Swings of the Ryder Cup

Wow! How about that for a sporting event? The 37th Ryder Cup matches at Celtic Manor won by Colin Montgomeries’ European players was fascinating in so many ways.
The challenges of the weather, the match play format, the different strategies of play, the size of the spectator galleries, I could go on.
One of the things that struck me more than before was just how different the swings of the 24 players looked and how easily identifiable the golfers were by their idiosyncratic golf swings.
Take for example World number 3 Phil Mickleson. Yes I know that’s easy because he is left handed and stands on the other side of the ball to right hander’s, but Bubba Watson who is also a “leftie” looks to do things in a completely different way to Phil.
How can this be? Both are leading exponents of the game yet hit the ball miles, but in an entirely different fashion. We know that top golfers have amazing skills and a huge variety of shots on and around the greens but surely they all hit the ball the same way.
Well for most part they do. Physics and the laws of a spinning ball govern us all so to hit a particular shot we all have to deliver the clubface to the ball in the same way to achieve the desired outcome.
I was privileged to work for Ryder Cup radio at Celtic Manor and had the fortune to be “inside the ropes” where I could get a close up view of what was going on. It is difficult not to get drawn into watching the power, the balance, the rhythm and style of these players, all twenty four looking unique in their own delivery of the club.
If however we watch closely at how the club swings and NOT what the body looks like we can then see and begin to understand the similarities of what these World-leading players do.
The common thread running through all these swings is the position of the clubface at impact. The golf ball does not lie. It will go where the clubface tells it. FACT!
So when you hit the ball to the right of your target where do you suppose the clubface is pointing at impact?
This is where your attention needs to be, on the clubface, as the most important fundamental is how and where the clubface is swinging.
Next time you are out playing explore, don’t just swing and hope for the best. Watch the flight of the ball as this is the feedback you need as to where the clubface was at collision point.

Phil Mickelson shows off a backwards shot that almost goes in

The Mayonnaise Jar

The Mayonnaise Jar When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day is not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and two cups of coffee. A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was. The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was. The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous 'yes.' The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed. 'Now,' said the professor, as the laughter subsided, 'I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things -- family, children, health, friends, and favorite passions. Things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, house, and car. The sand is everything else --The small stuff. 'If you put the sand into the jar first,' He continued, 'there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, You will never have room for the things that are important to you. So.. Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your partner out to dinner. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal. 'Take care of the golf balls first -- the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.' One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented. The professor smiled. 'I'm glad you asked,' It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend.' Please share this with other "Golf Balls". I just did.......

The 200 yard Gong Shot

Golf School

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Happy Gilmore Harrington

Nick Faldo or Jack Nicklaus

Belt Buckle or Club Head?! Stories or Reality – what’s important?

This is a transcript of a conversation between Jack Nicklaus and Nick Faldo discussing Tiger Woods during the first round of the 2010 Memorial Tournament on the Golf Channel.

Nick and Jack were in the commentary both watching Tiger’s first round, when Nick asks Jack how long it would take to “fix” Tiger’s swing?
(I didn’t know it was broken)

Jack: Tiger is such a good athlete it would take ten minutes.

Nick: I agree, if you just put him in the right plane position on the backswing ,the club, we all feel, pointing a little more on line at the top and you know, work out how to unwind it coming down, maintain your level, get your belt buckle through, cover the ball and learn how to release it.

Jack: Well in my opinion Nick, I believe the golf game is played, and everybody’s swing is different, I think the golf game is played with club head and you got to think in terms of what the clubhead does throughout the golf swing. And if you think in terms of the clubhead does you can make your body do what you want.

Nick: Yeah Exactly

Jack: And he’s not doing that right now he’s trying to do his body and make his clubhead follow.

Nick: If you understand the arc of the golf swing then put and let the body help get out the way

Jack: The amazing part of it is that he is going to shoot 68/69.

How many golfers would go to the range and try put into practice the words of the six time major winner Nick Faldo. Or would there be some out there discerning enough to take Jack’s words for it.

I’m not sure Nick understands how difficult he’s making the game sound.
Why do we need to know all this stuff?
Listen to Jack!