Even though he lost his first match as the new No. 1 player in the world to Luke Donald--in yesterday's final of the Accenture Match Play--Martin Kaymer proved this week that he will be a major force for a long time to come. He clearly has what it takes to add more major titles to his PGA Championship from last August.
His mental toughness--as exhibited by coming back from an early 3-down deficit to Donald to square the match by the turn--shows he can hold it together even when his A game doesn't show up. And when his A game does show up, watch out. That's when he dominates in the old Tigerlike fashion, as noted in my blog post and video of four weeks ago. Stay tuned in the coming weeks for more on Kaymer's game and how it can help your game. And remember to follow me on Twitter @RogerSchiffman.
Roger Schiffman
Managing Editor
Golf Digest
Results for February 2011
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Saturday Morning Tip: Escaping a steep bunker
It wasn't a Saturday morning; it was a Monday morning. And I remember it like it was yesterday morning, even though it was in 1983 at the U.S. Open at Oakmont. Due to severe weekend weather, the final round of the tournament was finishing a day late. Tom Watson was in a fierce battle with Larry Nelson, who was playing ahead.
On the short par-4 17th, the pin was cut on the right side of the green, and Watson fired at the flag. His ball ended up short-sided in a steep bunker to the right of the green. I was standing nearby, just inside the gallery ropes, and from my great vantage point I could see no way for Watson to get his bunker shot close. But Tom hit a miraculous shot, the ball floating out softly, then spinning to within a few feet of the hole. He had a tricky sidehill putt, which he lipped out, losing the championship to Nelson.
But I'll never forget that shot. Interestingly, Tom clearly remembers it as well. He referred to it Read more
But I'll never forget that shot. Interestingly, Tom clearly remembers it as well. He referred to it Read more
Fitness Friday: Squats for power
Editor's note: Every week my colleague Ron Kaspriske, Golf Digest
Fitness Editor, presents Fitness Friday on the Instruction Blog. He
gives you an unbeatable
health and
fitness tip or an exercise or stretch to get your body warmed up for
the weekend. This week he focuses on squatting for power, better posture and a healthier life outside of golf. And remember to follow me on
Twitter @RogerSchiffman.
Roger Schiffman
Managing Editor
Golf Digest
Let's do a quick experiment. Wherever you are right now, stand up, then try to squat--go as low as you can--and then stand back up again paying attention to the muscles that seemed to be working the hardest. Now get into your address posture and make a golf swing with an invisible club paying attention to the muscles that seemed to be working the hardest. Notice any similarities?
With either activity, you should have felt your quadriceps (muscles in the front of your thighs), your hip flexors, and your glutes (butt muscles) taking on a good portion of the load.
I'm sure you can see where I'm going with this. But to spell it out: If you're not performing squats as part of your workout routine, then you don't know squat about making a powerful, athletic golf swing. Sorry if that sounds harsh, but simply put, all research on increasing swing speed includes convincing data that the top players are pushing off the ground with their leg and glute muscles to generate leverage for a more powerful hit.
Read more
Roger Schiffman
Managing Editor
Golf Digest
Let's do a quick experiment. Wherever you are right now, stand up, then try to squat--go as low as you can--and then stand back up again paying attention to the muscles that seemed to be working the hardest. Now get into your address posture and make a golf swing with an invisible club paying attention to the muscles that seemed to be working the hardest. Notice any similarities?
With either activity, you should have felt your quadriceps (muscles in the front of your thighs), your hip flexors, and your glutes (butt muscles) taking on a good portion of the load.
I'm sure you can see where I'm going with this. But to spell it out: If you're not performing squats as part of your workout routine, then you don't know squat about making a powerful, athletic golf swing. Sorry if that sounds harsh, but simply put, all research on increasing swing speed includes convincing data that the top players are pushing off the ground with their leg and glute muscles to generate leverage for a more powerful hit.
Read more
What's the future of Stack & Tilt?
In the wake of Aaron Baddeley's long-in-coming victory yesterday at the Northern Trust Open--after forsaking the Stack & Tilt instruction method he was so closely linked with for more than two years--much is being written about the method's effectiveness. Dave Shedloski questioned its viability for tour players in a piece for this week's Golf World Monday. And the method's other well-known practitioner, Mike Weir, has also gone back to a more conventional swing, as have several other tour players.
But the method remains highly touted throughout the country, as a number of instructors still believe strongly in its basic principles. Tiger Woods, under the tutelage of Sean Foley, seems to be incorporating a number of the Stack & Tilt principles into his own swing, and last week he reached something of a breakthrough. (Tiger didn't declare it; John Cook declared it for him.) In particular, Tiger is trying hard to stay more centered over the ball on the backswing and looks to be taking the club back a little more on the inside with a less laid-off clubshaft position at the top.
Baddeley's swing, however, is noticeably freer since he went back to his earlier teacher, Dale Lynch, and he was quoted as saying just the opposite from Tiger: "I'd say the biggest change is giving myself spine angle at address and then actually having the weight move a little bit to the right side and then allowing and trusting that the club will just drop on the inside and I'll be able to rip a draw out there."
Here is a face-on and down-the-line video view of Baddeley's Stack & Tilt swing.
Compare the down-the-line view with a down-the-line view of Baddeley's post Stack & Tilt swing, which shows his right knee with more bend (Stack & Tilt preaches to keep it straighter, ala Sam Snead). And his hands look to be taking the club straighter back and then are set higher at the top (Stack & Tilt contends they should go back more to the inside and should be on a flatter plane at the top).
So what does this all mean for Stack & Tilt? Has the method as taught by Andy Plummer and Mike Bennett, and which has become a best-selling book, dvd and even a golf school, become obsolete for most tour players? Will it work for average golfers? How does it affect those with back issues? I feel it probably depends on the player's specific tendencies and faults and what kind of ball-flight that player is trying to achieve. For example, if a golfer has a tendency to hit fat and thin shots with the club bottoming out before impact due to a poor weight transfer, the concept of staying centered over the ball and shifting the weight strongly to the front leg through impact probably will help. If a golfer has a tendency to come over the top, with the club approaching the ball on a severe out-to-in path, Stack & Tilt might help due to the more-inside backswing.
Read more
But the method remains highly touted throughout the country, as a number of instructors still believe strongly in its basic principles. Tiger Woods, under the tutelage of Sean Foley, seems to be incorporating a number of the Stack & Tilt principles into his own swing, and last week he reached something of a breakthrough. (Tiger didn't declare it; John Cook declared it for him.) In particular, Tiger is trying hard to stay more centered over the ball on the backswing and looks to be taking the club back a little more on the inside with a less laid-off clubshaft position at the top.
Baddeley's swing, however, is noticeably freer since he went back to his earlier teacher, Dale Lynch, and he was quoted as saying just the opposite from Tiger: "I'd say the biggest change is giving myself spine angle at address and then actually having the weight move a little bit to the right side and then allowing and trusting that the club will just drop on the inside and I'll be able to rip a draw out there."
Here is a face-on and down-the-line video view of Baddeley's Stack & Tilt swing.
Compare the down-the-line view with a down-the-line view of Baddeley's post Stack & Tilt swing, which shows his right knee with more bend (Stack & Tilt preaches to keep it straighter, ala Sam Snead). And his hands look to be taking the club straighter back and then are set higher at the top (Stack & Tilt contends they should go back more to the inside and should be on a flatter plane at the top).
So what does this all mean for Stack & Tilt? Has the method as taught by Andy Plummer and Mike Bennett, and which has become a best-selling book, dvd and even a golf school, become obsolete for most tour players? Will it work for average golfers? How does it affect those with back issues? I feel it probably depends on the player's specific tendencies and faults and what kind of ball-flight that player is trying to achieve. For example, if a golfer has a tendency to hit fat and thin shots with the club bottoming out before impact due to a poor weight transfer, the concept of staying centered over the ball and shifting the weight strongly to the front leg through impact probably will help. If a golfer has a tendency to come over the top, with the club approaching the ball on a severe out-to-in path, Stack & Tilt might help due to the more-inside backswing.
Read more
Saturday Morning Tip: Launch it off the tee
Once again we are talking about the three key elements to getting more
distance off the tee: (1) solid contact, (2) optimum launch angle and
(3) increased clubhead speed. Two weeks ago, I offered tips from several Golf Digest Teaching Professionals for increasing your clubhead speed. Last Saturday I gave you tips from Golf Digest Teaching Professional Butch Harmon for making solid contact. Today, we'll cover improving your launch angle.
Here is a simple tip you can use right now, from Golf Digest Teaching Professional Jim McLean. It appeared in the February 2007 issue. Jim's tip below will promote a launch angle that results in optimum carry with minimum spin. If you combine that ascending launch angle with the increased clubhead speed and more solid contact we discussed previously, you will definitely notice a serious increase in the distance of your tee shots. It might not happen overnight, but continue to practice these three areas and you WILL hit the ball farther.
Roger Schiffman
Managing Editor
Golf Digest
Jim McLean: Let your tilt increase
For powerful drives, your spine angle should double at impact
By shifting your weight forward and rotating your hips toward the target in the downswing, you will change your original spine angle. When you push off your right side and rotate (left), the lower part of your spine shifts forward while the upper part tips farther away from the target, effectively doubling the tilt from its address position.
Try mimicking the positions I describe and checking them in a mirror. You'll get the basic feel for the downswing tilt move that keeps you behind the ball and in position to deliver a powerful swing through impact.
Thanks Jim. This is great advice for anybody whose driver is descending through impact, causing low-left shots and/or weak pop-ups to the right. Let me know if it works for you, and remember to follow me on twitter @RogerSchiffman.
Here is a simple tip you can use right now, from Golf Digest Teaching Professional Jim McLean. It appeared in the February 2007 issue. Jim's tip below will promote a launch angle that results in optimum carry with minimum spin. If you combine that ascending launch angle with the increased clubhead speed and more solid contact we discussed previously, you will definitely notice a serious increase in the distance of your tee shots. It might not happen overnight, but continue to practice these three areas and you WILL hit the ball farther.
Roger Schiffman
Managing Editor
Golf Digest
Jim McLean: Let your tilt increase
For powerful drives, your spine angle should double at impact
By shifting your weight forward and rotating your hips toward the target in the downswing, you will change your original spine angle. When you push off your right side and rotate (left), the lower part of your spine shifts forward while the upper part tips farther away from the target, effectively doubling the tilt from its address position.
Try mimicking the positions I describe and checking them in a mirror. You'll get the basic feel for the downswing tilt move that keeps you behind the ball and in position to deliver a powerful swing through impact.
Thanks Jim. This is great advice for anybody whose driver is descending through impact, causing low-left shots and/or weak pop-ups to the right. Let me know if it works for you, and remember to follow me on twitter @RogerSchiffman.
Fitness Friday: Strong arms for knockdowns
Editor's note: Every week my colleague Ron Kaspriske, Golf Digest
Fitness Editor, presents Fitness Friday on the Instruction Blog. He
gives you an unbeatable
health and
fitness tip or an exercise or stretch to get your body warmed up for
the weekend. This week he focuses on making your forearms stronger to hit knockdown shots and prevent injury. And remember to follow me on Twitter @RogerSchiffman.
Roger Schiffman
Managing Editor
Golf Digest
Earlier this week on the Instruction Blog, a Golf Digest article featuring Paul Azinger demonstrated how to hit two different versions of the knockdown--the very shot D.A. Points used to navigate Pebble Beach's final few holes and win the AT&T National Pro-Am last Sunday. Obviously, proper technique is crucial to executing this shot. But not to be overlooked is the role that good hand, wrist, forearm and shoulder strength play not only in hitting knockdowns, but also in gouging shots out of the rough, shaping draws and fades, picking up 10 more yards off the tee, and protecting the tendons and ligaments in your arms.
Arnold Palmer's meaty paws or Hal Sutton's Popeye forearms might come to mind when you think about how strong arms contribute to an effective swing, but fitness trainer Chris Noss says even modest strength gains in the forearms and shoulders can make a huge difference in your performance. Noss, who works with several tour pros, including Rickie Fowler, Zach Johnson, Stewart Cink and Steve Stricker, says stronger muscles in the hands, wrists and forearms will allow you to manipulate the clubhead better--perfect for shaping shots or keeping it from twisting in deep rough. They also help protect your elbows from tendonitis. And stronger shoulders will help you generate more clubhead speed and also protect the often fragile muscles and tendons of the rotator cuff.
Read more
Roger Schiffman
Managing Editor
Golf Digest
Earlier this week on the Instruction Blog, a Golf Digest article featuring Paul Azinger demonstrated how to hit two different versions of the knockdown--the very shot D.A. Points used to navigate Pebble Beach's final few holes and win the AT&T National Pro-Am last Sunday. Obviously, proper technique is crucial to executing this shot. But not to be overlooked is the role that good hand, wrist, forearm and shoulder strength play not only in hitting knockdowns, but also in gouging shots out of the rough, shaping draws and fades, picking up 10 more yards off the tee, and protecting the tendons and ligaments in your arms.
Arnold Palmer's meaty paws or Hal Sutton's Popeye forearms might come to mind when you think about how strong arms contribute to an effective swing, but fitness trainer Chris Noss says even modest strength gains in the forearms and shoulders can make a huge difference in your performance. Noss, who works with several tour pros, including Rickie Fowler, Zach Johnson, Stewart Cink and Steve Stricker, says stronger muscles in the hands, wrists and forearms will allow you to manipulate the clubhead better--perfect for shaping shots or keeping it from twisting in deep rough. They also help protect your elbows from tendonitis. And stronger shoulders will help you generate more clubhead speed and also protect the often fragile muscles and tendons of the rotator cuff.
Read more
The genius of John Jacobs
In the March issue of Golf Digest, currently on the newsstands (white cover with Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell), there is an insightful article by John Jacobs, the legendary British player and teacher. It's written with Jaime Diaz, Golf Digest Senior Writer, and it contains nugget after nugget of sage instructional advice. Every page contains several revelations from the 86-year-old grand master of instruction that show why many of the game's great players owe so much to him. A two-time Ryder Cup captain, Jacobs was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2000.
Here I give you just five of those chestnuts, from the man Butch Harmon, David Leadbetter, Hank Haney and Jim Hardy credit with shaping their teaching and knowledge of the swing more than any other individual.
Roger Schiffman
Managing Editor
Golf Digest
In my first book, Golf by John Jacobs, I remember that the first thing I wrote down on paper was, "Golf is what the ball does." That was my breakthrough as a teacher. I look at what the ball's doing, and then I ask, "Why?"
The danger with golfers taking lessons is, whenever they try something new, their first instinct is to tighten up, and that starts with the grip. As Peter Thomson used to say, "Always grip lightly because you'll instinctively firm up at impact anyway."
If you're a top-level competitive golfer, nobody knows your golf better than you do. Only you know what's in your mind. You can hit a shot and say, "That's no good, but I reckon I can get through the round that way." And that's so key to being able to compete.
Jack Nicklaus was not an exceptional striker in that his shots were not pure in the absolute sense. But his swing was very repeatable when it came to controlling a slightly open face at impact, and I can't recall him ever flipping the club over. He didn't really have a danger shot, which was mostly due to his huge mental strength.
Many players never start in an address position that makes a windup back and through possible. If you set up right, it's all done; you don't need any more thoughts. Leave the rest to the good Lord.
You'll find many more great thoughts from John Jacobs in the March issue of Golf Digest. Also, check out the OnDemand video by Jacobs (click here to watch a video excerpt) Enjoy and learn from this. Tell me what you think, and remember to follow me on Twitter @RogerSchiffman.
(Photo: Golf Digest Resource Center)
Here I give you just five of those chestnuts, from the man Butch Harmon, David Leadbetter, Hank Haney and Jim Hardy credit with shaping their teaching and knowledge of the swing more than any other individual.
Roger Schiffman
Managing Editor
Golf Digest
In my first book, Golf by John Jacobs, I remember that the first thing I wrote down on paper was, "Golf is what the ball does." That was my breakthrough as a teacher. I look at what the ball's doing, and then I ask, "Why?"
The danger with golfers taking lessons is, whenever they try something new, their first instinct is to tighten up, and that starts with the grip. As Peter Thomson used to say, "Always grip lightly because you'll instinctively firm up at impact anyway."
If you're a top-level competitive golfer, nobody knows your golf better than you do. Only you know what's in your mind. You can hit a shot and say, "That's no good, but I reckon I can get through the round that way." And that's so key to being able to compete.
Jack Nicklaus was not an exceptional striker in that his shots were not pure in the absolute sense. But his swing was very repeatable when it came to controlling a slightly open face at impact, and I can't recall him ever flipping the club over. He didn't really have a danger shot, which was mostly due to his huge mental strength.
Many players never start in an address position that makes a windup back and through possible. If you set up right, it's all done; you don't need any more thoughts. Leave the rest to the good Lord.
You'll find many more great thoughts from John Jacobs in the March issue of Golf Digest. Also, check out the OnDemand video by Jacobs (click here to watch a video excerpt) Enjoy and learn from this. Tell me what you think, and remember to follow me on Twitter @RogerSchiffman.
(Photo: Golf Digest Resource Center)
How to play two types of knockdowns
Monday's Instruction Blog entry discussed the way D.A. Points played the final few nerve-racking holes at Pebble Beach to win his first PGA Tour event, the AT&T National Pro-Am. He hit mostly knockdown shots for ultimate control. I resurrected a Golf Digest article I did 20 years ago with Paul Azinger about the same subject, because Paul relied on his knockdown shot while winning in similar fashion at Pebble Beach in 1991.
An astute reader of this blog pointed out in a comment that Azinger's clubface seemed to be well open--the face looking at the sky--well past impact, rather than in the normal toe-up position. A closer examination of Paul's original article reveals that he was showing how to hit two types of knockdowns. I'll let him take it from here, in his own words:
Roger Schiffman
Managing Editor
Golf Digest
The basic knockdown shot for me generally moves slightly left to right or fairly straight.That's because I don't let the clubface turn over through impact (open-face photo, below left). That's how Lee Trevino plays the shot. When the ball lands, it takes one hop and, boom, it stops. If the pin is on the back of a two-tiered green, I'll land it short of the tier. It will hop up the hill and stop near the pin.
But sometimes I'll let the club turn over if I want the ball to run a bit after it lands (toe-up photo, above right). That's the way Chi Chi Rodriguez plays it. He has more of a neutral grip. His arms don't separate from his body; they release naturally. He still finishes low, however.
A final note: Grip pressure is important. Because you are making a shorter, more compact swing and probably trying not to let the clubface turn over through impact, it's easy to get tight in your hands and arms. You need to have a firm hold of the club, but be careful not to get too tight. As in boxing, you've got to be relaxed to produce a knockdown.
Thanks Paul. Great stuff. And remember to follow me on Twitter @RogerSchiffman.
(Photos: Dom Furore)
An astute reader of this blog pointed out in a comment that Azinger's clubface seemed to be well open--the face looking at the sky--well past impact, rather than in the normal toe-up position. A closer examination of Paul's original article reveals that he was showing how to hit two types of knockdowns. I'll let him take it from here, in his own words:
Roger Schiffman
Managing Editor
Golf Digest
The basic knockdown shot for me generally moves slightly left to right or fairly straight.That's because I don't let the clubface turn over through impact (open-face photo, below left). That's how Lee Trevino plays the shot. When the ball lands, it takes one hop and, boom, it stops. If the pin is on the back of a two-tiered green, I'll land it short of the tier. It will hop up the hill and stop near the pin.
But sometimes I'll let the club turn over if I want the ball to run a bit after it lands (toe-up photo, above right). That's the way Chi Chi Rodriguez plays it. He has more of a neutral grip. His arms don't separate from his body; they release naturally. He still finishes low, however. A final note: Grip pressure is important. Because you are making a shorter, more compact swing and probably trying not to let the clubface turn over through impact, it's easy to get tight in your hands and arms. You need to have a firm hold of the club, but be careful not to get too tight. As in boxing, you've got to be relaxed to produce a knockdown.
Thanks Paul. Great stuff. And remember to follow me on Twitter @RogerSchiffman.
(Photos: Dom Furore)
Under pressure, hit the knockdown
After his miracle shot at the 14th hole on Sunday (holing a gap wedge from 115 yards for eagle to jump into the lead), D.A. Points suddenly realized the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am was his to win -- or lose. A curious thing happened to his swing: His follow-through got shorter and shorter as he got closer and closer to the finish line.
Fortunately for him, his playing partner, Bill Murray, was keeping him loose with his own antics. But Points pulled two tee shots -- on 15 almost out-of-bounds, and on 16 well into the left rough. The last thing he wanted on 17 or 18 was to hit the ball left. He played those holes smartly, holding off his follow-through on his approach to 17, keeping the ball 20 feet right of the cup. Then he did the same on 18, with a hybrid off the tee to the right side of the fairway, a middle-iron layup (below) to 130 yards and a 9-iron approach safely away from the front-right bunker to the middle of the green.
Points reverted to the safety of a knockdown shot down the stretch at Pebble.
Photo by J.D. Cuban
His play reminded me of the way Paul Azinger won the same tournament 20 years ago in similar fashion. The last few holes at Pebble require accuracy, not distance. And hitting knockdowns is a great way to keep the ball in play. Said Azinger in a Golf Digest article he and I did together back in August of 1991: "When I won the AT&T this year, I knocked down nearly every shot on the last nine holes. Because the shot gives me more control, I hit the ball pin-high almost every time." Sound familiar?
Read more
Fortunately for him, his playing partner, Bill Murray, was keeping him loose with his own antics. But Points pulled two tee shots -- on 15 almost out-of-bounds, and on 16 well into the left rough. The last thing he wanted on 17 or 18 was to hit the ball left. He played those holes smartly, holding off his follow-through on his approach to 17, keeping the ball 20 feet right of the cup. Then he did the same on 18, with a hybrid off the tee to the right side of the fairway, a middle-iron layup (below) to 130 yards and a 9-iron approach safely away from the front-right bunker to the middle of the green.
Points reverted to the safety of a knockdown shot down the stretch at Pebble. Photo by J.D. Cuban
His play reminded me of the way Paul Azinger won the same tournament 20 years ago in similar fashion. The last few holes at Pebble require accuracy, not distance. And hitting knockdowns is a great way to keep the ball in play. Said Azinger in a Golf Digest article he and I did together back in August of 1991: "When I won the AT&T this year, I knocked down nearly every shot on the last nine holes. Because the shot gives me more control, I hit the ball pin-high almost every time." Sound familiar?
Saturday Morning Tip: Hitting it solid
Last Saturday, we talked about the three key elements to getting more distance off the tee: (1) solid contact, (2) optimum launch angle and (3) increased clubhead speed. I gave you tips from three Golf Digest teachers for increasing your speed. Today, we'll cover making solid contact. Here are three tips you can use right now, from Golf Digest Teaching Professional Butch Harmon.
Roger Schiffman
Managing Editor
Golf Digest
--Match your swing to your turn. Another key to solid contact is keeping your arm swing in sync with your body turn. When your body stops turning in the backswing, your arms should stop swinging back. Then, as you start down, your arms will naturally drop and deliver the club from the inside, which is a good thing. If your arms keep swinging after you've completed your turn, your left elbow collapses and you'll tend to cast the club before impact, which leads to weak, inconsistent contact. Try this drill: Swing to the top and pause for a count of three, then unwind and swing through. Once you get a feel for the timing, try hitting some balls. Your
Read more
Roger Schiffman
Managing Editor
Golf Digest
--Match your swing to your turn. Another key to solid contact is keeping your arm swing in sync with your body turn. When your body stops turning in the backswing, your arms should stop swinging back. Then, as you start down, your arms will naturally drop and deliver the club from the inside, which is a good thing. If your arms keep swinging after you've completed your turn, your left elbow collapses and you'll tend to cast the club before impact, which leads to weak, inconsistent contact. Try this drill: Swing to the top and pause for a count of three, then unwind and swing through. Once you get a feel for the timing, try hitting some balls. Your
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