to the Ball at Address?

2010-05-11T05:40:00.002-04:00

If you're suffering from inconsistent ball striking and loss of balance perhaps it's time to check the distance between you and the ball at address.

Standing too close to the ball causes golfers to stand too upright, losing the forward upper body tilt. The arms won’t have enough room to hang and swing freely, causing the club to be lifted by the hands in the backswing, forced down on the downswing, and lifted again to the finish position. Since the hands are overly active, the body will remain relatively inactive resulting in poor club contact with the ball and very weak shots.

Standing too close to the ball causes golfers to bend over too much, creating poor posture that could lead to back injuries and the tendency to lift the upper body during the backswing, causing the weight to shift to the heels. If the body remains in this position during the downswing, usually the golfer hits the top of or “tops” the ball. However, typically the body attempts to bend over again during the downswing in effort to reach the ball, causing the golfer to fall off balance and the club to hit the ground prior to contacting the ball.

To ensure YOU have proper distance to your ball at address:

First, get into proper posture.

Bend toward the ball from the hips… not the waist. Bending at the waist causes slouching, which prevents the body from rotating properly.
Place your weight over the midstep to balls of your feet. If you can tap your toes too easily… your weight is too far back over your heels. If you can move your heels up and down too easily... your weight is too far forward and over your toes.
Evenly distribute your weight between the left and right foot.
Set the leading edge of the golf club behind the ball and perpendicular to the target.
Place the ball about middle to forward of your stance for most irons and about two inches inside the target foot heel (foot closest to the target) for woods.

Now...

Take the trailing hand (hand furthest away from target) off the club and make a fist.
Without moving any other body part AND maintaining the five positions mentioned above, lengthwise, check the space between the club handle and your target side thigh. IF…

§ You are hitting a wood… the space should be about two fist lengths.

§ You are using irons for full shots… the space should be about a fist and two inches (extend your thumb to give you roughly two inches).

§ You are using irons for less than full shots (pitch shots, chips, knockdowns, etc…)… the space should be one fist (perhaps less for some chip shots).

Using the method above, should you discover that you are too far from the ball, it is imperative that you move closer to the ball by STEPPING closer, not by bending your knees more (as I oftentimes see). Should you discover that you are too close to the ball, again, STEP away to achieve the desired distance rather than straightening your knees.

Go through these checklists EVERY TIME you address your ball and enjoy better balance and improved ball striking.

Keep Your Head Down... In Putting!!

2010-05-04T12:30:00.000-04:00

Once again… putting determined the outcome of another PGA win. This time by a “young gun” named Rory McIlroy, who sunk an incredible putt for birdie on the 18^th hole to secure the victory at the Quail Hollow Championship.

A key to great putting is having the proper head position at address. Professional golfers are aware of their head position, keeping it low and looking directly down on top of the ball. This lower head position assists the shoulders in moving more “up and down” versus around, which results in a putter path with less arc. Less arc translates to straighter putts because the putter face is on target longer through impact.

Amateurs on the other hand, have a tendency of keeping their head too high at address. This creates a putter path that curves too much, resulting in a very small window of opportunity for which the putter face is in line with the target. If the point of contact with the ball is too early, the resulting putt will produce a push… too late and it will be a pull.

Here’s how to get you putting like a pro.

At home, place a pillow against a wall and lean forward until the TOP OF YOUR HEAD rests on the pillow. Do this by tucking your chin closer to your chest versus bending more at your waist. Bending too much at the waist will feel awkward and quickly tire your back. With putter in hand, set your putter so that the toe is against the base of the wall.

Make several putting strokes with your head against the pillow and feel the shoulders moving the putter back and forth. If the head is in the correct position, the putter should remain close to the base of the wall throughout the entire stroke. After repeating this several times, move away from the wall, duplicate your setup and repeat the putting stroke. Finally, try this with an actual golf ball.

Now let’s take it to the golf course. Choose a straight putt about three feet in length. At address position focus on having the back of your head as parallel to the ground as possible (imagine the top of your head leaning against the pillow on the wall). If done correctly, your face will be looking directly down at the ball (The pupils of your eyes will be in the center of your eye sockets, as opposed to looking at the ball from the bottom of your eye sockets.).

Stroke the putt, hold your finish, celebrate your victory! Enjoy!

Great Tips to Improve Your Swing from the Latest Book I've Read

2010-04-17T12:44:00.001-04:00

Hey golfers! Check out these great instructional excerpts for your golf swing from this great book I read (actually have reread… and reread… and reread…).

“As with any science, there are fundamentals, certain tenets of hitting…. But it is not an exact science. Much of it has been poorly defined, or not defined at all, and some things have been told wrong for years.”

“I like to demonstrate the necessary ingredients of a good swing, because there is logic in using them in the optimum way, but there are a dozen deviations from the norm: …, choking up, moving away…, moving closer…, things dependent on an individual and his makeup. Show me ten great hitters and I’ll show you ten different styles….”

“The better professional golfers are thinking all the time. I’m sure if you asked Tom Watson if he had to hit a five-iron through a twenty-five-mile crosswind, how much draw he’d have to put on it to make it drift to the target, he could tell you exactly how much. It wasn’t just his physical ability, it was his devotion to practice, his concentration, and his observation. And in order to excel a hitter has to have those things.”

“A great hitter isn’t born, he’s made. He’s made out of practice, fault correction and confidence.”

“Your weight should be balanced, distributed evenly on both feet and slightly forward on the balls of the feet, with the knees bent and flexible. If you insist on resting back on your heels, find another occupation. The feet are good and planted, the lead foot open so as not to restrict your pivot.”

Swing Sequence (beginning from the top of the swing):

“Hips begin to open up… and lead way into swing.”

“Shoulders begin to open, head is back.”

“Hip action is far ahead, pulling arms around.”

“Hands are already past… well in front.”

“Wrists are still unbroken through ideal hitting zone.”

“In fully extended power swing, hands move through hitting area as the hips are opened. Hands still lead, arms extend thus increasing arc.”

“The wrists do not roll. Action at point of impact is comparable to that of the hard, unbroken swing of an ax.”

“Sam Snead was once quoted as telling President Eisenhower, ‘You can’t hit with authority until you get your butt into the ball.’”

“You have shifted your weight from one foot to the other, but have maintained balance….”

“As the hips come around, the hands follow… and as they get into the hitting area the speed is increasing. One naturally follows the other. You can’t get the proper action without the hips clearing the way.”

“… the impact on the ball is reached not with the wrists rolling, or a ‘wrist’ swing, but with the wrists square and unbroken…. The power is always applied before the wrists roll.”

“You get your power not so much from the wrists or the arms and shoulders, but from the rotation of the hips into the ball.”

“One point must be re-emphasized, however: the hips set the swing in motion and lead the way. If they are restricted, if you don’t open them wide enough, the wrists will roll prematurely. They won’t stay in that good strong position long enough to make proper contact.”

“When you first start going bad, you just try harder. Then you press, which means you do things unnaturally. Then you imagine you’re getting all the tough breaks and you start feeling sorry for yourself.”

Well there you go! Timeless tips on hitting the ball. You should apply them to your game.

Oh… I almost forgot to give you the title of the book. It’s called, “The Science of Hitting” by Ted Williams. Yup. That’s right. It’s a book on how to hit a baseball. Hmmm… So much for all the baseball players out there that claim that baseball ruined their golf swings… and vice-versa!

If in the Greater Orlando area... give me a shout for a lesson. Email me at: CreateGolfers (at) Gmail.com. And don't forget to bring your baseball glove! :)

Persevering Through Change

2010-03-26T12:42:00.000-04:00

Honestly… as a golf instructor… I stress out at times. I stress because I see some students “get” what I’m trying to communicate to them, which makes them better golfers… while others… well… just don’t.

This is why I obsess on growing as an instructor by working on being a better communicator… studying to know my craft better… and continuously seeking new and better ways to help my students… physically and psychologically. And yet still… some student’s “get it”… and others don’t.

I’ve been reading this great book called Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard (Broadway Books) by Chip and Dan Heath. And I started thinking about the difficulty of change in golf. Hmmm.

In the book they speak about Tim Brown, the CEO of IDEO, the world’s preeminent product design firm. Brown believes that, “…every design process goes through ‘foggy periods.’ One of IDEO’s designers even sketched out a ‘project mood chart’ that predicts how people will feel at different phases of a project. It’s a U-shaped curve with a peak of positive emotion, labeled ‘hope,’ at the beginning and a second peak of positive emotion , labeled ‘confidence,’ at the end. In between the two peaks is a negative emotional valley labeled ‘insight.’

“Brown says that design is ‘rarely a graceful leap from height to height.’ When a team embarks on a new project, team members are filled with hope and optimism. As they start to collect data and observe real people struggling with existing products, they find that new ideas spring forth effortlessly. Then comes the difficult task of integrating all those fresh ideas into a coherent new design. At this ‘insight’ stage, it’s easy to get depressed, because insight doesn’t always strike immediately.

“The project often feels like a failure in the middle. But if the team persists through this valley of angst and doubt, it eventually emerges with a growing sense of momentum… That’s when the team reaches the peak of confidence.”

Seth Godin, in his brilliant book called, The Dip: A Little Book That Teaches You When to Quit (and When to Stick) uses a similar illustration. “At the beginning, when you first start something, it’s fun… it’s interesting, and you get plenty of good feedback from the people around you.

“Over the next few days and weeks, the rapid learning you experience keeps you going. Whatever your new thing is, it’s easy to stay engaged in it.

“And then the Dip happens.

“The Dip is the long slog between starting and mastery. A long slog that’s actually a shortcut, because it gets you where you want to go faster than any other path.

“The Dip is the combination of bureaucracy and busywork you must deal with in order to get certified in scuba diving.

“The Dip is the difference between the easy “beginner” technique and the more useful ‘expert’ approach in skiing or fashion design.

“The Dip is the long stretch between beginner’s luck and real accomplishment.”

Later he writes... “The people who set out to make it through the Dip – the people who invest the time and the energy and the effort to power through the Dip - those are the ones who become the best in the world.”

Ahhh… “the best in the world (I like that).” Chip and Dan Heath put it this way, “…because people will persevere only if they perceive falling down as learning rather than as failing.” (I like that: redux!)

Can you see how this might apply to golf? When we’re first introduced to the game… it’s fun… it’s new… it’s exciting! We see big successes early on. We make contact with the ball… the ball goes forward… eventually the ball goes forward up in the air… the ball goes forward up in the air and with an increase in distance… etc….

But then, as we get better and our scores drop from 130 for 9-holes to 118 for 18-holes… the Dip happens… the bottom of the “U” happens. Improvement seems slower. We have to learn more mechanics. We have to practice more. We have to invest in better equipment. We have to make a GRIP CHANGE!! (For some, having a root canal would be easier!)

And that’s when oftentimes… discouragement happens. We’re in the Dip. That grip change is causing the ball to go left. The grip change feels uncomfortable. The grip change has increased the score. It’s easier to go back to what feels comfortable at the expense of getting better. And therein lays the angst of why people don’t... get better that is.

YET!! For those who persevere through the Dip… through the valley… discover that it’s worth it. WAY WORTH IT! The grip change eventually fixes the swing plane… which eventually fixes the club path… which eventually fixes the ball flight… which eventually finds the target… more often.

Yes… as a teacher I stress at times. But during those times when progress seems slow for my students… my responsibility is to encourage, motivate, and remind them that at the other side of the Dip… or valley… lies SUCCESS!

Are you in the Dip… in the valley… right now? Persevere… persevere… PERSEVERE! It will be well worth it.

In the greater Orlando area? Need a lesson? Give me a shout! CreateGolfers@Gmail.com

You Can't Dwell on the Past and Focus on the Present at the Same Time

2010-03-01T13:30:00.000-05:00

Sometimes people we play golf with are not always polite… sometimes our golf ball ends up under the lip of a bunker (or in trees!)… sometimes warm up sessions before tournaments don’t always build confidence... yet golfers who manage to play close to their potential, regardless of challenges they experience on the golf course, do so by learning to remain focused, channeling their emotions (good or bad) and bouncing back from setbacks.

To play consistently one must be able to move quickly through unproductive and detrimental self-condemnation and/or anger. Good players know how to do this. They acknowledge and even express their emotions... but then they apply a type of "self-induced amnesia." They are able to quickly move on and focus on the job at hand.

If you continue to mentally chastise yourself about the last putt you missed or the errant shot that embedded under the lip of a bunker, you cannot possibly focus on the commitment needed to successfully execute the present shot. You just can’t do both… dwell on the past AND perform well in the present.

To be successful, you must clear your mind of negative thoughts and images AND stop trying to predict the outcome of the future. In other words... stay in the NOW! How? It's called: PRESHOT ROUTINE.

TRY THIS:

Next time you’re on the practice facility, whether practicing for competition or for a “skins” game this coming weekend, rehearse your entire preshot routine on every third shot.

§ Place all your clubs in the bag.

§ Choose a specific target (the smaller the target, the better) and identify the yardage.

§ Check lie, wind direction and strength, and any other factors that would assist in determining club selection.

§ Decide and visualize the shot you want to execute (i.e.… knockdown, high fade, etc…).

§ Make your club selection and pull the club out of your bag.

§ Take a practice swing and F-E-E-L the swing needed to successfully execute the shot you’ve chosen.

§ Go through your alignment routine.

§ Spend more time looking at your target than you do at the ball (Most people do the opposite… they stare at their ball… oftentimes NEVER LOOKING UP AT THE TARGET!!!).

§ When you look at the target for the last time, inhale through your nose and slowly exhale through your mouth.

§ As you approach the end of your exhale, pull the trigger, trust your swing and just let go!

§ Place your club back in the bag.

§ Pick a new target for the next preshot routine rehearsal.

Each step in the above preshot routine example had a deliberate purpose… to keep the golfer focused on the shot at hand. No steps included:

§ Dwell on and beat your self up over the previous error made.

§ Focus on what the future holds while trying to execute your present shot.

An effective preshot routine assists the golfer to focus on the job at hand AND provides the rehearsal needed in executing the present shot to the best of one’s abilities. Therefore, being that the preshot routine is an integral part of successful shot execution, it should be rehearsed as part of your practice routine when working on swing mechanics.

In summary, acknowledge… but let go of past errors (they already happened). Don’t jump to future conclusions (they haven’t happened yet). AND incorporate a consistent preshot routine to keep you focused on the job at hand (translated: the present is all that you can control).

In the Orlando area? Schedule a lesson with Ted and experience the difference! Contact Ted at: CreateGolfers@gmail.com

Play YOUR Game!

2010-02-23T10:00:00.003-05:00

Be honest now… have you ever switched clubs just prior to a shot, say on a par-3 hole, because your friend / opponent / partner played one to two clubs less that the club you were going to use… AND got it on the green?!?! And you switched not because you thought you had too much club… but totally because of EGO!! Knowing full well you could never reach the green?

And what happened? You switched your club, swung out of your “zapatos” (translated: swung so hard you came out of your shoes!), and the ball landed short… or worse yet… in the bunker guarding the flag stick!

Then you don’t want your friend / opponent / partner to think you’re a whimp… so you cover up with, “I caught that one thin” or “I caught that one on the toe” or “I should have hit one more club because I’m using blades and their set to traditional lofts.”

Uh huh. Thought so. Well… from my understanding… it’s still a game where score counts. Really. It is! I looked it up!

Honestly… who really cares what club you used? Tournaments are won by low scores…, you break 80 by… well… scoring less than 80…, and a score of three on a par-3 hole beats a score of four regardless of the club used. PERIOD!

So get over worrying what others may think of you (based on club selection? Are you serious?), and play YOUR own game. The one you've been working on, practicing, and playing when no one else is around.

Oh yeah… one more thing… don’t hit a 7-iron from 150 yards to the flag if you’ve only hit a 7-iron 150 yards before… ONCE!! Hit the 6-iron. Keep the 7-iron in the bag for that shot. Hey, and if you hit it over the green with your 6-iron AND you really are the type that feels the need to brag… then you can always tell your friend / opponent / partner that you misclubbed and should have played one less… if that’s what you need to do… I’m just saying.

In Orlando? Schedule a lesson with Ted! Contact him at CreateGolfers@Gmail.com

Practice What you Play, Play What you Practice

2010-02-21T11:00:00.007-05:00

Many golfers have a tendency to focus the majority of practice on the mechanics of the game. And although this is an important part towards achieving consistency, just as important is practicing shots that one would encounter on the golf course. Unfortunately, I rarely see this. Typically, golfers line up on the practice tee where they pound ball after ball, off of near perfect lies, in near perfect conditions.

For example, let me ask you, dear readers… when practicing, how many balls do you practice hitting out of the rough (no need to raise your hand)? Yet think about an average round of golf, how many tee shots typically find the fairway? 100%? 80%? 60%? LESS!?!? If you’ve answered anything less than 100% (which by the way, if you hit 100% of the fairways all the time… I want to schedule a lesson with YOU!), then that means the shots that don’t find the fairway… probably find the rough (or worse! UGH!).

So practicing hitting balls out of the rough makes sense, because on the golf course… balls oftentimes do find the rough! Other situations golfers find on the golf course that oftentimes get neglected during practice are:

Pitching over bunkers
Pitching / chipping out of the rough
Hitting out of fairway bunkers
Hitting from uphill, downhill, and sidehill lies
Hitting knockdown shots into the wind or under trees
Hitting out of divots or less than perfect lies
_________________________________ (add your own)

So… Practice what you play!

Now the irony is… that these same golfers, go out on the golf course, and attempt to hit shots that they’ve never practiced!

For example, if a golfer has never practiced executing a flop shot, then he shouldn’t try hitting a flop shot for the first time out on the golf course. It’s a very risky shot with incredible precision needed. He would be better off chipping or pitching the ball… executing a shot that he has HOPEFULLY practiced before and offering a higher percentage of success.

So… Play what you practice!

Putting it all together… PRACTICE WHAT YOU PLAY (shots that you would encounter on the golf course during a typical round), and PLAY WHAT YOU PRACTICE (attempt ONLY shots that you’ve practiced). …I’m just saying.

In Orlando? Schedule a lesson with Ted! Contact him at CreateGolfers@Gmail.com

Don't Shoot at EVERY Flagstick!

2010-02-19T13:07:00.000-05:00

Shooting for every flagstick on the golf course oftentimes is NOT the best strategy. Learn to wait and look for good flagstick positions and play safe when faced with “sucker” flagstick placements (you know… flagsticks tucked behind bunkers, favoring sides of greens nearest water, placed on the narrowest parts of greens, etc….).

Next time you’re on the golf course, incorporate the following course-management method: Divide your approach shot strategy into thirds figuring that you will encounter six “high reward” flagstick placements, six “medium risk / reward” flagstick placements, and six “high risk” flagstick placements.

When you come across a “high reward” flagstick placement, you should enter into “go for it!” mode. Take advantage of these flagstick placements, fire at them and aim to "rattle" them (or knock them down as we say.)! These are “greenlight” opportunities that you should… no… MUST take advantage of.

When faced with “medium risk / reward” flagstick placements. Aim at them ONLY if you can commit 100% to the shot… meaning that: you feel confident with the club in your hand, you can visualize the success of the shot beforehand, and you’re convinced that the reward for firing at the flagstick outweighs the risk associated with missing it. If you can’t commit fully to the shot… then choose a safer approach… we’ll call it “plan B.”

Then, of course…there will be those “high risk” flagstick placements (translated: death if you miss!). Flagstick placements where all bets are off. Realize that a mis-hit or mis-calculation while going after these flagsticks could cost you BIG time. When faced with a “high risk” situation, play smart… aim for the safe part of the green… go for the two-putt… and move on to the next hole.

So… when on the golf course, wait for opportunities to present themselves rather than firing at every flagstick. Play smart golf… enjoy the rewards… and when possible, avoid disasters! Good golfing to you!

BONUS: You’ll notice that throughout the article, I intentionally used the word “flagstick” rather than “pin” as commonly referred to by golfers. The word “pin” is actually NOT found in the Rules of Golf. “Pins” are used in bowling. “Flagsticks” are used in golf. Go ahead, check it out for yourself!

In Orlando? Schedule a lesson with Ted! Contact him at CreateGolfers@Gmail.com

Keep Your Head Down ...UGH!!

2010-02-08T17:34:00.000-05:00

“Keep your head down.” One of those myths in golf that just won’t seem to go away! It's frightening!

I was working with a student just last week and noticed a man hitting balls behind him that kept his head down the entire time… THE ENTIRE TIME! From address position to his VERY incomplete finish! He was upset because he was topping shots and pulling them left (I have know idea how he knew he was pulling them since he never watched a single ball)! In addition, while holding his finish with his eyes glued to the ground at where his ball used to be, he looked and sounded like he was in pain... LOTS OF PAIN.

If you have a strong back (there’s my disclaimer), try it for yourself. Take a practice swing and don’t let your eyes come up at all! OUCH! Little twinge back there huh? Also… notice how restricted your finish was (OUCH times TWO!!)?

Not only does keeping your head down after impact restrict the follow-through and prevent the upper body from finishing completely, BUT, it affects the entire swing, causing it to become very arm-dominated... translated: DISTANCE LOST!

Amazingly, it’s hard to convince even good players that it’s okay to look up. They feel as if they are committing the unpardonable sin in golf (research reveals that bending the left arm on the backswing comes in second place… not first… as far as golf sins are concerned... I'm just saying.)!

Soooo, rather than telling my students to keep their head down, I tell them, “keep your eye on the ball.” Meaning that once they (you) strike the ball at impact, they (you) should try following it with their (your) eyes. Truth of the matter is that it is impossible to do. You won’t actually see the ball during it’s initial takeoff. However, it’s a good swing thought to get the head rotating… thus freeing your upper body turn. Dare I say… perhaps even adding a bit more distance?!?!

But don’t take my word for it (although you should!), try it for yourself. Hit some full shots, short shots, chip shots… and try following the ball with your eyes and see how much freer your body’s rotation is. Go ahead. You’ll be okay. I promise!

Ted’s Quick Tips for Your Golf Game

2010-01-20T16:22:00.000-05:00

Here are 5.5 quick tips that will help your golf game!

1.   Keep Your “Key” Golf Swing Thought to Less Than the Length of a Tweet.
You Twitter fans know what I’m talking about. For those that don’t “Tweet” write down your swing thought, and if it’s more than 140 characters… IT'S WAY TOO LONG! The swing thought I tell my students to use is: TARGET! And I’m not talking about the retail store.

Imagine a baseball pitcher on the mound. While setting up, he’s looking at the catcher’s mitt. While going through the windup he’s looking at the catcher’s mitt. While releasing the ball… yup… catcher’s mitt. Riddle: Where do you think the ball would go if he focused on the umpire’s head?

So it is in golf… focus more on your target and less on the ball and keep your swing thoughts down to a minimum.

2.   Stare at the Target… Glance at the Ball.
Most amateurs do the opposite. They glance at the target and stare at the ball. Some, never even look at the target!

Spend more time looking at the target than the ball and try to retain the image of the target throughout your swing. This will take the focus off of mechanics and place it where it belongs… THE TARGET!

3.   Let the Club Control Your Hands… NOT the Hands Control Your Club.
Again, many amateurs do the opposite. They LIFT the club on the backswing… UNHINGE the club on the downswing… and LIFT the club again to the finish. CONTROL FREAKS!!

If you’re hitting errant shots with no distance… then try feeling the clubhead in your hands throughout the swing. On a grip pressure scale of “1” to “10,” where “1” is the lightest and “10” is the tightest, aim for about a “3” to “5.” Feel like the lightest grip pressure is when the club approaches impact position through to the follow-through.

Let the club hinge your hands on the backswing… unhinge and release the hands on the follow-through… and re-hinge your hands to the finish. Try it! TRUST IT!

4.   Practice Putting While Looking at Your Hands.
Missing too many short putts? Try this drill. Practice putting while LOOKING AT YOUR HANDS… not the ball. This takes the focus, pressure AND FEAR of trying to make the short putt. Heck… forget that this is a drill… try it when you’re playing!

5.   During the Backswing, Coil Your Upper Body on a Solid Lower Body.
Think of the lower body as the foundation for your backswing. Any movement is involuntary and is a result of the upper body bringing the club back. Too many golfers begin the backswing with their lower body, specifically their right hip (for right-handed golfer)… causing it to go back too deep.

This can lead to a number of problems including: forcing the club to go off plane, causing the right knee to straighten, and producing a reverse weight shift… ultimately draining power from the golf swing.

If this describes you, at address position, turn your right toe inward and hit some full shots. You will feel the resistance between upper and lower body on the backswing… producing a lot of stored power to release through the ball.

5.5. When Practicing... Divide Your Time Into Thirds.
For effective practice, I like to divide my time up into thirds... with focus on drills, swing, target.

For example, if I know that I'll be practicing for an hour...,

The first 20 minutes will be spent entirely on executing drills with not much emphasis on target (unless it's for alignment!). When working on drills, becoming too target fixated may cause you to abandon what you're working on and start trying to hit the target. You won't improve this way.

The next 20 minutes will dedicated to incorporating the drill that I've been working on INTO THE SWING. Again, not too much target fixation. I'm just trying to feel it in my swing. Oftentimes, I'll swing at 50% of my swing speed to FEEL the movement I've been working on with the drill.

And for the final 20 minutes... now it's all about target. No thought to the swing drill or forcing it into my swing. The last 20 minutes is all about picking a target, going through my preshot routine, and then trusting it. The last 20 minutes are important because this is what you want to do on the golf course... shoot at targets. RIGHT?
Well, that’s it for now. More to come at a later date. Hey, if you don’t want to miss any VALUABLE golf tips… why not sign up to receive these tips right to your email… FREE!!! Just enter your email address in the space provided in the right hand column. You can always unsubscribe, but why would you want too...? Seriously?

Finish Your Backswing

2009-12-14T18:18:00.006-05:00

A common error I see golfers make is that they gauge the length of their backswing by how far they bring their club back. For whatever reason, golfers have deemed that for a full swing, one must get the clubshaft to a "parallel to the ground" position at the top of the backswing. Past parallel and it's DEATH!! Short of parallel and your not making a complete backswing.

While this MAY be true... it certainly is not true for every golfer.

The most common misconception I see is when a golfer takes the club back way past parallel. Their friends (perhaps even their teachers!) tell them that they are turning too much. So they turn less... sacrificing distance.

Oftentimes when I watch someone hit shots who has a "past parallel" position at the top of their swing, the trouble is usually NOT that they are turning too much... in actuality... some times they are turning too LITTLE! The past parallel position occurs because they either collapse their arms (at the elbows) and/or wrists at the top of their backswings (to get that club to parallel)... using very little body turn.

A better way to gauge if you are making a full backswing is by focusing on your body coil. Forget the club (at least for now). I believe that an effective backswing is one that begins with turning the shoulders... which turn the hips (mostly involuntarily)... which then move the knees (mostly involuntariy redux!).

If you are struggling with making a full shoulder turn on your backswing then try this thought: Imagine that you have a caddy standing in front of you (the opposite side of your ball). Turn your shoulders until the caddy can see your right shoulder blade (left shoulder blade if you are a left-handed golfer).

In the picture below (using an 8-iron)... you can see my right shoulder blade indicating that I made a complete backswing... while the club remains short of parallel.

Try this with your swing. Some of you may not be able to turn the shoulders to the point that your caddy can see that shoulder blade... however... you should use this as a swing thought to at least get you thinking about turning the shoulders... and forgetting about the club.

One more thing... you shouldn't turn so much that you can no longer see the ball. If this happens, I'm guessing that your hips are rotating too much. Remember... allow them to move involuntarily... not intentionally.

Good Golfing to YOU!!

Bunker Lesson - Splash the Sand out to get the Ball out!

2009-11-29T17:59:00.000-05:00

Many golfers are afraid to make a big swing when hitting out of a greenside bunker. The fear... that they'll send the ball flying over the green (perhaps into another bunker! UGH!)!

But, since it's the sand that lifts the ball out of the bunker (see: Don't Scramble Your Egg!), then it makes sense that the sand has to travel far enough to get the ball to go far enough as well.

Watch this short 2-minute video to see how it's done!

Hitting out of Bunkers - "Don't Scramble Your Egg!"

2009-11-27T02:08:00.000-05:00

Here's a video I put together demonstrating a very simple method for successful greenside bunker play. ENJOY!

Trouble With Chip Shots? Finish Low... Ball Goes Up!

2009-11-20T09:00:00.000-05:00

Proper Chip Shot Set Up

Proper Chip Shot Finish

To get students to consistently hit good chip shots, I have them focus on their finish position. Oftentimes, students try to “lift” the ball (known as “scooping”) into the air… when in fact, the opposite holds true. The job of the golfer should be to deliver the club down to the ball and let the loft of the club lift the ball up in the air.
Scooping leads to hitting the ground prior to the ball… causing the ball to travel a very short distance AND/OR hitting the top of the ball or on its equator… sending the ball screeching across the green, oftentimes off the green on the opposite side.

If this describes the shots you typically experience when chipping… then try the following:
1. Set up with feet about eight to 12 inches apart.
2. Set up closer to the ball than you normally would set up for a full shot.
3. Lean toward your forward foot (foot closest to the target) and keep the weight on that foot throughout the entire shot (should feel that about 60% of your weight is on your forward foot).
4. Bring the club back using your shoulders and very little wrist hinge.
5. Stroke through and past the ball and FINISH VERY LOW TO THE GROUND WITH THE CLUBHEAD (see illustration above).

The stroke itself is not that uncommon to the putting stroke. If you finish low… the ball should pop up into the air, land softly and roll. Never try to "lift" the ball into the air.

Good Golfing to YOU!

Establishing Good Practice Techniques

2009-11-19T13:50:00.000-05:00

As a golf instructor, it amazes me how little focus most people have when they practice. I often see individuals drag a second ball to hit before their previous shot has even finished landing! Even during lessons, sometimes I’ll watch a student’s ball to determine flight, curvature, reaction on the ground, etc… and when I turn my attention back to the student, he or she already has another ball in place… ready to hit!

If you’re serious about getting better, you must… (YOU MUST redux) practice effectively, with purpose, and with patience… more than perhaps anyone else on the practice range. Here are some things to look for (from right-handed golfer’s perspective) when practicing:

Watch the direction that the ball starts. Did it start straight, left, or right of your intended target? Observing the direction the ball starts oftentimes indicates your swing path’s approach to the ball. Too far inside… and the ball may start to the right of the target line. Too far from the outside and the ball will start left of the target line. And of course… there’s the importance of alignment. Many students think they hit balls off target because of poor swing mechanics, only to realize after I show them, that they’re aimed wrong to begin with.

Watch to see what direction the ball curves. Curvature of the ball indicates what the clubface was like at impact. Slices and fades indicate an open clubface, hooks and draws… closed clubface. Excessive curvature may indicate a faulty grip position.

Watch to see the trajectory of the ball. Too high may indicate scooping rather than hitting down and compressing the ball or little or no forward weight transfer during impact. A ball flight that is too low may indicate sliding ahead of the ball during impact position or coming down on the ball too steep.

Watch to see the ball land. How else are you going to know how far you consistently hit it? Also, does the ball stop… spin back… release… other?

In addition to monitoring ball reaction, focus on going through the same pre-shot routine with every shot… just as you should be doing on the golf course. You do, do that on the golf course… don’t you? Pre-shot routines develop consistency as well as keep your nerves in check when playing that 25 cent skins game on Saturdays.

So practice with purpose. Take enough time between each shot to observe outcome AND if need be… make appropriate corrections.

Heck, at the very least… slowing down will save you money by making one range basket last an hour instead of going through three of them in the same amount of time. There… I just gave you some financial advice as well!

Good Golfing To You!

If in the Greater Orlando area... Why not book a golf lesson?

2009-09-30T22:26:00.000-04:00

This is my first shameless attempt to market my golf lessons. Oh don't worry, they'll be more! But seriously, if you're looking for golf lessons in the Greater Orlando area, I'd appreciate it if you'd consider me! Just click on the image below to send me an email. Thank you in advance!
---Ted
p.s. Check back often for golf tips and more golf related "stuff!" Tell your golfing buddies!