Editor's Note: Every Monday Kevin Hinton, Director of
Instruction at Piping Rock Club in Locust Valley, N.Y. and one of Golf
Digest's Best Young Teachers, tells you how a tour player hits a key
shot. This week's entry is not what you'd expect. Hinton looks at the shanked wedge shot Hunter Mahan hit in his semifinal match versus Mark Wilson in the Accenture World Match Play Championship, at Dove Mountain, near Tucson. Yes, like average golfers, even tour players hit the dreaded ho-zell when they least expect it. But unlike with average golfers, Mahan's shank (dare we say the word?) did not lead to more shanks. He recovered with a superb pitch to three feet on his next shot, went on to defeat Wilson, and then tamed Rory McIlroy, 2&1, in that afternoon's final. Kevin gives you some quick advice for the next time you get the shanks. And if these tips don't work, click on the second video.
Roger Schiffman
Managing Editor
Golf Digest
Twitter @RogerSchiffman
Here's Kevin: Definition of a shank: A mentally debilitating shot in golf in which a player makes contact on the hosel of the club, causing the ball to shoot viciously sideways and potentially bring oneself to the brink of tears. Blame is typically cast upon a wide range of sources . . . normally including the caddie, swing coach, boss, or often a higher power.
Here's a case where you need to watch the video before reading my comments. Pay special attention to the slow-motion replay of Hunter's downswing on this approach shot:
Now, here are my five keys to stop the shanks:
I typically see only a handful of reasons a golfer is shanking. If you do tend to hit the occasional "hosel rocket," check these common causes and fixes.
1. Not enough distance from the ball. Many golfers simply stand too close to the ball at address. If you start shanking, the first thing you should do is try backing up and playing the ball more toward the toe of the club.
2. Severely inside-to-out swing path. An excessive inside-out path can definitely lead to shanks. This is typically how a better player would shank it (though in Hunter's case in the video, see No. 3 below). If your normal ball flight is a draw, and it often turns into a push-hook, then this applies to you. A simple fix is to go to the range and practice fading the ball. By doing this, you'll greatly reduce your chances of shanking. You'll also make your swing more neutral, allowing for straighter shots.
3. Severely outside-to-in swing path. This is how a "slicer" would shank the ball, and it's actually why Hunter shanked in the World Match Play--strangely, his path was too severely outside in. He clearly corrected his path on the very next pitch shot, and played brilliantly the rest of the day. He knew enough to trust his swing, and made sure he kept his arms and shoulders relaxed on his downswing, promoting a more inside path into the ball. While many slicers typically hit their shots off the toe, if your arms get disconnected enough in the downswing, it can definitely lead to heel contact. Your fix is to learn to draw the ball. If you learn to hook it, you'll likely shank far less often.
4. Too much weight on your toes. If you set up up with too much weight on your toes at address, or move in toward the ball in your backswing, you can definitely shank the ball. Try to feel your weight more in the center of your feet, and err with your weight toward your heels.
5. Excessively open clubface at impact. Finally, if you've tried all of the above and you are still shanking, the cause can be as simple as leaving the clubface severely open through impact. Think of a race to impact between the toe of the club and the heel. Try to get the toe to win. Worse case, you hit a few hooks, but that's far better than shanking. If all else fails . . . it's much harder to shank a tennis ball!
And if you don't like tennis, take a tip from Tin Cup's caddie, Romeo (Cheech Marin):
Results for February 2012
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Weekend Tip: Use Your Think Box and Play Box
Pia Nilsson and Lynn Marriott are perhaps two of the most successful teachers in the game today. I say that because they coached Annika Sorenstam when she was dominating the LPGA Tour, and they also give advice to Yani Tseng, who is currently dominating the women's game. But make no mistake, Nilsson and Marriott, founders of the Golf54 academy and Vision54 Coaching for the Future, also work with plenty of male golfers, including PGA Tour stalwart Kevin Streelman.
Nilsson and Marriott have written three books on golf with Golf World's Ron Sirak. The latest, Play Your Best Golf Now, crystallizes the concept of the Think Box and the Play Box. Their first book, Every Shot Must Have a Purpose, however, introduces the concept. I think their approach will help you shoot lower scores almost immediately. Hey, if it works for Annika and Yani, why not give it a try.
Basically, Pia and Lynn contend that every shot has a decision line. That's an imaginary line that divides the area where you do all your thinking and strategizing (the Think Box) from the area where you simply hit the shot (the Play Box). Annika was superb at this, says Sirak. Once she entered the Play Box, she never hesitated or became distracted. She simply went through her routine, trusted her technique and pulled the trigger. She left all of her thinking behind--in the Think Box.
Here is a short excerpt of the first book. Try their approach this weekend, and I bet you'll play better golf.
Roger Schiffman
Managing Editor
Golf Digest
Twitter @Roger.Schiffman
As you stand in the THINK BOX you should consider all the variables for the shot: wind direction and strength, the lie of the ball (is it below your feet and will it thus fade away from your body?), the hazards you need to factor in, and, if you are in competition, the point at which you stand in the match. VERBALIZE your intentions for the shot. "I am going to hit a
Read more
Nilsson and Marriott have written three books on golf with Golf World's Ron Sirak. The latest, Play Your Best Golf Now, crystallizes the concept of the Think Box and the Play Box. Their first book, Every Shot Must Have a Purpose, however, introduces the concept. I think their approach will help you shoot lower scores almost immediately. Hey, if it works for Annika and Yani, why not give it a try.
Basically, Pia and Lynn contend that every shot has a decision line. That's an imaginary line that divides the area where you do all your thinking and strategizing (the Think Box) from the area where you simply hit the shot (the Play Box). Annika was superb at this, says Sirak. Once she entered the Play Box, she never hesitated or became distracted. She simply went through her routine, trusted her technique and pulled the trigger. She left all of her thinking behind--in the Think Box.
Here is a short excerpt of the first book. Try their approach this weekend, and I bet you'll play better golf.
Roger Schiffman
Managing Editor
Golf Digest
Twitter @Roger.Schiffman
As you stand in the THINK BOX you should consider all the variables for the shot: wind direction and strength, the lie of the ball (is it below your feet and will it thus fade away from your body?), the hazards you need to factor in, and, if you are in competition, the point at which you stand in the match. VERBALIZE your intentions for the shot. "I am going to hit a
Read more
Fitness Friday: Mike Malaska fixes your pulls and slices
Every week my colleague Ron Kaspriske,
Golf Digest Fitness Editor, presents Fitness Friday on the Instruction
Blog. This week he interviews Mike Malaska, the current PGA Teacher of the Year. Mike offers some full-swing fitness advice almost all golfers can use. Look for Weekend Tip
tomorrow, and
remember to follow me on Twitter: @RogerSchiffman.
Roger Schiffman
Managing Editor
Golf Digest
Here's Ron: One of the reasons Mike Malaska was selected as the 2011 PGA Teacher of the Year is that his work in helping amateurs goes beyond swing theory. Too often, Malaska says, a swing flaw is the result of physical limitations, not a lack of ability or understanding of how to swing the club. He says it's his job to make students want to get healthier to play better.
"When I do an evaluation, I'm always on the lookout for physical issues," says Malaska, who teaches at Superstition Mountain Golf Club, near Phoenix. "Why waste time trying to fix a swing when the person physically can't get into the corrected position?"
The problem is, Malaska says, most amateurs don't want to hear they have to incorporate an exercise regimen into their golf practice. In fact, he has to tread lightly with talk about fitness when helping students for risk of losing them altogether. But if they will indulge him, even just a little, Malaska will prescribe workout sessions they can do at home or in the office.
"It's real simple stuff with minimal equipment," he says. "I want them to do more, but the minute you tell them they're going to have to go to the gym five days a week, they're going to look for another golf instructor."
Most golfers want a quick fix to make their bad shots good enough to get through a round. But if they truly want to get better, the long-term solution is to hit the gym. Such is the case for many golfers who hit slices (a ball that dramatically curves from left to right for right-handed players) and pulls (a ball that flies on a straight path left of the target for right-handed players).
Click on the video below to watch Malaska give you a quick fix on the course and a long-term solution in the gym to straighten out these shots.
Ron Kaspriske
Fitness Editor
Golf Digest
Roger Schiffman
Managing Editor
Golf Digest
Here's Ron: One of the reasons Mike Malaska was selected as the 2011 PGA Teacher of the Year is that his work in helping amateurs goes beyond swing theory. Too often, Malaska says, a swing flaw is the result of physical limitations, not a lack of ability or understanding of how to swing the club. He says it's his job to make students want to get healthier to play better.
"When I do an evaluation, I'm always on the lookout for physical issues," says Malaska, who teaches at Superstition Mountain Golf Club, near Phoenix. "Why waste time trying to fix a swing when the person physically can't get into the corrected position?"
The problem is, Malaska says, most amateurs don't want to hear they have to incorporate an exercise regimen into their golf practice. In fact, he has to tread lightly with talk about fitness when helping students for risk of losing them altogether. But if they will indulge him, even just a little, Malaska will prescribe workout sessions they can do at home or in the office.
"It's real simple stuff with minimal equipment," he says. "I want them to do more, but the minute you tell them they're going to have to go to the gym five days a week, they're going to look for another golf instructor."
Most golfers want a quick fix to make their bad shots good enough to get through a round. But if they truly want to get better, the long-term solution is to hit the gym. Such is the case for many golfers who hit slices (a ball that dramatically curves from left to right for right-handed players) and pulls (a ball that flies on a straight path left of the target for right-handed players).
Click on the video below to watch Malaska give you a quick fix on the course and a long-term solution in the gym to straighten out these shots.
Ron Kaspriske
Fitness Editor
Golf Digest
How She Hit That: Yani Tseng's controlled-spin wedge
Editor's Note: Every Monday Kevin Hinton, Director of
Instruction at Piping Rock Club in Locust Valley, N.Y. and one of Golf
Digest's Best Young Teachers, tells you how a tour player hits a great
shot.
This week, Hinton looks at Yani Tseng's terrific wedge shot from 104 yards on the final hole to clinch victory at the LPGA Thailand Open for her first win of the season. Hinton tells how you can improve your wedge play as
well.
Roger Schiffman
Managing Editor
Golf Digest
Twitter @RogerSchiffman
Here's Kevin: Yani Tseng's wedge to tap-in distance
secured a one-shot victory and her first win of the season. Tseng won 11
times in 2011 and securely holds the No. 1 ranking in the world. Her wedge play and how she controls the spin is one reason why.
Tseng said she attempted to limit how much spin she put on the wedge shot. She controlled her distance beautifully, something Kyle Stanley could have used a few weeks ago at Torrey Pines (video) after spinning the ball back into the water on the 18th hole, leading to a triple-bogey 8 and eventually a playoff loss to Brandt Snedeker. Stanley won the following week, crediting his better wedge control as one of his keys to victory.
There are few things the average player enjoys more than watching the ball dance with backspin . . . it has always been quite the love affair.
As you improve and the novelty quickly wears off, however, you soon realize there can definitely be too much of a good thing. Excessive spin becomes a bit of nuisance, and often hinders the ability to control your distance on wedge shots. Here are a few tips to
Read moreWeekend Tip: For faster progress, make swings without a ball
I just heard an interview on PGA Tour radio (John Maginnes on Tap) with former PGA Tour player Phil Blackmar and his Hall of Fame teacher Jim Flick. You can hear the entire 22-minute interview by clicking on the link here. They talk about a wide range of subjects, including Flick's overall teaching philosophy. But something that struck me was Blackmar's answer to a question about what you can do in the off-season to keep or get your swing in shape. He said you should make swings without a ball, because it's easier to work on your positions and your fundamentals, and swing changes will come faster. Why is that?
Almost 20 years ago, I helped the noted teaching professional Hank Johnson, for years the No. 1 teacher in Alabama, write a book called How to Win the Three Games of Golf. In that book Hank broke golf down into three separate games: the Golf Swing, the Golf Shot and the Golf Score. He contended that the Golf Swing should be learned or changed away from the range and course. The Golf Shot should be rehearsed on the range. And the Golf Score is something you think about only on the course.
"When you are trying to concentrate on learning the various positions of your body and club at address and throughout the swinging motion, the ball only serves as a distraction," Hank wrote. "It automatically shifts your focus to performance rather than learning. It is difficult to concentrate on making a mechanically correct swing and hit the ball at the same time. When you are making a practice swing, you are learning. When you are hitting a golf shot, you are performing."
So this weekend, when you are away from the course and the range, work on the following fundamentals. Remember, do this without hitting balls.
-- Correct grip (hold the club in your fingers, your V's pointing at your right cheek or shoulder)
-- Precise ball position (practice setting up to a ball but don't hit it)
-- Athletic posture at address (check in a mirror or window that you have a fairly straight back, slight bend at the hips, slight flex in the knees, arms hanging straight down)
-- Smooth takeaway (also in a mirror or window, check your club's halfway-back position and that you stayed in your posture)
-- Good weight transfer into your right leg at the top
-- Transition into the ball by starting your downswing from the ground up (left foot, knee, thigh, hip, in that order)
-- Unrestricted follow-through made with relaxed grip pressure
-- Full finish held for two to three seconds so you know you are in balance
Do this for five to 10 minutes every day, and when you get back on the range or the course, you'll be amazed how quickly you'll regain your feel for the club and hitting solid shots.
Roger Schiffman
Managing Editor
Golf Digest
Twitter @RogerSchiffman
Almost 20 years ago, I helped the noted teaching professional Hank Johnson, for years the No. 1 teacher in Alabama, write a book called How to Win the Three Games of Golf. In that book Hank broke golf down into three separate games: the Golf Swing, the Golf Shot and the Golf Score. He contended that the Golf Swing should be learned or changed away from the range and course. The Golf Shot should be rehearsed on the range. And the Golf Score is something you think about only on the course.
"When you are trying to concentrate on learning the various positions of your body and club at address and throughout the swinging motion, the ball only serves as a distraction," Hank wrote. "It automatically shifts your focus to performance rather than learning. It is difficult to concentrate on making a mechanically correct swing and hit the ball at the same time. When you are making a practice swing, you are learning. When you are hitting a golf shot, you are performing."
So this weekend, when you are away from the course and the range, work on the following fundamentals. Remember, do this without hitting balls.
-- Correct grip (hold the club in your fingers, your V's pointing at your right cheek or shoulder)
-- Precise ball position (practice setting up to a ball but don't hit it)
-- Athletic posture at address (check in a mirror or window that you have a fairly straight back, slight bend at the hips, slight flex in the knees, arms hanging straight down)
-- Smooth takeaway (also in a mirror or window, check your club's halfway-back position and that you stayed in your posture)
-- Good weight transfer into your right leg at the top
-- Transition into the ball by starting your downswing from the ground up (left foot, knee, thigh, hip, in that order)
-- Unrestricted follow-through made with relaxed grip pressure
-- Full finish held for two to three seconds so you know you are in balance
Do this for five to 10 minutes every day, and when you get back on the range or the course, you'll be amazed how quickly you'll regain your feel for the club and hitting solid shots.
Roger Schiffman
Managing Editor
Golf Digest
Twitter @RogerSchiffman
Fitness Friday: Beware the double-bogey breakfast
Every week my colleague Ron Kaspriske,
Golf Digest Fitness Editor, presents Fitness Friday on the Instruction
Blog. Here's his advice for eating the optimal breakfast before your next round, plus the foods and drinks to avoid. Look for Weekend Tip tomorrow, and
remember to follow me on Twitter: @RogerSchiffman.
Roger Schiffman
Managing Editor
Golf Digest
Here's Ron: By now, you've probably had it drummed into your head that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. To reiterate, it is. Most nutritionists will tell you it's a mistake to eat nothing when you get up. Even if it's not the ideal breakfast, it's better to start the day with some food in your belly than not.
If you're eating before a morning round, however, what you consume might be the difference between winning rather than losing a match or shooting your personal-best score rather than your high for the season.
Amy Goodson, dietitian for the Ben Hogan Sports Medicine clinic in Fort Worth, says many traditional breakfast choices can do more harm than good for someone about to play golf. "People take in far too much sugar in the morning," she says. "From juice to many cereals to syrup on pancakes. If you eat stuff like that, you can count on having an energy crash sometime during the round, and it will impact you physically as well as make it harder to focus."
Goodson suggests a meal with complex carbohydrates, some protein, a little fat, and plenty of fresh water. Two examples would be a vegetable omelet with fruit and 16 ounces of water; or a bowl of steel-cut oatmeal with nuts (substitute an apple for the brown sugar) and 16 ounces of water.
Here is a list of foods and beverages Goodson says you should avoid before you play a morning round.
Ron Kaspriske
Fitness Editor
Golf Digest
Foods you should NOT eat
1. Sugary cereals: "First, they spike blood-sugar levels in the body. Then, they cause them to drop rapidly and that drop will affect a golfer's energy level and his or her mental acuity."
2. Biscuits and gravy: "Very high in fat, which can cause gastro-intestinal distress and make players feel lethargic later in the round."
3. Donuts: "Any fried food is going to be very high in fat. The grease often causes stomach cramping in the heat and can also make you feel tired."
4. Pancakes, syrup and fruit: "Too many simple carbohydrates, which causes a spike in blood sugar and a rapid decline in energy. Heavy-carbohydrate meals with no protein also can make an athlete feel bloated."
5. Plain or cheese omelet and bacon: "This meal lacks any carbohydrates, which
Read more
Roger Schiffman
Managing Editor
Golf Digest
Here's Ron: By now, you've probably had it drummed into your head that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. To reiterate, it is. Most nutritionists will tell you it's a mistake to eat nothing when you get up. Even if it's not the ideal breakfast, it's better to start the day with some food in your belly than not.
If you're eating before a morning round, however, what you consume might be the difference between winning rather than losing a match or shooting your personal-best score rather than your high for the season.
Amy Goodson, dietitian for the Ben Hogan Sports Medicine clinic in Fort Worth, says many traditional breakfast choices can do more harm than good for someone about to play golf. "People take in far too much sugar in the morning," she says. "From juice to many cereals to syrup on pancakes. If you eat stuff like that, you can count on having an energy crash sometime during the round, and it will impact you physically as well as make it harder to focus."
Goodson suggests a meal with complex carbohydrates, some protein, a little fat, and plenty of fresh water. Two examples would be a vegetable omelet with fruit and 16 ounces of water; or a bowl of steel-cut oatmeal with nuts (substitute an apple for the brown sugar) and 16 ounces of water.
Here is a list of foods and beverages Goodson says you should avoid before you play a morning round.
Ron Kaspriske
Fitness Editor
Golf Digest
Foods you should NOT eat
1. Sugary cereals: "First, they spike blood-sugar levels in the body. Then, they cause them to drop rapidly and that drop will affect a golfer's energy level and his or her mental acuity."
2. Biscuits and gravy: "Very high in fat, which can cause gastro-intestinal distress and make players feel lethargic later in the round."
3. Donuts: "Any fried food is going to be very high in fat. The grease often causes stomach cramping in the heat and can also make you feel tired."
4. Pancakes, syrup and fruit: "Too many simple carbohydrates, which causes a spike in blood sugar and a rapid decline in energy. Heavy-carbohydrate meals with no protein also can make an athlete feel bloated."
5. Plain or cheese omelet and bacon: "This meal lacks any carbohydrates, which
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How He Hit That: Phil's monster putts
Editor's Note: Every Monday Kevin Hinton, Director of
Instruction at Piping Rock Club in Locust Valley, N.Y. and one of Golf
Digest's Best Young Teachers, tells you how a tour player hits a great
shot. This week, Hinton examines the monster par putts--and general putting brilliance--of Phil Mickelson at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, which he won in impressive fashion, taming a frustrated Tiger in the process. Hinton tells how you can improve your putting as well.
Roger Schiffman
Managing Editor
Golf Digest
Twitter @RogerSchiffman
Here's Kevin: The story on Sunday at Pebble Beach was all about putting. Phil Mickelson had 10 one-putts enroute to a bogey-free final-round 64, claiming a two-shot victory over Charlie Wi and his fourth title at Pebble. This is the fifth-straight time Mickelson has bested Woods when they were paired together in the final round, beating Tiger by 11 shots on Sunday after starting two strokes behind him. Tiger missed five putts inside five feet on Sunday. Mickelson made two clutch back-nine par saves of more than 30 feet, as well as capitalizing for six birdies and an eagle after a round of stellar iron play. The putter also did-in third round leader Charlie Wi, who four-putted the first hole and missed a three-footer for par on the 14th. Let's take a closer look at the video of Mickelson's masterful stroke.
Mickelson has always been known as a short-game wizard, but his putting hasn't always been reliable under pressure. Last year on tour, Phil finished a woeful 134th in the statistical putting category of strokes gained. This stat is considered the most accurate measurement of a player's putting abilities. Phil also three-putted at an alarming rate for a player of his ability, finishing 147th in the stat of three-putt avoidance. So what has changed? Not necessarily a ton, but it often doesn't take much to turn things around on the greens. Small technique changes...better mental focus and belief in yourself. No doubt he wanted to beat Tiger Sunday on a huge stage and even said Tiger now brings out the best in his game.
The big news of 2011 for Phil was his experimentation with the belly putter. It didn't stay in his bag for long. There are many players, however, who practice with one, but never use it in competition. It's a great practice tool and I highly recommend getting one, even if it never makes it's way onto the golf course. The belly putter teaches a player the proper pendulum motion, ensuring a slight arcing stroke and an unrestricted release of the putterhead through impact.
Phil also visited putting guru Dave Stockton, who wants you to keep the back of the lead hand moving toward the target (see Mickelson video above). Stockton's main philosophy, however, focuses on routine and encouraging a very non-technical approach. Phil worked with the belly putter because it made
Read more
Roger Schiffman
Managing Editor
Golf Digest
Twitter @RogerSchiffman
Here's Kevin: The story on Sunday at Pebble Beach was all about putting. Phil Mickelson had 10 one-putts enroute to a bogey-free final-round 64, claiming a two-shot victory over Charlie Wi and his fourth title at Pebble. This is the fifth-straight time Mickelson has bested Woods when they were paired together in the final round, beating Tiger by 11 shots on Sunday after starting two strokes behind him. Tiger missed five putts inside five feet on Sunday. Mickelson made two clutch back-nine par saves of more than 30 feet, as well as capitalizing for six birdies and an eagle after a round of stellar iron play. The putter also did-in third round leader Charlie Wi, who four-putted the first hole and missed a three-footer for par on the 14th. Let's take a closer look at the video of Mickelson's masterful stroke.
Mickelson has always been known as a short-game wizard, but his putting hasn't always been reliable under pressure. Last year on tour, Phil finished a woeful 134th in the statistical putting category of strokes gained. This stat is considered the most accurate measurement of a player's putting abilities. Phil also three-putted at an alarming rate for a player of his ability, finishing 147th in the stat of three-putt avoidance. So what has changed? Not necessarily a ton, but it often doesn't take much to turn things around on the greens. Small technique changes...better mental focus and belief in yourself. No doubt he wanted to beat Tiger Sunday on a huge stage and even said Tiger now brings out the best in his game.
The big news of 2011 for Phil was his experimentation with the belly putter. It didn't stay in his bag for long. There are many players, however, who practice with one, but never use it in competition. It's a great practice tool and I highly recommend getting one, even if it never makes it's way onto the golf course. The belly putter teaches a player the proper pendulum motion, ensuring a slight arcing stroke and an unrestricted release of the putterhead through impact.
Phil also visited putting guru Dave Stockton, who wants you to keep the back of the lead hand moving toward the target (see Mickelson video above). Stockton's main philosophy, however, focuses on routine and encouraging a very non-technical approach. Phil worked with the belly putter because it made
Read more
Weekend Tip: McLean on Hogan, 7 pointers from a new book
A new book just crossed my desk, The Complete Hogan, by Golf Digest Teaching Professional Jim McLean, with Tom McCarthy. (Published by John Wiley and Sons, Inc., 216 pages.) There are a lot of really interesting photos here, taken from rare movie film of Hogan in the late 1940s, before his accident. McLean makes some great observations and brings a fresh approach to possibly the most analyzed and admired golf swing of all time. The quality of the photos (soft, shadowy and in black and white) is not great. But a keen eye can still find great details to learn from. And McLean certainly has a keen eye and the teaching experience to put Hogan's swing into usable advice for today's golfer.
One of the freshest chapters is toward the end of the book where Jim flops the photos, turning Hogan into a left-hander. I'm able to show you two of the photos below. Not only is this a lefty's delight, but with this unusual view righties can really see some key elements in Hogan's setup and swing that might surprise you. McLean writes extensively about each photo in the book, but here are some of his abbreviated observations that might help your game without you even looking at all of the pictures:
Address: Look at those soft arms! Just the opposite of the illustrations in Five Lessons. Copy this setup (below) and not those.
Takeaway: Hogan's chin points to the back foot. This is extremely important for a full, powerful coil.
Top of Backswing: The right knee has moved behind the ball, but Hogan's body is already falling (or transitioning) forward. I call this the "fall forward."
Move down: Hogan rotates the right knee over the right foot. Very athletic and responsive. A beautiful sit-down move and massive lag.
Impact: The front leg braces and begins to straighten (below). This is a major power move. Of course the famous bowed lead wrist is very evident.
Post Impact: Phenomenal extension. Perfect release of the arms.
Finish and Rebound: The all-time classic finish. It's great for everyone to copy.
Roger Schiffman
Managing Editor
Golf Digest
Twitter @RogerSchiffman
One of the freshest chapters is toward the end of the book where Jim flops the photos, turning Hogan into a left-hander. I'm able to show you two of the photos below. Not only is this a lefty's delight, but with this unusual view righties can really see some key elements in Hogan's setup and swing that might surprise you. McLean writes extensively about each photo in the book, but here are some of his abbreviated observations that might help your game without you even looking at all of the pictures:
Address: Look at those soft arms! Just the opposite of the illustrations in Five Lessons. Copy this setup (below) and not those.
Takeaway: Hogan's chin points to the back foot. This is extremely important for a full, powerful coil.
Top of Backswing: The right knee has moved behind the ball, but Hogan's body is already falling (or transitioning) forward. I call this the "fall forward."
Move down: Hogan rotates the right knee over the right foot. Very athletic and responsive. A beautiful sit-down move and massive lag.
Impact: The front leg braces and begins to straighten (below). This is a major power move. Of course the famous bowed lead wrist is very evident.
Post Impact: Phenomenal extension. Perfect release of the arms.
Finish and Rebound: The all-time classic finish. It's great for everyone to copy.
Roger Schiffman
Managing Editor
Golf Digest
Twitter @RogerSchiffman
Fitness Friday: Strengthen your ankles for great golf
Every week Ron Kaspriske, Golf Digest Fitness Editor, presents Fitness Friday on the Instruction Blog. Here's his advice for keeping your ankles strong and healthy to support a dynamic golf swing. Look for Weekend Tip tomorrow, and remember to follow me on Twitter: @RogerSchiffman.
Roger Schiffman
Managing Editor
Golf Digest
Here's Ron: Golfers might complain more about their sore backs or knees, but when it comes to frequency of injury, no joint in the body takes more abuse than the ankles. Sprains, strains and fractures come easy and often for athletes, and weak ankles are a common problem for golfers starting to play again after a long winter's layoff.
"When you think about it, your ankles don't seem like they offer enough support for the abrupt and awkward movements of a 200-pound body," says Golf Digest fitness advisor and former PGA Tour trainer Ralph Simpson. "But in reality, the ankles are very durable. Sure, you can twist them and tweak them from time to time. But compared to the amount of stress they endure, they are amazingly durable."
Golfers injure their lead ankle (left for right-handed golfers) more often since it serves as the pivot on which the body rotates during the swing. But the uneven terrain of golf courses puts the other ankle in nearly as much peril.
Whether you're being reactive or proactive in dealing with an ankle sprain or strain, fitness expert Mark Verstegen offers exercises in Golf Digest's March issue to better prepare for battle. Click on the link here to get Mark's advice.
Ron Kaspriske
Fitness Editor
Golf Digest
Roger Schiffman
Managing Editor
Golf Digest
Here's Ron: Golfers might complain more about their sore backs or knees, but when it comes to frequency of injury, no joint in the body takes more abuse than the ankles. Sprains, strains and fractures come easy and often for athletes, and weak ankles are a common problem for golfers starting to play again after a long winter's layoff.
"When you think about it, your ankles don't seem like they offer enough support for the abrupt and awkward movements of a 200-pound body," says Golf Digest fitness advisor and former PGA Tour trainer Ralph Simpson. "But in reality, the ankles are very durable. Sure, you can twist them and tweak them from time to time. But compared to the amount of stress they endure, they are amazingly durable."
Golfers injure their lead ankle (left for right-handed golfers) more often since it serves as the pivot on which the body rotates during the swing. But the uneven terrain of golf courses puts the other ankle in nearly as much peril.
Whether you're being reactive or proactive in dealing with an ankle sprain or strain, fitness expert Mark Verstegen offers exercises in Golf Digest's March issue to better prepare for battle. Click on the link here to get Mark's advice.
Ron Kaspriske
Fitness Editor
Golf Digest
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